my mother's magnolia tree
green & blue
Happy Wednesday! Hope everyone reading had a nice day and I look forward to checking out blogs later tonight...
I got three cards and three layouts (almost) done today. I think it's a personal record! I had fun working, enjoying the nice breezes coming in all the open windows on such a beautiful day. Here's what I made. I made it my goal to try and use scraps when possible (since reorganizing all my scraps into a large box) and to use the clippings I have in my Scrapbook Inspiration Binder. I updated this binder yesterday and realize how infrequently I refer to the binder. Though I knwo the images inspire what I do anyway. I'll do my best to let you know the supplies used...I'm not really good at keeping track. Here goes...
The strips of scrap papers with rounded and inked edges was inspired by a clipping from a scrapping magazine. Unfortunately the clipping was added before I got better at including the scrappers name in the clipping. So I don't know who to credit...but that part of the design was not my own. This card is for my Dad for Father's Day. The little frog is a Rubber Soul stamp that I outlined in brown pen. I added a rub-on over the flower in the stamped image. I stamped the letters "Dad" and outlined them in pen and added the rubon flourish because I wasn't liking the space between the word and the frog.
The last card was from a kit I got years ago from Creating Keepsakes. It is for Cary for our 2-year Anniversary this coming weekend (actually it's June 3rd). I didn't follow the pattern they gave and just arranged the elements in my own way. I also added a Making Memories "love" definition and edged the heart with gold Perfect Pearls.
My first layout "I am" was lifted from a clipping in my binder. I'm dissapointed I didn't keep the original artist's name - but again this idea was not my own. I adapted it slightly. I used many of my new finds from CKC and my LSS yard sale. Some Heidi Swapp photo corners, Queen & Co. brads, Tim Holtz Distress ink in Shabby Shutters (which I lOVE!)...in the journaling I listed all the things "I am." This is a fun journaling prompt and I use it with my clients in journaling and art therapy groups frequently. Helps you see who you really are - positives, negatives, qualities and roles.
"Walk on the Beach" was my own design. I was inspired by Ali Edward's use of the Making Memories word fetti and by some layouts that had many interesting little details. I used all scraps for the background. Some I've had forever! I haven't added the journaling yet but that will go in the two Jenni Bowlin "scalloped notecards" that I got yesterday ($.50/18!) at my LSS's Yard Sale.
Happy Memorial Day weekend everyone! I've always taken this holiday seriously. I'm reminded of the sacrifice my Uncle Lauri made as a Marine in Vietnam and how he was never the same from what my dad tells me. He was a quiet soul and I think about him a lot. One of my heroes. Never complained. I think about the job my Dad did on the USS Coral Sea during Vietnam at the same time my Uncle Lauri, his brother, was there. I imagine what that must have been like for my Grandparents and the rest of their 9 children (there were 11). I think about the sacrifices my boyfriend Cary made years before I met him as a prison guard in Iraq. He saw scary things and did an amazing job. He continues to serve his country and has for over 11 years in the Maine Army National Guard. To these heroes, old and new, in my life I will mark this Memorial Day thinking about them.
As for other things...I did go to my LSS's annual Yard Sale. I'd never been. There were some good deals to be had. I only spent about $8 and got some border stamps, beautiful paper, some Heidi Swapp journaling spots, alphas, and other goodies. But my favorite find was this...
...for $2.00! I had been eying this for a long time but could never get past the $20-pricetag. But $2.00 I can do! I still haven't really done any scrapping with my new goodies. Or worked on my mini book with the photos I got developed but I did some organizing. I have a binder I use to store layouts and scrap magazine clippings in. I went through that and purged. I also went through some older issues of magazines and clipped out stuff to put in. I sat outside in the beautiful weather while I worked...
Then I went for a nice walk and am now waiting for some BBQ wings to finish cooking to go along with my homemade potato salad. I am so hungry! Have a nice rest of the day everyone.
Washington National Cathedral, DC - 2001That's my list for today!
Had some frustrating parts of my day today but also just got some exciting things accomplished...I'll tell more later. Trying to narrow down ideas for a research project I have to do during my 6 week class. Research is not my thing! Took a nice, long walk after dinner. Hoping to read a few blogs before I call it a night!
...I mailed in my submission to Somerset Studios. Here is the sneak peak.
...was not a good day at work overall but had some nice moments with clients.
...my first Research class was held tonight. There will be a lot of work over these 6 weeks....design a research project to do on my classmates related to an interest?...something art therapy related I'm thinking? In 11 classes? Yikes!
...the wireless internet was not working over here...grrr. I just walked back and forth to the house checking the router 6x.
...the weather was beautiful. Sunny & cool.
...I didn't get my laundry done again.
...Cary was sweet when I came home frustrated and overwhelmed.
...I had a wonderful dinner. Teriyaki marinated salmon, rice and sugar snap peas.
And now...
...I'm exhausted. Need. my. bed.
Here are my finds! I didn't spend much. Somewhere around $40. I didn't keep good track. My favorite find was some Heidi Swapp chipboard alphas. I use those all the time. Also got some Cat's eye chalks that I've been wanting to try. A few stickles, Queen & Co. sequin flowers and alphas...a bunch of stuff. But my favorite find were these...
Got both from Rusty Pickle for $3! They are neat inside. Accordian with all different pockets. The chipboard covers aren't attached but I think they could easily. Well...I'm home for a bit having some lunch. I'm feeling a lot better today. I appreciate everyone's "Get Well" wishes. After lunch I'm off to see the new Narnia movie with Cary...then hopefully will get to play with my new goodies later! Have a nice weekend everyone...
I was thinking about drawing last night. I used to draw realistic charcoal and pencil drawings all the time. Still lifes, landscapes. I have a huge on one my wall that I see daily that was part of my senior thesis in college. I loved drawing. The challenge of making something look real. It is the perfectionist in me and represents the opposite sort of art I want to do in my Art Journal. I think I need a little of both. Art I can control more and art that is loose. I am feeling out of control with certain elements of my life right now and I hate it. Uncertainty. I need to find a sense of order somewhere and my drawing can do that. I can use my Art Journal for lightening up!
Thanks for listening to me go on and on!
Have a nice night everyone!
Booooo...to being sick. Today was my day off and I spent it going to the Dr. Long list of symptoms for a few weeks culminating this weekend with a fever. Not sure what's up but given antibiotics for a possible infection and they think I have bronchitis. The x-ray was normal. I hate taking antibiotics. But in the grand scheme I shouldn't complain. I was mean and complaining when I came home to Cary and I feel bad. I feel like he must think I'm a grouch. Who's always sick. Lately I don't feel good frequently and had been stressed out with being stretched too thin. Hopefully I can lighten up a little.
After getting home Cary and I got some take-out Chinese and watched an old school movie. Gremlins I promptly fell asleep as usual watching a movie on the couch after 8pm. It was fun seeing that movie though. I hadn't seen it since it came out in the movies and it terrified me and my cousin that night!
Here's my page for today. In person it is actually black, grey, with accents of light blue. Not the best color quality in this pict. I was inspired by a page in Ali Edwards book Designer's Eye for Scrapbooking. I've had these large black tags forever and liked how she used them in this way on a page. I used a white sharpie on each for some journaling and embellished with a black/white polka dot ribbon and a strip of light blue/white polka dot ribbon at the top.
I had a nice afternoon. While the fridge was defrosting I made the cards and page and then went out to pick up a few things at the grocery store. I rented a movie for later and sat in my favorite coffee shop downtown with a Tuxedo Hot Chocolate and my new Somerset Studios mag. I got almost everything checked off my list and snuck in some extras! When I came home I started another project and here I am...hope everyone had a nice saturday!
So. I've checked some things of today's "to do" list...
Might be a little too ambitious...we shall see!
Today has been a day of errands so far. The shoes. A haircut. A birthday present for my brother. And a few treats at C.O. Bigelow for me! I could spend hours there walking the aisles smelling all the luxury...but I only left with three small sized products - I have to stop spending $$. I got a small aromatherapy lavender pillow spray to help me sleep... hopefully. Last night I couldn't and lately I've had trouble. Dreams, nightmares, etc. I usually sleep through the night but its not a restful sleep. Even though I only left with a few small things, the great thing about that store is they always slip a bunch of free samples into the bag. Love it!
So...now I'm home with my finds checking some more things off my "to do" list. A few minutes ago I grabbed a store bag and re-designed it to wrap my brother's birthday present. I hate the idea of spending $4 on a giftbag like I usually do so thought I'd recycle this time. Here it is...I'm quite proud. I even recycled the tissue paper from my buys at C.O. Bigelow. It literally took 5 minutes while I was waiting for my lunch to heat up on the stove!
In a little while I'm off to the college for the opening of the Senior art major's Art Show. I'll have to mingle with faculty, students and parents. This whole experience of being in the professor role has been surreal. Last night at the student BBQ my supervisor hosted it felt strange. Like I didn't quite fit with the faculty but also not quite with the students. Wierd. Especially wierd since it doesn't feel like that long ago since I was in the student's shoes and my (now) supervisor was my professor. Also in the catagory of wierdness...just now...as I have been sitting here writing this blog, I had an itch on my hip...a tick. A deer tick no less. Yuck! The season begins. It didn't bury its head thank goodness but it was a sucker to get off...I hate them.
Well, now that I've grossed everyone out I'm off to relax for bit and read my new issues of Somerset Studios and Somerset Memories that I picked up during my errands.
