Sparkly Art Journal Cover

I have been an avid scrapbooker for about 11 years. I love it!! I usually make albums for other people as gifts, not so much my own. I am too overwhelmed I guess by the sheer volume of pictures I have that when I sit down to scrap, I just cannot create anything I like or I just stare at the paper. I find when I complete smaller projects, like a gift for someone, I am relaxed and the creative juices are a flowing! And sometimes, I am just stifled. So I took a break from scrapbooking for almost a year. Well, from the actual scrapbooking part. I still frequented my favorite scrapbooking stores, Michaels, AC Moore and Jo-Ann's for retail therapy purposes of course. :)
While on my hiatus, I discovered art journaling and I am in love with crafting again. My mojo is back!! I love art journaling because there are no rules and it allows me to combine my love of writing, memory recording, scrapbooking, and crafting. I don't feel guilty for not using archival quality products, there are no rules and it is wonderful!!
Basically, I am free.
And I am so excited.
About a month ago, I met my BFF for breakfast and was telling her how I didn't know where to start with my journaling. I was afraid. Yep, afraid. Funny thing about fear, it sneaks up on ya and sometimes for the most unusual reasons.  She had been journaling for awhile, but not really art journaling. Creative muse and mind-reading BFF that she is, she had brought her sketchbook and some colored pencils and pens. And sitting at breakfast, she made me doodle in her book. Yes, she made me. She literally took out the colored pencils, opened her sketchbook, put a purple colored pencil in my hand and made me start doodling. My BFF is very cagey like that :). She put the materials in my hand because sometimes, she understands me like no one else and made me take action, face my fears.
And that push was all I needed to get started.
Those little doodles of butterflies and squiggles were very freeing for me. And so much fun-I think she created a monster!
So, after breakfast, I went in search of a small journal in which to doodle my doodles-something with detachable papers as my drawing skills are non-existent and well, I wanted to be able to remove it if my doodles looked so bad. You know, dispose of the evidence. After much searching and debating about price, I found a 5x7 journal at Barnes and Noble for like $7.
Can I just tell you how ugly it was? All navy blue, glossy with cracked edges. It annoyed me. I am very visual and like my creative things to be colorful and that journal was NOT doing it for me. I decided to create a new "prettier" cover. First, I sanded the cover to get rid of the glossy part and the ridges. Then I used Kilz2 to  prime the cover for painting. I had seen this cool technique at http://www.violettesfolkart.com where she used a credit card and three colors of paint to make a cover out of a manila file folder. I couldn't find the tutorial at the time I was writing this, but check out her site for lots of great inspiration!!
Because I live in Florida it sometimes take a bit longer with the humidity for paint to dry properly. Although, with this project, it always remained stickier than I could deal with. I decided instead of painting the book to cover it with a painted cover. I looked for something already made in the craft and scrapbook stores, but nothing screamed THIS IS IT!!!! After playing around with some paint, and different types and colors of paper, I finally decided to try a regular piece of 11x17 copy paper. Using regular acrylic craft paint from Michaels (Apple Barrel and Craft Smart brands)-Fuchsia, Neon Orange and Pink Glow in the Dark, I used an old gift card and swirled the paint around the page. I totally fell in love with my paper. It was beautiful and the colors were "my" colors. After letting it dry for about 30 minutes, I trimmed the paper so it would fit my journal and left a small border around the journal so I could make a flap border around the inside of the journal and later cover it with a piece of paper.

I glued the cover on the journal using YES! paste, which I bought at a local scrapbook store. I have also seen it at Michaels if you are interested. That stuff, is the bomb!!! when gluing. Since the cover was paper, I coated it with Mod Podge Sparkle (also found at Michaels) and it came out beautiful!!! I like sparkly paper and sparkly embellishments and glitter...well, you get the point. The Mod Podge hardened the cover so it would remain free from tearing. Then I used ribbon and embellishments to decorate to my liking.
Inside the journal, I used the first page that was not perforated and glued it down as the flap cover (whatever that inside paper liner is called). I did this on the front and the back of the inside covers of the journal. Once they were dry, I chalked on the white paper with Colorbox chalks in pink and orange, until the white was gone. It came out so pretty and I was really happy with the transformation.
As a bookmark, I am using these awesome fibers I have collected over the years. The colors of the fiber match all the embellishments I used and the sparkle mod podge.
Can I tell you how much fun I had creating that cover? And I am totally in love with my journal. I have been using it for my creative mandala, but more on that another time. :)
Really, really, I am just happy to have my mojo back.









                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Adventures with Mini Me

Mini Me is certainly keeping me hopping this year. A couple of weeks ago, he threw his lunchbox in the somat machine in the lunchroom "accidentally." And yes, it really was an accident. He said that he was throwing his garbage away and his lunchbox just went with the garbage.
Uh-huh.
Mini Me totally freaked out and Mrs. SecondGradeTeacher wrote me a note listing the "Good News" and the "Bad News."
Really.
The bad news obviously being that he threw his lunchbox in the nasty spitting lunchroom garbage disposal. Ever the optimist, Mrs. SecondGradeTeacher wrote how proud she was that Mini Me held himself together and only cried for a little bit. That was the good news. 
Yep.
Have I mentioned how much I love Mini Me's teacher? She needs to be awarded for her patience with my children. I bet she is totally looking forward to him moving on to third grade-lol!
And by the way, we now do plastic Ziploc's for lunch. It is safer for all concerned. 
Last week to keep Mrs. SecondGradeTeacher on her toes, Mini Me fell during recess, landed on his face and totally mangled his glasses.
It was just about fatal.
And since this is about the 18th zillionth time Mini Me has broken his glasses, we broke down and ordered 2 new pairs-one of those buy 1 get 1 free deals at For Eyes.
And the old glasses?
Still on his head until his new ones arrive in later this week. Mike had to seriously manipulate those glasses just to get them to stay on his face. They sit on his face kind of cocked at an angle on one side, while the other side rests gingerly against his face. 
Mini Me-completely unfazed. 
Amazing.
So, I pulled him and Panda out of school early on Friday and we went glasses shopping. I showed Mini Me all the choices he had and he started trying on pair after pair of glasses. Mini Me was totally into picking out his glasses and each time he would try on a new pair, he would examine himself  in the mirror to see how he looked.
It was freaking hilarious. He thought he was all that.
The best part was when he tried to convince me he could see with the glasses the way they were.
Yeah.
Not.
I was like listen little dude, you need the special lenses with your prescription so you can actually see the words you are reading and the dirt that is all over your face.
He just laughed like I was joking,
Only I wasn't.
He finally picked a pair similar to his old ones and then a snazzy blue pair that made him look very scholarly.
And for the record, yes we are keeping those mangled glasses because really, one can never have too many pairs of replacement glasses with Mini Me around.
Nope.
And yes, I did buy the insurance because that one year warranty just doesn't cut it with Mini Me. After the first replacement, and rest assured there will be at least a first replacement for EACH pair, the co-pay is like $5. Way better than the $30 and $40 we spent on replacements previously.
Sooooo, please say a little prayer that those mangled glasses hang in there long enough for the reinforcements to arrive. Because really, the boy has no other alternative.
And neither do we. :)

The Butter Dilemma

I know this is probably a weird thing to post about, but it has really been irking me lately. I usually do my grocery shopping at the Super Target or Super Wal-mart because it is cheaper than our local grocery stores. One thing I noticed, is that both Wal-mart and Target are not carrying the whipped butter in the containers-like Breakstone's or Land O' Lakes. They seem to only be carrying margarine and that fake butter spread stuff, which in my opinion, is nasty and tastes like plastic.
Someone somewhere swears it is healthy, but if it leaves an aftertaste, how healthy can it really be?
Just saying.
Nonetheless, I went to both stores and neither had the whipped butter I was looking for. Soooo, I had to trek to Publix to find my whipped butter.
And when I found my whipped butter and placed it into my cart, there was a chorus of Halleujah's going off in my head.
Yep-the voices in my head were letting me know I done good. Even if I did have to go fifty million places for just one thing.
And really, what is up with that?
Where has all the whipped butter gone?

And who came up with the brilliant idea to not have at least one brand of whipped butter on the shelves? Because really, they should be fired.
It surely must be a crime.
And by the way, I really love my butter.
It's creamy, salty, artery hardening and well, fattening.
And running around  looking for my butter, well that is just wrong.
To make a person exercise while looking for their butter?
Really.
Because exercising and butter? They are NOT partners in fitness.
Exercise + Butter=EPIC Diet Fail.
Still, I must say no.
No, to the plastic, that can only be described as margarine.  

And really, there is nothing like the great taste of real whipped butter on bagels, popcorn and yes, toast. Margarine is not a comparable substitute.
The question is though, has anyone else noticed this? Has anyone else noticed that the whipped butter in the container is missing from the shelf?
Or is it just my crazy self having a Murphy's Law moment?
Inquiring minds want to know.

Birthday Wishes

Yesterday was Mike's birthday.
Shhhhh....it was his 40th Birthday!
Yep.
What an old man.
And being the slacker wife that I am, I didn't even wish him a happy birthday on my blog on his actual birthday.
Only because I have been sick for the last 2 weeks.
And really, it was all I could do yesterday just to drive to the Cheesecake Factory and pick up his cake. But I did it. Because well, I am not usually a birthday slacker. Just this year.
So, really, all I want to do is say

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MIKE!!! 

HAPPY 40TH BIRTHDAY YA OLD GEEZER! 

Can you feel the love? :)

Seriously, Happy Birthday Mike and I promise next year, when it's your birthday, I'll be there for ya. 
Really. 

With bells, and whistles and...Jack. 

Lots of jack.

 

Feeling Like a Freezer Pop

I know that we are only 11 days into this month but I have made an interesting discovery.
I. am. not. equipped. for. weather. below 70 degrees.
Yep.
Here in good old sunny South Florida it has been freaking cold. Now, all the people who live anywhere north of the Florida state line, I must say, you are not right in the head. You know what I'm sayin'?
And just so you know, I feel like a freezer pop and I think I'm dying of frostbite.
Really.
OK, not really, but really. I am freakin' cold. 
And those of you who believe in Global Warming? Well, suffice it to say, that global warming is not going down here in the sun capital of the world. In fact, Florida is so currently not global warming conducive that it actually...you might want to sit down for this....snowed.
Yep.
Let me repeat that for ya-S-N-O-W-E-D.
Uh huh.
Here in Florida and yes, even South Florida. 
This past weekend areas in Central Florida, like Orlando and Ocala, got to see snow. And if you were one of those people excited to see snow, well, then all righty. I am happy for you. Hope you were warm and toasty amidst all those cold flurries. 
Here in South Florida, Fort Lauderdale area to be exact, we got some snow flurries about ten minutes or so from my house.
And no, I did not go outside to see them.
Because really, snow?
Snow is cold, in case you didn't know. And I do not do cold (see the first paragraph of this post). And for it to snow it even has to be cold outside which is all well and good for those who like to be outside. I am not one of those people. Well, at least not in the winter time. Honestly, this is probably the one time in my life when I am glad to be fat. My blubber is helping to keep me warm and really, who could ask for more?
All you skinny biotches, I hope you freeze.
Just saying.
Seriously, Mike and I had been contemplating moving north of the Florida state line. Now, however, I really don't think that is at all plausible. He might have to go without me and the kids. We are staying here in good old, warm and sunny Florida. And even though it is Africa-like hot in the summer, I think I can tolerate it. That's why we have a/c's, pools and beaches right? And those of you who might want to harpoon me while I am on the beach in my bathing suit, well, all I can say is not. I am grateful for my blubber. I welcome my blubber and I will never dis my blubber again because it has performed miraculously well so far this winter, thank you very much.
And really, I'll take hurricanes and Africa-like heat over snow and cold temperatures any day.Yo, can I hear an Oh Yeah?
Ohhhh yeaahhhhh.
All righty then.
With that being said, it's time for me to go and suck down some hot chocolate, with lots of marshmallows and wallow under my blankets until Friday, when I can finally turn off my heater that is set at 75 degrees and go outside barefoot, in my shorts and t-shirt and sit under the blazing hot sun. And if I'm lucky, I may even have to kick on my a/c by Saturday because it is so hot.
And just so you know, I'm praying that I'm lucky.

Creative Mommy

With Jack Frost taking up residence in South Florida, we have been holed up in the house to stay warm. This means lots of family togetherness. Really, it's overrated. Something about warmer weather where children are forced to go outside and play is good, really good. Like maintaining my sanity good.
But since Jack has been here, we have been trying to deal.
Enter Wii.
Yep, the best thing ever invented. Did I say ever?
EVER.
Because that is the only thing that has kept my children from killing each other the last 2.5 days. Really.
Super Smash Bros. Brawl is majorly awesome. My children have been playing all weekend. Normally, I would cringe. This weekend, I am like have at it kiddos.
Only on Saturday, we had some issues. And because two of three people under five foot tall (ummm Panda and Monkeyboy) thought it was okay to beat the crap out of one another, they had the honor of writing an essay.
1,000 words for Monkeyboy and 150 words for Panda.
Yep.
Because taking away the computer and the video games does not work all that well. Soooo, forced to be more creative, I have been doling out essay assignments. Which means improvements in handwriting and writing thoughts coherently.
A win-win for all I say.
Well, mostly for me.
Monkeyboy was not at all happy when he heard his essay had to be handwritten because as he puts it "how will I know when I reach 1,000 words?"
Ummm...by counting?
The old fashioned way-like one word, two words.....
Stubborn that he is, he wrote his essay on the computer first, and then wrote it out by hand to meet my guidelines. Pretty funny, because 1) he was doing it twice and 2) kept him quiet/busy longer.
I am thinking I won, thank you very much.
And after that little essay writing episode?
Everyone got along much better.
Who would of thunk it? 
Ahhhh.....the power of the mommy.
I still got it! :)

The Challenge Continues

I have been MIA the last couple of weeks. Basically, I am just trying to decompress from the holidays. As much as I love them, they stress me out. And those family gatherings are way too much drama for my liking. So for the last couple of weeks, I have been unplugged and hanging with my family, just enjoying their company.
Relaxing.
Well, as much relaxing as a mom with three kids, racing around the house in pajamas all day, playing Wii and annoying the heck out of one another, can do. 
Just saying. 
And in the midst of all that Wii playing, I had the rare opportunity to watch what I wanted to watch on TV and stumbled upon the Dave Ramsey show. I am always looking for new ways to combat debt and resuscitate my financial health so I watched a few episodes of his show. On one episode, Dave had a caller who needed to reinvent himself after losing his job. The caller was discouraged and adamant about not finding another J-O-B. Dave told him that he needed to spend his time looking for a job he would love to do because then it would no longer be a job.
Sorta kinda like my quest to "find my passion."
Dave recommended the book "48 Days to the Work You Love" by Dan Miller to the caller as a starting point.
Always open to new ideas and information, I went to Barnes and Noble and purchased a copy to see what the book had to offer.
Honestly, it was not what I expected.
Well, let me rephrase that.
It was what I expected because it didn't tell me "how" to find my passion, but it did give me some good starting points and an interesting perspective.
For instance, the premise of the book is finding what you like to do that spotlights your "God-given skills, personality traits, values, dreams and passions." It is an introspective look at what you perceive your talents and skills to be, kind of like a mission statement for your life.
And this mission statement, although written in generalities to some degree, reflects you, the person-how you want to live your life, what you want to do, how you would like to be remembered and the steps you are going to take to accomplish that.
A much different perspective than I have had in the past.
Really, I had never thought about writing a mission statement for my life.
And this new way of thinking is such a simple and common sense concept that I had forgotten. The author likened the process to being young again and having the belief that we could do and be anything we wanted to be. He stressed that as we grow older and experience life, we allow the expectations of others to influence how we choose to live our lives, our career paths and so forth. And really, we should be using our natural instincts, our talents, to do what we love. If we are doing what we love, we are in that happy zone-we feel good about ourselves, we are content and most importantly, we are happy.
Powerful stuff.
For me, the process of listing my God-given talents, my special skills, and my values and dreams has given me a new perspective of myself. I guess I am a step closer to finding my passion, although I do wish there was a twelve step program to finding your true calling because all this introspection stuff, is draining. LOL!
Anywho.
If you are interested, check out the book. In the meanwhile, I am still on my quest. So far, 2010 has proven to be challenging and I am ready to embrace that challenge. Most importantly, I hope that by detailing my journey, I will be able to help some of you who are also on this same quest.
Happy New Year everyone!