a new challenge

credits- I did this with a drawn sketch and painted it with my brushes
This is for a Christine Adolph challenge at Scrapartist. It is to be inspired by her art.
She has so many beautiful designs. I think this would be easier in real life.
Someone I respect said that I should try designing. That would be my dream - it scares me - as I am so new to PS and I have so many things to learn. My biggest problem by far- is the time.
Ben is getting into everything lately and I have less time to do anything. I am my own worst critic and I am afraid I would agonize over making things- "perfect"! LOL I am praying about it.
Tomorrow, JD is having 5 wisdom teeth taken out. Yes- 5 - he has an extra! So please pray that all goes well. He thinks he will be fine by Saturday to hang with his friends! I remember how I felt- oh my. So - I will be pretty busy the next few days !
Have a great weekend- will post if I can .

credits- Everything by M. Coleman except, deckle edges by Gina Miller, Tag by Gina Cabrera, NRJ alpha stamps, Stitches by Maya fonts- AL age old love, antique type

Finally , scrapped a "normal" page. I have been wanting to scrap this photo of Ben- in one of his cute expressions. I did not like the colors he had on - they were an Easter egg blue and yellow- so I changed them to fit these papers. His personality is really starting to show and this picture was taken 3 months ago. He is crawling and getting into everything lately. It is even harder to get anything accomplished. He needs a baths - so I am being paged!
Added a feedblitz subscription sign up in the column to the right. All it does is send you an e-mail of a new post. I like feedblitz because you do not have to hunt to read your favorite blogs. Anyway - it is there if you want to - I am just glad I am not talking to myself all the time and there are real people that stop by- LOL. goodnight!

credits- maya's paper , shabby princess flowers, brushes- damned in black
font- 2 peas sonnet

This turned out to look Anne Gedde's like and not at all what I planned. Oh well, I just was looking foreword to fall.

I am so excited!!!!!!!

I am shocked! I was flipping around looking at different sites and I checked in at Inspire Me Thursday and did a double take to see my first entry there as featured art!!! It was posted on August 24th! WOW- I looked at the number of entries and that made my day! I did not know they picked some art to feature. Just had to share.

my favorite

credits- AL- charisma
Just could not help doing another one. I love it- I made the little hat and really had so much fun putting it all together. I keep thinking of more I want to do.

a Challenge-

credits- all mine!! font- arriere garde
ScrapArtist has a challenge to create something inspired by Teesha Moore. Great site- love her artwork-and her studio is sooooooooo amazing. Wow- would be such a dream job to be able to sit in there and play all day and make money doing it! I was so excited about this journal page , as it is similar to my non - digital art.
Very neat to merge 2 things. I had fun creating the paper (non- digital) - see below for instructions- I used Tim Holz water based distessing inks. The rest was done digitally. I do not like my handwriting with the tablet- But am going to keep at it until it looks like my in real life doodling.
What a busy week- have had to pick up the kids from school- drive to Springfield , go to the dentist,go to the store twice this week. Everything is so difficult with the baby. Need to run-

altered tote & back to school

Here is a tote that altered over a year ago- before baby. It was a plain canvas one that I used paints, fabric stamps and gel medium transfers to alter it. I need to take more pics of things I have stuffed in my closets.

I test drove some new colors of distressing ink on the ruler book pages. My plan is to print my digital stuff and adhere it to and embellish- ( in my spare time)- lol If you do this- wear gloves!grin The process is - dab the ink pads onto a non stick sheet,mist with water and then put the paper on it. Use a heat gun to dry without distortion. These instructions were in a CK magazine from Tim Holz.

The kids went to school for 2 hours and I went after to try and straighten out the mess they made of my son's schedule-or lack of one. They put him as a sophomore and he is a junior! He was told he lacked .5 credit and he would need to take a correspondance course. This was a a surprise and I was so upset as I had called the 2 weeks before school and no one would call me back.It is critical for him to start off on the right foot as he went to another school last year and is coming back to the school. It will be hard to "fit" back in. He said no one cares at this school for me and I can see why he felt that way. So- I stopped for gas on the way and a lady pulled in to get gas and was talking to me while we got gas and we got to talking about school. I told her what was happening and she prayed for me and told me to make sure I did not lose my witness. I really had peace after that and I consider it a divine appointment! Thank you Lord. She had prayed that I would have favor and get things squared away at school. Never had seen her before! When I got to school the line at the counselor's office had 20 kids waiting. The secretary got me in immediately and the counselor- looked at everything again and put him in as a Junior.He said- I have never seen this ever- they have never offered 2 English classes - yet there it is -- so he can get in it! Praise God!
Anyway, all is changed and the way it should be. Even if JD does not do well - I did all I can. He said he wanted to go back so he can learn .
Now I need to do some housework- blah!

retail therapy

credits- Sausan Designs at PDW- The new urban art paper, altered artistry elements, flower, alpha. heart-t.cosgrove
I had tears in my eyes doing this layout. These pictures were taken of my father not too long before he died. I was 18 months old when he passed away from heart surgery to repair aortic stenosis. Now it is a routine surgery and he would have lived a normal life. He was a high school coach, little league umpire and a high school teacher. The kids loved him.
Yesterday , I needed to get out and away from everyone. I needed a break terribly. I spent the afternoon going to all my favorite stores. Really did not buy much - but had fun just being away. I had not done that since last November when Ben was born. I went to my 2 favorite scrapbook stores of course. I am glad I went - I found new inspiration seeing all the new things.It also made so glad that I scrap digitally! I forgot how much that all cost. Anyway- I found out the store can print my borderless 12x12 layouts for 6 dollars. I usually do not scrap that - but nice to know. They can also print other sizes and I might do that for special things.
I also saw Rhonna Farrers new line of papers- Bohemia- very pretty. I was surprised to not find her name on any of them. Love - Urban couture- basic grey.
So what did I buy? I got several colors of Tim Holz's distressing ink. I also bought his ruler blank book. I fell in love with his book in the Creating Keepsakes latest issue. I am going to experiment and print pages out digitally to put in there. I also got a blank spiral board book by etcetera to do the same. I then had to buy some matching Maya road ribbon to embellish them.
Found an old issue of Digital scrapbooking and bought that. I also went to Tuesday Morning (love it- it is a discount name brand place- they have them all over- check them out). Found a few things - not much and then went to TJ maxx. I did not buy anything there. It was nice to be able to look without having to entertain Ben,tell Emily that no she can't have everything and watch John pace up and down.
Well enough rambling- maybe I will play with my new inks. I also realized I have tons of altered things I have not put in my gallery- that are not digitally done. I made an adorable tote bag, a paper bag book for my pregnancy , altered gourds , etc.
later-

new things

jode lawrence's - new breeze layette
Went to the state fair yesterday. It was hot and when we pulled in to park - Ben was screaming and when we left he was really crying. He settled down and enjoyed most of it - but about 8 pm he had had enough and so had I . I think it was his teeth and all the noise and commotion.Who knows. He rode his first ride with Emily and did pretty well. Really had to hunt to find a spot that was secluded to nurse him to try and calm him and give him some fluids as it was hot.So I found a great spot at the entrance to a building that was closed. All secluded with the plants and a bench to sit on. Started to nurse him and looked up and people were going overhead from the sky glider ride.LOL
We had a bunch of great junk food- I had 2 delicious ears of sweet corn dipped in butter and fresh cut fries and a corn dog. They also had alligator on a stick and fried twinkies- we passed on those! Saw part of a high dive pirate show and that was pretty cool. Had fun looking at the hobbies and crafts building as I know a lot of the ladies that entered. A friend of mine - Janice placed a grand prize for her beautiful crocheted afghan. I had the pleasure of seeing her Tuesday and helped her learn how to do intarsia.

f- for fairy

credits- Iod- paper, letter/paper M. Coleman, rest paper relics
Finished my other letter - when we are done we get a whole alpha at ScrapArtist!

bits and pieces

credits-Paisely art and elegant Paisley kits from Digital bits- JoDe Lawrence.font- arriere garde

credits- M. Coleman- papers, kiss,rhinestoen slide, label stamp. NRJ- letter
The first layout is for JoDe's newest kit. She must never sleep! Whoa - she is like an energizer bunny on steroids. I have lost count the number she has done this month.Her pc must be smokin! The second is an ATC for a scrapartist challenge. So much fun- need to do another letter soon.

This has been such a busy week! Definitely overwhelmed. The kids go to school next week and that will be hard to get in the groove of getting up early.It will be nice to have everyone on the same schedule but I will miss having Emily to entertain Ben.I figured out that he is cutting several more teeth and one popped through.he bit me today nursing and I may be weaning him very soon if he continues!

taggin' along

credits- maya-hat,brad bird- thao cosgrovecharm- miss mint m. wise- stitched bubblebrush- veredfonts- blue baby,1942 report, nasty


Still making tags for my tag book. I am having fun with it and just creating what comes to mind.
Celebrated our 18'th wedding anniversary last night with a great dinner at Olive Garden. John and I had Seafood alfredo and tiramisu. Yumm! Then he surprised me - I had seen a peachy pink luxurious microfiber- dreamy robe at Bergner's and told him that I really wanted it - but would never pay the 68 dollar price tag for it. I would wait for it to go on sale. Well- it did yesterday and he had gotten another 20% off coupon out of the paper. So I got it for 34 dollars!
I tried it on in the store and when i took it off - my black pants were covered in peach fuzz!!!!! I tried getting it off with some packing tape and then we went to eat. After , we were going to get a few groceries- but my stomach did not like the rich dinner and I got sick- felt better after spending some time in the bathroom and was going to go to the store and my milk let down and soaked my shirt- so we went home! LOL
Ben was up every hour last night- even tried him in our bed and he demanded to nurse every hour= I let him only for a couple minutes and he would fall asleep and repeat. ARRRRGGGGGGGGGH~ He has not slept through the night ever!!!!!!!!
He did not take but a 20 minute nap twice yesterday. Jd slept at 2 weeks, Emily did not until she was 2!
need to do tons of cleaning - but am so tired after being kept up- !

credits- mayas- grammophone?,alpha-L.Slawta,brushes-vered,fonts: 1942 report,cold coffee.awaken,da da antiquerist made the brain,chicken wire brush from stock photos

more tags

credits: Pansy- fiddlette, button & lace- Mo jacksonKey- traci Simsbrushes- vered, inobscuroFonts- Christmas and Georgia

With no power - I took a look at some of my non digital altered work and I was struck by the beautiful glazes- especially metallic ones. I do not know how to emulate this in PS- if someone does - please let me know. So I practiced with a few tags and really love the way the blending turned out. Really looks like some of my hand done pieces.
I am having a problem with blogger - it says it uploads my pictures but then does not- so frustrating. I had a typepad blog for over a year - but I did not think it was worth the money per month. THe only thing I really like was the ability to have photo albums. I wonder if there is a way to do that in Blogger- probably since you could make each album a blog????
Love the new series on USA- called Psych- I look forward to laughing myself silly each week- ( I know- does not take much to make me laugh)
John and I are celebrating our 18th anniversary tomorrow- well not really celebrating - but we may go out to dinner. I will be thankful for the little things- been praying for peace in Israel. I know some ladies who are living in the bomb shelters there and one has a new baby.I can't imagine.Frightening- keep seeing things on the news about a possible nuclear attack from Iran on the 22nd.Within seconds our whole world could change- it gives me comfort to know what the bible says about my future as a child of Christ.

credits:brushes- vered,kazadoodle, n.r janitz- old writing font cezanne

credits- paper relics- fairy, fly, brushes- maya's wings, NRjanitz, ATC background, distressingFonts- Porcelain, bookman


Have not posted as we did not have power all day yesterday - and when we did - the power went on and off and I did not want to risk it. So - enjoyed a miserable day sweating- but My wonderful FIL brought over his generator and I was able to plug in a fan, my refrigerator , freezer and a tv. I was so thankful that I could open and close the frig to get food out. I wish I had had a gas stove so that I could have cooked. Oh well - no harm. The power came back on at 730 pm last night but went out again when I was in the shower shaving my legs! So- John came up with the flashlight and I finished. So - no computer time.
Jd called me at 11 last night and said , "MOM - YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BELIEVE IT!!!!!!!!! UNDEROATH CAME INTO TACO BELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They are famous and they are my favorite band - they are on tv. and all. But Mom- they are touring and they are having a problem with their vehicle? and can they sleep in our garage?????????
thump ------------ me falling on the floor. Not again!!!!! I asked him- I am not running a bed and breakfast for bands on tour!! What - do you carry a sign around that says - ask me if you need a place to stay - mom cooks pancakes?
Then I asked him if the band was so famous - why would they need to sleep in our garage? JD- "you just do not understand - they are my heroes - you don't care about me!" and hung up.
Better post and get off- before this crashes - bye

credits- paper, word tags- Thao Cosgrove, Circle frame, alpha, brads- Sausan designs
Wanna play? I am doing a tag book. - digitally which I will print out on heavyweight matte paper and then use my Sizzix to cut them or hand cut them and put 2 together as a page. Then I will put them on a ring binder and embellish them. I started a thread at DigitalArt Quirks and if you want to join in that would be great. I also have a template for the tag if you want me to send you the png file by e- mail. I do not know how else to do it. You can see some great tags already done by Nicole here.Any theme goes- vacation, brag book, 100 things, quotes, Abc's- anything you want- no rules, just fun. You also can use any template you may have. I can't wait to see what you come up with.
Created this blinkie-
I also did several layouts- but forgot to post them- will add them a few at a time.

credits- JoDe Lawrence- Quintessential kit and bookman font. I love all the elements in this one!

Every day seems an adventure lately. Last night I rolled into bed with Ben and got him to his crib at about 1130.Then Em was sleeping with me also ( Dad had to work at 3 am and did not want to disturb us and slept in her room)and kept me up until 1230 am moving around. Then DS called and said he was going to be late for his curfew as a truck broke down and they had to make a run to get coolant at Walmart. So I was awoken at 140am with JD telling me that he found a place for the band to sleep- outside at his friend's house. 230am Ben woke up and I nursed him and then he was up at 430am again. 530 am Iwake up as the air conditioner tripped the breaker and I had no fan or air. So - I get up to go downstairs and run into strange kids! 10 of them to be exact!!!!!!!!! JD let the band come over to sleep when they called him at 5 as the sun woke them up. Now mind you- JD had never met them before this! So I get dressed and come downstairs - and yell at my son and give him his punishment for the day- cleaning and dishes- scrubbing toilets (better for me than grounding) . So while my son went back to bed- these band members came down and profusely thanked me for providing them with a place to sleep and apologized for the trouble they caused! Whoa- very nice kids- well mannered, polite- all in college trying to get different degrees in various things. One wants to be a youth pastor - or "wherever God leads him".Another is into graphic design etc. So - they got their stuff and granted me a pic and were stuffing ( literally ) all the kids into a small pickup - extended cab.
SO - I called them back and cooked pancakes for them all - could not let them drive away hungry. Then my son and his 3 friends got up and JD met with his punishment.
Here are some pics of the day.

And more of the rest of them. I keep telling my son I am not running a bed and breakfast!!

- blogger is not cooperating- will post more artwork- later- have done several things!

font- porcelain- ,misprinted type- vladimir script. Stock photos


Did this for an art journal and a challenge at SA. Have been very busy catching up and had to get
groceries . Was looking at JD's my space and picked up a few pics of him playing guitar and snagged them and did this layout.I used JoDe Lawrence's graffiti kit - thought it worked perfectly! I sure hope this is a stage JD is going through- he just called me and wanted to know if all the members of a band ( not his) could spend the night.This is in addition to a friend of his that stays every weekend. I told him no - at least he asked. One weekend I woke up to find some very wierd looking characters crashed out all over the house. I know how many are here by counting shoes. He got grounded for that one. I really miss scrapping baseball pictures of him pitching and such- sigh- maybe one day.


I need to try to get Ben down. Sometime's seems pretty useless. Will post some more layouts tomorrow.

credits- phew-hold on!-paper- IOD- adelaides letterpaper deckle- Gina Miller Note paper- NRJanitz- La Belle Provence,Digital Bits- trim with buttons from Quintessential,photo turn- h.McCaig,Stephs paper tears, Donna Doherty- stitching, Mo Jackson- alpha, ephemera,ferns,flower. A. Spangler- scotch tape,M. Coleman- Granma's attic- heart and stitching,stick pinfonts- amanda's hand,4990810,Jane Austen

I never thought I would finish this layout for a Scrap artist challenge but finally did! Just to write up all the credits and the drop shadows took quite a bit of time.
I did this in memory of my precious Aunt Joann. She was so dear to me. I added quite a few trinkets that she was fond of- there is a picture of an antique doll - which she collected and has a wall to wall glass case full of them. She also was an avid estate sale and auction attender especially when she was younger and collected many beautiful antiques over the years. She would have loved this layout. It reads- Dear Aunt Joann,I miss you so much. I miss hearing your sweet southern accent and how I could always count on you to get mad with me over whatever upset me and then come up with the most incredible advice. I always felt so much love from you and Ben.You made losing my Dad easier- I felt I knew him through you. Love always, Lisa
Today I woke up to having no air conditioner and it has been a 100 all week. Today was 96 and it was 88 in the house! So I called the repairman and it was 250 dollars we were not expecting .
But I am nice and cool now and the heat wave is supposed to break with thunderstorms late tonight.

quote of the day by Emily- "Mom, I just had to stay up until 1 am to watch a show on how to survive a shark attack!!!!! She then told me everything to do in case of an attack. LOL It is a real threat in Central Illinois! LOL- We will be ready!!!
Did a new layout for my creative team. Credits are Southern comfort and retreat from Digital bits and stitch brushes- EE scrappers. The funniest thing - someone wrote and told me how pretty my large garden looked- it used to - until my DH sprayed it all with Roundup and tilled it up to plant grass! I had 2 summers that I could not garden- one after I broke everything in my leg and last summer I was pregnant. So- It it no more- except for the fountain - and tomatoes.

Sure seems like I did somthing else - but I can't remember what- getting too old.