Hello Monday|thirteen

**I think I may have to start calling these entries "Whoosh! There goes Monday!" Haha! 

I started this on Monday very early in the morning and then I took a break and it wasn't long before I was hearing the news about the tragic bombing in Boston at the finish line of their Marathon.  I didn't watch the news because I did not want to have the images burned into my mind.  I can still picture so much of 9/11 and I just didn't think I could do it.  I listened, with a heavy heart, to the news on the radio as I ran errands with my husband. It had both of us silent as we listened to the details. We are still praying for the city and we are still praying for our beloved country.**

  

hello  Monday Mugshots. This week's mugshot is in collaboration with A Year in the Life of an Art Journal.  They give a prompt every 15th and 30th of every month. Here's today's prompt:PROMPT: What's your Story? (everyone has a story about a person, event, emotion, feeling, whatever, tell me yours)
SHOOTERS Shoot your mug with a stack of books.
BOOKERS: Focus on lots of journaling! Use stencils or masks. If you don't want your journaling to SHOW, journal THEN PAINT! Cover your journaling with your paints and embellishments!! 

hello lifeguard training and summer job!  My Hannah has been attending Swim/Aquatics camp at Lake Perris for the last several summers.  Last year, she worked as a volunteer helper to the lifeguards.  I was so proud of her.  There are two sessions of camp that last two weeks each time. Campers learn to swim or improve their technique if they already swim, learn about nutrition, CPR and basic first aid.
Well, this past Saturday they had their once a year testing to qualify for a possible position in the program for the PAID summer job.  She had to swim 1000 meters in 20 minutes or less and then run 200 m., swim 400 m, and run 200 m. in 10 minutes.  She passed!!  It was no easy task, but she did it.  She got called back for an interview that day and then today they called and told her she had been accepted.  I am so proud of her!  Training starts when school is out.

hello surprise photos.  These are just a few of the photos that I find from time to time on my phone. You can see the two guilty parties due to the "selfies" they took. Haha! Looks like my boy has a thing about taking pics of his toes...sometimes clean and sometimes not! haha!

hello prom dress shopping. Here are just a few of the dresses that she tried on.  Took us two days, but she finally chose THE dress.
hello senior prom!  Yes, my baby has her senior prom this Saturday.  She is going with a friend who sweetly asked her by spelling out "PROM?" with rose petals at school.  Can't believe it's already here. Getting kind of weepy. My baby girl.
hello etsy orders. I am so thankful for them, but what's up with them all coming in at one time? lol That's alright. I will take it!!  Lot's to do still. Mailboxes with affirmation cards, banners, journals and mini journals...

So there you go. hello monday and new beginnings.

Inspired by my friend, Lee at Embrace Life, Hello Monday provides a peek into the coming week - in all its glory. Join us and Lisa for the Hello Monday fun.

“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”    

~~Nelson Mandela

hello monday|ten

hello monday. You've managed to sneak up on me again. Looks like our regular Monday dental appointment has been cancelled so I actually have a bit of free time to try and catch up on some projects... or I could just lounge around and make my sister proud.  I seem to have issues where I can't let myself relax.  Still trying to work on my One Little Word: MINIMIZE. *sigh*  It's a work in progress for sure.

We have Hannah's Water Polo banquet to attend tonight. I'm sure there will be pictures to follow. :)

hello  Monday Mugshots. So, here's my mug this a.m. Filled with Folger's Black Silk coffee and Almond Joy creamer.  It's in the middle of my messy art table because that's what's going on this morning.  I really feel like I have not had a break all month.  I need to clean up this mess before I can think straight and get to work in my journal.  I have a prompt from A Year in the Life of an Art Journal that I want need to work on.

hello new hair style and locks of love. Naomi finally decided that she was ready to cut her hair.  She also decided that it would be really nice to donate her locks to Locks of Love.  I'm so proud of her and I love the new look.  Ready for summer!

hello Easter mantel. I usually do a new look each month on my entry way table. However, we have two holidays this month that we like decorating for around here.  Bring on the Cadbury mini eggs to finish this look! ;)

hello Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour Restaurant. My husband decided, on a whim, to take us to Farrell's last night.  We recently had one open near us and he remembered how much fun he had there when he was a kid.  We had a blast.  Good food and even better atmosphere of fun for the whole family.  The servers there were awesome!  Will be great for special occasions in the future!  

So there you go. hello monday and new beginnings.

Inspired by my friend, Lee at Embrace Life, Hello Monday provides a peek into the coming week - in all its glory. Join us and Lisa for the Hello Monday fun.

hello monday|eight

hello citizenship of the month winner Naomi!

hello another month down.  Just a few days left of February.  This month was so busy that it went by super fast - the fact that it's the shortest month helps too!

hello erin! My dear friend Erin and her family is here for a quick visit. They are on the way to Redding, California to start a new chapter of their life. They are more than friends; they are family.

hello scrapbook retreat.  It's been so long since I last scrapped. The intention and desire was there - but it never got done.  Will work on my boy's album. Hoping this will get me back in the mood. =)  Looking forward to spending time with my good friend Desiree - we are both looking forward to a "get away".

hello swim meet. Hannah's first swim meet is this week.  Excited to see how she's grown in this area since last year!

hello beautiful weather. The weather is supposed to range from 70 degrees to 82 degrees this week.  So perfect!  Last week was quite cold and wet for our standards.

hello  Monday Mugshots.  The mug in this picture was given to me by Erin when we were in college. I still have it after all these years and love the memory of it!  French vanilla creamer with Folgers Black Silk brewed coffee.  
I've been working on my pages for my A Year in the Life of an Art Journal  prompt. A little here, a little there... As you know, I've had lots of company (which I love) so I haven't made much time to sit down and really get at it, but after everyone's in bed I'd sneak a little gesso onto the pages, then a cut out from a magazine... some vintage book pages...  Almost done. Lots of happiness creating this page.

So there you go. hello monday and new beginnings.

Inspired by my friend, Lee at Embrace Life, Hello Monday provides a peek into the coming week - in all its glory. Join us and Lisa for the Hello Monday fun.

The most effective way to do it, is to do it.

- Amelia Earhart.

hello monday|seven

hello monday

hello Monday Mugshots. I love the collaboration with A Year in the Life of an Art Journal every 15th and 30th of the month. I have not completed my journal page yet but the prompt asked you to take a picture of a favorite quote with your mug.  This is the quote I doodled. It's been on my mind these days.

hello seester. I sure have missed you something awful. We've both been through so much since we last saw each other. We are both wiser, stronger and both have more children than the last time we were together. =)

 hello cousin time. So glad these awesome kids could get to know each other better.  They are doing a wonderful job of getting along and loving on each other.

hello birthday girl. I'm also glad that I could do a little something special for Abby's birthday. She turns nine tomorrow!  We had her party today because of the holiday and the kids being off school.  It was also our good friends Rick and Emma's birthday today. Great day of celebrating some special people!
hello Costco photo. I'm going to be seeing a lot of you this next week. Going to try to print out some photos in preparation for a scrapbooking retreat I've been planning on attending for months and months now. It's finally coming up. I haven't worked in my albums for so long, but my little guy keeps asking where is baby book is - so I have a bit of catching up to do!
hello new toy. My husband bought me a Cricut for Christmas and I have not had a chance to pull it out and try it yet. I have my tiny Cricut Create that I bought with birthday money years ago and have been using this, but wanted to have time to focus and get started right with the new one. Planning on doing that THIS week. Yay! Finally!
hello more rain and cold. Keep it coming. I love it!

So there you go. hello monday and new beginnings.

Inspired by my friend, Lee at Embrace Life, Hello Monday provides a peek into the coming week - in all its glory. Join us and Lisa for the Hello Monday fun.

“You were given this life because you were strong enough to live it.”

A Year in the Life of an Art Journal|two

I am happy to be taking part in A Year in the Life of an Art Journal challenge again.

This year the prompts are for photographers as well as art journalers. 

The challenges are given out on the 15th and 30th of every month.

Here is the challenge for January 30th, 2013.

PROMPT: Rainy Day

SHOOTERS: Shoot your mug near a rainy window

Shooters can share their pictures from this prompt on Facebook 02.04

This was the shot I shared for my Monday Mugshot photo.

I was HOPING for rain to get a *perfect* mugshot, but our rain came a week early.  

No worries here! Like Rachel says, you can do whatever you want with the prompts!

(Sharing on Monday Mugshots on fb also)

BOOKERS: drip some paints on your page, 

and share a little bit about what the perfect rainy day looks like to you. 

I think I will actually take pictures of the process of making my page next time, but for now, I will just share some of the materials I used to make my pages. 

• acrylic paints
• Faber-Casteel Gelatos
• Random Alphabet Stickers
• Tim Holtz Crackle paint
• gesso
• Glaze pen for journaling
• ripped magazine pages

I wanted the background to look like a frosty window on a rainy day.  

I must admit that it looks the way I want in real life, but in this picture -

not so much. 

Journaling Reads: When I think about rain, I think about how the water always seems to come just when we need it.  Rain is soothing to me.  The sound of it...the smell it brings.  Even a good storm brings cleansing.  RAIN is like ART to me.   Soothing, cleansing and always right on time when I need it.

“The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.”

~Pablo Picasso

Do you art journal or like taking photos? You can join in on the fun twice a month too!  Just head over to Rachel Whetzel's page to play! 

Monday Mugshots - Hope

As most of you know, I am a big fan of coffee, tea, hot cocoa...anything to be had in a mug! =) So, how excited was I to find out about Monday Mugshots on facebook.  As I mentioned in a previous post, they have collaborated with another favorite site of mine called A Year in the Life of an Art Journal.  I have loved art journaling for so long and found this site a couple of years ago.  They give you a prompt on the 15th and the 30th to help get your wheels turning.  They also have a facebook page.  Anyway, I've enjoyed this community of artists and am glad to have another outlet for my creative play!

Here's my shot for today, February 4th.  From now on, I will probably just include it in my hello monday posts

So... I was HOPING for some rain between the 30th (prompt given) and this Monday Mugshots... but it was not to be. So I am going ahead with my mug of coffee with Almond Joy creamer (new fave) and I have a blank canvas. Ready to gesso these pages and create something special. Won't be hard to talk about the rain - even though we don't have any, 'cause I love it and don't get enough of it! Happy Monday and happy creating to you all!

A Year In the Life of an Art Journal | one

I am happy to be taking part in A Year in the Life of an Art Journal challenge again.

This year the prompts are for photographers as well as art journalers. 

The challenges are given out on the 15th and 30th of every month.

Here is the challenge for January 15, 2013:

PROMPT: New Year's resolutions or ONE WORD. 

Do you make New Year's resolutions, or take part in the ONE WORD project? 

SHOOTERS: Shoot your mug with your word or something that symbolizes your word.
(Sharing on Monday Mugshots on fb also)

BOOKERS: Use watercolors on your page to emulate your word... (if you don't have water colors, watered down acrylic paint will do just fine.) use color to convey that word and what it means to you. While your paint is WET, sprinkle salt on it, and let it sit. When your paint is dry, brush off the salt.  (people taking part in the creative prompt can put their mugshot for this prompt on this page.) 

 I have been choosing a word for my year for the last five years.

I tend to over-burden myself about unnecessary things 

and this year, I've decided it's time to MINIMIZE.

 For these pages I used a double spread in my almost complete (YAY) journal that was already gesso'd and started covering it with a layer of mod podge and then random pages of vintage text from dictionaries, old scouting book, vintage hymnal, worn copy of Pride and Prejudice, etc.

I just mod podge'd away and didn't worry if there were wrinkles or anything.

Then I started painting on a water color wash of orange...my favorite.

(Make sure your page dries in between each thing you do.)

I added two pictures that I printed off quickly on my regular printer.  One is of my coffee mug that I wrote my One Little Word on.  I used a Sharpie Marker and free-handed on the mug. Then I placed it directly on the oven rack at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or so.  Won't wash off now. :)

The other picture is a little setting I made with some Scrabble tiles to spell out MINIMIZE.

   I added scribbles of oil pastels and gelato here and there.  Did some smudging.  Then I took some Bahama Blue acrylic and just let it drip down my page.  Just anything that made me smile and broke up the orange a bit.

 I began to write random words that represented things I wanted to minimize.  I used a Sharpie marker for the bold words.  Then around the word I used a Glaze gel pen to write how I would MINIMIZE those areas. 

I have found that the Glaze pens work great on top of any type of medium - even the waxy oil pastels.

 I may continue to add things to the pages that I want to MINIMIZE as I think of them, but this is it for now.  

To MINIMIZE fear:

Psalm 56:3~But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.

Colossians 3:15a.~Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,

Do you art journal or like taking photos? You can join in on the fun twice a month too!  Just head over to Rachel Whetzel's page to play! 

Only girl in the world...

I haven't posted my pages from the "A Year in the Life of an Art Journal" lately. They post prompts on the 15th and 30th of every month. I've done most of them. The theme for the year is Musical Musings. They give you a prompt, song, lyrics, and technique. You can do whatever you wish with it.

To be honest, I have been so crazy busy, but I want to journal every day - even if it's just 10 minutes. So this is what came from the most recent prompt.

From "A Year in the Life of an Art Journal"

The Prompt: Control
The Song: Only Girl (in the world) by Rhianna
Written Lyrics HERE
Product/Technique: lipstick

I used acrylic paints and gesso. Anyone can join in the fun. Click on the link and see what it's all about.

Heaven help me...

Following the prompts at A Year in the Life of an Art Journal. You can too. They publish a new prompt every 15th and 30th of the month. To be interpreted however you'd like!
The Prompt: Faith
The Song: Heaven Help Me by Gretchen Wilson
Product/Technique: Wings
Written Lyrics HERE

They say that FAITH is believing in something you can't see. Well, I definitely need faith 'cause sometimes I don't like and can't trust the things I do see.
Matthew 9:22~
But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.

Really??!

THE PROMPT: Really?!
THE SONG: Tell Me Something I Don't Know by Selena Gomez
Written Lyrics HERE
PRODUCT/TECHNIQUE: Speech bubbles
Prompts found twice a month at A Year in the Life of an Art Journal
I've enjoyed these Musical Musings that prompt me in my art journal. I've been away from really art journaling for about 3 weeks and I thought I was going to lose it if I didn't get some gesso on my fingers soon!
This prompt really worked for me. There are so many times that I just want to say, "Really??!" I'm no dummy, so quit treating me like one. This girl is going to speak up - and if I CHOOSE not to speak up, it's not because you're fooling me...I just am not going to waste my energy on it. I also can not let my own mind tell me things that are not true. If you have a dream - go after it! If you are scared to try something - get over it.
Great prompt!

Not Broken...

THE PROMPT: Love

THE SONG: Not Broken by the Goo Goo Dolls

Written Lyrics HERE

PRODUCT/TECHNIQUE: Sillouettes

I really enjoyed working on these pages, but I'm not going to lie - it wasn't easy. Once again, I found myself struggling with the writing. It's like I was afraid to write what I really felt - but I had to get it out. So, I did. Then I gesso'd right over it. =) The technique to use was one of my favorites. I love doing sillouettes and masks. I also did a mask with sequin waste.

The Ace of Hearts represents LOVE that can be broken, but will not remain broken.

I am whole and I will be present on this journey of mine called life!

I am most thankful for verses like Psalm 51:10 that say, "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me."

God's mercies are everlasting. He never gives up on us. Isn't that good to know that someone is really on your side? I don't have to trust in others or even myself, because we let each other down and we even let ourselves down. However, 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

Be encouraged my friend. You can be whole in every way!

Join in on the 15th and 30th of every month at A Year in the Life of an Art Journal.

Strut like you mean it!

Yesterday was the 15th of the month, so you know what that means! New prompt over at A Year in the Life of an Art Journal with Rachel Whetzel...
THE PROMPT: Confidence Shot
THE SONG: Strut by Adam Lambert
Written Lyrics HERE
PRODUCT/TECHNIQUE: eye shadow

I started by making a background page that I started prepping before I even knew what the prompt was going to be. I made a pattern using Hole Reinforcement Stickers on my dry, blank page. Then I gave it a light coat of gesso. After it dried, I started playing with a wash of acrylic paints. I really enjoyed the process of watching colors blend and develop with each layer. I also liked how the stickers gave the page more texture.

Then I read the prompt which always has THREE parts. I had never heard the song before, but I liked the words. I decided right away to go with the word Strut because my thoughts started swirling around as soon as I read the word. I reflected on how I may strut or walk with confidence on the outside, but I am usually filled with insecurities inside. I am learning to change this mind-set. It's a journey though - that is for sure.

I don't wear much make-up and certainly did not have a variety of colors of eye shadow to choose from. However, I did have my Bare Minerals eye shadow in Radiant Rebecca and decided I would use it the same way I use the Perfect Pearls powder. I used foam stamps and stamped them on Perfect Medium and then lightly brushed the area with the golden brown eyeshadow. I really like how it turned out!

Beautiful Again...

A Year in the Life of an Art Journal prompt for February 28th:

THE PROMPT: I'm Beautiful

THE SONG: Real Love by Regina Spektor

Written Lyrics HERE

PRODUCT/TECHNIQUE: Self-portrait

I haven't touched my art journal in over a week. It was way over due. I had fun with this and was able to really write on this subject (gesso'd over it)...

Somebody asked me why I bother to journal and then cover the words. Well, I can keep my thoughts private that way, but I still get to express my feelings. I still struggle with writing down my thoughts due to a time when my privacy was totally violated and I felt like I had no place safe for my "voice". I don't always cover up my writing - it just depends.

This prompt really helped me to focus on how much I want to feel beautiful - physically, spiritually and emotionally. I don't want to be afraid to be who I am. I want to love people without wondering if they will love back. I want to laugh and feel free without worrying how I am perceived... I want to be BEAUTIFUL AGAIN.

Run...don't walk...

Here are my pages for "A Year in the Life of an Art Journal" February 15th prompt:
THE PROMPT: Fight
THE SONG: Breakin' Dishes by Rihanna
Written Lyrics HERE
PRODUCT/TECHNIQUE: Bleach
The host gives a prompt every 15th and 30th of the month. It is always in three parts - the prompt, the song, and the product/technique that we are to use/try.
Once again, I could not connect at all with the song. However, I could connect with the word fight. lol I don't want to fight. I don't want to yell. It's up to me - I can't be selfish. I've got to walk...no - run away when I am tempted to give in to trying to have the last word.

I enjoyed the creative process of this page. I started out with the dark feeling that I have whenever there's a fight and tried to lighten it up with the hues of gold and copper. I did a lot of masking, lightened up some of the black with some bleach in a spritzer. Played with some "drippage" and added glittery chipboard and little paper flowers.

The copper paint even began to crackle a little when I heated it with my heat gun. Cool effect.

I cut out a picture from a magazine to create this mask and then sponged on the acrylic paint over my journaling. I like how some of the words are still peeking through.

Click the link above to join in the fun and let me know so I can check out what you came up with too! Thanks for stopping by!

Your time is now...I think...

Sometimes I love prompts...sometimes they seem to just paralyze me. I get stuck on "what do they really want?" and I forget that there are no rules...they are just helps, a push...PROMPTS. Anyway, I didn't care for this song - it kinda put me in a funky mood. This journal page is based on the Year in the Life of an Art Journal prompts. The prompts are given every 15th and 30th of every month. The prompt:
THE PROMPT: Time
THE SONG: Butterflies & Hurricanes by Muse
Written Lyrics HERE
PRODUCT/TECHNIQUE: Numbers

I took the "Your time is now..." from the song.

I also must admit that I have a lot going on right now - literally and in my head. I need a day of clarity and I might be able to do that tomorrow a.m. as I have realised this week that I totally missed my jury service duty last week! I got my dates way off. Anyway, I called and they told me to come in tomorrow (today technically). I am assuming that I will have time to journal, think, make lists and such while I wait. I am sure there will be waiting.
So - who knows? I may just gesso over this page and start over. I may not. I might do something to it though when I feel like I'm not just trying to get something done. I don't want it to be forced...it's my SOUL JOURNAL, after all. *sigh*
I'll keep you posted of course. haha. Ever have days like this or feel like you started creating something but your heart wasn't in it?

Not waiting on the world to change...

I am participating in two Art Journal challenges for the year. One is to just do something in my Art Journal every day. Every day of the year! This inspiration is from Balzer Designs Art Journal Every Day I don't always do a complete page every day. Sometimes it's just prepping a background or adding to another page or journaling...very low stress.

The other Art Journal challenge I am participating in is from A Year in the Life of an Art Journal. In this one, there are prompts posted every 15th and 30th of the month. The prompt for this one was:

THE PROMPT: Starting NOW

THE SONG: Waiting on the World to Change by John Mayer (the player is to your right in the sidebar if you'd like to take a listen.)

Written Lyrics HERE.

PRODUCT/TECHNIQUE: Foot Photo

This page was a background that I had already prepped for my "Art Journal Every Day" It was a process of Gesso, masking tape, drippage and some journaling. I then painted another glaze over the journaling and wrote a bit of journaling directly onto the background and then added the "foot" from a magazine and used my white Uniball to write it. The green "mesh" was from a bag of tomatillos that I added (cool texture) with Mod Podge. I used my heat gun to dry it and I SWOONED when I saw that it kind of melted, kind of shrunk onto the page. Yeah, it doesn't take much to make me happy. =)

I don't think that we ought to "Wait on the world to change..." If you want good things in your life, then you need to plant good things now. I may not be able to help everyone in this world, but I can give a smile to the person I pass on the street or share a kind word with someone that is hurting.

Our church has a theme each year that we use to help us stay focused. This year's theme is from James 2:8. Love Thy Neighbor. I was so glad when my husband told me that he chose that as the theme. That's what will change this world. We need to stop judging. We need to start accepting. I'm not talking about agreeing with everything a person does or believes, but we believe that God loves everybody and wants us to do the same. I'm so tired of people that taint the name of Christ because their actions do not match their words. I have been dealing with some Christians that have been so wounded by other so called "Christians". It's just so sad.

Some people believe in karma, but I believe in the Scripture were it says in Galatians 6: 7 - 9 "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

So, put out negative - receive negative. Put out positive - receive positive. Sow obedience and reap blessings. Those that do things out of greed or evil - it leads to corruption.

Very clear, I think. Then the last part tells us that we are not to tire of doing what's right. God knows it's not easy.

Have you ever heard the saying "No good deed goes unpunished?" People are funny. Often, they will figure out how to turn something you've done good for them right around on you and then use it against you. WOW. You just have to shake your head, learn from it and move on. You don't stop doing good things. You keep going. You keep giving. In due season - it'll come back to you in a good way. I love that. Do it NOW and Change the World around you.