Yeah for learning!

This week marked an important step in school for my 4 - year old.  I really make an effort to not push my kids academically before they are ready, and I see no problem in a 4 year old spending most of her time playing, so when she just does not want to do the 30 minute preschool I try to do with her each week day, I just don't fight it.  So imagine my surprise when she came to me this week with a sheet of paper filled with well-formed letters.  Sure it was the same 3 letters H - M - O in various combinations, but I have never taught her letter writing at all.

I asked her 'do you want me to teach you to write?'

Her answer 'Of course Mom!'  Yes, of course!

So the next day we started to learn how to write the letters whose sounds we have been practicing all year.  She was so proud of herself that she had to show everyone her work.  And since I am celebrating the 'little things' this year, I also had her help me make a page to celebrate this step in her academic life.

Here it is!

She wanted pink - and I thought it would be fun to use the banners to give it a party feel!

All the goodies are from the lovely ladies at Polka Dot Chicks and Soto Creations who make the Altered Junk line.  They have some great new items on the shelves over at Scrap Delicious, and it is still on sale - so go have a look.

http://www.scrapdelicious.com/shoppe/Altered-Art/

Ingredients include:

Polka Dot Chicks, and Soto Creations Altered Junk August mini kit (background paper)
Polka Dot Chicks, and Soto Creations Altered Junk July mini kit (torn border bit (bottom of page),
Polka Dot Chicks, and Soto Creations Altered Junk April(2011) mini kit (frame),
Polka Dot Chicks, and Soto Creations Altered Junk November mini kit (scallop glitter border)
Polka Dot Chicks, and Soto Creations Altered Junk September mini kit (scatter)
Polka Dot Chicks, and Soto Creations Altered Junk Kit 2 (staple)
Polka Dot Chicks, and Soto Creations Altered Junk Notebooks 1 (notebook)
Polka Dot Chicks, and Soto Creations Altered Junk Mix Up V. 10 (stitching)
Polka Dot Chicks, and Soto Creations Altered Junk Mix Up V. 12 (glitter splat)
Polka Dot Chicks, and Soto Creations Altered Junk Mixed Up banners 2 (all three banners)
Polka Dot Chicks, and Soto Creations Altered Junk Mixed Up ribbons V1 (award ribbon, side scallops)
Polka Dot Chicks, and Soto Creations Altered Junk Mixed Up Messy Splats V 2
Polka Dot Chicks, and Soto Creations Altered Junk Coins 2, 3 & 5
Polka Dot Chicks, and Soto Creations Altered Junk Hardware 6 (brad)
font: Pea Alicia Script

Constructive Distractions

Yesterday I finally pulled out the sewing machine and got busy working on those projects that have been on the back burner.  (You know, the ones I was hoping to be more motivated to do a few weeks ago!)  I got most of them done, and all of them started, but then I got distracted.  No Surprise there, but it was a constructive distraction.  I had some cards that I needed to make, 1 for a wedding, some thank yous and 1 just 'how ya doing?'  Well, the sewing machine inspired me and I finished those up.  Here are my favorites:

dream ingredients:

Polka Dot Chicks and Soto Creations Altered Junk Mix Up V. 8

fibers by LaBoom (Thai company), acrylic stamps, gel pens

enjoy ingredients:

Polka Dot Chicks and Soto Creations Altered Junk Adornments Bundle

Fibers and Brooch by LaBoom (Thai company) Paper is from the Once Upon a Time Stack in my stash (by paper studio I think), acrylic stamps and gel pen

love ingredients:

Polka Dot Chicks and Soto Creations Altered Junk Mix Up V. 10

fibers by LaBoom (Thai company)

Acrylic paint, acrylic stamps, gel pens, thread

smile ingredients:

Polka Dot Chicks and Soto Creations Altered Junk Mix Up V. 12

fibers by LaBoom (Thai company), acrylic stamps, gel pens

wish ingredients:

Polka Dot Chicks and Soto Creations Altered Junk Mix Up V. 12 &Mini Kit V. 4

fibers by LaBoom (Thai company), acrylic stamps, gel pens

They were really fun to make, and they came together quicker than I expected - I guess I was feeling inspired.  Now to make little enveloped to go with them and get them in the mail.

Oh, and by the way - Polka Dot Chicks is having a 40% off sale at Scrap Delicious right now to celebrate SD's 2nd birthday - so if you have been eyeing their goodies now is a great time to try them out.  They have some great new products out right now, and more coming in the next week!

Go see them here:

http://www.scrapdelicious.com/shoppe/Altered-Art/

Happy Weekend!

Steamy Summer Nights

OK, Summer has officially arrived in Chiang Mai.  It is HOT!  And it is not cooling down at night anymore.  Today the kids and I completely gave up on doing homeschool.  Instead we crowded into the kids room, cranked the AC up (we only have single units - thus adding to the heat issue) and thought cold thoughts.  We decided to draw pictures of things that helped us to feel cooler.  It was fun, and fairly refreshing - especially once the AC really cooled the room off.

Anyway, tonight, as I was cleaning up after the kids were in bed I went through the drawings again, and had to chuckle.  And as is wont to happen, I got an idea for a journal page.  So here you have it.  My snow dreaming page.

journaling reads:

April 25, 2012 - 10:15 and still 106 out

I get a kick out of hearing people talk about wanting to live in a tropical country.  Anyone who has lived in the tropics for any number of years can tell you though, it is NOT always paradise.  Sure the winter months are perfect.  70-80 degree weather, nice breezes, beautiful sunsets.  What is not to love about that?  But just wait around another three months.  When tropic summer comes, then you will know what hell feels like.  Blazing sun that beats down with an intensity like nothing ever felt in a temperate climate - temperatures that stay above 100 around the clock - humidity that just sits there smothering you.  The walls bake in the onslaught and the houses become ovens.  You loose weight from sweating and will try anything to cool off just for a bit.  No, you keep your dreams of the tropics and I - I will dream of fresh crisp, cool snow.

ingredients:
All the goodies are from Polka Dot Chicks and Soto Creations Altered Junk Line:
January Journaling Mini
Icy Snowflakes V. 1
Messy Splats V. 1
fonts:
pea alicia script
joy like sunshine through my windowpane

Anyways, just thought I would share how we stay cool in the HOT season.

Mermaids and Princesses

Had a bad headache today, but I got really tired of laying in bed, so, after a conversation with my eight year old I made this fun little page.

I just love how kids have big dreams that they are certain will come true!  When was it that I started letting go of my dreams, and why?

for those who want to know here are the ingredients:


Marta van Eck: not a princess (lady crown, background paper, tape)
Tangie Baxter: ultimate art doll (tail), sealife brushes (shells and starfish), AJC 11 parcel 30 (gesso base for glitter splats), gesso messy 1 9sequin splat)
CD Mucksky: Marekerrific alpha (5)
font: joy like susnhine through my window pane

first steps in another journey

I was contemplating another quote today.  Really thinking it over and trying to see how it worked out in my life.  My thoughts took an unexpected path and landed me at the foot of a revelation.  I realized how many journeys we are taking simultaneously.  We take a physical journey every time we get in the car, or step onto a plane.  But we also take countless emotional journeys, some that are very painful.  It made me realize, that although I may not always like the journey I am on, I sure am glad that I don't walk these paths alone.

One person in particular has been by my side on a good amount of my journey, and I am so thankful for him.  We are nearing our anniversary, and I can't help but think back to all the places we've been.  I made this page especially for him, and I want him to know how happy I am to be his journey partner.

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

Lao Tze

journaling reads:

Yep!  Every single one of them!  You and me, we have seen that.  We have taken hundreds of journeys and racked up thousands of miles, both literally and figuratively, but each and every one of them started with that first, often scary, step into the unknown.  But you know, none of it would have happened if you had not taken that first step – almost 15 years ago – and got my attention.  And none of this would have happened if I had not been brave enough to trust you, to stop telling you to go away, and agreed to marry you.  And just think about how different our life would have been if we had not taken those tear filled, anxious steps through the airport eight years ago and got on that plane with our baby, leaving everything that we knew behind.  Yes, the journeys we have taken have been hard at times, but they have been beautiful as well.  We have cried, but we have also laughed.  We have lost much, but we have also gained in so many ways.  Not only has our journeying taken us around the world, it has grown and stretched and reshaped us so that today we are not the same people we were when we took those first steps.

And here we are again, taking the first timid steps on what will most likely be another long, hard, but beautiful journey.  

Can I hold your hand?

Credits:

background – blend of Polka Dot Chicks and Soto Creations paper sets 29, 40, & Scooty Designs Romantic Journaling Card

Rucola Designs: lucky start (couple)

Tangie Baxter: gesso messy 1, 2, 3, 5, AJC 11 parcel 30,

Akizo: kitschy hearts (heart spray)

Jkneipp - far from here (plane)

KFredericks: stay there (staple)

K Hadfield: hand stitched stitches

Katie Pertiet: journey quote

No journey is easy, but sharing the journey with a good friend can make it more beautiful in the end.

Happy travels!

Free time and Goodies

I am helping with a shower that is coming up and we wanted to display the menu on little cards.  The moment I saw it I knew that the newest Polka Dot Chicks and Soto Creations Altered Junk Mixedup kit was perfect for getting started.  What do you think?

I kinda like how it turned out!

Here are the ingredients:

Polka Dot Chicks and Soto Creations Altered Junk

mixedup volume 18 (all that lovely food and menu related stuff plus the papers and lace - yummy!)

mini kit 2, 5, and 6

banners 1

hardware 8

painted ephemera 1

messy stitches 3

font: Marcus the Cow, Janda Curly Girl, Moonlight Shadows

It all came together really quickly, and then, toady being Saturday,I had some free time, so I thought I would play with all the goodies a bit.  The song in the background made its way into my thoughts and onto my page (do you know it?)  I am not sure if I like the text being black, but everything I tried did not look any better so I left it like this for now.  I am thinking about printing this one out as a card for someone in particular that I think it will encourage.

For this one I used:

Polka Dot Chicks and Soto Creations Altered Junk mini kit 2 (background paper) and 5

messy stitches 3

mixed up banners 1

smudges 2 and 3

clusters 2

font: Miserably lose

I am always surprised at how quick they come together.

There is so much more to play with, I can foresee a lot of fun in my free time.

Thanks!

Another win for Mommy!

Those of you who have boys, or had brothers, or are married, or have ever been around boys know just how competitive they can be.  Now, my boys are better than some, they have lived with me long enough to know I don't like to play games with them if they are intent on making me cry - and I have lived with them long enough to get a bit of a competitive streak to me.

So it is not any wonder really, when on our game night (at least 2 or 3 times a week now) we all get a little feisty.  And although there are some games I have never won, there are others I am pretty good at.

So here is a page celebrating yet another win for Mommy - the Queen of Hearts!

I used some more of the goodies from Polka Dot Chicks and Soto Creations Altered Junk.  This time I used

three of their Mix-Ups Mix Up (13, 12, 15)

Mixed Up Clusters 1

font: Prissy frat boy

It is so much fun to mix and match these kits - and there are so many options when you do.

Have a good weekend!

I bit the dog!

So, there are funny moments in our life, and I think we should embrace them.


I was thinking about the prompt "what I am I doing to become stronger and braver" when I stumbled on this quote and

“I loathe people who keep dogs. They are cowards who have not got the guts to bite people themselves.”
J. August Strindberg - Swedish writer and playwright

- being a dog owner - it made me laugh, and then think, and before I knew it I was remembering something that happened a week or so ago, and this page popped out.

Journaling reads (just so you know why!):
Yeah!  You heard that right!  I bit the dog!  And she dang well deserved it too, let me tell you!  She may be a 6th month old puppy, but she weighs as much as my eight year old son and almost 3 times as much as my 4 year old daughter.  She is loving, but she doesn’t know her own strength.  Puppy training has not gone so well either.  She is smart, but she is stubborn and defiant to boot.  She knows how to push the limits.  Its almost like having a third child.  One day a friend suggested that I needed to make sure I was the alpha dog.  I needed to assert myself in a language she would understand, otherwise she would never respect or obey me.  I thought she was crazy.  A few weeks later I was full up on the defiance I could take, and the dog was just being stubborn, so I wrestled her to the ground and bit her ear!  It surprised her as much as it did me, but I have had very little trouble since!

Credits:

background: blend of Polka Dot Chicks And Soto Creations Altered Junk: paperset 38, Mixed Up 8, Sherrie JD: Studio mix 19
Tumble Fish Studio: Freestyle
Tangie Baxter: Keep moving forward, AJC 11 parcel 24, 30 & 33
fonts: Remington Noiseless, Scotosaurus, Script MT bold

Now, to sleep!

10 best things!

So sometimes I like the challenge of a really hard journaling prompt - and this was one of those!

I had to come up with 10 good things about myself - TEN!  I got the first 2 or 3 without a problem, then got really stuck.  But I started sharing y dilemma and people helped out with some really positive feedback.  It is good to see yourself through someone else's eyes now and then.

Here is the end result for those who are interested.

Once again, I used the lovely Altered Junk line from Polka Dot Chicks and Soto Creations - this time Paper Set 30 - Process Papers for the background.  I also used  Polka Dot Chicks and Soto Creations Altered Junk April Journaling mini, Tangie Baxter's AJC 2012 Toppers, MZimm  Embrace the Past glitter borders.
And the following fonts: the buns, the doorman, too many secrets, windsong. waterfalls, teachers pet, susies hand, spicy sushi roll, scotosaurus, Pea Elsie joy, smiley monster

I encourage you to find the 10 best things about yourself as well - and write them down as a reminder.

Gift Junque Journal #1 is finished - almost!

I have been elbow deep in paint, stamps, and all sorts of things this week - Excellent art therapy I might say - since I mostly could not leave the house.  I finished the first of my gift journals - well, except for all the froo froo I will add like clips and little ribbons, but the messy bits are done.  And I have to say it was so FUN to make!  I decorated every 5th page or so, some slightly, some pretty heavily just to give it some life.  Here are my favorite pages from the journal.

This one was inspired by my art journal page below - it uses the same Ztampf image with some acrylic stamps, acrylic paint and gel pens.

I have always wanted to used this stamp, and I loved these legs from Crow About Studios - so viola!  a Junque Journal page

This one uses some more Altered Junk by Polka Dot Chicks and Soto Creations.  I used my heart punch to clip the hearts from the paper in Mix Up 15, then used the wings from the adornments bundle and Mix Up 7 to make my hearts soar.

This one uses Polka Dot Chicks and Soto Creations Altered Junk Mix-Ups 7 & 8

and Flowers 2 

This is one of my favorites by far - Again using Polka Dot Chicks and Soto Creations Altered Junk Mix Ups 10 and 7 and then Coins 3.  I also used some acrylic stamps again here.

This one was fun.  It uses Polka Dot Chicks and Soto Creations Altered Junk Mix Up 15 and some word art by Tangie Baxter.

here is my favorite little dolly again, she is from Polka Dot Chicks and Soto Creations Altered Junk mix up 12.  This time I mixed her with some cut flowers from some old traditional paper (from Paper Studio I think) and then Word Art from Crow About Studios.

And last is this one.  Again using Polka Dot Chicks and Soto Creations Altered Junk Mix Up 7 & 12 and Coins 3

Anyway, i am still wondering if I should add something to the cover - I might, but not sure yet.  For now this is all, but Journal 2 is already in the works.

My Life in Songs

Over the last ten years I have found that songs often speak to me during times of great emotion - both good and bad.  For a long time now I have been wanting to start an art journal that illustrates my life through the songs that speak to me, but I have had a hard time finding the right 'book' to do it in.  Then, while shopping for my daughters birthday I ran across a great little find.  It is a sketchbook that is made of heavy weight water color paper and has a sewn binding, plus it is big - and I like to work big - PERFECT!

I bought the last 2 the store had!

This weekend I was feeling a little blue, because I have gone through yet another miscarriage - though this one was unexpected (meaning I didn't even realize how far along I was because I have been so busy and slightly stressed out).  But oddly enough, this one was different in that the physical pain was much worse than the emotional pain - for the first time ever.  Perhaps it was the art journaling - it does have healing properties!

Anyway, here is the page I made, using a Ztampf image from her gift of life pack.

This song first really touched my heart about 6 years ago, just after my first miscarriage.  I was really angry for a long time, and then one day at church they sang this song and it all just melted away.  I can't explain it, but to this day this song still touches my heart and I see that I am not a victim - I still have a choice every day in how I will face the world!

And so do you.

Now for page 2!

WHY?

I had fun using some older files from my digi stash this weekend.  Made an Art Journal page about what I don't want to talk about - ironic?!

Anyway, here it is:

 I used mostly Polka Dot Chicks and Soto Creations Altered Junk items for it.


credits:
background: blend of Polka Dot Chicks and Soto Creations Altered Junk Paper sets 1, 30 & 37
I also used their mini kit 2 (stars) and alpha 1
clouds were a freebie from Everyday Mom Ideas
fonts: thinking about you(in title) and the buns(journaling)

I have been told that the lady hiding behind the umbrella is very 'me'

Thanks!

Art Journal Caravan Workshop

I have been talking about it like crazy since I joined the caravan, but have you had a chance to check it out?

It has been a blast to join with other artists in expressing ourselves through art journaling.  Every week there is a weekly highlight at www.tangiebaxter.com where they point out a few pages that really stood out - though to be honest there are so many great artists, and pages, the blog is in no way able to do them all justice.  I have been privileged to be highlighted several times already in the 14 weeks we have been chugging along.

Really, even if you cannot check out the caravan itself, do go and check out the blog - The weekly highlights are here
http://tangiebaxter.com/news/category/art-journal-caravan/weekly-highlights/

In the mean time, here is my latest page - the word for last week was Conundrum, and I was having a hard time with it until this thought hit me:

So happy week to you!

Sew much to do!

I have a pile of sewing that needs to be done (or started, or finished, or something).  Lots of little things that on their own would only take a few minutes, maybe an hour.  But all together it is rather daunting.

So i thought I would make a little check list - see if it motivates me at all to get on it.

Here is my list - OK, so its a bit more than a list - but nothing should be boring if it doesn't have to be!

I used the great Altered Junk line again, from Polka Dot Chicks and Soto Creations.  This one uses the following products:
April Journaling Mini
Mixed-Ups Volume 10
Butterfly Splats 3
Alpha 5
fonts: Pea Alesa, old typewriter

It was fun to make - and hopefully, it will motivate me a little.  Lets see what we can get finished!

Thanks!

Junque Journals and me!

So this year I have been trying my hand at Art Journaling, and I must say


I LOVE IT!


I have learned so much in the process.
So much about me, about art, about computers.


And I have been able to try some new things.


Right now I am working on making some Junque Journals.  That has been fun too!


 I am making a bunch of them as gifts and it is so much fun to make them with another person in particular in mind.  Here is the title page from my first Junque Journal. 

I used some of the great Altered Junk products by Polka Dot Chicks and Soto Creations including Mixed Up Kit #12, Adornments #1, and Coin Sets #2,3 & 5.  If you have never seen their Altered Junk Line - you really should check it out.  They are exclusively at 


http://www.scrapdelicious.com/


I realized half-way through applying the Matte Medium at the end that my marker was NOT water resistant even though it was advertised as such - but Oh well, it still works!


I hope to post some of my Art Journaling pages soon.


Thanks!