"Floral" challenge at FantasticTuesday

Hey! Lunagirl is sponsoring a FLORAL challenge over at FantasticTuesday: "Where It's Hip to Be Square."  

<<<< Go check it out and join in!

Second Week: Vintage Menagerie

The Vintage Menagerie (All Kinds of Animals) blog challenge continues... Be sure to join in!

And here is more playful inspiration from the Lunagirl Moonbeams Design Team!

PETRA BERENDSEN:
"For my second project I used one of the cats images - so perfect for a best wishes or birthday or anniversary card. I combined it with patterend papers, some of them dry-embossed and slightly inked on the surface."

MICHELE STORMS:
M is for Monkey! (more animal alphabet ATCs later this week?)

VICKI ROMAINE:
"Here is a card a made for Lunagirl's Vintage Menagerie challenge.  It is a lovely rooster with its hen.  I  added a mat of spray webbing and some deco stickers to give the card itself a little vintage feel.  The card is also being used for my challenge [thecheerfulstamppad.blogspot.com] as well because I embossed the sentiment.  For my challenge, the theme is Use Embossing Powder."

Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My! and Elephants and Chickens and Kitties and Puppies...

Here's a new collage sheet announcement just in time for Vintage Menagerie challenge! Six new digital sheets featuring animals, which helped to inspire this challenge theme. Plus at the end a few more animal-themed sheets that have been available for awhile... This doesn't include all the birds!  I hope you'll come play in the challenge, which continues until May 4.  :-)

Happy Earth Day!

Wishing you blessings and a joyful and grateful heart for Earth Day!

Blog Challenge: VINTAGE MENAGERIE

It's time for a new Lunagirl Moonbeams blog challenge, and since I've just created a fresh batch of digital collage sheets featuring all kinds of animals, I've chosen the theme Vintage Menagerie.

A "menagerie" originally referred to a collection of "exotic" animals collected by European kings and queens.  "Exotic" could include new world animals such as porcupines and opossums!  Later, travelling commercial menageries displayed all kinds of animals to a curious public -- from lions and tigers and elephants to fancy types of cats and dogs and birds.  Eventually the antique menageries evolved into modern zoos.

So... feature your favorite pet or your favorite animal!  Are you a cat person or a dog person?  Or maybe you prefer turtles and fish, or exotic birds!  My favorite animals are cats and foxes.  What do you visit first at the zoo?  I have always liked the elephants and giraffes... but who can resist the lions and tigers and bears (oh my!)  Not to mention gorillas, and sea lions, and those beautiful gazelles... You get the idea... anything goes, just so you feature one or more animal.  Wild animals or woodland creatures or friendly pets, all are welcome!  Find vintage animals to inspire you at Lunagirl.com.

Here are the guidelines for this challenge:

• This challenge (#26) will end at Noon (Central Time) on May 4. 
• 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 SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE DT CREATIONS)

An InLinkz Link-up

LUNAGIRL MOONBEAMS DESIGN TEAM
The ever-fabulous Lunagirl Moonbeams DT have created some great entries to start collecting our Vintage Menagerie.  I hope you will join in!

PETRA BERENDSEN:
"It was fun to choose from the animal images. I went for one I always loved and adored and it was always the first one I visited when going to the zoo, the giraffe. They look to elegant and stylish. It is one ofthe images on your: Animals at the Zoo collage sheet. I combined it with some patterned paper, twine, button and a little printed word."

MICHELE STORMS:
Stop and Smell the Flowers 

MANDY CHILVERS:
Mon Ami (My Friend)

VICKI ROMAINE:
"I have been playing a lot with my Gelli plate lately and thought I would try a canvass.  This is a canvass board with acrylics as the background.  I used 4 stencils to make  the background.   The Lunagirl image of the giraffe blends well with the background.  The little yellow gives the feeling of daybreak;"

"Victorian Spring" Challenge Winner: Karen Wilson

I had chocolate for breakfast, how about you?  Not a good idea, but I guess I've been doing it twice a year my whole life! (Christmas and Easter).

Time to announce the winner of the "Victorian Spring" challenge.  I've done the random drawing, with double entries for each project that included a Lunagirl image, and the lucky winner is Karen Wilson!

Congratulations, Karen! Email me at your convenience for $10 coupon to use at Lunagirl.com.

Thank you for everyone who helped us celebrate Victorian Spring with such beautiful and creative projects.  Come back tomorrow to play in my next challenge, with the theme Vintage Menagerie! I have recently created several new collage sheets featuring animals, so I'm celebrating by inviting you to use all kinds of animals in your creations for the next challenge... starts tomorrow!

Best Wishes and Blessings for Easter

Featured Artist: Michele at TheDigitalCornerShop

I'm pleased to announce Lunagirl's most recent licensing partnership, with talented designer Michele Marsden of thedigitalcornershop.com.

Here is a preview of one of her first creations using Lunagirl images, a truly gorgeous Victorian Vintage Rose Digital Paper Pad.

I look forward to seeing more of what Michele creates!  Visit the Designer Vintage section of her shop as she continues to add new products!

For Last-Minute Easter Projects

Don't forget, my Lunagirl digital collage sheets come to you by instant download and are perfect for those last-minute projects!  Cards, decorations, tags, you name it, just download, print and craft!  I've put a bunch of my Easter and Springtime designs together here for your convenience ... bunnies, chicks, children, decorated crosses, angels, flowers, feathers, butterflies, eggs... Have a lovely weekend.

Here Comes Peter Cottontail...

Here is a Victorian Easter bunny, ready for his big day with a pile of colored eggs!

We have over 100 Easter bunnies in our vintage images collection.  While I love the Easter angels and children and chicks, I have a special fondness for the bunnies! Like many holiday traditions, the Easter rabbit has its origins in pre-Christian times and was adapted to Christian celebrations. The rabbit or hare (like the egg) is an ancient symbol of rebirth and fertility, associated with the rebirth and renewal of plant life in the Spring.

The name Easter seems to have come from the ancient Germanic month of eostre, named for a goddess Eoster (similar to Ishtar and Aphrodite). In many countries the holiday is called Paques or Pask, from the Greek word for Passover -- our charming French postcards say Joyeuses Paques!

The Easter rabbit tradition began in Germany, where children filled their hats or bonnets with grass to create a special nest where the Easter rabbit might lay brightly colored eggs. Beautiful Easter baskets (still filled with grass) developed later, as did Victorian-era Easter greeting cards and postcards.

Did you know that RED and GREEN were the original traditional colors for Easter eggs?  Red and green are the colors most commonly associated with Life and Renewal/Rebirth (which is why they are Christmas colors!)  Our Easter pastels seem to be a later, Victorian custom inspired by the colors of spring flowers.

However you celebrate, have a blessed Easter weekend!
Check out the links below for more vintage Easter:

• Digital collage sheets for springtime and Easter: Bunnies, chicks, decorated crosses, angels, eggs, flowers, butterflies... and more!
• Lunagirl Victorian Holidays Volume 2: Valentines Easter Mother's Day (on sale today)
• Lunagirl Victorian Religious Ephemera
• Lunagirl Easter Photos & Postcards

Don't Miss: Artful Gathering Online Art Retreats

I want to encourage everyone to check out ARTFUL GATHERING Online Art Retreats 2014.  This fabulous annual event features three months of online workshops, classes, videos, doorprizes, contests and community.  There are tons of great presenters and workshops, something for everyone, all quite affordable and very conveniently online!

You can find info and register here -- when you register grab your FREE doorprizes including a Lunagirl digital collage I created just for the event, and be sure to leave a comment on my sponsor page for a chance to win more Lunagirl collage sheets and a grand prize $50 shopping spree at Lunagirl.com!

Victorian Spring in Full Bloom: Join the Challenge

Here is another "Victorian Spring" creation by Vicki Romaine for you to enjoy.  She also uses this for her "Use Three Different Designer Papers" challenge over at her blog The Cheerful Stamp Pad.

I love all the spring green shades in this card, contrasting with the cheerful orange and finally accented by the pale silver ribbon and daisy petals!

Remember you have all this week to link up your Victorian Spring project in the challenge for a chance to win! (double your chances by using a Lunagirl image!)

VICTORIAN SPRING CHALLENGE: Second Week!

The VICTORIAN SPRING challenge continues into its second week.  There are so many lovely entries already, and I look forward to seeing yours as well!  Be sure to link up your creation for a chance to win -- and also for the glory of course!!

Here is some inspiration from the Moonbeams DT, featuring about the most adorable spring chicks you'll ever see! (from Easter Fun collage sheet)  These little guys have Spring Fever for sure!

MANDY CHILVERS:
A lively spring chorus surrounded by bright flowers!

PETRA BERENDSEN:
Sweet & shabby Easter greetings! I love how the lace bow complements the lace-edged umbrella.

VICKI ROMAINE:
A gorgeous & playful card for springtime thoughts!
"I used the Rounded Corners technique on this card incorporating three of Lunagir'ls images.  They all reflect Spring with images of little chicks.  In the fourth section is a green bow.  The sentiment is by Katie Hall and the flower is Stampin' Up." 

MICHELE STORMS:
Time for hide and seek!  Love the bright colors of green and pink and yellow, perfect for this time of year.

Victorian Spring Flowers Freebie

Spring is a miracle to me every year.  Just wanted to say that!  And here is a spring fever freebie for you. This picture reminds me of the crabapple tree blooming in my front yard.  I added a little honeybee.  Did you see him?

 Don't forget to link up your project in the Lunagirl Moonbeams Victorian Spring challenge!

Lace and Doilies Challenge at CraftingbyDesigns

I'm sponsoring another fabulous challenge over at Crafting by Designs this month: Lace and Doilies.  Both can make a project look vintage, girly, dressy or just pretty -- the challenge is to add one or both to your project.

Their Design Team has shared some gorgeous lacey projects, and don't miss the "guest designer" projects by members of the Lunagirl Moonbeams DT!

CraftingbyDesigns.blogspot.com is a great challenge site.  I love their challenges and there are always many beautiful/fun entries to enjoy.  Check it out and play!

VICTORIAN SPRING challenge starts today!

I hope you will all link up a "Victorian Spring" creation for this challenge!  I am certainly feeling "spring fever" this year -- flowers are popping up everywhere, birds are singing and "twitterpatin'", the bunnies are hopping, and I am so restless and eager for the warmer weather.

Take this theme wherever you feel inspired to go, but let's try to make it "Victorian" (or Edwardian, antique, vintage,  heritage, etc...)
With so many wonderful signs and symbols of Spring, there are lots of possibilities -- flowers of course, and butterflies, bugs, gardening, Easter, Passover, April Showers, pretty dresses & fans, Earth Day, bunnies & chicks, eggs & baskets, flower fairies & Easter angels, and don't forget all the birds!
Lunagirl has thousands of Victorian/vintage images and digital collage sheets to choose from for all of these and more.

The Lunagirl Moonbeams Design Team will be working with some unique and beautiful images from my Garden Fantasy One collage sheet and also some chickies and children from my Easter Fun collage sheet.  Don't miss their samples below!

Here are the guidelines for this challenge:

• This challenge (#25) will end at Noon (Central Time) on April 20. 
• 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!

An InLinkz Link-up

LUNAGIRL MOONBEAMS DESIGN TEAM:
Click here to learn more about my fabulous DT members and visit their blogs!  

MICHELE STORMS

PETRA BERENDSEN:
"For the new challenge I used one image from your Garden Fantasy One collage sheet and as I had printed the image twice I thought it would be nice to create two pieces which you could use together for a special occasion: a card and a tag."

MANDY CHILVERS

VICKI ROMAINE:
"This card is a perfect card for almost anything.  It has the Lunagirl image on top of a piece of Spring-looking designer paper.  It has a double mat-one light green and the other the designer paper. it is embellished with a cream-colored bow which has three loops on each side."

Sassy Showgirls Challenge Winner: Jennifer Scull

The winner (by random drawing) of my Sassy Showgirls challenge is entry #8 by Jennifer Scull!

Congratulations, Jennifer ~ please email me at info@Lunagirl.com to claim your prize: $10 credit for shopping at Lunagirl.com.  I hope you'll play again next time too!

Thank you to EVERYONE who entered their sassy showgirls ~ your creations were a delight as always.  And be sure to come back for our next challenge theme: VICTORIAN SPRING!

Sponsoring Digitally Sweet Challenges!

Lunagirl is sponsoring at DigitallySweetChallenges again this week!  The theme is "Anything But a Card."

Be sure to visit to see the amazing variety of beautiful projects created by the Digitally Sweet DT, and then create and link up your own project for a chance to win the Lunagirl images they used.  It should be fun!

Reminder: Time to Get Sassy

This sassy showgirl card by Michele Storms is here to remind you:

You have until Sunday noon to link up your Sassy Showgirl creation in the blog challenge!

Check out the DT inspiration and the fabulous entries we have so far, and join in!

Happy Spring Sale Just for You...

I really need to do a Spring newsletter, but for now here's a sale just for blog readers! 

Shop for digital collage sheets, vintage printables, vintage images & ephemera of all kinds at LUNAGIRL.COM
and use discount code PANSY at checkout for 10% off all your orders until Friday midnight!

April Fool, April Fish?

I have quite a few "Avril" postcards that feature people holding fish! Little girls, ladies, even couples with big fish. What's with the fish on these old French cards?

In France, the victim of an April Fool's Day prank is called a "poisson d'avril," an April fish (which refers to a young fish easily caught!) 

Why is April 1st a day for fools and foolishness? Nobody seems to know for sure. There are stories about the change of calendars in the 1500s, but they don't hold up well because April Fool's celebrations existed before that time. Some people connect it to the unpredictability of weather and nature at this time of year. 

We do know that for many centuries, in many cultures, this time of year has been associated with celebrations of frivolity, lightheartedness, and sometimes pranks. (The Romans had a festival called Hilaria around the end of March.) Maybe it's just that the coming of spring after the long months of winter brings out our pent-up energy and silliness, and we need a day to let it out! Spring fever, I know it well.

April is named for Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, beauty and fertility. The fish is one symbol of Aphrodite, who was born of the sea. While she is called the Love goddess, her domain is more accurately described as the sensual passion and romantic attraction that draws couples together. She doesn't care if it makes good sense or ruins your life, she just wants you to hook up! Think how sly Aphrodite uses desire and passion to "trick" creatures into love or at least lust and fertility and a lot of work and trouble! Nothing can make a fool out of you faster than love and lust. In the Greek myths Aphrodite is one capricious and "tricky" goddess.

April 1 was the beginning of the New Year in some places in old Europe (right around the beginning of Spring), and that transition day from the old year to the new was frequently a time when the usual rules didn't apply and the world went topsy-turvy. Much of the tomfoolery associated with April Fool's Day could be attributed to this. Ancient customs allowed a few days when people could break the rules and get a little crazy, maybe to let off steam. Pretty wise, if you ask me.

"The first of April is the day we remember what we are the other 364 days of the year."- Mark Twain