Julie's Joy

Magic Garden

Julie Burger — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 21:35:20 GMT

Magic Garden

Aunt Bobby put out a digital re-work challenge to alter a tree. I started with the tree outline for the foundation and used Annamarie's Striped Butterfly Overlay Background Freebie for the frame. All of the other elements are photographs. I used photos of the sky, grass, tree bark, and my neighbor's lovely red flower. I altered a photo of one of my flower pots so it would look like a drawing instead of a photograph because I wanted to put the tree in a flower pot for some strange reason.

Hope You Like it! Hugs, Julie

Bathing Beauty

Julie Burger — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 23:40:05 GMT

Bathing Beauty

This is the Note Card I created by altering the photo and adding a Dover clip art silhouette.

Original Photo

Julie Burger — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 23:11:10 GMT

Original Photo

This is the original photo I used to create my Bathing Beauty. It's a photo I took of the pond in the front of my housing complex this August.

Female Eastern Pondhawk Dragonfly

Julie Burger — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 23:14:19 GMT

Female Eastern Pondhawk Dragonfly

I know you've seen this little lady before sitting on my flower pot. I just can't resist taking their photos when I see them, though. And she was so sweet to sit and pose for me for the longest time. I thought you'd like to see her in her natural habitat. I went down to the pond scouting for Monarch Butterflies and found much more. Don't worry, I found a Monarch Butterfly, too. I'll be posting her soon!

Hugs, Julie

Scary Dude

Julie Burger — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 22:46:39 GMT

Scary Dude

If you want to see a really frightening face, look at this Praying Mantis in its original size. He's really creepy looking.

Nubian Princess

Julie Burger — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:44:34 GMT

Nubian Princess

The first time I saw the Exhibition Poster titled "La Croisiere noire au Louvre" in my recently acquired Dover Publications Art Deco Clip art, I fell in love with it. I knew I had to create something special with this beautiful piece. I hope you love it as much as I do! I also posted her in my Blog at http://artellacafe.com/blogs/glitter_girl/default.aspx along with information about how I created her.

Hugs, Julie

Proposal, Apology, or Plea?

Julie Burger — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 02:49:10 GMT

Proposal, Apology, or Plea?

Another Altered Photo!

Midnight Magic

Julie Burger — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 04:34:55 GMT

Midnight Magic

Another Card with altered photos.

Kissing Couple Card

Julie Burger — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 22:22:58 GMT

Kissing Couple Card

The background for this card is a photo of one of the flowers in my garden.

Katydid Original

Julie Burger — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 18:14:10 GMT

Katydid Original

Katydid

Julie Burger — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 00:17:26 GMT

Katydid

This is a Fork Tailed Bush Katydid. Up until the last couple of weeks, I didn't know that their were so many kinds of Katydids. And, just recently, someone told me that Katydids and Cicadas were the same thing. After I took this photo, it really got my curiosity going. I went to work researching this critter only to find out that their are lots of kinds of Katydids AND lots of kinds of Cicadas. And, you know what? They are most definitely not the same thing, so don't let anybody fool you.

I hope you like my bugs!

Hugs, Julie

Wasps

Julie Burger — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 00:03:28 GMT

Wasps

This little critter is called a Thread Waisted Wasp. I don't recall ever seeing one of these before, so I had to do some research to identify it. They live mostly on nectar and teeny-tiny insects during the summer and usually build their nests in the ground. It was flitting around my Bee Balm plant looking for a sip of the sweet juice.

Heart Art Card

Julie Burger — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 01:19:09 GMT

Heart Art Card

I finally decided to make a note card out of the heart art I made for one of the Artella challenges. It was actually an idea a wonderful Muse whispered in my ear a while ago. This is the Note Card I sent in for the Card Swap last week. I put the card along with the matching envelope in a little digital layout. The digital layout was created with papers and elements designed by Melothria. You can see these and more at the Digital Arts Cafe http://www.digitalarts-cafe.com/boutique/

Palette Play: Lakes and Ponds Challenge

Julie Burger — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 01:13:29 GMT

Palette Play: Lakes and Ponds Challenge

It's getting so that I just can't resist giving a new challenge the good ole' college try! This is my interpretation of the latest digital challenge for Palette Play's Lakes and Ponds.

The Background Stars were designed by Melothria and are available in th Digital Arts Cafe' at http://www.digitalarts-cafe.com/boutique/

The Grass was created using a Photoshop Brush designed by http://graphics-illustrations.com/

Inchies

Julie Burger — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 16:26:36 GMT

Inchies

These are my first ever “Inchies”, I made them for the first Artella Inchie Swap hosted by Judy Bleuchick (Thank you, Judy!) Even though I was a little discouraged while making the first one, I soon got the hang of it. After that, it was tons of fun and I had a blast. I couldn’t wait to put them in my blog so I created a little digital layout to showcase them a little. I hope you like them.

Inchie Digital Layout was created from kits and elements from the Digital Arts Café Designed by Melothria. The Butterfly is a freebie add on from the Digital Arts Café designed by Rhondogg. http://www.digitalarts-cafe.com/boutique/

Butterflies

Julie Burger — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 21:23:18 GMT

Butterflies

This little creature is a Spring Azure Butterfly. Her normal range is most of North America except for certain parts of south-central United States. You're probably wondering, "Why Azure?". Well, you may not be able to see the slightest blush of blue tint on her wings in this picture, but while I was chasing her around my sister's garden, I could actually see the palest of blue color. And, as nature would have it, the Male Spring Azure Butterfly is a stunning Azure Blue when his wings are open. Sorry he wasn't around for this little shutterbug - but, I'll keep my eyes peeled and be on the lookout.

Hugs, Julie

Hummingbirds

Julie Burger — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 20:55:20 GMT

Hummingbirds

The photo of this Hummingbird was taken around the same time as the other Hummingbird picture. He may or may not be the same one. These little guys are really quick and they don't stay around for very long. This particular photo is my sister's favorite. I wasn't happy because of the slight motion blur around his head, but she loved the way his tail fanned out (me too!). I hope you enjoy them!

Hugs, Julie

Hummingbirds

Julie Burger — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 20:48:23 GMT

Hummingbirds

While I was at my sister's house, I got two pretty nice photos of a Ruby Throated Hummingbird. This is the only Hummngbird that is native to my region (Northeastern United States. My sister, Donna, hangs a Hummingbird feeder outside of her back porch during the summer so I took advantage of a few minutes in between rain and visiting to take a couple of photos. This photo is my favorite. Enjoy!

Hugs, Julie

Sweet Pea

Julie Burger — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 20:38:20 GMT

Sweet Pea

I grew more flowers this year than last year and I have tons of photos that I haven't posted yet. This Sweet Peas is one of several that I grew from seeds. I took a lot of photos of this particular flower, but I didn't like most of them. The flower was actually facing down toward the ground. And, to make matters worse, the sun was at an awkward angle and shining down on me, the Sweet Pea, and right into the camera lens. Finally, I just laid down on the grass in my front yard and shot the flower facing straight up at the flower from the ground. What you see in the background is the canopy of a Dogwood Tree hanging over my little garden and the sunlight peeking through the leaves. I hope you enjoy it!

Hugs, Julie

Water Lily

Julie Burger — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 14:30:35 GMT

Water Lily

This is a Water Lilly that is blooming in my sister, Donna's pond in her upstate New York home in Dutchess County. I love the way it is sitting on the water. On the left hand side, you can see the little ripples that the Lily is making as the petals sit on the water. And, on the right hand side, you can see the shadow that the Lily casts on the pond's surface. You can also see into the depth of the water for a short distance and some of the underpinnings of the pond.

Hugs, Julie

Gone Fishing

Julie Burger — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 02:09:43 GMT

Gone Fishing

This is the Great Blue Heron that fishes in the pond at the front of my housing development. I took this photo a while ago, but I'm way behind in my posting. On this day, I watched him catch two fish. It was fun to watch him with the first fish which was fairly small. Then, when he caught this fish, I was really impressed. I had no idea that there were fish this large in my little pond. The Heron stalked this fish for what seemed like forever while I sat and watched. It was a very hot day and I was tempted to leave many times. Boy, am I glad I hung around to catch this shot! So he caught the fish and I caught him fishing!

Hugs, Julie

Grandma's Attic

Julie Burger — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 12:26:56 GMT

Grandma's Attic

Busy Card

Julie Burger — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 22:42:16 GMT

Busy Card

I made this Busy Card for the Artella Note Card Swap. It's really more like a greeting card because the front is the Very Busy side on Cardstock, and then when you open the card up there are two sides printed on vellum. The left side is the "Not to Busy for You" side and the right side is a translucent version of the images on the front cover.

Sunshine Card

Julie Burger — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 22:11:05 GMT

Sunshine Card

Card Swap Card

Inspiration 101: A Muse Manual

Julie Burger — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 08:30:15 GMT

Inspiration 101: A Muse Manual

Go Postal

Julie Burger — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 08:23:53 GMT

Go Postal

Star Struck Lovers

Julie Burger — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 08:18:29 GMT

Star Struck Lovers

Prickley Pair Cactus.jpg

Julie Burger — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 23:47:13 GMT

Prickley Pair Cactus.jpg

Wrath

Julie Burger — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 08:48:06 GMT

Wrath

This is a photo of one of the many statues of Buddhist Disciples at the Chuang Yen Monastery. Chuang-yen Monastery is a Chinese Pure Land Buddhist temple/monastery in Putnam County in Carmel, NY.

Making Waves

Julie Burger — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 00:41:28 GMT

Making Waves

I just love the sparkling effect of the sunlight as it bounces off the playful waves that my little Toad is making while he's splashing around in the water.

Bubbles & Bumps

Julie Burger — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 01:18:29 GMT

Bubbles & Bumps

Meet my new friend! He's a Bufo Americanus, also known as the American Toad. OK, not really a friend. We met under unusual circumstances. He was sitting by the side well of the swimming pool (at my sister's house in Connecticut) having his afternoon lunch and minding his own business when I came along and scared the beejeebies out of him. Startled, he jumped into the side well. I called everyone over to meet my Bufo Buddy and that's when my brother-in-law told me that the chlorine in the water would kill him. My nephew was happy to rescue my bumpy little friend and send him back into the woods to live out his life in harmony.

Later that day, I told everyone I was going to see if my toad was still around. When I checked the spot where we had left him, he was nowhere in sight. When I reported back to the others that he was gone, my Mom looked at me quizically and a little sad and said, "he's dead?". Alarmed, I started to stutter, no, no, not gone as in gone to the other side, but, you know - gone - like he isn't sitting where we put him anymore.

I have more photos of my new friend, but I'll save them for tomorrow! Stay tuned!

Hugs, Julie

Rambur's Forktail Damselfly

Julie Burger — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 20:39:08 GMT

Rambur's Forktail Damselfly

This lovely creature is a Damselfly called Rambur's Forktail. This is the Male. His identifying marks are a black thorax with thin green shoulder stripes, his abdomen is black on top and yellowish below with the very tip of his thorax being that pretty blue. His eyes are black above and greenish below.

This photo is a little cloudy, but I do believe he is looking straight at me.

Blue Dasher Dragonflies

Julie Burger — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 20:38:14 GMT

Blue Dasher Dragonflies

Another photo of the mating pair of Blue Dashers.

Blue Dashers Dragonflies

Julie Burger — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 20:36:51 GMT

Blue Dashers Dragonflies

This is a mating pair of Blue Dashers. The Blue Dasher is a small blue and brown dragonfly that can be found throughout most of the United States. The male's thorax is bown (it looks blue in the photo) with yellow striping which fades with age. His abdomen is blue with a black tip and his eyes are green. The female (and immature males) have a bown thorax with yellow striping. Their abdomens are dark with yellow streakes down the top and yellow marks on the sides. Her eyes are brownish red.

Love is in the Air

Julie Burger — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 20:36:11 GMT

Love is in the Air

This is a mating pair of Blue Dasher Dragonflies.

Funny Face Dragonfly

Julie Burger — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 20:34:45 GMT

Funny Face Dragonfly

To get a good look at this guy, double click on the image so you can see a close of his face in the original size version. Look at him closely. Check out his facial expression. This little guy almost looks like a caricature. Either that, or he's laughing at me!

I believe this is also a male Blue Dasher Dragonfly. His coloring looks slightly different than the other photos, but I think it's only the play of light reflecting off the pond and the dense folliage.

Eastern Amberwing Dragonfly

Julie Burger — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 20:34:05 GMT

Eastern Amberwing Dragonfly

This is a Male Eastern Amberwing Dragonflly. They are very small and somewhat stout. They are one of the smallest Dragonflies in North America. His thorax and abdomen are mostly brown with some yellowish spots/markings. The abdomen also has some narrow banding. His wings are entirely colored with a beautiful amber with a tiny red marking near the end of each wing tip.

If you look at my gallery posts from last summer, you see an Estern Amberwing female. Her thorax and abdomen are similar to the males, however, tend to have less or no yellow spots or marks. The female generally lacks the amber coloring in the wings, however, she usually has dark patched markings on clear wings.

Familiar Bluet Damselfly

Julie Burger — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 20:31:36 GMT

Familiar Bluet Damselfly

My best guess on this one after studying the field guides and the internet, is that this is the female Familiar Bluet. Her thorax is tan (could be pale blue to lavender) with a black stipe on top and shoulders. Her abdomen is black above and tan or pale blue below.

The male is blue and black (much prettier).

Eastern Forktail Damselfly

Julie Burger — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 20:30:09 GMT

Eastern Forktail Damselfly

The Eastern Forktail Damselfly is a small damselfly. This is the male and he has a black thorax above with green shoulder stripes and sides. The abdomen is mostly black with some narrow green banding and a blue tip. His eyes are black above and green below.

Variable Dancer Damselfly

Julie Burger — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 20:27:39 GMT

Variable Dancer Damselfly

I am fairly certain that this is a Male Variable Dancer Damselfly. The Variable Dancer is a small lavender and black damselfly. The male's thorax is violet and can have thin black stripes. The abdomen is also violet with black markings with a blue tip. There seem to be several subspecies with subtle variations in markings and wing color. I think this particular male had some black markings, but, due to the blur and the angle of the shot, you can't see them. I only saw one of this particular damselfly and I only had one shot.

Look at that face!

Julie Burger — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 20:28:26 GMT

Look at that face!

This is another photo of the Eastern Pondhawk Male Dragonfly. Look at his adorable little face, and he's smiling at me. I just wanted to give him a great big smooch, but I thought the girl Dragonflies would get jealous, so I resisted.