New Scrapbook Layout for LBH

Are you ready for spring? Easter is early this year and we're getting ready for it at The Little Blue House!

This is a double Easter layout I recently created for class and is also available as a kit. Click on the link above to purchase through the website or call or visit the store (817-431-7930) to schedule a class.

I love the colors and patterns of this new "Springtime" paper collection from Authentique.

DLP unPlanner 2016 - Feb. Week 3

This is my week's calendar for the third week of Feb. As you can see, I'm still using the fun red and pink color scheme!  Most of the background was colored in with watercolors - I tried for different shades of pinks/reds but got mostly pink! I added some patterned paper for a couple of the days. Lots of stickers and stamps...

This is the back - I covered it with a "throw-away" clean-up stencil paper and then added the List Ten directly to the page as I am quickly running out of room in this binder.  I will be finding different ways to add the items without making too many separate pages! The list for this month is "things I should never have done" and I'll be adding more as I think of them.

Here's my PAC for the week - the art challenge was "add a gratitude." I am very thankful for my wonderful family, and especially my little grand boys. 

 The background is simply an under paper from lots of painting and stenciling which I glued to the card. I typed the "grateful for" on the computer and hand-wrote "family," then added some fibers.  I think yarns and fibers are coming back in style and am so glad, as I have a bunch to use up!  

Instead of adding the card to a page protector like I've done the past few weeks, I decided to enclose it in a perfectly-sized glassine envelope which I punched to add to the binder ring. Below you can see how it sits above the week's page in my planner.

One more week in Feb. - I can't believe how quickly this year is flying by.

DLP UnPlanner 2016 - Feb. Week 2

I'm a bit behind posting the second week's pages. We've been babysitting off and on for the grand boys and that takes away from my art and computer time - not that I'm complaining!

First off, I forgot to post my PAC for February's first week's art challenge which was to incorporate thread or floss in your art. For this card, I did actually use a playing card as it is the exact size of an ATC or PAC. I have an incomplete pack of cards so I will be doing this again. I covered the front side of the card with a piece of old ledger paper, then machine-stitched a white felt heart on top. I hand-stitched around a small red felt heart with pink embroidery floss and glued it over a small, frayed square of burlap. The floss is also tied through the button which is glued on top of all. I doodled the red stitches for the border.  

I liked that the machine stitching showed on the back so I didn't decorate it any further.

The art challenge for the PAC for the second week was "use shades of one color." In keeping with the color scheme I seem to be using for February, I used shades of red/pink. I randomly painted marks on the front and back of the card and then glued on bits of similar colored papers. I found the bird image and quote in my saved stash so added it as a focal point.

To add these to my binder, I cut off the right half of a 4-pocket page protector, leaving me with two pockets to insert the PACs. I like that you can also see the backs. I added black and white washi tape (my favorite) for the punched edge. I added a bow paper clip to the top pocket to keep the card in temporarily but liked it so much I decided to just keep it that way!

Below is the weekly calendar for the second week of February. I printed this one on kraft card stock again and like how the colors show up. This is a mix of hexagon-punched collage paper, various stickers and paper cutouts and a washi tape edge.

This is the back of the calendar page. I was inspired by an art journal page tutorial in a recent Stampington e-newsletter and made it very similar to the original - paint, gesso, collaged papers, stamped hearts on book pages.

My binder is getting full and we're only 6 weeks into the year!

More Documented Life UnPlanner Week 6

This is a two-sided list printed on kraft card stock. One side is a "Pretty Please" wish list; the other side is a "To Do" list - trying to stay organized!

After that is the weekly calendar for the first week of Feb. I used kraft card stock again and love how the colors and white show up on it.

I did a more vintage-looking page for the back. Someone in the class group posted/shared this photo which was perfect for the Taking the Leap challenge. I simply tore the printed image and mounted it on some handmade white fibrous paper I had. I embellished with an old key, a metal tag, a pin and dyed ribbon and a metal embellishment at the top. I love how this turned out.

I still have the PAC to make and then get started on Week 7.

Documented Life UnPlanner - Week 6

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

I've got lots to share for this past week's DLP project. We are already in Week 6 (Feb. 6).

First is the February divider page. The pocket holds a tag on which I've added the monthly theme which is "Love without Hesitation - Taking the Leap."

On the back, I used a "girl" card from Christy Tomlinson's special Valentine kit. I love this card and wanted it to be the focus of the page.

Next is the February monthly view calendar.  I sprayed Heidi Swapp spray ink through a heart stencil over the full page. I wrote the dates on small punched hearts. The "spine" is washi tape and I used several stamps also.

This is the back of the month view. It all started with a darling notepad I bought at Target's $ Spot (the figure with black and white stripe dress and balloons). I wanted to showcase that cute design which seemed appropriate for Valentine's month so I created a collage around it.

Tomorrow I will share more. There is lots of creating for the first week of the month!

January Artsy Canvas Swap

I participated in another "Artsy Canvas" swap with my online group. The theme was "Winter Wonderland".

This was my canvas for Dawn. It's 5"x5". The background is a pretty wintery paper covered with a very light coat of gesso. The snow is texture paste with dry glitter added while wet. I cut circles from book pages for the snowman, painted them and then doodled. I added the Tim Holtz metal embellishment with two snowflake brads. I added Stickles to some of the snowflakes.

I received this beautiful 6"x6" canvas board from Gloria. The photo doesn't do it justice because of all the silver and shimmer.  It's gorgeous! Thank you Gloria.

Documented Life UnPlanner 2016 - Week 5

Week 5 - January 30

Reflect on Month

PAC Challenge - Ask someone to draw or make marks on your art

Finish Monthly Pocket Picks

This past week was the fifth week of the DLP 2016 but confused me. The prompts are always scheduled to be posted on Saturday for the coming week. The usual monthly rotation is four weeks but they added a fifth week for the occasional months with an extra week. Since Sat. fell on the next-to-last day of January, I was hoping they would consider last week as the first week of Feb. instead of the fifth week of Jan.! (I am trying to use this as a regular planner and it was confusing to be "finishing" up Jan. when the first week of Feb. was going on. Oh well...it will be a "memory planner.")

Here is my PAC for the week. I created the background with various paints and then asked my fellow LBH teacher, Lynette Chiles, to make her mark. She is a very talented artist and draws beautifully. I love what she drew on my card, using inspiration from a few of the white paint lines to create crosses! Needless to say, I did not add anything more to the card except inking the edges to frame it.

This is the Monthly Pocket Pick I started during week 4. I didn't know ahead of time that these "pocket picks" would include bits and pieces and ephemera of our month so had to scramble to find some things to add. (In the future I will be saving bits all month!) Sorry, the photo is slightly skewed as it was really hard to photograph this without glare from the protector.

Monthly pocket pick - front side

I was so good about resisting buying the Fuse tool but I finally succumbed when I realized how handy it would be for these monthly pockets. I used it to reconfigure a 6"x9" page protector to hold the PAC; a black tag with small photos of the grand boys when we were all in Albuquerque the weekend of 1/22;  and a heart sticky note, washi tape and a label from a purchase I made for planner goodies. I also made a few shaker pockets for sequins, beads and punches to commemorate Grant's first birthday. 

Here is the back of the page. I journaled about our weekend in Abq on the back of the tag and added photos of Grant and my planner kit purchase. 

Back of pocket page

So, now on to Week 6, which is REALLY the second week of February but I'm working on the first week of Feb.! (Make sense?)

"Dare to Spread your Wings" Mixed Media Canvas

This is my latest class project for The Little Blue House. I created it on the reverse side of the canvas and the wood of the canvas forms a natural frame.

I used many mixed media techniques using Dylusions spray inks, alcohol inks, Prima Art Ingredients  and a few unexpected items!

If you are local and interested in taking the class, which is available during any "buffet," please contact the LBH at 817-431-7930. You can also see more information and closeups online at www.thelittlebluehouseonline.com.