Can we talk about this FABRIC?????

OK...where to start? First...the DRESS FORM PINCUSHION? How cute is that? And then...this FABRIC. Why are there no shops NEAR ME (like two steps outside of my front door, maybe? Or right next to Starbucks, perhaps? Come on...just how many times can I walk around JOANN FABRICS bemoaning the lack of GOOD FABRIC?)

So about this fabric. It's Heather Bailey's Freshcut(TM) for Free Spirit. And! And!...SHE IS GOING TO BE AT THE INSPIRED EVENT! Now I know I stumbled upon her blog at some point--or maybe a post somewhere about her studio -- which is DREAMY -- but I don't recall why I didn't learn more about her at the time. But now I have. And I am totally lusting after ALL! THIS! FABRIC! I am going to be on a MISSION THIS WEEKEND to hunt down a shop that carries it (because NO, I do not want to order online....I want is NOW)...thus far the two in my area listed on the website are no longer in biz (or at least their disconnected phones lead me to assume.)

But seriously--you must see her blog. And I must have all this fabric.

And so to bed....to dream of pretty pretty princess projects!

Creative License Class with Donna Downey

Ok--real quick --posting these pics from Saturday's class for my sis and Aimee - will write more later - for now--lunch break is almost over (w o r k is a four-letter word.) Going to use this for my INSPIRED. event journal. LOVE THIS PINK AND ORANGE PAPER! (Redid the binding ribbon--the silk was too wobbly---used it to attach some WISHES on the inside front cover to hide the button closure stiches...) Front needs more BLING...but how gor-gee-ous is that PAPER? I would love a whole ROOM wallpapered in it!

Apron Addict

That's me. I want to make a drillion of these!! And I really want some Amy Butler *-- or Joel Dewberry fabric - but the instant gratification monster in me won out again today as I zipped over the JoAnn Fabrics to see if I could score some toile. No luck with the color I wanted, but I did learn that they carry Tracy Porter fabric! (and it was all on sale for 30% off. yippiee!) And thus, I give you "Apron, Take Two." (Just the middle and right pockets are Tracy Porter.) I added the velvet rickrack (attached with beads) . I think it needs more bling - I need to get my buttons out and jazz it up some more.

* Hey Aimee! Go to the Amy Butler site!! Manufactured purses available for purchase - 50% off special pre-holiday sale! Oh dear. We need these.

I *HEART* Aprons

OK...I bought the REDVELVET ART kit in MAY because I had! to! have! that! APRON! I have been wanting to make one ever since seeing the fabulolus Rebecca Sower's - how gorgeous is that?? So it has only taken 10 months to cross THAT ONE off my list (how do these chicks get SO MUCH DONE?) - and it was SO FUN. Started at 7:45 am...finished in about and hour and fifteen minutes (and that was with an iron that is on the fritz because - uh--should have listened to mom when she told us NOT TO YANK OUT THE PLUG BY PULLING THE CORD FROM ACROSS THE ROOM. Riiiiight--in theory--that is rationale. In my life? When I wake up late for work every other day? Who has time for that? OK....so lessoned learned.)

Back to my apron-loveliness. THANKS to the Red Velvet gals for cutting all the fabric and providing great instructions with photos--cause I really am not a seamstress. I like the IDEA of sewing....but I still have to refer to the dang manual to thread the machine. And of course there is the bobbin issue. So, yes...I am a spaz and my patience level is ZILCH. But I fumbled along and I am pretty happy with it (just please don't point out to me that the pink fabric is oriented the wrong way.) I will be sporting it at my class today at The Crop Room with DONNA DOWNEY. Go me!

Can we talk about the JOURNAL REVOLUTION again? And the FAUXLAROIDS?

...because I am so loving these! How cute is this picture of my SIL with her Pebbles hairdo?? She is turning FORTY this December (no way) and this is the front of the invite to the soiree. Yummy cardstock has a great metallic sheen - the color is called "pomegranate" but I think I'd call it raspberry. And the font? Why that is called "Brady Bunch" - and how groovy is that?! So loving the JOURNAL REVOLUTION book. Get it and JOIN THE ARMY!

Loving Daisies

Love daisies. Love my new Life is Good daisy bag. And I really love the new tv show Pushing Daisies. Kristen Chenoweth singing "Hopelessly Devoted to You" -- how fab is THAT? (And I now want a GREEN kitchen. The flooring in the piemaker's shop....YUM. Lovin' the green.)

{edited: Jack - speaking of green...I had that paint thing all wrong! The colors were Benjamin Moore's OLIVE BROWN and MEADOW VIEW}

Halloween * Bellaween

If only the WEATHER would realize I am READY FOR FALL. This 87 degrees and hazy hot and humid stuff is not what October is supposed to be all about. Bring on the chill....Halloween is just around the corner and I am LOVING the Somerset Studio September/October issue - especially the *Bellaween* art book and this DREAM IN COLOR collage by Julie Molina - OMG - how gorgeous is this?! Talk about inspired. I wish I didn't have to sleep - and I REALLY wish I didn't have to go to w o r k tomorrow (that wretched 4-letter word).

I AM GOING TO INSPIRED. ARTIST WORKSHOP!

I am so excited....I am going to Donna Downey's INSPIRED. ARTIST WORKSHOP. Thanks, Aimee for pointing out the payment plan option! I wish you were coming with me!

whooo-hoooo!!!

Week 38 "I Wonder.."

Done! Thanks to the INSPIRATION I have been soaking in with my new copy of JOURNAL REVOLUTION - I have finished my week 38 card. I know I am GOOFY---but these CIRCLES are making me giddy. (It's a Target prescription bottle [no lid] dipped in paint. I feel so "freestyle!") Thinking the cap would be good to use to make double circles (a tad bigger than the bottle, right?) AND--that rubber color-coder ring they put on the bottles? that would make a nice THICK circle....try it!

Card sanded then prepped with two coats of Gesso. Red paint is MakingMemories; Clock face stamp is A Stamp in the Hand Co.; Art happens stamp is Catslife Press; Large alphabet is Brenda Walton; small alphabet is Hero Arts; Turquois ink is Stampin Up!; deeper blue is ColorBox Fluid Chalk Cat's Eyes in Prussian Blue; card edged with Color Box's Robin's Blue (direct to paper); pen is Zig Millineum in Pure Red.

I am joining the Army.

The Art Army, that is. Picked up THE LAST COPY of JOURNAL REVOLUTION ON THE SHELF at Barnes & Nobel last night. And once again, I am SO INSPIRED BY THESE LADIES. AND!! AND!!!! -- my hero SUZI! FINER! is featured! (Plus ROSIE...but while impressive, that is not as cool to me since Rosie never commented on my blog...but Suzi? Oh yeah. She did!)

And how is this for turning every day into a creative endeavor? My DH is foaming at the mouth over his PHILLIES team. They are in first place to get into the playoffs...and we have tickets to today's game. All well and good. I will enjoy it once I am there, I am sure---mostly because it makes him SO HAPPY. Don't get him started on how the Philadelphia Sports Fans have NEVER GOTTEN A BREAK. I, apparently, just DO NOT UNDERSTAND, having grown up in the CITY OF CHAMPIONS (Go Stillers!)....ANYWAY....I am thinking this morning how I really really would love a whole day to PLAY! WITH! MY! NEW! BOOK! and then I realize I can get one of those scorecard books at the game -- the program, right? And I can keep score and create a little journal/scrapbook of this momentous event for my DH. Win-win, right? Thank you LINDA AND KAREN! You really are inspirational geniuses!

Now which pens shall I take? Do they give you little pencils for the score book thingie?
hmmmmmmm.....do you think I can get through security with a glue stick? Sucks leaving my scissors at home.

My Art Journal "Deck of Me"...

So this week's prompt is "I Wonder" and since I am the violently curious type, there are just so many ways I could answer THAT. Have no idea where to start. So naturally, I am off on several tangents. One of which was to peruse some of the other deck of me-ers. Particularly liked this one; and this one; and this one ....and was inspired to take a photo of mine in their current "how will I keep these?" solution. These are a cheapie set of trading card sleeves/pages....if I decide to keep them in this format, I need to invest in less flimsy sleeves - and ANTIGLARE ones. But I love flippin' through them and seeing them all lined up together....like an ART QUILT! TFL!

Cathy Z Challenge! My Alphabet Mixed Tape!

Totally inspired by Cathy Z's post today--how much of a hottie is her hubby to make her Mixed Tapes?!? And an AtoZ one? Most impressive.

I thought I had til tomorrow to post on her blog for a chance to win...but seems Mr Z is already picking a winner. No fair!

Oh well...I finished mine (props to my hubby for helping me with the HARD LETTERS!) - and now I am going to actually DO A PAGE on it because I have been wanting to use that ROCK STAR paper with the guitar.....(and yes...I stopped en route home to get it. Sick obsession, yes? Oh yeah.)

OK: A to Z -- and I made sure it was actually songs I would listen to:

My Alphabet Mixed Tape:

Alone in the Dark – John Hiatt
Be Still – Kelly Clarkson
Crashed [Acoustic Version] – Daughtry
Don’t Tell Me – Joe Henry
Enough is Enough – Donna Summer and Barbra Streisand
Father Son – Peter Gabriel
Gravity – John Mayer
Hook – Blues Traveler
Iris – GooGoo Dolls OR Live
Jane – Barenaked Ladies
Killer Queen - Queen
Ladylike – Storm Large
Man in the Long Black Coat – Joan Osborne
Nobody’s Perfect - Madonna
Oliver's Army - Elvis Costello

Put Your Records On – Corinne Bailey Rae
Queen of the Night – Whitney Houston
Rehab – Amy Winehouse
Sober – Kelly Clarkson
Time After Time – Cyndi Lauper
Us and Them – Pink Floyd
Valerie – Steve Winwood
Without You – Cast of Rent
X - Xzibit
Your Own Special Way - Genesis
Zanzibar – Billy Joel

Sorry for the crappy photo! In a rush to watch CRIMINAL MINDS!

Week 38 - "Draw Something"

Catching up with my posting - this one was tough for me. I LOVE to draw - but I am SO lousy at it. Rather, I am so inconsistent - because sometimes, every once in a great while, I actually draw something I like. But the next ten or twelve attempts? Not so much. So this card is about the one time I was doodling during a (very boring) meeting at work. I drew my engagement ring...and I liked it so much I saved it (inset). And though I haven't been able to recreate it, at least now my little scrappy sketch has a permanent home on this card! Thanks, Emily, for the fun prompt!

Painted the card with acrylic blue paint; drawing done with black Pitt finepoint artist pen and Zig Millennium Pure Pink pen on notebook paper; accents done with gold Pen Touch ink pen.

I'm Behind Again! Week 36 Emily's Art Journal

Catching up! The prompt for Week 36 was "Life is beautiful." No argument there. I went in a less serious direction than my original thoughts....I've been OBSESSED with the Russian Navy blue nail polish from OPI since seeing it in Blueprint magazine while traveling...and when I got home I was on a mission to GET IT. Finally scored a bottle in WEGMANs of all places (my local ULTA was SOLD OUT!)...OK...so there you have it. I think this "navy is the new black" nail polish is gorgeous. (Now who can tell me how to get two pics to post side by side??)

Photo is from the OPI fall collection brochure. Words from 7Gypsies paper; Rhinestones applied with Diamond Glaze; edges gilded with gold pen; Sharpie Poster Paint pen in extra fine, white.

Yes, I know I am a dork...

...but I have been up since 6:30 a.m.....like a kid waiting for CHRISTMAS morning! The bike shop doesn't open until NOON so the plan was to get up, clean out Rob's car (to make room for the bikes - not sure what kind of bike rack we want yet...)....go have a late breakfast at the new little cafe I found (near the bike shop)...then GET! THE! BIKES! and go for OUR! FIRST! RIDE! So I thought I'd finish my Week 36 card and get it posted before dragging Rob out of bed!

More evidence of my dorkiness? Yesterday, Jackie and I had a manicure/pedicure while waiting to pick up Mikayla from dance class...and I had my toes painted a SPARKLY PURPLE TO MATCH MY! BIKE! I restrained myself from doing my finger nails the same color. Sticking with the RUSSIAN NAVY blue (sorry Rob, I know you hate it) but seriously, how yummy are these new Fall OPI colors?

Which way to the Tour de France?

Hee hee. For those who asked...Rob's bike is a Raleigh Route 66. Got a super deal on the 2007 model that is being phased out or replaced or whatever they do in the cycling world when they come out with new stuff! Loving learning all the bike lingo and so glad that Rob retains MUCH MORE than I do!! (I just want to get on and pedal.) Can't wait to take our FIRST BIKE RIDE TOMORROW!

Isn't she pretty?

NO LAUGHING! This weekend Rob and I will pick up our NEW BIKES! Yes....I am a "Comfort Bike" rider -- Rob, of course, is a "Road Bike" rider. I won't go into the details of the looks on the faces of the bike salesmen in the three shops we visited (how did they know I don't BEND or SWEAT willingly??) Go ahead and laugh. I am GIDDY over my new!PURPLE! bike!

I'm a posting MANIAC today!

Got the scanner working again - so I scanned in all the "daily something" entries I did before we went away. This one is my current favorite : ) The Flicker photostream on the right houses the rest of mine. Again-- inspired by Ali - the OPRAH of the scrapbooking/life artist world!

I loves me a bargain!

Remember the "All About Me" scrapbook Kit for a Cause from last year? (Can't believe it was OCTOBER when I did that!)...of course I MAJORLY scraplifted off Ali's version....and I remember loving the glittered "A" she used on the cover. Well who'd expect that a year later, I'd come across this bargain?? Look what I found in the dollar aisle at Jo-Ann Fabric today!

So as soon as I got home and unpacked my bags from my spree (LSS and J0Ann's. Yummy) - I pulled out my book and adhered my sparkly "S" to the cover. (Also read through the book....still love it. : ) Ali's style really is timeless.)

American Idol Groupies!

BLAKE LEWIS ROCKS!

Week 35 - Emily's Art Challenge - STRENGTH

This week's prompt was "Strength." After quite a bit of pondering on this one...I settled on this brief thought: "...strength - your own will surprise you when you need it most...that which you witness in others will inspire you."

Paper is KI Memories; rub-ons are Magnolia; chipboard "S" is Heidi Swapp. I used a regular blue ink gel pen (not very successfully!) for the journaling...I need to invest in some new MICRONS! Tab is from last year's Daytimer calendar pages...

Week 34 - Emily Art Challenge "Funny - ha ha"

Last week's prompt was "Funny, haha" - as in "what makes you laugh? what do you find funny?" There are lots of things that make me laugh, and that I find hilarious (much to the confusion of some of my friends and family, I am sure!) But the best laughs of late come from my nephews - two of whom we spent a weeklong vacation with last month. Eth is 14 going on 40 - his sense of humor is right up my alley. He made me laugh out loud at the most unexpected times during our vacation week -- and his BORAT imitation is my favorite. (Irreverence is funny. Sorry, moms!) Landon is always ready with a CHEESY GRIN - and his "eh-hems" and "PANTS!" inside jokes crack me up. Love you guys! Thanks for being such FUN travel mates!

xxoo

Sticker words Making Memories and 7Gypsies. "S" Making Memories "Heidi" alphabet rub-on; Black micron pen (date) and gel marker (used to color in the word "Joker"); white ink - Uniball Signa gel pen.

Week 33 - Emily's Art Challenge - 10 minutes!

Loved this challenge from Emily - you were to take 10 minutes to create your card. I opened my "stash box" and picked through for a few collage-y type things I have been "saving" (for no specific purpose, of course - just my regular pack-ratting) - and asked Rob to "time me." I stopped when the 10 minutes were up (except to add my date and "No. 33" stamp--uh-oh --did I break a rule?) The hardest part was getting the words together from the set of stickers I was working with (I wanted to write "time is up!" - but there was no "up" on the sheet....) In the end, I like the way it came out - even though I know if I hadn't put a time limit on it I'd still be sitting there agonizing -- "should I add a gilded border with silver or gold pen?" "should I add some rhinestones or glitter glue accents to her hair or gown?" "think I could fit this chandelier cut-out at the top?".....

Photo is from a magazine, the quote is from a catalog; border is collage art (printed onto matte photo paper) from Sally Jean's book "Pretty Little Things;" rhinestones glued on with Diamond Glaze; sticker words are Making Memories "Travel" set.

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*"