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So, I have been busily making a Valentine's Day garland.
It has taken several days but I finished today.
I really want to share it with you right now, but it is evening here now and that means poor lighting for a photo.
Instead, I am sharing an Instagram snapshot of what is coming...
Tomorrow...
So, I am impressed with the new Valentine Starbucks cup and app.
Have you seen it?
I picked myself up a tea latte before work yesterday and surprise...a new design on the cups!
With a smile on my face, I head off to work.
Then I noticed the little lettering along the bottom that said, "Download our Cup Magic mobile app, then scan this cup to see it come to life." So I immediately found the app and followed the instructions to "see it come to life".
It took a few tries, but when it did work, I was totally impressed.
I chuckled.
Then I giggled.
Then I tried it again.
And grinned a big grin.
Have you tried it out yet?
Go now.
In the meantime, I am working on another page in my Art Journal...
So, this week was a full one for Project Life.
I recently purchased some journal cards from Marcy Penner. They were incorporated in this week's layout. As well, I purchased some flags and doilies from Katie Pertiet at Designer Digitals, so I experimented with those too.
My girls were busy studying and writing final exams. Sean was taking training with the Fire Department.
On the weekend, we slipped away to the mountains to breathe some fresh air after a hectic week.
This week includes an insert...
We were invited to lunch on Sunday with friends. They served Raclette, which is an experience in eating similar to fondue. You cook your food on the grill in front of you at the table while visiting and enjoying the company. Raclette is actually the name of the cheese that is melted on the grill and then poured onto boiled potatoes. It is truly fantastic.
In an effort to use more recycled materials in my scrapbooking, I repurposed a shopping bag from Banana Republic. After cutting it to size, I sewed it along the side of this insert. These pocket pages had been trimmed down from another page and the edge with the holes had been trimmed off. So it needed a little something in which to punch holes to attach in the binder. The repurposed bag did the trick!
I am still trying to find a comfortable way of working on this project that is sustainable. But in the meantime, I have completed a whole month...
So, I converted a clipboard into my own little chalkboard.
This project is easy enough to complete in a weekend. To start, gather a few supplies:
I found my clipboard at the dollar store, as well as the foam brush. You can find chalkboard paint in a variety of places, but I purchased this Martha Stewart brand at Michaels.
Initially, I thought I might have to sand the surface of my clipboard as it was very smooth and glossy. Sometimes paint will not adhere to a glossy surface. However, in this case, I am glad that I did not sand the board before painting. This paint contains a bit of its own texture (to grab the chalk) which allowed the paint to adhere nicely to the board.
Before painting, I tied the clip open. This allowed me to paint under the clip easily without having to wrangle the paint brush in one hand and try to pinch the clip in the other.
Next came the fun part...painting!
The paint spread nicely with a foam brush and dried in a nice even layer. Wanting to ensure a consistent surface of paint, I painted one layer vertically on the board, keeping the strokes straight and even. After letting that first coat dry (about an hour), I applied the second coat horizontally across the board.
The instructions on the bottle recommend at least two coats of paint. I applied four coats, alternating directions. Then I let the paint dry completely overnight.
To add a whimsical touch, I found a white paint pen and drew a freehand cloud-like line around the perimeter of the clipboard.
I have a Marvy Uchida Paint Marker, but it is almost gone and I did not want to run out half way through the application, so I used my Galaxy Marker by American Crafts instead. I purchased my Galaxy Marker for writing on top of my photos, but when I tested it on the clipboard it worked just fine.
Originally, I had planned on using regular white acrylic paint and a fine paintbrush, but then the idea for the marker came to me and I am happy with that. I am sure that the acrylic paint would work equally well if you did not have a white paint marker.
After letting the marker dry, I hung my chalkboard clipboard on the wall and dug out some chalk. It's a good thing I have some stored away for when my nephews visit and want to draw on the sidewalk.
I am going to use my clipboard in my craftroom to write encouraging messages and quotes to myself. It would also make a nice gift for a friend or great for a shopping list in the kitchen.
So there you go! Why not try one yourself this weekend...
So, here is Week 2 of my Art Journal Quotes.
I realize that I am behind. However, I have had to find my groove with the drying time between gesso applications. Hopefully, it will run a little more smoothly for me now.
For this entry, my challenge was to use paint. My supplies included: a pre-gessoed page to work on, spray bottle of water, acrylic paints, paintbrush and a straw.
I mixed my paints with water to make them very thin and therefore easy to move around on the page. I found these tiny 'pinch bowls' at Superstore for 97 cents. They are perfect.
Recently in the scrapbooking world (especially on the blog of Amy Tan), I have seen this technique of blowing the paint across the paper.
After using all of the colours that I planned, I left it overnight to dry.
After drying, I used a black Sharpie marker right over top of the paint to write the quote. I noticed that by the end of the writing my Sharpie was really drying out. I think it may be from picking up the chalkiness of the gesso layer perhaps? I will have to investigate what others are using to write with over gesso before doing this again.
Well, it isn't a masterpiece by any means, but I do like the final outcome. And I love this quote.
If you remember, my goal is to collect 365 (I guess it will be 366 this year!) quotes and to choose one each week to put in my art journal. Below, I have captured the rest of the quotes from my week to share with you.
I truly am enjoying this little project as it gives me a place to collect quotes (rather than on random sticky notes) and forces me to learn and grow in art journal techniques.
I wonder what technique I should explore next?
So, this launches another year of One Little Word for me.
Welcome to my blog and this amazing project by Ali Edwards.
I participated in OLW 2011 last year, as well as this Blog Hop, and I am excited to be doing it again.
My OLW this year is...
Like many of you participating in this project, I tossed around several words before settling on the word that would sum it all up for me. I was not one of those people whose word 'chose me'.
My word had to be something that embodied what my year would hold and what attitude I want to carry throughout the year. The challenge is not knowing what is ahead.
My life is changing as my family is growing up. My girls are both in high school, with my eldest starting University this fall. They are driving themselves around now, meeting friends, filling their lives with activities that will define them. Now, when I head out the door with my husband, I expect that they will not be coming with us.
Realizing that I can no longer be in control of my girls' lives, I needed my word to be one that would soothe me, give me a positive attitude, allow me to let go but stay connected.
Perhaps I am asking too much from one word.
My OLW 2011 sat on my shoulder and whispered its name in my ear whenever I needed a reminder. It spoke to me when I wanted to give up. It provided inspiration when I had none. It gave me a reason to make the next move.
I am hoping that OPEN will live there too.
Knowing it will take me on a journey that I can not yet see, my OLW will be a filter for things to come.
I am ready.
Thank you so much for visiting today!
I am so encouraged when you visit.
Welcome to all of the new ladies joining this class and our little Blog Hop this year!
To see more January OLW projects, visit the blogs of the following very talented ladies,
starting with Margie at her Xnomads blog.
These blogs go live at 8am PST.
Let the path be open to talent. -Napoleon Bonaparte
