Vintage Gothic Reminder

One last reminder to enter my VINTAGE GOTHIC blog challenge! Don't miss your chance to win the drawing for $10 credit at Lunagirl.com -- pick some new digital collage sheets to play with, or get any of my image collections at a really nice price!

For inspiration, enjoy this lovely tag by Mandy Chilvers -- another fabulously gothic vintage lady.  Mandy shows us that gothic can still be colorful!

Check out the other entries here, and link up your own. You have until Sunday noon CST :-)

Mason Jars Printable -- New Stuff!

I like how these Mason Jar tags turned out, so I thought I would show them off.  I used a Ball jar graphic, removed the writing and antiqued it a little, and added a "shabbified" floral/leafy texture and bright summer colors.  They have almost a glow to them, and I think they would make great tags for lots of things.

And while I was at it, I created some more Mason Jar collage sheets, in two styles, which you can see here:
Lunagirl New Stuff.  I even did a sheet of little "captured fairies" in mason jars... Let me know what you think!  I'm certainly having fun.  The creative part of my business is why I got into it!

Vintage Gothic: Second Week

As my VINTAGE GOTHIC challenge continues all this week, until Sunday noon CST, here is more inspiration from the Lunagirl Moonbeams Design Team.  You have plenty of time to link up your own Vintage Gothic inspired creation for chance to win the drawing and some shopping credit at Lunagirl.com.

Some DT News:
It's with a heavy heart that I must announce that Petra Berendsen is leaving the Lunagirl DT.  She will be missed! It has been a joy to have Petra on the team and enjoy the gorgeous work she has done for each challenge.  I hope that she will be visiting us here again soon.  Best wishes to you, Petra!

MANDY CHILVERS

MICHELE STORMS:
a little darker this week -- i call this the "ghostly child" :)

VICKI ROMAINE:
I went a little lighter this time.  Hope you are having a great weekend.

Challenge continues until Sunday, June 1!

Happy Memorial Day: Patriotic Digital Collage Sheets

I hope everyone here in the U.S is having a wonderful fun and safe Memorial Day weekend.  Many consider this the first day of summer, and with the HOT weather here and the kids out of school, it sure feels like it!  But I still consider it Spring until the "official" date on the Summer Solstice -- about three more weeks.

Just in time for July 4th crafts, I've created the two NEW digital collage sheets above -- "Lady Liberty" and "Patriotic Ephemera."  Lovely vintage images featuring plenty of Red White and Blue, cute kids and courageous and elegant ladies.

And below are two "oldies but goodies" -- "Patriotic Posters" featuring Uncle Sam and great vintage military recruiting posters and Red Cross posters and "4th of July" featuring charming Victorian children from antique postcards.  And of course American flags on both, including two fabulous flag bunting frames, great for cards, invites, scrapbook pages, etc.  

See them at LUNAGIRL.COM.

New Digital Collage Full of Fairies!

I thought this one turned out really pretty! I call it "In the Fairy Garden."  Here in the fairy garden you'll find Victorian flower fairies, of course, and little garden angels, little girls with painted wings and flowers in their hair, a little garden gnome carrying a bouquet... and a girl in blue peeks around the fence to see what is going on.  I've included a gorgeous vintage floral frame, and inside that a picture of children, fairies, and robins having a tea party in a bird's nest!  I had lots of fun with this one, and I hope you will too.  Visit Lunagirl's fairy and angel garden.

More New Digital Downloads: Vintage Postcards in Soft Antique Colors

More digital collage sheets created with vintage carte postale images and antique postcard backs!  The top one has an unusual feather quill pen design, and I added some garden butterflies to one.  They all have pretty typography.  I thought these came out really well in the soft colors: Original Shabby, Garden Green, Soft Blue, Vintage Pink.

Vintage Postcards Ephemera Downloads NEW!

I've been busy creating digital collage sheets with vintage postcards and French carte postale scans, because I think the backs of the postcards in my collection are often just as pretty as the fronts!

In the past I've offered some of the cards with antique handwriting, in English and French, and I wanted to do a collection of the blank cards because they are perfect for so many projects.  And they are lots of fun for me to work with as well!

This is the first set, which I have kept very simple.  The top card is very unusual, with an nature scene illustration and art deco type design.  Then there is a French card and a one in English.  I've offered all three cards in a large and small size, plus a little bonus of just the pretty "post card" titles.

Just for fun, I also did this set in several colors!  
Pink, Indigo Blue, Lilac Purple, Soft Peach, and Spring Green.  Check them all out, and watch for more vintage postcard collage sheets coming very soon....

More New Collage Sheets: Victorian Ladies & Children

Here are a couple more new digital collage sheets.  These feature beautiful, colorful Victorian style die-cut images of women and children.  The ladies are wearing some very elegant vintage fashions, including fancy hats and fans.  The girls and boys are so sweet, in old-fashioned clothing, some with flowers.  I've also included some little bundles and baskets of flowers (also antique die-cuts) because if I have extra space I like to include a little extra something!  You can always see my newest releases at Lunagirl.com.

New Collage Sheets for Father's Day

I try to "keep you posted" about new digital collage sheets.  Here are a few I created recently featuring men and boys (and cowboys!) just in time for Father's Day cards and crafts.  See all of these plus my other designs featuring the gentlemen, and traditionally "male" themes such as vintage trains and autos, at Lunagirl.com.

Other nice options for Dad include my Antique Daguerreotypes CD, which has hundreds of photos of men (great for Vintage Gothic themes also -- hint), African-American Photo CD, and Vintage Women and Men CD.

VINTAGE GOTHIC blog challenge

Something a little different.... our next blog challenge theme is Vintage Gothic.  I've always been fond of all things a little dark and melancholy, mysterious and antique, whether haunted rooms or haunted lovers.  As a kid my favorite song was "Rhiannon" (yes, I date myself with that). I liked sad romances and spooky old photos and film noir. I had fun creating my take on Vintage Gothic with the challenge badge.  I hope you'll have fun with this theme, too, however you interpret it!

The Design Team will be working with images from the following collage sheets (and they're also the source for the images I used above):  Lunagirl Edwardian Gothic, Vintage Gothic, and Backgrounds: Interiors.  You can also visit my Gothic and Medieval category for inspiration -- and be sure to use Discount Code "moonbeams" at checkout to get 10% off everything in Gothic/Medieval!

Here are the guidelines for this challenge:

• This challenge (#28) will end at Noon (Central Time) on June1. 
• Any craft or medium is OK,
• No more than 3 entries from one person in each challenge, 
• Vintage style is encouraged, and 
• Please link to this blog and Lunagirl.com on your site if you have one.
• Prize:  The winner will be selected randomly to win a $10 coupon for Lunagirl.com! 

• Of course I love if you use at least one Lunagirl.com product, and I hope you'll go take a look at my collection... but that's not a requirement!  
• However, if you use a Lunagirl image, you will be entered TWICE in the drawing! I want to welcome everyone and every style but also give a little something extra to my wonderful customers!

LINK UP YOUR ENTRIES BELOW TO PLAY (and please don't forget to SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE Design Team creations!)

An InLinkz Link-up

LUNAGIRL MOONBEAMS DESIGN TEAM

Here are some lovely creations by the Moonbeams.  I hope you'll get inspired and join in. 
 Learn more about the DT here!

MANDY CHILVERS

MICHELE STORMS

VICKI ROMAINE

Vintage Mother's Day Challenge Winner: Suzy B

Before I did the drawing for the winner of this challenge, I had to sit and admire all the entries for a moment.  Take a look, the gallery is really gorgeous, especially all together. A beautiful variety of celebrations of Mother.

So, did the random drawing and the lucky winner this time is Entry #4 by Sue Bridesmith of "Suzy B The Galloping Granny" fame!

A big congratulations to Sue and to everyone who submitted such beautiful work for the challenge. I truly enjoyed seeing all your special creations for Mother's Day.










Be sure to come back tomorrow for the next challenge ~ we'll switch gears a little with the theme "VINTAGE GOTHIC"!

Don't miss the challenge!

Two more days to join in the Vintage Mother challenge!  As a little reminder and last-minute inspiration, here are two more beautiful cards by Moonbeam DT member Michele Storms.  Be sure to check out the challenge to see more DT creations and the gallery of entries.

Celebrating Mothers in Vintage Style All Week!

I am late posting today due to a minor "adventure" (translation: minor torture) at the Driver's License office, but I'm home again with a cup of coffee and all is well!

Our celebration of mothers continues, as the Vintage Mother's Day challenge theme lasts all this week, until Sunday.  You still have plenty of time to link up your creation and maybe win a $10 shopping credit at Lunagirl.com. You know you need some new images for summer :-)

Here from my ever-fabulous Design Team, the Lunagirl Moonbeams, is some more beautiful inspiration, each featuring mother and child.  Enjoy!

MICHELE STORMS
has created a series of Mother's Day cards this time in these lovely soft colors with perfectly vintage papers and embellishments.

VICKI ROMAINE
created this gorgeous, colorful collage for an art journal page.  Here's what she wrote about it:
"I thought I would try something a little different this time.  I made an art journal page collage using a vintage flower image and a mother's image.  The collage papers were scraps of Gelli paper that I made.  I also used a vintage mother's image for Lunagirl's Mother's Day challenge.   When I first started I wasn't sure how the vintage images would look on the bright papers.  Many coats of Gel Medium were put on these pages."

Great work, Moonbeams!

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day, everybody!  Here is a sweet Mother's Day card created by DT member Michele Storms, featuring another little girl from Lunagirl African-American Photos CD along with some pretty flowers, soft feminine colors, lace trim and LOVE tiles!  I hope all you Moms out there have a beautiful day.
(P.S. The Vintage Mother's Day challenge continues all this week ~ link up your work!)

Enjoy Mother's Day challenges Here at Lunagirl and also at DigitallySweet!

For yet more inspiration for your vintage Mother's Day creations (and another chance to play and win in a challenge!) hop over to DigitallySweetChallenges.blogspot.com where I am happy to be sponsoring their "Mother" challenge this week.  They have wonderful challenges!

Mother's Day Challenge Continues

My Vintage Mother's Day challenge continues all next week! Yes, I know Mother's Day is this Sunday, but don't Moms deserve a whole 'nother week of celebration?  So you still have several days to link up your vintage-style Mother-themed creation for your chance to win a $10 shopping spree at Lunagirl.com!  Lunagirl has a whole page of Mother's Day collage sheets for you, and below is more beautiful inspiration from the Moonbeams DT!

MICHELE STORMS
created this gorgeous card with lovely vintage ephemera and a little sweetie from my African-American Photos CD! (She's also on the digital sheet Little Princess.)

PETRA BERENDSEN
"My second project is a canvas using again an adorable image from your Mother's Love digital collage sheet. The canvas is covered with watercolour paper which I distressed and stamped on, with vintage linen, musical note paper, lace and embellished with embroidery and dangly bits and pieces. Hope you like it."

May Visitor: Yellow Butterfly

I saw the first Yellow Swallowtail butterfly yesterday -- a messenger of May and a sure sign that Summer is not far behind!  Here is a freebie for you.  And here is a Lunagirl collection of butterflies: http://lunagirl.com/collections/lunagirl-image-collections-on-cd/products/butterfly-images-cd

Celebrating Mothers: Vintage Mother's Day Challenge

It's May, and what could be a more perfect challenge theme than Vintage Mother's Day?  This time of year we take a day to appreciate and celebrate our mothers and all that they do for us.  (And grandmothers and aunts and mothers-in-law too!)  And shouldn't we just thank ALL Moms on Mother's Day, for everything they do! (And do the same for all Dads on Father's Day, of course.)

I remember my mother telling me that you wear a pink rose on Mother's Day if your mother is still living, and a white rose in remembrance if she has passed on.  Her mother died a year before I was born, so she always wore a white rose on this Sunday.  Now here is my white rose for her. (The picture of the mother teaching her little girl to play music above is for her also, because my mother was a musician.  She loved cats, too, so she would like the orange kitty above!)

I look forward to seeing all your wonderful Vintage Mother's Day creations in the next two weeks of the challenge.  Take a moment to visit here for some vintage style Mother's Day images and inspiration: http://lunagirl.com/collections/mothers-day

Here are the guidelines for this challenge:

• This challenge (#27) will end at Noon (Central Time) on May 18. 
• Any craft or medium is OK,
• No more than 3 entries from one person in each challenge, 
• Vintage style is encouraged, and 
• Please link to this blog and Lunagirl.com on your site if you have one.
• Prize:  The winner will be selected randomly to win a $10 coupon for Lunagirl.com! 

• Of course I love if you use at least one Lunagirl.com product, and I hope you'll go take a look at my collection... but that's not a requirement!  
• However, if you use a Lunagirl image, you will be entered TWICE in the drawing! I want to welcome everyone and every style but also give a little something extra to my wonderful customers!

LINK UP YOUR ENTRIES BELOW TO PLAY (and please don't forget to SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE Design Team CREATIONS).

An InLinkz Link-up

LUNAGIRL MOONBEAMS DESIGN TEAM
Here are some lovely creations by the Moonbeams.  I hope you'll get inspired and join in. 
 Learn more about the DT here!

MICHELE STORMS:
" i made a bunch of mother's day cards so there will be more coming!"

PETRA BERENDSEN:
"For the new challenge I created a card using one of the lovely images from your Mother's Love digital collage sheet. I layered it on designer paper and combined it with stamped ribbon, some half pearls, paper flower and some stitching." 

VICKI ROMAINE:
"I used the vintage Lunagirl image on a sheet of music which had been distressed.  A strip of ornate stickers were  added to the card."

MANDY CHILVERS

Vintage Menagerie Challenge Winner: Denise Pustelniak

Congratulations to Denise Pustelniak, who won the random drawing for my Vintage Menagerie challenge! Here is her charming "soft kitty" creation -- perfect for May with soft vintage colors, polka dots and lace, and pink flowers.  Denise has won $10 shopping credit at Lunagirl.com!

Thanks to everyone who played.  Come back tomorrow for my next LunagirlMoonbeams challenge -- Vintage Mother's Day, of course!  And if you've never played before, don't miss your chance to have some fun, get inspired, and win a prize!  Winners are chosen by random drawing so everyone has a chance to win (use a Lunagirl image and double your chances).   :-)

Animals Everywhere as the Vintage Menagerie Challenge Continues

Two more days to get in on the Vintage Menagerie challenge for your chance to win!  

Here are two more of Michele Storm's animal alphabet ATCs to get you inspired!
Aren't they wonderful and fun?

Happy May Day!

 We really should bring back the tradition of May Poles, don't you think?  They were still very popular in the early 20th century, and here are some Edwardian era photos of ladies and children having May Day celebrations.  Of course, the May Pole has ancient pagan origins way back in the mists of time ... and May Day was the Celtic seasonal festival of Beltane.  Beltane ("bright fire") recognizes the point in the year when the days become longer than the nights (halfway between the Spring Equinox and the Summer Solstice).  May Day traditions include dancing, feasting, bonfires, making love in the fields (really!), and my favorite, leaving out offerings of food and flowers for the fairies!

It's such a lovely time of year, I'm hoping that May Day celebrations make a big comeback!