Today's Winner Is

Jim Doran

Random.org has spoken:

Congrats, Jim! I’ll be in touch today with info on how to claim your 250 custom stickers from Uprinting.com. Enjoy!!

Thanks to everyone who entered! It was fun to read all of your sticker ideas. If you are curious, Jim said "If I won this, I'd probably print the words "I love YOU. (yes...you)" and anonymously leave the stickers around work to make people happy (I work in a hospital...and a lot of folks there could use a pat on the back)." Now how cool is that!

Tune back in later today to sign up for the next random drawing. The next lucky winner will be drawn on Thursday 7/30.

Shoot that RTT all the way to the moon!

Welcome back to Random Thoughts Tuesday!

Grab a button & play along - it's a great excuse to siphon off some of that chatter in your head

Slacker that I am, I missed Musical Monday

From my Man, I really need to wake up today mix (best when played too loud)

Anyone remember The Steven Banks Show? Funny Man. Now & then I've wondered whatever happened to him. Didn't realize he's been writing for Nickelodeon all this time. Just read today that he's collaborated with Pilobolus (<- warning there's some tasteful skin at this link, don't want to offend anyone. Ooh that sounds sooo woosie...) on their newest "shadow work", Do*id. Sounds very cool & a far cry from the howling dog & bunny shadow-casting I learned at summer camp a million years ago. CLICK HERE sample of their commercial work from 2007

I'm sure you've heard by now that today is the 40th anniversary of the 1st man on the moon. The NY Times Science Times section is devoted to it today. The article on the non-believers is fascinating. Can you tell I read the paper instead of working this morning ? Shh...don't tell

I need more coffee

I remember reading a Ray Bradbury short story 25+ years ago where some astronauts (one may have been named Hitchcock) accidentally see the dark side of the moon ( or some planet -I don't recall) & it is full of scaffolding. Turns out the whole thing was fake. Can't remember the title to save my life - anyone? anyone?

Remember all those great Twilight Zone episodes when misc. astronauts got totally messed with? Those were awesome.

Tom Banwell continues to rock my world with this tentacle tutorial !

I am totally digging these blogs lately: propnomicon , Sandra Evertson, Us & Them

And of course The Un Mom, Grand Poobah of RTT.

OH, and what would you do with 250 custom stickers from Uprinting.com? Leave your answer in the comments to be entered in Thursday's random drawing. For sponsor's disclaimers & details CLICK HERE

IF - Hollow

the huldra

Found in fairy stories throughout Scandinavia, she is also known as skogsrå and holda, among other names. She is a beautiful woman in front but her backside looks like a hollow tree. Some Huldra also have tails, often either cow or fox. Should you encounter a huldra, it is considered dangerous to comment on her tail, unless it is done with the utmost delicacy. For instance, if you politely tell her her "garter" or "slip" is showing she may grant you healthy cattle or good fishing according to legend. It is also said that if she blows on a hunter's rifle, he will never miss a shot.

The huldra is often considered a protector of woods and woodland critters. A seductive creature, she is famous for collecting human lovers as well as for her mercurial nature. She can be just as easily pleased as offended. And you do NOT want to offend her.

She also has a reputation for stealing children & leaving changelings.You can find out more about this lovely lady by clicking on the above links. There are also some entertaining folktales around the web.

As soon as I saw that the Illustration Friday prompt was Hollow, I remembered this creature - of all the faeries I read about as a kid, for some reason she really gave me the willies. Couldn't recall her name, but google settled that while distracting me with some wonderful tales. Originally I was going to make a little clay sculpture, but then I remembered this cool fern-patterned paper I've had for ages. I also checked DeviantArt for some models & found that the stock photos of Tw1sted Truth & WakenTheDead Stock fit the bill

If you get a chance CLICK HERE & see what other fun pieces have been submitted to Illustration Friday this week. Or even better, submit your own!

I've decided I'd better start paying more attention to my neglected Etsy Shops, so this piece is now available. Just click HERE for info & detailed pics of The Huldra. Hopefully I'll get some more pieces listed this week.

Final note: New giveaway this week. 1 random winner to be drawn on 7/16. Prize is 250 customized stamps from UPrinting.com. What would you do with 250 free stickers, designed by You? Just leave an answer in comments to be entered in drawing. The prize sponsor, Uprinting.com does have a couple of disclaimers. CLICK HERE for details

New Giveaway! 250 Free Stickers of YOUR design

It is that time again!

Time for you to jump aboard the giveaway train!

The last prize was customized by me. If you want to find out who won the Art Box , click HERE.

This Prize will be designed by YOU! Now how cool is that!

This week’s Thursday Giveaway sponsor is

They print just about everything, from business cards to wall banners & a variety of items in between.

They also print Custom Stickers!!

1 lucky winner will receive 250 Free Custom Stickers of their own design. Imagine what you could do with these!! Promote your business or blog. Use them in the kitchen, label your stuff, or just show off your cool artwork. The possibilities are endless!

This giveaway is a little different than my usual. Normally you just sign in before Thursday to be included in the random drawing. This week the folks over at UPrinting.com are asking: How would you use 250 custom stickers? Just leave your answer in the comment section of this blog before noon (EST) on 7/16 to be entered in this awesome random drawing.

The sponsor also has a few disclaimers:

Giveaway is open to US/CAN residents only (sorry International readers). Shipping of prizes is not included and must be paid by winner. UPrinting.com reserves the right not to print obscene or offensive materials.

All designs submitted in the form of a giveaway may be used by UPrinting.com for online marketing and promotional uses. The designs will be used solely as examples and not be printed or commercially distributed.

Also, please be sure your contact info is correct. You don't have to leave an email, as long as I can track you down easily through blogger. If I do not hear from you within 5 days of your name being drawn, I'll go back through the list and choose an alternate winner.

The winner will be announced shortly after noon (EST) on Thursday July 16th.

This prize has reminded me just how much I've been slacking off when it comes to promotional materials. I need to get it in gear & design some business cards for my Etsy shop, ArtSnark's Atrifacts. Here is a blog promo image for my own sticker printing.


Now go get your creative juices flowing!! But before you go, leave a comment saying how you would use 250 free custom stickers. You’ve got all week to enter. 1 random winner will be drawn at noon (EST) on Thursday July 16th. Good Luck!

Woo Hoo! We Have A Winner!

Random.org has spoken!
Of 90 unique entries, the lucky winner of a Customizable Art Box is Steve!

Hearty Congrats, Steve! I’ll contact you later today with a list of what I need from you. Then I can get started on your one-of-a-kind box.

It may take a few weeks, but I’ll post pics of the finished box for anyone who is curious.

Great turnout for this random drawing! Many thanks to everyone who commented. Please check back later today and sign up for next Thursday's Giveaway . I've got a new sponsor & a fun prize that will get your creative juices flowing!!

RTT hit & run

I have grown to love Tuesdays since discovering Random Tuesday Thoughts!

Today I'm in a rush so I'm snagging some of my bookmarked sites to share. If you have a few minutes, give a click or 2:

Giant scrap metal dinosaurs & other cool sculptures by John Lopez

Watched the 1954 Disnified 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea last night. Oh man, I loved that movie as a kid! James Mason was the perfect Nemo but what is with the Kirk Douglas musical numbers?! You can hear 1 HERE. Over the years, I seem to have forgotten the MST3k worthy bits. And I'd swear that giant squid was much much bigger when I was 8 yrs old!!

www.olly.ch is a must for Nautilus fans! Check out this amazing home theater by Olly Klassen. He's also got some great WIP shots of the room coming together on his site.

Brass Goggles, a fun place to lose track of time, featured Mr Klassen's site last week.

Another great site somebody mentioned on one of my arty haunts (can't remember who -sorry) is mixed-media-artist.com. Fab mix of art & techniques. You've gotta love an artist who is "Emptying landfills, one project at a time!"

Flying-pig has some really cute "paper animation kits". These are paper mechanical toys that you can download & print for free

Also there's This To That "Because people have a need to glue things to other things"

I almost forgot the online art magazine, Blanket. Seriously Rocks! And I'm not just saying that cuz my Sinister Gentleman is on pg 22 of the current issue.

A Sinister Gentleman

This issue the theme is Portraits & he's included in the Re_Action section (where readers submit work in response to upcoming themes). Unlike some online mags it is not free (costs $2). But if you're into art, Blanket is always a good read & full of amazing eye candy.

Oops, running overtime...I do babble, don't I ? For more random-fun go see what the Keely The Un Mom & Queen of Chaos is up to this week. Tell her the zombies sent you.

I almost forgot, just leave a comment before noon (EST) Thursday 7/9 to be entered in this week's random drawing. More info on giveaway & this week's prize ( a customizable art-box) can be found here

Monday's Muse, Music, Full Moon & Monsters

Listening to the Late Great Warren Zevon tonight when I remembered

Hey, its Musical Monday!

I know Monday's almost over, but click the button & play along if you've got the time.

Full moon tonight & the Art On The Darkside prompt is Darkside Wolves. Click through to see some great ones. I really love this Werewolf Family Portrait from Janene's artsngardens:

Werewolf Family Portrait
by Janene

The wolves have been slinking through my art for a while. The prompt got me to pull out the neglected WIP Red's True Love (gah- 6 months went by fast). Decided Red wasn't acting coy enough so gave her some Veronica Lake hair. The 1st image is from a scan

& the second is a poor excuse for a photo (note to self: Get some decent lighting)

Still a long way to go on it.

Over at Maternal Spark they're asking What Inspires You This Week?

I'm going with the Full Moon. How about you?

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If you're interested in entering this Thursday's Giveaway, just leave a comment before noon (EST) 7/9 . To find out more about this random drawing & the customizable prize, CLICK HERE