Hair Today

Good Tuesday Morning! How does this day find you? I'm starting to get some energy back; which is a very good thing. My little boy has his first day of Pre School in exactly three weeks. He has a school supply list! I'm not yet done crossing things off and any day I can summon the drive to pick up four rolls of paper towels will be greatly valued.... I could babble about all that for a while, so I won't. Instead, I'll share a sketch and a page with you. After being encouraged a few times by friends and family, I've started creating my version of a book about my time fighting cancer. Of course, the only way I could get myself to do any real writing was to create a visual aid to go with it. Ergo, I'm compiling an album that will include LOTS of journaling tucked behind the pages. One of the first pages I've made is based on this sketch:



It can be found on the blog for Sweet Peach Crop Shop -- along with loads of other fun ideas. Here is my take on the sketch:


One of the first pages I've made for my album is about my hair. I've purposely left the photos behind because I am going through a vain and highly non-photogenic phase.... Like when the moon is in the seventh house and all you want to do is eat chocolate and maybe clean your house twenty times... Yeah, that kind of phase. There is journaling in the frame, but I used a silver pen that came with the SPCS kit so it's hard to see here.

Some close ups?


This chipboard butterfly is also in the SPCS kit. I soaked the top layer in Glimmer mist, added three bits of bling to the body (also kit) and painted the bottom piece PLUS a layer of Rock Candy.



The stamps are from a RAK I received from a challenge at Bella's Creation. I was giddy to finally have a page to use them on. So rarely do I create a feminine page and these little fellas have been BEGGING to be used for so long.

Okay, I could still babble on and on, but I won't. It should be a busy day with a nap sprinkled here and there. Thanks for stopping by and having a look-see! I hope to be able to share even more, soon.

Bella Creations Tiny Dancer Tag

Good Thursday Morning! I thought I'd pop in quickly to put something pretty in this space. Many of you know already that I have a special love for the site, Bella Creations. It's such a rich source of inspiration for any kind of crafting you enjoy. If you haven't heard of them yet, I encourage you to check them out!

In the month of July, they've had loads of amazing challenges. I'm still working on some, but I'm pretty pleased with the tag I created, thanks to the Oh La La group.


The image of the weary ballerina is courtesy of Gecko Galz Scrapbooking -- loads of stunning digital images! At first, I found myself wondering why she was so tired; perhaps she danced just a little too much that evening. Perhaps she's been burning the candle at both ends, like so many Super Women on this rock. This sounds like a few of my closest friends.

Over the course of a few days, I thought about this image and my friends. Eventually, my thoughts lighted on a song by Cage the Elephant. It seemed a perfect fit; especially since one of my candle-burning friends has been telling me for fifteen years, "I'll sleep when I'm dead." This lead me to insert a piece inside the tag; just for her.


Below, I found the song on You Tube. If you like your music punky, I encourage you to click and enjoy for a few.

....It could be argued that this is a darker take on the challenge. I think I'd agree. I've been in a dark/funny/fighter frame of mind for a while now. It keeps me going.

Quite an Honor!

This is quite an honor for me! Yesterday, I was so touched to see that I had been chosen as a Bella du Jour (Bella of the Day) at Bella Creations. I was feeling more confident that my poor head was taking a break from migraines and seeing this award gave me great reason to smile.

What is a Bella du Jour? Essentially, this is one of the many ways Lacee and the Bella Design Team show their appreciation for the OVER 200 members of Bella Creations. It's a Caught-Being-Good Award. It's something very pretty to share among friends.

This is also an award very specific to members of Bella Creations. It's not a simple copy/paste onto your own blog. Want it? It's simple, really!


1) Have a love of paper crafting and/or learing new things to create and share with loved ones.

If scrapbooking isn't your thing, check out The Impressionists group. OR Transformed Art (because I can't type all Frenchified at this exact second).

Like working small? Check out 2AMScrapper's ATC (Artist Trading Cards) group, Ohlala.

Feel like creating projects and swapping them out? Join the Sisterhood Swap group.

Want to get a head start on Christmas? Hey, there's snow on the ground in Michigan, so it's not that big of a stretch! Head over to Sandi's Jingle Bella's group.

Feel shoppy? Check out the Market Place.

Like ink? Micupoftea's Voila, Ink! Group has loads of great tutorials and ideas.

There are five more tabs that I'm working on creating links for right now. I'm certainly NOT going to snub a single one of the groups; but you can get the idea already that there are so many avenues to explore, if you're in the mood to create. Bella Creations has some inspiration for you.


Head on over and check out Bella Creations. Join. Become a Member. Dip in your toes, say "Hello." Tell them that cooky crazy Mama woman sent you over; told you how awesome they are.

Because they are.

Oh! And if you like participating in fun challenges, they've got loads of those, too.

It's all so much fun.

They are all so friendly.... and supportive.... and creative.... and inspiring.... and amazing.

Yes, I mean it.

I really really do; as much as I mean that I want a bar of spicy chocolate, a glass of syrah and a nap right about now. On that note, with that many clues, I bid you adieu.

So go. Clicky! Clicky!

Make My Way

Good Friday Afternoon! While I might not have my Friday Finds polished off and ready to post YET, I do have something to share. It's a cathartic part of why I haven't been combing the blogosphere for cool new things:


See, I'm *this* close to meeting my weight loss goals for a healthier life. Just after Christmas, 2009, I decided it was time to take off the 80 pounds I had gained over the few years before that. Now, I've lost 70 of those 80 and I feel purty durn cool about myself. I can tell that the last ten pounds is going to be a struggle. In part because I've decided they are going to be a struggle. In part because I'm just plain old comfortable and content saying that I weigh 170 lbs (at 5'9" tall). I've lost that bit of drive....but I haven't lost ALL my drive. I've still seen my mirror image. I still want to work on lifting things up, toning things down and looking like some version of whatever "hot mama" means to me. I also want to fit into the remaining size 12 clothing that I didn't give away to a friend of mine many years ago. My goals have shifted from the simple to the complex. As long as I understand that; and that I'm still looking to progress, I'm okay with the shift. I'm even okay that it seems to have taken me a few weeks to realize what it is that I now want and outline how to get it. Now to... get it!

It helped quite a bit to create this page and solidify my thoughts. A lot of details went into it; like this sketch from Creative Scrappers:



Also, I was inspired by the March Tres Chic challenge at Bella Creations. To quote the criteria, "...create something/anything in a vintage style....use the colors Navy blue, khaki, white You must use theses elements: a vintage inspired image, metal embellie, ticket." When I first started working on the page I could have sworn the color combination was navy, BROWN, khaki and black. I wud wrong; but I think I had covered up my lack of reading skill.... sorta. The vintage-inspired image is the circle of sheet music; which I found on (I believe) the Graphics Fairy. The metal pieces are all from Tim Holtz:



The ticket is an image that was shared by Micupoftea in her Violia Ink group (also at Bella Creations). I FINALLY had a moment of clarity and incorporated it into the page. The original sketch only had a couple circles, but obviously I added more and turned one of the intended circles into my journal spot -- to keep my goals clear and understood.



The scrabble tile images were shared by Scrapperlicious on her blog many moons ago. After printing off the paper images, I decided to attach them to small squares of Grunge Paper to give them a little something more. Also, I'm starting to finally dwindle down on my stash of Technique Tuesday Technique Tiles -- the bracket frame. I layered the white chipboard with a good coating of Distress Ink, then Glimmer Mist. Back when I was sure I needed to add brown, the three brown gems made more sense. And, of course, the paper is Bo Bunny's Mamarazzi line. I loved the quote strip and figured I needed to keep that as a reminder as well.

And I DARE NOT forget! The title itself is the title of a song by the band, Blues Traveler. I've had an intense love of their music since I was 16. It's always plucked at the right strings of my soul to help me figure out what's bothering me and how to fix it. Just like this song suggests, I'm trying to make my way. I found the song on You Tube and thought I'd share it with my readers as well (assuming my limited techie ways are correct):



Now, I'm curious to know if the video link worked, so I'm going to thank you now for taking the time to read.

Bella Muse Meets 30 Days of Lists

Good Sunday Evening! I wanted to make a quick post about two projects that collided earlier today. I'm quite pleased with the result.... as far as first attempts at a new project go.

.... Okay, I feel like one of those adorable little Kindergarteners that proudly shows off their artwork to Mom and Dad saying, "I made this!" Humor me and my silly nervous ways!



It's a couple things in one. The image is this month's Bella Muse inspiration. I wanted to add it to my last Friday Finds, but evidently I went spacey for a day and could not, for the life of me, figure out how to correctly save the image onto my computer. A day later, I was smart enough to figure out how to print it. I distressed the edges and inked them with Distress Ink. I also (initially) decided that I would add Stickles to her lips and the cherries that were hanging from them....... It wound up looking so disturbing that I cringed every time I looked at it. I thought it was doomed.

Since the image (and the first idea of making a card) could potentially be sacked, I thought I might try to salvage it all by adding the image to a book cover. In this case, it's the stripped corrugated packaging that snuggled one of my Slice dies. I painted the cardboard blue and ran the same Distress ink along the bumps that I had used on the image. But then what would the book be about? *insert crickets chirping here*

It seemed like all might be lost again until, I went hopping around the blogosphere this morning and discovered 30 Days of Lists. I find calm and focus in making lists and creating organization on paper....even if it doesn't always manifest beyond the paper. It could also be a great spot to come back to in later projects. And my book finally had a purpose! From there I was able to add a grunge element label piece that had been used for mist masking months ago, a couple Fancy Pants brads and part of the brad packaging from a Making Memories set to create the title spot, "List This." The Prima flowers at the top have been in my stash for over a year now. It's time they came out to play.

....And my book is having a hard time staying together! * insert lone horn playing waa waa waaaaaaaaa* I need to go shopping for fasteners, but don't know when that will ever happen. For now, it's jerry-rigged and I'm not showing that off. I'm in the middle of a "learning experience" that shall remain invisible until I figure it all out.

But, I still dig my book cover and tonight, that's what matters.

Now, to try my hand at some ATC's.....

Friday Finds 7: Mostly, the Challenge Issue

Good Friday Morning! As promised, I have some fun finds today. A few of them are from sites that I've never really highlighted on my blog before. Yay for something new! I realized as I was lining up the sites for linkage that there were a lot of challenges that I was sharing today. Most run for the entire month so there's plenty of time to fit them into a purty packed schedule.

Ready? Great! Now, let's start with one that is so not a challenge because I live for contradiction.

* Mandy, who runs an amazing blog by the name of For Scrapping Out Loud is hosting a Dusty Attic giveaway. Check these out:


I'm digging them because there appears to be more space on these to have even more fun. The buttons were what drew me in. I've used up pretty much all of my circular chipboard stash and like to design my own buttons.

And for the challenges:

ARTastic Challenge Blog is a site I've visited long ago. It looked fun, but made my newbie head swim. I stumbled upon it again this past week and really like their colorful prompt for March. Check out their blog for all the details:



Scrapbookers Anonymous is suggesting the use of at least 7 flowers on your layout this month. The stipulation is that they are pre-packaged. Considering I'm still trying to use up my flowers from last Mother's Day, this appeals to me.

ScrapFIT is another site I found very early in my blogdom, but felt overwhelmed by. In March, however, it's an easy challenge -- bling it up, baby!

Now, you had to know that I'd share at least a little of Bella's Creations! It's a new month and they've got new challenges. I've already shared their color challenge -- yesterday's post -- but there's more!

They have introduced a new monthly challenge in March; Bella Unique. In the unique challenge, they plan to introduce a new technique for their members to try. Currently, they've introduced "Selective Colorization." Because I want you to go read and enjoy, I'll leave it at that. But I will say it looks so flippin' cool that I'm just waiting and plotting for a moment to capture on camera so I can do this.

They are also bringing back the Tres Chic challenge with a focus on Vintage projects. This month, they are sponsored by the kit club Scraps of Darkness as well. Go check it out!

Drat! It sounds like my time is up. Guess I'd better get my coloring and painting game together! Thanks for visiting!

Tormented Artist as Inspired by Bella Creations Nuances de Couleur

Good Thursday Afternoon! I hope this afternoon finds you as well and happy as I am. I have my usual beginning-of-the-month pep and my health is returning so I thought it was time to feed my passions... and evidently stir some long-lost loves in my son's own heart, to boot!

This is what I've spent the last 24 hours obsessing about:


It's my submission for the March Nuances de Couleur at Bella Creations. The challenge is to use the colors brown, orange, green and yellow. It's also required to include a stamped image and pop-dot something on the project. Considering the fact that I'm in a very Crayola-8-pack frame of mind, this should have been easy peasy! Once I got going, it was, but I also wanted to at least try and create something that would fit in the Bella Gallery at the same time. If you want a serious case of the wow's, go check out the gallery. Amazing, yes? They know how to set a bar!

At any rate, I wanted to show off a few of the details that I'm pleased with; like the skull and crossbones. It's the last of my Tim Holtz Grungeboard skull elements. I haven't been able to find them lately; and I don't really want to buy a package with everything to have extras of other stuff. I need a die cut of some sort because this is my favorite element to add. *sigh* I painted this one orange and then used Basic Grey Archaic stamps. I added a couple pieces of Prima E-Line bling to the eyes and used my last brown flourish from Steffanie.


Here's a close-up of the pop-dotting on the skull. I know it can be tricky to detect sometimes.


I was just proud of myself for deciding on a few Prima flowers to add. Mainly, they satisfy some odd need to add flowers to Tim Holtz tickets. It's just one of my "things" lately.




If you're still wondering what drove me to create this page, I'll dish. Two nights ago, we were present for my mom's unboxing of some Polish stoneware she had ordered (her current obsession). Two of the boxes looked so nice and clean and white and unlike the normal brown taped-up boxes. She planned on tossing them, but I couldn't bear to let such great potential go to waste. I painted one red for my son to house his growing marker collection (you know, The Rainbow Master).

He so enjoyed decorating that box that he wanted to paint the other all on his own; and I let him. Somehow, I also ignited his love of painting things. He made up and sang songs about being an artist; painting the box green; you name it! When it was all done, he wanted to paint another. I had no other. He moped and whined for about an hour; so very heartbroken that his painting was now done.

....Until this afternoon; when we discovered another box from another Polish stoneware shipment.


And that's all I have for now. I've already started the Friday Finds post for tomorrow and looking forward to posting it. Thanks for looking and have a good day!

Friday Finds 3: The Bella Creations Edition

Good Friday Morning! I've found quite a few pretty pretties to share with you this week. There was a little bit here and a little bit there, but a few of them have been from one site; Bella Creations. This site formed at the end of 2010. I might be wrong, but I believe the main goal was to keep a large group of close crafty friends together. They continue to support each other each day and the site has boomed like you wouldn't believe! Seriously, it's THAT amazing! There are groups for:

Hand-Made Embellishments
Christmas
Crafty News
Altered Art
Sketches
Chat
Swaps
Cards
Color Combination
Collage
Inking Techniques
Mini Albums
Clip Art
Tag/Bookmark/Etc

There's even a market place where one can share items they've made for sale! It's easy to spend an entire day socializing, perusing the gallery AND becoming inspired to make something totally awesome all by yourself!

The Design Team also hosts monthly challenges. If you click on the link above (or even any of the three pretty images to the right of this blog) you can find them in the forums AND posted in the groups. However, if you still need to see something, take a look at....

February Bookmark Challenge in Oh La La: The Group Leader has posted an amazing example of the fun one can have with the image supplied. Normally, I hesitate to create anything that isn't a 12x12 scrapbook page. It's where I started and what I'm most comfortable with. This time, evidently, I had some fun because not only did I make one. I LIKE IT and I took a picture of it.


Still need more motivation? If you read the information in the Challenge post (linked above) you'll see that there will be a random winner who will have the chance to select an ephemera sheet to have as his/her very own from Gecko Galz (aka, the sponsors of this challenge and creators of the bunny image here!)

If bunnies aren't your thing, maybe you'd like to participate in the February Bella Muse Challenge. Lacey has shared an adorable image that one can use on any project their heart desires.



If you choose to enter your submission, there will be a random winner selected for this beautiful package (The January kit from Scraps of Darkness):


Pretty, huh?

And one more? How about the February Tres Chic Challenge? Try a new style, or revel in one you already love. Try Shabby Chic! Use the colors of creme, pink and turquois. Incorporate at least one flower. Add some ribbon or lace. Apply a pearl. There will be a random draw for this prize, should you choose to participate:



Okay, one last, I swear! But, really, there's awesomeness around every corner at Bella Creations. You really should take some time and check it out for yourself. If you like being creative and crafty, it truly is a place to enjoy! If you're into sketches, this month's sketch challenge is to use this fun one:



So, if you're feeling inspired, what are you waiting for? Come on over and have some fun!

By Way of Mental Note:

Wow! That title reminded me of even more than I wanted it to. I had an idea last Saturday to create a weekly feature on my blog, Friday Finds. In part, I hoped the blog would be a way for me to post something new at least once each week because I'd make myself post a bunch of cool links and fun stuff each Friday for everyone else to check out in turn. In part, it's just fun to share. We all travel in slightly different directions through the blogosphere and web. Why not share something potentially new and different?

.....Why not make this my first Friday Find? Afterall, I'm about to share a link and source of inspiration. Wasn't that my plan all along?

Okay, so first up: Punky Scraps is a site I've only begun to loosely follow. I've gathered that they have a Friday Challenge and they seem to lean a bit more to the rough and tumble of life. This appeals to me. I focus most of my scrapping on my son and my husband. Both my husband and I have an affection for heavy metal and rock music. This week's challenge is to gain inspiration from this quote:



Oof! I know, but it appeals to me.

Next: Maximum Embellishment, is a blog by Sandi. I discovered her via the blog roll over at Bella's Creations. She has been frequently sharing THEE CUTEST Valentine images lately. I've marked a couple to use in cards pretty soon but I'll wait to disclose which when I see that I like how they turned out.

And: Frosted Designs has been putting forth amazing Friday Challenges all their very own. I just wish I was able to participate more often. This week's challenge is to use vellum, transparencies or acryllic on your project. For better details, check out their blog here.

Want a good laugh? Check out Hyperbole and a Half. Her blogs are the epitome of brilliance!

Sketches in Thyme has a gorgeous sketch this week:



Feel inspired? Create and share your page with Sketches In Thyme. Upload for a chance to win a really cool goodie package.

Kelly Goree shared a super cool link for a chance to win some embossed Coordinations card stock. Interested? Click on her name to learn more. Hurry! Your chances end with this evening.

And one final share: a blogger by the name of Bitch Cakes has been inspiring me and getting me to think more about my own food choices. She's a Weight Watcher and she reached Lifetime a while ago. This week she shared a great recipe for a new take on fries....using delicata squash. Looks good and I'm trying to find this variety in my own local produce sections so I can give it a try.

I don't know about you, but that's a lot of information, isn't it? I don't think I'll always have so many finds, but I'd say this is a pretty good start. Until next time!

Sibs

Good Afternoon! I know, it sorta seems like I'm a blogging fool, huh? If it worries you, rest assurred it's only temporary. I'm loving the reveals at Maya Road....and Prima....and Tim Holtz. In fact, I'd love to share my faves from Prima and Mr. Holtz soon, too. I've already warned my loving and supportive husband that there will be a time coming when I have a solid case of the "I wants".

Despite those moments, I DO have a page that I wanted to share and I FINALLY got out the camera and took a few photos of it. The main inspiration comes from a color challenge at Bella Creations -- use only blue, brown, beige and salmon. Salmon was the tricky color to come up with, but this is what I've created:



The paper is Bo Bunny Mama Razzi (still loving this line). It's based on a 2010 sketch from Page Maps. Since I'm kinda geeked that I got this photographed and ready to share, I've also missed the step in saving the exact sketch to my computer....and have temporarily forgotten exactly which month. My bad...

The photo is based on a much crisper scanned version my family received from extended branches a few weeks ago. I say "based on" because I thought I'd play a bit with the photo. It's printed on shimmery cardstock; so when you look at it in person it glitters. That was a complete accident but pretty all the same. The children in the photo are (left to right) my Aunt Carol, my Uncle Tom and my Dad. Of course, I had to zoom in on my Dad:



This little beauty is a piece of Dusty Attic chipboard. I won this (and many more astounding pieces) as blog candy from an amazing artist commonly known as CraftySprinkles. She also has an etsy (where you can get some amazing Dusty Attic all your own) right here. I inked this piece with Momento Ink. The piece beneath it is cut from the Bo Bunny Mamarazzi collection.



both flowers are Prima. The one below is a Winter Rose...that was too clean for this page. It was driving me nuts (especially since it was already well attached!) so I found a way to ink the petals (Distressed Ink) and add more sparkle with Distressed Stickles, Straw.



The title alphas are from Cosmo Cricket. Since they match the background so well, I tried to bring more attention to them with a couple Prima Pearls:



The blue flower was created with Prima white flowers (the ones that come in the long tube) and a mix of Glimmer Mist and Distressed Ink on the creases. I also added a Tim Holtz clock face to the center.



And finally, the flower/ribbon embellishment. It is a technique I learned on Helen Croft's blog:



.....And this is all I have for today! Luckily, I've been able to take quite a few photos of some fun family moments lately, so I hope to have even more to share in the weeks to come. But for now, I'm getting excited about a novel I'm reading. It's part of the Dresden Files, as written by Jim Butcher. I blame my husband for getting me hooked on the series...and I think he's okay with that. Maybe that's another page to create, huh?