My challenge blog for Lunagirl Vintage Images, featuring fun creative challenges with prizes, projects, freebies, holiday and seasonal info, and more!
A place for mixed media artists, card makers, scrapbooking enthusiasts, fabric artists, creators of jewelry, altered art and crafts of all kinds.
Would you like Lunagirl to sponsor a challenge on your blog? Email me at INFO@LUNAGIRL.COM. :-) I'll provide images for your DT!

Friday, January 30, 2015

Honeybee Challenge Theme: Second Week

MICHELE STORMS
Here's the buzz: My Honeybee challenge continues until Thursday, so link up your creation! The Moonbeams Design Team members have been busy bees creating some lovely inspiration for you!

My bee magic must be working because it's still warm here, and actually feels like Spring today. The birds are happy. I haven't seen any bees, although there was a fly in the house yesterday... guess that isn't a very pleasant "sign of Spring"! Yes, I know I'm in for a very rude awakening when Old Man Winter returns, as he is bound to do since it's still only January. But a girl can dream, can't she?


Check out the entries so far and get busy creating, honey!

VICKI ROMAINE
"Background is a stenciled honeycomb.  The bee is from Lunagirl and
the jar of honey is a stamp from Stampin' Up."

CORINNE MARIE

Thursday, January 29, 2015

Early American Gardens Blog: Antique Beehive Pics


I just found a wonderful blog called American Garden History, and the first link below is all about beehives! It has 20 lovely pictures along with some fascinating info for history buffs like me. I'm also linking their post with over 30 really cool medieval "bee art" illustrations. There are several with bears that are really cute.
These are a "must see" as inspiration for the Honeybee challenge! All antique images... Enjoy...
This blog is amazing, btw, with tons of info and pictures about early gardens and gardening, flowers fruit trees and vegetables, viniculture, etc. I can tell I'll be visiting again.


Early American Gardens: Garden History - Practical Structures - Beehive

Bees & beehives from medieval Illuminated Manuscripts

Monday, January 26, 2015

Happy Moon-day! Join the Honeybee Challenge

This pretty bee from Corinne Marie reminds you to enter my "Honeybee" challenge, for fun, sharing, maybe a prize! :-)

The sun is out here in Tennessee today, and the birds are singing and acting excited (on my walk to the mailbox, a mockingbird flew out of a holly bush and fussed at me, as if maybe she was starting a nest). Maybe I'm getting ahead of myself wishing for an early Spring ~ we'll see what the groundhog says in a few days. But if the birds are out, maybe the honeybees aren't far behind...

Friday, January 23, 2015

Creative Challenge: HONEYBEE

Time for a new challenge theme! This time let's do BEES. Honeybees and bumblebees are popular motifs in vintage ephemera, especially French ephemera, labels, linens, and advertising. They often show up in the "shabby elegant" and cottage chic style. And they are so sweet for cards and tags.

Why am I doing a "Bee" theme in the winter? Maybe it's because I'm already dreaming of spring, and I know when the honeybees show up warm weather can't be far behind.

You probably know bees are our friends, and we would be hard-pressed to survive without them. They busily pollinate not only our flowers, but all flowering plants which includes most of the fruits and vegetables we eat! Bee trivia: Did you know honey was once considered a gift of the gods (goddess, actually) and was also used as an offering TO the gods in ancient times? Did you know Deborah means honeybee, and Melissa means honey?

Anyway... enough of my nerdy trivia... let's have some fun with a Honeybee theme (bumblebees welcome too!)  Don't miss the samples by the Lunagirl Moonbeams Design Team to inspire you, and to get you started I have two new digital collage sheets featuring bees!

Here are the guidelines:


  • Any craft or medium is OK.
  • Vintage style is encouraged.
  • Use a Lunagirl image or element and your entry will count twice in the drawing!
  • Remember to link to this blog and to Lunagirl.com on your site if you have one.
  • Prize:  Winner will be selected randomly to receive a $15 credit at Lunagirl.com!
  • Challenge ends at noon CST on Thursday, February 5.
  • I love it when you use Lunagirl images, and I hope you'll go take a look at my collections... but that's not a requirement!  But do remember that if you use a Lunagirl image, you will be entered TWICE in the drawing! I welcome everyone and every style but also want to give a little something extra to my wonderful customers! Most important is have fun, get creative, enjoy vintage. 





    LUNAGIRL MOONBEAMS DESIGN TEAM

    MICHELE STORMS tag
    CORINNE MARIE digital collage

    SHELBY PIZZARRO digital collage
    VICKI ROMAINE art journal pages
    Here is a close-up from Vicki's two-page art journal spread!

    Thursday, January 22, 2015

    Winner of "Postcards & Letters" Challenge: WendyLynn of PaperWhims!

    The lucky winner of the random drawing for my "Postcards and Letters" challenge is the very last entry, by WendyLynn! Wendy always creates something wonderful for my challenges. As winner of the drawing she receives $15 credit to use at Lunagirl.com. And this winning entry transitions nicely into Valentines crafting season, doesn't it?

    Thanks to everyone who played, and to all the members of my Design Team who gave us some lovely inspiration.

    Be sure to come back bright and early tomorrow for the new challenge theme: HONEYBEE. The Design Team is sending in some playful work for you to see, and it will be fun!

    Monday, January 19, 2015

    Some Freebies for You


    Here are some postcard images I have shared in the past, and I thought this would be a good time to share them again for my
    POSTCARDS & LETTERS CHALLENGE. 

    Click on each for the full size ~ they are nice large scans for good clarity, and of course you can resize them smaller as needed.
    Last minute inspiration for the challenge! :-)


    Here's another image I wanted to share today in recognition of MLK Day celebrations. Amidst the often sad news, let's be thankful for courageous people who use non--violent civil disobedience to bring real change in the world.
    I've always like this lady's smile (and her dress!) This was taken in Nebraska in 1909, and she was one of the Jubilee Singers at a local business college. I have another photo of her on this day, with the same lovely smile. I guess she is someone's great-grandmother; she is certainly an American ancestor. I'm pleased to offer a small collection of Edwardian era African-American portraits and photographs on CD ~ they're kind of hard to find.

    Nebraska Lady 1909

    Sunday, January 18, 2015

    Open at Once: Your Invitation to the Postcards & Letters Challenge!

    Shelby Pizzarro: "Open at Once"
    Here is a lovely tag by new Design Team member Shelby Pizzarro, to remind you that you still have several days to link up your creation in my Postcards & Letters challenge!

    Don't miss the current entries and more beautiful inspiration from the Design Team... and don't miss your chance to play!

    Friday, January 16, 2015

    POSTCARDS & LETTERS Challenge: Second Week!

    The "Postcards and Letters" theme continues... you have a whole 'nother week to link up your entry! The challenge ends on Thursday at noon, and we have several very lovely and amazing entries so far. This is a great theme that allows for much creativity, so I hope everyone will play! Your entry may win the random drawing for $15 shopping credit at Lunagirl.com, to buy new images to play with!

    The Lunagirl Moonbeams Design Team has created more beautiful samples to inspire you... such lovely work. Just FYI, one of our new DT members, Shelby, has been sick and couldn't take part this week, so let's all wish her well and send her good vibes.
    VICKI ROMAINE
    CORINNE MARIE
    MICHELE STORMS

    MANDY CHILVERS

    Monday, January 12, 2015

    Postcards & Letters Challenge Continues...


    Here is another beautiful, dreamy reminder from Corinne Marie of the Design Team to enter my POSTCARDS & LETTERS creative challenge! Corinne created this gorgeous digital art with Carte Postale and Post Card ephemera layered with a beautiful vintage lady who seems lost in reverie. Perhaps she is missing someone far away, after reading a message?

    Visit the challenge page to see the amazing entries so far and more inspiring work by the DT. And link up your creation for a chance to win $15 shopping credit at Lunagirl.com!

    Friday, January 9, 2015

    Creative Challenge Theme: POSTCARDS & LETTERS

    My first new challenge theme for 2015, and the first challenge for two new Design Team members here at Lunagirl challenge blog! One of my very favorite types of vintage ephemera is old postcards and letters, and that is the next theme. Something about January and a New Year makes me think of correspondence and carte postale and antique handwriting... not sure why I make that connection this time of year... maybe that's it, maybe it's about connecting with friends far away, or connecting with the past. Or maybe they're just pretty!



    This theme should give everyone plenty of room to get really creative, and be sure scroll down to see all the works the Design Team has sent to inspire you... I almost forgot: Lunagirl has plenty of inspiration for you, too, on my digital collage sheets featuring postcards and letters and stamps!

    Here are the guidelines for this challenge:




  • Any craft or medium is OK.
  • Vintage style is encouraged.
  • Use a Lunagirl image or element and your entry will count twice in the drawing!
  • Remember to link to this blog and to Lunagirl.com on your site if you have one.
  • Prize:  Winner will be selected randomly to receive a $15 credit at Lunagirl.com!
  • Challenge ends at noon CST on Thursday, January 22.
  • I love it when you use Lunagirl images, and I hope you'll go take a look at my collections... but that's not a requirement!  But do remember that if you use a Lunagirl image, you will be entered TWICE in the drawing! I welcome everyone and every style but also want to give a little something extra to my wonderful customers! Most important is have fun, get creative, enjoy vintage. 


    LUNAGIRL MOONBEAMS DESIGN TEAM

    Each of the Design Team members chose some digital collage sheets from my Postcards Letters & Stamps collection to work with for this challenge. I think you'll love these Design Team creations as much as I do! I knew I would like this theme! :-)  Can't wait to see yours, dear reader.

    MICHELE STORMS
    VICKI ROMAINE:
    "I don't usually like what I make with a mail art image, but I am pleased with the way these turned out. These used a number of Lunagirl images from various sheets. The "stamp" on the first one was made with a "stamp" punch on an image."
    CORINNE MARIE
    MANDY CHILVERS

    Thursday, January 8, 2015

    Winter in Pink Challenge Winner: Aurora Aurelia

    We have a winner for the Winter in Pink challenge! I did the random drawing just now, and the lucky winner this time is Entry #4 by Aurora Aurelia of Eos Crafty Room!
    Congrats to Aurora ~ be sure to email me at info@lunagirl.com to find out how to get your $15 shopping spree prize.

    Kudos and thanks also to everyone who warmed up these winter days with their beautiful pink creations ~ come back for the next challenge, which starts tomorrow. My new theme will be POSTCARDS & LETTERS, a wonderfully inspiring theme, I think, especially for vintage images.
    The Design Team is already sending me some amazing work to inspire you so don't miss it, come play and have some fun crafting and sharing (and maybe winning!)

    Wednesday, January 7, 2015

    Share Your Work in the Lunagirl Facebook Group :-)

    Wouldn't it be fun if everyone who has entered the Winter in Pink challenge shared their entry in the Lunagirl Facebook group?  (hint hint!)

    Your Winter in Pink creations would be lovely there... and why not share other creations with Lunagirl Images, to warm up everyone's winter day?

    Monday, January 5, 2015

    Winter in Pink Continues Until Thursday... Join In!

    Brrr, the festivities are over and it's still winter! Doesn't a little soft shabby pink or bright hot pink warm it up a bit? Rose, fuchsia, magenta, subtle or shocking, pink is a favorite.

    I'm switching my challenges to start on Fridays, so you have a few extra days to join my Winter in Pink creative challenge. 

    Winter in Pink will end on Thursday at noon... link up your creation... we want to see it and you'll get a chance to win $15 credit to spend at Lunagirl.com!

    And on Friday be sure to join in the next challenge... the new theme will be Postcards & Letters.

    Sunday, January 4, 2015

    Join the Lunagirl Group on Facebook (and follow me too, please!)

    CorinneMarie has kindly offered to create a Lunagirl Group on Facebook, where you can post your work created with Lunagirl images, and see others' work as well!

    Lucky me! Thank you, Corinne for your kindness and your motivation!

    Many of you already follow my Lunagirl "business" page on Facebook, where I post stuff about challenges and new products and sales... I hope you'll join the Group as well. It should be fun.

    And I'll try to more frequently post some special discounts for followers on both the business page AND the group page (sounds like a New Years resolution... )

    Saturday, January 3, 2015

    Welcome CorinneMarie and Shelby Pizzarro to the Moonbeams Design Team

    I am so pleased to welcome two very talented and accomplished artists to the Lunagirl Moonbeams Design Team. Starting with the next challenge (which begins next Friday, January 9), CorinneMarie and Shelby Pizzarro will be joining the team and sharing their work with us.

    I am very excited that Corinne and Shelby have agreed to join. Both create beautiful, fascinating, inspiring art. CorinneMarie is a gifted digital artist ~ you may have seen her truly gorgeous digital collages in some of the challenges here. Shelby is a printmaker, commercial illustrator, and inspired collage artist ~ and she shares my love of bellydance (although she is a professional and much better than I am!) I know that you will enjoy seeing both artists' creations.

    Find out more on my Design Team page, and
    visit CorinneMarie's blog at http://digitalbycorinne.blogspot.com/ and
    Shelby's blog at http://sisterhoodofthemuse.blogspot.com/

    And don't miss the next challenge ~ now moving to FRIDAYS so the next challenge starts January 9. In the meantime, you still have plenty of time to play in the Winter in Pink challenge which continues until Thursday!

    Lunagirl on Etsy