"Christmas Card 3" - Postcard

© All Rights Reserved

(Click on image to enlarge)

I created this using GIMP 2.10.38

The vintage images are from an Internet search. (See the side of my blog for links.)

"Doorway" - Postcard

© All Rights Reserved

(Click on image to enlarge)

This week's Sunday Postcard Art theme was "Doorways".

I created this using GIMP 2.10.38

The vintage images are from an Internet search. (See the side of my blog for links.)

"Christmas Reindeer" - Postcard

© All Rights Reserved

(Click on image to enlarge)

I created this using GIMP 2.10.38

The vintage images are from an Internet search. (See the side of my blog for links.)

"Magic Skulls" - Postcard

© All Rights Reserved

(Click on image to enlarge)

I created this using GIMP 2.10.38

The vintage images are from an Internet search. (See the side of my blog for links.)

"Magic Swami" - Postcard

© All Rights Reserved

(Click on image to enlarge)

This week's Our Midweek Muse theme was "You've Got Male".

I created this using GIMP 2.10.38.

The vintage images are from an Internet search. (See the side of my blog for links.)

"Magic Keys Book" - Postcard

© All Rights Reserved

(Click on image to enlarge)

This week's Sunday Postcard Art theme was "Keys".

I went to the beat of my own drummer on this. One thing led to another, and I used two keys as metal hardware hinges for a book. A third key is the "magic key" on the cover. The background had a honeycomb pattern, so I added a few bees to complete this piece.

I created this using GIMP 2.10.36

The vintage images are from an Internet search. (See the side of my blog for links.)

Teddy and his Halloween Mail (and candy) - Photograph

© All Rights Reserved

© All Rights Reserved

© All Rights Reserved

(Click on image to enlarge)

I took those photographs of the unexpected, fantastic Halloween mail art (and candy) that arrived in the mail for Teddy (and me) this past week, from CJ, who does beautiful calligraphy and artwork.

For those who remember Teddy, it will be no surprise that on one particular day, for no apparent reason, after hearing the sound of the mail truck, Teddy knocked me over, ran outside, and got the mail before I could. When he came back in, he threw all of the mail at me, except for one brown envelope, which he clutched in his paws as he scurried over to his cousin.

Later that day, Teddy deigned to allow me to photograph his letter. When I asked him how he knew it was arriving on this particular day, he said his cousin who works at the NSA told him. ;-) When I pointed out it was addressed to the both of us, he muttered something and walked away with the candy.

It was an unexpected, thoughtful, and wonderful surprise to receive this in the mail from CJ. She knows Halloween is one of our favorite Holidays. And it was a welcome positive in my life right now.

"The Written Word" - Postcard

© All Rights Reserved

(Click on image to enlarge)

This week's Our Midweek Muse theme was "The Written Word".

I created this using GIMP 2.10.32

The vintage images are from an Internet search. (See the side of my blog for links.)

"Spells And Magic" - Postcard

© All Rights Reserved

(Click on image to enlarge)

This was an art piece that I ultimately rejected for use as my guest host piece, but I liked it enough to keep it.

I created this using GIMP 2.10.32

The vintage images are from an Internet search. (See the side of my blog for links.)

"Spells And Magic 2" - Postcard

© All Rights Reserved

(Click on image to enlarge)

This was an art piece that I ultimately rejected for use as my guest host piece, but I liked it enough to keep it.

I created this using GIMP 2.10.32

The vintage images are from an Internet search. (See the side of my blog for links.)

"Spells And Magic 3 (SPA Guest Host Art Piece)" - Postcard

© All Rights Reserved

(Click on image to enlarge)

This week I have the honor of guest hosting Sunday Postcard Art, and I chose the challenge theme "Spells And Magic."

I created this using GIMP 2.10.32

The vintage images are from an Internet search. (See the side of my blog for links.)

"Magic Man" - Postcard

© All Rights Reserved

(Click on image to enlarge)

I created this using GIMP 2.10.32

The vintage images are from an Internet search. (See the side of my blog for links.)

"Hearts Catch Fire" - Postcard

© All Rights Reserved

(Click on image to enlarge)

I created this using GIMP 2.10.30

The vintage images are from an Internet search. (See the side of my blog for links.)

-----

Love can't hide, though it tries
Hearts catch fire, so has mine
Here's my heart

Metropolis Soundtrack - 02 - Pat Benatar - Here's My Heart

"Magic Fish" - Postcard

© All Rights Reserved

(Click on image to enlarge)

Although these are fish, they sort of looked like seahorses to me. I also thought there was something magical looking about them.

I created this using GIMP 2.10.28.

The vintage images are from an Internet search. (See the side of my blog for links.)

"Magic Door" - Postcard

© All Rights Reserved

(Click on image to enlarge)

This week's Sunday Postcard Art theme was "Doors."

I created this using GIMP 2.10.28

The vintage images are from an Internet search. (See the side of my blog for links.)

"Aircraft, Heal Thyself!" - Postcard

© All Rights Reserved

(Click on image to enlarge)

Note: only one person out there will understand what this art piece means. ;-)

I created this using GIMP 2.10.14.

The vintage images are from an Internet search. (See the side of my blog for links.)

"Arcana Pentacle Raven" - Wood Box

© All Rights Reserved

(Click on image to enlarge)

I made another pentacle raven wood box, using a cigar box, similar to this design, this design and this design.

I created this using GIMP 2.10.12.

The vintage images are from an Internet search. (See the side of my blog for links.)

I wanted to use an inkjet image transfer method, to transfer only the ink onto the gold painted wood box top, but the methods I used failed to work, so I ended up using my standard decoupage method.

These are the three transfer methods that didn't work, using the above design with a clear background, not the gold background used for the decoupage method:

1) Avery full sheet clear (transparent) mailing label page - I printed the image onto the clear mailing label side of the page, peeled off the backing, and placed the image sticky side down onto the lid. Despite using a brayer, the label had air bubbles and was opaque, not clear (when the package claimed it was clear).

2) Avery full sheet white mailing label page - I mirror image printed onto the white mailing label side of the page, but when I tried to remove the page, it adhered to the box top and peeled off the paint when I was able to pull it off.

3) Avery full sheet clear (transparent) mailing label page - I mirror image printed onto the clear mailing label side of the page, and the page successfully peeled off, but the ink on the box top ran / smeared, and some of the ink remained on the clear sheet, so it wasn't a 100% transfer. The ink smearing was so bad it was unusable.

So far, the best method to get a 100% ink transfer is still the Highline Guitars inkjet image transfer method, but it's not simple to do, and the crease lines for peeling off the label(s) appear as lines in the transferred image.

"Fall Harvest Pagan Magic" - Postcard

© All Rights Reserved

(Click on image to enlarge)

I created this using GIMP 2.10.6.

The vintage images are from an Internet search. (See the side of my blog for links.)

"Arcana Pentacle Raven" - Wood Box

© All Rights Reserved

© All Rights Reserved

© All Rights Reserved

(Click on image to enlarge)

I made another pentacle raven wood box, using a playing card box, similar to this design and this design.

I created this using GIMP 2.10.4.

The vintage images are from an Internet search. (See the side of my blog for links.)

"Arcana Pentacle Raven" - Wood Box

© All Rights Reserved

© All Rights Reserved

© All Rights Reserved

© All Rights Reserved

© All Rights Reserved

(Click on image to enlarge)

I made another gold Pentacle Raven wood box similar to this one, using a cigar box.

I created this using GIMP 2.10.4.

The vintage images are from an Internet search. (See the side of my blog for links.)

Because everything in my design is old, I am entering it in this week's Tuesday's Treasures.


Materials:

cigar box

Martha Stewart Vintage Gold Metallic Paint (346 433 / M18121)

Delta (Plaid) Ceramcoat Gloss Interior Varnish

Steps:

I used Goo Gone to remove the labels from the cigar box, but there was still some stickiness left. I sanded those spots with fine sandpaper.

I painted the outside of the box with one coat of Martha Stewart Vintage Gold Metallic Paint and let it dry. (Note: to save paint, I only painted the outer edges where I would be applying decoupage panels.) I left the inside of the box unpainted. (I had wax paper underneath the box while I worked on it.)

I printed my Pentacle Raven box decoupage panels on card stock, then cut them out. I placed them on the dry box, and made fine adjustment cuts to them so that they would fit on the the box. (Note: I only needed to cut the front panel where the box latch was. The other panels fit as is.)

This time I did not allow 24 hours for the inkjet ink to dry completely on the card stock paper, before proceeding to the decoupage steps. (Note: the ink might have run a little, but not enough to ruin the appearance of the design.)

I applied a thin layer of Delta (Plaid) Ceramcoat Gloss Interior Varnish to the top of the box. I carefully lined up and placed the top decoupage panel onto the box. (Note: there is a very short period of time to adjust the panel a little bit, if it is slightly crooked.) I pressed all over the panel with my fingers to adhere it to the gloss coat and remove any air bubbles. (Note: maybe using the decoupage brayer roller would have been better.)

I waited for the top to dry, before repeating the decoupage "glue" step for the left side, front, and right side of the box.

I placed the box back on the wax paper and allowed time for it to dry.

I applied a thin layer of Delta (Plaid) Ceramcoat Gloss Interior Varnish to the top only, to coat the decoupage panel. (Note: Either because of the humidity in the air or not waiting long enough for the "glue" coat to dry, the top panel bubbled during this step. I used plastic wrap over my hand to press down on the bubbled areas to try to flatten them. When the panel dried, it was flat.)

I waited for the top to dry, before repeating the decoupage "coating" step for the left side, front, and right side of the box, to coat the decoupage panels. (Note: this first "coating" step is when the inkjet ink ran a little, but not enough to ruin the appearance of the design.) I also applied it to the back of the box and the visible lid edges, then allowed time for the box to dry.

Note: The front panel bubbled just like the top panel had. So I again used plastic wrap over my hand to press down on the bubbled areas to try to flatten them. This time the bubbles did not flatten, so I let the box dry a little, then placed the box with the back down and the front up. I put the plastic wrap over the front, then put books on top of that, to flatten the panel.

I waited until the next day to apply a second coat of Delta (Plaid) Ceramcoat Gloss Interior Varnish to the top, left side, front, right side, back, and visible lid edges of the box. (I chose not to coat the bottom of the box, nor the inside.)

I decided two coats was enough, and the box was done! (Note: I forgot to adhere my date created card stock paper to the inside of the box, so I did that as a final step.)