Sweet Seventeen

We celebrated Jillian's 17th birthday last month!  When I received this adorable Chickaniddy "Twirly Girly" paper from Craft Envy, I knew I'd just found the perfect palette for the pix of her birthday lunch.

A single squirt of Heidi Swapp Color Shine in the center of plain white card stock made for an easy start to layering up the cute cut-apart sheets that are part of the collection.

Color Shine is my scrapbooking equivalent of Frank's Red Hot:
"I put that $%&*# on everything!"

Those paper party straws are all over Pinterest, and I couldn't wait to use one on a layout.  A little baker's twine, banner stickers, and paper scraps made for an easy and festive embellishment. 

I wanted to journal but didn't want it completely hidden on a tucked away tag, or to overpower the layout composition with a bunch of heavy text.  Using a clear glitter pen allows the journaling to be read as if it were light pencil at one angle, and turn into a subtle, shimmery highlight when tilted away.  Exactly the look I was going for!

I doodled a vine of flowers mimicking the floral clusters on the paper to tie that subtle shimmer to the other side of the page.

That clear glitter pen was addictingly smooth.   I randomly traced other elements on the papers
and outlined hearts, frames, and flowers.  

We had a lovely time celebrating this milestone with Jill.  I'm making a mini album with some of the other photos from her day, and I will share it with you soon!  :)

Thank you for stopping by!

She Follows Her Muse

I cut an article out of the LA Times Magazine in 2003 when Jillian was in Kindergarten and filed it away.  I knew I had put it in a "safe" place and was sooooo happy when I was able to find it recently.

Article by Patti Davis, daughter of Ronald and Nancy Reagan
Illustration by Mark Gagnon, son of Mr. and Mrs. Gagnon

The article, by Patti Davis is kind of a journey through her self-depricating acknowledgement of fashion faux pas, ending with her assertions of sartorial self-acceptance which seem to only come with the grace of maturity.

"Last week I bought an old cotton tablecloth at a flea market for $10.  Half of it is damaged, so I'm going to cut it in two and make a summer top from the undamaged part. I'll make straps from old satin ribbon.  I will hold my head high, and if anyone asks if I am wearing a tablecloth, I will say, "Yes, I am."

That.  Right there.  That is what I wanted Jillian to hold on to.  Unapologetic awesomeness.

I love this quote by Picasso, one of the little freebie niceties in the Cocoa Daisy kits.
The "<3 You" is an exclusive die cut by Evalicious; I put a clear bubble sticker over
the top for some flair-like dimension.

Jillian has always had her own sense of style, a unique way of putting outfits together and wearing them with an ease that is beyond quiet confidence and more simply natural.  She is so genuine in her unique look that it is clear she is not seeking attention from the world, but that the world cannot help but to turn head and notice her.  She is admired by peers and parents, teachers and passersby.

The background was created by coarsely outlining a stencil with liquid matte medium
to create a resist pattern and, once dry, adding watercolors. 

Yes, she certainly does follow her muse.  

I used Prima chalk ink to bring out the texture in the beautiful and exclusive "Love"
letterpress card by Cocoa Daisy.  I hand painted the word muse with black acrylic
paint and traced around the letters and the heart shape for more weight and emphasis.

My plan is to keep the article tucked in a pocket on the back of the layout or in an adjacent page protector.

More watercolor play on a scrap of white card stock used
for my journaling and tucked into a stamped glassine bag. 

"Jillian, I read this article when you were in Kindergarten and knew
I needed to save it for you.  Even then you were this amazing girl
with a unique style all your own.  I never wanted you to lose that.
Now here you are, a Junior in high school and looking toward
attending FIDM.  I am so proud of you!  My heart is so full that
you continue to stay true to your beautiful self."

         

I created this layout for a game of "Lift Me Up" over on the Cocoa Daisy boards earlier this month.  It's basically like playing Telephone where one person whispers something to another who whispers it to the next person and so on,  till the last person says aloud what they heard and everyone erupts in laughter because it is so far off from the original message.

In the scrapbooking version of the game a starting layout is used for inspiration and emailed to the first scrapper signed on to play.  She then "scrap lifts" the design and creates a layout based on what she's received. Her new layout is sent on to the next person playing the game, and so on, till the last person finishes.  Then all the layouts are revealed.

Here is Suz Mannecke's layout that was sent to me as inspiration.

You can check out her personal blog for LOTS more!

I took inspiration from the background paper, the multi-font title, the paper clips
and their placement,  and the diagonal striped element along the bottom.

It is so fun to look at the chain and see what parts of each design spoke to the next person in line and try to follow the chain back to the original lift.  Can you see a resemblance?  

You can click this link to see all of the lovely creations and the order in which the chain progressed.  It will take you to the thread on the Cocoa Daisy message board.  There were enough ladies who joined the game that two "teams" were formed, each using the same starting point.  Enjoy!  One of the things I love most about the CD community aside from how genuine, sweet, and supportive they are is the inspiration, talent, and variety of scrapbooking that can be found there.  Love them!

Thank you for visiting and following my muse! :)

50 Things: An Overdue Update

In August of 2012 I shared a mini book I'd made to document a self-imposed challenge of 50 Things to do before I turn 50 years old.  My 46th birthday is right around the corner, and I hadn't taken stock of my progress for my own sake, let alone to share with you, dear reader!  

So, here's 5 Things that I've tackled so far:

#1:  Travel in Europe

Completed 12/24/12 - 01/08/13

I am absolutely still pinching myself that I was able to check this one off the list so early.  It never would have been possible without the complete physical and financial support of my parents and my sister. They gifted Jillian and I with airfare, meals, expenses, and lodging.  My sister was living just outside of Paris at the time, with plans of moving back to the US, so the timing was ripe!

#2:  Take a Class in Person With
Julie Fei-Fan Balzer
Completed 01/18/14

This was an amazing experience, a dream come true, and a great exercise in holding back the hand-flapping, hyperventilating, "ohmigod! ohmigod!" squeals of a geeked out fan girl.  :)  Coupled with the fantastic studio space, art and hostessing-extraordinaire of the incomparable Jenny Doh, the whole weekend was deliciously surreal.  Julie has committed to teach again next January, and I hope to be a returning student!

#7:  Go to the Thursday Evening Farmer's Market
Completed 04/04/13

The "market" part of this outdoor fair was, I admit,  a bit disappointing.  I didn't expect there to be the abundance of vendors and produce offerings as our local Sunday market, but this particular night as a first impression wasn't terrific.  It was our 21st wedding anniversary, though, so we enjoyed a nostalgic fish taco from one of the few tents there and headed over to an exciting new monthly Art Slam event that will take place with the Farmer's Market.  Particularly AWESOME was that this night featured "GREEN Slam" and art of recycled materials which is a big favorite of mine.  And then, particularly un-awesome was that that part of the event wasn't scheduled to begin until after the market closed, and with a new pup left at home for several hours already, we weren't willing to stay till then.

#39:  Splurge on the Perfect Boots
Completed 11/30/12

Oh, my darlings!  How do I love thee?  And at half the price my splurge budget was set to allow, you are even lovelier paired with the additional sweaters and scarves I've been able to accessorize with you.
I. Love. These. BOOTS!!!

#42:  Go to Griffith Observatory
Completed 07/31/12

Wow!  The Observatory is so much bigger than I expected.  We enjoyed the hike up to the campus, the incredible views of Los Angeles, the science-y displays and explanations, and the film "Centered in the Universe" in the Planetarium.  All completely awesome!!  But, we didn't see everything, so need to make some return visits.  I have to look through the giant telescope yet.

I've checked some other items off the list, too, and will share those with you soon.  As of last night I have another Best Picture Oscar winning movie to watch as I make my way through 86 years of honored films .  With Mike out of town for the next twelve days, I should strategically choose a few that I can never talk him into watching with me...perhaps 1928/29's "The Broadway Melody" or 1952's "The Greatest Show on Earth"?

"All Talking, All Singing, All Dancing" ?
C'mon, Mike?  What's not to love???  ;)

Thank you for letting me share a bit of my journey with you!

Have a wonderful week!

Trend Setter

Los Angeles Times

January 19, 2014

Lisa Flaherty

November 26, 2013

Just sayin'….  ;)   

 Lol!

Maybe this is just the recognition I needed to post more often. 

Here's a look at something new from me to cleanse your eyes from seeing that crazy layout again (Jeremy, once again, horrified that it exists on the interwebs. #sorrynotsorry):

It is a collage I made at an awesome class taught by Julie Fei-Fan Balzer at Studio Crescendoh a couple weeks ago.  I'm finishing up another in a series, and will share more soon!  

Thanks for stopping by!

He Eats Like a Bird

This is my son, Jeremy.

He eats like a bird.

I submitted this layout in one of the challenges during Cocoa Daisy's Fall Crop earlier this month, and
I won!!
 Happy Happy Joy Joy!!

Somehow the kid keeps growing.  He's 14 years old and over 6 feet tall!

The challenge was to use various types of stitching, including some specialty embroidery stitches.
 These bird footprints were inspired by a stitch called the "Y".  

He tells me, "I'm just not a food type of person."

I added these stamps on the back of my journaling card with one of the funny quotes Jeremy has been
known to say in response to our wonderment of his lack of culinary inclinations.

I'm waiting…perhaps impatiently….

Seriously.  I cannot wait.  I'm a bit on pins and needles about it.

I wonder if he will leave the nest with his little birdie appetite.

I have to say, I'm pretty proud of myself for my paper and embellishment choices. :)
Birds, feathers, the background paper echoing the footprints, a stamped nest and a clock for my waiting and wondering, the ruler as he grows, and the train schedule that mimics meal times.  High five!

This is my son, Jeremy.

And also, he hates this layout.  Just thought I'd better mention that.  :(
Luckily, I can still take him in an arm-wrestling match.
I tell you though, don't challenge him to a battle of wits.

He'll annihilate you.

Scatter some seeds on the ground and RUN!

Lol!

Have a great day!

Mad Haiku Skills

One of my favorite things in life (besides my aforementioned devotion to Reese's Peanut Butter Cups) is word play.

Oh my gosh!  Rhyming, alliteration, puns, double entendre, clever slang, speaking in accents, mispronunciations, spoonerisms, etc.:   I LOVE IT!!

So, when we had dinner with friends a few weeks ago I was highly entertained:

My hidden journaling.  

That "Like" stamp is from Urban Outfitters.  It comes in a set of two,

 the second being a "Dislike" stamp.  I had to have it!

I emailed Mrs. H., or K-dog as she is sometimes known, to get a recent picture of her men-folk to memorialize the Haiku Hijinx--I was still laughing about it 2 weeks after the event, surely a sign that a scrapbook page was in order!

5-7-5 is the number of syllables in the three lines of a haiku poem.

Most of the products here are from Cocoa Daisy's May Kit, "Record Label".

Also loving Ronda Palazzari's Kaleidoscope stencil--the yellow painty areas. 

Here's a closer look at the haiku I wrote to capture that moment in time:

Todd sent me a text earlier this week from a number I didn't recognize, asking for my email address.  I asked who it was requesting this personal information from me.  His response?

 Yep!  All in haiku!!!!!

He's an unstoppable force!!!

And I so love it!!

(See what I did there?
That is also in haiku
Friggin' addicting!)

Comments accepted 

in haiku or otherwise. ;)

Have a great weekend!

(Booya!  I did it again!)

They Glow

We visited my parents in San Diego last weekend, and the sunset was simply spectacular!  As the sky morphed and changed minute by minute I took picture after picture after picture.  I was tickled by the thought that this is my mom and dad's "new normal".  This is the view from their home-- this sunset, visible from their kitchen window, the sofa in the family room, the outdoor dining table, the swimming pool.

I hand cut the title from the card stock and backed it with an array of scraps
from Graphic 45's Bohemian Bazar collection.

Ooo!  This is the first time I've ever used a transparency!  Such a cool way to add depth and texture while
keeping things light and neutral.  This one is from Alison Kreft for Webster's Pages 

I watercolored a gradient on my journaling tag, as well as on my background paper, prior to cutting out the title.

They are so happy!  I am so happy for them!  I love that even after two years my dad is still giddy with the disbelief that this is their home.  Congratulations!  I love you!


Thanks for stopping in!

OLW #72: CRAZY

This month's Word Up at One Little Word is CRAZY, put forth by the lovely Denise Morrison.

Ooo, did that word sing out to me!  Yes, in actual song.  Which made me think of all the songs that have "Crazy" in them like:

• Crazy by Patsy Cline
• She Drives Me Crazy by Fine Young Cannibals
• Crazy by Gnarls Barkley
• Crazy For You by Madonna
• Let's Go Crazy by Prince
• I Go Crazy by Paul Davis
• Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Queen
• Watching The Wheels by John Lennon

There are a lot of them.  And, yes, I realize I am dating myself with the selections cited. ;)  Whatevs.

It was the John Lennon one that struck me.  

"People say I'm crazy, doin' what I'm doin'"

There are a lot of choices I've made in life that others think are crazy--from adding a pet to the family to quitting high salaried jobs--and there are chances I've taken that are crazy by my own retrospective measure (remaining tight-lipped as the statute of limitations may not have yet expired. Lol!).

Journaled with a Speedball fountain pen and Higgins waterproof black ink
on a piece of Disney Princess drawing paper by Mead.  :)
(It was here, it was 9x12, and it had the weight I was looking for.)
I colored the paper with a wash of several Distress Inks and Dylusion mist.

I started journaling with the intent to obliterate some crazy confessions and over-journal with my crazy dreams.   I realized that I don't hold regrets for any of the crazy stuff I've done.  It all makes up who I am, the past experiences, close shaves, exhilarating risks, and leaps of faith.

 "Crazy" is subjective--what seems crazy to some may be completely sane to others.   

I tore the journaling into strips, mixed them up because my past and my dreams for the future, no matter how crazy each might be, are a part of me, perhaps the essence of me.  I wove them through a little self-portrait that I'd done with a Stabilo All Pencil, watercolors, and oil pastels.  (Kind of a mess…)

Check out all the crazy, wonderful inspiration on the One Little Word blog, and join in!

Thanks for stopping by!

Still Searching for Myself

I found my art journal the other day.  It was buried on my work table which is decidedly too small a space for working AND allowing in progress things to dry and/or marinate.  A re-design of my space is in progress.  :)  

Flipping through, I found this spread from May of last year.  "You can be who you want to be….and it doesn't have to have a name.  It doesn't have to be defined.  It is You.  At your core, your center, it is You."  Hmm.  Sage advice I'd given myself, and yet I am still struggling, still trying to construct a definition.   

I need to put that torch down.  I need to answer "Who Am I?" with "I Am Me."

"Me" is answer enough, though I can always continue developing, evolving, and emerging into my me-ness.

This bit of blue paper that I made into a pocket for my journaling was piece of a two part experiment.
Part One was to draw and cut out the "girl version" of the paper dolls seen in the Amy Tangerine washi tape there, with the connected hands and feet forming heart shapes.  Part Two was me wondering how bleach and colored paper would react.  I mixed some bleach and water in a spray bottle, laid the paper dolls down as a mask, spritzed and waited to see what happened.  I like it!!

I know that my art journal is a pivotal part of my self-discovery process.  In finding it, I feel I found a piece of me.  A forgotten piece, literally buried beneath a bunch of "have-to's", projects for others or for purposes other than play.

How completely perfect that it resurrected itself today, on Easter Sunday.  :)

Happy Spring!  Thank you for visiting!