WHERE I'VE BEEN

Hey Friends, Yes, it has been a while since I've last posted. My trip to NY to see my family went well, but as usual, it's nice to come home. I have been cleaning up my craft room, doing a little re-organizing, purging some old stuff I no longer use and making room for all the new goodies I see coming out! It makes me Happy! I just bought some of Tim Holtz's new distressed inks! Ooooo..... is all I can say! My current project is in full swing and I'm almost finished. I am on my last layout of my wedding album that I have been working on for over a year. Oh, by the way, I have been married for 27 years, but better late than never! Until next time...

A LITTLE TOUCH OF HEAVEN

This layout is very special to me. My very first Grandbaby and the memories of that day came flying back! He'll be two at the end of this month. Where does the time go? He stayed last night with Papa and Me...... he is a smart little boy. We put a board in the bedroom doorway, so our puppy will stay out. Well, Grayson decided he didn't want Cody (puppy) in Papa's office, so he attempted to put a piece of cardboard in the doorway, except it wasn't fitting right. He backed up, turned the cardboard, place it in the doorway and turned it back so it would fit. Logical thinking, two year olds don't have that. He watches the discovery and the military channels with Daddy. Very curious about everything. Maybe we have a future president! Hahaha......
Back to the layout. I wanted to add birthdate, weight, etc., but didn't want to clutter too much more with journaling. I decided to make a tag with all the info and hide it behind Daddy's picture. I raised the matte under the picture with strips of double-sided adhesive on three sides, leaving the top side open. This allowed enough room for the tag to slide nicely. I added a ribbon to the top of the tag to catch your attention and make it easier to grasp the tag.
Thanks for taking a look. I hope you enjoy this as much as I am.

"GLUED AND FLOCKED"

Sunshine, on my shoulders - makes me happy....
Sunshine, in my eyes - can make me cry....
Sunshine, on the water - looks so lovely....
Sunshine, almost always - makes me high!!! (John Denver)

OK. Back on track. here is the layout I was working on yesterday, finished and ready to put in the album. Although, I am thinking I might put up a curtain rod on the wall and add clips to display these for a time. Hmmm... think that's a good idea. (make note; buy curtain rod and clips) All the pieces were cut out using my Silhouette. Giraffe's spots made with Elmer's glue (Thank you Donna Downey's resist technique) and Rhino was painted with distressed stickles and then painted over with crackle paint. This gave a nice texture for the skin and the look of the rhino after rolling in the dirt, as they often do. The leaves of the vine were glued and flocked. (kind of sounds dangerous; like tarred and feathered!) Lots of distress inks and various Hero Arts stamps. The photo of my Grandson, in the lower right corner, was altered to Sepia, cut out, distressed with a sanding block and lightly painted over with diluted paint. This was a fun layout for me. Lots of various mediums and some new techniques!

"A GOOD DAY FOR CREATIVITY"

I've been working all day on a new layout. I have to put my journaling (if you can call it that)on it and it will be done. My desk is a mess... ink, paint, bottles of flock, glue and the list goes on. It's been a good day, a very good day for creative inspiration! I have so many ideas for a batch of photos I printed out. I must write them down or by the time I get to putting the ideas to use, I'll have lost them... somewhere in the depths of my aging brain! Any hooo... Oh.... I must share with you my new photo board I made yesterday. I found these squared buttons at Ben Franklin the other day and 'HAD' to have them. This fabric was calling my name too! It's kind of vintage-Bohemian-earthy... whatever. I like it! My decor in my craft studio was headed in the wrong direction. I often lose track and have to re-organize my thoughts. Again... somewhere in the depths of my aging brain, things go a mess. Oh well.


I must make a note to myself... old man winter visited us this weekend. 5 inches of snow, sleet and freezing rain. It was pretty, the snow, that is. Now the mess can go away. Until things dry up, it will be slushy and muddy. Not very attractive.

SNIP AND SNAILS AND PUPPYDOG TAILS.....

The "Dig it or ditch it" dilemma is solved at last! I stuck with it and finally achieved what I wanted. I really like to piece scraps of cardstock together and finish with different mediums, to make my own embellishments. It gives me a greater feeling of accomplishment and makes my pieces more personal. (photos are not to good-poor lighting ; sorry)