Saturday, November 30, 2013

Magazine Inspiration Monday

Crazy busy this week but I wanted to complete this. There is much more I could have done to it but time is running out. Steph's inspiration at Papercrafterscorner


My card. When I saw the cut piece of pie it made me think of missing someone at dinner.




Thursday, November 28, 2013

With Thankful Hearts

We are so thankful for the adults our children have become.

Jennifer has a phD and is a Research Assoc. with the Dept of Ed. for the State of Arizona! She started dating Shawn last year and on October 20th they got engaged! He is a sweet southern gentleman who adores our daughter.

Rob is putting his computer degree to use at Grand rapids COmmunity College although a new job looms on the horizon after the first of the year. He just bought a house on nov 4th! The process was maybe more scary and nerve wracking than he let on! He and Beth started dating a year ago (they dated in high school). Beth is very down to earth and keeps Rob grounded.

I am so proud of each of them!


Put this sketch from letsGetSketchy to good use!







Also linking this up with CreativeEmbellishments November Challenge. Here is the inspiration picture


Also entering this in the Frosted Designs 11 Item Challenge. From the list, I used a tag, flowers, layers. 

Monday, November 25, 2013

Video Inspiration

I have been watching Andrea Walford's  Art Journal Express videos and I cannot tell you how much I adore them! Andrea manages to break down every detail of her page and make it look so easy! i love the inspiration and tonight as soon as I finished watching the video, I got out my one journal book to complete a page. A stencil and paint for the background. Washi tape and a stamped image. Quick and easy.

Andreas' page

My page

I really try too hard when I create. I drive myself crazy questioning every decision. I love that these videos can allow me to just create. And, yes, I am just lifting but in time my hope is that I can create on my own and more importantly, not be afraid to try!

Thank you so much Andrea!

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Mr. Fixit

Rob's house had a few minor issues that required fixing. To do that he needed Dad's help! We headed  there on a Saturday afternoon with all the necessary tools to recess the light at the foot of the stairs. I do think Rob is learning some new skills!

I played along with Sketchy Saturday over at SWAT. Here is the Pagemaps Sketch which I rotated.



I have a few hand made feathers.

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

May Arts Ribbon

 May Arts Ribbon  has challenges where they give you the ribbon to create a wonderful project which  are then voted on. I submitted an idea for the Christmas Craft Ribbon  Challenge



and  LOOK WHO MADE HE LIST
  • Abby Henderson
  • Aimee Foley
  • Alecia Teague
  • Amy Lynne Lassiter
  • Charity Hotrum
  • Chary Jimenez
  • Dacia Alba
  • Deann McNulty
  • Denise Key
  • Ilina Crouse
  • Jean Marmo
  • Jennifer Hadder
  • Karen Hanson
  • Lisa Fuller
  • Michele Kosciolek
  • Patty Pittala
  • Sandee Setliff ( my good friend from MMM)
  • Sassy
  • Tamiko McCurry ( another good friend  from MMM)
  • Timna Ashbaugh
Now - off to find the piece that inspired me! My aunt made it years ago!

Stay tuned for my project!

Our Old Man

Hard to believe but in a few weeks Bandit is going to be 13!

Love this sketch from Let's Get Sketchy

Used some new Webster's Pages!!

Guess my paper strips were not quite as long as i thought:)

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Artsy Fun

When jen was home in October, I thought it would be fun for her, Beth and I to go to a Wine and Canvas class. Unfortunately, I screwed up the time and we got there about 10 minutes late. I could not sit with the girls who did sit  together so I had to stop my painting and run back to their table to take photos. Jen was not happy with her canvas but it was fun,

Love this sketch from SketchNscrap. It made it quick and easy to scrap the photos from this night!






Sunday, November 17, 2013

Engagement Photos

Of course, as soon as Jen and Shawn were engaged she and I were looking up cool engagement photos. The three of us headed out for a photo shoot. We did not have much time and didn't take as many as we should have.  I used the sketch from Letsgetsketychy






This was one of my fave photos and I wanted to try out my Color Wash collection that i won from Pink Paislee. I wanted the layout to focus on the photo.


 Thanks for stopping by!!

Friday, November 15, 2013

She Said Yes

On Sunday, October 20, my daughter's boyfriend proposed to her. He wanted to go to our downtown because he thinks it is so pretty. (They live in Phoenix, far away from michgan!)  He had talked to Jen's dad the day before. We walked on one of the trails by the river and were taking photos near an overlook. He turned her around to look at the river, then got down on his knee. She knew he was probably going to propose but had no idea it was going to be that day. I was furiously taking photos. He was sweet to include us and her brother in the moment.

Little yellow Bicycle Feels Like Home was perfect for this inspirational challenge over at Creative Embellishments

Here is thier inspiration
Here is my layout



This is not a typical Thankful layout but we were very THANKFUL that Shawn included both us and Jen's brother in this special day. He chose to propose to her in our hometown while they were here visiting from Phoenix.   He knew he wanted it to be downtown by the river which was so pretty this time of year. He spun her around and got down on one knee. We are THANKFUL that our daughter found such a kind, caring gentleman to spend the rest of her life with. 

Give a Gift

The current Friday challenge over at Frosted Designs is to Give a Gift. The challenge is to incorporate gift - in a layout, to make a gift, etc. I had this little muslin bag hanging around so I thought I would turn it into a bag for a gift card. I used some stamping and scraps to decorate it.


Sorry for the shadow! Kind of dark this morning:)



Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Am I an Artist??

Tracy challenged us at Mixed media Mondays to embrace ourselves as artists. I think I laughed out loud. Pretty sure no one thinks of me as an artist - most of all myself. Then I actually starting looking up the definition and searching articles for "Who is an Artist". Low and behold, in some strange way, I am an artist.

My writing is as follows--

An artist can be defined as a person who produces paintings or drawings as a profession or hobby. If that is the case, then I can be called an Artist.  I create something that has not existed before. Each time is new, different. And while it may never hang in the louvre, it has given me joy and pleasure, I need to accept the act that each of these creations is art and I am indeed an Artist!

Who knew!!

Monday, November 11, 2013

November Dare

Time for this month's November dare over at Tracy's .This month the dare is about Gratitude and using a color palette.

I chose this fall palette. I was drawn to the deeper colors.

 I tried a new technique demonstrated by my friend Sandee on Frosted Designs Sundays with Sandee. Sandee showed how you can can use wax paper to create a fun background affect with sprays and mists. I used the wax paper over book paper to create my flower petals. I chose to complete my page on a piece of kraft paper and I did not do anything to the background before I painted. I found this wonderful quote on Pinterest.





Saturday, November 9, 2013

I will be attending


Every year over at D's Paper Studio she has a 12 Days of Home for the Holidays. Lots of inspiration and guests as well as the chance to win prizes. She would love for you to join her!


Friday, November 8, 2013

Pumpkin Hunting

Both of my kids were home this year in October ( my daughter lives in Arizona but was here for a wedding). So,  I declared Sunday October 20 as family pumpkin hunting day! I love keeping traditions such as this alive!

I used the sketch over at Lifepaperscrapbook

Here is my layout

Loving Authentique Autumn!! Perfect for this!

Once I got Started

So I had an idea for this week's Monday Magazine Inspiration Challenge from Papercrafterscorner and once I got started ....... I could not stop!!

Here is the inspiration

And here is my art journal page

I cut wing shapes from book text and went to town with my Faber Castell Gelatos. Since I gessoed the paper first, they spread very easily. Then I got out pens, stamps, paint and started working. I love the colors I ended up with!

Thanks Steph for another great week of inspiration!

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Keeping the Family Tradition Alive

I  LOVE the family traditions such as pumpkin hunting that I have managed to keep alive each and every year. For the past several years, Jen has been in Phoenix so Rob has indulged me and trouped off to the pumpkin patch for the hunt and necessary photos. How convenient that jen was home this year for a wedding so i planned a family pumpkin hunting outing! We went to a farm we had never been too and although the pickings were quite slim, we did get our pumpkins and I got my traditional photos!


Using this sketch from Letsgetsketchy
Here is my layout

This is my daughter and her boyfriend. Loving this Authentique paper!Also entering this in Scrapourstash
6 x 6 challenge. My 6 embellishments are wood pieces,



Monday, November 4, 2013

Do You Need a Challenge??

Do you need a challenge? Lacking inspiration?? You need to look no further than the Magazine Monday Inspiration over at Papercrafterscorner. Every week, my friend, Stephanie, posts inspiration from a magazine. Here is this week's

Here is what Stephanie has to say:

First, if those happy colors don’t cheer you up, I don’t know what would!
Second, the 60s & 70s era colors are just too cool, man.
Third, the variety of fonts, shapes and layouts should make it easy for everyone to find at least one thing that lights their creative fire.
And finally, these four being shown together demonstrates how you can use the same basic layout (framed drawing/illustration surrounded by a solid color and topped off with a bold header) and add different colors and elements to create a variety of moods and communicate different stories.

What do you think?
Will this week’s cover selection be a challenge or easy for you?
Whatever inspires you this week, we can’t wait to see what YOU create!

This week’s magazine covers are loaded with inspiration:
  • Color Combinations
  • Hiding the Main Theme (The Happy Mag for Kids) Among the Other Elements
  • Doodles
  • Illustrations
  • Patterns and Shapes
  • Typeface Options
  • Framing
  • or perhaps something else spoke to you?
The deadline for submitting your papercraft projects is Saturday at midnight (central). That means you have five full days to create, submit and WIN! And, as a reminder, this papercrafting challenge is not just open to cards or scrapbook layouts (which have both been popular entry categories), but to ALL papercrafted creations! - See more at: http://papercrafterscorner.com/blog/papercrafting-inspiration-magazine-mondays-week-twenty-nine/#sthash.mVmolOJS.dpuf


The rules

Go create something - any papercraft project – based on this week’s inspiration (above) Come back to this post and leave a comment, including a link to where you’ve posted your papercraft creation, before midnight (central time) on Saturday, November 9th, 2013 Check back often to see what others have created and posted (and show your fellow papercrafters love by commenting on their creations!) - See more at: http://papercrafterscorner.com/blog/papercrafting-inspiration-magazine-mondays-week-twenty-nine/#sthash.mVmolOJS.dpuf


Did we mention that there is a prize?? One lucky winner will win a prize!!!

So I hope you are inspired and join in on the Magazine monday Inspiration Challenge!!! I will be getting started on mine very soon so stay tuned to see what I do. 


I am Back but will be Leaving:):)