How many ways….

Can I say 

I love you????

This layout was created using paper

from the January kit from

Swirlydoos.

It was also inspired by a layout in the book

Art of Layers by Ronda Palazzari

The background paper is from Authentique.

After distressing and tearing it the edges were inked

with Frayed Burlap distress ink. 

The ink pad was randomly swiped over the paper as well 

picking up some of the fold lines.

Kaisercraft die cuts from my stash were layered under

the photo along with a large doily.

More of the die cuts were used around the page

spelling out words of

endearment.

Washii tape was layered under the folds and tears in some spots.

Prima resin pieces and Prima e-line flowers were clustered 

onto the page.

The center of each flower was filled with Glossy Accents 

and then small beads from my stash.

A piece of blue twine also from the January kit

was looped and trailed from the upper to bottom of the page.

Each end was stapled on and 

Glossy Accents was used in a few other spots to keep 

my loops in place.

Stamping using a Club Scrap script stamp and more Frayed Burlap ink.

I stamped randomly across the page and even onto

some of the embellishments.

The is some subtle misting with

Crushed Shells glimmer mist by

Tattered Angels.

It's really hard to see but trust me…

it's there.

I wish you all a happy weekend….

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

The Documented Life…I'm finally caught up

Whew…

I'm finally caught up on my

Documented Life planner, 

now all I have to do is sit back and wait for the new challenges 

to be issued.

This is the planner I am using.

It's last years so I am hoping a lot of what I have written in it

will be incorporated into my art this year.

The pages are thin so it will be a challenge

(one that me and my trusty gallon of Gesso will meet head on)

but already I am loving the art I have added to the insides.

To cover my cover I first added a layer of Gesso over the vinyl.

While it was wet I placed some sewing pattern paper down

and added another light layer of Gesso.

All the color comes from Silk's Acrylic Glazes.

These paints are semi transparent, go on like a dream,

and dry super quick.

Right now they are definitely my "go to" for paint.

The title is from some more old rub ons in my stash…

Remember I'm using it up this year ;)

The numbers are chipboard and are covered with Silk's as well.

Like I said these paints are a dream…

one coat and the numbers were covered.

Stencils from Crafter's Workshop and Stencil Girl stencils

help add pattern and depth to my cover.

While I like to work in bulky layers a lot I intentionally kept

this fairly flat.

I'm thinking with all the yummy art I will be adding

in the end it will be chunky enough.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Destination Unknown and an announcement…..

First off the announcement…

I'm super excited to announce that I have been chosen as one of the 

Design Team members for

Craft Hoarders Anonymous

I can't wait to start my term as I probably fall into the 

title more than I can to admit.

I hope that you will soon be joining me and the other designers

Tammi Bennett

Pam Bray

Glenda Brooks

Christy Butters

Kathy Clement

Jan Marie Ennenga

Donna Idlet

Amber Milone

Ginny Nemchak

Debbie Seyer

Gloria Stengel - Blog Owner

Karen Zueger

as we slowly but surely bust through our stash.

and now…

Onto today's share

This is my oldest riding bikes in Kiawah.

I took the photo as I was also riding a bike, trying to balance,

AND snap a photo.

I was just messing around with this layout. No specific reason as

to why it's done.

The base paper is from Teresa Collins.

Some vintage papers, sewing pattern and canvas strips were 

applied randomly across it then swiped with a credit card full of Gesso.

As the Gesso was drying I misted it with several colors from both

Lindy's Stamp Gang and Tattered Angels.

Once it was all dry I did some random stamping with stamps

from Prima and Hero Arts using Archival ink.

The flowers were all from the box where I throw leftovers from packages

into.

The white crotched doilies under the photo are from Prima.

Each of the flowers received some bling in the center using up another

half open package.

Thanks for stopping by today and have a great day!

Drop me a note: The Documented Life week 3

The week 3 challenge has been issued for

The Documented Life project

January 12 Challenge (Week Three) -  Add an envelope from your mailbox. Get creative and add the whole envelope or parts of the envelope.  Journal on it, write notes on it or use it as a pocket!

I save everything so had a bunch of envelopes to choose from.

In the end I chose a vintage one over a newer one.

I think the postmark on it said 1966 (before I was even born)

and the smaller size was perfect to hang off the edge a bit 

and hold a tag with journaling on it.

I first covered the page with vintage papers and

Tim Holtz Washii tape.

Then some stamps I have saved over the years off of letters received.

A thin layer of Gesso then color added with NeoColor II crayons.

Some stamping with StazOn ink and postmark stamps.

With this close up you can see some of the postage stamps and tape.

The little tag came attached to an RAK from a crafty friend.

I LOVE getting happy mail like that and had to incorporate it

into the page.

The circle number is for today's date.

The envelope is added on with more tape.

Little letters were glued down and then outlined 

with a Sharpie.

With the envelope and tag hanging out a bit from the page I am beginning to add character 

to my planner.

Along with the tags and what is yet to come my edges should be just

as fun as the inside.

Make sure to check out the Facebook page

and see how others have interpreted this challenge.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Swirlydoos Round Robin week 2

It's my turn to create a page for the 

Swirlydoos Round Robin challenge.

This has to be one of my favorite challenges. It's the scrappy version

of the game Telephone that we used to play as kids.

It's so fun to see how the pages evolve after each lift.

The twist this month was to incorporate something NEW.

New beginnings, new additions, new techniques…

you get the idea.

My page is the of the oldest. 

This week she transferred colleges and is starting at a new school.

While she is an old hand now at this college thing it's still a new adventure,

with new challenges and experiences.

I hope she enjoys it.

My page was created using the 

Gilted Pleasure Swirlydoos kit from Sept 2013.

To make my photo work with the papers I changed it to sepia, blurred the edges and printed it out on canvas paper.

Clusters of Petaloo flowers, Petaloo butterflies, gems and Prima wood pieces were 

scattered across the page.

There is Modeling Paste through a Crafter's Workshop stencil and

Buccaneer Bronze mist from Lindys' Stamp Gang.

A bit of burlap trim from Canvas Corp adds some more texture to the page.

Make sure to head over to Swirlydoos and see what others have created for week 2.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

What you see

What you see is what you get….

I'm totally caught up on my Documented Life journal.

Week 2's challenge was to incorporate a selfie.

This was harder than it sounds, I am the one always taken the pictures never the subject of them.

That is something I would like to change in 2014.

The background started as a recycled Gelli Print.

Stamping and stenciling went over it. I cut out my picture and used

another piece of recycled painted paper towel (can you tell I save everything)

to layer over the bottom of my photo and sort of incorporate it into the page.

I then used some Ranger Distress Paint dabbers and randomly applied paint in spots.

Some number Washii tape and more stamping.

Keeping with my goal to use my handwriting in my work I 

wrote what I was feeling.

With me you tend to always know where you stand.

(somedays it's a good thing to be blunt others not so much)

Finally the big title is an old Rub on.

Another goal is to really use up what I have in my craft room.

I can't keep buying and not use what I already have, so here we go.

Boy every time I work I think of a new crafty goal…

up to 3 now

Handwriting

self photos

use stash

What else will I decide I need to do as the year goes on?

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

The Documented Life

I was browsing Pinterest the other day when I

stumbled across a link for a 52 week Art Journaling

challenge called

The Documented Life.

In it you are challenged to recycle an old planner (or make a new one), 

and every Sunday a new prompt/challenge is issued.

Challenges are here

https://arttothe5th.squarespace.com

and here

https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedocumentedlifeproject/

I am jumping in a little bit late but will catch up as I can.

I am recycling a 2013 planner with really thin pages which will provide a challenge as I go as the pages are much thinner than I usually work with.

The cover is a work in progress so I will share that at a later date.

For now I have the first challenge done.

Through the artistic medium of your choice, show us a bit of where you live in the symbol of your door, entryway or porch. Think a bit about how you can use your door to express your personality, your life, what you value.

and here is what I came up with...

The page was covered with painted paper towels and some stamping.

For my front door I cut it out a bit, sanded the edges the after adhering it

to my page added some Modeling Paste to incorporate it into the textured background.

Silks acrylic paint was used to color the paste once it was dry.

Stamping was added for more design.

The number stickers were sanded for a bit of distressing.

My journaling is

"How many adventures await through this door?"

I can't wait to see what the rest of the year brings in challenges.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day.