Photo Day

What I'm taking pictures of: These are from two Saturdays ago when I went to a garden downtown.

What I'm creating: These are from journal #1.

What's inspiring me:

from: here and here.

Much love.

Independence Day!

Happy 4th of July everyone. :)  I have been busy making things today since I did not have to work!

What I'm creating:  Here is my ICAD for the 4th, very appropriate for today.



I made a canvas for a friend today.  It is much simpler than I normally make things because I did not make it collage style, but I love the way it turned out.  I used a ribbon and the simple message of strength, which can carry someone through many trials in life.  For the background I used a technique I've been playing with recently.  I took an old gift card and put the paint directly on the canvas (or page if I'm doing it in an art journal), then using the credit card, I spread and mixed the paint. 

In journal #1 today I created a 4th of July spread about American Dreams.  I left space on the white lines to fill in my own journaling and thoughts.  I used bubble wrap as a stamp on one of the pages.

Journal #2:  The background is watercolor and I used magazine clippings and my new washi tape.

Journal #3: This is the page that I made the background on yesterday.  It still looks a little bare though, so I am trying to think of what else to put on this page.  I might write quotes maybe?  Any ideas?

Tonight I will fall asleep to the sounds of fireworks in the night.  What did you all do for the 4th?

Much love.

Blog Facelift

Yesterday I decided to change the background and about me photo.  I wanted a simpler background and a more current photo of me. :)  What do you think?

What I'm reading: Today I discovered a new blog that I absolutely love!  Journal Fodder Junkie is written by two guys, Eric and David who have a passion for visual journaling and the impact it has on peoples lives.  One prompt that really inspired me was: What have been your stepping stones- those significant moments of your life?  What have been the moments when significant change or growth has occurred?  What have these shifts meant for you and the direction of your life? 

What I'm creating: I made a new spread today in Journal #1: Grace (the new title for the art journal in the Nordstroms catologue).  I also made two back grounds in Journal #2, which I showed a spread from Friday, and in another new book, Journal #3.  It is fun to work in different books at once because it allows me to be creative in different places. :)

journal #2:

journal #3:

Here are my ICAD for July 2nd and 3rd.  They are both pretty simple.

Is everyone excited for the 4th tomorrow?  Any fun plans?

Much love.

Saturday Love

Lately, Saturdays have been my favorite days of the week.  Its nice to relax and not have to work, plus I have been having adventures out and about.  Today it was actually sunny and I went downtown with my family.  Mom, sis and I got pedicures while Dad drank coffee and waited patiently. :) We then walked around and shopped.

What I wore/What I'm reading: I also loved today because I got my new Glamour magazine.  They focused on street style in this issue which I thought was neat, and they featured fashion bloggers.  Gabi Gregg at http://www.youngfatandfabulous.com/ is my new icon.  She is a gorgeous plus sized blogger and I LOVE her style.  And I love how she does not care about her size.  She posted photos of her in a bikini and even a tent style maxi dress, both which would be considered "no's" for bigger people.  One quote from the magazine interview was, "Ignore the rules.  I always tell my readers to stop saying 'I wish I could pull that off,' and just do it!" 

So today I decided to wear my romper!  Huge fashion risk for me.  I've been trying to find the perfect cheap romper and I tried on a strapless one earlier this summer that just did not look the best.  But I ended up finding a tank top style blue one from Forever21 that was on sale for $10 so I thought I might as well buy it.  And I loved wearing it today!  It keeps me cool and is so cute for the summer time.  Here it is paired with a white tank, forever 21 necklace and Nordstroms sweater (with Dad and sissy downtown):

from: here and here

What I bought: While we were downtown I made a few purchases, of course.  I found washi tape!  I've been reading about it on a million different blogs, and I found it at a bookstore.  I also discovered this vinal type fabric that came in a ton of different prints.  It was $3 a foot so I just got a little but I think I am going to use it for a journal or planner cover.  My mom got me this cute pen that says it has an extra large ink holder and will last for 7 years; I just liked the cute feather on the top. :)

What I'm listening to: I have never watched The Voice before in my life until this week.  I watched the final episode, and although I was not thrilled, I loved Javier Colon's voice!  Here is the youtube video of Stich by Stich which is the first song I heard by him.

What I'm creating: The first page I painted yellow and cut out several quotes from another book I got at a thrift store.  I found the frames in a different Nordstroms catalogue, and the red flowers is a stamp from my aunt that I put on top of blue watercolor paper I made.

The second page is a collection of papers I got today.  The black and white frame was the wrapping from the new pen I got today, and the checked paper is from my pizza today!  Don't worry I tore it off before it got all gross from the pizza, although my sister was mortified when I told her I was going to use it in some project. :)

My mom thought I should make the photos bigger so readers could see my pages better!  What do you think of the larger size?

Much love.

With Every Heartbeat

What I'm listening to: I've been stealing good new songs from watching So You Think You Can Dance.  Ryan and Caitlynn are my two favorite girls, and for guys I love Tadd.  But this week Melanie and Marko danced to I Got You by Leona Lewis.  Another one of my favorite songs from this weeks show was With Every Heartbeat.  I love using tv shows to find song inspiration.  The Friday Night Lights theme song, Your Hand in Mine is one of my favorite songs ever.

What I'm creating: For my best friends birthday I made her a canvas!  I used purple colors and I think it turned out pretty.  I also used the stud stickers I got a few weeks ago from the Michaels sale. 

Much love.

Just Another Day

What's on my walls: Today I was looking around on weheartit.com and I found this photo of a collection of pins that were arranged in a heart shape.  I have a button collection and so I re-arranged them into the shape of a heart!  So cute.

from: here

What I'm creating:  Today was the last day of Janel's 30 day journal challenge.  Here are my last few entries.  For the 29th I interviewed my mom (below) and she had some very inspiring things to say.  Parents are smarter than we think. :) The prompt for the 30th is who you would thank, and I am so blessed to have the best family and friends in the world.  So thank you guys.  Janel also posted an extra challenge to draw little doodles on the back side of pages.  I drew two cute balloons.

Here is my ICAD 30.  I used a piece of music and painted it using blue watercolors.

I started messing around in a new book today.  I got it from the library book cellar several years ago.  I used watercolors and masking tape.  I also used a new bird cage stamp in the corner, although it is kind of hard to see on this page.  The bottom art journal is the Nordstroms catalogue.  I used the same bird cage stamp and a piece of music.  The sheet music says "free" on it, which I thought connected nicely with the bird cage!

What is inspiring me: I have been reading Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell, and the passage I read today was talking about how we should try to bring a little bit of heaven down to earth every day.  It helped me try to be happier and more joyful today. :)

from: here

How are you bringing heaven to earth each day?

Much love.

Sweet Life

(My computer was freaking out, so here is my post from yesterday!)

What's inspiring me: Today at work we had mini cupcakes to celebrate June birthdays and they were so cute and very delicious.  They inspired my ICAD 29, shown below.

from: here, here and here.

What I'm creating:  Here are my past two index cards for Daisy Yellows index card a day summer challenge, 28 and 29.  When I google searched that phrase, "Life is short but sweet for certain" I discovered that the phrase is lyrics from a Dave Matthews song called Two Step.  I have been watching the youtube video over and over again. 

Here is the backside of the cover page of the Nordstroms catologue.  I use a piece of ribbon and a magazine clipping to frame the words "summer unplugged."

While I was at my aunts this weekend I also had time to make a ton of patterned pages to use in my art journals.  I took raised pieces of plastic and did crayon rubbings with watercolor crayons.  Then, I put water over top of them.  Here is a few of the pages I made.

What I'm reading:  I just finished The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin, and I absolutely loved it!  She also has a blog where she posts ideas.  Here is the link to her blog where she posts tips about how to be happier.  I have not had time to really explore the blog yet.  Many people would ask her why she was doing the happiness project.  They asked her if she was depressed, when she really just wanted to learn how to be more joyful each day.  My favorite quote is from the end of her book, "The ruby slippers had been on my feet all along."  She realized that she had everything she needed to be happy from the beginning. 

What are you doing today to appreciate all that you have?

Much love.

P.S. Sorry for so many spelling errors in my last post!  I need to try to write them before midnight.  :)