Transformation

Sharing a work in progress, from a book I'm working on. A Swan Princess shape shifter inspired piece. This time of year I think of letting go and shedding the old and unneeded. Transformation is a part of that I think. How we incorporate the old into the new and still manage to fly. I hope to complete her this week, I have two other pieces I'm working on as well and only one more week of holiday left!

White Rabbit

Now I can show you my collage of the White Rabbit! I made this for Anunciatta for Christmas so I've kept him under wraps till now. I had so much fun with this piece collecting just the right charms and buttons. I love the idea of him being on stage so I tried to give that effect with the darker papers. Of course his admirers have thrown roses!

(please click on the image to see an enlarged version)

Ice Castles and festivities

We spent Solstice in a cabin at Disney World. I hate to admit but thats as close to real camping as I like to get. I love the outdoors, in the day time! The weather was really cold for us Floridians, we were shivering as we watched the light shows! My youngest and I had our hair done at the Bibbity Boppity Boutique in the Castle as an early Christmas gift. we both felt like princesses (and we got to keep our tiaras! )

The site of this icy castle takes my breath away every time I see it!

We hurried home Christmas Eve to prepare for friends and family that would be arriving for holiday cheer. Had a great time with everyone even though I ended up loosing my voice!

Speaking of voices here is Christmas on Walnut Street. Our town is small enough that they close the downtown for a Christmas show and festival and it seems like the entire town shows up! I have a daughter in the chorus here and my oldest daughter is the one (with purple cat ears) setting up the sound system (she's in High School) In addition to the musical treats there are vendors up and down the streets with funnel cakes, hot coco and cookies.

The other photo is from a holiday party a friend threw that has arts and crafts for all ages, I thought you would enjoy seeing how she set everything up. There were rows of wine glasses filled with beads, dishes of glitter and stems of pipe cleaners! We had such a great time!

Wishing all of you sugar plums and gum drops!

Spoon full of Sugar

Wonderful news! My friend Linda is home from the hospital! She will be home for a few weeks and hopes to spend time on her art work, so I made her this get well basket filled with shiny new supplies. A hardback sketchbook, watercolor pencils papers, and pretty collage trimmings. Linda is a dear friend who is always there for everyone in her life, quietly so ..one of those angels in your life. So I'm thrilled she will take a little time for herself and her art.

(ah... but what is in the box you ask?)
Its a spoon full of sugar made by the lovely The Midnight Orange
such a sweet get well gift don't you think? She makes them in all colors too!

Lisa Falzon

I'm so thrilled, I just received this breathtaking painting in the mail by the talented Lisa Falzon
Lisa's work is so compelling, filled with enchantment and mystery. I fell in love with this piece "My Twin in the Forest" when she first posted it so you can imagine my delight when the original became available! Silly me, I'm so busy staring at it soaking it in that I haven't taken it to the frame shop. You see I know they will keep if from me for at least two weeks. *pouts*
I promise to take it in next week!
You can see more of Lisa's work here and here

wicked tired!

Girls mini road trip! My girls and I went on a little trip to the Indian Culture center to see a dear friend Anunciatta perform. She is an amazing Middle Eastern dancer and had brand new choreography for the show. The entire show was filled with variety and the most wonderful energy. And did I mention the vendors had baklava and brownies made with jamaican curry, coconut and lime!
(and I've been so good dieting! after the show we all went to the pancake house!)
We all crashed in one hotel room so I'm pretty tired from late night giggling with the girls.

This is a collage with a painting I did of Anunciatta while she napped after practice, I used it as the center for this collage "Sleeping Beauty" I'd love to paint her again .. this time I should catch her in action!

And now its getting cold outside, I think it might even freeze! I'm ready to get some beauty sleep myself since its back to work in the morning!

"Little Red"

Over the river ... Wishing all of my dears in blog land a most wonderful Thanksgiving! I know those of you outside the US don't celebrate it but maybe you can treat yourself to a slice of pie and think of us yanks ;)

We are busy busy readying the house for the big meal! We have a total of 10 for dinner which for us is exciting! I will be making what my daughter calls *pie marshmallow* the good ole sweet potatoes with tiny marshmallows on top. Baked until they are toasty brown....yum! Along with cranberry sauce (with marmalade) and other various dishes, of course everyone coming will bring a special dish as well. Looks nervously at scale!

Kitty

What is it about fall that makes me want to nest? Everyone else spring cleans ... I arrange my long neglected nest in preparation for the holidays.
I'm even enjoying domestic activities like cooking this time of year. I just made wonderful scallops and shrimp with olive oil and garlic *yum* Maybe its the chill in the air, which in itself is a rare jewel here in Florida, or the looming specter of company arriving, but I'm all a flurry with activity that normally I would put off till tomorrow (or the day after!)

My youngest daughter had her first ensemble experience at a county chorus competition, her group made superior and she was so proud. It's almost surreal to see your child breaking away with this new talent blooming. Especially one as foreign as vocals are to me! Its been a wonderful experience for her so far and I think she may even go out for show choir next year.

Speaking of school, I can't believe its almost time for fall break! I've got so many loads of clay pots to fire for the kids .. then glaze and refire before the semester ends *scrambles* I always do this and run full force until the last minute. One day I will learn value of *winding down* Before you know it, a new semester will be here with a new eager and energetic classes! No wonder I want to savor the autum, it is when time seems to travel too fast!


I have had a little time to paint..... this is "Kitty" with her pet bird out enjoying the crisp fall sky.

tag!

I've been double tagged for this one, so I'd better get to it!

the rules are tell 7 little known things about yourself then tag 7 others (be sure and link everyone!)

Alteredevents and Karen from Moonlight and Hares thanks for thinking of me!

seven things about me

1. I decided to become an artist as a teenager while looking at a sunset turning into a violet night sky. Nothing else seemed as important as those colors.
2. I adore flowers and plants, and dream of knowing what I'm doing in the garden.
3. I've never been out of country *sigh*
4. I love to travel!
5. As much as I love nature, I'm not much of a camper. I remember being so let down after finding out the girl scout cookie sales were to raise money for a lousy camping trip!
6. I'm adopted and wonder what ethnic background I might have.
7. I miss baking, I just never seem to have time (and I don't need to eat it!) . I sometimes look at pictures of pretty cookies and cupcakes and swoon!

and seven taggies (is that a word?) these delightful bloggers!

archetypaltheater
teachinghandwork
art4sol
vusova
athenasarmoury
littlepeanut
artprojectsforkids

A bit of the festive touches around my place, A new find for me these paper lantern style witch hats! I love the little lanterns too and trimmed them with a bit of fluff.
I just wish I had time to cook up more, holidays seem to come faster each year!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Halloween. We had a lovely Samhain service at church led by our women's group on Sunday and we are all invited to a bonfire after trick or treating on Friday at a friends campground! This will be my girls first bon fire so they are very excited! Mommy is excited too and hoping it won't be too cold!

And now a question.... What are you (or your younglings) going to be for Halloween this year?

I think I'm going to wear my Arabian Pirate costume (Zora the Explorer LOL! )

Here is Cora Belle with color. Its always a challenge balancing the colors to bring a haunting character to "life" while keeping the ghostly quality. Thank you for the kind comments on the sketch!

Ghost, Sailor Girl

Here is a little spirit I've been caring in my sketchbook for a month or two and she is almost ready for paint. I do believe her name is Cora Bell and she is a little ship wreck ghost. Cora Bell loves crisp cotton and ribbons (everything is so damp these days!)
Her favorite color is sea green. You can sometimes see her waving good bye from the deck of departing ships. This is probably not such a good omen.

Hopefully I'll have the painted version ready to share this weekend!


And I suppose everyone knew this but me! The new Alice film will be a mix of stop motion and live action by Tim Burton. Johnny Depp will play the Mad Hatter! Excuse me while my head explodes from glee!

Violet, studio notes

I will organize my studio today! *nods head determinedly* Its getting a bit crazy with shipping supplies and art supplies and new jewelry supplies vying for attention! I should be realistic and recognize this will take more than one day, but since when have I let reality get in the way! :)
One more Halloween painting for you, meet " Violet"

Cauldron bubble ... and we have a winner!

The day for the drawing has arrived! Isn't this exciting? My little helper has all the names in her shiny cauldron and is stirring them up with her big black spoon.
And she scoops up.... Jessica Mason! Congratulations!

here is Jessica's Halloween prize.. a 5x7 print of "Pepita Pasiley" the Pumpkin Girl, festive felt sticker, and a magnet from my shop!

Well the little witch just couldn't stop there, so she drew 2 more for a a little Halloween treat
athena
and
Diane Clancy

will recieve a mini print of Miss Paisley our Pumpkin Girl :)

Thank you to everyone for your wonderful creative input, this has been so fun and inspiring for me. I can't begin to thank you for the sweet names, kind words and bits of stories. What a magical group of readers I have! I do believe you have given me names enough to inspire for quite a time to come!

Autumn Blessings!

Cat

Calamity, a ghost story

I know you've already met Calamity, but she has such stories to tell I made a book for her. Actually its a book/box that opens up for treasure stashing and secret keeping. On the binding it reads "Calamity Walking on Moon Beams" I do think one day she will evolve into a picture book. I do love her like this though, an open book so to speak :) There is a little jar of star dust wired to the hinge and faded roses in her favorite color.

The Little Things

Yes, sometimes the smallest things bring big smiles :)

Thank to richlayers of toldtales a wonderful fairy tale community on live journal for the heads up on this! I'm not a big Mc Donalds fan so I would of missed the cuteness that is my tiny Wicked Witch.
I'm a silly enough Elphaba fan to of purchased this on Ebay (well I don't do hamburgers!). And yes I'm feeling a strange buying a mass produced doll, but hopefully I'll be forgiven (*cringes*! Well she was 3.00 ;) Here she is next to my painting "Little Elphaba"

Dear Hubby helped me get all the decorations out of the attic this morning. I just don't think I have enough pumpkins!

I will post pictures when I've made a bit more progress :)

Pumpkin Lass

Well Pumpkin lass is colored and painted and is generally feeling quite pleased from all the attention all of you have been lavishing on her. If you haven't had a chance, go to the entry below to name her and enter my Halloween drawing!

Ahhh, Autumn, even here in Florida the air is just a touch cooler. We've been taking more walks and I even pulled weeds this weekend and put out some wonderful purple and orange flowers. I can't wait to get the Halloween decorations out of the attic this weekend!

Halloween Give Away!

Another Pumpkin Girl coming to life in my dear moleskine watercolor book. But this one isn't talking.. she just won't tell me her name. So I thought... perfect topic for my first blog giveaway!

The rules

1. post your idea for a name for Pumpkin Girl.

2. make sure you leave contact info

3. I will drop all the entries into a hat for a drawing on Oct. 15th

The winner will receive a special Halloween goody package from my shop

Ella, Little Pumpkin patch girl

I've been busy with Halloween goodies for you!

Meet "Ella" my little pumpkin patch girl. If you notice her mice you might guess why she prefers "Ella" to Ellie (her real name). You see Ella has been reading fairy tales and has a big imagination! She is hoping her fairy godmother will come along one day too. She really prefers her walking shoes to glass slippers though.


And here is "Soot" a sweet little Halloween kitty.









Prints available here

I will be listing the originals Thursday.

Bluebeard *time for scary stories*

Illustration by Gustave Doré
Bluebeard, The fairy tale that reads most like a horror story. I'm actually quite sure I never read this story as a child (and I read a good many tales!) I believe it once was very popular, back when fairy tales weren't so sanitized. This story is pretty difficult to clean up for modern readers.
Bluebeard is the tale of the husband Bluebeard who forbids his new bride to enter one room in their home while he is away. He had been married many times before and the wives have vanished.
Bluebeard for me is a tale of contradictions, curiosity is a dangerous thing in this story, or is it the key to survival? One thing that rings true is once the discovery is out made is no going back. (the image of the key is one of the most powerful in the tale) Somethings cannot be undone.
you can read the whole story here at SurLalune
I've created a minature portrait of one of Bluebeard's unfortunate wives. Its ACEO size 2.5x3.5 inches the original is here. The pocket sized portrait just felt right. I'd also love to do one of heroine of the tale.

I'd love to know if you found this story as a child or later in life?

Bells

"Bells" A dancing sprite. watercolor, actually I painted her at the start of summer when I feeling very carefree and whirly!

her costume is inspired by some wonderful belly dance costumes I've seen. Hopefully I'll find time to do some more dancers! And maybe find more time to dance myself.

Prints available here http://darklingwoods.etsy.com Also in a new batch of sweet pocket mirrors!

Dragon con and camera mishaps

Sadly no pictures yet of dragon con or the pirate party to share, please cross your fingers for me! I'm doing battle with a malfunctioning memory card to get them back. (and really lovely pictures they were! Its making me nuts!) My advice.. don't get a new camera before a big trip.

One of the great things about these conventions is catching up old friends, like Dana my writing partner who I don't see in real life often enough, and likewise Fati an up and coming film maker and artist who seems like a little sis.

I also had the pleasure of meeting CJ Bloomer and his lovely wife for the first time after long admiring his mythology inspired work. If you haven't seen it yet you must check it out! His work is classical and fresh at the same time, like looking into a favorite storybook. I had preordered his graphic novel "The Price of Tea" and was delighted to find he had personalized it for me :)
Then I saw this piece in person "Ryuketsu Shrine" I had seen it on deviant art and thought it beautiful, but that hadn't prepared me for the glory of the piece in person. Its quite large and very vibrant, I couldn't afford the original (worth every penny though) Lucky for me CJ was offering a limited run of three large prints :) I was so thrilled, its already hanging in my daughters room (she's so lucky!)

My display seemed to be doing well, we had to come back before the convention was over so I won't know until the they ship everything back for sure! One year I'll have to actually work a booth but I really love flying free around the convention with my girls!

Dragon con and Pirates!

Off tomorrow to Atlanta for Dragon con, I've got an artists bay but not a table so I'll be free to roam the convention. I'll be running around in pirate/gypsy costumes with my pirate hubby and girls :)

Looking forward to CJ Bloomers panel on Mythic arts and of course the Pirate Party! Hope to see you there!

(any orders from my shop will be shipped as soon as I return next week!)

Cheers me hearties!

Alice in my garden

My birthday was in June, and my hubby and girls gave me the most special gift, a beautiful Alice statue. The best part was how they wrapped up clues and sent me on a scavenger hunt all through the house to find her. Right now she is braving Tropical storm Fay the picture shows her on a sunnier day!

And here is wonderful link from Ulla http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5wHMgTPF-s for those of you who are brave of heart and Alice fans a version not to be missed! Thank you Ulla!

Fit for a Queen

What a confection! My youngest daughter Savvy is the proud owner of this lush crown. My dear friend Michelle made it for her (Michelle is an artistic wonder without a web presence ... I need to do something about that!)

The crown is the type of glorious piece that every time you look at you see something new. I wish you could of seen her face when she received it!

btw.. any comments you leave I'll be sure to share with Michelle, maybe I can convince her she needs to start blogging! :)

Cat

My First Blog Award!

I was kindly given the Arte y Pico award by Moonlight and Hares! Thank you so much Karen, I'm honored!

So, now I believe I pass it on to other lovely creative blogs...

The rules :

1. Choose 5 blogs that you believe deserve it for creativity, design, interesting material, contributing to the blogger community no matter what language.

2. Each award has to have the name of the the author and a link to his or her blog.

3. Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given the award to them.

4. Awarded blogs and the person who gives the award should show the link to Art y Pico blog, so everyone will know the Award origin.

5. To show the rules.

My 5 chosen blogs are: Fairies Nest, Serpent Mandalas,luna fay, Heart a Day,
fairy tale style,

Wisteria

Oh yes, I know I'm a little early. I just love Halloween and my little witchy girls so much I couldn't wait to start painting them. Here is little Wisteria out walking Ash and Soot, can't you just hear the leaves crunching under their feet (and paws :) ? The original is available in my etsy shop.

I'm also working on a series of small (ACEO size) paintings of ghosts inspired by the fairy tale Bluebeard.. but more on ghost stories later!

Rabbit in the Moon?

Watercolor, July 2008

In East Asian Folklore there isn't a man in the moon, but a rabbit.

In the traditional story of the Moon Festival (which is in the fall) In this legend, three fairy sages transformed themselves into pitiful old men and begged for something to eat from a fox, a monkey and a rabbit. The fox and the monkey both had food to give to the old men, but the rabbit, empty-handed, offered his own flesh instead, jumping into a blazing fire to cook himself. The sages were so touched by the rabbit's sacrifice that they let him live in the Moon Palace where he became the "Jade Rabbit."

From chinesefortunecalendar.com

In some stories I've read the Moon Rabbit is busy making a special elixir for the Moon Goddess, in others he is making moon cakes.

Since it isn't time for the Fall Moon Festival I imagined Moon Rabbit could take a break and go for a walk cloaked in moonbeams.

I think I'll be revisiting this folk tale, I have a special place in my heart for bunnies and the moon.

Happy Summer Solstice!

Happy Summer Solstice everyone!

I went out and bought some new flowers to celebrate (I will post pictures of the dahlia when it opens :)

Thought I'd share my painting of the Japanese Sun Goddess Amaterasu. I'm smitten by her story and the relationship between her and the goddess Uzume, This story of laughter and joy bringing Amaterasu out of the darkness after all the other gods had failed is so inspiring. Laughter is the best medicine it seems, even for the the gods :)

from pantheon.org

When the sun goddess Amaterasu had hidden herself in a cave, thus covering the earth in darkness and infertility, it was Uzume (Shinto goddess of joy) who brought her back. With her provoking and curlew dances she managed to make the gods laugh so hard, that Amaterasu left the cave intrigued. Her emerging brought light and life back to earth. Her brother Ninigi married Uzume to the deity who guards the Floating Bridge to Heaven.

ghost tour

The ghost tour of St. Augustine was great fun, we visited the Military Hospital, Oldest Drugstore, and the Jail. Our ghostly tour guides were wonderfully macabre and delivered the tour with great relish. I did get a bit spooked locked in the old jail house in the dark!
Many of the ghost tales were more gross than ghost and served to make us all very glad to be around in this century!
I still can't believe my youngest wanted to go and didn't get a bit scared!
We got back home last night, and I missed my little dog and of course my studio. Strangely I missed the green of my backyard. Its become quite lush and bit overgrown, we now have turtles wandering about :) I can be such a homebody!

*shiver*

Reporting from the shores of St. Augustine where we will be leaving for a ghost tour in about one hour. On the Ghosts and Gravestones Trolley Can you believe this was my 12 year old daughters idea? I'm a little nervous, I hope they don't have people jumping out at us! I'm a big chicken about that sort of spooky! However I do hope to visit the graveyard, and I'm more than a bit nervous about visiting the military hospital!

Wish us luck!

Fairy Market

"Fairy Market" watercolor, colored pencil, gold paint. (detail of painting)

I've always loved gypsy wagons, I was inspired to do this painting after attending the Hoggstowne Medieval Faire and a dash of the film Stardust. The gypsy wagons just seem to magical for this world. I could just imagine them on their way to a market in Faery :)

Prints and original here

Queen of Hearts

"Queen of Hearts"
watercolor 2008, This is a character that scared me to no end as a child. I thought if I gave her a great dress she might be pleased. Hmmmmm still not sure about that!

Prints available in my etsy shop

ACEO bounty

Mermaid ACEO


Have you started collecting Artist collector cards? (ACEO's artist cards, editions and originals) If you haven't heard of them, well they are small collectable works of art, trading card sized! ACEO's are always 3.5 x 2.5 inches but they can be created in any media. There is a really fun group on Etsy running an ACEO challenge with a big prize. Anyone can can join in and post a challenge for the artists to create! We keep creating and posting our cards. All cards not sold by the end of the challenge will be won by the last person to post on the thread! See, I told you it was fun :) ACEO Bounty thread

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all of you Moms and caretakers of all sorts. You know who you are feeder of stray cats or kids!

This is a picture I took while in DC with my oldest daughter a few weeks ago, at the Museum of Natural History. They have a butterfly house you can walk through and its filled with magical, unlikely creatures like the one pictured here.

Hope all of you get to put your feet up a bit today and enjoy the flowers (and butterflies!)

Love,

Cat

tagged!

I've been tagged by Athena's Armory  :) Rules are..

1. Link to the person who tagged you

2.post the rules on your blog

3. list 6 nonimportant things, quirks, habits about yourself

4 tag 6 random people and link to their blogs

5. Let each person know they've been tagged by commenting on their blog. 

I'm tagging battlemaidenstudio, beautiful fantasy artist

debdesign  very cool dolls and more

heartaday a very uplifting art blog :) 

texastella great etsy sellers blog!

hellen grossman dolls, enchanting old world feel to these wonderful art dolls

dzfantasy, dazzling fantasy art 

6 things about me....

1. I adore ethnic dance, especially Middle Eastern, Indian and American Tribal. I've taken lessons but am not very good *blush* But I do love to go see performances :) I hope to take Middle Eastern Dance 1 again this summer. 

2. I am owned by the silliest little pom puppy, I never pictured myself with a dog, much less a toy dog. here he is (what do you mean spoiled?)

3. I have striped hair (blonde,red, and dark fudge) sort of a neopolitan head 

4. My hubby is a fencer

5. I once met my idol Alan Lee <3>

6. if I don't get studio time I get very cranky :P

DC and DaVinci

While in DC with the 8th grade class I had the opportunity to take my group to the National Gallery. We didn't have as much time as I'd like (of course I could spend days in there!) we did get to see Leonardo's Ginerva. 

I was strangely taken by the painting. Of course I'd seen it in books for years, but nothing could prepare me for seeing her in person. I could wax on over her beauty, the brush strokes, etc. However that isn't what I felt while standing there mesmerized. What I felt was a timelessness in her gaze, an artist reaching across the centuries through his models face. I have to admit I was teary eyed and had to send my quickly bored students on to the next exhibit.  Ok I realize that many people must have this reaction, I mean it is a Da Vinci I just didn't think I would go all fan girly right there in the museum! 

Calamity

Meet Calamity, the little ghost out for a midnight walk on the moonbeams. She is a wee bit afraid of heights you see, so her little moth friends are lending a hand. 

prints available http://darklingwoods.etsy.com 

also just listed new original aceo cards! 

No Place Like Home!

Had a wonderful trip to DC, despite a loooong bus ride with the 8th grade class :) My oldest daughter loved everything, especially the beautiful cherry blossoms in full bloom.  

A highlight for me of course was seeing Dorothy's ruby slippers. There is still a bit of magic there don't you think?  We even brought home a stuffed Toto. 

I read Wicked on the bus trip,  I'm in love with Elphaba and still a bit scared of the flying monkeys! 

When I arrived home imagine how tickled I was to find that ebonypaws had featured my Ruby slipper painting in her blog.. check it out if you love red shoes!

FEA spring show

Fantasy Artists of Etsy spring exhibition 

Red Wings

"Red Wings" mixed media for Chlidren's Illustrators Club 

There was a children's book about a little white rabbit who wished for red wings. ( the title was the "Rabbit Who Wanted Red Wings")

I remember reading this as a child and being delighted that the little rabbit's wish was granted. What could be better than sprouting bright red wings? As the plot played out however my heart broke for the little winged rabbit. You see no one would befriend him, or take care of him with the red wings. Not even his own mother! 

Now, I'm sure the idea was to happy with they way you are, but the story gave me chills and still does. In my little mind the story's moral was; if you were different, or changed, no one would love you. 

 The theme for Children Illustrator's Club this month was angels. I had almost forgotten this story when along comes my angel sprouting red wings. The collage elements are from a vintage book that was discarded from our library on pantomime and that worked perfectly for me. Because in real life we can't wish those red wings away. 

"Red Wings" available in my etsy shop

Cheshire Cat

 Back to Wonderland! 

My newest painting 

"The Cheshire Cat" 

He was my favorite as a little girl, and I adored cats and thought they were all magically clever. (well aren't they?) A smiling one was creepy and intriguing all at the same time. I tried to capture that mystery and dapper air in this piece. 

Prints and original available 

(copyright property of the artist, violators will be taken to the Queen of Hearts)

Serpent Mandalas

Happy Spring!

Today I'm featuring an artist whose work I've long been enchanted by Lindy Longhurst. And her work just makes me feel like its spring time!

Here is one of her beautiful works of art inspired by fairy tales, "Rapunzel" The attention to detail and pure joy in her art is just wonderful to see.

and here is "The Frog Prince" I think the colors in this piece just sing! 

For more of her inspiring work please visit her web page. You will find more mandalas, paintings inspired by dreams and lovely gifts http://serpentmadalas.com

or blog

http://serpentmandalas.blogspot.com 

moo cards

my moo cards are here!

Aren't they cute? In case you haven't heard of them, moo cards are half the size of traditional business cards made by moo in England. I'm really happy with them, they are much thicker than I expected and the color is great, all my contact info is on the back. The best thing about them is you have unlimited number of images to feature on your cards!