what a sunday

i am suppose to be writing lessons for the week for my girls...

but my mind is wondering...

in a serious way.



the morning was amazing. i can't get over it yet. our sr. pastor has an enormous love for the arts...paint, dance, music, written...he continues to teach the union of art and worship. God being the ultimate creator, and we, created in His image, imago dei, are by creation: artists. inside me just begins to bubble with joy when i pursue that thought.



in a celebration of a summer long series on what our everyday worship should look like, he had his good friend, makoto fujimura, in house and speaking to us in interview style. mako is an extremely accomplished artist in the tradtional Japanese art form of Nihonga. to find out more about that, go here. as well i invite you to visit his blog. the last post was immensely absorbing.



today was a mini lecture answering questions about his art of choice: abstract impressionism. an ah-ha moment for sure. i cannot speak for my reader, who may very well be educated in the finer arts. my background comes with limited insight into the arts. today, however, he unveiled for me how we attempt to represent everything we see, and make it concrete. but there is so much in life that is not actually concrete, but rather abstract. love. faith. hope. fear. loneliness. how someone could help me understand abstract art in an informal 20 minute talk was only part of the amazement. the reality that my eyes are open to seeing so much more of the world around me is the large part of being AMAZED today.



on a much lesser scale,but in the same vain of thought, i have been interested of late in art journals. funny how shelly elluded to that medium in a recent wip post.



and then i go and visit my friend alexandra's blog only to find more nudging toward art journals...and a link to this wonderful site.



sigh...i have so much i want to do and accomplish. and yet another new thing to attempt.



however, first things first...

in light of a newly procurred camera, i believe i am going to take katrina kennedy's photography class and walk through those steps. i know it's not a discovery in the joy of art journaling, but photography is a first love of mine, and so that is the direction i am going to take for now.



we are so blessed to have so many choices in our lives. beautiful blessings. that is the phrase that keeps going through my head.

beautiful blessings.

mirror gift book

i do not think this little book really qualifies as a mini album. but perhaps you may want to categorize it as such. it all started upon discovering the heidi swapp 5x7 mirror album. it was such a pretty little canvas. from it grew a little mini kit i put together myself. including the following items.

heidi swapp 5x7 mirror album, of course.




heidi swapp damask sticker in black

...and in white

basic grey euro rubons in black

hambly screen prints vintage plaid overlay

hambly screen prints urban chic frame overlays

ki pop culture black lace cardstock

little yellow bicycle flocked damask (yummy)

those elements are becoming this:

the little book will probably be a gift. it is very much in the beginning stages. nothing has been added to it at all. for me all these pages are merely a canvas with which to build on.

although i am not 'elegant' in style, this book to me is very elegant, and i will continue to create on that theme. perhaps adding beautiful quotes about life. it would even make a nice mini wedding album, too. the possibilities are endless, and that can be scary or fun.

which do you think?

the mini monster

you have heard of the cookie monster, right? (is it politically correct to call him that still...oh i hope so). i guess i have been a bit of a mini monster as of late. the mini album is such a great treasure. one of my blog visitors recently stated how their children look at mini's more than the larger albums. i think that holds true in this household as well. while i still constantly create layouts for my mainstream albums, the mini is becoming such a great outlet for bits of odd creativity. especially when it includes using up stash that is desperate to be used.

this funny little mini is too easy for words. it was inspired several years go by ali edwards, a long time inspiring-enabler. her book, like mine in the photo, can be found in her life artist book. using alphabet 4x6 indexed cards, and pattern paper covered chipboard covers, and don't ever forget book rings, i made up this simply simple little book. it holds 'what not' for me. some of the odd and ends that i add to this book include:

stamps, receipts, extra photos, coffee labels, fav gift cards, bits of patterned paper leftover, ideas, interesting postal labels, special cards, my kids measurements, rx slips, coffee sleeves, quotes, business cards, book lists.

just whatever is lying around that catches my attention. it's simple, really. a simple way to stay creative, even when i'm not in the midst of a big project.

so it seems this blog has been on a bit of a theme. a mini theme. i would really love to see what you all come up with. have you been in the mini spirit of late? please...link me up...i would love to see what's going on in your studio.

have a lovely day!

ode to the boomtown rats

I can’t tell you what pleasure it gives me to inspire others. The blog hop has certainly been a great vehicle in which to do just that. To inspire people to put their hearts to work and their scraps to use means so much to me. It truly fuels that little something inside. Especially on a day today. “I don’t like Mondays” is really holding true for this beginning of the week. But then a moment in the chaos to go and read over the weekends comments and responses to my mixed paper mini is so overwhelming. Most especially if people actually do get inspired and do a mini for themselves.
I truly love this mini I am working on daily. It is very similar to the December Daily that I have loved doing the past two years. With this current project, I am being very transparent with what gets journaled inside. But that is a new corner I am turning. Instead of trying to be every woman and do it all myself, and then fail and then keep the failure inside, I am attempting a bit of honesty with myself. And with life.
Today, however, the honesty required a need to get out of the house and retreat for a bit to a fav place. Thank you, Chipotle, for bringing a little quiet and very good food to my Monday.
Life really is good.

mixed paper book

I need another mini album around here like I need another hole in my head...but I am sincerely and simply addicted to them. So...one needs to make up needs for another book. Which for us list makers really isn't that hard. I was truly inspired by Elise Blaha and her mixed paper books. And being one to try and make something before I would ever think to go and buy it, I did just that...made my own. And I am soooooo loving this book.

And it truly is just what the title says, mixed paper and things I literally had on hand.

I used fabric to cover the front and the front inside. Using a chipboard piece, mine here is about 8x6, I painted it in Mod-Podge and then smoothed the fabric out on top. The edges were then pinked with my pinking sheers. The crop a dile was used for the holes, and then an addition of my go to book rings. A little label is still sitting there waiting for a title.....

Here's what the rest of it looks like:

I am using this one for a daily book of photos and journaling as we begin a new year of school. Only a few pages are completed. I am just adding to it as I go basically.

O.K...now it's your turn...grab those scraps hanging around your creative space and have fun.

sometimes...

you just gotta create for yourself. now that may sound a bit profound. but i think i can get a bit too wrapped up in my project list and forget to just enjoy the process, be myself, and not try and scrap for the people. or even for my kids. i tend to stay within certain parameters when i scrap for my kids books.

i know...none of you out there would EVER do that...but see, i'm attempting some transparency here and gotta tell you...i simply forget to take time and just enjoy it for the personal fulfillment that it is.

this layout was an exercise in 'me'. (o.k. please assure me that does not sound as bad as i think it sounds)...

the photo is of me. the layout is for MY book. the journaling is a bit attitudinal (is that a word?). i did not follow a sketch. i used the housewife paper kit from amanda johnson - one whom i am ever becoming a greater fan of - and i just enjoyed the process. sigh...

can't wait to do it again...soon...i hope...or there just might be more attitude in the journaling.

thanks for visiting...

Got a minute to visit?

Outside my window...grey and cloudy and rainy all day. I don’t live in Seattle for a reason, and this would be it. I just don’t look good in grey!

I am thinking...about Trish’s blog post today…lots.

I am thankful for...an evening ahead of me in my studio…even if the dang phone is ringing right now.

From the kitchen...my kids and I made chocolate covered oreos today…snort…like an oreo needs that!

I am wearing...my fav green t-shirt…the one with that little useless pocket.

I am creating...for me tonight.

I am going...to continue to pursue peace in joy in our schooling experience.

I am reading...What We Wish We’d Known

I am hoping...tomorrow’s weather is the mid-80 degrees that weather man says it’s suppose to be. (are you detecting a hint of bitterness?)

I am hearing...Deas Vail on one of my fav playlists.

Around the house...is sort of messy…sort of not.

One of my favorite things...is watching my beautiful children change and grow right before my eyes every single day.

A few plans for the rest of the week: bbq at friends…library…several online orders need to be placed…a whole lot of kids over for the night on Friday evening…with grilled pizzas on the patio…my daughter and i serving together saturday at church...love that!

My favorite photos today: hmmm…I keep so not including my favorite photo…but maybe it actually is as it is the sign of an artist at work, even in her otherwise busy life…you tell me.

seriously...can i close a drawer?

sigh...will i ever be organized in my space? ever?

Inspired by The Simple Woman's Daybook

today you can find me...

here...

with this...

and so much opportunity to be creative.
Greetings to you, it's Jamie.
Tis the season for hitting the books once again. For some that is not such an exciting thought. But there are ways to add creativity to the busy-ness of clothes and supply shopping. Today's post is about using that scrapbooking stash to add some fun to your kids getting back into the routine of school. Even if you don't have children of your own, perhaps there is a neice or nephew that would love a gift from your hand. Or maybe these ideas will fuel a gift idea for another occasion.

Using chipboard elements, patterned paper, stamps, and ribbon I put together these backpack tags for my girls. Also helpful are those little ball chains. If you don't have any of those around, ribbon would work just as well. The 'happy' tag on the above photo was made by stamping the image on cardstock, cutting it out with a paper punch, and then adding diamond glaze to make a sort of epoxy element. I like how it turned out.

Here are a few more ideas:

This is a tried and tested idea in our home. Taking a 99 cent composition book and covering it with patterned paper. It's a simple technique but it always ilicits a smile from the recipient. For the book below I used a paper with a larger element on it (and what better way to use an owl), then I added trim with glue dots, and a bit of bling as well as cardstock letters and a die cut. Easy-peasy and it will be well loved and used. I have also added a pen holder to those I have made in the past and gave them as gifts. The mini-comp books are especially perfect for gifts.

A close up of the trim and bling:

How can you NOT love that face? She is so excited for kindergarten. This layout is page one of a two-pager. I just grabbed some shots of her and she added the excitement factor. I want to document all my kids this way, and use the second page to add some physical details.

Here's the second page. I left room for her to write her name (she was a bit reluctant before I photo'd the page). I then added some details about her, as well as a few more photos. I kept this really easy and relied heavily on masking tape. It just made for a fun page to put together.

So whether you are sending your kids off to school, or it's simply the beginning of fall for you, hope there was a bit of inspiration for you found here today.

did ya see this?

over at WIP this week? janelle always drops off great sketches.
so i took the bite...
and this is my version...
so tell me...can you still see the sketch in there? i'm like lisa...i get an idea and then it takes on a life of it's own. but that is what i live for.

it's hard to see in the picture at the top in the layout, but those are three of my kids, with one of them peeking back at me as i took the photo. when i viewed this, it just hit me. these simple great kid days need to be remembered. we were basically lost on this day trying to find a group at that park. we had never visited this park before, but were so happy to get lost in it and discover all it's greatness. and then to see my daughter peek back at me just really touched a little emotion in me. being a kid is so fleeting. they don't think so, but it flies by so fast. i want them to remember what it was like to be here, on this day, just...simply...being. frankly, i think we all need to get lost more often.

i decided to stop before i cleaned up and make a card inspired by the layout. the sketch is now completely lost in this card, but it really was a jumping off place.

so where does your creativity take you, when you think you know where you are going?

abc mini book

This little book has been in the works off and on for about 2 months. Most of the supplies you see here were part of the Ray Of Sunshine~May2009 Zany Zinnia kit. I added the Vera American Craft vinyl letters. As soon as I saw this kit I knew I wanted to make a letter book for my littlest one. I cut my own chipboard book measuring 7x4. Great size in hand. Those sweet papers are Prima's My Mommy&Me. And that adorable felt owl is from CrafyD's Creations. He is so perfect for a book about learning.

The first page opens to my "keaney" as we call her. The scheme of the book uses five pages of graduated size, and some bordering. I just rotate the same every five pages. There is a letter per a page as well as an icon in which that letter begins. I have had to get a little creative with the icon part of this project. Think I am going to need to order me some Hambly animal rub-ons in which to finish the book.

c is for cup.

d is for dress. This is one of my favorite, just love how that dress turned out...

and g is for garden.

Love using my scrappy stash for things other than scrapbook pages.

What great projects have you put together with your supplies?