Thank you for coming to my blog today.  Today I am participating in an art journal blog hop.

The theme is 'Birthday'.  I was inspired by my friend Liz S., who wrote on a Facebook status, "50 is the new 40." So Liz, this is for you!

I started with a cream and gray damask printed paper onto which I collaged some vintage magazine images depicting ideals of beauty in different eras.

I dry-brushed the edges with Golden Fluid acrylic paint in Titan Buff and then added ochre and turquoise ink around the edges.

I stamped with the lid of a metal jar into Memento Luxe ink, in Tuxedo Black.  

I adhered three punched out circles of vintage ledger paper; which I'd sprayed with Glimmer Mist.  I scribbled a highlight mark with a white china marker onto these and outlined them with a black paint pen; which I also used to draw the balloon strings. 

I masked off the face of the bottom image and stamped a circular 'Happy Birthday to You' sentiment around her as a halo effect.

I adhered a small crown charm to the top of her head and stamped 'beauty' at the bottom right.

I wrote, '50 is the new 40' on the right-hand side with a black china marker, highlighted with a white Montana paint pen.

I added a few highlights with the white china marker around the drawn images for contrast.

I hope you enjoyed this project.  Make sure to check out the other blogs in today's hop! 

Maria Levine – http://riacreations.blogspot.com
Laurie Finch – http://www.lifeandlafter.wordpress.com
Tracy Easson –http://queeniesscrapmad.blogspot.co.uk/
Julie Odil — http://muddypawsinkyfingers.blogspot.com
*Sally Lynn MacDonald – http://www.sallylynnmacdonald.com (you are here!)
Francine Rossoni – http://www.thevellumjar.blogspot.com
Rebecca Daniels – http://www.bloomingpink.blogspot.com