Art Journaling

So I had this post scheduled to go up Thursday morning and couldn't figure out why it wasn't up.  I checked when I got home last night and realized I had saved it as a draft.  Duh!  Sorry about that friends!  So, what I had planned for today, I'll post next week, okay?  Okay!

Today I wanted to talk about art journaling.  I've heard this term thrown around a lot, but never really understood the concept until last Friday when I read SUE'S BLOG.  She posted a link to an article about art journaling and it finally clicked with me.  I about smacked myself in the forehead.  Duh Becky, why didn't you get this before?  It's basically drawing, sketching, stamping, collaging (is that even a word), or any other technique that strikes your fancy, into a book.  Just make sure you leave some space to write.  Then you journal, about your day or your week or I guess how ever often you feel like it.  I thought it would be really cool to try out.  I didn't want to invest any money into a new journal so I thought I'd try this out in my faux SMASH journal.  I've posted about that before HERE, HERE and HERE.  I thought this might be kind of a cool thing to add to it anyway, right? Right!  Now I must warn you, my creative craftiness lies in the paper arena NOT drawing, BUT that is not what the spirit of art journaling is about my friends.  It's about letting yourself be free, just to create!  So without further ado...my first art journal pages.

The first picture I used my Stampin' Up! watercolor crayons and blender pen all the rest I used my Prisma Color pencils.  Some pros and cons for me of this process...  I really liked just being crafty and getting to play with color.  It was nice to have something portable to play with.  All my tools fit in my lap.  The cons for me were that I had a hard time with the flow.  This was something really outside of my box and I had some difficulties with it, but I think it was good for me.  I'm going to keep at it and see where it leads me :)

Have you art journaled before?  How is/was the process for you?  I would LOVE to hear about it.  Side note:  I'm feeling the urge to shop right now, but want to wait for all the new CHA stuff coming out right now.  Anyone else feel this way?

Okay, what's up for your weekend?  We don't have anything planned.  It's supposed to be HOT again, so maybe some pool time or a movie night is in order.  I definitely need to get crafty, lots of cards and projects on my to do list!  Thanks for coming by today.  Have a GREAT, GREAT Friday and weekend and I'll see you on Monday!

A hodge podge of a Wednesday.

Good morning dears!  I have a hodge podge of photos and things to discuss with you today.  I worked late last night and after a quick dinner I had no time for craftiness :(  But we DID get the girls table finished, which was a priority!  :)  Let me tell you, we made them wait upstairs while we finished it up and they were so excited when we called them down.  They both had their eyes closed, so cute!

Here's Landry, getting down to business...coloring :)

Here's Abie...organizing her new area :)

Now for some not so crafty stuff.  Last week while we were on vacation we went to a few antique stores and flea markets.  I've been on the look out for a floral frog to hold my cards and projects for when I take pictures.  I've found a few online, but shipping is SO expensive.  Well, the first antique store we went into, I found one!

Sorry about the picture here, didn't realize I had focused in on the cabinets :)

This was my other cool find!  I love this old fish scale.  It's going somewhere in the kitchen, just not sure where yet...

Now onto a preview for tomorrow:

Hint #1 my colored pencils.

Hint #2 my faux Smash book.

Hint #3 my watercolor crayons and blender pens.

Any guesses on what I'm up too?  Come back tomorrow and I'll show you.  Have a wonderful Wednesday and thanks so much for coming by today!

Let's talk desks!

Hello Tuesday!  Today I thought we would discuss desks, or tables or whatever you call your work space.  I use to be a sitter but have since converted to a stander.  I fell in love with THIS table but good grief, not the price!  That's when I turned to the power of the Peas and found THIS table at a fraction of the cost!  It didn't take me long to get this puppy made (and by me I mean Mike). 

 

Now this desk is awesome!  I love it.  I bought two Closet Maid 9 hole cubbies from Target and had a piece of MDF cut to 38x55.  I painted the MDF to match the cubbies and Mike attached the tabletop to the cubbies with a couple of L brackets.  This came together in one night, so easy!  I posted pictures of this desk back several months ago, HERE when I did a post on my whole craft room.

The real reason I wanted to talk about desks today is because Mike and I are making a second craft desk for my room.  This time for the girls.  Abie has her own area in my room, but Landry is quickly out growing her little easel table.  So it was time for a little bit of rearranging.  I got to thinking about things, like I like to do :)  and decided on a crafty desk/table similar to mine for the girls.

We picked up two of these three shelf bookcases at Walmart, for just $12.50 each!

Mike already had this piece of plywood in the basement.  ***This picture is unfinished***  After I took the picture, Mike trimmed the wood down, just a bit and painted the tabletop.  While it dried, the girls and I separated Abie's beads out by color, theme and alphabet ;)  I'm so excited that in just a few more days they will have a LARGE work space, just for them!  Bring on the glitter!

I'll be sure to keep you posted on the desk/table and show you pics once the girls are all settled.  Have a great Tuesday friends and I'll see you tomorrow!  Thanks for coming by today!

Wedding Card

Happy Monday everyone!  Did you have a nice weekend?  We just played catch up from being gone on vacation all last week.  Laundry, grocery shopping, the usual :)

I did fit a little crafty time in, priorities right?  I needed a wedding card for my boss.  He was married on June 24th and then was on his honeymoon through July 8th and then I was on vacation so today will be the first day I have seen him.  They were married in a friend's backyard, a small family ceremony, but I felt like I wanted to at least make him a card.

This card measures 4x8 1/2 so it's a long skinny one and I love the way it turned out!  I added another one of those Crate Paper Accent Cuts and a bit of Crate Paper Emma's Shoppe.  I layered on some vintage trim and few more bits and pieces here and there.  Definitely not your traditional wedding but I think that's what I really like about it.

We're planning on making a new craft table for the girls.  I'm hoping this week sometime, not sure if Mike's schedule will allow for that to happen or not ;)  We're also having some super hot temps here and it's pretty miserable to be outside right now.  I don't mind the hot weather, but this humidity is awful!

Have a fabulous Monday my friends.  Thanks for coming by today and I'll chit chat with you tomorrow!

A tiny little card.

Happy Friday my lovelies!  I hope you've had a wonderful week.  Today I want to share with you a fun little card.  Last week I made a 4x4 card and wondered why I don't make more that size, but today's card is also a fun size that I should make more of.  It's 2 3/4x4 1/4

 

I've had that alphabet paper for four years!  Talk about holding on to something.  I just love it though and only use bits and pieces of it at a time.  I painted, yes I said painted, around the edges of the card.  How's that for an oldie but goodie?  Don't ask what got in to me.  It's a look I've always loved for aging something though.  Not sure what I'll use this for, but I think it sure is a cutie :)

Do you have big plans for your weekend?  We're just going to relax, probably do a bit of laundry and maybe craft a bit.  I hope you have a wonderful weekend and I'll see you soon!  Thanks for popping over here today!

Embossing with white powder...ugh.

So I love, love, love the look of heat embossing.  Especially with white powder, on dark colors.  My issue is when the tiny little powders stick to the paper where they're not supposed to.  Do you know what I mean?  Let me take you through my embossing process.

1)  I rub my Embossing Buddy over the area to be embossed.
2)  I stamp my chosen stamp with Versamark Ink over the area I just prepped.
3)  I sprinkle the stamped area with Ranger Sea foam White embossing powder (my favorite).
4)  I gently tap excess powder off and give my paper a flick or two with my finger.
5)  I use a soft brush to clean up any edges or get rid of any flecks of pesky powder (see opening paragraph)
6)  I heat up my powder
7)  I get slightly frustrated because there are stray white powders in my image and it's not as crisp as I     
      would like.

You can really tell in the first picture, not as much in the second.  These aren't too terribly intricate, at least not compared to some, designs, but there is a fair amount of detail.  I would just really like a cleaner result.  Any tips or suggestions?

Now yesterday, Mary Pat at Siehled With a Kiss made THIS card with the most amazing butterfly stamp on it.  She embossed it with white embossing powder as well and said she rubbed her cardstock with a dryer sheet first!  When she told me that, I about smacked myself in the forehead!  I'm so going to try that!  Thanks Mary Pat!

Do you have a technique that you love, but that frustrates you at the same time?  How do you deal with it?

Have a great Thursday and I'll see you tomorrow!  Thank for coming by today :)

Vacation Albums

Oh man, already Wednesday!  I can't believe it.  These weeks are flying by.  Before we know it we'll be talking back to school, ugh.  I love summer and I just can't bear the thought.  While we're still here though, let's discuss vacation albums.  I've done three.  One 12x12, your traditional album, one 8x8 also traditional and one two up album.  I've seen a lot of non traditional albums this year and I really thought I would try my hand at one this year.

I've had this Cosmo Cricket blackboard album for several years now, not knowing what I wanted to use it for...until today!

I'm going to use two different sized manila envelopes and alternate them between the chipboard pages.  This is as far as I've gotten :)  Now bear with me as this will be a work in progress.  It could be MONTHS before this album is complete :)  A lot of people are taking their albums with them, on the road.  I didn't have time to get my stuff together this year, but would have loved to do that.  Maybe next year, right?  I did get Abie a Smash Book so she could document vacation this year :)

Do you do a separate vacation album or do you include vacation layouts within your regular scrapbooks?  If you do a separate album, what kind are you doing this year?

Enjoy your Wednesday and your summer, savor it my friends.  Thanks for coming by today.

Peace out.

Last Day of Funk!

Happy Tuesday!  I have a quick post for you today, with a blurry picture :)  Have you been feeling funky lately?  If so, scroll down to my previous two posts and see my funk busting craft moves!  I have one more trick for you today!

Do you ever get roped in to buying those little tag books that match the paper pads?  I've only bought one, but have contemplated buying more than that!  They're just so adorable.  Well, I usually use these as journaling spots but this time I made a little embellishment/tag out of one!

(insert blurry pic here)

So if you've ever bought these tag books before, you know there's a GIGANTIC hole in one end.  I simple covered it up with one of my stick pins (remember when I made these?) and a butterfly, popped up on a foam dimensional. 

Now this can be used on a gift bag or a card.  But I think I might just sit and stare at it for awhile.  Haha!

Have a fantabulous Tuesday!  I'll see you tomorrow and thanks for stopping by today!

More Funk Busting!

Good Monday morning all!  Did you have a nice weekend?  I'm back today with some more funk busting tips!  Last Friday I shared with you my best tip for busting the crafty funk.  For me it's making something small like a tag.  I know a lot of people will make a card, but when you're primarily a card maker...you have to go even smaller than that! 

Today I'm going to show you some small little doilies that I've embellished.  I originally saw this idea on Dawn McVey's blog, some time ago.  These are Martha Stewart cut lace tags that I picked up at Michael's.  I don't think they sell them anymore but Papertrey Ink now sells a die that cuts out an almost identical shape!

In the first two pics, I just layered on a few bits and pieces.  In the last picture, I used a regular sized doily and just cut it in half, then layered it up.

I love these embellishments, I can use them for gift tags, cards, scrapbook pages just about anything.  The best part about them is that I feel crafty when I'm making them!

Have a wonderful Monday and I'll see you guys tomorrow!  Thank for popping in today!

Funky Friday :)

Good morning!  How are you?  I want to talk funk today.  Not smelly funky, not Funky town, not even George Clinton Funk.  I mean crafty funk.  The other day STEPH was talking about being in a funk and asked what we all did to get out of it.  I told her that I will create something small like a tag, a set of doilies, or some embellishments.  The best part about this is that when you're done, you can always use what you've just created on a card or scrapbook page. 

Now, I haven't been in a funk lately, but after talking to Steph, I was kind of in the mood to make some small little ditties.  So the next few days I'll be sharing them with you.  First up, a mini paper bag.  These are so much fun to decorate.  I picked mine up at Michael's but I know Hobby Lobby sells them too.

I just love these little bags!  I think this one might work well for a birthday package :)

Well, I'll be back on Monday with some more funk busting crafts!  Have a fabulous weekend friends and thanks for stopping by!

A tag for your Thursday!

Good morning all!  I hope you're doing well on this Thursday.  Today I have a quick post, a little tag I whipped up for Landry's birthday gift from her big sister, Abie.

 

This tag was so simple to make.  You know THESE SHEETS that Crate Paper and other manufactures sell?  Crate Paper calls them Accent Cuts, I'm not sure if there is a general name for them or not.  Anyway, when I purchase one of these sheets, I immediately cut them all up, it's distracting to me to leave them in one 12x12 sheet.  I much prefer them to be nicely trimmed and ready to go for projects!  I picked out a little "Accent Cut" and simply layered on an Emma's Shop tab sticker and a couple of punched out butterflies.  See those gems at the top?  They were to cover up a mistake.  Abie couldn't decide if she wanted to sign the front or back of the tag.  The gems are covering up her pen marks :)  I stamped a little sentiment and tied the tag onto the tulle bow on the package.  Man I love tulle!  I think I would use it on everything if I could!

Well, that's it for me on this fine Thursday.  Have a fantastically wonderful day and I'll see you tomorrow!  Thanks for stopping in today my friends!

CFC #9

Aaahhh, Wednesday already.  Gotta love a short week, don't ya?  Today I'm playing along with Casual Fridays and the challenge this week was Krafts and Men!  Two of my favorites!  Haha! Check out the link above for all the details.

I stamped a thin strip of black wood grain across the middle of my Kraft base.  Then I cut a 3x3 piece of Kraft and heat embossed the tricycle with black embossing powder.  I added a bit of bakers twine and popped it up with some foam dimensionals.  I finished off the card with a sentiment in the bottom corner.

This manly Kraft card couldn't have come at a better time!  My Grandad's birthday is today so this Krafty man challenge couldn't have been more perfect :)

I hope you have a great Wednesday.  Thank for stopping by today and I'll see you tomorrow!

PDCC88

Happy Tuesday everyone!  Did you have a nice three day weekend?  (for those of you in the States)  We a lovely time with family and friends.  I realized yesterday just  how much my family means to me.  I have a small family, but one that is close and whose love is strong.  I know that no matter what we will always be there for one another and that is comforting in and of itself. 

Today I want to share with you a card I made for the Play Date Cafe's Challenge #88.  When I saw this picture, I thought, I got this no problem.  I thought of fun summer plates and place mats, beach tableware.  You know, that type of thing.  When I started on the card though, I had the hardest time.

My card measures 4x4 which is a size I love but seem to forget about on a regular basis.  I think because I don't have that size of envelope.  I went a bit crazy with the buttons, I just love them though!  Oh, and that ribbon!  Too fun I think!

I hope you have the happiest of Tuesdays.  I will be back tomorrow.  Thanks for checking in today :)

Happy...

Birthday to my Landry and Happy Fourth of July to everyone celebrating today!  Four years ago today, my baby was born.  My due date was the tenth and we joke around that the neighbors shooting off fireworks on the third are what put me into labor early on the 4th!  I still can't believe Landry was born on that day.  My dad said he was a little firecracker and she is!  She is spunky, funny, bright and full of LIFE!  I was watching her Friday night while some of the neighbors were shooting off fireworks and she was laughing and pointing and loving it.  Exactly like a baby born on The Fourth should!

Saturday out HOA sponsored the annual Bike Parade.  The kids decorated their bikes and the local police came out to lead the way!  Abie and one of her friends were first in line, right behind the police car!

Landry chose the easy way up the big hill!  If you notice the dad behind her and Mike, that is one of our neighbors, carrying his son's scooter.  He chose to run, rather than ride in the parade.  So fun!

The parade route ended at the pool and the kids got Bomb Pops.  Now I ask you, what is more patriotic than that?  I heart our neighborhood and I heart that there are still communities out there in America that do things like this!  I love that my kids will have these memories from their childhood.

I want to wish each and every one of you a Happy Fourth of July, here in the U.S., and a very safe and happy celebration.  After Landry's big party yesterday, we're taking it easy today.  Did you celebrate yesterday or are you celebrating today?

Thank you so much for coming to visit me.  I feel like we are great friends and could meet up at any moment and already know what is going on in each others lives.  Do you feel like that too?  This blogging thing is so strange, hard to explain to people that haven't experienced it themselves.  I'll see you guys tomorrow!

Finished Friday!

How about that for a title?  Almost like I planned it that way, but I didn't :)  Sometimes things just work out perfect huh?  I was able to finish Landry's birthday thank yous and they came together great! 

 

After cutting out all my pieces, like I showed you yesterday, I adhered everything and added my sentiment.  This one, from Papertrey Ink fit perfectly in the banner!  Then I added the Martha Stewart butterfly, which I had punched out from Basic Grey's Life of the Party, fitting for Birthday Thank Yous don't you think?

We have a super busy weekend coming up.  Saturday is our neighborhoods annual bike parade and we'll be getting the house ready for Sunday.  Sunday afternoon is Landry's birthday party and a big barbecue.  Then on Monday, not only is it the 4th of July, but it's Landry's actual birthday!  We have a few fun things planned for that day as well!  What do you have on your plate this weekend?

Thanks for coming by today!  Have a fun and safe weekend and I'll chat with you again soon!