Why I wish I were a good photographer....

...because this would make a great photo. A cool postcard, maybe? Not what you'd expect from a trip to the parks in Orlando (Disney/Universal). Love that.

The one about the trip to Mexico that wasn't....

That's right. Hurricane Dean (that rat bastard!) is heading to Mexico--but we are not. Our vacation to Tulum is off, but thanks to our Travel Agent Extraordinaire, Plan B is in place and we are headed to Orlando instead. (Thanks Lynne & Lar!)

And that explains these "before and after" pics of the vacation journal/scrapbooks!

Happy Birthday to you, Niki & Max!

Sorry we won't be there to give these to you in person!! Here's a sneak peak!

i *heart* you! xoxox

Week 32 - Emily Art Journal - "Quiet"

This week's prompt was "Quiet" - something surely treasured by moms with young babies and kids of all ages.....for me, not so much. People always find it hard to believe---but I don't like complete silence, nor do I require it for sleep. I most certainly was a city dweller in a former life! I'll take the bustle of a big city over a rural or suburban setting. One of these days!

This one didn't photograph or scan well...but no do-overs so we are stuck with it!

Paper border is self-adhesive matt from Rhonna Farrer, rub-ons are Chatterbox; "quiet" white rubons are Making Memories (blue metallic pencil rubbed over the letters, then scrubbed with paper towel to remove color from letters...hard to see in the photo. works better with metallic rubon paints). Gray marker is Stampin' Up!

more daily something.......

I love love love this "daily something" flicker group Ali Edwards started. I am completely enamored with this idea for turning junk mail evelopes INSIDE OUT...thanks, again and again, Ali for the inspiration and inviting us to play along!

I am dying to get my hands on a BIND IT machine...so I am holding off binding these til I just cave and buy it! In the meantime...I am REPURPOSING (love that word) the junk mail envelopes that overflow our mailbox each day (of course...now that I WANT them...there will be less and less of them!)

For the past few days---I've been playing with my daily stories and ephermera and I am happy with the three I finished so far. I've promised myself I'd continue with this daily until we leave for our vacation on the 20th....should be easy since I just love this idea so ridiculously much : )

Week 31 - Art Deck Challenge - "No Regrets"

The journaling on the back of this card reads: "Some souls by instinct to each other turn."

I read that in a Victoria magazine newsletter years before I met my husband....and it stayed with me. I had it engraved in Rob's wedding band, and if couples have "taglines" - this is the perfect one for us.

Nine years together, seven years married---no regrets that you are the one I will grow old with. xo

Elsie Challenge!

Elsie's "blog party" yesterday included this cute challenge - and how perfect for me, because I had started my vacation journal using the Love, Elsie TOBY line...so... I am offering up my "pre-vacation to-do list." LOVE this paper, the color combinations....oooooohhhh I wish I had won those chipboard BUTTONS in her TOBY giveaway! (I am ridiculously happy with the cover of my journal. I feel so "Elsie!")

Inspired by Ali Edwards' "Daily Something"

In addition to all the artful blogging going on today, Ali Edwards' AEzine arrived, and as always, was full of inspiration. LOVE her "daily something" idea...love the idea of scheduling time EVERY DAY for creative pursuits. Last night I was all over the place -painting more pages in my art journal, creating a mini purse from a Cocoa Daisey kit from earlier this year, and working on some gift projects. Quite a while ago, I had pasted this picture into my journal, from an old magazine - the floor-to-ceiling windows reminded me of a shore house my sister rented a few summers ago, with a heavenly "sleeping porch" -- ever since I have dreamed of having a lovely summer cottage, by the shore, with a sleeping porch. Heaven. I finally just stamped in the words the photo evokes in my mind.....and I think I will just leave it at that. Thanks, Ali, for reminding us to capture the moments, the stories, the memories, the dreams, and most importantly, enjoying the process along the way.

BLOG PARTIES!

Inspired today by Elsie's Blog Party (and the funfest here!) Oh if only I didn't have to WORK all day I'd have gorged on all the artful blogger blogginess going on today!!

In the spirit of the artful blogging...thought I'd post a few of my art journal pages. The pages are from the art journal I started after taking Donna Downey's online class (and doing the book binding tutorial on Teesha Moore's site....see the last post for links...I cannot GUSH enough about these!) Donna D is considering adding a Christmas Journal class -- ohh...I will SO join in, how about you?

Art Journal Challenge - Week 30 "Counting my blessings"

This week's prompt is "count your blessings." Perfect timing, as I had been working on a "grateful" page in my art journal (I recommend this online class by Donna Downey). Had been journaling about some sad/difficult things....felt better when balanced with the positive and light-hearted. Sorry this scan is the best I could do...the actual pages are much brighter!

Green satin fabric scrap from my Emily pack; bling and number rub-ons are Heidi Swapp; Paper is from Amy Butler pack. Photo is from my art journal [Fabrino Artisico watercolor paper (try Dick Blick for bulk prices); pages painted with making memories scrapbook paints; "grateful" written with Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pens--fine point, then gone over with brush tip pen, then outlined with Caran d'ache Neocolor II and Derwent Aquatone watercolor crayons; 'i do love you' stamp $1 at Michaels; circle dots stamp by 7Gypsies. Instructions for binding your own art journal at the amazing Teesha Moore's website. ]

Also grateful for all the inspiration and generous sharing from all the artful bloggers I follow and those who are participating in this challenge. Thanks for all your kind words you post, and for sharing your work. Extra thanks to Emily for bringing us together!

Art Journal Challenge - Week 29 "PERFECTION"

Getting caught up....Week 29 prompt was "Define Perfection." Right now, I am SO looking forward to our upcoming vacation...a week away for our annual family funfest- this year in Mexico. Journaling on back reads: "Nothing better than having something to look forward to. Vacation in paradise...that is perfection. *heart*"