VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE ARTIST!

Are you experiencing deja vu? Yes, you've seen this postcard before.
A week before Easter I challenged readers to "go forth and create" with this digital scan, an advertisement for enamelware. The scan has been in my shop for ages, gathering dust in cyberspace, shunned and overlooked. I couldn't understand why. So I hosted my first ever art challenge. Take this reject and make something of it! Please!

As the entries started coming in, I confess that I waffled between megalomania and humility. I felt like god! I was issuing a challenge and these people were responding. I felt very powerful!
I mean, I can ask my husband to take the recycling out and before you know it, we have a Leaning Tower of Refuse about to topple every time you open the closet door. But I asked you all to show the potential in this digital scan, and WOW! As the following submissions show, the potential in the scan and your own creative potential came to the fore!
I got responses as far away as the Netherlands and Texas [which is a whole 'nother country, as their state motto says and I can testify to since I've lived there 30+ years.]
I even got a MAN to respond!
Hence, I was simultaneously feeling puffed up with pride AND humbled at having my little share in this.
Of course, I think all of the entries are winners. I'm SO glad I'm leaving the winner-picking to you all. PLEASE VOTE using the poll at the top right corner. The winner will be announced a week from tomorrow, Tuesday, April 20. The winner will receive beaucoup des stamps and letter ephemera from France!
So be sure and cast your VOTE!
So, without further ado, here are the entries:

"He had a feeling she was still mad."

Verna from Bird Bee and Bloom submitted this entry of the ravished rose bouquet -- all roses from the enamelware design -- which reflects her typical sharp humor! You may recall from this blog post, http://frenchkissedpostcards.blogspot.com/2010/02/heart-breaking-news-at-11-or-i-think.html Verna is the 'mother' of Jack, that little boy, an aspiring writer pecking away at the typewriter, who "closes his eyes when he types the naughty bits." Visit Verna's blog to see a super close-up version of her contest creation. And go ahead and laugh yourself silly.
I did! http://birdbeeandbloom.blogspot.com/2010/03/frenchkissed-challenge.html
While you're there, grab a Friday Freebie! She always shares the sweetest antique real photos.

The next entry is from Jason! The camera, the flash and the Texas sun were not cooperating as best as they should, so I'm posting two shots, two angles. Which reminds me, after you vote, please take a moment to post a comment here on what you particulary like about these entries. On Jason's card, I love the contrast of the 'antiquity' and the plastic embellishments.

Check out Jason's blog http://creativescrappingguy.blogspot.com/ and ask him how he made that lovely flower!

I am very flattered, too, because several of the entries used several of my scans. You may recognize my Rose Topiary scan as well as the enamelware pattern here in Corinne's spectacular 3-D creation. Corinne's blog is one I highly recommend you follow if you are looking for inspiration!
http://100prettythings.blogspot.com/ And she offers several more beautiful close-ups of this very complex and detailed piece. I'm sure you won't be a bit surprised when I say that Corinne has a background in designing theater sets!


Julia is an amazing collage artist from the Netherlands. I'm very honored that she took the time to answer my challenge. Here's her entry:
Don't you just wanna keep staring at it to take it all in? There's so much and each element so perfectly compliments every other piece. It's so delicate and bold all at the same time.
All you Francophiles, be sure and check out Julia's latest creation on her blog for another art challenge: April in Paris. Tres, tres belle! http://juliavanderwerf.blogspot.com/

Terresa's entry is also a stunning 3-D design. She combined the enamelware pattern with my "rainbow of birds" scan. I love the shape of her art piece and all those layers!
AFTER you vote, you can go get lost in her blog. http://thegypsymagpie.blogspot.com/2010_04_01_archive.html

And last but not least as the saying goes, here is Penny's entry, a gorgeous shadowbox design. It was Penny who gave me the whole idea to host an art challenge in the first place:) She also entered the April in Paris challenge. Do check it out! http://pennybennington.blogspot.com/
Penny describes the creation of her piece: "I cut apart the postcard image and slightly rearranged it, then transferred it onto canvas with multi medium. Then I used the floral border from it to create a border around the opening and added 7 Gypsies gaffer tape and some Dresden trim. The main image is another one of FrenchKissed's postcards and I gave the lady an elaborate Prima flower hat with pearls and a feather. Voila!"
Let me repeat that: Voila! Here they all are. I love 'em all! Like a proud momma, I'm basking in the glow of their creativity. Now, you do the hard part and go vote!