So much for trying to use my own graphics …  For this challenge, I decided to make a collage out of Sun Gods/Goddess from different cultures:

Featured are:  Apollo, Amaterasu, Surya,  Tawa Kachina, Tonatiuh,  and Ra.  And here are the credits:

All Sun Gods/Goddess:  Google Images

Grunge Frame & Urban Overlay:  HG Designs

This was a fun theme.  My regular “hand model”, my daughter helped me out with this one.  I tried to portray the universe as “infinite”:

And what’s a universe without the Star Trek Enterprise? Yes, I am a bit of a Trekkie 🙂

Credits:

Background, Enterprise, & Universe sphere:  Google Images

Grunge Frame: HG Designs

I like to try to use as much of my own graphics for these challenges.  It doesn’t rain very often around here, and when it does, I can’t seem to get very good photos of the rain.  I did however have some nice photos of rain drops on plants.  So, I went from there, and added some teru teru bozu’s.  Teru teru bozu’s are traditional Japanese handmade dolls made out of cloth or paper.   They are usually made by children to wish for fair weather.  Some say to hang them upside down would mean a wish for rain.  I chose to hang mine right side up:

It was fun making these dolls again.  There is even a song associated with teru teru bozu.  Here is a cute one I found on You Tube Teru Teru Bozu Song, and dancing Teru Teru Bozu.

Credits:

Butterfly overlay:  Vera Lim Designs

I was not sure what this title really meant. Is it “the bridge too far” from operation market garden, the act of overreaching? Well, I decided to do it on what came to mind when I first read the words to the theme:

When I was a child, there was a story that went with the Tanabata Festival about two lovers who were only allowed to come together once a year.  The girl was the daughter of the sky king, and the boy a farmer. A great river separated the two, and on the 7th day of the 7th month, a boatman (the moon) would ferry them across to meet. If it rained,  magpies would come together to form a bridge over which the two lovers could cross and meet.  If you are interested, you can go to Tanabata for more on the festival and story.

Here are the credits:

Background: Irene Alexeeva Designs

Star Overlay: Mariscrap

Magpies & River: Google Images

Our dear dog Hiro’s favorite outside toy are empty water bottles.  He helps himself to the recyclables outside, and runs like the wind (or flies on “wings”) around the yard with a bottle in mouth, the happiest guy in the world:

His light hearted personality, and contentment in the simplest things make him the best dog ever :-).  Here are the credits:

Hiro Photo:  Photo Art By Marie

Background & Elements:  Irene Alexeeva Designs

Textured overlay: Fall3nAngel

My grandparents were here in the U.S. during the turn of the century, but in early 1900’s they returned to their homeland.  This is the journey my mother, sisters, and I made to join our father here in the 60’s:

I was literally a FOB back then :-).  We sailed the Pacific on the Sakura Maru.  An officer of the ship was assigned to dine with every family/group. I was only 7 then, but I remember thinking we had the most handsome officer at our table :-).  For the first few days, the poor man had to dine with me alone, since my mother and sisters were seasick.  Our Port Of Entry into the U.S. was Honolulu Hawaii.  We arrived there on my birthday – what wonderful happenstance was that!

The digital graphics for this theme leaves a lot to be desired, but I really love the feeling it evokes.  Here are the credits:

Mount. Fuji, Diamond Head, Sakura Maru, Hula Girl, Flags:  All Google images

Polaroid overlay: Shadowhouse Creations

My daughter has a very dainty Cinderella music box from childhood that she treasures.  Cinderella and her Prince dance in circles to the music:

The story may be a fairytale, but it captures the dreams of many girls – dancing the night away with your Prince!

Here are the credits:

Background and Elements:  Irene Alexeeva Designs

Star Overlay:  Mariscrap

I was visiting Stefanie  of  Stefanies Sammelsurium blog, and saw a very beautiful photo of the Pere Lachaise Cemetery that she took during her vacation in France.  I thought it would make a beautiful theme for the challenge, and contacted her.  Stefanie was very kind and generous in permitting me to use her photo for this theme:

I did not want to do too much to the photo as it was so beautiful to begin with.   I lived and worked in Paris back in the 80’s , but never happened to visit the Pere Lachaise Cemetery.

 Here are the rest of the credits:

Light Flare:   Auntie M Designs

Elements:  Catherine Designs

Grunge Mask:  Teresabelle Designs

I am not much of a gun enthusiast, so I had to think a bit about this theme.  I saw my daughter eating a banana, and it brought back memories of my boys when they were little.  Invariably, when they first grabbed a banana, they would hold it like a gun, and pretend to shoot.  As I had a few teenage boys on hand;  my younger son on spring break and his friends, I enlisted their help for this theme:

The background is a photoshop modified google image of the movie Gunfight at O.K. Corral, and  the grunge frame is from HG Designs.

There are so many expressions of love…  I felt it would be very special to take a  photo of DH and I holding hands.  For the background, I made a collage of flowers from our garden, and a few flowers I saw on an outing:

I added a photoshop elements effect,  golden flakes from Kitty Designs, and an ornate overlay from Robyn Gough Designs.  The overlay makes it look like we have tattooed arms.

Several years ago, my mother brought back a little doll dressed in a kimono holding an umbrella for my daughter from Japan.  My parents always go back to visit the old country with the intention that it will be their last.  With the unfolding tragedy,  it may very well  have been their last journey there… 

The background and brush are from M. Terasawa , and the distressed overlay is from HG Designs.