Halloween Card & Mirror Divination Box

Recently, I came across a Halloween challenge by Alpha Stamps. The rule was to use at least one Alpha Stamp rubber stamp or collage sheet image in each of the projects. For helping to spread the word about the challenge, you even got a free copy of the Halloween Romance collage sheet. That very collage sheet inspired me to get an early start on Halloween projects, so I first made this romantic Halloween card:

The card has a few 3 D elements including two brads in the form of autumn leaves.

I also added gold glitter for a glamor effect.

However, my bigger project was a Halloween mirror divination box. Once again I was inspired by the collage sheet images.

I had a small wooden box with four sections which I first painted with gesso.

Then I painted the box orange -- first the back, ...

... then the front.

I added a peg to hang the box on the wall later.

Then it was time to choose the images for each box section. First, there's this lady with some glitter who sees her future husband in the mirror. In the shadow, there's a lurking witch.

Then there's this young man who also takes a glance into the mirror on Halloween.

Finally, there's this charming young lady who also sees her lover in the mirror.

Of course, the most important part of the divination box is the mirror in the fourth section. I used a rub-on sticker to decorate it.

Then came the fun part -- I decorated the box with fibers and decorative elements like the metal pumpkin you see below. I also added a few quotes:

If in the mirror your lover is seen
You'll surely be happy on Hallowe'en!

May fate reveal by candle's gleam
your own True Love on Hallowe'en.

A grinning Jack-o-lantern in the middle of the box.

There is a maid for every man
And every man be free
At this last hour of Hallowe'en
By him to find the "She."

A witch's broom is right next to the mirror.

On Halloween, I will surely look into the mirror and wonder whom I will see then.

So -- Happy Halloween!

Pink orchid and shirts

During summer sale I found two shirts for cooler days. One has a lovely raspberry color ...

... and the other one has dark pink stripes.

I know I will enjoy wearing them at the end of summer -- and they are great to share with you for Beverly's Pink Saturday.

Happy Pink Saturday!

R is for Recycling

Recycling is an important topic, thus it's perfect for Jenny's Alphabe-Thursday. In Germany, recycling is big. From How To Germany - All About Recycling:

"Recycling is Germany's contribution to the global battle for the environment, and the country has been very successful in its fight against growing garbage heaps. But the whole subject of recycling can be a daunting issue for any newcomer to the country."

Oh yes, that's so very true... Here in Munich, we have three different kinds of garbage bins right in front of each house:

The brown bin for biological waste (e.g. kitchen waste like coffee powder and filters, fruit and vegetable waste like peels and fruit stones and garden waste like grass clippings and weeds), ...

... the blue bin for paper (e.g. newspapers, cartons and the like), ...

... and finally the gray bin for residual waste (practically that stuff you can't recycle anyway else, so this bin usually ends up being rather empty).

Cans, plastic bottles and boxes, beverage cartons and the like should be brought to recycling bins which you find somewhere in the neighborhood.

For a lot of bottles you have to pay a deposit which you get back when you return the bottles to a store. Other bottles and glass should be recycled. There are different bins for depositing green, brown and clear glass.

That's the stuff I recycled the other day -- two plastic bags (which I re-use for collecting recycling waste) full of cans, plastic bottles, milk cartons and the like.

Those recycling bins are a frequent sight.

There's even one for clothes and shoes.

Ceramics, wood, electrical appliances, an excess of garden waste, old furniture and matresses and stuff like that must be brought to a local recycling depot. Below you see the one nearest to my place.

From How To Germany -- All About Recycling:

"No arguing that all this sorting can sound a bit much. [...] Despite the extra effort and diligence required by First World Recycling, it does provide a sense of pride to know that you actually managed to figure out the German recycling system - something for your résumé, no doubt!"

For a more thorough read about recycling be sure to read whole article -- All About Recycling.

Happy Recycling!

Q is for Quote

For Jenny's Alphabe-Thursday I want to share a favorite quote by William Blake with you:

To see a world in a grain of sand,

And a heaven in a wild flower,

Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,

And eternity in an hour.

Book Bus

Nearly every Tuesday I go to the book mobile which is called Bücherbus (Book Bus). It's blue, it's shiny, it's huge -- and it's filled with hundreds of books.

In my childhood I had loved the Book Bus which came to my school. Do you remember that feeling when you came home with a bag full of books -- the joy, the anticipation? I still feel that way! My neighborhood doesn't have a library, but each Tuesday it's time for the Book Bus.

Let's go inside!
(Stadtbibliothek = city library)

That's one side of the Book Bus filled with travel literature, fiction, new books, and a small selection of English books. The ladies asked me to mention that the selection is smaller than usually since it's vacation time. In fact, the Book Bus will first come again in September.

That's the section with children's literature.

Here you see nonfiction, DVDs, CDs, computer games, and finally magazines at the far side. Oh, and then there's the bus driver who also checks out the books at the little desk he is leaning on.

The modest selection of DVDs, but at times you get lucky and find just the movie you had wanted to see for some time.

The even more modest selection of English books. Fortunately, you can order books from the whole library system in Munich.

That's the nook I first check when I enter the Book Bus. It's where the ordered books are stacked.

Here are the two kind ladies who take back the books and help you with orders. Mrs. Grüger is on the left. She is the manager of this very Book Bus and just helped out for a colleague who normally works here. However, Mr. Schulz is kind of shy and wouldn't have allowed to have his photo taken anyway. Mrs. Hunzinger on the right is the regular Book Bus lady who is always friendly and helpful.

You can bet that I left the bus with quite a full bag once again. By the way, if you ever want to join a really great online book group, please check out On the Porch Swing. I have been a member for a couple of years and just love the book talk.

La Femme

Mary from Green Paper has a new challenge for August. I made the digital collage below from the pictures she provided.

Happy Friendship Day

A friendship card I made for a challenge at We Love Digital Art:

Happy Friendship Day
to all of you!

P is for Peppy

Once again the outdoor market Auer Dult (or shortly Dult) takes place in Munich. I took some pink photos for the Pink Saturday crowd and made a YouTube movie clip of all my photos and movies with some peppy music for the Jenny's Alphabe-Thursday. So get ready for a walk over the market and fairground!

So much to see and discover.

A pink apron.

Beautiful tableware from Italy.

Sweet Lissy.

Aufgebrezelt is a Bavarian expression for dressed up.

Glass heart pendants.

Candles made from beeswax.

A cute dog toy -- and it's partly pink.

Candy.

A beautiful pink scarf.

Up in the air.

Beauty queen.

Pots.

Have you already watched the movie with the peppy music? No? So do it now and visit the Auer Dult together with me!