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! 

Mandy's Vintage Inspired, Yellow and Gray, Mason Jar Themed Wedding

Well, I wanted to share some pictures from the wedding we recently attended/took part in...

It was beautiful from start to finish.  Of course, Pinterest was a major inspiration for the wedding ideas, and why shouldn't it be? I wish I had it when I planned my wedding almost 20 years ago!

The theme was vintage-inspired, mason jars, and yellow and gray.

As she prepared, Mandy showed me each idea she came across.  She had so many ideas, I didn't think she'd accomplish all of it!  Guess what?  I was wrong.  She, along with the help of her family and friends, did it all.  It was absolutely beautiful!

Yellow flowers for the bouquets...  I loved the variety!

These little cuties are mine and they read a portion of 1 Corinthians 13

This idea was copied from pinterest.  They used a very large frame that actually was a mirror and took the mirror out.  They painted the cardboard that was already in there with chalkboard paint.  I used chalkboard markers and hand-lettered everything else...by hand. LOL  

For info on the chalkboard markers and paint, you can read here.

The ceremony was outdoors.  Of course there was rain on this one day.  All the other days that week were super hot and super dry.  That's okay.  I read that rain on your wedding day meant that the heavens were blessing you. =)

She had mason jars hanging from the shepherd's hooks with flowers in it and then she had different sized mason jars along the aisle with candles and rocks in them.

They used mason jars for their yellow and gray sand ceremony and also had a candle in memory of the groom's mother who passed away about two years ago.  He read a touching poem in her memory. 

 I love the colors in these flowers!!

We used several Coca-Cola crates that we both had for the tables and to give that vintage feel to each setting.  She also had some vintage luggage that she picked up at some vintage stores in Colorado.  Mason jars, skeleton keys and yellow touches pulled it all together.
The CARDS banner with vintage lace and twine on it was made by me.

The groom's son, Owen, is the same age as my little Marco.  He carried this banner in and it was adorable!  The banner is made of burlap.   This also made everybody cry and was a perfect way to bring him into the ceremony.  

She came in escorted by her dad to the song "My Little Girl" by Tim McGraw.  Yes, there were tears...

Here is Naomi reading "Love is patient, love is kind..."

They wrote and read their own vows.  By the way, that super cute minister with the cute dimples is my hubby. =)  He officiated the wedding.

Then, to everyone's surprise, after they said "I do", kissed and rang the bell, the song "Yeah!", by Usher.  That cracked me up.  They all basically danced their way out.  It was great!

These were the 'place cards' with the name of the guest on the front and their table number on the back of the flags.  I loved the gray and yellow paper straws. 

Instead of a huge cake, they made little cupcakes in a jar.  Every jar was decorated with vintage lace, buttons and hand-made felt and lace flowers.  She and her mom did amazing.  They had Salted Caramel, Chai Tea and German Chocolate cupcakes.  The beautiful ruffled cake was made by our friend Lorany of Nany's Sprinkles.

Lots of Coca-Cola and vintage crates were used.  

Mason jars with rocks, candles, etc were on the tables.

Another cool idea were the table numbers.  She used old planks, vintage door knobs and skeleton keys and numbers.  They turned out great as well.  So many personal touches like this were seen throughout the wedding!

My jar. =)  These along with the cupcake jar were the favors.

Little Marco paid to dance with the beautiful bride.  

It was a beautiful wedding for our dear friend.  I wish her and Jeremy the best always and we were glad to be a small part of her big day!

Simple Things~Happy Finds

Finally got a chance to visit an adorable little antique and gift shop here in town. It's called Mrs. Darlings and it IS darling. It is owned and operated by the sweetest lady. I have gone past her store for three years or more and never went in...until today. I loved it. I mostly just looked around and ooohed and ahhhhed. Then I came across all this ephemera. Baskets and baskets full. I was not in a hurry at all. I took my time and fingered through it all and picked out pieces that really caught my eye. I love old ephemera of all types but I especially love school things and anything with lilies of the valley on them. I picked up some vintage Valentine's, product ads, and school themed items a few hand-written report cards from as far back as 1917. Simplicity. I love it.
You can join in the Simple Things with Rebecca, too. Just click on the button below!