I mailed some new recycled gift boxes, using vintage magazine pages, ribbons and buttons, to Somerset Studio magazine yesterday. That is the one that is about paper and mixed media art. I am now crossing my fingers.

Here are a couple of ways of using the open armed girl . One of these is Jayn's work on her money box, formerly a coffee can. The other is a card idea using paper collage and glitter glue over an altered vintage magazine page. The coloring is a combo of colored pencils and markers. More soon.

I'm very excited! My next article in Natural Life is about making miniature dioramas - and features a CONTEST! The first prize is one of my custom Dream Star Dolls in your choice of colors. Jayn is also contributing a pair of her sweet little bead earrings . We just love making miniature dioramas of all kinds, using recycled packaging as the foundation. Something fun to do for spring!

I'm trying something new. I'm trying a free file hosting service to make my clip art available for downloading. I have placed this happy collaged character there, that I have been using to make cards (more pics soon). So far over here she has held a "Thank You" banner and a "Happy Birthday" banner made from stamped and cut out letters. I colored and decoupaged her to assorted cardstocks. Please feel free to visit the site and download her and make prints for your use. If you use her online, please link back to this blog. More free figures will follow as I am inspired to do more paper and mixed media art. She loves to be embellished! Also I'd appreciate it if you'd let me know how the download process worked - it seemed pretty simple to upload and I have high hopes. I think you have to create a free account.

Just listed as an Ebay auction - "Journey" - OOAK Art Doll figure with Quartz Crystal Wand.

Eight, count 'em, eight hearts have flown out of my store, and this Moon and Stars Dream Star doll has also been sold offline. It's ironic since I have just entered her in a Winter colors contest over at Craft Stylish. If you feel called to go there and make a comment or hit the "love it" button, I won't complain. I have about four in progress dolls, but I'm putting my attention on the promised Haiti doll. Here's her start - a Dream Doll about 14 inches tall with an internal wire armature for support.