Apple Paper Painting

It's almost done! I worked on the paper collageing this weekend. I was so very hesitant to begin because I didnt have the papers I wanted. I borrowed some and piece mealed it together in order to come up with a good start. I have a smidge more to do...but I am leaving a bit more paint exposed than other artists may choose in their collage.

When I arrived home, my husband said I ruined it. He liked it better before hand. I liked it better after and from a distance. LOL I loved how the colors came together and how I used alot of my classroom left over dittos as part of the painting! (I painted the dittos.)

This afternoon I sorted about 3,000 stamps and went through some of my ephemera for future use! I also gathered together a few things that Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson
will need to add to her upcoming pieces.
If you have never checked out her work...it is a must see!
I am attending another workshop next month in paper painting with Elizabeth!

I also purchased her DVD and so can you!!! Click the photo to find out how!


She is an amazing artist and an even more amazing person!

I am biting at the bit to get my gnome started...but with Jay being potty trained this weekend, it is getting in the way of me doing much of anything! Joys of motherhood!

EDIT:
By now, Jay is long potty trained (June 23, 2010) and my gnome is done. Here's some shots of it...

Painting with paper...

I do not consider myself an artist...clever maybe...but never an artist! I have never had any formal lessons in art other than the accepted public education art classes. So with that said, please refrain from any criticism of my work as if I am trying to be something I am not...consider this your formal acknowledgment I am not an artist.

With that being said...I am an artist! You see art is what you make it and how it makes you feel...and this makes me feel good. Not because I consider it a masterpiece, but I consider it a cool start! I have found my niche at the moment for my own style of painting....although Jayda told me, "People would pay money for that if they had any!" She thought like 100 dollars...

I asked my son how much he thought I paid for this when I bought it. He said twenty five dollars. Then I told him I painted it. He liked that I created it.



My youngest son, who is 2, thought it was very "pritly." He knew it was an apple. For that alone, I consider it art!

I am taking an art class with Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson this Saturday. It is a paper paintings course...in which she will teach us how to artistically add paper to our paintings. Many times people become attached to their paintings and can not put paper over what they painted. I understand this! If it weren't for this next painting...I don't know if I could stand it...but I do not think it is going to be a fluke so I will paper piece it!
(Sorry it is a little blurry...)

It is going to be from this sketch...he is going to be surrounded by tall grass!


I was going to sketch him on the board I am painting but I do not think I want to go that route. I am also kind of at a stand still...I want his mustache and beard to kind of come out of the painting a tickle your cheek when you get close. I do not know how to do that...or the notion hasn't taken me yet. The painting is going to be called "Caught Looking". I like that name because...is the gnome looking at you or are you looking at him???? I love gnomes!

Who loves the 80's???

I do!!!

So does Laura at {simply.scraps} and Spinky Dink Scraps as they teamed up for the coolest 80's collab kit!

Check this out! It is called [Brite]! Isn't it everything you could hope for in an 80's kit???
It will be available tomorrow at Elemental Scraps here and Gotta Pixel here.

Here is my take on this wonderful kit!

You are going to die when you see this rockin' 80's kit put together by Spinky Dink Scraps and {simply.scraps}.

This kit is available January 25th! So check back tomorrow for your first chance to grab it. Find the links above.

What you weren't around in the 80's Go ahead and check out yearbookyourself.com and put your photo in, choose 1985 and see what you see!!! Big hair without a doubt!

Kit: [Brite] by spinky dink scraps and {simply.scraps}
stitching: valerie wibbins decorative stitches kit

{simply.scraps} makes scrapping easy!

I absolutely love creating with the designs by {simpl.scraps} aka Laura. The details in her work are impeccable and the design elements are great to mix and match!
Here are her latest designs! I have not had a chance to work with several of these but definitely wanted to share with you. After all, the speed and perfection with which Laura creates there is more than you can shake a stick at to choose from.

The following two can be found in her store HERE!

The Way You Make me Feel can be found here!

About a Guy Collab can be found here!

Yard Sale

using the Digi Kit "Veggie Kid"

Puppy Love

Using the digi kit Fave Flave collab

10 things I love

Using parts of the January GGI

1st Train

Using Toot Toot Woo Woo


Thanks for stopping by...and prepare yourselves, I am beginning to paint and collage with paper. I know...will the insanity ever stop!?! I love to create!

{simply.scraps} and {connie prince} team up!

With the onset of a new year upon us...what could be better than thinking about documenting the year 2010? Where did this year go so fast?
I am not sure!
Set out this year to document the memories both large and small by grabbing the project 365 kit by Laura and Connie!

Here is my two takes on this HUGEEEE kit!

patterned paper: {simply.scraps} project 365 creased papers
december stamp: {Connie Prince} project 365 date stamps
bracket: {Connie Prince} Project 365 basic alpha bracket
staples: {simply.scraps} toot, toot, woo, woo!
elements: Kaye Winiecki from digi kit Spring Chase
font: typical writer

Digi Kit: 365 Grab Bag {simply.scraps} and {Connie Prince}
Paper: {simply.scraps} creased red
Frames: {simply.scraps} Groupies1-4
December Stamp: {simply.scraps} Stamped Months
Numbers: {simply.scraps} plastic numbers
title numbers: {Connie Prince} Project 365 basic alpha numbers
Font: Typical Writer

Feed Me!

Hi all! It has been some time since I have last posted...I am recovering from emergency hernia surgery. This is one tough surgery! I am about 60% after two weeks and in a few more weeks I will be feeling back to normal. I am so looking forward to that! In the meantime:

I have been busy creating with some of Laura's amazing designs! She can be found at {simply.scraps} and HERE and HERE and HERE!

Here is her latest release exclusively at the DigiChick
Veggie Kid:


Here is my take on the kit:


Digital Kit: Veggie Kid by simply.scraps
Alpha: Veggie Kid by simply.scraps
Font: Typical Writer
Half cut journal spot: by Amy Wolff
Stitching: from kit My ABC's by simply.scraps

Scrappers Block 2 with a side of GLEE!

It is with great excitement I announce that I am now part of the Creative Team for Laura at {simply-scraps}! She is a designing machine and cranks out the kits that contain elements and papers that totally make a page come alive!
This is my second CT appointment and slowly but surely I am getting the hang of it! I love how it forces me to sit down and put the memories in stone...er layouts!
You can find her website here, simply-scraps.net.

Please visit her shops
HERE: The DigiChick
HERE: Elemental Scraps
and
HERE: Gotta Pixel


Laura aka {simply-scraps} released a new "Scrappers Block 2" exclusively at The DigiChick today! Make sure and run over and check it out! It makes scrapping a breeze!

I used the kit "Hot for Teacher" being re-released on December 7th at Elemental Scraps and Gotta Pixel!



Kit: Hot for Teacher digital kit by simply-scraps!
Template: Scrappers Block 2 by simply-scraps!
Font: Typical Writer
Hot for teacher being Re-released December 7th!
I am a huge fan of the show Glee...and being a teacher myself, I loved this kit!
Loved working with this template. Laura puts together a page that allows the photos to be highlighted while adding such a fun twist to a layout with the added elements!

Black Friday Freebie!

Amy Sumrall has posted a freebie on her blog!



I had the perfect picture for her turkey element! Jayda is the ultimate pain of a little sister. Jacob has the patience of a saint with her...the photos leading up to this had her in various stages of boinking his head against the wall or bouncing a kooshie ball off his head!


Amy Sumrall Black Friday Freebie
lili designs tape from Kit Once Upon a Story
font: Typical Writer
Alpha: Amy Sumrall designs redone using her freebie kit!

Merging Photos with Background papers

I have enjoyed trying some new things in photoshop today! I searched and found the tutorial on how to merge photos onto patterned paper. Jayda's page is perfect for the hippie look! Fun stuff!


lili and e.m. designs collab kit at the lilypad called Once Upon a Story
Font: Typical Writer

D is for Daisy Digital Kit by Stacey's Scraps

Digital Storage is great!

I am up and running again on Picassa photo storage!

Owl: VB Designs
alpha: bzb designs Maddie's Garden Brynn Dukes
Mini Kit: Digital Couture bugaboo freebie
Font: Typical Writer
QP by Bryn using Amy Sumrall Kit Children's Day!
Font: Typical Writer
Amy Sumrall Desmond and Molly pattern paper, CDY red brad
Amy Sumrall Shape Up Kit
Random other bits from her other kits(staple, ribbons).
Alpha: All in One Amy Sumrall
Half Cuts: Amy Wolff Designs


This past summer we went on a 12 day road trip. I am going to slowly but surely, copy paste words from my blog and bring the story to my layouts. The words are going to be opposite the layout and totally take up the entire 12 x 12 page.

Template: C Schneider Scrap Snap Freebie
Digi Kit and Alpha : collab by Lili Designs and e.m.design
Once Upon a Story
Font: Typical Writer

Digital Chaos!

I am getting more acquainted with Photoshop Elements the basics. I am finding myself looking for different things I can do than just the basics. But I have also been driven to complete the layouts. It is so much easier, faster, and less cluttered to be doing digital. However, I have found myself very "lazy" today. Groceries are purchased for the week. So, the day was not a total loss! :o) It was dreary, rainy and chilly out there today! I made a delicious chicken and fresh spinach salad for dinner. MMMM... yet, doesn't quite compare to the one I had at Applebee's with my mother on Saturday.
Without further ado...hey wait a minute!!! I had to upgrade my storage! I have reached my max storage on Picassa! I couldn't put on any more pics on my blogs. I sat here and thought and thought...do I shut it down, do I quietly disappear into the blogosphere...or do I pay 5 dollars a year for 20 G storage. I went ahead and paid 5 bucks to keep you entertained and inspired!?!
You'll have to wait until tomorrow to see the new stuff!

Ocala Scavenger Hunt

Have you ever put together a scavenger hunt for your children? I highly recommend this activity to all parents out there! You write down some basic things to find, and set off for an area your children have never encountered before. It causes them to slow down and look at things closer! All the while, providing an opportunity for quality time and bonding with one another.
This layout is an example of the fun you can have along the way of a scavenger hunt!



Background Paper: Amy Sumrall Desmond and Molly
Staples: Amy Sumrall
Horseshoe element and brads: Digifree ?
PP and ribbon: Summer Driggs, Falling for Fall
Alpha: Valorie Brown Designs, Dominic
Font: Typical Writer