"Christmas Joy and Children" is today's Gothic Arches theme, and how perfect. Nothing at all compares to the joy that children bring, and at Christmas time, this joy seems to radiate and intensify.
The glittery children in my arch were actually done for something else altogether. As it turned out, they didn't work at all for that piece and I was really not pleased with all the layers of glitter, so I scrapped it.
A long time ago I learned to re-define the word "scrap". It no longer has anything to do with the dust bin. In fact, "scrap" gets filed by type and category, or more often, just thrown into a semi-organized heap. This way I can draw from it for new pieces, and I so often find that one piece's scrap is just what it takes to complete another collage.
This particular scrap was originally a much larger piece of clip art from Dover, but when I resurrected it for this piece I cut out the part that I felt might work and glued it to a piece of background paper from Bohemia. Then up went the tree and it's ornaments and an edge of gold was added to the border with the same gold used to write the "joy". I ended with a few rub-ons that fit-in so well with the background that my son referred to them as the "Where's Waldo"s (the one at the top is kind of obvious).
All-in-all, this was a fun theme to illustrate. And in keeping with today's theme, may you all have a Happy Christmas, overflowing with all that brings you joy!
Lovely bright colours! Love the expressions on the children's faces. Delightful!
Judy NZ
Posted by: Judy | December 17, 2007 at 01:50 AM
This is lovely; it's so satisfying to use up all those bits and pieces, isn't it? I don't throw very much away either; it always comes in useful for something!
Posted by: spiralsun65 | December 17, 2007 at 02:34 AM
Beautiful arch.
Posted by: Hermine | December 17, 2007 at 03:38 AM
Wonderful arch!
Posted by: Sija | December 17, 2007 at 03:55 AM
Beautiful!
Posted by: Jacqueline | December 17, 2007 at 06:03 AM
this is so lovely! the image and colors so rich! love the added sparkle! :)
Posted by: Nancy Maxwell James | December 17, 2007 at 07:23 AM
Darling arch!
Posted by: Caryl | December 17, 2007 at 09:52 AM
Wow this is a fantastic arch. Brilliant work.
Posted by: Sandy | December 17, 2007 at 10:24 AM
Gorgeous, Gorgeous!!!
Debby
Posted by: Debby | December 17, 2007 at 10:42 AM
So colorful and pretty, nice word "JOY"
Posted by: ~*~ Patty | December 17, 2007 at 11:47 AM
I just loved hearing the process you took to get to this gorgeous ARCH. Lovely Barbara
Posted by: Barbara | December 17, 2007 at 04:16 PM
This Arch is fabulous, great work
Posted by: Myriame | December 18, 2007 at 12:05 AM
Wow...your arch is great! Really, really pretty.
Posted by: Kriss Cramer | December 18, 2007 at 10:03 AM
A sparkly and wonderful arch
Posted by: Frieda Oxenham | December 18, 2007 at 10:45 AM
Beautful arch love the colour.
Happy Holidays
crissi xx
Posted by: crissi | December 19, 2007 at 04:47 AM
I can't believe it wasn't planned. Beautiful!
Posted by: Cathy | December 20, 2007 at 06:27 PM
i love your arch and also the definition of ''scrap'' i will remember that!
Posted by: Pauline | December 21, 2007 at 10:59 PM