Snow OWOH giveaway and stuff

There isn't a heck of a lot going on here. Well, nothing interesting. ;) I haven't made anything for over two weeks. YIKES! I have been reading a lot and just honkering down in the ole' homestead. :)

We got a lot of snow over the weekend and we're due for two more storms this week. About a foot and a half fell from Friday night into Saturday. The boys made a snow fort big enough to fit 3 or 4 people. I'm more the kind of gal who likes to look out the window or stand on the porch and admire the beauty of the snow. I keep the hot chocolate and coffee going and feed everyone. So I'm the inside support while my hubby and boys clean up the outside. It works for me! I wanted to pop in and post since it's been about a week since I blogged. I continue to read Sense and Sensibility. I am hoping to be done in the next couple of days.

If you have not entered but would like a chance to win some of my jewelry please go to this POST Leave a comment and you are entered to win one of two pieces I made. It's part of the One World One Heart blog hopping party. There is a link to the OWOH blog on my right side bar where you will find a list of all of the people from around the world participating and having giveaways.

My friend Diana Estrella is asking people to share their "cupid shot me" stories at her blog. You can go there if you'd like to share a story with her and you'll find the details of how to go about it.

Ok so that's it for now. I need to do some more school with my son and I also want to try to get some bags together for charity. I watched Hoarders yesterday and again it frightens me into decluttering and cleaning up. I can't imagine living the way some of these people do. It's so sad.

On a lighter note, I hope everyone is having a great start to the week. CREATE honey CREATE! ttfn

Hello Monday

Hi everybody! I am just going to post a quick update. I survived the youth group weekend! :) I had a great time with the kids but of course it was exhausting. I didn't need the sledgehammer or the gigantic pill. :) AND I didn't get to work in my art journal but that is ok. It was a cold but beautiful weekend in Bushkill enjoying God's beautiful nature.

I am reading Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen. Last year I tried to read Northhanger Abby but couldn't get through it. So far I am enjoying Sense and Sensibility. It is just taking me longer to read this book then it usually takes me to read a book because of the style of the writing.
I also picked up Little Women today from the library. I can't wait to read it when i'm finished with the other book.
So that is what I am up to. It's cold here and we're expecting snow tonight. I'm hoping to make some art tomorrow but I'm not sure if it will happen. I'll be back with something creative to share, hopefully in a day or two. TTFN!!

Ready for the weekend

I have my art kit packed. Just some simple stuff to work with. A few magazines, brown paper journal pages, etc. etc. Bringing Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility along as well.

Now onto preparing for dealing with almost 20 teenagers. (I was told the count is now 17 kids)

Now before you gasp and yell abuse....this sledge hammer isn't for the teens it's for me if I can't get to sleep because of the noise. :)

AND if all else fails this guy is going to stop over and give me that pill. hee hee

All kidding aside, I am hoping for a great weekend. This is my 2nd oldest son's last big trip with the youth group as he is a senior this year. I'm looking forward to spending time with him and also getting to know the other kids a little. I realize if I don't sleep I can take it easy on Monday so I'm not stressing about it at all. My biggest concern is that they listen and don't give me crap. God is good so whatever happens there will be a lesson for me in there I'm sure! I'm also looking forward to spending some quiet time with the Lord as I want to re-evaluate some things and decide what I need to work on and what I need to let go. I have high hopes for this weekend huh?

I hope you all have a great weekend! Don't forget to leave a comment at the link below if you want to enter my One World One Heart giveaway! In order to be eligible to win a prize the comment has to be left at that link. TTFN

Just yapping...

Hi hello bloggy friends! I'm not feeling real well today. My throat is bothering me and I'm going away this weekend as a chaperone with 15 teenagers. My tonsils are swollen, probably allergy related and of course it is a fight for me to take it easy as I have a million and one things to do. Wouldn't it be nice to get sick when it's convenient? :) I know you understand where I'm coming from. I'm brewing a cup of tea and going to try to muddle through.

I made the hearts yesterday to tuck in my door planter. Like you probably do, I change the flowers seasonally/per holiday. I thought hmmmm, this needs something. I had some copies of vintage music so I made some hearts and added glitter to them, popped them on a pipe cleaner and tucked them in to the flowers.
I'm working on my new brown paper pages that I will bind and turn into a journal. It's easier for me to work on them unbound anyway. I am looking into purchasing a Zutter Bind it All. I used one at a workshop I took with Donna Downey and even though it was a bit confusing I like the way it binds the books, etc. So this is a rough sketch of a girl and I'm not sure where I'm going with it. I'll probably add some collage to it after I paint her. Will share when I'm finished.

Ok, back to school with the 10 y.o. boy and do I dare take on the hamster cage before taking said boy to his homeschool gym class? If I do not clean it soon the hamster is going to hang a sign on the cage and declare it condemned. *sigh I hope everyone is having a wonderful day! TTFN

Brown Paper Pages and other things

Hi bloggers! I wanted to share a couple of things real quick. First the Valentine Tag Book hosted by Natalea (link on right sidebar). This is just a quick shot of it and I would like to sometime in the next couple of days photograph each tag and make a slide show. Natalea had said she was going to be posting a slide show as well.
I did this page yesterday. I am starting a new journal made with brown paper. The pages are loose right now but I am going to finish it by adding vintage children's book covers for the covers. I had fun with this page. I photo copied a vintage children's book in black and white and then colored everything in and added some journaling and lettering to the page.
My giveaway is going on until February 15th. Here's the link to the post you need to leave your comment at in order to be entered to win! Linda's ONE HEART ONE WORLD Giveaway - enter here. :) TTFN

ONE WORLD ONE HEART GIVEAWAY

Come ride the magic carpet with One World One Heart, a blog hopping adventure. This is, I think, my third time participating in this yearly event. I am giving away two of my jewelry pieces. Here's what you can try to win.

This is one of my wire wrapped watch cases with a collage picture in side accented with amber and blue glass and acrylic beads. It can be yours in all it's rustic shabbiness.
Either wear it on the black cord that I am including or switch it out to a favorite chain.

This next piece is a knit button bracelet. The yarn is sport weight in a neutral off whitish color (you can see it's true color in the other shots) and the vintage buttons are different shades of blue.



Here's what you have to do. YOU MUST HAVE AN ACTIVE BLOG TO PARTICIPATE AND YOU MUST LEAVE A COMMENT AT THIS POST BY FEBRUARY 15, 2010 FOR A CHANCE TO WIN EITHER THE NECKLACE OR BRACELET. I WILL BE ANNOUNCING THE WINNERS ON FEBRUARY 16.

Please check out my links to my Artfire store (RIGHT SIDE OF BLOG) and if you like my blog I'D LOVE IT IF YOU SIGNED UP TO FOLLOW MY BLOG (LEFT SIDE OF BLOG). This is of course not required for your chance to win. ;)

For more details visit the official One World One Heart Blog by clicking the link below. There you will find 100's of blog links to check out and enter giveaways to win fabulous prizes. THANKS FOR STOPPING!!!

80's Art Journal Page

I had a blast with this page. The tag has a list of different things that happened in 1986. Movies, sports, etc. I journal-ed about where I was in the picture (NYC summer of '86) and why I was there, etc. You can zoom in on the pictures for a closer look if you like. I am actually pleased with the lettering in the title. I just keep looking at the picture and can't believe I was ever that thin! I'm 22 in this picture. :) *sigh
On another note..the tags got to Natalea...10 days after mailing!! So that ordeal is over. Now I'm ready for the next swap....Spring theme? Right? :) I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. My husband and I are going to have a date night tonight so that will be fun. TTFN bloggy friends!

Valentine's Book Board

HELLO good blog citizens!!! I made this Valentine piece last night. I added some more glitter glue to it today. I will be adding a ribbon for hanging at the top. Other then that I think it's finished. WELL, I might add some lace around the edges. We'll see. It's an old children's book back cover, with various things added. The focal point is a copy of a vintage valentine that I had left over from the tag swap. As of yesterday, it has been over a week since I sent my tags off and they still hadn't arrived to Natalea. It was supposed to take 2 days. Y es, I am still dwelling on that sore subject! Now I'm just trying to get up the courage to go in and make a complaint about the postal worker. *sigh


My son has gym class this afternoon so I figure I will go make some color copies at Staples and maybe go to the thrift shop. I like to use copies in my pieces and in my art journals. I still haven't gotten up enough nerve to use the originals. This Baedeker's Italy travel book is about 100 years old so I definitely will not rip this up. The maps are fabulous and will make great backgrounds in my art journaling.

If you think of it and I know this sounds silly, pray that I do not flip out at my post office. For whatever reason I aggravated the woman behind the counter and it just so happens that my package is waaaaaaaaaaay late. I don't think it's a coincidence but I don't have proof. I used stamps instead of online printing so I have no receipt. So she could easily get away with "losing" it. I wouldn't be surprised if I go in there and it is hanging up as an example of how you should not irritate the workers! roflol Anyway, probably tomorrow if it doesn't arrive I will have to go in and complain, whether it does any good or not I don't know. Have a wonderful, creative day bloggy friends!!!! TTFN

Today's Page

Ok, I guess I'm on a roll. I've been pulling out my art journal books for inspiration (Lynn Perrella's books rock!!) and here's what I came up with today. Doodling, no lettering for me today. This is how I'm feeling....a bit sassy and a bit WHATEVER!!!!!! :)
I finally figured out how to work on some art work and homeschool at the same time. My son is old enough to work independently but he needs me to be near by to remind him to keep going. In other words if I leave the room to do something and leave him too long he will just sit and day dream. *sigh I worked in my art journal while I sat with him today. When I am not instructing him on how to do something and he's working on his own I usually try to read. Today I thought "work in your art journal Linda". So that is what I did and it is doable. If I prepaint my pages I do not have to get into anything really messy....just a glue stick, scissors, magazines, paper and pens will do. Now I need to go..he's playing Wii Sports Resort on his break and I need to get the rest of his school work in order so we can get back to it! TTFN

Terrific Tuesday

Is it really terrific Tuesday? Well, I must admit I am struggling a bit even though it has been warmer here and I was able to actually get some sun yesterday. So I'm being positive and calling today "Terrific Tuesday" even if I don't really feel that way. I am working on organizing my work area. I'm trying to clear my counters because I can't stand the clutter. I am in the process of collecting jars to display the things I like and the things that inspire me. The book "Where Women Create" has lots of wonderful tips and ideas for studios and spaces. Almost every person in there says to display things that inspire you in jars and bowls all around your room. Since I share my room with my family (it's the computer room and an occasional dining room) it's important to me that it is orderly. My husband finished this I guess it was back in the late fall. I'm still not sure how I want to use the storage and other areas. I keep changing things. I'm still very disorganized. So here are a few jars I picked up last week thrifting with some things that I think are inspiring or pretty to me. I will share more as I organize.I did this page today. Sorry for the glare. The page is about how I'm trying to get healthier this year and lose weight, etc. I REALLY need to work on my lettering.



Enjoy your week and be creative no matter what you do! TTFN

Paint Pens Are Cool!

I went and ran errands this afternoon and finally picked up some poster paint pens. I LOVE THEM! I did this page today after I purchased the pens. First I gesso'd the page, then painted with metallic acrylic paint, the images are from a magazine and then the lettering and stuff I did with the paint pen. I had fun. Enjoy the weekend bloggy friends!

Bye bye tags and other rantings!

GOOD GRIEF! I went to the post office this morning to mail my tags off for Natalea's Valentine Tag Swap and the postal worker was so freakin' mean! I won't get into the details of it as not to bore you. I was just taken back by what a witch this person was. I just want to say I know that it is hard to work with the public but if you don't like your job don't take it out on others. Either get a new job or just try to be at least decent. It's not other people's fault if you don't like your career! That being said here are my finished tags.



I color copied vintage valentine's, distressed and stamped the tags and added glitter glue. I also used the wire tag that comes with the shipping tag and did some wire wrapping, added some wire wrapped hearts and brads on some. I had so much fun making these. I want to make some collages on old children's book covers and hopefully will find the time to get to them as I'd like them to have a Valentine's theme.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful, creative week!

Finishing Tags and other things

Hi bloggy friends...I haven't done any art journaling the past few days as I'm putting the finishing touches on my Valentine tags for the swap. Here's a sneak peek at them..just enough to get the idea but not enough to spoil it!


This little beauty is from my dear mother in law..you know the one who "gets" me. :) Isn't it sweet?

I hope everyone has a terrific, creative weekend in store! We will be helping my oldest son move into his first apartment. :( :) It's bittersweet. I am happy for him but...well you know...it's hard for me! So I'm sure it's going to be an emotional day for me tomorrow. TTFN

1.5.10

Here's another Teesha inspired page. I picked up a variety pack of fine tip sharpie markers. I'm having fun playing....I'm also getting my tags done for the Valentine Swap I'm in...until next time.....TTFN

Another page...

I'm coming a long with the pages inspired by Teesha Moore. I need to get some paint pens and of course the lettering needs work but all in all I'm happy with how the page turned out. I do not know who quoted "Be Fear Less" but Teesha had a page in her video with the quote and I liked it. I'm still viewing her lettering videos. Happy Monday and I hope you have a CREATIVE day!!! TTFN