Create Each Day

Doily Love

2010-03-29T13:06:00.003-07:00

Doilies have been popping up in art and craft projects everywhere! Their delicate lacy patterns look beautiful in all different kinds of designs.

1. 2010inspire_dolly hearts, 2. Lampshade Makeover, 3. Thank You Doily Card, 4. holiday garland, 5. My new art journal. :), 6. doily plate, 7. Vintage Doilies, 8. Advent Garland up close, 9. IMGP2895, 10. working on doily whatnots..., 11. m plus z = (Mojo #8), 12. gifts for friends, 13. Lace Doily Flat Note Cards, 14. Doily double old fashioned glass, 15. Original monoprint - Granny's doilies, 16. Doily Cards, 17. *hold her love**, 18. Wouldn't this pretty up an empty space?

Doilies are great to incorporate into baby projects. Here is a quick collage project I made with doilies, using pictures of my boys right after they were born:

Supplies: clips frames, patterned paper, paper doilies, rub ons, labels, overlay, decorative tape, ephemera

As you can see, doilies can add a nice accent to a collage or any other artwork. I hope you are inspired to try using doilies in your artwork!

Bleuprint #30

2010-03-26T07:07:00.004-07:00

Looking for some layout inspiration? Today, I bring you a bleuprint inspired by local shops.

I was inspired by the colors and textures found at these shops:

**Paris Envy:

**Melrose Vintage:

Here's my sketch:

and my layout:

The very talented Chris Cunningham and Melissa Mann have also shared their interpretation of the bleuprint!

Chris:

Melissa:

Now it's your turn! I hope you are inspired to create a layout and share it with us in the gallery!

Fun With Tape!

2010-03-22T00:01:00.001-07:00

One of the biggest craft trends right now is decorative tapes. It is amazing all the colors and designs that tape comes in. Check out some of the projects I found on the web:

*Photo Credit: Calico & Co.

*Photo Credit: little happy things

*Photo Credit: to-be-charmed

*Photo Credit: Studio 5

So cute and so easy! I took a couple of glass vases (purchased for a dollar at Goodwill) and a couple of candles and jazzed them up with some decorative tapes.

The great thing about this project is you can change the colors/designs easily. Think how cute a grouping of vases and candles done with red & green tape for Christmas, or black & orange at Halloween. The tapes come right off.

If you would like to play with some of these tapes, check out the shoppes!

Need Some Creative Inspiration?

2010-03-17T19:45:00.003-07:00

Then you really need to check out all that is going on at Bad Girls!

Bad Techniques Challenge-Extreme Stamping (due 3/22)

by: Anna Dabrowska-Pekocka

Inspiration Challenge-Scrap the Song (due 3/22)

by: Jaz Lee

Bleuprint: posted every Friday morning (ongoing)

by: Marie Ramirez

Security Envelopes Challenge (due 3/29)

by: Julie Ann Shahin

Project 52 Challenge #11: 3D figure (due 3/20)

Plus, new inspiration posted Monday-Friday on the Bad Girls Blog.

Creative Therapy

2010-03-17T08:41:00.000-07:00

I am excited and honored to announce that I have been invited to join the design team at Creative Therapy. If you are unfamiliar with the site, here's what Karen, the owner, has to say about the creation of the blog:

When I was little, I hung out with this group of kids who were my parents’ friends’ children. They were really mean to me and didn’t really want me around. So, I’ve always had this idea that I didn’t belong and people didn’t like being around me. Even though, over the years, a lot happened to show me otherwise, I was just stuck with those ideas in my head.

About two weeks ago, I found a box of photos from my childhood and teenage years. I looked at the photos over and over again and realized that I was smiling in all of them. Even laughing in some. I had people around me, with their arms on my shoulder. Suddenly it hit me that I was all wrong. I had belonged and I was loved. I had hundreds of photos to prove it. (I can’t really put into words the fundamental shift this caused.)

So I grabbed a minibook I had, glued the photos all over it and journaled all around it. I journaled for 7 hours. I wanted to capture this moment of revelation and have something for my future self to revisit if I got delusional again. It was energizing and life-changing.

I wanted to couple that experience with my wish to create more often and to have more fun with creating, so I thought….why not do a weekly challenge? Yes, I know there are thousands of them. But the idea of this one would be using art, scrapbooking, photography, or whatever your creative outlet is as a form of self-therapy. It doesn’t have to be revealing. It can be with colors, a specific technique, lots of journaling, or very few words. It can be art journaling. It can be anything you want as long as it’s therapeutic to you. Creative therapy.

My hope was to have a team of scrappers and mixed media artists. Many of us, so that we don’t all have to do one each week. Since this is emotional at the core, I want to make sure it’s authentic.

I hope you’re as excited about this idea as we are. I am honored and humbled to be in the company of these amazing artists and I hope that their work will inspire you as much as it awes me.

I don’t want to call this a challenge site since challenge and creative therapy don’t go together in my opinion. So, we’re going to call them catalysts, since our goal is for the work to be the catalyst for our life and a catalyst for you to feel inspired to create your own piece of creative therapy.

So, come on over. Pull up a chair and create your own therapeutic art.

- Karen Grunberg

So, here is my first contribution to Creative Therapy:

Catalyst #105: "Tell a random childhood memory"

I don’t have a lot of memories of my childhood-most are just bits and pieces. One of the few memories of my early childhood is watching the annual balloon races. We would climb up on the roof of our house, and watch all the novelty balloons take to the sky. When I look back on it, it seemed as though the sky just filled with color-like a make believe world. It was magical.

Embracing Ephemera

2010-03-15T07:44:00.003-07:00

*Photo Credit: Paper is Lovely

Oh how I love paper! The colors, the patterns, the texture. Vintage papers hold a special place in my heart. There is just something special about these old papers-they have a life of their own; a story to tell.

*Photo Credit: Paper is Lovely

I enjoy looking for and collecting (okay, hoarding) ephemera. As much as I love it, more often than not, it ends up in a pile, on a shelf, or in a drawer. I want not only to use it more in my art, but to also use it in a way that I can appreciate it and see it in my daily environment. Here is a simple project that accomplished both of these goals.

Collage File Folders

Supplies: manila file folders, glue stick, patterned paper, ephemera & collage papers, stickers, labels, rub ons, gesso

This is a fun, easy, and inexpensive project. First, cover plain manila file folders with papers. I used ledger paper, sheet music, dress pattern tissue, and a book page on the outside and patterned paper on the inside. Since my paper wasn't quite large enough, I also used patterned paper along the bottom on the front. Next, grab any papers you want to use for your collage. This is a great way to use up scraps and bits that have been sitting around. I also used some old stickers and rub ons. Since I was going for a more vintage look, I used some sandpaper to distress the collage and then dry brushed with gesso.

Of course, if you are not into the "vintage" style, you can use different papers to get a completely different look. I know we all have papers, stickers, stamps, paint, rub ons, etc. to use. The hardest part is not adding too much! Honestly, I kept having to stop myself from adding "one more thing". Have fun and enjoy making your collages!

How Does Your Garden Grow?

2010-03-13T20:46:00.000-07:00

The boys are home on spring break, so we took the opportunity to do a little "gardening". Connor has been very interested in planting seeds lately, and Logan just loves anything that has to do with dirt and water. On Thursday, we went and bought our gardening supplies (the kids gardening stuff is so cute). We bought a lot of seeds-mostly because the boys kept throwing more and more into the cart! On Friday, Connor and Logan each planted a pot of flowers and one bigger container of carrots (Connor really wanted to plant carrots). I really don't know much about container gardening, so we will have to wait and see how our "garden" grows!

Finding Inspiration In Movies

2010-03-08T08:17:00.005-07:00

Looking for some creative inspiration this Monday morning? Be sure to check out my post on the Bad Girls Blog for some eye candy. In today's post, I share some of my favorite "visually inspiring" movies, and some ATCs I made inspired by one of them.

There are so many films out there, new and old, that feed the imagination. What movies inspire you?

Project 52: Challenge #11

2010-03-07T15:51:00.008-07:00

We have a new challenge for you at Project 52:

Challenge #11 3-D Figure (jointed, pattern, stuffed, simple/complicated, on stand, wall display, sitting, painted, glued, stitched, very open options, etc…)
Theme – Gods & Goddesses (human, animal, cultural myth, invented, etc…)
Required Material– Fibers (ribbon, yarn, string, lace, floss, cord, etc…)

Here's my take on the project:

Persephone’s Return

Supplies: wood box, mulberry paper, fibers, cardboard roll, fabric, paper mache torso, gesso, craft paint, lace, ribbon, paper & fabric flowers, paper doily, pearl stickers, glimmer mist

This is my interpretation of Persephone’s return from the Underworld, which, according to Greek mythology, brings the start of spring. To read about the Greek mythology regarding Persephone, check out this link.

I painted a paper mache torso for the base of this project, and created a dress out of lace and covered with flowers, pearl stickers, and fiber “vines”. To create a platform for the figure, I covered a box with green mulberry paper and fibers. I also added a cardboard roll covered with fabric for the figure to sit on, to give more height. The back of the dress is made with a doily that is sprayed with glimmer mist, and another piece of mulberry paper.

Be sure to check out the Project 52 blog to see what the design team has done with this challenge!

This is my last project as a member of the Project 52 Design Team. It has been a wonderful experience and a real honor to be a part of this team along with so many talented artists. I will, of course, still be following along with everyone else, and look forward to seeing the challenges to come.

Washi Tape

2010-03-07T09:05:00.004-07:00

Have you seen the adorable Japanese washi tape? So adorable! It seems to be showing up in creative projects everywhere lately. It can be used in so many ways, from cute flags and garland, to adding some punch to your packages. Think about all the possibilities. Bad Girls now has washi tape in stock at the shoppes. Check these out:

"Bouquet of Happiness"

"Let's Play Dress Up"

"Best Friends Forever"

"Hollywood Pop Princess"

"Cutesy Tootsy Candy Shoppe"

"Glamour Girl Stripe"

Make sure you get these awesome tapes while they are available. And, while you're there, check out some of the other great products in the shoppes!

Welcome Spring

2010-03-01T08:41:00.004-07:00

Happy March 1st! The year is already flying by. Spring is just around the corner (I'm so not ready to think about Easter yet), and the days are getting longer. In honor of the new upcoming season, I created this sign, welcoming spring.
For more information on how I put this together, check out the Bad Girls Blog.

Bad Girls Elite Artist

2010-02-28T09:55:00.004-07:00

I am so very excited to announce that I am now a member of the Bad Girls Elite Artist Design Team! This is going to be an amazing ride along with these talented artists on the team:

JULIE ANN SHAHIN - ELITE ARTIST COORDINATOR
MARIE RAMIREZ
ANNA DABROWSKA-PEKOCKA
JAZ LEE

As part of the announce, Wendy asked us to create a layout with the theme "Why I am so glad I am bad now." All the ladies created amazing layouts. Check out the blog to see all of their pages.

Here is my layout:
Be sure to also checkout the new Project 52 team. So many talented ladies!

PAM COLOSIMO - PROJECT 52 TEAM LEADER

AIMEE WHEATON

TANIA DAVEY

WENDELA LAM

VICKI FLINCHUM

MELISSA MANN

LESLIE CRANWILL

CAROLINE

SINDY WONG

LESLIE LANGDON

A lot of fun stuff is going on at Bad Girls and Project 52. Make sure you pop on over to see all the inspiration. Stay tuned!

"Windswept Whispers"

2010-02-23T20:51:00.003-07:00

I've been working with the Bad Girls October 2009 kit, "Windswept Whispers". It is a lovely kit-lots of fun Websters Pages. So, I thought I would share a few projects:
Amazingly, this kit is still available! Check it out here!

Project 52 Challenge #10

2010-02-22T08:22:00.003-07:00

Can you believe we are already at challenge #10?

First, let's congratulate Jenn (Kats5454) for winning challenge #9! Check out her fabulous project here. Jenn has won a $20 gift certificate to the Shoppes at Bad Girls!!

Challenge 10 ~ Art Money:

(good weight paper or substrate such as heavy watercolor paper). Traditional size requirements~ see Art Money for detailed info)

THEME~ Architecture (historical, invented, whole or part, series or not etc....)

Required material~ Tape (masking, duct, electrical, packing, etc....)

I admit, Art Money is new to me. But go check out the website to learn more about it. It looks like a lot of fun, and has the potential to become another addicting format (much like ATCs).

The design team created some beautiful works of art. For some awesome inspiration, be sure to check out the Project 52 Blog. I hope you will join in making some art money of your own. The deadline for this challenge is March 6th. Please upload your piece to the gallery, and link back to the forum for a chance to win.

Operation: Bad Girls Help Haiti

2010-02-12T18:27:00.002-07:00

We all know about the tragedy that has been taking place in Haiti. Bad Girls Kits has stepped up, by donating the proceeds of select kits to relief efforts in Haiti. Wendy has also marked down these kits to 50%. So if you ever wanted to check out Bad Girls Kits, now is the time. For more information, check out the blog here. You can order your kits in the Bad Girls Shoppes.

Project 52: Challenge #9

2010-02-08T00:01:00.001-07:00

It's time for a new Challenge on Project 52!

Challenge 9 – Wooden Blank (any shape/subject, found, re-purposed, purchased)
Challenge Group 1 – Post date - 2/8/10
• Theme – Botanicals (flowers, leaves, trees, tropical, forest, real/fantasy, etc…)
• Required material – Wire (metallic, old/new, covered, colored, thin/thick, etc…)

So many options on this one. When I thought about this challenge, the first thing that came to mind was "Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow?". I loved the idea of a little garden; the kind that a little girl would dream up.

Supplies:
small wood tray, small picket fence, tissue paper, gel medium, craft paint, embossing powder, vintage paper doll, Prima flowers, book pages, ink, ribbon, coated wire, letter stickers, pop dots, brads

For the back piece, cover the wood tray with patterned tissue paper. Use book pages inked with various shades of green to create "hills". Wrap wire around a paintbrush handle to make spirals, then wrap around strips of rick rack, and top with paper flowers. For the gate, paint white and add gold embossing. Create grass by cutting green tissue paper. Use wire to make water pouring from the watering can. The hinge was created by using brads to attach rick rack to both pieces.

Wait until you see what the rest of the design team came up with. Make sure you check out the Project 52 Blog, and then come by and chat with us on the boards. I can't wait to see what you create!

Bad Girls Giveaway Contest!

2010-02-07T06:28:00.000-07:00

Okay, check this out:

How yummy is this? The one and only Wendy Rago is giving away this awesome prize package, over at Bad Girls Kits. Do you NEED this? Yes? I thought so! Here is all you have to do to have a chance to win all the goodies pictured above:

Post on this thread on the forums at Bad Girls and to the Bad Girls Blog and tell us...

WHY YOU NEED THIS YUMMY PRIZE!

You have to hurry though...you only have until Monday, February 8, at 7 p.m. PST to enter. Remember, you must post to both place to qualify. The winner will be posted on Monday, February 8, at 8 p.m. PST, both on the blog and message boards. Good luck!

Project 52: Challenge #8

2010-01-18T09:49:00.002-07:00

We have a new challenge for you at Project 52.

Challenge #8: Frame & Fill
*frame - good size, found, re-purposed, purchased, wood, or metal, etc… fill – image, artwork, copy-right free image, or collage, etc...)
Theme-Birds
*real, fantasy, feathers, eggs, nests, etc.
Required Material-Glass
*marbles, sea glass, microscope slides, frame glass, etc.

Make sure to head over to the blog to check out the amazing projects made by the design team. Feeling inspired? Make sure to upload your project for a chance to win a spot as Guest Designer for February! Just follow the following rules for a chance to win:

1) Complete all aspects of Challenge #8 Frame-Fill/Bird/Glass as outlined above

2) When you upload it the Bad Girls, select the the Project 52 Gallery, make sure to title it "Challenge #8 Frame and Fill" NOTE: Select Project 52 Gallery from drop-down menu when uploading

3) **ALL ENTRIES MUST Post in the Challenge #8 Forum Thread With a Link and Tell Us About Your Process In a Few Short Sentences. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ALL 3 STEPS! Due January 30, 2010 MIDNIGHT Pacific

Good luck and have fun!

In Memory

2010-01-05T16:20:00.000-07:00

Marlene Myrtle Smith Malone
January 10, 1932-January 4, 2010

We miss you. We love you. You will always be with us.

Journal Your Christmas-Days 10 & 11

2009-12-11T21:55:00.002-07:00

Here are my new pages!

Days 7, 8, & 9

2009-12-09T22:46:00.003-07:00

Here's a bit of a catch up of my recent pages:

Project 52: Challenge #5

2009-12-07T00:01:00.001-07:00

It's time for a new challenge at Project 52!

Challenge 5 – Artist Trading Cards (ATCs) *at least 4
* Theme – Life &/or Death
* Required material – Transparencies

For those of you who may not be familiar with them, ATCs are small pieces of artwork, that measure 2.5" x 3.5". Any medium can be used to create these little gems, and as many artist's know, can become quite addictive to make. For more information, check out ATC's-Exploring Art in Minature.

Here is my take on this challenge:

Angels-Series of Four

Supplies:

clear acetate packaging, rubber stamps, Staz-On Ink (black), alcohol ink (Ranger), angel images, Glossy Accents (Ranger), Versamark ink, gold embossing powder

I used clear packaging for the base of the ATCs. To create the background, I stamped on the plastic using Staz-On ink. Make sure when stamping on a non-porous surface (such as glass or plastic) you use a solvent based ink to prevent smearing. I applied alcohol inks strait from the bottle, and let it drip down the card. The angel images were added with glossy accents, which dries clear. When embossing on plastic, be careful not to heat too quickly, as this can cause the plastic to warp. If the plastic becomes too warped, you can place a piece of cardstock or chipboard over the plastic (while it’s still warm), and press it until it lies flat.

Make sure to check out Project 52 to see the amazing ATC's the design team made. Then, come chat with us in the forum! And, don't forget to post your work in the gallery-I love seeing everyone's interpretation of the challenges.

Day 4

2009-12-06T23:17:00.002-07:00

Here are my pages for December 4th:

Journal Your Christmas
December Daily

I didn't get a chance to do any pages over the weekend, although I do have some ideas for them. I may get to them, I may not-I'm not going to stress over it. I'm planning to continue on with pages tomorrow. If I have time to go back and do the pages for yesterday and today, I will. I look forward to working on more pages tomorrow!

Day 3

2009-12-04T00:05:00.002-07:00

New pages for December 3rd:

Journal Your Christmas
December Daily

Day 2

2009-12-03T00:00:00.001-07:00

Here are my pages for day 2:

Journal Your Christmas

December Daily

December Journals

2009-12-02T23:42:00.001-07:00

Happy December! I can hardly believe how fast this year has been. I love December-it can be so fun and magical-but it sure is busy. This year, I am attempting Shimelle's "Journal Your Christmas" class. This is my second year. Last year, I only made it to the second week before life got too crazy to keep up. This year, I'm gonna be even crazier and also work on a "December Daily" album, inspired by Ali Edwards. I'm not comitting to doing both everyday, but at least one depending on my day. Also, I'm going all digital for my journal. I;m new to digital, so there will be quite a learning curve. So, this project is also a way for me to play with this new format. Who knows, I may end up with some ugly pages, but I might learn something along the way.

Here are my pages for December 1st:

Journal Your Christmas

December Daily

Challenge #3 Winner

2009-11-23T09:51:00.002-07:00

...and the winner is...

Chris A!

Congratulations! Your project is amazing! Enjoy your gift certificate to Bad Girls Shoppes.

New Challenge On Project 52

2009-11-23T08:48:00.006-07:00

The new challenge is up on Project 52-and the design team rocked it! Challenge 4 is paper dolls, theme: joy and/or sadness, material: metal.

I want to welcome our guest designer, Karin Kreijen (aka, Mexx)!
Kari's project is truly amazing! Take a look at this:
Gorgeous! For more inspiration, take a look at all the different interpretations of this challenge. Make sure you check out the Project 52 blog.

Some of the design team ladies are participating in a blog hop today.
Let's Hop and Get Some Fun Tips and/or See The Artist's Studios!!!

1. Julie Ann

2. Finn

3. Francesca

4. Tania

5. Wendela

6. Jaz

7. Pam

8. *Karin aka Mexx <<<---NOVEMBER GUEST DESIGNER!!!! *

9. Project 52

Follow these rules for a chance to win Challenge #4, and snag a Guest Spot on our Design Team! Deadline December 5, 2009 Midnight Pacific Time

Four Easy Steps -->
a) Visit and comment at each of 9 blogs (links above) on their Challenge #4 post, as our designers have secret tips related to this challenge for you and/or a peek at their special studio spaces

b) Complete all aspects of Challenge #4 Paper Doll/ Joy &/Or Sadness/ Metal

Challenge 4 – Paper Dolls (jointed, template, 2-D, 3-D, single/multiples, etc…)
Due: December 5, 2009
* Theme – Joy &/or Sadness (human, animal, real, fantasy, etc…)
*Required material – Metal (any type, real, faux, part/whole, etc…)

c) Upload to the Project 52 Gallery, make sure to title it "Project 52 Challenge #4"

d) Post in the Challenge #4 Forum Thread With a Link and Tell Us About Your Process In a Few Short Sentences. Make sure you have all 4 steps a through d!!!!

**Deadline: December 5, 2009
We look forward to seeing all of your gorgeous projects! I am amazed by all the beautiful projects you have been posting in the gallery-so inspiring.

Project 52: Challenge #3

2009-11-09T07:49:00.005-07:00

The next challenge is up on Project 52-Paper-Mache Form/Self-Portrait/Found Objects.

Here is my project:

For the project Who I Am, the outside of the book was created by using a crackle medium. To add some color, I took some tissue paper and sprayed it with glimmer mist. After it dried, it was crumbled, and adhered with gel medium. A fun element was the use of Christmas picks that are used in holiday arrangements. They are inexpensive and have great color and lots of glitter. The angel on the cover is also a Christmas ornament. I included the “sweet pea” packet, as that is my “birth flower”, and is my mom’s nickname for me. Inside, the book contains sheets of paper that I’ve used as the art journal. I used paint to create the backgrounds, and machine stitching to attach collage elements. For the tags, I used distress inks for the backgrounds, as well as a mask for the decorative edge. I used a resist technique on the tags: first, I wrote words with white oil pastel then I sprayed over it with ink. Next, covering the tags with a scrap paper, I used an iron to melt the wax, leaving the words visible. The pages are tied together with tulle and topped with another Christmas pick, some flowers, and a stick pin to unify the inside with the outside. This was a fun project that allowed me to play with many techniques.

NOW IT'S YOUR TURN!

*Challenge 3 – Paper Mache Blank (any shape or subject, usually craft store item)

Theme – Self-Portrait (about you, present/past/future, serious or fun, etc…)
Required material – Found Objects (junk drawer stuff related to theme/story)

SIX RULES TO FOLLOW
TO WIN $20 GIFT CARD TO BAD GIRLS BOUTIQUE:

1. You must leave a comment here on this blog post with one word that describes YOU

2. You must incorporate a paper mache (papier-mâché) form (any shape or subject) in your project that is pre-made or that you make (allow overnight dry time between layers)

3. You must use the theme Self-Portrait (about you, present/past/future, serious or fun, etc…)

4. You must use Found Objects/Junk Drawer Stuff related to theme/story(such as trinkets/baubles/pieces/charms/hardware you find/collect or purchase at scrap/stamp stores, flea markets, etsy, antique, etc.)

5. Upload Your One Photo, yes, ONE Photo, of Your Project to Our Project 52 Gallery by November 21, Midnight Pacific Time (time zone converter) If you have additional photos, link to them in the description from either your blog or from photobucket.com

6. FINAL RULE: You must post a link to your project in the gallery before November 21st Midnight to our Challenge #3 thread in the forum - don't forget to do this!

We can't wait to see what you come up with. Have fun!

Unfinished Art Journal Pages

2009-11-03T22:06:00.005-07:00

Here's a look at some journal pages I've been working on. These first pages are for Dina Wakley's Art Journaling class, The Graffiti of My Life. If you've never seen Dina's art journals make sure you check out her blog. So inspiring!

These next three are just experimenting with collage and leftover ink:

And finally, a few pages of leftover ink from my stencils:

This is what happens...

2009-10-29T19:11:00.000-07:00

...in Phoenix when the temps drop into the 50s.
It's a good thing we live in the desert-I'm not sure these boys could survive in cold weather!

What's Inside of a Pumpkin?

2009-10-27T21:10:00.006-07:00

At school, Connor's class opened up a pumpkin to see what was inside. So when I picked him up from school, I asked:
"So, what's inside of a pumpkin?"
to which Connor replied:
"Seeds and slime"
Now we know!

Skull Topiary

2009-10-26T17:23:00.001-07:00

BOO!

Project 52: Challenge #2

2009-10-26T08:09:00.003-07:00

Challenge 2 is live on Project 52:

CHALLENGE #2

Old Text Book Cover (re-purposed, strong, older is better)

* Theme – School (education of any kind/lessons learned, etc…)

* Required material – Office Supply/s (any office supply store items are game)

WINNER WILL BE OUR NOVEMBER GUEST DESIGNER!!! ANNOUNCED Tuesday, November 10th, 2009 **see full rules below.

I don't know about you, but I love office supplies. Everything about them inspires me, so this should be a fun challenge. Be sure to check out Project 52 to see the amazing work of our design team. They have really done some amazing and inspiring work. You will definitely be inspired! Then, head over to the message board to discuss the challenge and ask any questions. I can't wait to see everyone's work in the gallery!

**For a chance to be our guest designer for November:

1. Upload to Your Photoserver Like Photobucket Our Project 52 Blinkie, Then Add It to Your Blog Linking Back To This Blog

2. After Your Blinkie Is Up, Leave Us a Comment On This Blog Post With The Link Where We Can Find It

3. Create Challenge #2 & Upload It to the Project 52 Gallery before November 7th Midnight Pacific

4. Come to the Project 52 Forum and Link Us to Your Project in the Gallery

Come say Hi to the Design Team and View Bonus Tutorials in the Forum today!

xoxo,

Halloween Decor

2009-10-19T20:51:00.003-07:00

I'm amazed at how soon Halloween is. And it occurs to me I better get crackin' if I'm going to finish up my holiday projects before Halloween. I did a quick little "vignette" to get the house in the Halloween spirit.

Such a quick project here. I printed a black cat silhouette on a book page, and put it in an unused frame I already had. I then filled a couple of glasses with some candy corn. Put it all together with a cute little pumpkin, and voila, a quick, nearly free, little seasonal display.

Happy Birthday Logan!

2009-10-16T22:22:00.000-07:00

Pumpkins

2009-10-14T19:52:00.005-07:00

On Sunday, I took the boys out to get our first pumpkins of the season. We were just looking for a pumpkin stand this time out-we are planning on going up to Prescott in a couple of weeks (after Jeff gets home), to do the whole "pumpkin festival" event thing. So, we headed to a local patch in our area to let the boys pick out some pumpkins. Luckily they only wanted the small pumpkins, because we came home with eleven!The boys were very excited to paint them, so I left them to it later that evening. I think we have some budding artists on our hands-look at that concentration! So we have our first Halloween pumpkins-there will be more to come (you can never have too many pumpkins). Anyways, I still have to paint some! I have visions of glittered mini pumpkins...and I so want to make a white vampire pumpkin...not to mention, some gourd ghosts and witches. I so love this pumpkin time of year!

So Excited for Halloween!

2009-10-13T08:38:00.000-07:00

7 Years Later

2009-10-12T07:00:00.000-07:00

7 years, one house, two kids, laughter & tears, better & worse, sickness & health, life & death...

My love for you is even stronger today. I love you, Jeff-I can't wait until you are home with me.

Hop Hop!

2009-10-12T00:01:00.002-07:00

Welcome to the Project 52 Blog Hop! We are so excited for the relaunch of this amazing site. If you haven't yet, make sure to check out the blogs of my fellow design team members. These ladies will blow you away with their talent!

Let's begin with a few tips for beginning mixed media artists:

1) Keep an idea file: this can be a sketchbook, a ‘tear file”, a list on a scrap of paper, or a collection of bookmarks on your computer. Whatever your method, what’s important is to keep a resource of ideas and inspiration for your art. It’s also a good idea to keep something with you to jot down ideas as they come to you-anything from a theme, a composition, a title, or a color scheme.

2) Feed your “creativity well”: be open to inspiration; it’s all around you! Junk mail, advertising, packaging, store displays, movies, fashion, anything can inspire your art. I like to visit places such as thrift stores, antique shops, boutiques, and galleries.

3) Put down some color: a blank canvas can be intimidating! So go ahead and start with a wash of color or some background paper. This can make “starting” much easier and get your creative juices flowing.

4) Don’t be afraid to make mistakes: and don’t be afraid to let your art take you in a different direction. A “mistake” could lead to a better piece. Have a background you don’t like? Add a wash of color over it, collage some paper on top of it, put down some crackle medium, use some sandpaper. That background could become that additional layer that adds extra depth to your finished piece.

5) Never stop learning: take classes, follow tutorials, read magazines and books, learn from artist you admire…and ask questions! The more you learn, the more tools you have at your disposal. And, as you combine these techniques in new ways, you will create your own unique style.

Now for an extra bit of fun: You can have a chance at the Bad Girls scrumptious prize shown on the Project 52 by visiting each blog and ending up at our P52 Gallery and P52 Forums!

1. Project 52

2. Julie Ann's Blog

3. Francesca's Blog

4. Aimee's Blog

5. Tania’s Blog

6. Jaz's Blog

7. Katie's Blog

8. Wendela's Blog

9. Anna's Blog

10. Wendy's Blog

11. Visit the Project 52 Forum

12. Upload Your Project 52 Challenge #1

Remember: Have fun! Embrace your Inner Bad Girl Artist!!!

Challenge 1-Canvas

2009-10-12T00:01:00.001-07:00

Today is the big day at Project 52! The first challenge is canvas; theme: hero: and supply: natural item. As part of challenge group 1, I'd like to share with you my interpretation of this challenge.

“Her Hero”

SUPPLY LIST: stretched canvas, acrylic paint, dictionary page, sheet music, rubber stamps, gesso, stock photo, gel medium, beeswax, ribbon, buttons, branches, flowers, raw canvas

For “Her Hero”, I applied an acrylic stain to a pre-stretched canvas, and then covered with a dictionary page. Old paper is thin enough that when adhered with a wet medium, the color bleeds through. For the image transfer, I first painted the area with gesso so the image would not blend into the background. . When dried, I pressed the image into wet gel medium to transfer the image. Beeswax is used over the image and the words in the top left corner-this also works as a resist for the top wash of acrylic paint. The flowers and branches are tied together using a scrap of raw canvas and adhered using hot beeswax.

There are so many ways to interpret this challenge. Be sure to check out Project 52 to see the fabulous projects of the other design team members, and get out and create! Be sure to share your project with us in the gallery, and come chat with us over on the message boards. I can't wait to see everyone's art. So, have fun, get messy, and create!

Also, in honor of the relaunch of Project 52, the Design Team is hosting a blog hop. So be sure to check out my post on top tips for mixed media beginners.

Cinnamon Applesauce

2009-10-10T22:11:00.007-07:00

Since we actually had some fall weather here in Phoenix, I decided it was time for an autumn activity with the boys. So, we tried our hands at homemade applesauce.
It was a nice easy project for the boys. I peeled and cored the apples, and the boys cut them into cubes.

The boys did a great job, although Logan had a hard time getting the apples into the pot and not in his tummy!
After the apples boiled on the stove, we mashed them down, and added some cinnamon and sugar. They smelled heavenly! Although Connor wasn't willing to give his applesauce a try, Logan really enjoyed his. The boys had a lot of fun helping, and thought it was really neat how the apples became soft after being heated. They also found it funny that New York (where daddy is, right now, training) is sometimes called "the big apple". Yep, it's all about the trivia in our house!

Project 52

2009-10-04T13:48:00.000-07:00

I am very honored to have been asked to join the new design team at Project 52. For those who may not know, Project 52 is an awesome mixed media challenge blog and sister site to Bad Girls Kit Club. Our goal is to inspire you to be fearless in your art. We have a team of amazingly talented artists who will get you creating. The first challenge will be posted on October 12th, so be sure to check it out!

Halloween Projects

2009-10-02T00:01:00.000-07:00

are starting to appear...
...both from the boys...

...and from me!

It's October!

2009-10-01T08:03:00.002-07:00

It's my favorite month of the year. I know I have abandoned my blog as of late, but I am planing to be back with some 'update' posts very soon. Lots going on here-you know how it is, when stuff is actually going on, there's no time to post! I'm off to get Connor to school and Logan ready for his therapies today.

it's official...

2009-08-11T19:05:00.000-07:00

Connor has started school!

Happy Birthday Mama!

2009-07-09T10:24:00.002-07:00

I love you!

Happy 4th!

2009-07-04T08:00:00.002-07:00

iPhone

2009-06-28T12:55:00.002-07:00

Seashells

2009-06-25T17:45:00.000-07:00

Connor really enjoyed spending the day at the beach. He spent quite a lot of time looking for seashells, and especially liked the teeny tiny ones. When we got home, we made a memory jar for him to keep his shells. I prepared a glass jar while Connor carefully cleaned his shells with water and a toothbrush.
He picked blue and purple sand for the bottom, and I used some filler that was leftover from gift baskets. Then, Connor very gently placed his favorite shells in the jar.I'm amazed at how much he loves it. He wanted it placed near his bed, so he could look at it every night while he falls asleep. I can't wait until the next time we all go to the beach!

Coffee Stain

2009-06-24T17:12:00.004-07:00

Today, I received my June kits from Bad Girls. As part of the main project this month, we are using some tea dying techniques. I don't have any tea on hand, so I decided to do some coffee staining, at least to hold me over until I get some tea tomorrow. In addition to items from my new kit, I went through my stash and pulled together some items to dye/ stain. I have some shipping tags, dictionary pages, envelopes, lace, a hankie, and some flashcards.
I decided to use coffee stain on a handful of these items, and follow up with tea dye later this week. It could be interesting to see the different looks each process creates. After boiling the water & coffee, I soaked the items for a few minutes, and placed them on a cookie sheet. Then they dried in a warm oven for an hour.
I really like the way the coffee stain came out-especially the dictionary page. The page was too delicate to soak in the coffee, so I just poured some of the wet coffee grounds on the page and smeared it around. I love the way it looks after drying.

Next up-tea dying.

Waterplay and Ice Cream

2009-06-10T19:09:00.004-07:00

It's been hot here in the valley for a couple of months already-well into the 100 degree temps. But, for the past few days, we have had a cool burst-down in the 90s, which means it's actually bearable to be outside. This needs to be taken advantage of. So, today, I took the boys to Westgate to get ice cream and play in the fountains.

The boys had so much fun, I only wish we could do this more over the summer-but soon our 110+ degree days will return, and we will be forced back inside with the air conditioner.
At least there will still be plenty of ice cream to eat!

Love Makes Little Things Grow...

2009-05-29T13:41:00.003-07:00

...and I love seeing little hands making little things grow. Here's Connor planting his own flowers. Have a wonderful weekend!

Colorful Day

2009-05-22T09:18:00.004-07:00

Today is a rare rainy day here in Phoenix. In honor of the gray day outside, we embraced a day of color inside with a couple of quick projects. (in addition to jumping in puddles!)

First, we recycled all of the boys' broken crayons. Using the old standby of melting down old crayons to make new ones, we created new, marbled crayons. So simple, with such pretty results.
After pealing the paper off the crayons, we sorted the crayons into mini muffin pans (we used disposable pans to make it easier), and melted them in the oven for 8 minutes at 260 degrees. The result: fun, beautiful, new crayons!

Next up, play dough cookies! My mom bought these colored cookie doughs for the boys. Connor really had fun with it-Logan wasn't quite so sure. I have to admit, I had a lot of fun with it too. I mean, how cute are these cookies?

The Year of Sickness

2009-05-13T13:08:00.006-07:00

I can't believe that I'm sick again. I was really kidding when I declared this the year of sickness, but it seems to be true. It seems I get sick every other week or so. What bugs me the most is that I feel like I'm wasting so much time trying to feel better. So much I would rather be doing, not to mention all that I need to be doing. Oh well, there's not much that I can do about it other than get some rest and hope it passes soon.

This past Saturday, we took the boys to the Children's Museum of Phoenix. I was so impressed by the museum.
Andi and Cadence also came along and she had just as much fun as the boys! It's rare to find someplace that is equally fun for a 2 year old, 4 year old, and a 9 year old. Some of the stuff, I wanted to play with too!

We spent the whole day there, and we didn't even get to all the areas. This will be a place we will visit again soon.

I've been trying to get into the studio as much as I can (between illnesses). Finally got some new layouts completed. I do have an ongoing project for this year that hopefully I will get to share on here. I made a list (right before my birthday) of "30 things to do while I'm 30". I intend to document this list in some kind of crafty way.
Well, that's all for now--at least in my drugged up state. I will try to do better about posting.

Still Here

2009-04-22T16:41:00.000-07:00

Been a bad blogger! I hope to be back with a new post soon!

DES Update

2009-03-17T20:35:00.003-07:00

A preliminary injunction has been put in place, requiring DDD to continue early intervention services. This, of course, is fantastic! We are encouraged by this ruling. Unfortunately, the return of services is only temporary, so it's very important to keep fighting. A rally to raise awareness about the DDD/DES funding cuts, is scheduled for Thursday, March 19th. I will be attending with the boys.

Here is a copy of the info on the flier:

Don’t Cut Us Out!

March & Rally

for

Arizona’s Developmentally Disabled Children, Adults, & Families

Thursday, March 19, 2009

MARCH 11:30 – 12:30p

Where: Route will be on the sidewalks around Wesley Bolin Memorial Park. We will start promptly at 11:30 AM and will circle around Wesley Bolin Memorial Park adjacent to the Capitol.

RALLY 1:00p – 2:30p

Where: The Senate Lawn at the State Capitol

Organizers: The Arizona Developmentally Disabled community and their provider service agencies represented by the Arizona Association of Providers for People with Disabilities.

Sponsors: If you or your organization would like to be a co-sponsor or volunteer for this event, please contact Colleen at 602.617.2129 or colleen@tungland.com.

· Speech by Arizona State Rep. Kyrsten Sinema and other community and political leaders, community members, and advocates.

· Activities during the Rally: Voter Registration, Locate Your Legislator, Participation via Petition, Give the Governor Your Opinion, Send a Message to Your State Legislator

· Music, Singing, Chanting

Why we’re marching and rallying:

· Last January 31, 2009 the Legislature passed a bill that drastically cut funding for 29,000 Arizona developmentally disabled adults, children, and their families. Governor Janice K. Brewer signed the bill.

· The Legislature ordered the Department of Economic Security to implement the cuts without giving the DES any guidance on how to do it. So the DES discharged staff, cut essential services such as Early Intervention Program (EIP) which helps children under three years olds with disabilities, and slashed the rates they pay to service providers by 10%. These devastating cuts threaten to put thousands of Arizonans with developmental disabilities in immediate and irreparable harm.

Contact Governor Jan Brewer, 1700 West Washington, Phoenix AZ 85007

Toll free 1-800-253-0883 FAX 602-542-1381 Phone 602-542-4331

Or online link at azgovernor.gov/Contact.asp

DON’T CUT US OUT!

**particapants are being encouraged to wear black T-Shirts "representing both loss of services, and the elegance and respect that should be accorded to ALL people".

Just for Fun

2009-03-16T23:01:00.004-07:00

I made these cute little felt dresses yesterday. They are from A Year of Color Blog, which featured Ranjini's tutorial for mini button dresses. I'm not sure what I'll do with them, but for right now, they make me smile when I look at them.

How About Some Art?

2009-03-12T10:36:00.005-07:00

Enough talk about budget cuts, let's get back to some art! I've been taking an AWESOME class on art journaling, taught by the fabulous Dina Wakley at Get It Scrapped. The whole process has been so freeing. I'm having a blast! There is nothing like just creating and experimenting. I haven't been worrying about getting a "finished product", just letting go and having fun. Working on these pages refuels me creatively. So, here are some of the pages I've been working on:

Not Giving Up!

2009-03-09T11:26:00.004-07:00

Well, we are gearing up for a fight. Arizona families are NOT happy about the cut of services for our children, and we are not going to be quiet about it. As it turns out, cutting our services, while our children are still eligible for them, is illegal. If you are affected by these cuts and would like to be heard, here is information on sending an appeal letter (reposted from http://takeactioninaz.blogspot.com/2009/03/send-appeal-letter-to-executive.html):

Here is the page that describes the process of filing a complaint/appeal regarding your child's services: https://egov.azdes.gov/cmsinternet/main.aspx?menu=98&id=2366

Below the addresses to which you should send your complaint/appeals letters is the portion of the above-linked page that lays out the steps for filing a complaint with DES/AzEIP:

Send complaint/appeal letters to:
Arizona Center for Disability Law
5025 E Washington St, ste 202
Phoenix, AZ

AzEIP - Dispute
3839 N 3rd St
Suite 304
Phoenix, Az
KTaylor@azdes. gov

DDD - Disputes
1789 W Jefferson St., 4th floor
Phoenix, Az 85007

System Complaint

If you believe there has been any violation of the requirements and regulations of IDEA, Part C, including a violation of your child's or family's rights, you may file a complaint with DES/AzEIP.

Steps in initiating a complaint:

You must send a written, signed complaint to:
Executive Director, DES/AzEIP
3839 N. 3rd Street, Suite 304
Phoenix, Arizona 85012
The written, signed complaint must include a statement that there has been a violation of a requirement or regulation of IDEA, Part C, and the facts of the situation.
The Executive Director or a designee will review the complaint and decide if it is a valid complaint. A complaint will be judged valid if the alleged violation occurred not more than one year before the date the complaint was received, unless:
1. the alleged violation continues for the child or other children; or
2. the person making the complaint is requesting reimbursement or corrective action for a violation that occurred not more than three years before the complaint was received.
If the complaint is judged to be valid, then the Executive Director or a designee will review all the relevant information and will:
1. conduct an on-site investigation, if necessary; and
2. give the person making the complaint the opportunity to submit additional information, either orally or in writing.

The Executive Director or a designee will make an independent decision as to whether there has been a violation of IDEA, Part C and send a written copy of the decision to all parties within 60 days of receiving the complaint.

Please check out these blogs with good information about what is happening:

http://takeactioninaz.blogspot.com/
http://uponeagleswings.blogspot.com/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ArizonaEarlyInterventionParents_Caregivers/#ans
http://www.azautism.org/

What Now?

2009-03-05T21:38:00.002-07:00

We received the following letter in the mail today:

"As you may know, Arizona is addressing a major shortfall in state funds for Fiscal Year 2009, and the Department of Economic Security must reduce spending by more than 150 million dollars. The Division of Developmental Disabilities has made reductions in staffing, provider rates, and other expenses but must take additional actions to ensure spending does not exceed its budget."

In short, the letter goes on to say that Logan, who has been receiving speech therapy and developmental special instruction through the Division of Developmental Disabilities, will no longer have these services as of March 13th. The state has cut funding for early intervention, 0-3. I can't express how far Logan has come as a result of his therapies. Now, I'm not sure what will happen. We will of course look into finding a developmental specialist for Logan, but when we looked into it back in May, it was a 6-9 month wait to be seen. Right now, the future is a bit uncertain for our littlest one-and I am both extremely sad and angry. Abandoning the youngest and most helpless in this country is just wrong. My heart goes out to all the families who have been hurt by these recent budget cuts that have left our children behind.

Marie Antoinette Wall Hanging

2009-02-27T08:30:00.004-07:00

Just a quick post before heading out to a playdate at Arrowhead Mall.

I actually finished my project for Bad Girl's Project 52! It's inspired by Sri's project 6, "Off Beat Fun". I had so much fun with this project! I was able to use so many fun techniques, but my favorite was altering the fork. Here is a quick look at the project-I will add some more detail shots later this afternoon.