Special Day

Friday was a special day.

My sweet girl finished her last day of Kindergarten.

I can't believe how fast this year flew by. 

She is now officially a "Big Girl" she says. :)

First grade is right around the corner.

I am excited about that. (She is too!)

I taught first grade for 5 of my 12 years as a teacher - so, 

I can't wait to visit her classroom.

But, before that...summer is here!

My dearest little first grader....my Sugar...

This summer, I can't wait for more art time with you, 

picnics in the park, 

popsicles, 

bike riding, 

swimming at the pool,

beach days & flip flops,

camping,

Mommy & Maddie Girl's Night,

giggles & movies,

late mornings in pjs,

your dance recital,

and spending more time with my "Big Girl."

You are growing up...whether I like it or not.

You make me one VERY proud Mama!! :)

Sharing some art...

I had so much fun working on this piece! 

I have wanted to try some of the things I learned & was inspired by during Christy Tomlinson's She Art class. I love how Christy works. She is fast & doodles a ton (not to mention - a super teacher). Like I said before, sometimes I think a bit too much which slows me down. I am working on speeding up a bit & enjoying more freedom in my art play. I used an old board from the back of a frame & started throwing down some background.

Turquoise...my favorite!

I knew I wanted to make a little girl. I tend to do a lot of children's art. I try lots of different things, but I always make my way back to sweet little girls. :) So I made a large round head with some old book paper. (So funny - the background paper is a Finding Nemo book that my son ripped apart. Normally, I would be a little upset. But I was like, 

"Ewwww, Thank you little guy!" ) 

Hmm, the bird just doesn't look right down there!

Then I just started playing. I saw a little ponytail on the side of her head and went with it. I loved adding the little doodles here and there. Plus the rub ons! Yum! Yum! I love using them. Christy uses them a lot, and she has great rub ons in her Scarlet Lime shop. You should check it out. But I warn you...you will want to shop! :)

Adding more and more!

I see several artists who create girls without faces. I love it! I have done many pieces like that as well and I always like the way they turn out. There is something very sweet about her featureless face. My hubby thought her cheeks were the beginning of Tim Burton big eyes...

now that I look at it - I can see that. 

But, they are cheeks!! :)

Here she is all finished. I added one of my favorite verses, stuck on some cutie epoxy stickers for flower tops, stamped away, and added more doodles. I love the way she turned out. I had such a fabulous time making her...I can't wait to make some more. This sweet thing is going to look adorable framed & hanging in my daughter's room. She will hang next to the cutest piece ever that I bought my SugarBean for Christmas by Danielle Fraser (LOVE her!).

I hope you had a day full of rejoicing!

Big Art-filled Hugs,

Jen

This is the day the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24

Time for Art Journaling

So last week when I promised myself (and my heart) that I would get to some art... I actually did. That particular day I think I managed only a few minutes. But, that was ok. Each day I have been able to carve out some time to get messy & create. It is kinda funny...once I get started,

I just can't seem to stop. :) It just makes me happy. 

Who wants "happy" to go away?? Not me!

I worked on some journal pages that were not finished. I like to work a little and then come back to it again & again. 

So they are still works in progress.

My art journal is so fun because there is no pressure. It is just for me. 

Sometimes I just paint...sometimes collage, and other times write. 

It depends on my mood. 

 

I started working on her. I had not painted girls in a bit so I felt stuck at times, but just worked through it. One of the things I have really tried to take to heart after taking Mystele's GUT ART and Christy's She Art - is to just play and not think too much. I am a thinker. That holds me up sometimes. I get "stuck" because I sit there over analyzing where to put a stinkin flower or what color I should use. I really tried to just flow...not think too much. 

The not thinking...SO works for me!! :)

She needed words of course. Still working on her.

I found some other pages I wanted to work on, 

backgrounds to start, and a little cutie inspired by 

the She Art class that I will write about later.

 Here are a few...

Definately a work in progress

What have your creative little hands been working on this week??

I will CREATE today...

That is my mantra today... I will CREATE today. Something. Anything.

I will do some kind of art today - a journal page, work on a piece waiting for more layers, a background, a craft.

Something Creative.

Despite the long list of projects around the house, the changing of diapers, the piles of laundry to fold, windows to wash, errands to run, food to be made, dogs to be walked, kids to pick up, homework, playdoh, spills to clean up....

I will CREATE today.

Despite the strong urge to take a nap, or cuddle up with a good book, or surf around all the fantastic blogs (let's be real - I can get sucked in for hours! You are all so fabulously interesting & talented!)...

I will CREATE today.

Despite the horrendous condition of my "studio" - Hello, big mess...

I will CREATE today.

I will paint. I will color. I will draw. I will Podge. I will glitter. 

I will watercolor.

I will shade. I will write.

I will listen to my heart. 

Today I will create...despite the distractions. :) 

Wish me luck!

XO,

Jen

Happy Mother's Day

 

Mother's Day came early for me.

Yesterday morning, before I could even open my eyes, my beautiful Maddie

showed up bedside with her gift to me. At school she had made an adorable vase & planted a flower inside of it. She told me that 

she could not wait until Sunday.

I had to have it now. 

The sweetest thing....after I told how much it meant to me, how I LOVED it, how I needed nothing else but this and her hugs, how I would keep the drawing on the outside forever - She looked at me and said, "Mommy, I am almost crying - I am so happy." And with that she rubbed her little, wet eyes.

With all my praise, I had brought her to tears of joy.

Our job is SO important.

A Mom's job is SO important. 

I am so glad that God trusted me with this little soul. 

Mommy singing away.  :)

Along with the flower was a card. I just love reading the words that 

she writes on her own.

Isn't it cute to see what they really think.

I learned a lot about what she thinks. I love turquoise (right on!). I like to eat cheese bread (oopps the hips don't like that) and I am best at drawing. ( I love this!) She thinks I am lovely, give awesome hugs & she likes to help me bring in the groceries. 

She loves me & that makes me the 

happiest 

Mommy in the world.

I wish everyone a very, very happy 

Mother's Day.