A DIY Spring Wire Board

Yay! It's Spring! I really do love the cold & coziness of winter, but I am ready for everything springtime. How about you? 

So, in celebration of the new season, I'd like to share one of the projects I made for CHA 2015 in Anaheim, CA back in January. This darling DIY board was on display in the me & my BIG ideas booth. It started as just a plain wood square with chicken wire in the center. After adding some mambi paper, stickers, and embellishments it had a whole new life. :)

Here are the steps I took to fancy it up. I am sure you can still find the plain wood base in a craft store near you. (I found mine at Joann's.) 

First, I painting the wood edge with white acrylic paint. After it dried, I added pink and white chevron border stickers from mambi to the sides. I placed some Mod Podge on top of each sticker to make sure it didn't go anywhere. (I also added Mod Podge around the rest of the sides so the finish was the same)

While that was drying, I began working on making paper flowers using various pieces of 12 x 12 paper. I like my flowers to look varied and unique. In other words, I just start cutting random flower shapes and hope they turn out OK! :) 

See, I just cut flower shapes by hand and then continue to cut smaller ones to set inside. I rough up the edges a bit and then hot glue them together. That is it! I also punched out a bunch of butterflies to add to the flowers and board. 

I love these little die cut banners so much. The pattern on these cute yellow ones are my favorite. I added them to the flowers in a couple different spots. I also made a quick twine banner to attach to the top. Super cute!

I also used a big, gold sticker that says Be Awesome in the lower corner. I backed the sticker on a piece of scrapbook paper to give it some form to stand on. I think if I were to make this again, I would try it with some acetate. I think it would look great if the background was transparent. Hmmmmm, maybe I need to make another one! :) You can see all the large mambiSTICKS right HERE.

All I had to do was add some inspirational quotes and a picture with mini clips. It came ready to hang, so now to the wall it goes. Such a perfect springtime project!

Happy Creating!

One Little Word Revisited: Becoming Organized

Back HERE in January I claimed the word Become or Becoming for the year. The list of all the different ways I want to "become more" is quite hefty, but one of the areas topping my list is becoming more organized. One of the main reasons I want more organization in my life is to free up creative time. Who's with me? The time I dedicate to playing in my art studio can sometimes be thrown to the side because I have a hard time...finding the time. Sounds pretty funny, but it is true. All kinds of things can get in the way of actually sitting and getting my hands messy with paint or getting focused time working on a project. 

I've kinda thought about planning my time like we have planned our household budget. My Hubby always says that, "A budget is freeing." At first I was like...what? Are you kidding me. How? (He will be pleased that I am quoting him and further saying he is right! He loves a good "told you so moment.") I have to admit, he is right. If I know exactly what I have to spend on any given item or area on our budget there is no guessing. There is no wondering. There is no worrying about whether or not I have enough. If I have $50 budgeted for scrap-booking supplies this month, when I am out looking around I can spend it all or bank it and save up. The same goes for using a planner. If I have two hours allotted for studio time on Monday morning, I am going to use it! I wont worry about allllllll the other things on my list. They will have their "budgeted time" later. See....freeing! :)

So, now that I want to become more organized, thank goodness me & my BIG ideas just recently developed a fantastic new line called Create 365™ The Happy Planner™. It is an easy to use planner system that not only includes the planner, but all kinds of goodies to make it creatively fun. It is absolutely something I can make my own. If I want a lot of color, stickers, embellishments, pictures, or "fancying up," I can do that. If I want mellow, simplified, or neutral I can do that too. 

I have had the chance to work with this system while planning my March and I have loved it! At the beginning of March, I sat down and loosely planned out the whole month. I used the March calendar & only put down the things I already knew were coming that month (birthdays, volunteer days, baseball games, sports practices, appointments, etc). Then each Sunday I take a little time to plan out the following week with more detail and more fun additions like washi tape, clips, tags, quotes, stickies, small banners, etc. It can actually get a little addicting....even for this complete planner newbie! 

Here is a weekly spread with my grocery list, a quote card, and a cute clip added. The Arc system that The Happy Planner™ uses allows items to be added and taken away. SO awesome!

The best part - so far, I am carving out MORE time for creativity. YES! If you are interested in planners and want to see more you can visit the me & my BIG ideas website. The Happy Planner™ will be arriving in stores and in their shop in April. Also, if you would like more inspiration come visit me on Instagram @sadieinspired !!

Happy Creating!

DIY LOVE Canvas from CHA 2015

It's almost that time...Valentine's Day. In celebration of all the hearts and love floating about, I wanted to share a canvas I made for CHA 2015. This canvas was on display in the me & my BIG ideas booth and I was SUPER excited to see it in person. 

I made this heart inspired canvas after I fell in love with the paper from the mambi Straight to the Heart paper pack. I mean...wood grain, I love you repeated over & over in cursive and this darling heart paper. I was done. Swoon! 

Here is what I used: canvas, modeling paste, doilies, mambi Jumbo Gold Rush Alphas, Mod Podge, vellum, hot glue, Straight to the Heart paper, mambiSTICKS, and wood coasters.

I really loved how it turned out. I liked the contrast between the white & gray that I used with the gold. The little pops of red look great too. I love that the red is a super pretty muted red, not an in your face brick red. It worked well with this piece. 

This type of project doesn't have to be just for Valentine's Day either. What about a DIY Anniversary or Wedding gift for someone? Perfect right! I know I always love receiving gifts that someone made for me. Just gives the present a little bit more of love & magic. 

Happy Creating Friends!

2 Day Workshop with Christy Tomlinson : Studio Crescendoh

Wow! What can I say? Last weekend I had an awesome opportunity to visit Studio Crescendoh in Santa Ana for a two day Workshop with Christy Tomlinson. It was simply awesome! Every single minute. I have to give a huge shout out to my Hubby who surprised me Christmas morning with the class. He heard me mention the workshop and knew I would probably not sign myself up. Certified shy girl has never taken a class in person. I am so glad that this was my first!

I have to say Christy is such a generous, sweet, encouraging, fun teacher! I adore her to pieces. I have taken several of her online classes (which I highly recommend) and it was so exciting to have her right there in person. 

The first day of the Workshop, Christy taught us how to put together a gorgeous journal using scrapbook papers, old calendars, envelopes, tags, and really what ever we wanted to add into it. I LOVE it! I thought binding books myself was a long drawn out process. That always discouraged me! Not now! I am going to make a bunch. Such a GREAT way to use up all my scrapbook paper that I hoard have. We also worked on several backgrounds with paint, stencils, and Gelli Plates. I had never used a Gelli Plate before, so playing with it was very interesting. On the second day we created a gorgeous cover with one of Christy's She Art girls. I collaged a lot with patterned napkins, which I don't normally use. I love the way my She Art girl's floral hair looks, so I will be hunting down some cool looking napkins!

I also loved Studio Crescendoh! What an amazing space. It is located in the art district of Santa Ana in a beautiful old building.  I loved the feeling it had. Inside the studio, I loved the large windows that brought in so much natural light and the GORgeous art of Jenny Doh that filled the walls. She is truly inspiring. I hope to take more workshops! She brings so many amazing artists to her studio to teach classes. Can't wait to return. :)

As a self proclaimed shy girl, meeting new people is always a bit nerve racking for me. BUT, I was so thrilled about taking the class the excitement took over & I felt right at home. Ha! Plus, all the girls taking the class were so warm and friendly. I was so lucky to sit next to the fabulous Kristen. We hit it off right away, which made the days even better. I met so many wonderful girls & artists. I am blessed!

I had a great time at Studio Crescendoh! I came home wanting to bind books & fling paint, completely inspired, and blessed with new artsy friendships. Such a wonderful weekend! Thank you Christy & Jenny (and my Hubs)!!

If you want to check out all the amazing artists visiting Studio Crescendoh click right HERE! 

Visit Christy right HERE!

Happy Creating,

My One Little Word 2015

Hello January! (That would seems much more fitting if I was writing at the beginning of January, instead of a couple days before it's end. Ha!) 

To be honest, I was really waiting for January to get here. I really was. It's not like 2014 or December were horrible & I needed them put to rest. But, I was absolutely feeling the need for a clean slate, fresh start, wiped away, wide open, kinda vibe. I always feel that way around the new year. I was ready!

I was also ready to choose a guiding word for 2015. (2013, 2012)

At first, I seemed so indecisive about even having a word or which one to choose, that I almost decided to bow out again this year (I didn't choose a word for 2014). But, I made a list of words I had swirling around in my head & took some time to think about it. Getting creative always helps too, so I made a 12 x 12 layout using some of those words I had written down.

For this layout I used me & my BIG ideas paper, stickers, & embellishments. To read about it, visit their blog right HERE!

After some creating, thinking & reading about everyone else's words...I came to a decision. I had a word. It came for me, jumped on my back and would not leave me alone. :) 

BECOME

verb 

begin to BE

There it is. My word. It really came down to three words - create, become & begin. But, in the end I choose become after I looked at some of the synonyms for the word.

emerge as, grow into, be reformed, be transformed into,

metamorphose

I mean, how great are those!? There are so many things I want to do, try, and accomplish. Sometimes I spend so much time thinking about these things I fail to follow through or actually get things done! 

2015 is the year I make intentional steps to becoming...

becoming my dreams, 

becoming what GOD has intended,

becoming healthier, 

becoming stronger,

becoming more patient, 

becoming more organized,

becoming fearless,

becoming more ____ (fill in the blank!)

There is lots to come in 2015 & I can't wait!

What is your word this year??

  If you are not familiar with One Little Word, read about it right HERE on Ali Edward's Blog.