/* */ Beulah Bee: February 2015

February 26, 2015

Miss Divine

I am in love with Miss Divine.

It's an image I'm sure to use again (and maybe again).

She must have moved a bit during the photo shoot as her clothing is a bit fuzzy but her face is beautiful.

The cameo, the curls, the mysterious hint of red, oh be still my heart!

I collaged some Ideo-ology Tissue Wrap and pages from the French Industrial Paper Stash after transferring the image with gel medium.

I used a gelly roll pen, a bit of acrylic paint and white Distress Stain to bring out some of the paper's scroll work then Black Soot to distress the edges of the tag.


If you'd like to use the image, I found it here. I'm linking it to the Monday blog challenge at SSS--this week's theme is anything goes.

February 25, 2015

Cactus Ballet


This is a collage piece I pasted in a moleskin journal using magazine scraps and book pages. It's just glue and paper and a bit of fussy-cutting. I'm linking it to this month's challenge at Art Journal Journey where the theme is birds, beasts and humans.

The cactus are Saguaros and only grow in the Sonoran Desert. I have one in my yard. It grows about one foot per year and it takes a very long time before they get "arms." They are protected by the government so they don't become endangered and provide food and shelter for a variety of desert birds. When they die, they leave a skeleton of woody tubes which hold the precious water they need to survive.

February 20, 2015

My Paradise

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When I was a kid, my family spent every weekend in the summer camping in the mountains of Colorado. But I married a man who doesn't share my love of the outdoors and roughing-it so, that is that.

But when prompted by the Monday blog challenge at Simon Says Stamp to create a piece of paradise, I just couldn't help but paint a journal page about my ideal.

Nothing would make me happier than to pack up a home on wheels and spend the rest of my days traveling round the countryside.

I gessoed a two-page spread in my large Dylusions journal, penciled-in a sketch, went over it with magic marker, and used plain old craft paint for tint.

The only rule I followed regarding color choices is one I always keep in mind--warm colors appear closer than cool colors:

  • The moon is white (cool)
  • The windows in the camper are yellow (warm)
  • The mountains are blue-ish purple (cool)
  • The grass is olive green (warm)

It was more than the usual amount of fun to make because it struck such an emotional chord. I have to thank the Design Team at SSS for a great prompt this week!

February 15, 2015

The Marker

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Almost always, I have several long moments of crazy when working on a collage like this.

It begins with choosing what elements to use then escalates into a madness deciding where to put them.

I move things around over and over until I get a headache and then say to myself, "this is insane."

I think of artists whose work has a random and spontaneous quality that I greatly admire--they make it look easy but IT IS NOT!


When I come across a great photo like this one, however, I have no choice but to subject myself to such torture. Then I add to my misery trying to decide which of the endless Remnant Rub word combinations to use.

I'm linking it to the Monday blog challenge at SSS for one more chance at the $50 prize. This week's theme is red and pink.

And the craziest part of all?

I enjoy it!

February 12, 2015

Dear Thelma


My dear friend Thelma (I'm Louise), introduced me to rubber stamping a few years ago and, without sounding overly dramatic, my life (and my storage requirements) have never been the same since.

This is the card she will receive from me this year which began as an image transfer on watercolor paper, then resist embossing, layers of distress ink and lacey ribbons added to embellish.

The shiny border dots are Liquid Pearls, a 3-D paint by Ranger that's a bit tricky to apply but creates a great effect when you want some old-fashioned glam.

I'm linking to the Monday blog challenge at SSS where this week's theme is Red and Pink.

February 09, 2015

Best Day Ever


All the paper bits for this tag came from Tim's Crowded Attic paper stash. His February tag features a collage theme so I cut and distressed the background like he demonstrated.

For embellishments, I used Crackle Accents on the frame edge, an Ephemera Pack label, Remant Rubs, a small Arrow Adornment, a Number Brad, washi tape and some gingham ribbon.

Here's a tip about the Ephemera Pack label: They are made with vellum and are semi-transparent but I painted the backside with white acrylic to alter its appearance.

I also used a touch of gold paint on the arrow and brad and filled in the number with red.

Best day ever? For me it's this Saturday when my husband and I will celebrate our 34th wedding anniversary.

Happy Valentine's Day!