First Board Book

Saturday morning I took a book binding class at Scrappin' Creations and made this adorable recipe book! I learned a lot of great tips for making chipboard books. I am a hands-on-learner so this class was a real help for me.
Check out the new Scrappin' Creations store here:
http://www.scrappincreations.com/

The book has 5 tabbed sections.

1) Thanksgiving Feast
2) Traditonal Christmas dinner
3) HJ's Parties [for mother-in-laws fantastic party pleasers]
4) Carolyn's Best [mother's recipes]
5) Italian [because I am & have grandmother's recipes]

I am going to include inchie photos on the tab pages of each women and food along with some well-used quotes!

Love this new Zutter binding machine I used and hope to buy, beg, win one!!! Of course Stacy sells this at http://www.scrappincreations.com/.
My next project is a HOUSE BOOK and I am ready to go!!! I know, first I need to embelish my book and write my recipes. I get my creative juices going and forget to complete a project before beginning my next one!

Everyone I know will now be recieving the gift of a BOARD BOOK for Christmas from me with a personal theme and photos!

Yes! Glue

I purchased Yes! glue because it came highly recommended, i.e., the only glue that does not wrinkle when creating board books, scrapbook pages, and art journals.

I've used Matte Mod Podge forever, and it does tend to wrinkle a bit if I am not careful, but it has been my favorite glue. If you want to give Yes! a try, the price is approximately $10.00 and can be found at Michael's crafts. Use a 40% or 50% off coupon. Michael's also accepts Hobby Lobby coupons.

One more el-cheap-o suggestion . . . good ole' Elmers glue . . . mix some up with water to the consistency of Mod Podge and use a paint brush. It will dry glossy if used on top of the item being glued. I'm not a fan of glossy so that is why I've used the Matte Mod Podge.

I'll let you know what I think of Yes! glue after a class I am taking on Saturday!

I forgot to tell you . . .

Working on another Soul Journal prompt - - my mission, to begin journal on a 2 page spread using the prompt "I forgot to tell you . . . ." and keep on writing until both pages were filled. When stuck, just begin again with "I forgot to tell you . . ."

I had no problem filling my pages and thankfully they are all covered up now! [No photo of my writing.]

Both pages are then covered up with tape. I used what I found in the garage, silver electrical tape, red electrical tape, and my favorite paper tape. Tape burnished onto pages then sanded and gesso. Photo shows that process.

I sanded some of my gesso rather than wipe it off. Words and tape show through [Sarah says they should peek out a bit.]

More fun - - pick acrylic paints and go nuts! I didn't like the way some of my red tape was showing through so after green paint, I used red, then some black around the edges -- to dark for me - - - then some gold paint.

So, here is what it looks like now.

Still see my red tape, so the lesson is be sure and sand your tape well so it holds onto your paint!! So what do you think I should do with this page now ? ? ? ? ?

I know, I know, the larger photo is blurry, but I am not excited enough about this page to take another picture.

Ooh My Goodness!!

What a week! The transmission on my car "crapped-put" for lack of a better word. Boy, I hate spending money on my car unless it is for a road trip and seeing how I have several planned through the end of the year, I will "put-on-my-big-girl-panties" and deal with it.

I also went to a Podiatrist for the first time ever - must be because I am maturing! From aerobics and water aerobics I've developed a "heel spur" which is just extreme pain in my left heel. Doc of Feet gives me lame exercises to do for 2 weeks and a Rx for Motrin. How about hook me up to a morphin drip pronto, Trapper John!!!! I want immediate relief! I go back in 2 weeks and hopefully he will give me the magic shot in my foot [cortisone, yes I googled 'heel spur'].

Now, I've returned home and instead of "working" I am waiting for the gesso to dry in my journal. Yes, I normally speed it up with the heat gun, but needed to vent about my car and my foot!! I am doing the Soul Journal prompts by Sarah W. entitled, "I forgot to tell you . . . " Find Sarah's fun prompts here http://www.souljournaling.com/prompts.php. I promise you'll be glad you've joined in!! There is also a yahoo group you should join to continue with the prompts and fun!

ATC I put together . . . I call it "Head Games" which is a fitting description of my week so far!

Naked Art journal page

Loved this newspaper clipping and had to journal it!

Art Journal Page

Page created with watercolor on background . . . "Chimps, Toddlers share traits" . . . just cut that out because I like chimps and toddlers! Journaled about my twisted childhood - "see-no-evil-hear-no-evil-speak-no-evil" monkeys reminded me of how I had to behave as a child to survive.

Soul Journal

Soul Journal - prompt re: Soul Armor

Background Challenge

I made this background months ago because I love the fun old-fashion border I placed at the bottom of the canvas.

Your mission is print yourself a copy and play and make something that may inspire me and others!!

Please share your finished work!!

My Creative Space

So here it is . . . I offer for your viewing pleasure a peek into the room where I create!

I love the energy of Mary Engelbreit and have decorated one of the rooms in our home with her fabrics, colors, and purchased items.

The bed is a twin bed and I spend time pouring over art books or listening to my ipod and even in meditation. The larger picture over the bed is a jigsaw puzzle of a country fair that I put together and then framed. I loved the colors in and print of the puzzle.

I hand painted the table - I should post a close up for you! The lamp base was painted black and I hot glued multi-colored buttons on the lamp shade.

My husband and I made the dollhouse with a kit and little-by-little I add to it. I made the french memo photo board from my son's old cork board. I covered it with batting and then had a yellow sheet I cut to fit over that. All staple-gunned on the back of the memo board. Black elastic criss-crosses the board.

Stacked underneath the french memo board is my moveable scrapbooking kit. Several albums in progress and ready to go at the next scrapping weekend. I only scrapbook with large groups for days at at time where I am able to spread everything out and get tons done.


My crafting desk is a complete mess! Hubby removed the closet doors, installed a counter top and made shelves and cabinets over and on the side of the desk top. Black file cabinets hold tons of ephemera, canvases, water color paper, etc. Over the desk top I have a bulletin board and a dry erase board. The dry erase board is so handy to make a quick note when an idea pops into my head.

I know . . .! The chair does not match at all, but it really is comfortable. I have purchased fabric to cover it, but covering a chair just hasn't been a priority for me!