instagram: a peek at summer thru an iPhone

This is the first summer in years that our family has not been able to take a vacation- big or small. This was also the first summer I would be without my big girl camera. I dropped it. I was sure we would be bored, that time would crawl and I would never have another photograph. Boy was I wrong. June 6th was the official start of our summer break and our plate has been full since that day. We have run the gammit from the saddest of days- losing a loved one, to the happiest of the year- the birth of my first granddaughter, and a summer full of everything else in between. Here is what filled the weeks of a good old fashioned "Stay at Home Summer."

DAILY EXCURSIONS. sea world. brevard zoo. universal studios. mini golf. harmony golf course.

BEDROOM MAKEOVER. painting. sanding. figuring. gathering. sewing. re-purposing.

IN THE STUDIO. stamping. dyeing. journaling. stitching. recycling. sketching.

JUGGLING JULY. time with dad. rainstorms. fireworks. working out. big top baby-q.

THE BIG DAY. on our way. waiting with our girl. meeting lincoln. thankful for miracles. making memories.

ROCKIN THIS STUFF.  hairdos. mannequin moves. Gavotte. iTunes. shades.

THIS STUFF HAPPENED. dirt road detours. pit stops. jewelry making. beach days. together. sunsets.

LEARNING TO LIVE WITH (2) LENSES: this route every 2 weeks. the day i couldn't see at all. trying out some glasses. i can see this now. getting there. these over sclera lenses might just be the ticket.

LOVING OUR LINCOLN. with aunt liv. with mama. pretty pink toes. with gram. resting. with pop.

SWEET SURPRISES FROM BIG SISTER AND HER FRIEND. harry potter world and islands of adventure.So you see, we survived a "stay at home summer." We probably garnered more memories than twenty beach vacations, and we didn't even document all of it. We played games, ran at the lake, went to the movies and out to dinner with dad. We had company from Pennsylvania twice and visits from nieces and nephews. We made pancakes and cupcakes and ate fast food too many times. We watched a tree fall on our roof and then helped dad cut it down. We felt loss and the blessing of a miracle. We laughed until we cried and then laughed some more. It was one of the most companionable summers we have had in years. It was memorable. It was perfect. And I didn't even have a big girl camera.

art stuff: recycled art combs- in thirty seconds

There are just certain things I can't throw away. Used gift cards are one of those things. No matter how many I seem to collect I just can't toss them. They seem too RE-USABLE.

I am tinkering with a few cool projects ideas that will incorporate much of the mass, but until then I found a great way to re-purpose a few of them. RECYLCED ART COMBS - how cool are these?

And you can make them in about THIRTY SECONDS! All you need are a few old gift cards and a good pair of heavy duty scissors.

A thrifty way to recycle that used gift card, these combs are a neat addition to your art journaling tool box.

I used a few of these while working on some backgrounds in my art journal. Pretty cool.

Here are a few of the other recycled tools that I have in my Art Journaling Toolbox.

studio stuff: and on day 5 i failed

Five days. That is all I could do. I tried to put my life in perspective and leave the mess each night. I called it therapy. For those of you who know me you will know that leaving my work area like this at the close of each day is actual torture. I lay awake thinking about it and have, in the past, dragged myself out of bed to make it right. I tried. Really I did.

DAY ONE ----->

DAY TWO ----->

DAY THREE ----->

DAY FOUR ----->

DAY 5  ----->

Sigh. I love order. I still won't be able to leave it all out before leaving the studio, but it will do for now.

art stuff: re-purposed tools

When you make a habit of "taking a look before you toss" you find yourself collecting some pretty odd stuff. It just takes a second look in the right light to know that you can re-purpose something. Art journaling tools are some of my favorite re-purposed items.

RE-PURPOSED ART JOURNALING SCRAPERS AND DISTRESSERS:

1. old gift cards  2. small ring of wood  3. water bottle cap  4. plastic button template  5. plastic crochet needle  6. contact solution cap  7. cut plastic bottle  8. making memories paint comb

I loved my ancient, but trusty, making memories paint comb. It came in some kind of distressing kit that I picked up years ago when I first got into mixed media. They had me at PAINT COMB. What an awesome set of words. Because I am a big re-cycler I started collecting bits of things I could use for the same purpose- adding to the looks I could create when I used them in my art journal. Like this --->

Be creative. Be inventive. Use what you have and enjoy the process!

on the worktable: art journaling

Working on this ----->

art stuff: carving some stamps

A talented and sweet friend of mine showed me how to do this at her lovely retreat a few years ago and I have been hooked ever since. Have I perfected it? Hek no! But I love them and their bold imperfections.

I think it's time for a new ink pad, but you get the idea. NOT perfect, but perfectly chunky.

I love using them in my art journal and on pretty mail art. Like this ----->

Funky and chunky. I love it!

on the worktable: art journaling

Working on this  ----->

the process: sometimes mini canvas

...because lately I love anything new and tiny. (If you follow my instagram you will know why) --->

Tiny and Pretty. Enjoy the process!

newsworthy: 21 secrets LIVE 2014 !

In honor of 21 SECRETS 5 year anniversary this 2014, Connie Hozvicka of Dirty Footprints Studio is hosting a LIVE version of the celebrated workshop where 21 past beloved teachers meet up LIVE online for a 90 minute Spreecasts where we will chat,answer questions, and art journal along with YOU! Each 21 SECRETS LIVE Spreecast is recorded for you to keep and refer to for years to come, and there is also a private Facebook and Flickr group for us and only us to share and keep the conversations
going! 21 SECRETS LIVE starts Wednesday, January 15 and runs for 21 consecutive Wednesdays.

 You can read more about all the cool details here and check out the artist bio's right here!

A special registration link has been set up for you here! I had so much fun creating alongside of such wonderfully talented art journalers this year and look forward to an even more exciting adventure again this year! Hope to see you here!

Just a note - each of the artists is given an affiliate code to use for their participation in this event anat that is how we get paid. I would be thrilled to have you register through my link here! Thank you all for your love and support!

on the worktable: art journaling

Working on this  ----->