Card Craze

I started scrapbooking after the birth of my second son nearly six years ago. The first page I made for his album was nice aesthetically, but I had a lot to learn about adhesives. In particular, the warping effect of liquid glue used in excess. I have learned since then, thankfully.

The next year I spent scrapbooking my older son's school accomplishments in preparation for his high school graduation. Hundreds of hours later I had two books bursting at the seams ready to display at his graduation open house. Whew!

After that marathon scrapbooking year I started dabbling in other paper arts and mediums. I can't tell you the last time I made a scrapbook layout. Another one of my goals for this coming year is to get back into documenting my family and enjoying the creative process more than I have before.

In 2009 I went on a card making jag. Everyone got a handmade Birthday card that year! Handmade Valentine cards? -Of course! Even handmade Christmas cards. (The recipient list was much shorter that year! LOL!) I still make my Christmas cards every year, but the Birthday cards and other holiday cards have all but ceased.

I can't say that I dislike making cards, per se. I made one last week for a RAK project. They just aren't the huge creative deal that making other art or scrapbook pages are for me. I don't even take a picture of them before I send them out.

That's the great part about paper arts - there are plenty of options and creative outlets for every passion. The creative journey is as much about learning what I do like as it is about what I don't like nearly as much.

So here are some pictures of the cards that I made that card crazy year...


Birthday card for my MIL

 Valentine card for my sweetie (Changito)

Valentine card for my little one

  

Masculine Birthday card

 

Another masculine Birthday card

 

Birthday card - recipient unknown

  

Father's Day card for my sweetie (I.Love.Changito!)

  

4th of July card for a Soldier

Birthday card for my SIL. (She didn't like that I put her age in such large numbers on the front of the card! LOL!)

  

Birthday card for my niece.

 

 

Thanks for looking!

 

 

 

Calendar Challenge

One of the goals I set for myself for 2013 is to make more art on a regular basis. What better way to accomplish that than a daily journal? The thought of keeping a daily art journal is a bit much for me to commit to this early in my creative journey. However, creating a monthly art calendar with daily journaling spots is just right. I am participating in The Kathryn Wheel 2013 Calendar Challenge. Here is my blank calendar for January.



I purchased a mixed-media art journal just for my calendars. I had a lot of fun picking the paper for the journaling spots and creating the background in complimentary colors. (By the way, PINK is my favorite color, if you haven't already guessed!) I think next month I will try smaller journaling spots so more of the background will be visible. Overall, I am quite pleased with how my first calendar turned out.

It has been challenging to journal every day. I try not to skip more than two days at a time. I like that I am forced to distill the most important memories of the day into a 2" square. At the end of the month I will post a picture of the completed calendar with the journaling blocks filled in. I have already started working on the calendar for February!

Time Flies

For Tim Holtz's 12 Tags of 2013 - January challenge, I chose a theme related to time flying. Boy does it! When I look at my baby, in Kindergarten and about to turn 6, I wonder where the time has gone.

 

 

I pointed the clock spinner to "5" to remind me of this time with my little one... And I may tuck a little photo of him in the filmstrip later.

The deets: the embossing folder I used is from Cuttlebug. The Time Flies stamp set is from Graphic 45. All other items and products are from Tim Holtz. The Disress Ink colors I used were Peeled Paint, Spiced Marmalade, Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain. I colored the ribbon with Weathered Wood.

I stuck pretty close to Tim's demo on this one. Leave me a comment for a chance to win a Grungy Goodie Pack.

 

~*UPDATE*~

 

The winner of the Grungy Goodie Pack is:

Comment #6 - Tarnished Rose ~ Marilyn! Congratulations!!

What Is Art?

If you've seen the 2003 movie Mona Lisa Smile, you'll recognize this quote from the film:  "What is art? What makes it good or bad, and who decides?"

Some responses in the movie included: "Aren't there standards of technique, composition, color, and subject?" and "Art isn't art until the right people say it is."

I submitted a similar question to the All Things Tim Yahoo! group. The discussion that followed was lively and insightful. It helped me to decide that I am more than just a hobbyist or crafter. I am an artist. I use mixed-media to express my heart and soul. Through this blog I hope to discover my unique visual voice; my art.

In the words of Betty Warren: "But not all who wander are aimless. Especially not those who seek truth beyond tradition; beyond definition; beyond the image."