29 gifts

I did it. I finished all 12 digital calendar pages for 2010. Oh my gosh!! I can't wait to get them printed up into a book. I know I will do it again for this coming up year if I can. I just love them so much. Here's my December page. Click on the calendar if you want to see it bigger.





























If you want to see all of mine from this year check out my flickr album with all of them together.

I've started reading a new book you can see on day 31 of my December digital calendar. It has seriously changed my way of thinking. Its called "29 gifts" by Cami Walker. She has a website. I HIGHLY recommend this book. I started my days of giving yesterday. The whole premise is to give something to someone or something for 29 days in a row. It can be money, time, whatever. But it has to be mindful. You start thinking everyday of what you can give and do, instead of thinking I have to do this or should. It really kind of gets you thinking. Or at least it did for me.

Yesterday I started. I gave money to a pug rescue of Florida for a special little pug that I've been in love with since I first saw him. He's probably not good with kids (they aren't sure yet), but he has to have extensive dental work. I wish I could adopt him, but I'm not sure that is in the cards right now. But I did have a little bit of money in my paypal and though typically I might just go on and wish I could adopt him, I stopped and paypaled the money to help with his care. It was a small gesture, but at least it was something. I hope it helps. They really are doing great work for pugs in the area.

Today I already kinda gave a little, but I'm not really counting it as my gift today. I woke up to find that the dogs had pooped all over the house. And I mean ALL over the place in 4 different spots. It was a mess. It was horrible. Typically this would have ruined the rest of my day. But I cleaned it up and thought "I am not going to bitch about this. I am not going to be in a bad mood for the rest of the day because of this. This is my gift to my family, even though it is small."
But like I said, I'd still like to do one more thing than this today.

Last day of 2010 and I plan to have it be a good one. I love you all my blog readers. You've made my year.

Thank you for all your kind comments and words.

Red velvet cake in New Orleans.. nothing better.

We are back from our trip to New Orleans for Christmas. It was a good trip except for the sicknesses and the LONG car drive. Though I have to admit I'd rather drive than be subjected to TSA's weirdo craziness. No thanks.. Lewis was getting over a cold as was Logan. I started getting sick and Leo was full blown sick. We even had to take him to an urgent care place on Christmas night. Crazy.. No one there, but try getting a prescription for antibiotics filled on Christmas night. Not as easy as you think.

Tonight is watching some Medium episodes on my laptop, and tomorrow tackling all the stuff I have to put away and wash. I hope to get some fun crafting in too. Missed you all!

UPC will start soon!! I can't wait.

Heart the arts prompt week 52

The last and final week. I can't believe it. The whole year. Thank you all for who have joined in. Even if it was only for one prompt or all of them. I've throughly enjoyed doing this. I will treasure my art journal pages always. It got me once a week no matter what to do a page. I have those memories now.

This week I wanted a prompt to start off the new year.

This week's prompt is.. Next Year

What did you not do this year you want to do next year? What did you do this year you don't want to do next year. Your new resolutions for next year. Whatever!

Here is my page.


















This is a painting done in acrylics. January will be the month of acrylics for UPC!! (Use, Practice, Create). I meant to make ornaments for everyone this year and did not get the chance. I hope next year will work out better.

Thanks again to you all and Merry Christmas!!

See you in the New Year!

Tim tag day 8

I am still doing them! I am. I'm just slow and trying my hardest to figure out what I can use what I have, because I can officially not buy anything else for at least a month. Maybe more. I am craving a Big Shot die cutting machine just so I can use Tim Holtz's wood grain embossing plate. Silly but true. lol.

Here is Tim's tag from Day 8:














I went a little different, but same techinque. Here's my tag from Day 8:






























I inked the tag in the same way, but then used one of his snowflake stamps in black for the background stamping. I made a snowman stencil out of his masking plate papers and a snowman stamp of his. I then inked it. I then stamped over him with some of his stamps in black. Added gold string and some ribbon. The title is with his vintage alpha die cuts that you can use with a sidekick sizzix machine. I love this tag. Turned out very cute.

I also wanted to share one of my new mosaic's I made from my flickr fav photos. Hope you enjoy!

1. Buddy commission, 2. one-a-day, 3. Snowy the barn owl, 4. benjamin, 5. coconut rice pudding with lady apples, 6. candy glass, 7. p-2010-20_seaweed_pods, 8. Red door, 9. Gothic Chair (Medium) (Large)

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

3-paintings

I wanted to share my paintings I made this last semester. Grades are in. Absolutely two A's in my classes.

Here is where my fish painting is at the moment. It is still being worked on.






















This is my finished interior painting we had to do. Its on a 2 inch wrapped canvas. It is in my dining room.























Finally this is my final painting where we could do whatever we wanted. She is not finished yet. She's my Poe/Emily Dickenson/Tim Burton/Illustrationesque/recarnation themed painting. Still in progress. She's 24x36 on wood. The inlay pieces of vintage text pages are beeswax applied. The edges were inked in black ink.





























I just read about what Julie Balzer is planning on doing next year which sounds really cool. There is no way I'll be able to do daily anything...but maybe once a week or every other week. I would still like to do art journal pages, but I want to branch out to other things too... Sounds like fun though doesn't it?

Hope everyone is having a great Monday! Thanks for stopping by.

Heart the arts prompt week 51

Almost finished! I thought about this week alot. What I wanted to do. I mean there's only one more week left after this.

Lately I've been feeling better because I've been on a new medication for anxiety. I have horrible anxiety. Its heredity thing, I swear. My mom is the same nervous jervous that I am. I feel better since I've been on the new stuff. I'm hoping after a full year of trying everything under the sun, I am finally going to start feeling a little better *fingers crossed*

Have you felt you conquered something this year?

This week's prompt... conquer




















The dragon is from a vintage illustration. I stamped over it and painted alot over it. I added some lace that I hand dyed and some black electric tape over the mouth. Its a great addition to my book.

I also wanted to share all the paintings my fellow painters did in my painting class I took. These are all the paintings the other students did in my painting class.

You can click on the picture of the paintings bigger. Gotta go work on some stuff. Hope you are having a great holiday!

Day 7 of Tim's tags

I'm seeming to get behind again. Lots of catching up on doctors appointments that have been put off. Took Leo to the dentist for the first time the other day. Went pretty well. No cavities of course! I'm so proud of my little ones. I've never had a cavity before and I always hope the good genes that my grandmother passed down of being cavity free goes to them too. My grandmother never had a cavity till she was 45. I'm hoping to beat her record. *fingers crossed*

Well here is the tag that Tim Holtz made on day 7:



















And here's what I made. I didn't have alot of the same product things like he had so I did what I kinda wanted. :)






























The snowflake stamps, stamped in white paint are Tim Holtz. The poinsetta is made out of canvas sticky back paper I just didn't distress it as much. The joy sticker is SRM. The number stickers are BG and the Christmas tree ribbon is KI memories.

I gotta start working on the rest of the tags! 5 more to do. I'm also working on this week's HTA's page.

December is flying by too fast for me. I need to go work on my digital calendar page too. So much to do, so little time.

Thanks for stopping by!

Tim Tag day 5 and 6

I got a couple more tags done for tags from Tim's 12 days of Christmas.

Here is Tim's tag from Day 5:



















Here is my tag from Day 5:





























I didn't have green distress paint so I used antique linen. I did do the metal embossing on the flower which is very cool. I also didn't have the big metal numbers so I used some grungeboard numbers. It was a fun little tag to make.

Here is Tim's tag from Day 6:



















Here is my tag from Day 6:





























I didn't' have the die cut for this deer either. I actually do not own a die cutting machine except for a little sizzlite deal just because it was on super super cheap sale one day. So..I had to improvise. I drew the deer out to the best of my ability onto grunge paper and stamped on it with a snowflake stamp. I also didn't have the music note tape so I used vintage papers from a music book. The rest is all grunging and distress inks.

Off to grab my Sunday paper and get ready to go out on a date day with hubby. Have a great Sunday!

Heart the arts prompt week 50

Only 3 Heart the Arts prompts to go! Wow this year went by fast. This week I had to work fast on this challenge. I have been thinking alot about activism and doing things for others. I've been thinking about what I can do to help. I like doing the cards for the troops, and I do monthly charitable things with Logan's school, but I know there are so many more things I'd like to help with and contribute to.

When I was younger I used to make speeches and pictures up about saving endangered animals. I remember telling my mom I wanted to save up my money and "adopt" a manatee. Which I did. I used to be really into reading and thinking about how I could help.

Now I seem to have fallen into doing what I can, when I can. I guess thats how it is when you have so many other things pulling for your attention. One of my resolutions this coming up year is to help more.

Even if this just means making things for others in need or giving what I can. I already give what money I can. I wish I had more time to give, but again with a 3 year old this is hard.

I'd like to educate myself more about things too, but it makes me sad. I think sometimes it takes courage to open your eyes to what is really going on with lots of things in this world. Most of the time because of my excuses, I can't even stand to read the news. I need more courage. That's where this journal prompt came from.

This week's prompt is... courage

You can journal about what you've be courageous about, or need courage for... Anything.. Maybe just what the word means to you. What do you need courage to do?

Here's my page. Its all digital this time.
















I hope that everyone has a good weekend this week. Thanks for stopping by. If you'd like to leave some comments on what charitable things you like to do and commit to I'd love to hear them. Thanks!

Tim Holtz day 4 tag

My classes went well. They are completely done. I've been getting alot of stuff caught up on. I am trying to catch up on Tim's tags if possible! I feel so behind.

Here is Tim's tag for day 4:



















Here is my tag for day 4:





























I like how it turned out. I have another done waiting to dry. I'm loving making these!

I also wanted to show you what I made for Logan's teacher for her teacher gift. I used the case my itouch came in and altered it. The apple stamp was one of those dollar stamps I got from JoAnn's.

Inside are ornaments I made with this recipe. It has a gift card underneath the ornaments. I hope she likes it!









































Tomorrow is Heart the Arts. I'm ready! See you then.

I'm confusing catherals as you read this.

Today is test day. Last official day of this semester. The blog will be up and running as its normal self in a matter of 24 hours! Yeah! I have worked so hard this semester. You wouldn't think an Art History class and a painting 1 class would take some much out of a person, but it has! (well add in a overactive 2, now 3 year old and a 2nd grader's homework, and the usual house/motherly duties) I'm pooped! Bring on the holidays! I have all kinds of lists of things I want to make and do. I'm feeling creative juices flowing again.

But for today I shall leave you with another flickr fav inspiration. I'm trying to make enough to make another inspiration book. I love my other one. I like making books on inkubook.

Thanks for stopping by!

Studying about relics in churches help!

I've realized its been forever since I've done flickr mosaic's of my fav pictures from flickr members. I love the inspiration. Today I am studying. (like a maniac) I am also probably taking a trip to the gym. I hope to do at least one new Tim tag today.

Enjoy! Hope you all have a great Tuesday.






























1. Closed, 2. 255/365, 3. Embroidered koi, 4. Crin, 5. sea swans, 6. flickr.com/photos/11775990@N06/2372440866/, 7. Bird No.5, 2008, 8. Untitled, 9. Old Victorian houses in Eureka, CA

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

What I'm going to do for 2011

I've been thinking lately what I want to do for 2011. I really enjoyed doing Heart the Arts this year, but would like to do something different.

What I want to do is concentrate on actual art mediums next year. A different art medium for each month of the year. I already have them all picked out for each month. My goal is to do a project each week and post them on Saturday's for that month's medium.

It gives me a chance to really play and work with the art supplies I have and maybe even make a few things to sell in my Etsy store. Mostly I just want to stretch my art wings and really experiment with what tools I have here sitting getting dusty.

I thought there might be others like me that are arty and would love to try this out. I made a Flickr group here for everyone to join. Please join and check out all the eye candy as it is made!

I'm going to call the challenge, Use Practice Create.. (UPC)

Here is what I plan each month's mediums to be. I am sharing them early so that if someone does not have a particular art supply, but would like to play along then they'll have time to get what they need before that month comes up.

January- acrylic paints
February- watercolor paints
March- Fabric
April- Copic markers
May- colored pencils
June- oil pastels
July-gouache paints
August-digital/hybrid work
September-glitter, stickles, glitter glue
October-oil paints
November- clay
December-watercolor crayons or watercolor pencils or both!

Most are pretty standard art supplies. Of course oil paints and gouache paints are a little more arty than the standard crafter has, but I figure you can take that month off or substitute it for an art supply you have you want to play with that month. There's no set in stone rules. I'm no stickler.

I just want to play, paint, draw, create and have fun. Starting in January every Saturday I'll be posting a project, painting, card, scrapbook page or something that is using mainly whatever the medium is for that month. Really anyone can join. I mean even scrapbookers can try out all these things on their pages.

I'm excited. I think it'll be another fun year. I have also decided to continue to do my digital monthly calendars. Its just so neat to look back on. Today I went through my flickr album of all the pages I've done so far this year and just loved them. I plan on making the book for the pages from this year and I just can't stop. (it is alot of work, but worth it) If you want to see my monthly digital pages I've done this year the flickr album is here.

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What else is everyone else planning for the new year? I'm hoping to have more time again now that I will be going to school at night again.

Tonight I think I'm going to watch one or two episodes of In Plain Sight season two on Netflix instant streaming on my computer and go to bed. Big school day tomorrow. I can study no more for today. I'm done till tomorrow. I do like that In Plain Sight show. Good stuff.

Thanks for stopping by everyone!

Day two and Day 3 of Tim's tags

I totally should be studying, but I'm going to post real quick and then the next 3 days will be a blur.

I made a tag for Tim Holtz's holiday tags for day 2 and 3.

Here is Tim's tag for day 2:















Here is my tag for Day two. It's not my fav so far, but it is what I could come up with with out having certain things for the tags.

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Here is Tim's tag for day 3:



















Here is my tag I made for Day 3:

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I think I've decided what I'm going to do for next year challenge. I'm not going to do Heart the Arts again. I just kinda wanted to do something a little different next year. So.. I have it all planned out. I've got a Flickr group ready and will be detailing it on my blog soon! It will be starting January 1st, but the announcement will be in the next few days.

I enjoy having something that keeps me active on the blog. I enjoy meeting all you new blog buddies too.

Off to study and make dinner. Chili is probably what I'm making for dinner tonight. I usually put it on top of pasta. A chili mac of sorts. Yum.

Thanks for stopping by!

Heart the arts prompt week 49

Almost out of the weeks starting with 4! Holy crud! We're going to be done with year soon. I guess I should decide what I'm going to do for next year soon. I'm not sure if I'm going to do Heart the Arts or something similar or something entirely different, but I feel I want to do something....

This week I've been thinking alot about Christmas. I personally love the song 12 days of Christmas. So this week I was kinda thinking of pairs. Me and my boy Leo are two of a pair. I made this page about us. (Logan is difficult to get a photo of these days)

How about it. This week's theme is... pairs or Pair

Are you two of a pair with someone? Do you have a pair of something you love? Or maybe something Christmasy you'd like to make a page about. I'd love to see it.

Here's mine.


















I distressed the back, then added the Hambly transparency. The lion embellishment is from a Gymboree outfit I used to have Leo wear that I LOVED. I would buy him any clothes as long as it had a lion on it. Who am I kidding? I still do! haha But there is clearly not as cutesy stuff like this any longer now that he wears 4t clothes. He's so big. He'll always do a quick self portrait photo session with me no matter what. I love that.

Today I went out and bought Eclipse on dvd. It just came out today. I was dying to see it again. I felt like it was forever since I had seen it that one time in the theater. I also really want to buy Eat Pray Love, but am trying to hold myself back and just watch that on Netflix when it becomes available. I've never seen Eat Pray Love yet, but I read the book and loved it.

Tomorrow is more studying and hopefully I'll have a new tag to post soon. I did one for Day two, but I'm not happy with it at all. I might skip day two and go straight to Day three on Tim Holtz's days and come back to Day two.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend! Thanks for stopping by!

Day one of Tim's tags 2010

I'm loving that Tim's 12 days of Christmas tags have started again this year!! I have no time to be doing this, but I'm making the time. ha! I'll be a bit behind, but I figure I'll catch up once school is done.

Here's Tim's tag from Day 1:



















Here's my tag from Day one:





























I didn't have the die cut for the house or anything similar so I drew out the house on grunge paper and cut it out. I did a stamping techinque similar to his and added lots of stickles and flock/glitter. I also did not have a die cut of the fence. So I used some grunge board swirlies that had been painted in antique linen crackle paint by him and added more stickles. The circle was made from one if his tags cut up, and the heart is a grungeboard heart that I painted and glittered. I added some stamping and the grungeboard start also to the tag. It turned out so cute!

I have no idea what I'm doing for Day two yet, but it will get done!

Thanks for stopping by!