I can't believe it's been 6 months since I have created anything remotely artsy or art journaly. I think women in general put everyone's needs above their own. I find that I do that and then I am resentful because I don't get any "down" or "me" time. I should not be resentful because it is my own fault. I should learn how to manage my time better, to actually schedule art journal/scrapbook/art time. We all know that knowing something and putting it into practice are two totally different challenges. So ladies (and guys too) what do you say? Do you think we can all band together to get in a least a couple of hours a week to let those creative juices flow or to document the mile stones in your lives? I know I am going to give it an earnest effort!


Soooo....here is the first thing I have created since July. 
My contribution to the 2014 Art Journal Caravan Book. This was my interpretation of the theme "Passport Dreaming". 
I used elements from VooDooHooDo and Wild Blue Yonder by FineCrafted Designs at Deviant Scrap. Little Sky Pirate by Ida Larsen at Deviant Scrap. Her little pirate looks so much like my little niece McKenzie in this pose. The font is Rubia's tiny script by Darcy Baldwin. It's a retired font that I picked up at Sweet Shoppe Designs last Going, Going, Gone Sale

It seems like I have been cursed with tech problems for all of this year. I think I have gotten my internet worked out to working properly...big emphasis on "think". I have been getting the blue screen of death on my laptop so even though I don't really want to deal with Windows 8 I have gotten a new laptop. I am currently working from my old one. I just don't want to get stuck where I don't have what I "need" on a working laptop. I am not fond of Windows 8 but I think that's only because it's new and I hate having to learn something new especially when what's old is so familiar and easy. I am also still using my old laptop because I can't get photoshop to work properly. I suscribed to the Adobe Cloud with all the wonderfully different programs at my fingertips to use. I was hoping to have gotten to play with CS5 but CS6 had already been released. It's been a challenge and a bit of a learning curve as I have jumped from CS3. Anyhow..what's not working is that all the blend modes are not showing as available..where as I can jump back on this one and they are all there. --->Mental picture of me wanting to pull my hair out when I am in the middle of a project when I find this out.<--->

I think I have chosen a nice laptop though.




This is me channeling my inner nerd and networking the 2 together. It's something I have never done before and it may sound silly but I felt pretty darn smart being able to do. It made file transferring a breeze!!!





I am making the jump up from 4GB of memory and 320 hard drive to the 8GB and 1TB. It's very zippy!!! I am also excited about the Beats Audio. I am seriously thinking of saving up for some Beats headphones. They are pricey but I am told they block out all outside noises.  I can totally see myself groovin' to some tunes and art journaling my little heart out. Something I don't seem to be getting to do much of. 


Here's a couple pages I have done this year. Click on the image to see the credits in the SGB Gallery.






Thanks for taking a few minutes to visit me!!!

We flew through last week like a tornado. I was acutely aware that it was the last week of summer and more than excited to welcome autumn. It however has yet to bring relief in the form of cooler weather. >very sad face< 

Last Thursday was salon day again-->all fancy sounding<--the normal lingo around our house is haircut day...cuz by golly it's time to get that hair cut out of the eyes. I am mostly happy with my cut. Mostly means my stylist got the front right and not too short around my face but an epic fail with how she cut the back. Huge note to self....bring more photos. She has been cutting and styling my hair for a year and half now and each time I have to remind her to not cut too short.  She however did an AMAZING job on my DD's hair. She wanted her's to have an edgy rocker chick look and that's exactly what she got. All in all I can't complain.  

After lunch we tackled the dr. appt. I had made for DD. School work has always been a struggle. The environment at public school ended up being a negative and toxic force in her life. I can say though that for the most part her teachers worked hand in hand with me to help with DD's studies. I have been home schooling for a year and a half. I thought that more one on one time would help her. I had pursued all avenues and the only one left that I did not want to face was testing her for ADD. She is not hyper so not ADHD. Forms had to be filled out. People tracked down to help fill them out. Forms delivered. Wait. Wait. Wait. A call for an appt. to see the dr. finally comes. 
End result. Yes for ADD. Fast forward.  Only 3 days on her meds and she has worked independently which she just does not do well and she has worked ahead of her schedule. She expressed to me that it just makes sense to her now. I can not even express in words how excited I am that my sweet teenager is now able to be successful in her studies. 

I was able to squeeze in a page created from a prompt on the Art Journal Caravan at SBG. I am a little ..ok A LOT...behind but that's ok. The image will be linked for full credits. Just Click on it. 

I have spent this past week feverishly getting my house in tip top shape before I head out to Vegas for Digiscrapapalooza sponsored by Scrap Orchard. I am beyond excited and oh so very nervous. I have (1) never been to Vegas and (2) never flown. I have been all in a tizzy about what to pack/not pack~shopping for travel size shampoos/lotions etc. And then being nervous some more.  This is the last weekend I am home before the big event....biting nails....and my bathroom looks like I let loose a preschool class in it. Crap is flung everywhere. But the upside is that the rest of the house has measured up to my my tip top shape requirements....YIPPPEEEEE!!!!! I leave Tuesday to drive the 4 hours from my house to my brother's in Ft. Worth so that my SIL can get me to the DFW airport on Wednesday. I will have a full day of art journaling with Tangie Baxter on Thursday and that evening will be the kick off to Palooza. 


I also wanted to share a page I did for a book of Hope and Courage that was a collaborative effort of members of the 2012 Art Journal Caravan.
The quote reads~Hope is putting Faith to work when doubting would be easier. Author Unknown~


Clicking the image will take you to the gallery for credits.


Thanks for stopping by!!!

I got so busy enjoying that my husband was home from work for a few days that I didn't touch the blog at all this week. He usually has a part time job when he is home from his regular job but for the past couple of times he has been in the man didn't need his help. Hubby's full time job is power line construction and the part time job is electrical work. He really enjoys it because it's not as hard of a job as he normally does and he is learning a new skill. The little bit of extra cash is not a bad deal either. I have also been in a good creative kick with my scrapbooking. When I joined the Art Journal Caravan last year at Scrapbookgraphics I was excited to be learning a new kind of scrapping but alas that did not happen because I got distracted with my Grandfather and his illness. Out of 52 weekly prompts I only did 2. ---->See my sad face<----So this year when I joined I had a renewed passion to just "complete" the weekly projects. I had completely quit scrapping and needed something to really focus on to get me back in the game. One of the ladies in the forum called art journaling "scrap therapy" and that really struck a cord in my heart because that is exactly what I have been doing with it. I find it hard at this point to create pages just to create. I need them to have a purpose or a meaning. Even when I am making pages for the creative team I am on...I want them to have meaning otherwise I feel like I have wasted my time. Time that I could have scrapped real memories and photos for my family. I am not a fast scrapper either. I sometimes envy the ladies that can knock out these fabulous pages in less than 2 hours. It takes me a whole afternoon. Maybe I could be faster if I wasn't watching the tv, doing the laundry or gettting distracted with FB. I still enjoy the process. I feel so satisfied and accomplished when I see something I had only envisioned in my head finally a finished page.

Another catchup for the Caravan. Itinerary #7 Verb:Wonder




Almost a page a day....I feel good! Thanks for popping in and taking a peek.

I have had the most wonderfully creative week for digiscrapping and Art Journaling. It's just a fantastic feeling to see your creations come alive on paper from what you have pictured in your head.

Up first is my ode to phlebotomy. Beth Rimmer has this wonderful new kit called Sirens of Pulp Fiction over at Deviant Scrap with the most delicious characters to play around with and the funkiest of fabric flowers and papers. I like that it's edgy and pushes you creatively. It was soooo much fun to play with!!!! Click on the preview to see all the credits.

::::Credits::::
Art Journal Caravan Parcel 5 by Tangie Baxter w/Studio Rebecca
Splatter Graffitti 4 Border Cluster {Pause}

Fonts Used in order were
Cherish
Pea Mystie Unicase
Pristina
SketchFlow Print
Scarlet Ribbons
Tekton Pro
Good Vibrations ROB
Pea Jane
A & S Signwriter

Even though my page is of a simple design, I did go outside my comfort zone and do an 8.5 x 11 page instead of my old trusty 12x12 size. Many things in my life have been those "ah-ha" moments but these are some of the top ones that have made me pause and just savor the moments.
Text Reads:
I like Totally Paused
when
I gave my heart to christ
i had my first kiss
i fell in love for the very first time
i had my heart broke for the first time
i became a mother to christopher
i became a mother to shaina
i met the man who treats me me like
a queen and loves me when I am unlovable
i truly realized that life is not a
race...it's the journey and the legacy that
I leave behind for my children and children's children.

Today was a really nasty day. With the terrible blizzard storm moving through so many states we are lucky to just get rain and cold weather. I stacked tons of firewood on the back porch last night for (1) I like a cozy fire and (2) I want to be prepared in case the electric goes and I can at least stay warm. I might build one in a little bit when I am here in the living room to stay but while I am up and around the house I will leave it be. My poor hubby is stuck up in Missouri (we live in La.) on his job. He didn't work today, which is not good but he is supposed to be sent to Indiana in the morning for some work. He does powerline construction so I am sure he might be staying busy. I am hoping for to make up the day of work he missed AND maybe a bit of overtime pay. I still haven't taken my P365 photos off of my camera...NOTE to self...just get it done!!!!

I spent a lovely hour over at Scrapbookgraphics gabbing with the ladies in the chatroom. I remember the first time I went. I was petrified. How does a newbie fit in when everyone seems friends already. From the first moment I felt very welcome. They host a game and issue a chatroom scrapping challenge for which you can win some prizes. But I think the most fun of all is getting to know everyone and trying to type while I giggle. So if you are not doing anything on Tuesdays at 9 pm EST...you should hop on over to SBG and peek in.

I am excited to say that I won this weeks chat challenge (it's all randomly picked) with my Twilight page. I have been meaning to scrap this photo since I had taken it and am very pleased with how it turned out.
Click on the photo to view the credits in the gallery.


I am also very pleased with my art journal page I did for Itinerary 4 in the Art Journal Caravan at SBG. What came to mind when I think of the word Stretch? There were other prompts I could have chosen but this on spoke to me.
Click on the photo to view the credits in the gallery.