time is ticking

on more than one occasion i have been asked by non life artist friends how often do i get creative, or how do i have any time to create. these friends know me and that i am a busy mom of four with many activities in and out of my home. what they don't know about me is how needful a thing it is for me to always be in a creative mindset.
if one desires to be creative, one needs to be creative...profound, but true. even with my busy lifestyle, the more i stay creative, the more creative i become. that creativity really fuels me. it, as you well know, can be an addictive source of fulfillment and happiness.
in reality, long stretches of creative time just do not materilize. my go to friend in these moments is my timer. to help me stay accountable, and even challenge myself a bit, i use my timer, quite often, as a matter of fact.
these groups of cards that you see in these photos were done to a 30 minute timer. that is all the time i had, but i also had a need to get a little creative, as well as get some cards made up. i set the timer, had a few limited supplies around, and went to work.
the challenge, then, was sort of two-fold: i had to get a few things done in my 30 minute timeframe, and i had to use up certain scraps. hence the basic grey sticker theme going on there.
ah! i win! the task was accomplished in a timely manner, and i got to clear through a few leftovers, which also helped to clear my mind.
so...in case you missed my challenge to you...here it is: set the timer and get a task done...it can even be just purging a certain corner in your creative space. i am just eager for you to see what can be accomplished in your life as an artist .

here is another 30 minute batch for your viewing pleasure...

this second batch of cards came from the AUG Work In Progress kit...scraps that were left on my table put to good use.


THIS JUST IN...
as a bonus...I am posting the cards I did for the WIP AUG gallery...they did not make the cut so I want to show them to you here.

getting ready...

for today's blog hop at Willow Trader's....

come see what it's all about....

come visit...

over at work in progress...i am guest posting there today and would love for you to come over and say hi!

little cakes

what is it about little cakes? so cute and tiny and edible. when ever i am at the grocery i have to go saunter over by the bakery just to look at the little cakes.

my little cake pictured here is a 6-incher. a very favorite and yummy size, i might add. this particular cake is carrot, by the way, and a gift for my daddy's birthday. just the perfect gift size to give away.

it's cute.

it's yummy.

it's just a whole lot of fun...in a cake.

just wanted to share my little cake with you.

have a great day! and go eat some cake.

woot woot

a little tip of my hat here. the new simply handmade is out and about in stores now, and i have a published item in that there sweet little edition. it's an altered denim yoke skirt i made for my daughter. it looks so great in the magazine. i'm a little beaming with pride...i just had to share.

be back tomorrow...

more blog hopping

Another edition to the blog hopping frenzy goin' on over at Willow Traders. The layout featured here today is also for the LEO challenge using this sketch. For this layout I used only one side and then flipped it. These challenges have really been refreshing to work on. The inspiration continues to fire away and just love it when that is going on.


After I posted this embellishment close up I realized my stickers are pulling up from the paper. A little trick I usually do is to adhere the sticker I am going to be using on some scrap cardstock, and then trim it. That way I can move my sticker around the layout while I fiddle with it. The sticker then does not stick...yet...and I simply use a tape runner to permantly adhere when I am finished.

happy hopping!!!

she had the surf

posting this for the Willow Traders blog hop today. a photo that has been laying around here for over a week. it did not make it in the cut for the August Work In Progress gallery, so it gave me a chance to play with the Making Memories masking tape. O.K...that is an intriguingly fun product. it's real masking tape...with several beautiful and summery prints to them.



i took a cue from the little flags that MM is offering with their Great Escape line and made my own with one of the masking tapes and a pearl top button. easy little embellishment at no extra cost.

now let's see your homemade embellishments!

bonus

it is not in my routine to blog on the weekend...but the girlies over at Willow Traders are blog hopping this weekend, and i just HAD to jump in and play with them. (like that was hard).

yesterday's post is a challenge to do a project that is not within the margins of how one normally creates. and later today i will be back with a post based on inspiration from this inspiring poster, trish.

talk at you then...

NOT my style

This week over at Willow Traders I have been following along in one of their challenges. A prompt is given and then a layout is due in two days following that prompt. One of those challenges was to use a technique. I am not a technique-y kind of gal. I don't usually veer off too much from basic tools and embellishments. But the challenge included the possible use of paint so I went with that. I purposely went outside a normal layout sketch and approach using paint as as a background. This was alot of fun for me, it really was. No rules, no real plan...just going with what came to my mind next.

Now, I would have preferred to use gesso as I am learning about that medium all the time and think it would serve better to not let the cardstock curl. But I did not have any nor the time to go in town to search for it. So, I had to stick with acrylic, which actually worked ok. Using a die cut paper from another stash, that became my mask for me to paint over to give a little bit of a reverse scallop. After laying that down, I took a Zig pen and followed the outline the paint made just to give it a bit more definition and eye pop. This worked well.

Using a traditional wood mount stamp I used a contrasting paint color to add the dots on the bottom right. After daubing the mixed chipboard in paint, I also edged those in the same colored paint as the dots. The butterfly is die cut from an old book page and then painted with a wash of the blue/green paint. Then a perfect pearl button was found in my stash to help accent the butterfly. I liked how that worked. Also using the old book, I cut out words that added to my overall title yet at the same time is fairly subtle. I liked how that worked too. I finished the project by paint stamping a butterfly image on the lower right. Then stamping the same image on a die cut butterfly from the book page. And then layered that on top of the image. Most of this layout was inspired by the artsty work of Amanda Johnson. She has a wonderful fresh way with her layout projects, and she helped to inspire my challenge this week.

My challenge to you this weekend is to go find a layout that is NOT you...and lift it. If you are like me, you lurk around someone's blog or gallery, and oooh and aaah over their design type, but you never dare step out there yourself. Your not alone. Trust me. I play it safe, many times in the simple effort to just 'get it scrapped' and put away, forgetting how fun and rewarding it is to play.
So...go...go play...go have fun...would love to see what you come up with so link me up...

and have a most wonderful weekend.

Today outside my window...

Outside my window...the girls eating breakfast on the patio.

I am thinking...of future plans.

I am thankful for...a day in Boulder yesterday.

From the kitchen...my daughter making her sisters breakfast.

I am wearing...shorts, a tee, and flip flops.

I am creating...always...even if only in my mind.

I am going...to meet with a financial counselor tonight.

I am reading...Art and the Bible by Francis Schaffer.

I am hoping...for some clarity.

I am hearing...soft talk from the patio.

Around the house...it's seemingly very quiet right now.

One of my favorite things...is hiking in the Rocky Mountains.

A few plans for the rest of the week: pool...a day at Cherry Creek swim beach.

My favorite photo today: will have to come back and edit.

Inspired by The Simple Woman's Daybook

the cupcake

Those of you who know me know my love for the brownie. I even made a layout declaring my love for that innocuous square of chocolate delight. However, there is something about devil's food with white buttercream. Maybe it's the supreme joy one experiences when a white frosted cake is cut to reveal deep chocolate cake inside.
Now shrink that reality down to a cupcake. An individual single serving of cake made for one. Well...don't shrink it too much. I'm often frustrated by how small a cupcake actually is at times. Large enough to tempt, but not usually enough to satisfy the need for chocolate currently in my soul. This leads me to a bit of experimentation in the world of cupcake liners.
I just could not get enough to love in the regular cupcake cup. So, I tried parchment squares. Have you seen these in the metro hip bakeries? I just did not get that to work efficiently. Maybe it needed the jumbo muffin pan to hold the paper better. So, on to the large cupcake liners made by Wilton. And you know...I think I like what that yielded. I still made it fit the regular muffin pan, but with the large liners, and a 1/2 cup of batter, this was a perfect proportion...for me, anyway.
In the words of Goldilocks, not too big, not too small, but just right.

design team call

did ya see?





i'm sure you have already...
design team call going on over here...
go check it out...
then go for it!

happy birthday, daddy!

Yesterday was my Dad's birthday. He turned 64. I love my Dad. I love him very much. He is not Superman, or Hercules, or some popular superhero of the day.

He's my Dad.

He's a man of class. He sees a thing, he plans and devises it, and goes after it intent on success.
He's my Dad.
He's a man of God. He's faithful in prayer, belief, hope, and service.
He's a family man. He's at his best when family is near. He serves selflessly. He leads by example.
He's my Dad.
God knew just what I would need, not only as a growing adolescent. But as a women attempting to be a person of God, a mother and wife to her family, a person with some modicum of class.
God knew...
Dad, you have loved me as long as I have lived, but I have loved you my whole life.

Happy Birthday!

a little card play

making cards is getting back to the basics for me. they are truly simple canvases of creativity. back in the day, even late in the elementary age of my life, i loved making cards... sending notes. i forget how satisfying it is to sit and play with the scraps left over on my table, but then when i get in to it again, i just go. below are just a few i have been playing with this week.


recognize the two above? using up july wip pieces that are still laying around. i can't put them away. the scenic route here is so very summery...i really loved those papers.

i am catching up a bit with kristina werner's year in cards class over at 2 peas in a bucket. yeah, i know...why does someone who has been making cards for over 2 decades need a class? because it is just simple fun to see what someonewhat else does and to be told what to do. great jumping off place to be creative without alot of work. make sense? this card was inspired from the march class. i really like the card.

so, this weekend, my challenge to you...make up a couple of cards using up your scraps on your table right now...AND THEN...send them...you know...through the mail, affectionately known as snail mail. make someones day next week by sending them a note of affirmation and love. really...it means so much.

have a beautiful weekend.

today here again

Outside my window...girls playing with their play tea set in the water.

I am thinking...how great summer is and the time to just be.

I am thankful for...a great pool to go play with my kids in.

From the kitchen...flowers fresh picked from the garden from my husband.

I am wearing...black tiered skirt and white tank top.

I am creating...summer layouts with Aug WIP kit.

I am going...to miss summer in a few months.

I am reading...Domino's Home Decorating.

I am hoping...Paul is feeling better after yesterdays ERCP.

I am hearing...Zee Avi online.

Around the house...not too much going on, actually.

One of my favorite things...right now is watching my quirky blond bombshell at age 5 be adoroable.

A few plans for the rest of the week: pool, butterfly pavilion.

My favorite photo today: Gracie getting brave in the water.


Inspired by The Simple Woman's Daybook.

august work in progress reveal

this kit is so very very fun and ready to document all those road trips near and far for the summer. i have so much i wanna say about this kit...but right now summer fun is beckoning me and i must obey...so be back later...here's a eeny teeny bitty sneak...

today

on our way to the pool...again. a daily occurance if we can. enjoying the summer and all it's joy. can you tell it's my favorite time of year? it truly is. always has been even when a little thing. the warm evenings are what i love the most. all the windows open. and here it is usually accompanied by rumbling thunder somewhere off in the horizon. it is just so very comforting to me.
the above little door hanging was made using WIP's july kit. lots of fun stuff still to do with that kit. hope you got yours.

have a fabulous day!

catching up

i posted on facebook today what a slacker i am...being in the midst of vacationing house guests, and a summer routine (um...make that non-routine), i have not been on here posting anything. well, i know that does not truly define me as a slacker, but when i slept until almost 9 a.m. this morning, a thing i just never do, well, then the slacker shoe fit.
so i am going to slowly but gently catch up here in the next few days. as we continue to enjoy the fabulous season that is summer, i still love to take a few moments in the studio and edit photos or work on some layout ideas.
but here's a bit of what happened here this week.

july 4th of course happened. accept ours was actually july5th. we had family traveling and not home to do the big neighborhood bash thing. not to mention it rained ALL day on the 4th. so sunday was just perfect to get out the fire crackers, invite the neighbors, throw some munchies on a table and just celebrate.

earlier that day we did a bit of hiking around garden of the gods. john and family had never seen this part of colorado yet, so we had to show it off. the kids love to climb those rocks. they love uncle john too.

paul took to being grill master for our holiday feast...

which included a guacamole throw down. my dad made his famously wonderful recipe, and ladona added two of her variations. they were all simply fabulous. with the grandkids help, my dad's won.

cupcakes always seems to end up somewhere in the july4th snack mix. well...after all, it IS a birthday.

and these two cutey-patutey's did not mind the celebration one bit!

be back soon...

happy 4th of july

hello july

(we interupt the posting of this blog news to care for the almost 8 year old who suffered injuries to the head today while 'playing golf' with her young friend. the patient received a dose of sturdy strips in lieu of stitches and is resting comfortably. now, back to our regularly scheduled programming.)

today we officially enter the last half of 2009...summer is in full swing, july 4th is 3 days away, and those lazy days of summer are still to be found. meaning, i just always have some project or other going on.our summer routine seems to fall into the cadence of morning chores and some sort of house project. before lunch pool, while it is still not scorching hot, and there are not too many other souls swimming as well. then of course lunch. maybe an errand or two, or just hanging out here at the house. the afternoon winds down with my reading to the girls. we have been studying wolves this week. then the youngest naps, and me too usually. the older ones are ready or pursuing their own projects quietly in their rooms. by that time they are ready to get outside with the puppy, or help water the flowers or vegtables. then dinner usually on the patio, and more playing. this week that has included some early revelers in the neighborhood shooting off fireworks. that's right, works, not crackers.

today i wanted to include some of the july 4 decorating around the house.

********************

This is my focus point in my front room. I try to change this up every so often. Not every month, mind you. However, as I say that, when August arrives, this will probably change over to some sunflower type motif. I have always loved sunflowers, and they seem to go naturally with August.

These vintage prints are from last years Jenni Bowlin papercrafting kit. So glad I picked those up.

Do you remember my Memory Box post over at WIP last month? I am continuing the theme. This time it celebrates my Dad who's birthday is this month. I love these photos and hate for them to be hid away in an album.


Last year's JB papercrafting kit. Easy focus point on the month.



Are you seeing a JB trend here? I am just really enjoying the vintage touch around my home. Made an accordian book with my kids photos from last July.

I just absolutely love these 3x3 mini canvases. This wall project was made last year and hung on our wall. It it looks just as fabulous this year. Tip: the Elmer's orange wall putty is great for hanging light weight projects on the wall. I use it very, very often for this type of thing.

This too is a wall art piece from last year. I have not done it in a while, but I love just finding patterned papers, stamps, embellies, that 'go' together and throwing it up on some foam core. I am very symmetrical, thus the grid sketch going on here.

have a wonderful july day!