A Little Road Trip

road trip!

A few months ago, I found out one of my favorite teachers Traci Bautista would be attending the Great American Scrapbooking Convention as an instructor.  I could not believe it would be happening while I was in the states & in my backyard.  I asked Grandma & Grandpa if they'd watch the kids while I took a little road trip.

me & Traci

It's always something for me to meet someone I've taken classes with online or "met" creatively via swaps or blogging.  Traci did not disappoint!  Her class was fun & she shared lots of ideas, techniques, favorite things to do & supplies.  It was so sweet that she remembered me from the online classes I've taken.  She sent me home with some mixed media supplies knowing I don't have access to much in Kuwait.

look, i got my book signed!

My canvas while a WIP

I took the Stylistic Scrawls Canvas Art Journal class.

Many of the found papers I was working on for my book.
The manila folder in the foreground is the cover for my journal.

Traci doing a demo for us

Traci's sample

So I still have to finish my journal.  I have all the pages done.  I'd like to add more to the cover & I have to stitch it together.  I'd really like to complete it since I'd like to use it as my summer journal.  I'm thinking of titling it "3 Months, 3 Countries".  Yep, that's the summer for me & the mini-men!

more demos - assembling the journal

If you have the chance I highly recommend taking a class with Traci.  The class time flew by, but I learned so much & had a chance to experiment with some new techniques & supplies.  She is a creative soul with a very kind heart!  I am so happy the timing was perfect for me to take a class with her.

The following are pieces I worked on during the scrap night.  This was what I posted on my FB page:
So I don't scrapbook & didn't even go to the convention. I just wanted to take a few classes. I even
went to an evening scrap session, but I made canvases. I always just do my own thing...

I just want to be around other creative people, that's all!

authentic 5x7 canvas panel WIP 

cupcake doodles 5x7 canvas panel WIP

home is where the heart is 6x12 canvas panel WIP

dancer 5x7 canvas panel WIP

to travel is to evolve 4x6 canvas panel WIP

Affirmations

I am working on lesson 3 of the Blast Off class.  The last 2 lessons dealt with Vision & Affirmations.  Here are mine.

French Labels & Stars - Thank you House of 3

I created the cards digitally in PSE.  I plan on cutting these out & adding them to my Vision Board.  I made one of these a few years ago & it's about time to make a new one. 
I love where I am going with this class!

Shop Update

I've Finally re-opened my Lollishop! And it's about darn time :) I've been making all sorts of things the last few months. This summer I got big into the crochet necklaces & layering bits & journaling. I couldn't get enough, but apparently I have a lot because I have lots to add to the store. I added 4 new necklaces & a bracelet today. I plan to add a few new things each day.
Like the little collage above? I did it on Photoshop & used some stamps as the frame. How did I survive before Photoshop?

Here's a little teaser on the journaling stuff with more to come. I'm working on some books hopefully for the holiday gift giving season. I know it's only September & Halloween isn't even here yet, but I gotta start planning especially with my new shipping time frames.
Thanks for coming by to visit :)

Capture Your Dreams Workshop Week 1 Day 1 & 2

I've been iching to do lots of creative things this summer with the kids & with my "me" time. Yes, you moms out there know what that is, right? I purchased a spot in this workshop Capture Your Dream in late June & couldn't wait for July to get here fast enough. It's only day 2 & I'm having a ball! Avital is creative & encouraging. I think you can still join in on the fun if you want.

We are making a mixed media journal using all sorts of fun stuff & jounaling about our dreams in the process. I seem to be at a crossroads with my creative dreams, so this is perfect. What's not so perfect is I'm in the middle of this move & most of my artsy stuff is on some airplane/slow boat on the way to the desert. I figure I'll wing it until then, or go shopping :)


Since I'm so into this digital thing, I made an ATC of what photos I needed. Below are 3 of the photos I've used with some of the journaling. I still need to get the other 2 done. I was wondering how to unify all these random photos together. Some photos I just took today & others are a bit older. I decided to reverse saturate all the photos, use frames to emphasize some of the objects in the photos & journal right on top of them. I selected the strongest characteristic & used a different font.
This first picture is my jewelry. I was sorting & packing lots of pieces today & decided to take a picture. Just like my pieces, the materials, & the techniques I use, I love to describe myself as eclectic.
How could I not take a picture of my many bags & pieces of luggage I've been living out of. Not only have we been living out of luggage for the past 7 weeks, we really have never been settled since 2004. Before the birth of my second son (who turns 4 tomorrow!) we've had a move, cross country, cross base, up & down the coast. You name it, we did it. I'm not the most flexible person, but it's opened me up to lots of possibilities. I love a good adventure ~ especially when it involves looking for good inspiration & junk!

I LOVE this picture. I've been crafting all summer with the boys. They decided to draw a family portrait. I'll get the other 2 pictures up tomorrow. I may actually get to bed tonight before 2am!