smash book

A few years ago I used to keep little black sketchbooks where I pasted in inspiration from home decorating magazines, craft sources, quotes, sketches, journaling, etc. I kind of got a way from the habit but found I kind of missed it. It was sort of a catch-all for inspiration and thoughts. I saw the Smash Books in Michaels just after Christmas and thought I'd use one of those. I loved the different pages and backgrounds. I chose the Nature version as it sort of fit me the best.

Here's how I've been using mine...

On my first page I had pasted in a list of goals for each month based off of the book The Happiness Project. This has been an inspirational read for me. I felt like I really related to the author and her honesty about successes and challenges. So for January I was focused on Boost Energy. I've won some and lost some. It was a very tough month. But I've boosted my energy in ways I didn't expect.

Here's a basic page I used to brainstorm my January Happiness goals...

There are many pages where I paste in home decorating magazine inspiration...

And there is one page where I am working on a collage of my 2013 Intentions. This is a project I worked on every year with my clients in our Art Therapy group. I worked with adults that have major mental illness as an art therapist/clinican. Our task was to spend several weeks, using magazine collage, to create a collage filled with big and little intentions (goals) for our new year. I used mine as visual inspiration each year by hanging it next to my desk at work where I could see it regularly. It was a visual reminder of what I wanted to add to my year (rather than take away as is the case with resolutions). It is still a work in progress...

And I'll leave you with one of the pages in the book that has a quote I am finding inspirational right now...

1st layout in 5 months

Materials: Cosmo Cricket patterned paper, DCWV cardstock & patterned papers from thier stacks, Fancy Pants chipboard shapes, Creative Cafe journaling tag, Collage Press journal card (cut to fit the circle and bracket chipboard shapes), Heidi Swapp chipboard alphas, Carolee's Creations dimensional "laugh" flower sticker, Colorbox Chalk in Dark Peony, Fuschia Sharpie, Black pen, Rhinestones, unknown source black rub-on letters.

Here it is! I don't love it, but I do love that I got to make it! I used a lot of my new goodies and some old favorites like rhinestones. Last night was actually another Girl's Night. We had our fundraiser. I forgot how fun glazing pottery can be! When I was in high school I took a clay class and my first job as an Art Therapist I worked in a studio that focused on clay. I love the sculpture aspect. But glazing a peice and working on a design is so fun. I have decided it. My dream business.

Handmade by You: it will be a place where people can come and glaze a peice of pottery and make a handmade card to go with it. Make your own gift if you will.

-or-

Creativity Studio: a place for all ages where they can come and create. Cards, collage, canvases, glazed pottery...keep it simple. Girl's Nights Out, Birthday Party. It could be a studio based art therapy program crossed with a Paint-Your-Own Pottery feel. Similar to my other idea - just expand on the materials while still keeping it simple. Maybe have little designated areas for 4-5 types of creations. Canvas, pottery glazing (Instead of the clay sculpture part I would just do the glazing aspect), cardmaking, and maybe a fourth...hmmm....

Well...back to my real world...

Today I am going to spend some time in the morning trying to get the 2nd sleeve started of the baby sweater. I now have a deadline. May 30th is the shower. Uh Oh! I still need to block it and piece it together and knit the edging and sew on buttons. All of which I have never done. And I am going to Maine with Cary next weekend to visit his friends/family and will probably have no time for knitting!

So tonight at my LYS's knitting circle I will be doing more knitting -less talking :)

Happy Sunday!

curbing spending and junk

I am determined to get a handle on extra spending. I feel guilty because I bought too much scrapbooking stuff this weekend. In the grand scheme it was not a lot of money, but more than I needed to spend. On stuff I really didn't need. I watch women in these stores with arms full of stuff when there is a sale. I'm not like that. I look at my little, carefully price chosen pile and wish I could just indiscriminately take things off the shelf and pile them in my basket. I don't. But I still spend more than I should.

I just sat and reworked my budget I figured out last October. Adjusted some expenses that have changed, increased how much I will put in savings and toward a credit card balance. Now I know what I have leftover. Besides Target and scrapping stuff I have trouble sticking to a grocery budget. I love going grocery shopping, cooking and having food in the cabinets. Much like the scrapbook store, I only buy things on sale, bring coupons and write a list before going, etc. But I still spend too much and things go to waste. In honor of my word SIMPLIFY I am going to streamline spending on groceries and extras. Am in search of some good websites for printable grocery coupons too.

Yesterday I had so much fun helping my LSS with inventory. It was a lot of work. I was there for over 5 hours and some were still there when I left! I don't know yet how much store credit I earned but will this week. I got a close-up view of such cool product! Every sheet of paper, every button, every ribbon, every mini-book was counted. Good Lord! There were about 30 0f us. I guess for previous years it has always just been the 5 people who work in the store counting everything! Anyhow...it was fun, I met some ladies and had an awesome lunch.

I mentioned this weekend that I reorganized my desk a little. This actually helped in seeing all the cool stuff I already have that really needs to get used! Here is one of the extras {guilt} I got this weekend to store little embellishments...I think it is Melissa Frances...

It's a great little box with three layers of compartments! I put all my brads in the top, some photo corners and metal pieces in the center and some ghost peices and extras in the bottom compartments. This freed up a lot of space in my drawer unit to spread my stamps into two drawers (instead of one). Now I can see them all more clearly and get more use out of them. It also saves me from spending. I was going to get another 3-drawer cube for stamps but now I have room! It also freed up my desk top organizer (it is a candle holder from Nate Berkus) that I love! Now I can put new little embellishments there along with my rhinestones which I use all the time on cards. I also put some other peices in the jars I have on my desk so I'll use them. For me "out of sight is out of mind." In all this organizing I streamlined and through out a lot of junk that is taking up space that I haven't used in years. Some will be donated - some was tossed.

I'll try and take some more photos of my scrap area later today and post them.

Saturday I backed up all my photos onto disks too. My computer is getting full. I'm so afraid to delete them though! I double checked the disks. The photos are on them. But I'm afraid to delete off the hard drive. A few years ago I saved photos from a trip to California on disks. Fast forward to my new computer and when I insert the disk...nothing. The pictures don't show. I don't know why. I'm not good with this stuff...I just know I don't want to lose more photos! But in the interest of SIMPLFYING there is no point of having them in three places: on the computer, disk and in albums/prints. SIMPLIFY!

It feels good to have all this organizing of stuff and money done for the new year. Now I need to stick with it. And I need to have fun and play with my scrapping stuff today! I started a layout last night but haven't finished. I've been feeling a little "blocked" since Christmas. Looked up some sketches for ideas. Might go through my old magazines and add to my Inspiration binder today for ideas.

Well....I'm off! Have a Happy Monday everyone...

a terrible blogger

A picture from last years New England Revs/LA Galaxy Game

I have been a terrible blogger! This has been the longest I've gone {since I started this whole thing} without writing. I didn't think I was really that much busier than usual but I guess I have been. Started back at work this past week. This coming week I have my first week back at the college too. Just Friday though since Monday is a holiday. I don't really feel ready. I haven't gotten copies made, printed out powerpoints, found articles...yikes. Yesterday, I went to the mall and got a few things to wear to school. I always feel out of my league as a professor. I always look more like the students than the faculty. I need to go on that show "What Not to Wear." Anyhow...I got a few things. I have a small bonus coming to me from the college that I'm going to use for some more clothes shopping at the outlets up in Maine.

Yesterday I also went grocery shopping with Cary. Spent WAY more than I do when I go alone! I am very frugal at the store. Really he is too but he's more likely to spend more on meats. I will buy good quality meats but not very much of it. He likes a good "grownup" steak (as he puts it!). I do too but have trouble when I see the price tag. Though it is much, much cheaper than going out to dinner.

Well...tonight I'm going to see the New England Revs play the LA Galaxy (with the lovely David Beckham)! I love going to the soccer games and we went to this game as a family last year and it was a fun time. Cary is sitting this one out though. He's not really into soccer unfortunately. But that's ok.

Hope to have some pictures or something later. I made a whole bunch of cards last night to sell at the craft fair. I was on a roll. I had purchased an EK Success scalloped square punch and some American Crafts ribbons that inspired me. The ribbons were only $1 at AC Moore! I bought the punch with a 50% off coupon so it was only $7. I also bought a pack of paper (can't remember the company) because I loved the coordinating papers. Plus it was on sale for $10. Couldn't resist!

Today I have to ease up on the spending money thing!

red and other things

1. Head Sox - Boston Red Sox fan limited edition print, 2. Uk desi bride, 3. The Red Hiney, Presenting, 4. The little red barn, 5. Red One, 6. Beyond the Red Door, 7. My red passion again - La mia passione ROSSA, 8. Mexico's wonderful color and dance rhythm, 9. Yes! Strawberry is the Princess of the spring fruits!

Red has been inspiring me lately. It is never a color I choose first for most things. But I've been really liking it lately. Maybe it's because of the strawberries I've been eating every day for months! Or the fact that I grew up in a house where my mom had a red kitchen sink. She still has it. It's gorgeous. It makes me think I should photograph it someday because it is so unique and has always been there and a source of pride for my mom who loves to cook. Red is one of her colors.

Anyhow...

The art therapy project was awesome! It was so much fun (a lot of work) but SO fun! I think everyone is really proud of their work so far and it involved lots of problem solving and required persistance and patience. They were determined to finish them and stayed late to do it! It felt so good and energizing to run the group today...it brought me back to remembering why I do what I do.

Tonight I get to take a break. Supper is in the oven. I just went to the gym and I feel good. I'm looking forward to reading some of my book and maybe just watching TV which I haven't really done lately. Hope everyone has a nice night!

Father's Day

This is one of my favorite pictures of my dad. Taking a boat ride on the river. The same one he's been taking boat rides on his entire life. Today I want to thank him for always being there. Quietly. Patiently. Always supporting me and encouraging me to do my best. Wanting nothing but happiness for me, my brother, sister and mother. He has taught me everything... how to draw perpective, how to put oil in my car, change a tire, and how to appreciate your surroundings. When I put these thoughts into words they really don't exactly explain what I want to say about my dad. He is truly one of my favorite people.

Today I have been working on my mini album "Understanding the Joy of Life" of which this photo of my dad will be one page. I have been scanning and printing photos from different parts of my life and from different years that in some way encompass this idea. It is coming along slowly and simply but I am having fun. I added more pages and transparencies yesterday to allow me to add more photos. It has grown and is now almost 2 inches thick! Here are a few pages...the first pages I worked on I posted on my blog a few months ago. Here are some new pages I finished today...thanks for looking!

beach day

Early morning at the beach. I had a wonderful "first day at the beach" for the summer. The tide was low in this picture and it was coming in so the beach was very full well I left. Lots of tourists enjoying "my" beach. I've been going there since I was a kid. In the boat and by car. I'm so lucky to have this beautiful place only 10 minutes from the house where I grew up. I'll post some more pictures of the beach tomorrow. As long as I've been going there, this was really the first time I took photos of it. I'm loving getting in this habit of focusing on places, people and things I see and love and documenting them.

Tonight, after picking up my sister at work we got an ice cream and walked on the Boulevard. It was a perfect temperature down there. And now, as I sit and type on my computer with all my windows open I wish I could describe the sweet, clean scent of summer and the slight breeze I feel. That is something I wish I could bottle up and save!

inspiration

I broke my creative freeze! I decided to scrap this photo I took recently of the trees...found a quote I that seemed to fit for me and did a little journaling. I tried to keep it simple. Letter stamps, ink, black cardstock and the photo with a white matte. I used Autumn Leaves clear stamps for the journaling circles.

I was on a roll so I started this layout too...

I took this photo in March...it's of the artist's Fitz Hugh Lane's House in Gloucester and a statue in his honor. Next to the statue on the rocks are a sculpture of his sandals and the words, "Step into my shoes and become inspired." I love it. I have always admired his paintings of the harbor and schooners. This layout isn't complete yet. I used a favorite Basic Grey paper as a the background and highlighted some of the flourishes with a black Souffle pen. I want to add some journaling but I'm just not sure where yet.

Then...I did a page in my "Everyday Life" mini album.

I got the idea from Ali Edwards. It is a set of alphabet index card dividers held together with binder rings. I keep it on my desk where I do my stuff and add photos, writing, quotes, pieces of life here and there. This page is a photo of the Valentine's Cary gave me this year...I just put it all down and didn't try and plan too much. Well...now off to watch some trashy reality tv, eat oreos and relax!

freezing. creatively.

I haven't been as good about blogging every day. And I haven't had time to do any scrapbooking. Tonight (after work) I'm going to my muscle conditioning class at the gym. That has been on the back burner for too long also. Maybe when I get home I will do a page. If I set that goal maybe I'll do it! I got some photos back from scrapbookpictures.com yesterday...maybe that will be the inspiration I need. I've been drawn more to my knitting as a creative outlet this past week. But I would like to try some new techniques and ideas I have for a mini book and scrapbook pages....we'll see. After the stress at my job so far this week (it's only Tuesday) it will be welcomed. Hmmm...I also haven't touched my Art Journal recently... See. This is what stops me from doing art sometimes. TOO MANY ideas. I freeze. I need to just set a small goal. One scrapbook page with one photo when I get home tonight. That I can do. and be ok with just that. And stop using "no time" as an excuse. There's always time for something here-and-there. I've been reading Julia Cameron's The Sound of Paper...creative blocks, carving out time, ...and yesterday I read a chapter that talked about preparing for creativity as a way to get past a block. Gathering, organizing, turning to other creative outlets. Sometimes I let my perfectionism get in the way and don't allow myself to do something small and quick or like I said I freeze with all the ideas I have floating around in my mind. So tonight...I'm going to carve out an hour. I will do one scrapbook page with a photo I love that I got yesterday. A challenge for myself.

art and inspiration

Today was an art day. I visited the internship site of three of my students for a site visit. It was inspiring. They intern at a vocational art program for individuals with developmental disabilities. They create work on paper, paintings, fabric work, clothing, weaving, sculpture, pottery, .....the list is endless. I was inspired by how friendly the clients were and how they welcomed me and the obvious connections some have made with my art therapy students. I was also inspired by the sheer indivdiuality and creativity in thier art. They have created their own unique techniques and art forms. It was impressive.

Later I took my class and we went to a gallery opening for my former professor-turned-supervisor. She is the chair of the Art Department of the college where I teach Art Therapy courses and of which I'm an alum. I'd never seen her paintings before. Beautiful. abstract, organic landscape-like. Seeing her art and the art of the clients earlier today makes me want ot pull out my charcoal and pencils and start drawing some landscapes. I used to love drawing from life, realistic, detailed. I haven't in years. During grad school I switched and was doing abstract stuff like the one posted above. Which I find therapeutic for myself...but there's something in the challenge of representing the landscapes around me that I love and that hold so much of my history and are a part of me.

Tonight, when I came home I tried to find my drawing stuff and I think its in the storage shed underneath tons of junk. I may have to take a trip to the art store and get some stuff and draw! While I'm still inspired...