As September Comes to a Close...

Today's mini-collage...


and September's grid is all finished! Yeayyy!!!

The leaves are starting to change here, which is one of my favorite things ever! I hope it's a colorful autumn!

Just Playing in my Art Journals today...

I'm loving doing these mini-collages! Here's the one for today...
Seeing happy dogs just makes my day! Have you seen the Sharky the Pitbull videos? OMG so cute! Click here for one of my favorites. If you like it, there are more in the youtube sidebar. What a sweetie.


And here's today's art journal page...
The background is a page from an old country-western magazine. The big daisy is a piece of napkin. I also used magazine and stationary images, gesso, paint, neocolor II crayons, tape and scrapbook paper scraps. It's so freeing to just play with random thoughts and images.

Now I've got two more card peeks to do to finish up for September.

Thanks for visiting! I'll be back soon with another update!

No More Excuses Update...

Just a quick update for ya. I'm still going strong with the No More Excuses journal, and loving it!

Here's today's mini-collage...

Card Peek #2 for September (Sticking with the Sketchbook Challenge's "Unfurl" theme for this month)...


I've also started assembling my 2012 No More Excuses Journal! It's getting really fat, and I still have that whole pile on the right to add in...
For more info on the No More Excuses Journaling Workshop Series, click here. If you are looking to develop a fun daily ritual, I highly recommend it!

Thanks for visiting and I will see you again soon!

ATC Deck of Prompts - Phase 2...

Last night I completed phase two of my Deck of Prompts Swap. Here's how they turned out (click on the image to see it larger)...
This was my favorite one to make this time...

Here's the scribble I started out with...
Made me remember how much I liked that game as a kid. I used to play with friends, and we would each make a scribble for the other one. Did you ever do that?

Anyhoo, this swap is so much fun! When we get done with all four phases we will have a complete deck of 52 prompt cards. How great is that?


Today I will leave you with a shot of Johnny in the scraproom!

I will see you again soon my friends! Thanks for visiting!

Still Working on my September NME Grid...

My September NME Grid is coming along nicely! I'm using Prismacolor Pencils and with gamsol...
If you haven't heard of gamsol, it's an odorless mineral spirit that works great for blending colored pencils. In the photo above, the grey square on the bottom has gamsol blending on the top half - see the difference? Here are a couple of closeups:

The grey background on the left is blended with gamsol, while the purple background on the right isn't.


Here's a closer view of the grey square.

For more info on gamsol, check out this video - click here.


I will leave you with a recent photo of Willie in the scraproom.

Have a fabulous Saturday my friends!

Scrapfest Was A Blast!!!

I attended Scrapfest at the Mall of America with my girlfriends this past weekend, and it was a blast! I am making a Smashbook all about the event! I can't wait to share it with you, but it's not quite done yet. In the meantime, here are just a few photos to share...

Here we are getting our photo taken in the world's largest scrapbook page! Left to right is Anne, Christina, Me and Lynn.

KC and Melissa of My Mind's Eye were fabulous hosts of the Friday Night Crop Around Town! They are so much fun and full of energy!!!

I got to meet April, Nicole and Kelly of Studio Calico!!! They were so sweet!!!

It was great to see Amy Tan again, who I know from SiSTV days! I took her minibook class and it was AWESOME!!!

I also took a class from Michelle Hill of Polkadot Whimsy fame. I have been inspired by her ever since I saw a video of her beautiful scraproom and adorable pug!!! She was just as nice and funny in person as she was on the video...
P.S. I tried to find that video to link you up, but I can't find it - aargh. If any of you know where it is, could you link us up in the comments? That would be fabulous!

I've got so much to share about Scrapfest! The class projects I made, my Smashbook, and a review of the event in general. All coming up soon!

Life is flying by so fast right now, I can't even believe it! Every week goes faster than the week before! Do you ever feel like that?

Thanks for visiting and for your comments! I really appreciate them!!! Have a great day and I will be back soon!

Sketchbook and Journal Fodder Junkies Challenges...

The theme for September at the Sketchbook Challenge is "Unfurl." I decided to use that theme in this month's tiny watercolor sketches aka "Card Peeks," in my No More Excuses Journal. Here's my first card peek...

Unfurl:
verb
To open, unfold, open out, blossom, develop, progress.

Challenge #19 at The Journal Fodder Junkies is called "Come Out And Play." It asks us when the last time was that we went out and just played? I thought about it and realized that my art IS my play, when I'm doing it just for myself. Here's what I came up with...
The coloring turned out super messy (It's Pitt Markers on Magazine Paper); but since I was just playing, it didn't even matter - yeayyy!!!

How do you play? Click here to go to the challenge. They actually have a new one up too, so don't forget to check that out while you are there!

Thanks for visiting my friends and I will see you again soon!

List #8/30 Things That Remind Me of My Childhood...

The photo is me, can you tell? HA. The goats were not mine however. (as much as would like them to have been). They are a magazine image.

Thanks for visiting! I will see you again soon!

List #6/30 and More No More Excuses Pages...

I'm a little behind in posting my lists! Here's list #6: Favorite Color Combinations...
Image was found here, and is originally from this book. Also used specialty paper and poster paint sharpies.

I also have some more pages from my No More Excuses journal to share...




I hope you are having a fabulous week my friends! Thanks for visiting!

Journal Fodder Junkies "Show Up Like Magic..."

The newest prompt over at Journal Fodder Junkies is called "Show Up Like Magic." It's all about the people in your life that show up for you just when you need them. There's the ones that you are close to, and then once in awhile, someone you would never expect is there for you - know what I mean? It's all magical in my opinion. :0) Anyways, here's the page I made for the challenge. It's in my Record Album Full Tilt Boogie Journal...
The bottom layer is all tape, then gesso, acrylic paint, neocolor II crayons, vintage contact paper, magazine image, stamped letters and gel pen doodles.

If you are interested in the Journal Fodder Junkies challenges - click here to go to the site.

Now I'm off to work on my list journal. Thanks so much for visiting and I will see you again soon!

August Tiny Sketches No. 3 & 4...

My four tiny watercolor sketches in my "No More Excuses" daily journal for August are all done! Yeayyy! I'm happy I stuck with it, because I've learned so much with this practice. Here are the last two...

#3 was super fun...

#4 was a pain in the rear (lol), but good education for me...

In the comments after the 2nd sketch, Laurie had asked what I am going to do with these sketches, and I want to address her question. I am just keeping them in my daily journal as a record of my practice. I pasted the images I was drawing from on the left-hand page, and the sketches on the right. Hopefully as I go along in the coming months I will be able to see my progress! Here's a photo of how they look in my journal...

Thanks for asking Laurie!

So, now my August "No More Excuses"/daily journal is officially complete! It has been tagged as Journal #10 for 2011, and is going on a shelf today. Here it is...


I am having so much fun working the "No More Excuses" methods into my daily journaling practice! If you are interested in finding out about Gina's No More Excuses workshop - click here for more info. You won't be sorry!

Have a great Monday my friends, and thanks again for visiting and for your comments!

September List #4...

Things to do on a Sunday Morning...
More to share, but I've got to catch a few zzzzz's first. See you soon!

Time for a New Daily Journal...

Hi everyone! It's the beginning of a long holiday weekend here in the U.S. (labor day), and I don't have anywhere I have to be. The cats and I will be hanging in the scraproom for three days straight - yeayyy!!!

September 1st started a new daily journal for me. I loved using the Papaya Art journal so much, I started another one. I'm totally in love with the artwork on this one. Here's the cover...

So far, I finished my title page...
The pages come with beautiful watercolor and doodle backgrounds. Love. I just added the words.


I chose not to do the list for today. The topic is "People I Love." Beautiful idea, but I have no idea how I would make a list like that. I would be afraid I would leave someone out and then I would feel terrible. My issue I know. It's just a list. HA. But still, I can't seem to do it. So let me just say I LOVE EVERYONE!!! Now I feel better. grin.

I wish you a wonderful weekend everyone! Thanks for visiting!

September List #2...

I am happiest when...

Happy Friday everyone!

September List #1: Goals...

September 1st List:
What are your goals for this month? Here's what I came up with...


Can't wait til tomorrow! See you then!