Butterflies in February

"Butterflies" -- the bi-weekly theme for Gothic Arches.  Nancy Maxwell James has created another fabulous inspiration, and her creation will be joined by other artists'  beautiful arches over the next two weeks.

Hearts in an Arch

"Hearts" is the latest bi-weekly theme on Gothic Arches.  Alcohol ink on glossy cardstock, background stamp embossed in white, diecut hearts, vintage "sweetheart,"  some ribbon and pink pearls comprise the arch.

A Faerie Gothic Arch

The current theme for Gothic Arches is "Faerie."  

A Gothic Arch with Snowflakes

The two-week theme for Gothic Arches is "Snowflakes." I've chosen a lovely winter image that was a freebie from Dezina's World.

Shimmer comes from Pearl Glimmer Mist.

Two Gothic Arches in one post.....

Even with challenges lasting two weeks on Gothic Arches, I just didn't get around to making a 'Text' arch, although I love the idea.  So I'm combining the previous challenge with the present one--"Baubles."  

A "Night" Gothic Arch

"Day and Night" is the current theme on Gothic Arches, and I've chosen "night" for this arch.  (Hopefully, I'll do a 'day' one next week.)  A Nicecrane arch features an image from an unknown source.

One of those little matchboxes.....

The challenge on Gothic Arches this week is "Matchbox"  These are fun little items to work with, but I haven't used them for awhile.  All of the images are from DezinaWorld

"Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer, do....."

The theme this week on Gothic Arches is "Daisies."  For the second time, I've created a 'hybrid' arch:  part cut-and-paste and part digital manipulation.  The daisy background is a photograph I took this summer of one of my Shasta daisies; the vintage image is from DezinaWorld. The crocheted edging is from Graphic 45.  

Below are the 'supplies' for my arch:  color photo of the daisy, photo converted to sepia with Adobe Elements, DezinaWorld collage sheet.

Back to School with a Gothic Arch

The cute blue-hued image of Victorian schoolchildren is from Graphics Fairy, a perfect choice for the "School Days" theme on Gothic Arches.   The images were cut out and raised with foam dots on another copy of the scene.

A Gothic Arch with a Crown

"Crowns" is the theme chosen by Amy of Paper & Gluestix for this week's Gothic Arches challenge. (The dour little girl doesn't seem to appreciate her crown, does she?)
(Digital Collage Images on a background from Art Creations Friday  stamped with a collage of keys.)

Whooooo???? An Owl for Gothic Arches

It's very rare for me to use any kind of animal in my stamping or crafting, unless it's a lizard---but that's another story.  However, the theme for Gothic Arches this week is "Owls."   I was glad to find free photos of owls on the internet, particularly this  striking example.  (In spite of forays into bird books, I cannot identify the particular species of owl.)

Gothic Arches has a new theme: Marie Antoinette

It's been a few weeks of open theme on Gothic Arches, but Kris Dickinson is hosting this week, and she has chosen Marie Antoinette as the theme. (Jewels are blue-green.)

Still working on Gothic Arches

There so many wonderful creators of Gothic Arches, and I am always studying the collage techniques.  And I keep on practicing. There's an open theme on the Gothic Arches blog, so I've been practicing every week.

Another "open theme" Gothic Arch

I believe I was the last person to post an arch on Gothic Arches, but I'll continue playing!  It's really quite enjoyable! 

Those fun Gothic Arches

It's depressingly rainy in NE Oregon again (unusual for this time of year) and my 'favorites' aren't winning the US Open golf tournament....so I worked on a Gothic Arch for the open theme.  I'm so impressed by arches posted on the blog and on the Flickr site; they inspire me to work on some of my own.   

Sunday's Gothic Arch

Gothic Arches has an open theme this week, so I experimented with a collage of printed and stamped designer papers for the background.

Finally.....another Gothic Arch

It's been several weeks, I think, since I've made a Gothic Arch.  Most of the problem lay with the incapacitated scanner/printer.  However, all is well again and I can scan, resize, and print.   "Openings" is the theme this week; doorways are an obvious choice. The little girl has a badminton racket/raquet....maybe with an eye on the little "birdie" above the door!  

Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa, men have named you........

"You're so like the lady with the mystic smile..."   Remember Nat King Cole?   The theme for Gothic Arches this week is "Mona Lisa."  ( I'm glad that I photographed my arch before my 16-month-old great-niece pulled off two of the butterflies.  I saved them just as she was putting them into her mouth. Isn't she the cutest thing?)

A Fold-Out Gothic Arches Card

Mucha images from Altered Pages are featured on my Gothic Arches fold-out card. 

Gothic Arches .... Open Theme

This double arch for Gothic Arches this week was a big project for me:  I knew what I wanted to do, but I wasn't certain how to do it!  As it turned out, I used up an entire 12x12 piece of the lime green cardstock before I succeeded in getting the arch I needed.  The little girl is from Chicks57's Vintage Photos Flickr site.