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!

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Goddess of Love, Goddess of Healing by Michele

Michele Storms of the Design Team shared this beautiful goddess creation today. I love the soft subtle color palette she used, and the little pink heart she added.

I think it's even more beautiful after reading what Michele wrote about her piece on her blog:

"today a friend of mine, a breast cancer survivor, is having breast reconstruction surgery.  i sent her this card with my good wishes.  i used a vintage image of venus in her full frontal glory, if you will, using the pinks associated with breast cancer.  the venus vintage image is from the lunagirl "mighty aphrodite" collage sheet and the background paper was also created by karen at lunagirl. i added ribbon and a punched heart."

Venus is a goddess of love and beauty, and through Michele's art also a bringer of healing!  Thanks so much to Michele for sharing this!

Monday, February 24, 2014

New Blog Challenge: GODDESS

It's time for a new challenge here at Lunagirl, and my next theme is GODDESS.

This theme could be taken in many directions in your projects:  Mother goddess, Moon goddess, Earth goddess, Greek goddesses of all kinds... times when you feel like a goddess... the goddess of love... a goddess of the Silver Screen or vintage theater... I'm sure you could think of others.

For my challenge badge, I've chosen Flora, the Greek/Roman goddess of flowers and springtime!  The first crocuses bloomed in my yard today, so today is for her!  In classical mythology, in spring Flora spreads her flowered skirt out upon the earth, and it blooms in green and yellow, pink and lavender and white.  I've always like that idea.

So, how will YOU interpret this theme?  The ever-fabulous Lunagirl Moonbeams Design Team offer their interpretations in some inspiring samples below.

This challenge (#22) will end at Noon (Central Time) on March 9, and here are the guidelines:
Any craft or medium is OK,
No more than 3 entries from one person in each challenge,
Vintage style is encouraged but not required, and
Please link to my blog and Lunagirl.com on your site if you have one.

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 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 in your creation, 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! 

Enjoy the lovely samples from the Moonbeams Design Team below, and please come link up your own creations.  The DT will be working with images from some of my many Goddess & Myth collage sheets, which you can browse here for inspiration.  I hope they inspire your own creations -- can't wait to see what you link up!





LUNAGIRL MOONBEAMS DESIGN TEAM

Here is some inspiration from the DT to get you started... Find out more about the DT and visit their blogs!

VICKI ROMAINE:
"I combined modern with vintage this time by using the vintage image and modern flowers which I stamped and punched. I cascaded them down the front of the card." 

PETRA BERENDSEN:
"My first project for the new challenge with one of the gorgeous Goddesses from the Goddess collage sheet: a tag with inky background adorned with ribbons, lace, flowers, buttons and half-pearls."

MANDY CHILVERS:
"I've made a bookmark for this weeks goddess theme."

MICHELE STORMS:
"wishing you a happy week --this is from mighty aphrodite sheet and the wind roses and compass sheet" 



Sunday, February 23, 2014

Winner of the VINTAGE RED Challenge

The randomizer has spoken, and the winner of the random drawing for the Vintage Red blog challenge, who will receive a prize of $10 gift credit to spend at Lunagirl.com, is... #9 by Dragonlady of craftydragons.blogspot.co.uk

Thanks to everyone who entered ... please stay tuned for the next challenge, on the theme GODDESS, coming up soon in my next post!

Friday, February 21, 2014

Friday Freebies: Paris Boulevard Ephemera

Here's a Friday Freebie "just because."  It's an antique French advertisement for a diamond shop in Paris, and does have some Vintage Red for the challenge! (There's still time to enter!)  I like the hot air balloon picture and the little crown and diamond rings, but I think my favorite part of this image is all the different vintage-style fonts.

Boulevard des Italiens is one of the four grand boulevards in Paris. Also just for fun, here is an old photo postcard of Boulevard des Italiens!


Thursday, February 20, 2014

Tutorials for Printing on Fabric

I occasionally get questions about printing Lunagirl images onto fabric... I found some video tutorials for a customer just this morning, and I thought I would share the links below for others who might be interested.

You can print Lunagirl images onto any medium that will work in your printer, and printing onto fabric transfers or transferring to fabric is a great technique to try.

You can create quilt blocks, unique bags, tea towels, aprons, t-shirts, baby clothes... or just add something a little different and textured to your cards and scrapbooks.

You can find more information by doing a search for "printing on fabric."

Have you ever printed on fabric or fabric transfers?  What did you create?  If you try it, let us know what you make!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeLytvCEgzM
  This is a good one by Nancy's Notions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pSpnHUXOJQ Also good, by Vicki Hanson.


Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Four More Days of Vintage Red



Here is a beautiful reminder from DT member Vicki Romaine, that you still have time to enter the Vintage Red blog challenge!

Any medium is welcome, on the theme of Vintage Red, and linking up your piece enters you in the drawing to win $10 gift credit at Lunagirl.com.
(Use at least one Lunagirl image and receive two entries in the drawing!)


Vicki: "I made a red collage card using a number of Lunagirl images as well as the red background image. Trims were made with border punches."

Beautiful work, Vicki -- see more sample pieces from the Lunagirl Moonbeams DT and link up your own work here.

Monday, February 17, 2014

Warming Up the Winter with VINTAGE RED

My Vintage Red challenge is warming up the cold days for me, with all the gorgeous shades of red, and taking us from Valentine's Day right into Spring just I had hoped!  I know it's not Spring for awhile yet, but all these pretty flowers and cheerful birds have me dreaming.  Here are more beautiful pieces by the Lunagirl Moonbeams Design Team to inspire your own dreamin' and schemin'.  Remember to link up your own Vintage Red project (any medium) for a chance to win $10 credit at Lunagirl.com in the drawing on Sunday!  I can't wait to see more beautiful red.
Heart Ornament by PETRA BERENDSEN:
My second project is a little wooden heart which I altered with paint and lots of sanding and a wonderful image from your Red collage sheet.

Lotus Lady Tag by MICHELE STORMS


Two ATCs by MANDY CHILVERS using "Red" images.

Sunday, February 16, 2014

Love & Wings

I couldn't resist sharing this digital creation by Denise Pustelniak from her blog Thru the Looking Glass.  It's so sweet, and the jewel-toned colors are gorgeous...She created this for the Lasting Memories challenge with the theme Love plus Wings! I'm proud that she used some of my bright butterflies. Lasting Memories is a layout challenge blog... you might want to check it out.

Friday, February 14, 2014

St. Valentine's Day and the Marriage of the Birds

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!
Michele Storms created this gorgeously vintage red tag  for the current Vintage Red challenge and also for Valentine's Day.

Did you know it was once believed that February 14 is the day the birds begin to find mates?  The earliest known association of Saint Valentine's Day with romance is by Geoffrey Chaucer in 1382:

For this was on seynt Volantynys day
Whan euery bryd comyth there to chese his mate.

"For this was on St. Valentine's Day,
when every bird cometh there to choose his mate."

No matter how cold and dark the Winter, Spring will always come... The birds know! This beautiful tag certainly warms up a cold day.

Play in the DigitallySweetChallenges Blog Challenge This Week!

Can't get enough vintage red romance?  Lunagirl is sponsoring another fabulous challenge over at DigitallySweetChallenges!  The inspiration is a valentine image of course, with plenty of red roses and hearts and swirls (see below)... and their Design Team has created some absolutely gorgeous pieces with Lunagirl images I provided.  Be sure to go visit DigitallySweetChallenges.blogspot.com to see them, and enter the challenge for a chance to win the Lunagirl images they used!


Wednesday, February 12, 2014

More "RED" Inspiration from Michele!

Enjoy this fabulous classy Lady in Red.  Lunagirl Moonbeams Michele Storms created this gorgeous tag.  So very vintage, and perfect for Valentine's Day as well!

I hope the DT has inspired you to link up your own VINTAGE RED creation in the challenge.  You have plenty of time ~ and doesn't red just make you feel good?

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

New Collage Sheet: Memories of Paris

I wish I had made this in time for the recent "Meet Me in Paris" challenge, but better late than never, right? Here is another Paris themed digital collage sheet, this one with lovely old tinted travel postcards of landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, and the Arc de Triomphe d'Etoile, plus some inchies and a romantic French couple. I call it "Memories of Paris."  I have a whole pile of these pretty old cards... I hope you will enjoy using a few.  Click the picture to see it in my shop!

Monday, February 10, 2014

Just For You, Dear Reader

Last minute Valentine's Day projects? I have a great collection of vintage, Victorian, and retro style digital collage sheets for perfect for valentines projects, ready to download immediately!  I even have download packs of pink and red roses... See all the vintage romance here.

And just for you here is a special discount code just for my blog readers and followers:  Visit Lunagirl.com by Friday and enter discount code heart4moonbeams at checkout.  You'll receive 20% off your entire order of collage sheets, downloads, CDs, everything.

Use it to get something for that last minute card or banner, stock up for future projects, or find something to inspire your Vintage Red creation for the challenge!

Happy Valentine's Day from Lunagirl!

New Challenge: VINTAGE RED

Scarlet.... Crimson...RED!  Vintage Red is the theme for my next challenge here at Lunagirl Moonbeams.   

Perfect for Valentine's Day -- although you don't need to use hearts and roses unless you want to! -- and perfect to warm up February's chill here in the Northern Hemisphere.  Although my favorite colors tend to be the cooler colors, I've always been fond of a lovely deep red... red birds, red poppies, red roses, Little Red Riding Hood, red shoes, red wine, red cherries and apples and strawberries... red for romance and life and energy...

This is challenge (#21) will end at Noon (Central Time) on February 23, and here are the guidelines:

Any craft or medium is OK,

No more than 3 entries from one person in each challenge, 
Vintage style is encouraged but not required, and
Please link to my blog and Lunagirl.com on your site if you have one.


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 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 in your creation, 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! 


Enjoy the inspiring samples from the Moonbeams Design Team below, and please come link up your own creations.  The DT will be working with images from some of my red-themed digital collage sheets:  RED, Red Hat Ladies, Textures Orange & Red (plus some Valentines).



LUNAGIRL MOONBEAMS DESIGN TEAM

Find out more about the Moonbeams DT and visit their blogs!


MANDY CHILVERS:
 red heart

VICKI ROMAINE:
"Here is the cover of a book I made. I love the image on the black and white designer paper. It just pops. The Lunagirl image is on top of a flourish made with a Cherry Lynn die and then is placed on a tea-dyed paper doily    The book has the theme "Being Myself" and holds a number of verses and inspirational sayings." 
PETRA BERENDSEN:
"A little card combining the very beautiful Lady from the Red collage sheet combined with some patterned paper, ribbon and little charm.
"
MICHELE STORMS

 

Sunday, February 9, 2014

Challenge Winner: Victorian Tea Party

I'm finally back online after some nice family time yesterday, and I've just done the drawing for the winner of the Victorian Tea Party challenge.  Our winner enters every Lunagirl Moonbeams challenge, usually more than once, and she uses lots of Lunagirl images, so the odds are ever in her favor (pardon the Hunger Games quote)...  Our lucky Tea Party winner is entry #3 "Tea for Two" from WendyLynn's PaperWhims!  WendyLynn has won a $10 gift credit to use at Lunagirl.com.

http://wendylynnspaperwhims.blogspot.com/2014/01/tea-for-two-postcard.html
Congrats to WendyLynn and to all the players for their beautiful work!  I hope everyone will come back for my next challenge, which starts tomorrow morning.  The next theme will be VINTAGE RED.  I can't wait, so I better go create my challenge badge and schedule it!

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Teatime Tag by Petra... and more freebies!

The Lunagirl Victorian tea party challenge continues until Saturday noon CST... and here is more inspiration from the DT.

Petra Berendsen created this pretty tag using an image from my Tea Party collage sheet.  Beautiful colors, so feminine! I love the little rose border, the teapot charm, the polka dot ribbon ~ Petra always brings everything together so nicely.

And below are a couple more freebies, also for your inspiration!  Why not?!  Click on the freebies so see the full-size image and then save to your computer.

And remember to enter the Victorian Tea Party blog challenge for chance to win $10 gift credit at Lunagirl.com!




Here is a Gibson girl enjoying a cup of tea in a pink teacup. What a look in her eyes! I wonder what she is thinking... I hope she will inspire you in the challenge.
From Lunagirl Vintage Women & Men over 800 images on CD

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, of course, and here is a lovely floral heart I like to share this time of year. I can't find a signature on the original card, but these look like Catherine Klein roses to me. The colors are so pretty. I especially like the little unopened rosebuds at the top, and the way the stems make a woven pattern at the bottom. Enjoy!
From Lunagirl Victorian Holidays Volume Two: 900 images on CD for Easter, Valentines, St Patrick's Day Mother's Day (currently on sale)


Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Freebie: Victorian Children's Tea Party

Here is something sweet for my Victorian tea party challenge!

These little girls and their little brother (that's my guess) are having a tea party among the roses.  Miss kitty cat has a saucer of cream, and the puppy dog is hoping for a cookie!

Looks like a fun afternoon, and I hope you'll have fun using this picture.  Click on the image to get the full size, save to your computer, and resize as needed.

Have a happy day!

Tea Time Reminder!

A charming reminder from DT member 
Petra Berendsen:

It's Tea Time!  
You're invited to join our Victorian Tea Party blog challenge.... you have until Saturday.

A digital collage using images from the Teaparty and Victorian Butterflies collage sheets.

Monday, February 3, 2014

There's Still Time to Join our Victorian Tea Party!

Our Victorian Tea Party blog challenge continues this week, with more inspiration from the Lunagirl Moonbeams Design Team.  


Our little tea parties are starting to get romantic as we enter February...


Here is a card by Vicki Romaine with a private tea party and sweet embellishments that remind me Spring will get here:
"My card is on the romantic side with the music sheet (also a Lunagirl digital) and the ribbon.  As a classy touch I added a felt flower and a feather that I found in the yard.  It was the perfect size!  Thank you birdie!  A piece of silky-looking cardstock was used as a mat."


Michele Storms continues the romance with her "Tea and Love" valentine!

And here are two more Tea Parties creations by Mandy Chilvers!
Some adorable kitties enjoying tea and the pretty tag below.







Link up your project!

Sunday, February 2, 2014

Bright Blessings for Imbolc


Groundhog's Day ~ What a weird "holiday."  Why do we have this "weather divination" custom at the beginning of February?

Well, like most of our customs it has ancient roots ~ in this case in the ancient Celtic festival called Imbolc ~ also referred to as Brigid's Day and Candlemas.  February 2 is midway between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox (the first day of Spring).  Many ancient cultures had celebrations this time of year, to mark the strengthening light of the sun and the lengthening days.  It's a time when you can feel the Wheel of the Year turning, if you pay attention ~ it's still cold, but the light is different, the birds may be starting to come back, animals are giving birth and making milk, there may even be a few very early flowers.  Imbolc means "in the belly" ~ pregnant!  You can feel Spring ready to be born... if you pay attention.  Imbolc is a way to pay attention, and celebrate!

Celtic Imbolc honors Brigid, the goddess of fire, poetry, birth, midwifery, and the young.  There is an Irish Saint Brigit who is also associated with sacred fire... and Candlemas (Candle Mass) is also a Festival of Lights, honoring the Virgin Mary.  It is a time of purification and new beginnings, and among the ancient Irish the maiden goddess Brigid (Bride) was invited to bless home and hearth.

Like another seasonal festival, Samhain (Halloween), this is a powerful time for divination of the future. Imbolc is considered an especially appropriate time to predict the weather of the coming Springtime ... sound familiar?  Whether it's Brigid's snake emerging from the earth or an Irish badger emerging from his den or that American groundhog poking his nose outside, we wait with the question: How soon will Spring arrive?

Here's an interesting old Irish tale:  Imbolc is when the "old witch" Cailleach gathers firewood for the rest of the winter. If she plans to make the winter last many more weeks, she will make sunny weather on Imbolc so she can gather plenty of firewood. (If you can see your shadow, there's plenty more winter ahead!)  Therefore, bad weather on Imbolc means Cailleach is sleeping and winter is almost over!

Some symbols of Imbolc/Brigid's Day are white and yellow flowers, green Brigid's Crosses made of woven leaves, lambs, bonfires, the plough, acorns and all kinds of seeds.  Eat foods made with seeds, take a cold walk, go search for some early flowers or green sprigs if you're lucky enough to have them, have a bonfire... heaven knows most of us in the Eastern U.S. want Spring to hurry up after this deep-freeze Winter!  (Isn't it over YET!)


Saturday, February 1, 2014

Check Out Roses on My Table Art Labs

I've been meaning to blog about the online Art Labs at Roses on My Table.

Zinnia Gallagher has created a wonderful online destination for mixed media creativity: Roses on My Table is a social network offering online classes, art groups, galleries and swaps, and the annual Artful Gathering online art retreat with multiple workshops and other events (Lunagirl is proud to be a sponsor!).   It's a great opportunity for learning, sharing, and connecting with other mixed media artists and crafters.

The current art labs focus on techniques that are usually for jewelry-making but that can be applied in any mixed media projects.  Here is some info from the site about the art labs:
"Roses Art Labs are technique-oriented learning opportunities designed to offer trade secrets, tips and processes that instructors use every day. Learn the know-how and skills to accent the artwork you know how to do, with techniques that can start you on a new path, or add to the skills you've already learned."

Lunagirl on Etsy