Epic fail???

Well...not almost epic, but I think I saved it a bit...

I loved the Donna Downey inspiration Wednesday video from 1.23.13...(www.donnadowney.com).  LOVE LOVE LOVE this page she created in her art journal.  I really thought I could recreate it.

I have a LOT to learn!!  LOL!  Having an engineering and computer science degree pretty much says I have a very active left side of my brain.  My right side is totally trying to catch up!  

Anyway...I gessoed the page and started with the gelatos.  I didn't really have a plan for color placement...I wish I would have gone more light to dark.  I also did not get the coverage I wanted.  I don't know if it is because I used a brush or just did not put down enough color to start.  But it is a start...

...and I'm not liking it!...So on to adding more stuff.  Donna threw on some white paint.  I gave it a whirl with some Dylusions I had and a stencil...it was a no go...couldn't get it to show.  I finally used some thinned out acrylic with the stencil.  Must have been too thin because it bled under the stencil...I so hate that.

This is a photo from before I added the acrylic...you totally can't see the white ink spray I added.  So...now what....even with the white stenciled paint I wasn't liking it...grrr...But I was creating and that was the whole point.  So I stamped the letters create in black.  I also played around with some small tags and ink, then washi taped them down....now it is coming together a bit.  I added some journaling and some corner borders.  I ruined the black pen I used because the paint was not quite dry...another lesson learned.

And here is the finished page...

Epic fail...no not quite...I sorta like how it turned out.  My left side of the brain struggles with the randomness of it...but it will just have to deal!   LOL!

More Art Journal pages

I'm loving the art journal!  Oh yeah...ink, paint, stamps, glue, journaling...way fun AND theraputic.  I'm thinking I'm saving thousands of dollars worth of therapy just by playing with paints.  Oh yeah!...

So here are a couple of pages I finished recently.  It took a while and morphed during the process.  I created the green and blue background which would be perfect for the tree branch I had in mind.  I stamped and cut out the leaves...water colored some yellow for the sun...and added the perfect pearl hearts.  So fun.  The actual branch is hand drawn and painted.  I decided I needed some butterflies and texture paste was just the ticket!

Then the mushrooms...I originally thought I'd have some kind of grass or flower type stamp down there.  When I was looking for a stamp, I saw the mushrooms...How perfect 'cause I totally feel like one lately...I have no clue what is going on ... so viola... a page is born.

Next is a Gratitude page.  I realized I have not been thankful for all I have.  So I took this blue background and went to town...Hand wrote gratitude then listed all that I am grateful for...I'm sure there is way more.  I stamped and painted some butterflies...LOVE how it all turned out!

 I can't wait to go play some more!

Oldies, but goodies!

Hello dear followers!
I know I have not posted in awhile...and I have lots to post...soon...very soon...some very cool art journal projects and a few layouts.

But tonight...I'm re-posting some oldies, but goodies.  See...I'm applying for a VERY COOL design team...Xyron!  They want non-layout stuff...no prob...I have lots of altered and mini projects, but some of them seem to be missing from my blog.  It looks like a couple of months worth of posts have disappeared including the photos from them...very weird...So I'm re-posting so I can link them up!  LOL!!!

Actually...I just need to re-post the altered flower pot...can't seem to find that photo on my blog..And I need to pick three...which three should it be...hmmm....

I'm also going to submit the 
Teresa Collins travel journal

Bottle Cap Christmas tree

and the 14 days of Valentines book

A Dylusions scrappy page!

Well...challenge #15 is upon us!  This week we were challenged to scrap about a journey at Scrap Your Story.  Well, we just moved from Iowa to Wisconsin, from a 4700 sf house to a 2nd floor apartment, and well...there are lots of changes that go with this journey.

I've recently started Art Journaling.  I'm loving getting messy and I'm finding it is a great way to get out what is going on for me.  I had started a page and sprayed both sides...oops...so I used a 12x12 to sop up some of the ink.  I LOVED it and well...I thought it would be a perfect background for this challenge.  So I filled in some of the blank space and added some clouds.

I also used my silhouette to cut out the states.  I needed a sun and thought watercolors would be perfect for that.  Added the journaling and viola...a page about our journey.  There are not many embellishments on this page 'cause I think the background perfect.

Challenge #14

Wow!  I can't believe we are up to the 14th challenge for Scrap your Story!  Time is flying!  Anyway...this week's challenge is Music/Song Lyrics.  Oh man!!!  So not me!  As much as I love listening to music, it just doesn't inspire me to scrap.  So, a challenge it was!

I had this photo of my two kids.  I wanted them to always remember they are loved!  Hmmm...Google to the rescue.  I googled "You are loved song lyrics" and got a hit!  Josh Grobin has a song You Are Loved (Don't Give Up).  The lyrics are perfect.  Thank you google and Mr. Grobin!

LOL!!  Anyway...I also have been meaning to use hexagons on a layout...been want to do this for awhile.  I came across this Becky Fleck sketch which I thought would be perfect.

So...viola!  I'm loving how it turned out.  So...give it a try!  If I can be inspired by song lyrics (well sort of) you can too!  If you need more inspiration...check out what the SYS DT has going on!  They rocked this challenge out of the park!  Can't wait to see what you come up with!

 

Art Journal started! Oh yeah!

I've been itching to start this journal for a while.  Especially after Dyan Reaveley visited the Scrapbooking Studio.  I soo wanted to take her classes, but alas...no can do.  I did buy as much as I could and brought it with me to Wisconsin.  Been here a week and no journalling was going on...what the???  Did lots of art journal pinning though.

Well...woke up at 3 am last night and couldn't fall asleep.  To add to the problem I had this journal page going through my head.  I had started the background before bed (not happy with this one...turned out muddy.  I'll have to look at colors I chose, order of application, amount of ink, etc...).  I'm totally happy with the final outcome!

I totally had a blast stamping, painting, cutting, doodling, etc!!!  I soo not done.  I already have another page floating in the grey matter.  I have lots of stuff to journal about right now!  LOL!!

Anyway...here it is!  And the start of a tag.  Not sure what else is going to go on that one yet.  Notice I doodled U R LOVED in between the heart border stamp.  Originally I was going to have the hearts surround the dress...but it wasn't working for me.  Then I thought to create butterflies out of the smaller hearts.  So I swirled them around and off to the other page.  I wish I could sew in the book!  Not quite sure how I'm going to pull that off yet!  

Thanks for looking!

Challenge #13

Another Friday, another challenge at Scrap Your Story!.  And this one had me shaking in my shoes, well flip flops right now!  LOL!!  Mixing and matching fonts has never been my thing.  Well...I was pinning on pinterest and came across this AWESOME layout by Cindy Lee on the Jillibean blog.  So I had my inspiration!!!  I busted out the Silhouette and viola...  I totally love this layout.  Thanks to Cindy Lee at Jillibean and Christy at SYS for the awesome inspiration!!!  The title is hard to read in the photo...it says "So Blessed to have a daughter like you!"

Challenge #12

It's Friday and challenge time at Scrap Your Story!!  Got to love a new challenge to spark the mojo!  This one did for me!  Plus...I've always wanted to do this more on my layouts.  Again...got to love when a challenge has me doing this.  This weeks challenge is stamping!  I have a ton of stamps and inks and use them mostly on cards.  I've always wanted to incorporate them more into my layouts.  I soo love this challenge.

I recently picked up these GCD Studio papers and embellishments and thought they were perfect for this photo of my son and I.  I had some matching Tim Holtz distress inks to use with the flower and butterfly stamp.  I varied the intensity of the inks by stamping twice...I LOVE how it turned out!

Need more inspiration...make sure you check out the Scrap Your Story blog...there is TONS of inspiration there.  Don't forget to link up your creation.  Can't wait to see it!

May Scrapbooking Studio projects

I'm soo sad to be posting my last projects for The Scrapbooking Studio!  I love creating for my LSS!  It is an incredible store with awesome employees.  But alas...I'm moving to Wisconsin...boo hoo!  But...it will all be good when our family is all back together again!

For May I got to work with Echo Park's All About a Boy line!  LOVED this boy line...not too young, not too grunge...right up my son's age!

The first one is another double dip...I've been soo crunched for time with this move.  So I used Christy's sketch.  It was also posted earlier for the sketch challenge.

The next one was way fun.  I had these photos of Max hitting the punching bag.  It totally worked with this paper...like a POW! in the comics.  Throw in some washi and banners and viola!

 

I altered a canvas for my next project.  I found this awesome quote about sons...played with some Dylusions inks, stamps, washi, and stickers.  I totally love the way it turned out.

 And here is my card.  I totally should have re-photoed this.  Using a white background for the shot when the card is white...totally can't see the edge of the card.  Sorry!

April Scrapbooking Studio Projects

Oh yes!  I got to work with AC Yes Please line.  And I had a blast!  The colors and patterns rock!  The stitching template by Amy Tan is the bomb!  You totally need to head to The Studio and pick up some of this yumminess!

This is a crazy hair day one of Max.  Totally fun!

I posted this one earlier....my I'm Good Enough layout.

 I just loved the tree.  I thought the sun/clouds stickers with it would be perfect for a Hello card.

 And then my altered item.  Amy Tan has a set of note cards and envelopes that go with the line.  They were totally screaming mini album to me.  The different sticker embellishments reminded me of things I want more of in my life.  So I created this little Got 2 Remember album.  I totally LOVE it!

Challenge #11

It's sketch time at Scrap your Story!   There is nothing like an awesome sketch to get the mojo going and Christy has done it again!!!

So....try the sketch out and link us up.  Don't forget to check out all the awesomeness of inspiration the DT has created for you!  Here is the sketch:

And here is my take:

Challenge #10

I cannot believe this is the 10th challenge already at Scrap Your Story!!  Time is flying!  This week's is way fun!  Scrap your "Favorite".  Favorite person, thing, top 10 list, the possibilities are endless!!

I chose to scrap my scrap room.  I think this is the room I'll miss the most when we move!  I just love this space and would spend all my time here if I could!

I used many other favorites on this layout also...Doodlebug products, washi, inks, masks, pop dots, stick pins...I probably should have added some stitching too.  

So...scrap your favorite and link it up at Scrap Your Story.  Remember to check out the blog.  The DT out did themselves this time!

Challenge #9 and Studio Projects

Hey all!!!  It is time for another challenge at Scrap Your Story!!!  It is an easy challenge...well usually for me!  All you have to do is 2 sentences of journalling.  This is normally a no-brainer for me, but I've been going journal-less phase lately...hmm...hopefully it doesn't last long.  And well...I did not get a chance to scrap this one...Out of town and a sick kid puts a serious dent into scrappy time.  But no problem...make sure you click on the link above to see the wonderful inspiration the rest of the DT has come up for you...

Also...here are some Scrapbooking Studio projects I've been waiting to post.  I usually post them when they go up on the store's blog...but I missed it at some point.  Sheesh!!  But...I LOVE what I created with this Pebbles line...so here they are....drum roll please....

I was thinking I would use one of these as an example of the challenge...but I did not journal on them...WT!  I LOVE the one of my dad!  And well...I felt the layout really shows that I love my dad enough on it's own.  Then the one of my family.  Again...no journalling...just loving this family.  Oh well...I also love the card and wreath I put together.  Make sure you stop by the store and see them IRL!  Photos don't do them justice!

Happy Scrapping!  I can't wait to see what you journal!

Challenge time!

Yep...time for challenge #8 at Scrap Your Story (SYS).  This week the challenge is Stitching!  Oh yeah...love me some stitching.  This is obviously not much of a challenge for me!  I LOVE to stitch on my layouts.  What a subtle way to add a little texture and dimension to the page.

So...here is my take.  This idea was inspired by a friend on Facebook.  She posted this

Man...it hit home.  I've realized that I often think I'm just not "enough", but I never really but that together with insecurity...Big whack upside the head for me.  So I knew I had to scrap it!  I ended up without journaling on this layout...but every embellishment has meaning for me.  I was also going to stitch an arrow...but I ended up loving it just the way it is!

The title reads "I'm Good Smart Pretty Strong Fun Creative Loving Enough"  The strips of paper are machine stitched with orange thread and I hand stitched the star/asterisk with Amy Tangerine's stitching template.  Way fun!  

Make sure you check out the SYS blog and see what the other designers did!  There are some AWESOME examples of stitching there!  So give it a try and link it up!  I can't wait to see what you create!

Scrap Your Story -- Challenge #7

Time for another challenge at Scrap Your Story!  And it is sketch week!  Christy has a fabulous one for you to try.  Make sure you follow the link to see the sketch and all the wonderful DT takes on it!

The photo on this layout was in a Best Friends frame.  Kelly and her friend were besties while we were neighbors.  But we left there 5 years ago and she has new best friends.  She was going to throw the photo away, but I felt there was a story that needed to be told.  These two were inseparable while they lived next to each other.

I thought Christy's sketch was perfect for the photo.  And the circles begged to be stitched!  LOL!!  Hmm....there may actually be a hint for next week's challenge!  HEEHEHE.  Anyway...I can't wait to see what you come up with!  Make sure you link up your creation at Scrap Your Story!

Pinterest saves the day!

Yep...Pinterest saved me today.  Here was the situation.  I'm in deep deep cleaning mode to get the house on the market.  All that was left was washing the floors and spot cleaning the carpets.  So today I started the floors.  I steam clean them, then add shine.  For some stupid reason, I left the steamer on the floor for a period of time...not quite sure what I was thinking.  Sure enough...I created a HUGE water mark that could not be hidden!  Argh!

I'd remembered seeing some pins on Pinterest about removing water marks.  So a searching I went and found a couple of ideas.  Mayo...had to leave on for 24 hours.  Not happening in my house.  Then there was one that used an iron and old t-shirt.  The problem here is that DH took the iron...grrr!  But the whole point of the iron is that it dries the water that snuck in under the finish.  So I thought I'd try my blow dryer. It worked!!!  Phew!!!

Thank you Pinterest and all those who post what works for them!  Woohoo!

First April challenge -- Challenge #6

It's Friday and time for a new challenge!  This week we are using Spring as a theme over at Scrap your Story.  Initially I had trouble with this challenge.  See...spring was not cooperating.  So much so that we had snow in late March!  Sheesh...enough of winter already!

Then I saw the Robins.  And I heard them working on their nests.   Ah ha!!!  First signs of spring!  Found my inspiration.  I went out and shot (with my camera) a Robin and a nest...and Viola...first signs of spring layout.

Now...I had a little help with this one.   I'm in deep deep cleaning mode in this house.  We are getting ready to move and I have to sell this thing.  So there is no mojo right now.  Time for a sketch!  I found this one from DCWV...perfect!

And here is my layout...

Need more inspiration...make sure you check out what the DT did at SYS!  They knocked this one out of the park.  So come play with us and link up your creation...there is a prize on the line!  Can't wait to see what you create!

Scrap your Story -- Challenge #5

Last challenge for March!  And it is an awesome challenge!!!  Cork!  I know, I know....you're thinking, cork?  I totally know that because I was thinking the same thing!  LOL!!!  Anyway...I was worried about this challenge...I have no cork.  So I was making plans to go find some, but I ended up not having to!  I went to a crop at my LSS and saw cork!  Tons of cork!!!  I guess it is the new in thing...go figure.  

So I picked up a package of these scalloped ones and stamped on them.  Totally cool!  I LOVE the look.  It added another playful feature to this playful photo strip!

Having problems being inspired by cork...no problem!  Just check to see what the Scrap you Story DT did with this challenge!  You'll be totally inspired once you visit the blog!

Remember...link up your creation!  I can't wait to see it!

Scrap your Story -- Challenge #4

Sheesh...can you believe we are at challenge #4 already.  Seems like yesterday the first one was posted.  Anyway...your challenge this week is to ... EMBOSS!  Yep, emboss -- dry or wet.  Just give it a try.  Need some inspiration...check out what the Scrap your Story DT did with this challenge!

For me...I had this photo of Kelly in this pretty dress.  And had these GCD studio papers with the words grow, think, Be Bold...so butterflies/transformation came to mind.  I wet embossed them with Tim Holtz's distress embossing powder.  I totally different look which was perfect for these papers.  I had fun sprinkling the different colors on the butterflies!

Remember...link up your creation at the Scrap you Story blog to get a draw for the monthly prize!

Scrap your Story -- Challenge #3

It's Friday!!!  Time for the next challenge!  Remember...for each challenge you complete and link up at the Scrap your Story blog you'll get a draw for the March prize!  So link it up!

This week Christy has put together and awesome sketch!  I LOVE sketches.  Having the basic design ready so all I have to do is pick out papers/photos/stuff.  I went bright, but simple with this one.  And I like it!  Clean and summery totally perfect for this photo of my daughter and I!!!

So...go check out the blog to see the sketch and all the awesome inspiration the DT has for you!