Week 14 Prompt - "Birds"

Would never have expected this prompt...but I like it! First thing I thought of was Corinne Bailey Rae's song "Put Your Records On"and the line "Three little birds sat on my window, and they told me I don't need to worry."

Here's hoping those birds find their way to my window!

EDIT: oops...had the paper credit wrong--fixed it here: Painted card pink, then with Gesso. Paper is Basic Grey Ghiradelli Square from the Pheobe line (LOVE THIS LINE!); Heidi Swapp "Martha" jewels; assorted sead beads-adhered with glitter glue; trusty black micron pen. Also printed the lyrics and attached to the back of the card (ala the 13Q radio station lyrics cards, Jack! )

Eggs-cellent Easter Egg Painting Adventure

Last night I, my sister Jackie and her family continued our annual tradition of coloring Easter Eggs. A few years back, Jackie decided we should use acrylic paints...and it is now our preferred method (plus she slops the dye everywhere when she tries to dip the eggs... hee hee)

Here are a few shots of the bunch. Mikayla acted as art director and designed the Lilly Pulitzer line (and the photo shoot!).....David stuck with sports--did a few football-themed ones, and ordered a second photo shoot today because somehow none of his eggs made it into the Lilly line. Jackie did her old-standbys: ducks and carrots - and added a cute bunny and even goldfish to her repetoire (most crafty!!)

Thanks for the fun as always, Sissy--and for doin' all the prep- and post-work (but not for dippin' your "oops-gotta start over" paper towel into my drinking water!)

Happy Easter!

She did SO mean ME!

Ok...settle in...this is one of my LONG stories....

So after being out of computer-commission for a few weeks---I get back on track with my Emily (yes, she is a Goddess) Falconbridge Art Journal Deck of Me challenge....and I am cruising along...getting my cards finished and scanned and posted...and lo and behold....it happens.

I am LINKED!
BY SUZY FINER. http://suzifiner.blogspot.com/
THAT'S RIGHT. Artist/Writer/Retailer/Mom--and then some.
AND SHE LINKED ME.
AND SHE SAID SHE LIKED MY CARDS!!

And yes...I wrote and thanked her. And told her I was honored (probably have since gushed enough that she fears I am a single-white-female stalker type. But we all know I am not. Not really. Not in a dangerous or creepy way at least. Just geniuinely giddy over it!).

So.......I brag to my hubby..."guess what!! my blog was LINKED to a real artceleb! she said 'heard lots about you!' "and he says...."uh, do you think she thinks you are the famous one?" And then I tell this all to my artist/art director pal at work, and he goes "oh yeah, they think you are the famous one." Meaning the Susan Gilman of "Susan Gilman and Company" (yes...the manufacturers rep - the one every LSS owner asks me "are you THE Susan Gilman?" - like what, no disrespect, but does she walk on water or something? "Uh no. I am not THAT Susan Gilman. Would I be droppin' 60 skeet FULL RETAIL if I were? May I just have my frequent buyer card stamped, please?")

I refuse to buy into their negativity!! (but NO...I have not written back and asked "um...did you really mean ME? Not the famous one who could probably give you really cool product swag?") I will hold on to the feeling as long as possible! That's right. I have arrived.

(Can you imagine if I ever get PUBLISHED??????)

But the story doesn't end there.

From Suzy Finer's fabulous blog (is her banner gor-gee-ous or what??) - I found the woman featured in the latest issue of ME's Home Companion magazine. Have your seen this??? I went out last Friday night for a Barnes and Noble run to pick up a copy when I read Rhonna Farrer http://rhonnadesigns.com/was featured....and double my delight--there was the layout of Mary Smilove's http://marysmilove.typepad.com/my_weblog/papercrafts-themed soiree....did I want to leap into the pages or what? And guess who she is friends with? That's right. She and Suzy are friends. Suzy helped Mary with her blog banner when Mary joined the blogging cult last month. The connections go on from there -- but I'm not one to name-drop.

Now won't all the nay-sayers be feeling silly when my new friend Suzy offers to create MY banner? (Do you think it is too soon to impose? hmmmm....what would Ali Edwards do?)

Week 13 - Art Journal - ALL CAUGHT UP

WHEW! All caught up! This week's prompt is "what's on your mind?"

Easy one. It's April. Taxes. Budget. Bills Bills Bills.

Paper - Emily pack; Prima flower and large brad; 7Gypsies stamp; Joanne Fabrics' - alphabet brads.

Week 12 - Art Journal.."I Believe...."

Great prompt...."I believe..."---so many directions this could have gone in...but this seemed more appropriate for me at the moment....card reads "I believe in the healing power of art."

This card didn't turn out the way I envisioned it...but I decided no "do overs" in this project---so here it is....warts and all : )

Thanks, Emily, again, for the inspiration!

Paper - page from a promotional catalog; Micron pen; "Art helps me breathe" stamp - Catslife Press; collage letters - Tim Holtz; "No." stamp - Stampin' UP!; rub-on numbers- Heidi Swapp.

Week 11 (almost caught up!)

Week 11's prompt was "Your Initial...."

Perfect chance to use my glitter stickers I have been wanting to try since Shimelle's "I Have a Confession" cover...LOVE THESE THINGS!!

paper-from my Emily pack; sticker initial and label - Making Memories; rhinestones - Joanne Fabrics' dollar bin; Heidi Swapp number rub-ons...Stampin' Up! "No." stamp...Micron pen....still loving the doodling....

Week 10 Deck of Me Art Journal...

Moving along...this journal prompt came during a spell of tough days at the office....that spilled out to tough nights at home...when is this lesson going to STICK? - Treat yourself and your loved ones with tender loving care. Period. The rest will work itself out.
Take good care of each other....

paper from the kit I bought from Emily she herself when I started this art deck...ribbon left over from a Crop Room kit (thanks, Aimee!)...Micron and Pitt brush pens...doodling inspired by Zettiology stamps I am coveting..."No." stamp from Stampin' UP!, rub-on numbers from Heidi Swapp...glitter glue dabs 'cause I thought it needed some subtle bling : )

WEEK 9 - Art Journal Deck of Me - "Inspiration Found"

The prompt for week 9 was "Inspiration Found" -- and again... I can't limit my response to just one thing! I am inspired at every turn these days...a few of the people/things that have most captivated me lately are: (in no particular order!) Teesha Moore and her art journals....Sally Jean Alexander and her book "Pretty Little Things"...Donna Downey and her classes....ALI EDWARDS....blogs blogs and more blogs....paper crafts and collage...and ETSY shops. And so much more....but I need to move on to the next prompts! Still behind!

Week 8 - Art Journal - Deck of Me

Week 8's prompt was "who or what do you miss?"

As Spring nears...and my need to simplify my cluttered life has me "ruthlessly editing" that which I hoard...I keep coming back to the PILES of magazines I have accumulated over the years. Alas, there are some I just CANNOT toss out. Among them....my back issues of VICTORIA Magazine....which has been out of publication for several years now. And I still really miss it. I still find inspiration and beauty in any issue I revisit...how could the Hearst Publishing folks cancel this magazine ??? I should start a grassroots effort to bring it back!

WEEK 7 Art Journal - Deck of Me

OK....back on track with my DECK OF ME cards....catch up time!! This one was for Week 7 "SHOES. THERE IS ALWAYS A STORY"
I am SO not girlie when it comes to SHOES (purses...yes...but shoes...not so much). Reason is mainly because I have the STUPIDEST FEET. They are Fred Flintstone-ish (square blocks)...too wide...too small. SHOES DO NOT FIT ME. Especially HEELS (and Oh how I WISH I COULD wear everything Carrie Bradshaw slipped her foot into on Sex and the City...but I digress...) I was born with completely inverted feet - casts on my legs/feet when I was newborn...corrective shoes until age 10 or something (nightmare. my mean sisters called them CLODHOPPERS. Yeah yeah....I can walk, I am blessed. Tell that to a kid who wears blue faux suede shoes with red stitching EVERY DAY. ) So me and shoes...not a good thing.....except:
MY UGGS.
Ugly? I don't think so!
I have four pair. Yes...that is ridiculous...but they are SOOOOO COMFY. And you don't need SOCKS! and they slip on and off without me needing to WRESTLE my way into them (I hardly need to BEND...and that is always a good thing in my book!) So yes...four pair...started with the BLUE...then the sand ones (practical--get loads of wear out of them) then the light pink (thank you MARSHALLS--or was it TJs?!!) and finally---the RASPBERRY pair (again--TJ Maxx hooked me up!). Yummy. Now I really want the WASABI (green) ones...and maybe I will be over it....

...did you know women are having surgery on their FEET to make them prettier???? hmmm...I think I'd give up a metatarsal or two to be be able to strut around in a pair of Manolo's....

Eye candy for my desk......

Lovin' these yummy mini bowls from Anthropologie--I want to design a whole Room of My Own around them....

Love Love Love

I love Valentine's Day.

I love Pink.

I love Roses.

I love my hubby.

Not in that order, of course.

Week 6 Card! Love is...

This was a perfect prompt for the week of Valentine's Day. I came across this quote a while ago and shared it with Rob. It has stayed with me....it suits our story perfectly of late. I changed it a bit -- the card reads "Love is what you've been through together."

Happy Valentine's Day!

{red glitter heart from a pack off the $1 rack at Target...glitter postage sticker from a pack off the $1 rack at Jo-Anne Fabrics...can't resist Valentine bits and who doesn't love a good bargain!}

Finished My Card Deck Pouch!

Finally found my PINKING SHEARS (why were they NOT in the sewing basket???)...and finished my little pouch for the cards ...totally copied Ms. Emily's look....(if it ain't broke...) - added my newest little favorite embellishment....these Prima flowers with the center stamens...love the colors but there are not enough in the package!!

Loved this part of the project.....love the "organic" look - the felt and the hand-stitching....

Lotta love!

Art Deck - Week 5

Week of February 4 - prompt was to use a bit of epherma on our card. I had just returned from a road trip with my sister and niece, so there were plenty of scraps to chose from! We stopped at the outlets on the way home for a quick shopping spree. J Crew was having a terrific sale...picked up some great buys for hubby (hence the JCrew price tag on my card)...and our stop in Target yielded some Valentine's Day candies--Harry & David's Chocoloate Covered Bing Cherries. Yum-O! A bit of red ribbon and some journaling on the back..and voila! Card 5 complete!

By the way--anyone out there a member of the Epherma Society of America? Who knew?

Week 4 - Art Deck

This week's prompt was to journal about a symbol that you love.

How simple for me. My favorite symbol is a heart. One of the things I most often doodle....always added after my signature when I sign cards or letters to friends and family...part of my "hallmark" on the back of handmade creations...they represent VALENTINE'S DAY...and they are the one thing Rob and I collect together. All my favorite things. I love hearts.

Week 3 - Art Journal - "I am..."

This week's prompt was "I am..." Oh dear. Not my forte--declarative statements about me. I am all over the place. I am at loose ends. I am behind in my "to do" lists. I am not feeling as creative as I'd like to be lately. I am worried about my mom's health. I am happy Rob is excited about his new job. I am learning to live my life as a statement, not a question. I believe I am a late bloomer. I am a work in progress. Yeah, I think "I am a work in progress" pretty much covers it all.

Week 2 - of Art Journal Journey

Posting my first two cards together...sorry the scan is a bit "light" - the colors are much more vibrant than this pic shows.... ANYWAY... the first prompt was "what are you proud of" - I listed a few things I accomplished the first week of this new year....getting involved in new art challenges among them!

This week's prompt is "what is powerful to you?" I immediately thought of a scrapbook LO I saw recently, with words listed - positive ones, and negative ones with a red strikethru....a visual reminder about the strength of words....and it has stayed with me.

My journaling on the back of the card reads:

"What is powerful to you?

WORDS. They have the power to heal or hurt...

to lift up or to tear down...

to embrace or to divide...

to teach or to torment.

Words are powerful.

Use them wisely."

It's a lesson I have yet to master---this prompt will help me be mindful of its importance to me.

EDIT: retitling this for you Aimee, sorry I confused you! Swirls!

Chicks Rule!

How cute is this site? (Aimee...thanks...found this on your blog!).... www.blessthischick.com

Fun!

A NEW CHALLENGE!!!!!!

Oh I am so excited for this one!! Niki and Aimee---you gotta play along with me! Check out this challenge....
http://embers.typepad.com/e/2007/01/join_me_on_an_a.html

Off to TARGET to find a cool deck of cards.....love this idea!!

Ali Edwards eZine challenge...one little word

Ali Edwards' eZine challenge this week is to choose "one little word" to serve as a mantra of sorts for the year. Ali started this last year (I believe her word for 2006 was Play) and used her word as a focal point, something to meditate on and reflect upon as she went through her days...what a perfect tradition to start.

And so, I, too, am accepting the challenge. It wasn't hard to decide on a word, as it is one I have tried to keep in mind for quite some time.

My word is Grace.

I want this in my life, I need this in my life, and I want it to be something that is integral to who I am....when I am long gone, I would love for this to be one of the words used to describe me. Having said that...I know it is a lofty goal - as it isn't exactly my nature to be full of Grace (or graceful....but that's a whole other story!)...but I am working on that!

This stone in the photo is etched with the word Grace and sits atop my jewel chest...right where I will see it every morning as I get dressed. I put it there long ago to remind me that I need to focus on this word to make it part of me. More often than not, it is buried under the"stuff" that accumulates on my jewelry box...but then I unearth it again and dust it off and place it back where I will see it again each day. It strays from my mind most days almost immediately....but I am working on that.

And so....thank you, Ali, for inspiring us to play, and create, and ponder, and think for ourselves, and tell our stories, and to live with intention and Grace.

Peace & Grace.

Crazy Cool

How amazing is this?

Came across a reference to this in the current issue of Legacy...

New York artist John Evans created a collage EVERY DAY from 1964 through 2000.

(and I stalled on my Christmas Journal after about 20 days!)

more on the book of his works at this link: (also available on Amazon) http://www.quantucklanepress.com/catalog/book.php?bkID=64

One moment please...

Playing around with the blog....

want something fresh for the new year.....

In the meantime...enjoy a cup of tea on me.

Happy New Year!

GOOD NEWS!! CATHY Z IS BACK TO BLOGGING!! YEAHHH - I have missed her.... (http://cathyzielske.typepad.com/)

And once again I am BEHIND in my Shimelle journal.....somehow my email was not receiving my daily prompts....fixed that and now I have to catch up!!

And I MISSED OUT ON ORDERING THE JANUARY COCOA DAISY kit! sold out!! dang it! Hoping the reorder is QUICK.

Trying to figure out the new BLOGGER....wish I had an IT guru to make my blog all snazzy....in my next life I want to be a SCRAP CELEB! Speaking of which...what happened to Elsie and the CK magazine? and where is her new PRODUCT????????

Signed...still impatient.

What kind of Christmas Tree are You?

You Are a Cranberry and Popcorn Strung Tree

Christmas is all about showcasing your creative talents. From cookies to nicely wrapped presents, your unique creations impress everyone.

What Christmas Tree Are You?

Oh Christmas Tree!

This turned out differently than I had planned..but I think I like it. Been wanting to use these HEIDI SWAPP letters - but the blue never quite fit...maybe I should have painted over them....then I messed up my OBSERVATIONS circle stamp in the bottom right corner (which I am doing on each page)....so I tore it away and used the next page for the day (11) and stamp, and journaling....worked out nicely! My drawing skills are negligible... but I always like to draw TREES....especially Christmas trees. This was a fun page to journal.

Day 10 - lovin' this PAPER!

Giddy over my OLD NAVY paper...lovin' this pattern...wish I had a big ballgown ala Doris Day made out of some sumptious rustle-y fabric in this pattern! I would wear it every day til NEW YEAR's!!

Sorry the pic doesn't live up to the HYPE....

Days 8 & 9!

OK...I realize this is defeating the purpose of living in the moment and enjoying the days as we get closer and closer to Christmas....but I was behind and determined to catch up this weekend (and I did! Took me til THREE AM SUNDAY NIGHT...but I am CAUGHT UP!)....but I really really wanted to do PROMPT 10 -- so I kind of neglected Days 8 and 9 to get to my FABULOUS WRAPPING PAPER THAT I AM SO IN LOVE WITH! Silly I know. But I just am ridiculously charmed by this OLD NAVY PATTERN! (bought the notebook for my car, the wrapping paper and the flannel jammy pants to wear on Christmas!).....now I've overhyped it. Day 10 was fun for me...tho' it doesn't photograph well (whatever did I do to this dang camera?? It's all jacked and I don't know how to "reset it to the default!")

OK....enough rambling....off to make my TREE PAGE!!!!!!!

Days 5,6 and 7!

A few more pages.....up to page 8 now....enjoying the process....how do the rest of you post photos? Do you scan your pages? My photos of my pages are crummy (even using MACRO setting)....

Day 4 (yes I know I am still behind!)

Day 4 - My immediate thought of "dreams of Christmas" was that I miss the annual cookie bake-off day my sister and I used to have each year...now that we live 4 hours away from each other, we don't get to bake together at Christmastime...and I miss it.

**EDIT** - To those who asked about the Christmas letter cookies - the photo is from a Mary Engelbreit Home Companion magazine....(wish I could take credit for them!)

A few more pages done!

Working to get caught up...so loving seeing the different interpretations of each day's prompt....but also interesting to notice the number of the things I recognize from my own stash of supplies. Great inspiration, ladies!

Happy with my CARDS Day 3 page....

DAYS 1 & 2

I am still behind...but had a glitch and had to start over my MANIFESTO page....I had started clean and simple...then decided it had too much white space...and so I tried to brush on a paint border in red...which looked like BLOOD...so then I brushed some luminere over it....and it looked ORANGE....oh dear. Into the trash went THAT page....and so I started again...(and by now I barely had enough of the TARGET CATTY to cut up for my background....but I did my best.)

Decided I'd try to add some BLING (rhinestones) to each page...loving the sparkle...

Swirls!

Edited: Cover and Page One added....I think I have my BLOGGER working again...though my photos are not the best...can't figure out why they are rotating! I really should read the manual on this new digital camera, right? Sure...who has time for that?

CHRISTMAS ART JOURNAL

Is there anything more exciting (and/or intimidating!) than a blank page? I so want to be an artist...but I know myself to be a "crafter" - great at producing and imitating -- but sadly, not an original. And I have gone astray from my daily journaling...gotta get that habit back!

So...Treated myself to Shimelle's Christmas Art Journal class today (www.shimelle.com)...even tho it started Dec 1---I plan to get "caught up" before retiring for the night.

This is incentive to discipline myself to JOURNAL more....

I hereby declare, along with Shimmelle and the others, my MANIFESTO:

I will keep a Christmas journal.

In it, I will write something every day to reflext on the holidays of my past, enjoy the holidays of the present and dream about the holidays of my future. To some, this will be a stack of papers and trivial scribbles, but not to me. I am taking back my Christmas. I am letting it be something I relish and, most importantly, I am giving at least fifteen minutes every day to myself no matter how crazy this season becomes. I hope you will share, encourage and understand as I make something with my own hands, my own words, and my own memories.

So..thanks to Shimelle and all the others who have posted their pages thus far...you inspire me and I am excited to create and share the holiday spirit with you.

Off to CREATE I go!

Inspired by Ali Edwards

Up and out of the house EARLY today for some errands...and now time to scrap the night away. yippiee! Some shares: TOTALLY SCRAPLIFTED (like a stalker, am I!) ALI EDWARDS' Thanksgiving journal--bought the kit from Cocoa Daisey (so yum) and loved the papers so much I made a second mini version for my sister, Niki, who came out to spend Thanksgiving with us for the first time. Perfect weekend!

EDIT: Inspired by Ali to create this collage of Christmas bits , too...just need to add some glitter to my snowflake and frame it...ho ho ho!

Thanksgiving nears!

Four days til the feast of the spice-rubbed turkey tradition....still so much to do!
But for today...it's all about getting some craft time in. Thanks. I needed that! (and in the meantime...I am IMpatiently waiting for the new Penny Black website!)

It's the Most Wonderful Time of The Year.....

HOLIDAYS ARE NEAR!! TURKEY TIME!!!!!