From Cardstock to Journaling Cards - Project Life, Smashing or Anything!

Recently, on one of my many trips to Michaels (Seriously. I know. It's like I go every week. I don't. Usually.) I spotted a "last chance" bin of some scrapbook papers. At 14 cents a sheet, I couldn't help but rummage through it. I grabbed some great patterned paper, but also spotted some plain white card stock. Ahhhh! So perfect for making some of my own Project Life journaling cards. SO fun! The cards could also be easily used for other journaling, stuck down in a Smash Book, used for cards, or attached to gifts as a tag. If you are not familiar with Project Life, check it out right here on Becky Higgins site. I am joining the PL tribe this year, and look forward to writing more about it here on my blog!

So I took this plain white paper...

Used my good ol' Fiskars paper cutter (I think I have had this longer than I have been a mom - so like, 8 years! Love it!) and cut down the 12 x 12 pages. The Project Life system (which is SO easy for the non-scrapbooker, total newbie - ME!) uses sheet protectors with little pockets that are about 3x4 inches. I cut the cards a little smaller than 3x4 so they slide easily into the pockets. I used a card from one of Becky's kits as a guide.

After I cut a bunch of 3x4s, the mixed media artist in me needed some larger pieces for a few messy spring canvases. :) So I also cut a 5x5 and a 5x7. I thought it would be fun to paint a few spring themed pieces to frame, then add to my house. I know I am ready for some spring around here! How about you???

I keep a little journal to jot down ideas for Project Life cards. There are SO many wonderful card designers out there. I love looking around Instagram and Pinterest. I can not believe the creativity out there. Seriously! Amazing!! Here are a few of my sketches..

So referring to my sketches, going with the flow, using my creative mojo, and grabbing some of my favorite washi tapes...I started to make my cards. I can see how this could be very addicting! I do LOVE all the different things that the various paper companies have out on the market right now for journaling and Project Life. But, it is super exciting to make some things on my own. I know I will continue to do both - buy some pre-made cutie stuff and make my own.

Look at this beautiful tape. Be still my heart. Washi = Love. 

Lol. Please, tell me I am not alone in the love of washi? :) The mustard yellow chevron washi and aqua stripe came from Michaels (no big surprise there). The yellow stripe was a gift from my uber creative friend Toni from Five. The yellow polka dot washi came from a package of four tapes that I scored from Target on clearance! I sure do love a crafty deal!! Washi tape is perfect for smashing and Project Life too. 

See, just a little hint of aqua and white polka tape peeking out from that "right now" sticker looks great. I stamped the zig zag with a $1 stamp. Then added that adorable Heidi Swapp striped butterfly. (She is another favorite of mine!) Now all I have to do is journal a bit in the white place or add a little picture. Then slide it into my PL binder. Easy Peasy. :)

I need to go get busy on making more cards!! It was so relaxing to just sit and create these little beauties. I have tons of ideas swirling around in my head. Of course I am going to spend time painting too.  I have the 5x5 started...and will hopefully find some time at my studio table this weekend.

WIP 5x5 Mixed Media

Background - washi tape, book pages, Basic Grey paper

I'll come back and show you my little spring 5x5 and more Project Life journaling cards as I make them. I am looking forward to sharing all this creative goodness right here on Sadie Inspired. Yiippee! :)

How do you share all the pictures you take?

I'd LOVE to know!!

Neon Journal Page & My Jennibellie Journal

Happy Weekend! I hope you are enjoying a wonderful day. It is absolutely beautiful here, and I am itching to get outside when I get all my computer work done. Yikes! Look at this stack of paintings with photos to edit and listings to make. That's just one pile. :) I love the creating...but, it takes awhile for all the other stuff. I DO LOVE all the different elements in the beginnings of a new creative business. I get so excited about the possibilities, the goals, and all the many ideas that come into my head. SO, I happily work through the long list of "to dos." ;)

How was your week? It was a busy one at our house. Doctors appointments, my son's birthday, character dress up day at school, preparing for my daughter's birthday next week, painting, journaling, and starting Project Life (OH, yes it has begun!). So many things happening, but I did get a chance to play a bit in my art journal. I found some Americana paint in bright neon that I was dying to try. The colors I used were Torrid Orange and Sizzling Pink. SUPER fun!

I am still working on this page. I am feeling some words, more neon, and Inktense watercolor pencils are in order. I can tell you that I will be going back to find some more neon colors. I think they will be perfect to play with this spring. AND I do have to admit that these colors did bring me back a bit to the 80s neon. (If you are my age, you will know EXACTLY what I mean.) I honestly had a pair of ginormous earrings and matching belt in Torrid Orange. Anyone else? :)

Instagram @sadieinspired

Besides my little LoveBug turning 4 this last week, the highlight was getting my Jennibellie journal in the mail all the way from England. I was fortunate enough to win a giveaway on her blog a couple of weeks ago. I adore her, her amazing creativity, and artistic generosity - so it was a pleasure to receive something from her.  I couldn't wait to open it up! It is so full of little goodies. I am so looking forward to adding all kinds of things into it.

It is made with all kinds of pretty patterned paper, vintage book pages, and original painted paper. Not to mention all the little embellishments inside as well. If you haven't checked out her blog or YouTube channel - you must! She makes all kinds of amazing things from stuff you have lying around or in your artsy stash...maybe even your trash bin! Thank you oodles and bunches lovely Jennibellie!! I will treasure it. :)

Yummy painted pages!

I hope you have a fabulous rest of the weekend and upcoming week. I am looking so forward to celebrating my daughter's 8th birthday this week. It makes me all kinds of emotional. I do not know where the time has gone. She is growing faster that I can handle. Lol. BUT, I will set my mama tears aside and celebrate the lovely, sparkling girl she is becoming!

Detail of abstract canvas headed into the shop!

Happy Creating!

Come visit Paint Party Friday & Studio JRU

Yellow and Gray Inspiration

I love the combination of yellow and gray. Do you? When I paint, I love to use all kinds of bright colors - aquas, pinks, oranges. But, I also really like to pair a bright (or even in the pastel version of the color) with a more muted color like gray. I think the contrast is really pretty. 

  While I was wondering the aisles of Michaels (I know, I know, I have a problem. Ha!) I found some fabulous scrapbook paper by My Mind's Eye. It was in a little 6x6 paper pad which I love. That size works really well for background paper. The patterns are shrunk down compared to a 12x12 sheet, so the small size looks great on the canvases or journal pages I work on. The colors in this pad were a perfect jumping off point. Sometimes paper is all you need for a little inspiration. LOVE. L.O.V.E.

So with this My Mind's Eye paper as my inspiration, I used an old wood block that I had laying around and started to cover it up with the pretty paper. I have quite a few of these blocks laying around. I did stock up around the holidays (sales + gift cards = happy camper) with canvases, but wood is my favorite. It is super cost effective to go to a home improvement store and have some wood cut down to the size you prefer. Well, or have a very handy hubby cut the wood for you. :)

After attaching my papers with Mod Podge, I threw on a layer of gesso. Then hunted through my stash of paint to find my pretty yellows and grays (pictured above - so yummy! Right?). Besides the color choices, I planned on just letting the piece come to me. No real thought as to what I wanted to paint - just the colors.

From the background I began to see a face emerge, then a headband with a feather (I have seen a lot of feathers lately) and then the words...be brave in truth. Right? I love that saying. I love the word brave. There are so many degrees of bravery aren't there? But, I know for me...speaking truth and trying to be true to who I am & my tender, sensitive heart takes a bit of courage. 

Here she is all finished and just waiting for a varnish bath. After that she will be on her way into my shop. :) 

What color combinations are inspiring you lately?

Alice Journal Page

I love Alice in Wonderland. Don't you? I  have always loved the Disney version and the book. When my daughter was younger with her long blonde hair...I always thought she looked like Alice. Plus, with a total obsession with all things Disney as a little girl, she had the CUTEST Alice costume. The other night Alice in Wonderland was on TV, so I snuggled up with my kiddies and watched it. So much color and interesting shapes in that movie!

So feeling very Alice inspired, I painted this journal page. I thought it would be super fun to paint one of my girlies like Alice. I wanted it very whimsical and sweet. I started with a pencil sketch...very loose and quick. I work best that way. Quick, so I don't get carried away thinking too much. If only I could expend that thinking energy towards finding a way to make laundry disappear in this house. Ha!

After a thin layer of gesso, I worked on the background with watered down acrylic and inexpensive Artist Loft watercolors. I used more acrylic for her body and the groovy purple shape going vertically up the page. I used watercolor crayons and more gesso for her face. As usual I added detail with pen and my Faber Castell PITT pens. Finally the stamped words and some purple sparkle.

The rabbit makes me laugh. His expression is too funny. He is like, "Um, WHAT do you think you are doing?" I am hoping to find a little metal clock to glue to his belly. Don't think that would be cute? I think it would be a fun addition. I guess I will have to go hunt in the scrapbook aisles of Michaels. Oh Darn! :)

 

 Well, that's it. That is my whimsical, little page. I hope you enjoyed it and I hope you enjoy the coming weekend (TGIF!!). 

But, before I go... my heart is melting...

Happy Creating! :)

One Little Word - 2013

Oh my goodness it has taken me a long time to choose a word for 2013. I thought I would pass on choosing one this year. BUT, I started reading all the posts about your motivating words. Inspired! I just can't help it. You are all just so inspiring! The same thing happened last year too. :) I felt that since I had a word last year and the year before - why stop now. Right?

8 x 10 Mixed Media Canvas - Acrylic paint & various pens

The hard part was narrowing down my choices. Uggg! I can be super indecisive sometimes and this being the 24th of January is a prime example. Ha! I had  basically narrowed it down to embrace or able. Embrace seemed a little more romantic, and beautiful - but the word able would not leave me alone. I have read several blog posts about the words sometimes choosing you. I think mine found me. It just wouldn't go away. It kept popping into my head. 

A couple weeks ago, my family and I were driving up to the mountains to go snowboarding (I apparently need waaay more practice). Right along the snowy mountain, nestled back a bit in a glistening white field was a small, weathered shack with huge letters painted above the door - A B L E. Now, believe me the blogger and picture taking fool that I am wanted to jump out and take a  picture...but, we were with people in a little caravan and I didn't think we could. Lol. Needless to say it made me smile to see that word sitting there for me. :)

 Finally a couple of nights ago I committed to my word of 2013 - when I painted this in the middle of a sleepless night. 

You are able

 I am able

We are able

...to do anything we put our minds to, even if I start with one step at a time.

Believe in yourself and know that you were wonderfully made...

just the way you are.

 

This is an Instagram from a couple days ago. If you are Insta-obsessed 

like me, come find me @sadieinspired!

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:13 

 

Washi Tape Altered Tag

Today I wanted to share a tag I created with some fun washi tape. I was inspired by the technique that Sharon Laakkonen used for the Creative Jump Start Summit hosted by Nat Kalbach. Have you joined along?? I love it. Each morning in January I have received a wonderful creative video in my inbox to get my creative juices flowing. I love being introduced to new artists, teachers, and techniques. If you haven't checked CJS 2013 out, you should click right here and join!

Washi tape is so fun to use and there are so many different ways to utilize all the colorful patterns. Right!? I think I need to add a Washi Tape board to my Pinterest, so I can gather all the various ideas I see. :) In Sharon's video she covered her entire manilla tag with washi tape which created a fabulous texture for the background. So I started there! Look!! Super fab!

After covering the entire tag with coordinating washi colors, I laid down a layer of gesso to prepare for some painting and stamping.

I really love this circle stamp I found at Michael's in the clearance section. I love the size! It was only $1.99, so how could I pass it up?

I decided that I would make a tag also inspired by my daughter and spring. I had some paper butterflies in my stash that I wanted to use. I painted the butterfly with blue acrylic paint for contrast. 

I looked through my billions of letters to find the letter M. (OK. Slight exaggeration. Maybe not a billion, but I am addicted to letters. Could it be the teacher in me? I do not know. I found a package of these chipboard letters from K&Company at the dollar store. Score!)

I added all my little goodies and also punched a butterfly directly into the tag. I have seen this done by quite a few people, but had never tried it before. All you do is punch or cut out a shape, then add patterned paper to the back so it shows through. It is a great way to add visual interest and texture. You can see where I did it with that little white butterfly. Some of the white paper hangs below the bottom of the tag. I cut it with a pair of scalloped craft scissors. (Technique also shown in Sharon's video)

Here is the finished tag. Super cute and girlie. I added some turquoise ribbon through holes in the letter M. On the right side of letter I glued some chipboard flowers that came in the letter package and added a little bling. Along the bottom I attached some cream colored lace. I love this lace because it has adhesive on the back. SO easy. Peel and stick! :)

Hope you are having a lovely Tuesday!

Twelve Things I'm Loving on 12-12-12

What a special day right? 12-12-12

I thought it would be fun to share twelve things 

I am adoring right now. 

What better date to have fun, relax from the Christmas To Do list, 

and share some fabulousness!

So off we go............

One: Snowflake Decorating
I am collecting all kinds of snowflake things & ideas. I love filling my house with wintery delight for my family. Especially since we live in southern Cal where winter is very mild. I created a fun "Let it Snow" treasury on Etsy the other day...my first treasury. It was super fun! Take a look right here. Don't forget my quick snowflake candle tutorial right here too! 

Two: The New Twinkle Twinkle Etsy shop by Kristin Van Valkenburgh
Her artwork is gorgeous and if you haven't already visited - pop over and check it out!! :)

I am Mommy

Three: Pine Cone Wreaths
I am in love with the pine cone wreath I made for our front door. I had seen several in magazines and Pinterest. I thought it would be perfect for our front porch. (which has a snowflake thing going on - of course!) I had most of the things on hand, so it only cost a dollar to make. All I did was hot glue pine cones (gathered by my kids) to a grapevine wreath which I already had. The only thing I purchased was a bag of small, gold pine cones from Michaels. One word of advice...if you give this wreath a try, you may want to have E6000 glue as well. I came home to a couple pine cones on the ground. Let's hope the rest survive!

Four: Instagram
That goes without saying! I. am. in. love. It has been such a wonderful way to grab little pics of Christmas time. I am really needing the quick and ease of it! LOVE!!

Watching Christmas movies

Five: Whimsy Elves
Inspired by some of my kid's artwork. She is too cute!

WIP

Six: Kraft paper wrapping
So simple and pretty. Right? Sigh.

Seven: Book Page Wreaths
OK. Now, I know these have been around for awhile and you can see them all over bloggy land. But, I am obsessing over them. I will make one! 



Eight: Jeanne Oliver's Thoreau Collection
Holy Moly I love Jeanne's style. Have you seen her new collection? She just released her new collection of bags, jewelry, vintage goods, etc. You must go take a look!! Her pictures will make you swoon too. :)

Source: jeanneoliverdesigns.com via Jen on Pinterest

Click below to visit her lookbook
http://issuu.com/jeanneoliver/docs/jeanneoliverwinter2012

Nine: Skinny Peppermint Mocha with Soy Milk
Enough said! :) 

Ten: 4x4 chunky canvases
Oh my heavens! I just finished a bunch of these little fabulous canvases for a commission I was working on and fell in love with them. I ran back to Michaels right away to get another pack of them (60% off that day!) I love the big sides. There will definitely be more of these!

Eleven: The previews for Les Miserables
Are you going to go see it? I can't wait!! 

Twelve: You. Yep, You.
I am so thankful for you. Those of you who take a little time out of your precious lives to read these words, comment and follow. There is so much love, heart, truth, encouragement, and inspiration in this Bloggy art community. People sometimes wonder why I blog. Why do I write my story here. They may wonder. But, I never do. You (and all your fab blogs) make it all worth it. :)

Now what are you loving these days???

Art Journaling, a New Girl, and Being True

Instagram picture @sadieinspired

 Yesterday I worked on a new journal page. I was SUPER happy to get a chance to just sit down and let things go. You know what I mean? I love that my journal is a place where I can not only try new ideas or techniques, but also pour out a bit of my heart in written words. I used to just "art" a lot on the pages. But, now I love the writing. Do you write in a journal or an art journal? It is such a release to write it down, right!?

She started out on a random page that I had used to wipe off excess paint from other projects. I looked and looked around the page to see if I could see something in the background to get me started, but nothing popped out...until I flipped the page that is! I normally don't do that in my journals. They are already bound so I just go page by page (skipping around sometimes) right side up. When I turned the book all the way around I saw the outline of her face. 

After I had the sketch, I began to play with my favorite color palette and some new Americana paint in Electric Pink. It was on sale, so I had to have it. ;) I really love the colors and like how she turned out. I am going to go back and add some color (white) to her nose. Initially I liked the under layers popping through and showing there...but, now I am not so sure.

What I do know for sure is that my feeling behind the page was overwhelming. 

Be True.

Be true to who you are. No matter what. There are so many people struggling through something, feeling alone, working through challenges, stepping up, placing faith in the unseen, overcoming, gracefully sailing through tragedy, facing uncertainty, and sharing their truth. So much victory and triumph lives in these places. 

For me...my choice...is love. I am going to love. I am going to stand behind or alongside these. I am going to be a shoulder to cry on or an ear to listen. I am going to share in the pain/struggle and dance proudly in the celebration. I will not judge or protest, just revel in the courage I see. I am going to choose to find beauty every day (even when I am buried under deadlines and laundry). But, most of all I am going to love deeply with the love God created.

Be True.

Be Love.

Inspiration: Carissa Paige (just plain fabulous), Kristin @ Twinkle, Twinkle (gorgeous girls with stripey colored hair), Mystele (hunting in backgrounds for stories), and Effy Wild (writing more and journaling in the hair).

Now, go be awesome!

and...