Day Eleven ....

Today we have been rushing all around ... to the post office, get driver license renewed, stop at the vets, across town to pick up special paper, over to the grocery and back home only to remember I still need to get busy on Day Eleven sketch! 

As I was putting away all of our purchases, I pulled out a little Sock Monkey ornament that I had picked up for the tree and thought "Ah Hah!  Day Eleven's subject!" ... who doesn't love a sock monkey!?!  Sock Monkey to the rescue!

Note to self:  A good time NOT to start a challenge is between Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's!

If you are interested in Brenda Swenson's Challenge click on the highlighted link and you'll be taken directly over to her blog.....

Merry Christmas!

Karen Anne

Day Seven and I am still hanging in ....

Today I began the day by putting a 15 pound turkey into the oven, in preparation for a big Family Christmas Party tomorrow with all my brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, our children and grandchildren and of course my Mom!  Mom and Dad had a total of six children who eventually married, had children who eventually got married, who had more children!  From Mom and Dad we have grown into a family that now numbers 66+ (never know when a new little blessing is on the way)!

Anyway, with the smell of roasting turkey wafting through the house I decided I might as well get started on my Day Seven ink sketch.  The subject today is from a card I received from my sister, about ten or so years ago, of a photograph of a little angel holding a basket of fruit (picture must be around circa 1920 or so) that I had framed because it was so charming.  The photograph was in sepia tones so for this rendering I decided to use deep brown ink and it seems those little circles are determined to be in yet another illustration!

"Little Angel"

 

Merry Christmas All!

Karen Anne

PS  If you would like to learn more about the "75 Day Sketch Challenge" just click on Brenda Swenson's Challenge .

Day Six Is Here And So Is A New Ink Sketch!

This challenge is proving to be quite fun!  Today's subject is a Christmas Gnome that was given to us several years ago from our youngest son and his family.  He is a fun little guy who enjoys living in an eclectic environment ... lucky us!  A couple Christmas' back I knitted Christmas socks for all of our children, their spouses, and all of the grandkids ... well, Christmas Gnome looked a bit left out, so of course I knitted him his own personal Christmas Stocking.  The stocking he is holding is that sock!

"Christmas Gnome"

In this sketch I have also incorporated colored ink pens!   The "75 Day Sketch Challenge" guidelines stipulate the use of pen and ink only ... nothing said it had to be limited to just black ink!  I like him so well I have decided to make Christmas Gift tags using this little fellow.  Fun!

Merry Christmas Friends!

Karen Anne

12/15/2011 is Day Five!

These last two ink sketches seem to reflect the fact that I am finding the Christmas spirit!

Day Five's subject is a beaded ornament.  For about 4 years running I made a beaded ornament (cover) for each of my children, their spouses, each grandchild, and many friends.  Each year I would use a different pattern and base the beads used upon the recipient's favorite colors for that year.  The color combinations were sometimes unusual but always unique and individual to that person.

The ornament I used for day five was one of my least complicated patterns ....

"A Beaded Christmas Ornament"

I have still not resorted to use of a pencil and eraser, but I have been sorely tempted!  There was nothing in the rules about using a template, so I did resort to using a circle template in the sketch.  A plain background was just too "plain" so I added different size circles and I think it rather looks like snowflakes or various sized Christmas lights.  What do you think?

Remember, if you want to check out this challenge just go to

Brenda Swenson's Blog "The 75 Day Sketch Challenge".

Merry Christmas!

Karen Anne

Day Four ....

I'm still in the challenge - Yes!  Yesterday I was looking through a Family Christmas album and found a picture of my youngest granddaughter back in 2007 where she had just handed Santa her Christmas letter to him; it was so sweet I decided to tackle sketching the picture of Santa as he was looking down at her and opening her letter.  So here is today's sketch ....

"Letter To Santa"

Merry Christmas!

Karen Anne

If you want to take on this challenge just go to Brenda Swenson's "75 Day Sketch Challenge" for the information. 

Another ACEO Challenge ACEO!

This is good!  Two ACEO's completed!  What better view from your front door window could greet you than a surprise visit from someone you love!

I've titled this little piece "Christmas Time Visitor" .....

Merry Christmas everyone!

Big Hugs,

Karen Anne

PS  If you make ACEO's, why not pop over to The ACEO Challenge  Blog and challenge yourself and enter this month's Challenge of  ".....Out Your Window"!

The ACEO Challenge for December 2011

I think I have been in an artistic slump these past several weeks and, as I was visiting The ACEO Challenge Blog  yesterday, decided the December Challenge was just what I needed to get my creative juices again flowing.  The challenge this month is ".....Out your window"; I looked out my front room window and saw my little Humming Bird friends hovering around the humming bird feeders and decided to begin with them in mind.

Christmas decorations are coming out of their year long storage and had been added to the porch and, together with the humming birds, created a charming view.  So here is the Christmas view from my front room window.....

So now I am off to enter it in the December ACEO Challenge .... and begin work on another little ACEO!

Merry Christmas!

Karen Anne

A Second Design for PIY(print it yourself) Christmas Stationary

I posted my first Christmas Stationary listing yesterday and decided it would be nice to have a design that was a bit simpler with Christmas colors. The end result is this delightful three ornament PDF or JPEG file in red and green holiday colors! Each ornament is filled with its own holiday zentangle design.

I am offering this to you in PDF format (3.7MB) or JPEG format (3.8MB), please comment in "Note from Buyer" which format you prefer; if no comment is made, the PDF file will be sent. You'll be able to use the file for years to come!

In this listing I have also included an example of how adding a monogram can make the stationary personalized. So many people now days like to send Christmas letters to family and friends letting all know what they have been doing the past year. This design would make your Christmas greetings really stand out!

Happy Holidays!

Karen Anne

Something New!

The other day I was doodling away on nothing in particular, after awhile a design began to emerge and I realized I was creating a unique pattern for Christmas Stationary! I decided this is a nice time of year to make this available to others to print out stationary using their favorite paper. So I am offering this to you in PDF format (5.3MB) or JPEG format (7.9MB), please comment in "Note from Buyer" which format you prefer. You'll be able to use the file for years to come!

I am using this to create a unique Christmas card this year and have included a copy in this listing as an example of usage. So many people now days like to send Christmas letters to family and friends letting all know what they have been doing the past year. This design would make your Christmas greetings really stand out!

If you choose the PDF format you will need PDF reader to open the file. Please make sure you have a PDF reader software installed before you purchase. 

Once payment has been confirmed, the PDF or JPEG file will be emailed to the e-mail address that appears in your Etsy. The PDF or JPEG file will be mailed within 48 hours of receipt of payment. Upon receipt, simply download to your computer and use!

Happy Holiday Season!

Karen Anne

"Nine Christmas Santa Elves"

Over the past several days I have enjoyed the pleasure of creating nine ACEO Christmas Elves, each has their own unique personality and derive joy from their chosen Christmas profession and helping to spread happiness throughout the Holiday Season. As I was looking at these nine charming little individuals, I thought "Wouldn't it be delightful if I could combine them all on one page?!" and so, with help of my handy dandy scanner, I created a unique art print complete with all nine Christmas Elves! 

This charming authorized art print is made on an ink jet printer using 140 pound weight white acid free card stock, size 8-1/2" x 11". The print size is a non-standard 7" x 10", and the individual elves images are slightly smaller than the regulation ACEO size of 2.5"x3.5". But for those of you who would like all nine elves, this is a unique way to do so. Besides being able to frame the entire print, one can cut them apart and use them in a variety of creative ways.



You can find the "Nine Christmas Santa Elves"  for sale in My Etsy Shop as an authorized art print.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Karen Anne Brady aka IrelandBrady