My Reckless Abandonment

2011-04-16T15:08:00.001-07:00

March brought on sickness to the family. Don first, then me, then the boy. The girl escaped mainly unscathed. She had me worried for some time but seemed to fight it off. Don and I were hit extremely hard. For the first few days, I would do a lesson with 1 or both of the kids, then send them to watch a show as I was exhausted from that alone. The fatigue and cough lingered for a couple of weeks. I took the boy to the Dr.'s and when she heard my cough, she informed me that I had bronchitis. The boy was on the cusp of it - could go either way. Yeah. But I recovered within a few more days and without the help of antibiotics. I really think that Dr's are too quick to prescribe them. I didn't get to play much while sick, but have been working on my art journaling a bit here and there. Practicing doodles for several days. Finally putting the scrunched tissue paper onto the heart for my gratitude journal cover. I also made this card for our Uncle Stanley, who had to undergo heart surgery, all while we were sick and could not visit at the hospital. I really like the way it turned out.

On future blog notes: more of the art journal page work; the girl's contest entry at Little Yellow Bicycle;

PLAY TIME

2011-03-07T18:19:00.000-08:00

Do you remember when you were 5? Your biggest concern was what am I going to PLAY now!

Well, now I'm playing with....

knitting. I took a class & learned the basic knit and pearl. So fun. Can't wait to really have a good grasp and then learn the cable and popcorn and other maneuvers. I go to a quilting class tomorrow night. I totally thought I should by-pass the beginners and after taking the beginners knitting, I'm sure I'm going to cancel the beginning crochet class. (they only teach the single and double, which I can already do.) But I will still be attending quilt class. We should be making a pillow top. So today, after a lengthy, 1 year wait, I opened my new sewing machine. A Brother XR9000. Can I just say "Sw eeEEt". oh yeah, this baby is wow, even though it is missing the little needle threading hook. I bought it at Costco in the fall of 2009 when my 28yr old basic model starting slipping a bit in her old age. Well, then life imploded on us in 2010 so my new machine has set, lonely, in its box collecting dust and any other odds and ends I happen to throw on it. I can't wait for class tomorrow. But even more than that, I can't wait to sew something with this puppy.

Play time with
.........................art journaling. Yep. I've been at that too. Trying to keep up with the Art Journal Everyday which since it is SOO much FUN! it really isn't hard at all. So last week I took a plain white cardstock and glued it to the front of the binder.

So Sunday night, I took a few minutes before going to be to do this front. First I took a pencil and made my lettering and heart. Then using watercolor crayons I made the cover.
Then today I took a waterprook pen and outlined the letters. Then a water loaded paintbrush and blended the colors. I took some paint & mixed it with gesso for coloring in the letters. Then decided to play with an inside page -- I just couldn't wait!

I used blue and green blob method and my fingers to rub it around. Then I took off excess with a paper towel. I used a hairspray cap as my stamp for the circles and some bubble wrap to add more interest. (I actually flipped the book to take a pic of the front cover and it almost closed the whole way which accounts for the circles on the left hand side. And guess what, I love it like that! --HAppY AcciDenTs!) so much fun. Can't wait for more.

Art Journal Everyday

2011-03-06T05:35:00.000-08:00

So Julie Fan-Fei has been doing a challenge of sorts. Art Journal Everyday. You sign up each month on her blog and there is a flicker group. Lots of talented peeps. It's amazing just for inspiration! I signed up in January but with putting up storage shelving and everything else. I didn't get to play. So I started playing in March and (after completing the following) I signed up.

This being my first attempt at art journaling I actually went and looked at Emily Falconbridge's art journal prompts from a few years back. She did a challenge and worked on tags. So I cut down some white paper and chose her wish prompt as my first attempt.

The back of the wish card actually states what some of those wishes of discovery and achievement should be. Achieve = balance, organization, ideal weight. Discover = myself, relaxation (whew, doesn't everyone need some of this), cheesemaking,quilting, sewing, crocheting, weaving, education (kids/me), books. Discover/Achieve = deeper relationship with God and fun.

Then I chose a favorite quote and played with gesso. Mainly because I wanted to try that technique.

Today, I'm hoping to start my Gratitude Journal. As a homeschool mom of a child who hates to write and one who is overly dramatic if anything doesn't go exactly as she wants it, I thought the whole family doing gratitude journals would/could (1) reinforce writing skills while allowing artful play, (2) remind us of the blessings God has given us that we sometimes take for granted ,(3) help us all to be truly thankful for those blessings and for what we have. My goal is to show the kids different techniques, let them play, and give them prompts ideas of those blessings.

Life, or something like it

2011-03-05T18:36:00.000-08:00

Wowsers. It's been a rough couple of months. I have had almost no scrap/craft time. With homeschooling, we already have limited time. I bought and put up storage unit in the sub-basement and have been trying to get that into some sort of organized chaos. But then I had an extended family member's surgery, we have been spending time there helping out. The kids were sick, although GM's kept us homebound most days, we could still function. And luckily LC's fell the weekend after the blizzard and with HGH's cancelled we didn't miss coop. Last weekend my darling wonderful husband took the kids out for the whole of Saturday. Although the house was a mess (& typically that means I'd still be a mess), I found peace and relaxation. Craft time. Movie time. Internet time. joyous! I feel like a weight is starting to lift.

So the latest layouts

> When J & S came to visit, GM monopolized S's time with Barbie play. S then dressed up GM to look like one of her Barbie's. I sprayed the heart & doily with glimmer mist (either TA or homemade), Lettering with Silhoutte, tulle under the plain doily, Prima & Martha Stewart for all other embellie's.

This background was stamped with versamark using FPD stamps and clear embossed. Then I used TA glimmer mist on the page. I actually made it during the weekend that J&S visited. We enjoyed a bit of just scrappy girl time, so I thought it was perfect for our scrap time together. American Crafts letters, Prima flowers, tissue paper for a base to a prima flower, old denim and scrap lace for ruffle, Hobby Lobby for butterfly. The vintage button is attached to a sizzix cut tag which houses the journaling.

on the 2nd of December

2010-12-02T07:19:00.001-08:00

We will spend the day running errands. Yeah, not. But I need to get some new coordinating baskets for the living room. GM has violin practice later today too. But the kids are going to use their pizza hut reading program coupons today for lunch. Then they have wado-ki this evening.

This is the layout I made still using the BG capella line that I used on my altered boxes. The flower was just using varying sized circles. I used a Rhonna F's divine digi element on the photo. Then I used Designer Digitals Lynn Grieveson's ?Colette? kit for some of the flowers and brads and the word/journal placards. I just glued the printout to heavier chipboard and then cut out and ink the edges. GM's shirt is actually hot pink.

on the first day of Christmas,

2010-12-01T19:01:00.000-08:00

my true love gave to me.....oops, sorry, it's actually the first day of advent. But Petaloo & Pink Paislee are celebrating 12 days of Christmas now with some Christmas eye goodies each day. Check it out here.

As for me, I'm decking the halls. Singing...

Tis the season to be cleaning Fa la la la la, la la la la
Don we now are gloves and aprons Fa la la la la, la la la la

And I can't carry a tune, so I feel a little sorry for the wee ones who have to hear it.

Last month my lovely daughter helped me with this altered project. I was already doing, but DebiT at 2peas has a basic grey challenge. And right as I was doing this, it was to make flowers from the bg papers. I didn't get these web-sized in time, but I did do a layout of GM helping me that I loaded onto 2ps. I'll post that here tomorrow.

Notice the flower from the punches and scrunched paper circle and then a vintage cream rose button.
The flowers were circles that were spiral cut and then rolled. (I loved all of the playing with the different techniques.)

This was the front of the box.

I made these to go in my kitchen as my darling hubby needed a place for his things and files without driving me crazy. And guess what he said, 'those are cute, but I'm not using them. They are way to girly.' and he knows if I laugh I won't get upset, he adds, 'I already have tendencies (gay), you don't want to push me over the edge.' OK, you win. I'll use the pretties, you get the ugly wire one to use. Works for me.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-24T06:04:00.001-08:00

And for your little crafters, here's 2 easy crafts.

1 is a turkey pin. I used a scallop punch on cardstock. Then you snip in the valley just a little ways in. I then used my sizzix circle die with it's 4 sizes in different colored felt (I like the lightest tan for the face) The biggest of the felt goes on for the body, the next gets cut in half for the wings, the next would be the upper body part, the smallest is the face (missing in the top one). Then I took an EK success small punch with red cardstock and cut that in half for the gobbler. Cut triangles out of yellow for the beak. We used Aileen's tacky glue to put it together. Throw on some self adhesive eyes and a pin back. Pass out to all your friends and Gobble, Gobble.

This next one. Cut a styrofoam ball in half. Glue to craft sticks together. Paint brown, even the top of the foam. Let dry. If I had a larger size scallop punch I would have used it & glued the ball bottom to it. But I didn't. I used SU! pennants that I had for forever and a sheet of label stickers typed out with "Give Thanks". I used hemp to tie that to the cross. On the one we did with the kids at the thanksgiving party I used my sizzix to cut leaves from felt, you could use cardstock as well, or a mix. Then glue on. Then I went to the craft store and saw fall flowers being clearanced so for $0.70 I took a bunch, and hot glued them to the base of another one. I was going to do this with the Princess and her cross which she hadn't finished. She threw a fit. So I did a completely knew one. After she saw the finished product, she changed her tune. I think it's way cuter too, but harder to accomplish with 20 kids.

CSD November Challenge

2010-11-21T17:05:00.000-08:00

Wow, I just looked and I posted 2x last week. That's like a record or something. Yes, I'm laughing right now.

This double page layout is for the Candy Shop Design monthly challenge of "we are women, hear us roar" which uses animal/animal prints. They also have a Dirty Little Secret Challenge posted as well. The sponsor is Blue Moon Scrapbooking.

I used Glitz design pp. and stickers. The #1 prize was BG capella paper. The ribbon was old. I used ?spritz? and then glimmermist for shimmer. I did get to play with All Night Media's Embossing Liquids for the bubble design and the line above the journaling. I used Katie Pertiet, Designer Digitals, Frightful kit for the iron fencework and spider web. I used MM foam stamps and paint for the title. The brads are MM. used 2 different alpha stamps with SU! basic black ink.

Have you seen this?

2010-11-19T21:13:00.000-08:00

If you haven't seen this, you need to go look.

Cupcake gift card holders This video shows you how to do it.

Kerry's Christmas version A to die for Christmas version. Just love it. I'm so going to have to try this.

Mish Mash

2010-11-15T13:10:00.001-08:00

The 21 day challenge. I really narrowed my choices to the top 3 areas of my life needing the most attention. 1. exercise. 2. Spiritual 3. creativeness. #2 is really the most important aspect in anyone's life. #1 should be up there after #2. But #3 is the one I chose. Mainly having had almost 1 1/2 years off (just sporaidic bits of creative pleasure) I really could use making this a daily part of my life again. And with homeschooling 2 little pickles the days seem short on time. So I've made it a priority to spend at least 10-15 minutes crafting everyday. Yesterday was the first day that I thought I hadn't achieved my goal, but then realized if you count that I actually installed my new Adobe PSE9 and chose photos to print out. Then I actually did achieve my goal. Today, I've searched for crafting ideas for a Thanksgiving party the kids have next Thursday.

I have completed a layout and 2 altered household items. Here's the completed layout.

Journaling: Don, I'm so very blessed to have you in my life. You're a wonderful husband, man, friend, father. I couldn't have dreamed a more perfect match for me. Thank you for choosing me. I love you. Lisa

The photo is from this August in Michigan. I had it printed out with Jason Gaylor's Valentine brushes. That is one of my favorite brush sets and a frequent go to item. I received them as part of a Jessica Sprague class. But one of Dixie Pieces challenges this month is to create a layout about someone you're thankful for. So this lends perfectly into that.

JGaylor Valentine Brush set; PP -Heidi Swapp with 2 of the attached diecuts (still have the extra one to use), HS - stamp (oh-my, using this old "aDore" stamp just tickled me all over); TH-ink, stamps, sizzix die, alcohol ink (used the alcohol ink to die the crystals & rhinestone in the button); SU!-ink, marker: MME-diecuts (photo mat cut in half as photo corners and scallop under the ribbon and the flower above the book page die cut & below the button) used TA-glimmermist on all of them; twill ribbon-old kit? (I think from label tulip); Joann's - lace ribbon, heart ribbon with gray paint pen; Stamps-g studio, Basic Grey; Prima crystals; Hero Arts Rhinestone; vintage button & jewelry piece.

Lots of fun to create. and the best part. It makes me smile every time I look at it. You can't ask for more than that.

21 Day Challenge Starts Today

2010-11-05T06:13:00.000-07:00

Are you familiar with Rhonna Farrar’s 21 Day Challenge? She does it every year. It’s where you pick 1 thing you would like to make a habit of or 1 bad habit you would like to break. And you spend time everyday for 21 days on it, and you are supposed to have an art journal about it as well.
The cool thing is Rhonna blogs everyday inspiration to keep you going. She is so sweet.

I actually almost did one the very first year that she did it. I picked my goal and tried to do it sans creative journaling. I just didn’t even come close to having a minute for myself at that time in my life. So needless to say, I did not last very long.

Well, she is doing it again – starting today. She has a kit for sale at House of 3 for the creative journaling part, but you don’t have to use it to participate. She has some free art from last year available on her blog. And you don’t have to use that to participate either. The BIG thing is she says to only pick ONE thing. That is where my trouble lies. I feel so OVERWHELMED in so many areas of my life how do you choose one. Possible ideas: Spend time with God daily – Prayer, reading Bible
Enjoy quality time with my kids everyday – not doing school work or reading books to them, but playing with them for at least ½ hour.
Organize my house.
Clean my house. (I get grouchy when my house is a sty.)
Do something creative every day. (I get kind of grouchy if I don’t get creative time.)
Eat healthier.
Exercise.
Lose weight/Get in Shape.
Try a new recipe once a week.
Give up Chocolate!!
Give Positive thoughts to myself to counter self doubt.

So many things to choose from – all important.

OK. So I've also decided my art journal will be a hybrid creation. I want to mix some digi goodness with some really messy and some just plain want to try things. I've started my day one journaling, but am having difficulty finding my circular word template. Now to decide what to do.

I'm off to the farm now. We have to install a new cast iron wood stove. Since the stove weighs 480 pounds and the farm has 40 acres. Be back Sunday.

Last Dixie Piece Challenge

2010-11-03T14:09:00.000-07:00

This was the golden oldies. Buddy Holly songs "Oh Boy" was the one I picked. I kept with the simple graphic styles of the 50's. I pulled the rocketships from the net. I used my oldest Daisy D rub-on's. The world balloon is from Patti Knox at Designer Digitals. And I used my EK Success punch to create the ribbon effect with the cardstock. I thought the Bazzill shaped cardstock added a nice touch to this.

The journaling reads "Oh Boy! That was my exasperated cry upon seeing your room on Tuesday morning. Dad had helped you clean your room up on Saturday. Overturned chair, lots of miscellaneous bits and pieces all over was what I saw. You came into the room and said “It’s my rocket ship, and I’m not finished playing yet.” Then proceeded to show me how it worked. Then I see how everything is laid out so perfectly for your next adventure. I love your imagination!! So now I see, it’s really "….{{title lead in of }}OH BOY ROCKETSHIP

The word bubble reads "This is what happens when you land on the moon and don’t have your seatbelt on." LOL Son, you crack me up.

Dixie Pieces Challenge #5 Country Pop

2010-10-22T19:05:00.000-07:00

This weeks challenge is country pop and we only have some titles from Carrie Underwood. But that's ok, because as soon as I saw the title Jesus Take the Wheel, I knew. I actually used jean material cut with my sizzix for a layer on the tissue paper flower and for the swirl. Over the top of that a little pearl action by prima. I must say at $3 for a package I have issues using a whole piece on one layout. And neither of my stash swirls really met my needs. So I cut out 2 swirls and placed them how I wanted them. Love the final look. I used glimmermist like crazy - the green "apple", 2 different on white cardstock for my journaling tag and a spritz even on the denim. All the pp is MME. I finished off the tag with my fave FPD stamp set.
My journaling reads:

The first time I heard this song, I was so enamored. It touched me to my core. I remembered not letting God into my life and the destructive path that I was on myself. How Jesus led me back to his flock. And most importantly it reminded me that I need to let Jesus take control more in my own life even now that I’m part of His flock. Especially now, because I can’t go this life alone, I need help in each and every aspect of it: my relationships (Don, kids, family, friends, and acquaintances), my home, myself (patience and strength), our home school, church, and help realizing that even when I don’t agree, that His will is more important and must prevail. Jesus, take the wheel.

Now I need to put the date on, I keep forgetting the date lately. duh.

Too Much Glitter

2010-10-17T19:35:00.000-07:00

Don't get me wrong, I love a little sparkle. But with the nearest scrap places within my reach being Hobby Lobby and Michaels, I tend to go for paper packs as oppose to individual sheets. And it seems that any pattern I love all has been embellished with glitter on every sheet. I love glitter sheets, but seriously, do I need every page I make to have glittered paper???? Sorry, just venting a bit.
On a positive note, I made a trip to Archivers today. If it's been a while since my last visit, I'm always super excited. But this is my 3rd trip in the last month, so I'm sort of like, not. Although Don went with me and scoured the store on his own. Upon entering a section he was in he pointed out a couple of items and then continued to look. To which, I, of course, had to emphatically and publicly declare my eternal love and devotion for him. And thanks to his scouring, I did end up with some religious Christmas stamps that are not coming out of my budget. And out of my budget some gorgeous prima flowers, pearls and white pen (as my 2 have gone missing).

Born to climb

2010-10-15T22:30:00.001-07:00

my page for dixie pieces week 4 southern gospel glee club challenge. I used some soft patterned prima paper as it gently reminded me of my first sewn calico dress. I tried to make the spider web on the right side. I used distressing as after Sunday church when I was a kid, we'd play and get dirty.

You're Formally Invited

2010-10-11T13:00:00.000-07:00

to GO. As we are leaving the grocery store, sitting in the van waiting to turn onto the road. I, exasperatedly, stated, "oh, you could have gone" - 6 cars could have gone with that opening. To which GM, asks sweetly from the back seat, "Is she waiting for an invitation?" I replied, "yes, and a formal one at that." It also reminded of how many times I say "what are you waiting for? an invitation?", obviously way too many times. And as I finally drive down the road, I see the layout that will soon ensue.

Wk 3 DP

2010-10-08T21:33:00.000-07:00

This is for week 3 at Dixie Pieces. It was such a fun layout to work on and I think it turned out so cute. I'm seriously loving all of the inspiration prompts they are having. I've made a promise to stick with it until the end so that I can get a few more layouts completed and so that I can try to get back into a groove, which is easier said than done.

2010-10-03T04:28:00.000-07:00

For the DixiePieces Glee Club challenge. The assignment was alternative. And this was my take. My inspiration was actually my bff who is alternative. I would have liked to added homemade doodles to the background, however, I didn't have the time this week. (It was suppose to be uploaded by Friday 11:59 pacific time, I didn't get it up til Saturday am as it was). If you life the purple TH sizzix file folder, you will find the journaling.

This coming week's assignment is Children songs by Raffi. They also list certain titles that you must use. The layout idea came to me last night for "Apples and Bananas", now to pull off the layout idea without getting stuck singing the song ALL week long.

Pencilline sketch 205

2010-10-02T06:33:00.000-07:00

My layout for the pencilline sketch. Uses Bazzil Basic Cardstock & MME pp, which I love and have been holding onto forever.

Living Room Coasters

2010-09-27T17:05:00.001-07:00

I used stamps, masked them for the script. I then used copics to color. I wasn't sure about how to color the hummingbird stamp in, but I've since completed it. They are really cute.

kind of cute

2010-09-26T19:48:00.001-07:00

the birthday card I did for my sister in August...but I still don't really like making cards. My dear, sweet husband doesn't like paying for cards when I have an arsenal of products at my disposal to create cards with. Although I gladly made my sister's card. And had fun doing so using stamps and inks from Tim Holz. The bird is on the inside corner. I was really happy with it. I just don't get excited and say "oh, I have a cute idea for a card". It's more like, oh, so and so would appreciate a hand made card, I'll work on one. Or...I guess I should make a card for that. Now scrap pages...that's another story...

Lost, now found

2010-09-24T19:26:00.000-07:00

I just found these digi layouts that I haven't put up here before. All of these use supplies from Designer Digitals. I love their stuff for digi scrapping. I have several more from earlier this year, but these are my fave's.

I love how looking at your pages can take you back to that moment. Moments that might have been totally and irreversibly forgotten. I must remember that this- This is why I want to scrapbook.

oh the joy of

2010-09-24T17:19:00.000-07:00

finding scrappy time almost everyday. It's been particularly pleasurable this last two weeks to have a wee bit of time to create. Ok, so sometimes it's simply 10 minutes for the final spin of the dryer. A couple of days it was 2 minutes here and 2 minutes there during the kids school time (both being busy on their own things). A couple of days it was 1/2 hour to 1 1/2 hours of totally me doing whatever I wanted. And yes, that does mean I'm a bit sleep deprived at the moment to make that time a reality, but it's ok because

Ain't She Sweet introduces our new dog Roxy. Each photo mat is actually folded over so that each piece opens. Then houses journaling about the photo or dog is on the inside.

And this card "you are sweet" was made with the remnants.

These were both completed for dixiepieces glee club.

Challenges = completed layouts

2010-09-23T14:32:00.000-07:00

This was a sketch from Pencillines. Using that grab bag of Pink Paiselee goodies that I ordered last month. Fun.
Supplies: Pink Paislee=PP, tape, alpha stickers, border strip & journal note; EK Success Punch; Cosmo Cricket alpha stickers; Arrow - negative of a scenic route chipboard, painted with MM paint (eat your carrots) & sprayed with TA glimmer mist (Sugar Maple).

Completed for the MME challenge #15: Thank You. Seriously, I so love MME.
MME = PP(breaking free, Out & About, Ooh La La); die cut (ooh La La); Brad (Lost & Found); Journal Tag (So Sophie); Other - ribbon from JoAnn's, Crate Paper, Thread, Mini Mister with water, Tim Holz Watermelon alcohol ink & Pearl Ex Duo Red/Blue; Heidi Swap Bling flower & photo corner (cut apart).

Dixie Pieces Play Along

2010-09-14T11:34:00.001-07:00

Well, just looking at the last post of August 4th & now this newer one for Sept 14th -- I definitely need the kick start to be more active at my scrapbooking. *It has been more than one month & I've only completed a few layouts. Bad blogger though, as I haven't shared. I actually had to delete the photos off the camera over the weekend to get some glorious lake shots.

Also received 72 copic ciao markers today. So excited. Went with the ciao as they aren't as expensive as the sketch & I could afford more colors. Big smiles.