One last summer fling

I thought I would share one last summer fling with ya'll today.  While the weather is not really fall-like here yet, I have put away all the true summer clothes.  Packed away are all the whites, strappy sundresses, and linens.  I relish the fall days!  Just love the crisp, cool air.  Envy my parents who made a drive into the mountains this weekend to see the fall colors.  All the trees are changing colors and my mom said it was gorgeous!  And of course the oldest child is in north Texas and keeps telling me about their cool mornings and low humidity.  Oh how I wish there was low humidity here!  So, on with fall....I made this cute little mini album a few weeks ago.  I call it the Sun Kissed mini album.

 Acrylic page edged with stickles.  Butterflies are "trapped" behind the paper on the other side but are seen through the acrylic.

 Lots of tags....spaces for journaling and pics.

 Just a small little book to open for more space.

Sorry, some of the pics are a bit dark.  This is the paper line Sun Kiss from Prima. The album is 6 x 6 which is perfect to just drop pics into.   I love butterflies, birds, florals,....  So this paper really struck a heartcord with me.    I really like the colors but also the faint backgrounds on many of the papers.  There are still a few of the kits left.  If you are interested in purchasing one, just let me know!

This week is rounding out to be rather hectic again!  Homecoming was this past weekend and my daughter looked amazing!  Just like a little tinkerbell!  Her dress had gold glitter on it and everywhere she went she left a glitter trail.  I pulled mom duty and stayed up all night keeping an eye on the teens who came to my house for the night.  And you know they didn't sleep! Feeling old because it is going to take a whole week for me to make up that missed sleep!   But it was totally worth it.

Have a little last summer thing and pray for cool weather!  Have a great day.

Doodling

What a crazy couple of weeks it has been.  Somewhere in my mind I thought that when the oldest went away to school that life at home would be a little less crazy.  Ha!  Delusional me!  I really think it is crazier.  I don't know what I was thinking....I mean, there are still 4 kiddos here that need to be taken everywhere.  Oh, and of course they still want to be fed!  Aagh!

It seems that it has been hard to get a blog up in the last 2 weeks.  So today I specifically made time for it.  Yeah!  I have of course been busy scrapbooking.  Scrapp n' Savvy is having their sampler next Friday and Saturday.  This means that I need to have all my projects for the next quarter done by Wednesday so that they can be photographed and make sure I have an inventory of all that I used on a project.  While I won't post pics of those projects today, I can tell you that I am very happy with them and I think you will be too!

I have spent an inordinate amount of time sitting in the last few weeks.  Volleyball (before she switched to soccer), soccer, cross country, meetings of every kind (do we really need to sit for an hour and a half listening to someone tell me what is written on a piece of paper?), well, you get the picture.  As you may be able to tell by my little comment I am really, really tired of pointless meetings.    I get it.  But I have 5 children.  I could write the manual on some of these things.  To make these meetings mandatory is silly.  I had 3, yes 3, last night.  All at the same time.  All on the same property.  All for different children.  I chose the youngest child's scout meeting.  He needed me the most last night!  All said......I have had a bunch of time not at my desk.  So, to keep my hands busy I took my sketchbook along.

I have always been a doodler.  I have filled pages with funny little people, cat faces, pumpkins, elaborate swirls and twirls.  I thought I would share some of them with you today.

 I usually start with a pencil drawing then come back and cover it with a black multiliner pen.  I especially love this because if I make a mistake I can cover it with a thicker line.

 This is the same type of drawing but after I finished with my black pen I experimented with the Faber Castell gelatos.  Love them!  They blend so nice.

 Of course, I had to break out the copics.  I grabbed a few colors and stuck them in my purse!  I had to draw something based on the colors I had grabbed!  Worked out okay though.

 Just simple shapes and then you keep adding on.  I think I am going to glitter ritz this one and color it with copics for the front of a card.

 I love my seahorses!  Each one is different.  

 And of course a mermaid.  Actually drew several of these.  Colored some with copics (very cool) and others with gelatos.  I have given them all away though so no pics.  Her hair is by far my favorite.

This is a fairy that I am working on now.  Not sure how this one will turn out.  It is the wings that draw me in though.  Like butterfly wings.  Faces are not my thing....just can't seem to get them right.  I know the face will be simple so the wings will be more patterned.  Definitely will color this one with copics.

I have used some of these in my scrapbooking.  Small ones that are subject specific.  As titles, names, dates.  You know that sometimes it is really hard to find that perfect embellishment for a page, but with these you can just make it!  I usually keep a small stash of the super heavy weight artist paper in my bag so that I can take advantage of down time.

I hope I inspired you today.  Check back.  You never know what fun messes I will have here for you!

Bubble, bubble, toil, and trouble!

Bubble, bubble, toil, and trouble!  Oh, wait.  It's not halloween yet!  Not even close!  Unless of course you are a retail store.  Then it's been halloween AND Christmas for months now!  I think there has been more Christmas stuff in my local Hobby Lobby than anything else since, oh, I don't know, before July 4th!  Don't get my wrong.  I love those holidays!  But really.....Could we wait a bit?  Stresses me out to think about Christmas shopping in July!  And I can only look at the holiday for so long before I get frustrated that there is nothing new to look at.

Back to the bubble.....I have bubbles on my mind today!  No comments please!!!  I know I always have bubbles on my mind (bubble baths, blowing bubbles, well, you get the picture).  You see, tomorrow I teach my bubble brag book at Scrapp n' Savvy.

I fell in love with these cute little bubble brag books a while back.  Of course, the book is sitting at the store so I don't have a picture of the brag book part.  Essentially, the front is a bubble frame (that you can put your own treasures in) and the back is an accordian book.  It sits on a cute little easel that comes in the kit.  The center of the front frame is a little bubble!  Of course, the best part is being able to use the fun metal embossing fragments.  Oh my am I addicted to that stuff.  It is so fun to add different colors of the fragments and make your own colors and texture.  The picture just doesn't do this justice!  It looks like metal that has been antiqued.  And then there is the cute embellishment packs to decorate with (see the little scrolls at the top and bottom?)  .  They come in so many adorable little shapes.  I will have to post better pics of this.  Of course, I filled it with pics of the oldest and his beach party.  Fun, fun ,fun!

I am also excited for my trip this week.  I am leaving Thursday to go to Scrapfest in Louisiana.  Scrapp n' Savvy is holding some classes but also will have a booth space.  I am looking forward to scrapping all weekend!  Well, at this point I was going to have a picture of my work table covered in prepared kits that I am taking to sale.  However, I guess all my technology stuff has taken today off.  I can't seem to get the picture to upload in blogger.  Sure it is my fault.  So, just imagine a bunch of clear cellophane bags loaded with beautiful papers, lovely ribbons, and some cute embellishments.  That is what I have been working on.  I am hoping to sale my kits in the store's booth.  If I can sale all of them, then my trip is paid for!  Yeah.

Allrighty.  Short post today.  There is just so much going on in my house today.  Craaaazy!  Check back soon for glimpses of the new quarters projects.  There are some really cute ones.  Thanks for stopping by.

My holiday fun

It's Labor Day weekend.  This is the weekend I think my kids look forward to because it is the first long weekend since school started.  Yes, selfish since they don't really understand what the holiday signifies, but real!  Me?  Well, I am looking forward to the weekend too.  Really I'm looking forward to not having to make lunches.  I hate making lunches for school.  They never, never want what you have for lunch.  They never eat what you pack.  I get it, but come on.  Give mom a break!  I am lucky that they do make their lunches most days (except the little guy).

On to the weekend.....I am teaching today at Scrapp n' Savvy.  This is my Pinterest inspired class and today it is called Clip and Dangle.  There are so many cute homemade pin boards and note boards on Pinterest.  It inspired me to make the religious ones that I posted a few months back but also these really cute picture clip boards.

There are so many possibilities.  I am planning on making a larger one to hold recipes while I work in the kitchen.  In the picture the cream stand holding the pictures is the "clip" and the cork ornaments is the "dangle".  The cork ornaments are all over Pinterest.  I have a dear friend who has been collecting corks for many, many years in hopes of doing some cute, fun project.  For now though, they are in a large box in her pantry.  Good for me.....I got to dig through and find cute corks for this project!  Yes, I know.  This sounds like the perfect excuse to open a bottle of vino with the girls.  All in the name of crafting!  I'll get to that this weekend!

I am praying for those in Louisiana and surrounding states hit by the hurricane.  How much water can they take?  My prayer seems a bit, well, selfish I guess.  You see, there is this scrapbook convention in Mandeville, Louisiana in 2 weeks.  Sits right on the north shore of Lake Ponchartrain.  Selfish.  I really want to go.  Have made kits to sale and everything.  New crop bag to take goodies in (it's been years since I have gone to a crop night).  Plans for what I can bring to crop.  Plans for a good bottle of wine with the girls at the end of a great crafting day.  So....prayers for those people.  They really need them.  But also prayers for those of us heading there for convention.  We need that time too.  And just think of the money we can pump into that local economy!  I'm prepared to do my part!

Well ladies.  I hope you have a great weekend.  Spend some time with family, craft, but mostly enjoy your time.  Check back next week for some new craftiness!