Thursday, June 23, 2011

Sea Shells -- Gifts from the Sea

Girl With Conch Shell Happy Birthday card

As a girl growing up in land-locked Kansas, I was fascinated by sea shells. I read books about the varieties of sea shells, bought shells when I could and collected the few freshwater clam shells that I found. Looking at photographs of these beautiful creatures from the sea introduced me to an exotic, beautiful world. As soon as I could, I visited beaches to collect my own. Some of my best specimens, I have to admit, I bought in shell shops, such as the conch shell my daughter is holding in my painting in the Happy Birthday card shown above. Most of the shells I've collected are small, and I arrange them in small jars with a little sand to give as gifts to other shell-lovers and beach goers. You can enjoy the beach year-round!
Jar of Sea Shells Postcard postcard

Greeting cards are another way to share sunshine, sand and sea shells. I'm among scores of Beach-lovers and Sea Shell Admirers who design cards using sea shell art and photographs at Greeting Card Universe.
Here are birthday cards featuring shells and shell collecting, left to right, by Robin's Coloring Book, Catherine Sherman, Leslie Stones, Sun at Night Studios and Catherine Sherman.


Here are cards featuring shells for other occasions. From the left, are Father's Day card by Featured Art of M.A. Nolan, Gifts of the Sea blank note card by Christian Slanec, Say it With Shells Love card by Jamie J. Rice; and Thank You for the Wedding Gift by Sheryl Kasper.


Here are charming Christmas and holiday cards featuring shell motifs. From the left are Shellebrate Christmas by Corrie Kuipers, Christmas Tree on the Beach by Elaine Presser, Turtle and Shells Season's Greetings by Dinah Green, Holiday Shellebration invitation by Corrie Kuipers; and Santa on Holiday by Martha Dryfhout.


Here are links to Blog Posts of other Greeting Card Universe artists who are featuring beach and shell-related cards:

  Seashells, Gifts From the Sea
“As a girl growing up in land-locked Kansas, I was fascinated by sea shells…”
It’s a Beautiful World, Catherine Sherman

Natural Seashells in Art
“One of the most commonly found raw materials for artists and crafters is the seashell…”
Sun at Night Studios, Sun at Night

Oh How the Sea Calls to Me!
“As a kid, I was lucky enough to spend a fair amount of my summer on road trips…”
Salon of Art, Doreen Erhardt

Tiny Treasures From the Sea
“I spoke in previous posts about how blessed I have been to have grown up near the coast…”
What Dreams May Come, Maryann Nolan

Sandy Vacations
“Summer is here and it’s time to play!”
Janet Lee Designs, Janet Palaggi

Summer’s Too Much Fun to Just Sit on the Beach
“Summer is long in Australia. We are completely surrounded by water…”
Red Rose Digital Art, Rosanne

Thinking of the Beach
“Well, we had a couple of days of 90+ degrees…”
Shelley’s Card Creations, Shelley McLeod

Silent Movie Stars Visit the Beach
“While looking for a bathing beauties picture…”
Dragonfire Graphics, Betsy Bush

Get to Know the Artist
“Summer in So Cal is usually great…”
Reel Cards, R.P. Bulanadi

Seashell by the Seashore
“Being able to spend time on the beach is definitely one of my favorite Summer Delights...”
Painted Cottage, Judith Cheng

Seashells
“ One of nature's wonders is the seashell…”
Naquiaya’s Cards, Naquaiya

When I Think of Summer
“When I think of summer, I think of the beach...”
Rycky Creations, Robin Chaffin

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Sea Shells -- Gifts from the Sea

Girl With Conch Shell Happy Birthday card

As a girl growing up in land-locked Kansas, I was fascinated by sea shells. I read books about the varieties of sea shells, bought shells when I could and collected the few freshwater clam shells that I found. Looking at photographs of these beautiful creatures from the sea introduced me to an exotic, beautiful world. As soon as I could, I visited beaches to collect my own. Some of my best specimens, I have to admit, I bought in shell shops, such as the conch shell my daughter is holding in my painting in the Happy Birthday card shown above. Most of the shells I've collected are small, and I arrange them in small jars with a little sand to give as gifts to other shell-lovers and beach goers. You can enjoy the beach year-round!
Jar of Sea Shells Postcard postcard

Greeting cards are another way to share sunshine, sand and sea shells. I'm among scores of Beach-lovers and Sea Shell Admirers who design cards using sea shell art and photographs at Greeting Card Universe.
Here are birthday cards featuring shells and shell collecting, left to right, by Robin's Coloring Book, Catherine Sherman, Leslie Stones, Sun at Night Studios and Catherine Sherman.


Here are cards featuring shells for other occasions. From the left, are Father's Day card by Featured Art of M.A. Nolan, Gifts of the Sea blank note card by Christian Slanec, Say it With Shells Love card by Jamie J. Rice; and Thank You for the Wedding Gift by Sheryl Kasper.


Here are charming Christmas and holiday cards featuring shell motifs. From the left are Shellebrate Christmas by Corrie Kuipers, Christmas Tree on the Beach by Elaine Presser, Turtle and Shells Season's Greetings by Dinah Green, Holiday Shellebration invitation by Corrie Kuipers; and Santa on Holiday by Martha Dryfhout.

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Summertime Fruits and Fruit



Rose Collage Postcard postcard


"Summer afternoon - summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language." ~ Henry James ~

The fragrance of roses all summer long, the juice of ripe fruit on our lips, a butterfly visiting a flower, a dip into a cool pool on a hot day, a gentle breeze rustling in the leaves of towering trees as we lie in their shade. Ah, summer. We can capture these pleasures in art and photography and share them with our loved ones to celebrate special occasions and just the sheer joy of every day. Here are some of my summer-themed greeting cards from Greeting Card Universe. Click on the card thumbnails to see a larger view. The thumbnails open in a new window.


Greeting Card Universe is the world's largest paper greeting card store. You can change the text and upload your own photograph to the inside of the card at no additional charge. Ship cards to your home or office, or, if you prefer, Greeting Card Universe will mail your personalized card to any address in the United States for only the cost of a stamp. It's easy!

Greeting Card Universe's motto is "Find the perfect card in our universe. Over 400,000 cards + 4,000 artists + 10, 000 categories = lots of happy customers." It's true!

Here is just a tiny sampling of the gorgeous cards offered by other Greeting Card Universe artists. From the left, Denise Beverly, Tom Rent, Sue Baumgardner, Beverly Turner, Corrie Kuipers, Karen Mezzano, Martha Dryfhout and Laura Holman.



Many of the fantastic artists at Greeting Card Universe have featured greeting cards that celebrate summer and its many pleasures on blogs, which you can find here. The first link for each artist is the blog address, the second link is the Summertime post featuring summer-themed greeting cards.

BLOG CARNIVAL I:
SUMMERTIME, AND THE LIVING IS EASY


Floating
Lemons
, Mariana Musa - Summertime at
Greeting Card Universe

The days are full of sunshine and the temperatures are slowly rising...
It's a Beautiful
World
, Catherine Sherman - Summertime
Flowers and Fruit

The fragrance of roses all summer long, the juice of ripe fruit on
our lips...

Sun at Night
Studios
, Sun at Night - Summer Celestial
Events and Art

The summer month of June is just around the corner...

What Dreams May
Come
, Maryann Nolan - Discontent for
Summers Past

Ah summertime, full of sunny days, steamy temperatures, blue skies
... I long for thee!

I Love
Cuttables
, Cindy Johns - More Father's
Day Cards

While I'm on the topic of Father's Day (see the 'funner' stuff below)...

Naquaiya's
Cards
, Naquaiya - Summertime, and
the Living Is Easy

Summer is a time for a little fun, a little soaking up some nice warm
rays...

Shelley's Card
Creations
,
Shelley McLeod
-
Is Summer Almost
Here?

Well, after two 80 degree days, we are back to 50s and raining...
Painted
Cottage
, Judith Cheng -
Summertime

Nothing beats sketching by the water after our long winter...
DogBreedz,
Peggy Mundell - Summertime, Meet
the Breed

Summer is around the corner...
Dragonfire
Graphics
, Betsy Bush - It's Summertime
and the Living is Easy!

It’s hard to believe it is approaching summer what with all the
rain we are getting in the northeast...

Salon of Art,
Doreen Erhardt - Ah, Sweet
Blessed Summertime

I was born in 1961 in a suburban area and the memories of those
summers will always make me grateful...

DB Visual
Arts
, Denise Beverly - Summertime,
Summertime, Sum, Sum, Sum, Summertime

That song always makes me sing it whether I want to or not...
Cherie's Arts 'N
Crafts
, Cherie - Summertime, and the Living Is
Easy

One of the things that I love most about summer is being able to
lay outside...

Janet Lee
Designs
, Janet Palaggi - Summertime Food
'n Fun

That`s right folks, Summer Is Finally Here...
Sheryl Kasper Card
Store
, Sheryl Kasper - Summertime
Grilling

Have you been thinking about the warm days of summer during the
cold days of winter...

Card Art From the
Heart
, Sue Baumgardner - Summertime and
the Kids' Education Goes Out the Door?

Learn how to teach your own children and as many others as you
decide to include...

Aura2000,
Aura2000 - I Love
Summer!

Maybe it's because I'm born in Summer, but I just love this time
of the year...