Wednesday, May 16, 2012

A Middle-Aged Girl

DSC09505_edited-1 {isn’t she sassy?!}

Oh, the journaling!  I’m definitely getting hooked, I’m afraid…

A few more pages to share with you…I promise—I’ll get to different things in my next post!

My title page:

DSC09510_edited-1 {lace border stamp from Crafty Secrets’ “Antique Trims” set}

Yep…a middle-aged GIRL, that’s me!

DSC09508_edited-1

I am so enjoying the watercoloring with these iridescent paints…so much prettier than it comes across in pictures…striping is awfully fun!

Two more pages…

DSC09511_edited-1

Not sure why I did these two back-to-back…but then that’s the fun thing about journaling—it just doesn’t matter!  Whatever comes out of you thoughts at the time is absolutely perfect {even if it’s imperfect!}

DSC09515_edited-1 {scallop border stamp from Crafty Secrets’ “Artsy Banner” set}

One of my very favorite quotes… “It’s kind of FUN to do the IMPOSSIBLE”…quite a saying from one of the most imaginative men I can think of…Walt Disney. 

DSC09517_edited-1

What is it about vintage moon faces that makes me so very happy?  I have no idea, but there’ll be plenty on the pages yet to come, I’m sure!

DSC09527_edited-1

Little paper stars cut from an old book page, then outlined & glittered up—can’t be a proper star if it doesn’t sparkle!

And finally…

DSC09532_edited-1 {a bit of a gloomy day today…the pinks on this page are actually much pinker…oh, well!}

A favorite quote from Theodore Roosevelt found on Pinterest (one of my favorite places!)  “Comparison is the thief of joy”…isn’t that the truth?!

Just a page about my thoughts on the subject…

DSC09541_edited-1 {flower doodle stamps at bottom from Crafty Secrets’ “Art Blooms” set}

No more joy thievery for me, please!

DSC09538_edited-1 {my sweet, little muse of joy comes from the stamp set “Fairy Jar”, designed by Hope Wallace Karney}

Well, that’s all for me today.  I really hope you give journaling a try!  Just dive in…put pen in hand and see what comes out!  You’ll be SO glad you did!

See you soon with something new…

Julie

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Go Confidently…

DSC09488_edited-1 {beautiful image by Hope Wallace Karney}

Oh, so many fun things to do in this life!

Here’s just another one…something I’ve been meaning to begin for so long…

DSC09480_edited-1

Art Journaling…I was so very intimidated to first put pen to thick, nubby paper…

WHY???

DSC09497_edited-1

May I just say, that now that I’ve begun it, I may never, never stop!

So liberating, so creative, so messy, so….FUN!!!

DSC09481_edited-1 {corner flourish stamp from Crafty Secrets’ “Flourishes” set}

Thoughts jumbled one on top of the other…doodles popping right out of my head, down through my hand onto paper…I feel just like a little girl again!

DSC09482_edited-1

Backgrounds painted with my never favorite find…iridescent water colors!  Found at Michaels, they’re my new best toy…

DSC09494_edited-1 {stamp from Crafty Secrets’ “Art Studio” set}

Piles of things to fill in the spaces with…favorite quotes, thoughts, stamps, images…lace, buttons, do-dads & knick-knacks of all kinds, random bits of sparkle whenever & wherever the sparkle muse dictates…the sky’s the limit!

DSC09501_edited-1 {a simple border of “Linen” Tinted Tape from Vintage Street Market…just the thing!}

I’ll be sharing these sheets as I make them…my book getting fatter & more filled with experiments, thoughts, notions, dreams & very important nonsense…

DSC09483_edited-1 {lovely vintage label from Crafty Secrets’ “Creating with Vintage Illustrations” CD}

…who knows what I might learn in the process?!

And all I keep thinking is…

What took me so long?!?

DSC09495_edited-1 {scalloped lace edging stamp from Crafty Secrets’ “Antique Trims” set}

And may I wish my dear Mother the happiest of Mother’s Days…

DSC09243_edited-1

…you gave me life--have filled my life with love and the wonder of learning…and you continue to inspire and encourage me, each and every day of my life…I love you, Mom.

Happy Mother's Day wishes to ALL you beautiful and creative mothers out there…you inspire me, too.

Julie

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Good, Better, Best

DSC09463_edited-1

There are those small, quiet moments in life that may—just may—go completely unnoticed…

…but sometimes, if you’re very lucky, a loving eye will SEE such a moment, and capture it, holding it tight…save it and share it with you at just the right moment…

Barely 4-year old Chelsea sat at her grandparents’ table…holding a pen tightly in her sweet, chubby fingers…

Chelsea writes her name 1

I remember seeing this happening, but I was not the one to preserve it on film…that was her ever-watchful grandmother…I lost the moment in my mind until that same good grandmother gave me a little gift last month…

“Would you like to have these?”, she asked me, while handing me an envelope and two small photographs…the picture memory came flooding back as I sat there in the very same room my sweet girl sat so many years ago…

hpqscan0003_edited-1

Chelsea had been quietly practicing her name, over and over again on the envelope for her Daddy’s birthday card that year…isn’t that wonderful?

Chelsea writes her name 2

She was so proud of her efforts!  And so were we—always trying, always learning, always practicing…that’s always been our Chelsea…

DSC09475_edited-1 {beautiful bow die-cut from Vicki Chrisman…see below}

Two weeks after this simple gift was given, I found myself remembering it with tears in my eyes as I sat in the enormous university coliseum, waiting for my daughter to parade in with thousands of her class who would be graduating that day…

IMG_1104 

That same little girl who held pen tight in those chubby little fingers now teaches many little ones to proudly hold pen in hand and do the same…

DSC09460_edited-1

A teacher.  I couldn’t have imagined anything more perfect for this oldest daughter of mine…

 Chelsea graduation jump_edited-1 {this was my sweet girl blowing me a kiss as she jumped for joy after graduation…my heart is STILL jumping for joy…}

DSC09456_edited-1 {a new page made to celebrate my daughter…complete with my very own homemade tassel!} 

And for the icing on the cake that day, my photographer daughter, Sarah, brought this picture with us from home…

IMG_1133

…a picture of me and my parents on my graduation day from the same university…24 years to the week earlier.  The same spot was found, a similar picture memory was taken…

IMG_1140

What a wonderful day!

IMG_1095

“Good, better, best--

Never let it rest,

Till your good is better

And your better is BEST!”

Remember that, Chelsea?  The quote that hung on our wall to celebrate the beginning of each new and exciting school year?  You took it to heart…it became part of you—and that’s exactly what you have done…each and every day…and I know you will continue to do so, each and every day………………………

IMG_1145 

We are so very proud of you…

Love, 

Mom

{Fabulous bow die-cut from the amazingly creative mind of Vicki Chrisman—available HERE.  It was stamped using Crafty Secrets’ “Flourish” stamp set.  Lovely blue vintage background print from Crafty Secrets’ “Creating with Vintage Patterns” CD.}

The “Cap and Gown” and adorable vintage graduate girl graphics were given me by one of the greatest collectors and lovers of vintage I know…thank-you, Sandy!