"The Black Cat" - Edgar Allan Poe

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This week’s Sunday Postcard Art challenge was “Edgar Allan Poe.” I based my postcard on The Black Cat by Edgar Allan Poe.

Notes to myself: Poe's Memorial Grave and map for Baltimore.

"Seated - Lord Frederick Leighton" - Gothic Arch

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This week’s Gothic Arches challenge was “Lord Frederick Leighton.” I created a modified arch for this. The painting, titled “Seated,” is by the artist Lord Frederick Leighton.

"Harvest" - Greeting Card

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The GC25 Gingersnap Creations challenge due by Nov 1 is “Harvest.” I created a greeting card with harvest women as the theme. I continue to have problems with my print out and scan being on the “washed out” side so I need to work on this.

“Rhinoceros” - Credit Card

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Capital One® credit card approved the rhinoceros design I submitted and I now have my first image credit card. But it looks kind of bland compared to the third one I made so I’m thinking of changing once 30 days have gone by. (You can change your image after that, if you change your mind.)

"Orange and Black" - Gothic Arch

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This week’s Gothic Arches challenge was “Orange and Black.” I created my own arch for this, and experimented with patterns and textures. The (altered) woman is by the artist Sir Edward Burne-Jones.

“Long Ago And Far Away” - Credit Card

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This week’s Three Muses challenge was “Long Ago And Far Away.” The first thing that popped into my head was Star Wars, and the opening lines about a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. (That’s one of my favorite movies!) So I wanted to do something “cosmic” and I ended up making it as a credit card size image. I recreated the symbolic shapes I used in the numerology theme, because they make me think of something timeless. And I made a primordial type galaxy background to go with it.

The credit card “theme” started because Capital One® credit card claims you can upload your own image for use on their credit card, as long as it complies with their standards requirements, but they rejected the first one I created and submitted. So I created this one, as a backup in case they reject the rhinoceros one I submitted as my second image to them.

I’m still very far behind on challenges and looking/commenting at everyone else’s.

"Engineers Card" - Credit Card

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Capital One® credit card claims you can upload your own image for use on their credit card, as long as it complies with their standards requirements. I created this Engineers Card using Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man, which is in the public domain and in widespread use worldwide, as well. Yet they denied approval of my image, for the reason:

“Material that could infringe on the copyright or trademark rights of another party, including branded products, marks, or business names

If you believe that you have been declined in error, please call us”

I called them, and I won’t go into the details of the long, circular conversation I had with their representative, who kept mentioning copyright, and finally said that I needed the artist’s permission to use the image. I had already stated the artist was da Vinci, the year the image was created, and that it was in the public domain and therefore not a copyright violation. I asked her how was I supposed to get the permission of an artist who had been dead for more than 70 years, and that by copyright law, I didn’t need to.

"Risqué" - Gothic Arch

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This week’s Gothic Arches challenge was “Risqué.”

FYI: I’ve been working a lot lately and haven’t had much time for my artwork, challenges, and looking/commenting on entries to challenges. This will continue for the next month or so, but I’m grateful I have a job with the current economy.

“Travel” - Combo Time (Journeys and Poetry)

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The GCSP1 Gingersnap Creations challenge due by Oct 27 is “Combo Time.” I combined Journeys and Poetry to create this greeting card. The poem is Travel by Edna St. Vincent Millay.

Note: For some reason it printed out streaky, so I’m also including the image.

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"Blackbird"

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This week’s Sunday Postcard Art challenge was “Blackbird.”

"Numerology"

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This week’s Three Muses challenge was “Numerology.” I over thought this one, struggled with it, came up with various ideas, and ended up with this. I was trying to make a symbolic mystical numerology image based on earrings I have that inspired this creation. But when I was done, I still wasn’t thinking of any particular number, other than having Infinity in my mind because of that song by Guru Josh Project, and NaN (Not a Number) because of work.

"It’s Raining"

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This week’s Thank God It’s Friday challenge number 106 was “It’s Raining.” I was honored and thrilled to be asked to be the Guest Designer for this week. I created a scene showing a couple engrossed in each other and oblivious to the nighttime rain that had just started falling. I drew and created most of this image myself, using GIMP. Credits:

The couple and tree are from the New York Public Library Digital Gallery.

The baluster is from Clipart ETC.

The water and rain brushes are by Project GimpBC.

"Golden Peacock" - ATC Background

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This week’s Soartful Saturday challenge was to use the “ATC Background” image provided by the challenge site. I enhanced the coloring of the background then added a peacock picture for the foreground.

"Danse Macabre" - Skulls and Skellies (Skeletons)

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This week’s Sunday Postcard Art challenge was “Skulls and Skellies (Skeletons).” The orchestral piece Danse Macabre, Opus 40, by Camille Saint-Saëns, and the story behind it, inspired my piece. My postcard shows skeletons dancing in front of their cemetery. I modified the skeletons slightly.

"I think you are an awesome girl" Blog Award

I received this wonderful award/gift from Meikoningin this morning. What a fantastic way to start my Sunday! Thank you Meikoningin!

Tornado Warning! 532 PM EDT SAT OCT 3 2009

Tornado Warning

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY

532 PM EDT SAT OCT 3 2009

CTC001-009-032200-

/O.CON.KOKX.TO.W.0012.000000T0000Z-091003T2200Z/

FAIRFIELD CT-NEW HAVEN CT-

532 PM EDT SAT OCT 3 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 PM EDT FOR SOUTH

CENTRAL NEW HAVEN AND FAIRFIELD COUNTIES...

AT 529 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO

INDICATE A POSSIBLE TORNADO NEAR BRIDGEPORT...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20

MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...

STRATFORD AND 6 MILES SOUTHEAST OF TRUMBULL BY 540 PM...

MILFORD BY 550 PM...

WOODMONT BY 555 PM...

ORANGE BY 600 PM...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

WHEN A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED BASED ON DOPPLER RADAR...IT MEANS

THAT STRONG ROTATION HAS BEEN DETECTED IN THE STORM. A TORNADO MAY

ALREADY BE ON THE GROUND...OR IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP SHORTLY. IF YOU

ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS DANGEROUS STORM...MOVE INDOORS AND TO THE

LOWEST LEVEL OF THE BUILDING. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. IF DRIVING...DO

NOT SEEK SHELTER UNDER A HIGHWAY OVERPASS.

HEAVY RAINFALL MAY OBSCURE THIS POSSIBLE TORNADO. TAKE COVER NOW! IF

YOU WAIT TO SEE OR HEAR IT COMING...IT MAY BE TOO LATE TO GET TO A

SAFE PLACE.

From National Weather Service

"Isaac Merritt Singer" - Inventors

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This week’s Gothic Arches challenge was “Inventors.” I chose Isaac Merritt Singer, who didn’t actually invent the sewing machine, but who made improvements to the existing design to create the first reliable commercial sewing machine. The text is from American Inventors and Inventions.

"Merry Christmas" - Stars

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The GC24 Gingersnap Creations challenge due by Oct 25 is “Stars.” I know it’s too early for Christmas, but I had created a Capiz angel and star ornaments postcard for Thank God It’s Friday challenge number 105 theme “The Color White.” So I reused that here and created a Christmas card.

I used Serif’s PagePlus SE version 1.0 to layout the image so it would print like a greeting card.

The card scanned in a little washed out, so I’ve included the image below.

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"Birds" - Tag

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This week’s Tag Tuesday challenge number 18 was “Birds.” I used an illuminated manuscript music page for the background, and a digital stamp and bird image for the foreground. I used a digital stamp for the tag fastening point.

"Bottles" - ATC

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This week’s Think Monday – Think ATC challenge was “Bottles.” I took a picture of a beautiful mosaic reed diffuser bottle I have.

"Capiz Ornaments"

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This week’s Thank God It’s Friday challenge number 105 was “The Color White.” I made a Capiz angel and star ornaments. I used the GIMP script that I wrote to create some of the effects.