A New Day...a new art journal page!

Day 7's page is done. I am sooooo loving doing this art journal project. It just starts off the day with a creative burst which I love!!! Today's is a pretty simple page. I used Rhonna's AWESOME quote, some Stamped In Ink stamps, some Kaleidoscope paper, some doodling, some glitter (which I am going to hate when I realize how much glitter just transferred to my scanner...LOL), and it's another page done for today! :)

As you can see, my to do list is long today so this is going to be short. For today's creative prompt I am going to give you 2 words: I wish... See where that leads you creatively!!!

Rhonna has put links up on her blog to everyone that is doing the 21 day challenge. Go over there and look at them...there is some absolutely fantastic artwork to be seen...including Rhonna's very inspiring pages!!!

smiles,
Christi

sleep deprived

Well, after staying up til 2:00 am this morning and getting back up at 6:00, I have been dragging all day! LOL! And it was for such a stupid reason...to watch X-Men. I have seen bits of it, but have never seen the entire movie so I was flipping channels last night at around 11:30 and came across it. I had NO IDEA that it was going to be on for another 2 1/2 hours. Bad idea! But I did get some cleaning done while I watched it.

Scrapbooking club was a flop this morning. I had a couple of people that were definitely suppose to come, but a family emergency and too many obligations got in the way of both of them from coming. But, quite honestly, that was okay. This group is definitely one of those things that is suffering because of my busy schedule. I just haven't been able to put the effort into it that I need to. So I was okay when it was a bust and the good news was that my house was clean, so I didn't have to feel guilty about lounging a lot of the day because of lack of sleep. :D

But I did get some work done today. Here is my day 6 on my 21 day journey. As you can see, relax was on the agenda today so I am doing good at checking my list off...I think that I am actually going to get everything done for the first time today.

Finally, here is the layout that I did from the creative prompt of my hair gel bottle. Do you see where the design came from? The picture layout is the quadrant at the top that says "Pantene" and then I copied the four square detail at the bottom. This is another layout for the Croppers Cottage. Some fun new products here...3 Bugs in a Rug & Heidi Swapp goodies. Yum!

I will have another creative prompt up for you tomorrow!
smiles,
christi

Lots to share today...

I have a lot to share with you today...

First off is a layout that I did yesterday of my dad for the Croppers Cottage store. I was inspired by a layout out of the designing with calendar done by Renee for March 8th. I love how she used all the tags so I took it a step further and challenged myself to only use stamps...specifically Sue's Stamped In Ink (available at Croppers Cottage ) stamps which I haven't been using to their full potential. I LOVE the way that it turned out. I also threw some of Tim Holtz's distress inks on the tags to help them flow with the layout. The base patterned paper is some of the 3 Bugs in a Rug - French Country paper (first time I have played with it too.)

Next is my day 5 of the 21 day challenge. I call this Ode to a Checkmark (LOL). The style of the page was determined by that fabulous quote done by Rhonna Farrer. She is one talented lady and I am loving this challenge. I read on someone else's blog that they plan on continuing this challenge every 21 days just with a different habit to change. I am thinking that is a great idea because I am having so much fun! I encourage you to go visit her blog. All the participants are linking in when they have done their day's art page and there is some amazing stuff there...an incredible variety of styles too!

Finally today's creative prompt: another household product for you...my hair gel! But look at all the graphic possibilities that it has. The little quadrant at the top, the swirl in the middle, the grouping of four squares, or you could even go with the color scheme, adding a bit of bling! I think that it will be a lot of fun to try to interpret into paperart so have fun with it and then give me a link to what you do!

Well, I have scrapbook club here in the morning so lots of cleaning to get done and I feel a killer headache coming on so I better get to work!
smiles,
christi

Creation: day 4...

I have a couple of things to share this morning. The first is a layout that I did last night of my mom using the art creative prompt from yesterday as inspiration. I love my mom so much! I just wanted to do a layout to show that. Hi Mom!

The second is today's entry in my art journal. Since this is supposed to be an ART journal, I decided to do a bit of freehand sketching which I am super-rusty on since it has been so long since I flexed those drawing muscles, but I was happy with the result. Notice that I sketched on a different piece of paper in case it turned into a total disaster. LOL! I have never been someone that could just draw, so I have to have something to work from. Today's something was a stamp from Stampendous. I have to admit that I miss drawing...I just wish that I was better at it. I think that is why I am so fond of the doodling trend that is so hot right now!

As far as 21 days to changing my habit...I feel like this is going well. I haven't managed a day yet where everything is checked off of my list, but I feel like I am getting so much more done. There is such satisfaction to checking those 'to do' items off my list each day!

I hope that you are all having a fantastic Saturday. I will be back tomorrow with a new creative prompt. If you haven't done anything with the art prompt from yesterday, I encourage you to at least make a card...it really is a fun piece to interpret!!!

day 3...

An easy one today simply because I have a lot on my plate for today. LOVE being able to check those things off!

Thanks to Rhonna who posted a link to my blog...I think that the traffic on my blog has quadrupled in the last 24 hours. Thank you to those people who are dropping in for the first time. Leave me a link so that I can go visit your blog if you have one!
smiles,
christi

a simple hello

Well, I did a super simple card for a friend last night. It was about 11:30 when I made it, but I was determined that I was going to get at least one more thing checked off my list for the day. Which means that the art journal project is working because if it hadn't of been for that list, I wouldn't have done my last three projects last night when I was really ready to go to bed at 9:00. Unfortunately, the entire list still did not get checked off for the day, but today is a new day so off to work I go.

For today's creative prompt, another art inspiration project. I apologize because I have no idea who did this gorgeous piece, but I think that it has some amazing inspiration possibilities. Have fun! I will be back on later in the morning with my day 3 of my art journal.
smiles,
Christi

Change...day 2

Today's page is totally inspired by Rhonna! Everyday she gives us a quote and today's was done up so beautifully with the swirls, textures, and colors that I just reprinted it and went with the feel of it. Plus it coordinates with her Enjoy line which I love!

As you can see, my To Do list today is long so this is going to be short, but I wanted to point out these great corner stamps!!! LOVE THEM! They are designed by Sue/Stamped in Ink. I just received them yesterday and couldn't wait to put them to work. BTW, yesterday's big swirl was from this same set and the little swirl was hers too...just from another one of her sets.

Other supplies used:
*Rhonna's quote design, Enjoy patterned papers, and epoxy stickers
*Blue Cardigan harlequin stamp
*Stampers Anonymous collage stamp
*CTMH inkpads

Off to get to work so that I can check more things off my list! Remember today's creative prompt is listed in the post from last night!
smiles,
christi

Change...Day 1

Here are the results of my Day 1 art journal in Rhonna's 21 days to change challenge. I incorporated my last two creative prompts into the page (swirl corner detail and the teal, orange, and brown color scheme.) I was really surprised when I scanned it at how much of a 70's feel that it has. The quote is part of the challenge/inspiration provided by Rhonna and it is "Everything you can imagine is real." Picasso

BTW, my habit that I want to change is my procrastination and I plan to do each day's page early in the morning with a list of what I need to get done that day. Today's list was short since we were a little late starting, but I still have half of it left to do and it is 10:20...so I better get to work. LOL!

So as inspiration from Rhonna's art journal challenge, today's creative prompt is this: Set a goal for yourself, write it down (maybe create a journal about it), and dedicate the next 21 days to achieving that goal. And now that you have done something good for yourself, do something good for someone else...make a card for a friend simply to say hi and have it stamped and addressed by midnight tomorrow night.

smiles,
christi

Senior & Senile...

altered ambitions
My mom just emailed to let me know that I am 35, not 36 so I am Senior & Senile! LOL! Thanks mom!!!
smiles,
christi

Senior at 36...

altered ambitions
I had to attend a meeting this morning for the "Senior Spouses" on base and while the subject matter was very important, I couldn't help but get a little distracted by that phrase. I am a Senior Spouse!?! I am only 36!?! How did I get to be one of the old ones?!? I have always prided myself in that I was young, but still very mature. Now that I am officially senior (the government says so...it must be true), should I start acting a little less responsible to offset the balance??? Is it time for me to don my red hat and purple dress?? I blame DH...
smiles,
christi

Belladonna Bingo...

I am starting to plan an OSC function for April with the theme of Belladonna Bingo. The thought behind this is lots of feminine girly stuff for prizes. I started the shopping today and this is what I have so far and the best news is that I have only spent about $125 of my $325 budget. Soooo much fun!!!! So do you have any great online gift shops to share with me that are good for girly things???

BTW, everything so far has come from Hobby Lobby, JoAnns, Ross, Tuesday Morning, and TJ Maxx.
smiles,
christi

Finding my niche...

altered ambitions
This weekend was the Stitches show in the UK...it's comparable to CHA in the US and I am seeing all the reports come out of there and wonder...How many opportunities am I missing because I am back in the States? I love my UK work and I love the wonderful ladies that I work with over there. You see scrapbookers all the time that are traveling all over the world...How do they do it? Does someone pay their way? If not, can they feasably make enough money to make it worth it? Or is it more a matter of getting that name recognition that leads to bigger things later? Inquiring minds want to know...

Then I wonder, should I be more aggressively pursuing my scrapbook career in the US? My LSS has asked me to teach, but I cannot imagine adding that to my already busy schedule. So the question is...Where do I want to go with my Papercrafting career? I know that I love my magazine and CC DT work and definitely want to continue that, but should I be actively pursuing other avenues? I honestly don't know... Something to ponder for today...
smiles,
christi

Change...

altered ambitions
Tomorrow is the start of Rhonna's art challenge for 21 days to change. I am really looking forward to it and I think that I am going to use this journal that I created a couple of month's ago with an art journal in mind...I just never got it started.
The stamps on this are some of Sue's Stamped In Ink stamps. I adore her stamps and she is always coming up with fun new stuff!

Today was a productive day. I haven't gotten to do any creating, but my house is finally much more managable and I feel more at peace with life now. I have about 1 1/2 hours left on my SC&P article artwork and I can send it off tomorrow. So excited to be back on top of my deadlines!!! Hopefully, my 21 days to change will further that goal even more! I know that I am definitely going to need to stay on top of my schedule. I have a LOT of irons in the fire that can get really overwhelming when I actually consider how much I have to do.

Here's a fun creative prompt for you courtesy of Marie : use the colors teal, orange, and chocolate brown together on a piece of art.
smiles,
christi

At loose ends...

altered ambitions
I am having one of those days today...fed up with everything and I don't want to do anything. I think that a lot of it may stem from the state my house is in so I am trying to reorganize. I need to work on my scrap space too. It is a disaster area that is seriously hindering my creative muse...I think that it may be time for a clear out!
smiles,
christi

meandering result...

altered ambitions
Well, I have finally finished with the cute shirt creative prompt. Whew! That was hard!!! I went through three different sets of papers/layouts and finally changed the subject of the layout and it started to come together. It just took me about three times as long as it should have! LOL!

For today's creative prompt, create something with a swirl corner detail.

So has anybody else been doing any of the creative prompts??? If you ever do, please come back and give us a link in the comments!!! I want to see what you all are doing!!!

I hope that you are staying warm today!
smiles,
Christi

The cruelty of windows...

...this is how you give a cat a heart attack!
smiles,
christi

The 21 day Challenge...

altered ambitions
Rhonna Farrer has this amazing art journal challenge starting on her blog. The theory behind it is that you can change any habit in 21 days. She wants to document the process and provide inspiration for change through an art journal starting the 21st of February.

I am so "in" on this project...the dilemna now is which bad habit do I want to work on changing...my eating habits or procrastination. I am definitely leaning towards my problem with procrastination. First off because it is a habit that I really need to change just to make my life more managable and secondly it will document prettier in an art journal. :D I have my priorities right...LOL!

DS is home from school today, but it is a work day for me. I finally have all my supplies in for my next SC&P article (I am playing with new CHA goodies) and of course some of those yummy new stamps. And I am seriously inspired to do something totally different (at least for me) with that shirt creative prompt so I am going to spend the day going back and forth on those two projects. Oh, and I am writing some stuff up for Croppers Cottage. busy, busy, busy!!!

The good news is that DS wants to earn some money today so he is the one cleaning the house! Whooohooo!!!

Have a good Friday! I hope to be on later to show you the result from my creative prompt and have a new one!
smiles,
christi

new goodies

The wonderful man in brown came and brought me some new yummy goodies from Stampers Anonymous!!! I think that I will be stamping tonight!!!!
smiles,
christi

Enjoying the day...

altered ambitions
DH left for a day trip to Charleston today so I have the whole day free to play. I finally had time to attempt my Olympics inspired creative prompt and here are the results...

The journaling says: "I look at these pictures and wonder, do you think Jacob will ever be able to truly appreciate how awesome this was? Christmas in the Austrian Alps learning how to ski...a dream! Life as a military kid is sometimes pretty awesome!"

It was truly awesome and as I watch the Olympics, it just reminds me of our Christmas in Austria last year. I haven't looked at a map, but I know that when we were there, we were only about 20 miles from the Italian border so I really think that we were fairly close to the Torino area. One of the absolute best memories that I have!!!

For today's creative prompt, another inspiration piece:

smiles,
christi

Happy Valentines Day!!!!

altered ambitions
I had a really busy day with lots of my volunteer obligations, but I wanted to share a bit of my two special guys. I hope that you all had a wonderful day with those that you love.




smiles,
christi

A fantastic funny to start your Monday...

altered ambitions
LOL! Loving this article esp. if you are a crafter... glitter lung
smiles,
Christi

The weekend in progress....

altered ambitions
Well, DS's birthday was a huge success. He started off the day with his pockets full of $$$ and ended the day completely broke! We spent the morning shopping for model (WWII versions) stuff, went to Olive Garden for lunch, a trip to the Airborne Museum, and finished off with a trip to see the movie, The Pink Panther. Not a movie that DH or I would have chosen, but we all really enjoyed it. I was literally crying in one section because I was laughing so hard. I am not sure I would recommend it for kids though...the humor was right on DS's level, but there was some definite adult humor to it.

I have been scrapping today trying to get my version of the creative prompt completed. This is a layout from Belas Knap, a druid tomb in England that is 5000 years old. The paper on the left side is the Junkitz camo paper. BTW, this layout is definitely inspired from a layout by Karen Russell. I love her work and you can go see some of it...the link to her blog is listed on the right under my links.

What is up with the Olympic coverage??? I cannot ever seem to find it on?!!? Is it just me? Part of the issue living on the East coast too...the nightly coverage doesn't start until 8:00 pm so we don't get to see too much of it. But I am watching Nascar again so life is good (we never have a problem finding that broadcast here in North Carolina!!!)

Todays creative prompt in honor of the Olympics: create a sport or snow themed layout and include circles somewhere in it.

smiles,
christi

creative camoflauge

altered ambitions
In honor of DS's birthday tomorrow, the creative prompt for tonight will be to use/create camoflauge paper and use it on a papercraft. To make camoflauge, just layer shades of a color cut in amoeba like shapes, layer them over a base paper of a coordinating shade and you have it. Remember, if you have girls, pink or blue camos are very hot too. There is even one of the Junkitz lines that features a blue camo. Have fun with this one!

Have a good weekend!!!
smiles,christi

Dare...

altered ambitions
Here are my results from yesterday's creative prompt. I had fun with this. It is a photo of DS with one of our friends in Normandy last year climbing onto a tank that they probably weren't supposed to be on, but I got an awesome picture out of it.

Tomorrow is DS's birthday #11 so we are going to be gone most of the day celebrating with him. I will post a creative prompt later tonight dedicated to him.

In other news, I became a little bit more official at Practical Publishing today. Michelle emailed me an awesome business card and they set up an email account through the publisher today (I have no idea how to access the email yet, but it looks cool!!!) It made me feel really good!
smiles,
christi

at what cost???

altered ambitions
At what cost do we give up free speech? I have never been political or an activist, but something happened recently that made me question why I would give up my choice of free speech. I was told not to talk about or mention ****** and that if I did then I would be terminated from my position (not a position that I get paid for, but one that I love to do).

That's imposing on my right to free speech and REALLY is rubbing me the wrong way...but why??? It isn't something that I would have discussed because it really wasn't any of my business and I don't have anyone that I would discuss it with anyway (although DH and mom have definitely heard an earful about it), but not the actual situation that I was told not to discuss.

I am upset about the fact that I am not allowed to discuss it. Why does this person think that they can dictate what I can or cannot say to anyone??? So at what cost am I giving up my free speech??? Is it worth it? I still haven't decided. Quite honestly, this blog post may decide it for me so you can hear my tale of woe tomorrow when I am terminated from my position. *dum-dum-dum...cue the organ music*

Today's creative prompt...use a single word prominantly on a layout today. Practice that free speech that we all have a right to.
smiles,
Christi

copycat

altered ambitions

This is one of those things that is floating around the blogs so I had to try it...it picks up the main words used in your blog and creates this collage of words. I love it! If you want to try it here is the web address: snapshirts
smiles,
christi

Torn

altered ambitions
I took some time tonight to vent some of my life frustrations through my art. This layout is called Torn and all the swirls are filled with the jobs that I am responsible for. It gets exhausting, but I feel better for having documented it.
smiles,
christi

Total SHOCK!!!

altered ambitions
When I started working in the UK magazine industry, I was incredibly lucky to land two magazine gigs at the same time...one was for a cardmaking mag (Simply Cards & Papercraft) and the other was, at the time, doing scrapbooking for a very small scrapbooking section of an existing general craft magazine (Practical Crafts). The Practical Crafts gig evolved into it's own title dedicated purely to a scrapbooking magazine, Scrapbook Magic. I was on the DT for Scrapbook Magic for about the first 4-6 months of it's existence until Practical Publishing (who publish The Scrapbook Magazine, Simply Cards & Papercraft, and Papercraft Essentials) asked me to work exclusively for their titles. I agreed just because Practical Publishing has treated me so incredibly well, but I still loved all the Scrapbook Magic team and magazine.

It was announced today to their design team, that the magazine is ceasing to publish. I am just gutted. Those girls have put their heart and soul into that magazine and it continued to get better and better. I am so sad for them all today. So for all you girls on this team ((((((((HUGE HUGS)))))))) to you. I am sooooo sorry!!! Scrapbook Magic will be missed!
Christi

IT'S DONE!!!!

altered ambitions
My HOF entry is done, dusted, and guaranteed to arrive no later than Wednesday at 3:00. It has been an incredible experience and I am soooooo glad that I did it. I realize that I really don't have a chance, but my scrapbooking has grown so much over the last month while doing this project. I feel like I have really improved my skills because of it and I have 10 layouts that I can't wait to share with you. The calls go out around March 15th and then when I haven't been chosen, I can post them. I can't wait. So far, the only people who have seen them have been Mom and DH and they have both been incredibly supportive and positive. HUGS all around!!! I finished!!! Whoohooo!

So now on to other things...and do you realize what this means??? I can actually start showing my results from my creative prompts again!!! Yay!! I never did get to create a layout from my superbowl cybercrop sketch so I think that I will be playing with it first. And speaking of the superbowl cybercrop, I was so sad that I wasn't playing yesterday...it looked like you all were having so much fun. We definitely have to plan another day-long cybercrop for the Cottage soon. I REALLY liked the team aspect of it too...so much fun!!!

Today's creative prompt is one word: Enthusiasm...let that word inspire you and create a layout. No rules!
smiles,
christi

avoiding the computer

altered ambitions
Hello to my two readers! I haven't forgotten you...I have just been crazy busy trying to get HOF done so it can go out tomorrow. Only 1 1/2 more layouts left to do, but I am not happy with the 1/2 and I have had a brainstorm on a whole other layout to replace one of the other 8 so it is going to be a busy day. Plus I haven't even started the assembly process yet...and my printer ran out of ink. It's going to be a long day!!! My goal is to stay off the internet!

Today is the superbowl cybercrop over at Cropper's Cottage. I hope to get done early so that I can pop in and play a little bit....I know, not very likely! But I did do a sketch for one of the challenges. It is a doodling sketch and will serve as todays creative prompt.

In other news: Junior the cat is now an "it". Poor thing was fixed Friday. I feel so guilty about it, but it is one of those things that must be done and the good news is that he is doing fine. He even has a bit more pep in his step, if you can believe that!?!? A couple of layouts to assuage my guilt over de-manning him.
Have a great superbowl day!
smiles,
christi

prompting quotes....

altered ambitions
The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. Eleanor Roosevelt

That is your creative prompt for the day! I love that quote and think that there are so many avenues that you could explore in your scrapbooking if you use it as inspiration.

Very busy today! I am finishing up the artwork for an article, doing computer work for another project, doing a sketch for Croppers Cottage superbowl cybercrop, and working on HOF (7 done, 3 more to go). So the goal today is to stay off the computer!!! Think that will work...LOL!
smiles,
christi

DT Reveal Day

altered ambitions
It's the first so that means that it is DT reveal day at the Croppers Cottage. I am always amazed by the talent of this team (and more than a little humbled to be considered part of it.) The amazing thing is... that their hearts are even bigger than their talent if you can imagine that. Go check out the layouts and leave them some well-deserved praise!!! Our DT sponsors were split among us as Sweetwater and Heidi Swapp and we received some SUPER-generous packages from these companies. I got to play with Heidi this month (it's been fun finding my inner-Heidi) so I am up for Sweetwater next month. Whoooohooo!

In other Cottage news, we are hosting a mini cybercrop the day of the superbowl. Rita has been doing a fantastic job getting this organized and it looks like we are actually going to compete as teams. How fun is that!!! Today is the last day to register so go check it out in the events forum on the board!

Have a great Wednesday!
smiles,
christi