Donna B Miller

Feeling Hopeful

Allan K. Chalmers says, "The Grand essentials of happiness are: something to do, something to love, and something to hope for." Isn't that true? Without hopes and dreams, what would motivate us to get up every morning and tackle what life has in store for us?

And so, today's ATC looks at hope.

Image from Debrina Pratt's Etsy shop; background paper from Lorie Davison's Faerily Moonlit; stars from Lorie's Flying Dreams; background stamp from Nancie Rowe Jantiz's ATC Background brushes; star overlay from Lie Fhung's Lumoz Whimsy; and the font is Freeze!

I'm Baaack...

she says in her best Jack Nicholson voice. (This really works well in real life, but I'm not sure it translates to blogging.)

One of the most frustrating things about dealing with a chronic illness is that it's difficult to make plans. With fibromyalgia, you just don't know what you're going to be capable of doing from one day to the next. So, it looks like it's going to take me two months to do a month worth of ATCs. So be it. But I will get it done.

So, here's the 15th card in my Moods series. Today, the word is Content.

The photo is from Debrina Pratt's Etsy shop; background and design elements from New Life Design's All Things Grow with Love kit; and the font is FO-Empty Wrapper.

Over at Digital Art Quirks, we have a number of fun challenges going on. This week's Quirkle challenge was to use newsprint, a child's toy, and an Asian font or symbols. I've been re-reading Nick Bantock's Urgent 2nd Class, so I opted to try my hand at a technique he used in his work, Boxing a Zulu.

Papers from Maya's Old World Treasures and brushes from her Buddhist Way; overlays from Something Blue's Mostly Antique Photo Textures; and photo from Lavandula78, flickr.

Finding Peace

I have two children, and they're as different as night and day. My daughter is high-energy, always taking on new projects, taking on the world. My son, on the other hand, is always content with where he is and what he's doing. He was born at peace with himself. Me? I'm more like my daughter, but I'm working to incorporate my son's attitude into my own life. I'd like to slow down, to be more thoughtful about how I spend my days and hours, to find peace and contentment in whatever life throws my way.

The child in today's ATC reminds me of my son. She look's so trusting and peaceful.

Vintage photo from Debrina Pratt's Etsy shop; everything else from New Life Design's All Things Grow with Love. The font is Texas Hero.

Some Things Never Change

I laughed out loud when I saw the face of this little boy in today's ATC. I've seen that look on my own son's face many, many times, especially when I'm trying to take his photo. It's obvious that this little guy is irritated by the whole process, and just wants it to be over so that he can go play.

Vintage photo courtesy of takeabreak, flickr; everything else from the Catherine Designs/Create Wing's collab, Creation 23.

Doing Double Duty

Scrap Orchard's Altered Hearts ATC challenge this week is to illustrate happiness. I love that I can participate in the challenge while working toward my goal of doing an ATC a day on moods. When I saw this little girl, I thought "chipper."

Vintage photo from Sherrie JD's Baby, Oh Baby; stitching from her ATC stitches; everything else from the Irene Alexeeva/Laurie Ann collab, Land of Odds.

To Be Satisfied

What does it take for us to be satisfied? For some, it's money in the bank. For others, it's having enough food on the table. My father defines it as "having enough money to go into Wal-Mart and never thinking twice about buying what you want." (Yes, my dad is a bit of a character.) For this little girl, satisfaction appears to come with two dolls and a bear.

Photo courtesy of sPaRK*YouR*iMaGiNaTioN, flickr; papers and overlays from New Life Design's 1001 Nights; and the font is Casteller.

The Same, But Different

One of the most interesting things about doing this series of ATCs is how different each one is from the others. I'm using the exact same technique, yet depending on the papers and photos chosen, they each have taken on a life of their own. Today's subject is Serene.

Vintage photo couresy of sassyarts, flickr; papers from the Tangie Baxter's ATC First Edition; and elements from New Life Design's Dream World. The font is Blackadder.

Like the White Rabbit...

I'm running late again. But the reason for my procrastination is also my inspiration. Tied up with Easter preparations, I didn't have time to create yesterday, but the colors of Easter and spring inspired today's piece.

Paper and ink overlay from Lily Design's Easter freebie; vintage image from flickr; and the font is Bernhard Modern.

Week Two of my Personal ATC Challenge

So here's the eighth in my series of ATCs featuring moods. I totally fell in love with this image of this little girl in her overalls and oversized hat. The first word that came to mind when I saw her was spunky, so that is what I went with.

Paper and alpha from Kathryn Balint's Little Jake; image from Playingwithbrushes at flickr; flourish brush from Cottage Arts; butterfly from Annie Manning; and ticket and staple from Christina Renee.

Feeling Thoughtful

Well, I've made it through the first week of my goal to complete an ATC every day this month. When they're finished, I plan to have them printed on playing cards at ArtsCow, and to house them in a Small Studio Productions' ATC shrine kit.

Today's mood is thoughtful. This little girl looks so much like my youngest sister when she was small that it's a little scary.

 

Paper and overlays from Catherine Designs/Create Wings collab Creation 23; photo from Sea Dream Studio, flickr; and the font is Affliction.