Normandy Beaches

 

Today we are headed back to France, specifically Normandy.

Today we are visiting the beaches of Normandy.  Details are below.

 

The beaches of Normandy are famous for being the site of the D-Day landings during World War II. The five landing beaches are Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword.  Each played a critical role in the Allied invasion of German occupied France.  

 

On June 6, 1944, more than 156,000 soldiers, sailors, and paratroopers crossed the English Channel and stormed five Normandy beaches in a coordinated effort that would change the course of World War II.  

 

This massive feat known as Operation Overlord, remains the largest amphibious invasion in history.  It is a key reason many travelers choose to visit the D-Day beaches while in France.

 

Five beaches were targeted: Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword.  Allied troops led primarily by the United States, Great Britain, and Canada prepared for the attack.

 

An elaborate deception plan, known as Operation Fortitude, convinced the Germans the invasion would be further north, at Pas de Calais, the narrowest point between Britain and France. When the actual attacks took place about 217 miles (350 kilometers) away, German high command was slow to move.

 

Starting in the west, the landing zone encompasses five primary D-Day beaches: Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword.  Utah was covered by the Americans, Gold  by the British, Juno by the Canadians, and Sword by the British and free French troops.  They found "relatively" little resistance.  The same cannot be said about Omaha beach.  There were intense battles and high casualties.  Over 2400 American soldiers lost their lives in the first day of battle, earning the beach its nickname “Bloody Omaha” in the process.  All information taken from various sites on the internet and a library book on WWII.

 

I began with an image of the Omaha beach grave site (where more than 10,000 U.S. soldiers are buried), found in a travel brochure.  I computer generated the words, which I cut and outlined in turquoise dye ink.  I then outlined the outside of the 5.5 X 8.5 inch (13.97 X 21.59 centimeter) cardstock in brown dye ink.  It appears I cropped the top of the cardstock.

 

Bleubeard and I are incredibly pleased you stopped by today, and hope to also see you at Art Journal Journey (even if we can't leave you a comment) with your own interpretation of Anywhere, Anytime, Any Place, with Anyone.

 

 

Take a chance, Reward Yourself

I'm sure you know by now that Bleubeard and I are hosting Art Journal Journey (AJJ) this month.  Our theme for the entire month is Anywhere, Anytime, Any Place, with Anyone.

Be aware please, even though I read each post linked through AJJ, I can't leave comments on any blog, including my own. 

Today Bleubeard and I have two pages for you.

Roll the dice.  Take a chance.  Details are below.

 

I began this page by laying down metallic turquoise acrylic paint onto 110 lb. cardstock.  While the paint was drying, I computer generated the sentiment which I cut and colored, first with yellow, then orange watercolor pencils.  When the paint was dry, I adhered the Chance cards from my very old Monopoly game.  I auditioned several embellishments, including hearts, buttons, and keys, but none seemed to work with the page.  In the end, I left it plain. 

 

For my second page,

 

I call this Reward Yourself.  Details are below.

 

I began by laying down the bottom two Community Chest cards from my old Monopoly game.  I carefully adhered the TH paper doll to one of the cards.  The other card was for the doll to lean against.  However, as I was leaning the doll against the top card, it shifted as I was gluing it in place.  By the time I noticed, the glue had already started to set.  So much for my careful planning.

 

Regardless, thank you beyond belief for visiting today, even though I am unable to leave comments on any blog including my own.  Bleubeard and I would love to see you at Art Journal Journey with your own interpretation of Anywhere, Anytime, Any Place, with Anyone (or Any Thing).   

 

 

Lyon, France

 

As most of you know by now, Bleubeard and I are hosting Art Journal Journey (AJJ) this month.  Please be aware, however, we are unable to leave comments on any blog, including this one, even though I visit each and every link left at AJJ.   

Today Bleubeard and I are visiting Lyon, France.  Details are below.

 

 

I began this page by laying down turquoise dye ink through a stencil.  When dry, I added the computer generated words and the image I found in a travel brochure.  

 

Bleubeard and I are incredibly pleased you stopped by and hope to see you at Art Journal Journey (even if Bleubeard and I can't leave you a comment) with your own interpretation of Anywhere, Anytime, Any Place, with Anyone.  Thanks beyond belief for sticking with us through this trying ordeal!

  

 

Messy and more

 

By now I'm sure you are aware that Bleubeard and I are hosting Art Journal Journey (AJJ) this month.  Our theme for the entire month is Anywhere, Anytime, Any Place, with Anyone.

Please note, even though I read each post you share on AJJ, I STILL can't leave comments on any blog, including my own.  Yesterday I asked Blogger AI to solve the problem.  Sadly, I got no helpful information.

Today I have two altered book pages to share.

This was a disaster I turned into a floportunity.  Instead of looking for dye ink, I adhered red fluid acrylic to a wood mounted red rubber stamp.  When I didn't get the results I hoped for, I added water to the stamp.  The water turned the fluid acrylic into a watercolor.  It also dripped on the page when I attempted to stamp.

 

Because I didn't want to give up on the page, I decided to create a sentiment that I wrote using a black Posca pen.  The page buckled so badly, I decided to adhere it to my latest altered book.

 

I added a small strip of washi tape that had hearts.  Next, I will show the page I originally had planned when I started this, but I will use dye ink instead.

 

Above is the mess I made when I tried to use fluid acrylic paint on the wood mounted red rubber stamp. 

 

  Thankfully, I found red dye ink, so this is the page I originally pictured in my head when I started.  Details are below.

 

No matter how much I try, practice does not make me a better stamper.  However, it is definitely better than what I attempted on the Messy page.   Once the ink was dry on the page, I added the computer generated sentiment and the lady I colored to match the heart.  I found her in one of my magazines.  Next I laid down the washi tape on which the TH paper doll could stand.  I then adhered the paper doll.

 

Bleubeard and I are incredibly thrilled you stopped by and hope to also see you at Art Journal Journey (even though we can't leave you a comment) with your own interpretation of Anywhere, Anytime, Any Place, with Anyone. 

 

 

 

The view from my kitchen window

 

As you probably know by now, Bleubeard and I are hosting Art Journal Journey (AJJ) this month.  Please be aware, however, I am unable to leave comments on any blog, including my own, even though I visit each and every link left at AJJ.   

This is entitled The view from my kitchen window.  Details are below.

 

I found this image in a calendar I picked up in California years ago.  There were 12 really unusual images, but this one really spoke to me.  The background was created on a 9 X 14 inch (22.86 X 35.56 centimeter) sheet of 140 lb. watercolor paper.  It was too large for the scanner, but I did the best I could.  I began laying three glazes on the page.  While they were still wet, I adhered a piece of dressmaker pattern, several portions of book pages, and a piece of lace I cut from a Martha Stewart punch I bought on clearance one year.

 

Once dry, which took overnight, I added the calendar page and the sentiment.  To be honest, I would find this view depressing if I had to look at it every day.

 

Thank you so much for visiting today.  I hope you will join Bleubeard and me at Art Journal Journey (even though we can't leave comments) with your own interpretation of Anywhere, Anytime, Any Place, with Anyone.    

 

 

Important holiday and dates today

  

You surely know by now that Bleubeard and I are hosting Art Journal Journey (AJJ) this month.  Our theme for the entire month is Anywhere, Anytime, Any Place, with Anyone.

Be aware please, even though I read each post you link through AJJ, I can't leave comments on any blog, including my own.  I believe it's a blogger problem.

And because I have a ton of media, I'm also joining Creative Artiste and their 123rd Challenge (their theme is always Anything mixed media goes), even though I can't leave any comments to my visitors from their blog, either.

This is an important day, culturally.  Both Mardi Gras and Chinese New Year (CNY) land on this date in 2026.  Details are below.

 

I began by adhering Joss papers to the 8.5 X 11 inch (21.59 X 27.94 centimeter) 110 lb. cardstock.  I adhered the NOLA (New Orleans, Louisiana) court house and statue to the page.  I glued the Mardi Gras masks in place.  I then adhered the lanterns, which are German scrap.  Next, I added the sentiments and the date.  

 

Pancake Day, or Shrove Tuesday, is the day before Lent begins, traditionally celebrated by eating pancakes to use up rich ingredients like eggs and milk before the fasting period. There is a famous celebration in Olney, Buckinghamshire, England and Liberal, Kansas (USA).  The friendly competition between Liberal and Olney, with women running 415 yards down the streets of each town flipping pancakes, has been going on for 73 years.  It is still the only race of its kind on the planet.  As of Pancake Day, 2025, there have been 42 wins for Liberal and 31 for Olney.

 

For the bottom half, I adhered the 60 symbols Joss paper which doesn't contain any gold or silver.  As an aside, Joss paper is also known as incense paper.  It is meant to be folded and burned.  Joss paper is traditionally made from coarse bamboo paper, which feels handmade, although rice paper might also be used.  Traditional Joss paper is cut into individual squares or rectangles.  Never burn these papers, even though they were meant to be burned.  Joss paper emits toxic components from the gold or silver.  This causes health risks because there is a significant amount of heavy metals in the dust, fumes, and ashes.

 

For the center of the Joss paper, I included a Chinese coin to which I added a piece of wood which I wrapped in fabric.  I then added the red envelope, which is traditionally given to children on CNY.  To the envelope I adhered a Chinese yen coin.  Finally, I added the sentiments.  This is the year of the male (yang) red Fire Horse.  Today is also the start of year 4723.

 

Bleubeard and I are incredibly delighted you stopped by on this holiday, and hope to also see you at Art Journal Journey and Creative Artiste (even if we can't leave you a comment) with your own interpretation of Anywhere, Anytime, Any Place, with Anyone or Anything mixed media goes.