Mexican folk art, Woodgrain and grid lines- these are a few of my faaavorite thiiings!

One of my longest obsessions (other than paper) has been Latin American folk art. I LOVE all aspects of it. Later in this column, I share my latest ATC effort- an Encouragement ATC made with Milagros- Mexican prayer charms.
But first...
Here is this week's Studio Calico challenge- post yours by Monday the 17th to win 5 bucks to their store. Here's a link: http://studiocalico.typepad.com/studio_calico
Oh and check out their 2011 collections- they are both SO GORGEOUS!!!

Me and My Shadow 1/12/2011
Materials used: SC "Basketful" paper (from Who's Who kit), Hambly Studio textures rub-ons- brown, Fiskars Cloud punches XL and L,  Jenni Bowlin buttons- yellow and chalkboard and reverse circle alphas- brown, EK heart scallop punch, SC doilies rub-ons, DCWV brown/yellow plaid paper, Making Memories butterflies- brown, Smooch spritz- yellow, Uni-ball white and black gel pens 

I changed the background paper color to brown (from the original pea green) using "replace color" under the adjustments palette in photoshop. I had to create a layer because the yellows kept changing color too. This is a HUGE step for me- I am SCARED of photoshop. When I showed this page to my husband he said "it looks empty". Perhaps I'm FINALLY learning to step away from the embellies box? Yet I fear this "original" page is really a lift. Do you recognize someone else's page here? If so please let me know- I am TRYING to be original and that's a huge struggle for me- when a page comes together quickly my memory becomes suspect....
Ok now the Milagros project....

Encouragement ATC

Materials: Brown tissue paper, Matte glue, Milagros from Alamo2003 on Etsy,  EK scallop heart punch,  Liquitex Resin Sand additive, Ranger  Glossy Accents,  Martha Stewart micro beads, Smooch pearlized accent ink- Gold Lame

A Milagro is a Mexican prayer charm/amulet used to focus your prayers. Let's say your leg hurts. You get one of these in the shape of a leg (for realz!!), go to your local Catholic church, attach it to the robe or altar of your Saint of choice and pray that your leg is healed. I don't practice this myself but I LOVE the idea of a visual interpretation of prayer. How beautiful.

You Too Herny page by MOJO DAWN

My friend Dawn sent along another box full of gorgeous papers (this time it's K and Co's Que Sera Sera line which I adore). She also designed a couple of pages using crazed images of me. PLEEEEASE got check her site and leave love- her work is a million times better than mine:
http://mojomayhem.blogspot.com/2011/01/insert-sheepish-smile-here-hi-herneeeey.html
and
http://mojomayhem.blogspot.com/2011/01/yeah-i-went-there-again-more-fun-stuff.html
See what I mean? She's so awesome....
Wait- I meant that her work in general is fabulous- not the pages featuring me- how obnoxious of me to imply that...
ANYway, I want to thank her and her wonderful generous spirit as well as let her know I got her back if she needs it. :) Also- I have a box I've been meaning to post since OCTOBER coming your way Ms Dawny- sorry I'm such a lazy mail bum....

I tried some new techniques on this card. One was using brown tissue paper which ended up looking WHACK so I covered it up with a couple of heart punches. Then I tried adding some resin sand for texture but that looked amateurish so I used the MS gold micro beads which I've had for over a year and have been too scared to use. It's ok for a first time effort. I keep saying I need art classes so I can learn to use my stash but my Mom is like- "WOMAN just USE that stuff and LEARN!"- and as always- she's right.

So ya thought you could turn yer back... did ya?
Well I am an artist too- HA HAA!

MuChOs SmOoChEs!
M.