Altered Canvas

Last Sunday I spent 3 hours getting messy. I have had this blank white canvas (16 x 20) staring at me for about 4 months now and as crazy as it sounds I was afraid to start. What was I waiting for? Enough was enough! So I spread out some newspaper, got out my paints, glimmer mist, mod podge and ink and went to work on my canvas. Once I started that was all it took - I felt so relaxed while I was working and I love the finish product! Not sure where I will hang it but it is not white anymore...

A few close ups to see some details:

Try something new this week!

Best Shot Monday - 9/28/09

This would probably not be considered a "best shot" by some but to me it says fair and what is better then that? :)

Friday Fill-ins 9/25/09

Taken at the Botanical Gardens 9/09

Friday Fill-ins

1. One week ago I was doing about the same thing I am now.

2. I loved to eat peas for breakfast when I was young.

3. Mama told me not to sing at the dinner table.

4. ---- you and me. Hmmm - usually something just pops in my head when I see the prompt but not so for this one. So instead of forcing something I'll just leave it blank :)

5. Take your time when spending time with your kids - really be there.

6. These allergies will pass!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to watching a movie with the family, tomorrow my plans include Abbie's soccer game and a bit of furniture shopping and Sunday, I want to go to the state fair!

Happy Friday!

8 Things: About Jr. High School

Having two children in middle school has me reminiscing about what it was like when I was in middle school (we called it jr. high and went for grades 7,8 and 9) I honestly *loved* the three years I spent at Peirce Jr. High School in Merrillville, Indiana. It was much more about being social for me then about academics! So today for my 8 things, I have made a list of the things I look back fondly on about jr. high.

1.) Friends - I was all about my friends at this age. I loved going to school because it meant I got to be with my friends all day long and after school I spent all night long talking on the phone with them. Weekends? More time to spend with friends. I had a great "group" of friends and they were my whole world.

2.) Boys - yep - we talked about them, dreamed about them, flirted with them, sighed over them, cried over them, and laughed about them.

3.) Pom-poms - I loved belonging to a group, going to practices (again with my friends), and best of all going to football games - so. much. fun.

4.) Lunch - that strange combination of social hour and meal time. We ate the weirdest things - tater tots dipped in butter being a favorite of our table. I spent the time gossiping and making plans for the weekend - oh and the food fights - yes they occurred like in the movies - someone would turn the lights off and madness would ensue until a teacher got to the lights. The girls and I would usually hit the deck under the tables while the boys let loose with the food.

5.) Age - this was a great age to be - old enough to have some independence but young enough to not have many responsibilities.

6.) Belonging - it was a time of great security for me. I belonged. I knew my place in the social network and I had a clear definition of who I was. There was something very comforting about that.

7.) Communication - notes, notes, notes. Because we had no computers or cell phones then we actually wrote each other hand written notes and passed them in between classes. It was not uncommon to be handed several notes by different friends between classes. Then I would write back during the next class and so on. Amazing how much writing we did!

8.)Symbols - long before the LOL's of today my friends and I had all kinds of symbols and written ways to convey a message to each other. A few: BBB = blackberry brandy (which we tried once and thought we were cool so we wrote it on out notes) CTB = Cindy the Bitch (a girl I didn't like in school - we each had one) CTF = Craig the fox (one boy I had a crush on) etc...

Go here to join in on "8 things"!

Plantation Layout

Sharing another layout I did for the last Sketchapalooza Class. My Mom, Dad and I took a tour of this plantation that has been in the same family for 14 generations - amazing! The current owner still live there on the top floor! I am loving all the history to be found in Virginia!!

Best Shot Monday - 9/21/09

Another flower this week. The roses are so beautiful this time of year!

Friday Fill-ins 9/18/09

Taken at the botanical gardens last weekend.

Friday Fill-ins
1. My car still has that "new car smell."
2. My Mom's birthday is coming up next. (and I have no idea what to get her!)
3. Lately, things seem a little "off" guess I am just not settled into the fall routine yet.
4. My scraproom is one of my favorite 'hiding' places.
5. What happened to the summer?
6. Changing your attitude is not impossible!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to a lazy evening with the family, tomorrow my plans include watching Abbie play soccer and shopping for new skates for Jacob and Sunday, I want to sleep in and then play!

Want to join in? Check it out here.

8 Things: Lee Currie

Ok - here I am, joining in on something Lee found here. I am a list maker - plain and simple - if it is not on the list it doesn't get done. So this fits right in with my love of lists :)

Since Lee has not only introduced me to this idea but so many others I thought it would be fun to have Lee featured in my very first 8 things post.

So here you go - in no particular order - 8 things I love about Lee:

1.) She writes in an interesting and entertaining way that I love.
2.) She is an awesome photographer - She uses interesting angles and perspectives.
3.) She is a fantastic Mom. Love her "mama-tude" and the way she parents her children.
4.) Commonality - I love that the more I get to know her the more I find in common with her.
5.) She is generous - with her time, her emotions, her creativity, her resources and her home.
6.) She is strong in what she believes - not a wishy-washy, non committal bone in her body.
7.) She is real - she is not perfect and doesn't pretend to be.
8.) She is always seeking, learning, and thinking about who she is and what is next.

Thanks for your friendship Lee! It makes my world a nicer place :)

Can it really be fall?

Wanted to share another layout I did for Feeling Scrappy's last sketch class. Seems like just yesterday we were celebrating the last day of school and the start of summer vacation and here we are in our second week of school for the Fall. Time keeps marching on even when we would like to slow it down a bit!

Best Shot Monday - 9/14/09

I have been getting lucky with butterflies lately. I like the orange wings contrasted by the green leaves in this shot. I took this over the weekend at the botanical gardens here in Richmond.

9-11-01

I will not forget.

Layout - Maymont

This layout was based on a sketch by Stacey Curry and I made it as a sample for the last Sketchapalooza class at Feeling Scrappy. We have been taking lots of day and weekend trips since moving to Virginia last December - so much fun to explore our new area!

Win a Free Class!

We are giving away a free Simplify the Season class at Feeling Scrappy! Just leave a comment there to be entered - simple as that! :) Hurry you only have until Wednesday night - we will draw a random winner on Thursday!

Best Shot Monday - 9/7/09

This is my best shot this week because it reflects a best time! We had a perfect day at the ball park in Baltimore on Saturday! More photos to share from our trip tomorrow and some fun Feeling Scrappy news to share!

Ella Publishing is having a party!

Check it out! Ella is live and having a party! Be sure to check out their e-zine which will be published tomorrow and let me know if you can spot your favorite Feeling Scrappy girl in the magazine :)





I'll be back later today with my Best Shot Monday and an update about our trip!

Friday Fill-ins 9/4/09

Sam and Abbie with Zoe (the kids where calling her a river rat)

She can swim well but would rather be on the rocks sun bathing! Aug 09

Friday Fill-ins :)

1. I feel bad taking Zoe to be boarded - I know she is fine but I still feel sad leaving her there.

2. Traveling is always fun.

3. Right now, I can hear these things: county music playing softly from Abbie's room, a lawn mower outside, a video game and Don talking on the phone.

4. Summer is almost over and I'm glad we packed in a lot of fun activities!

5. The last time I scrapbooked with friends was July - I miss having friends to scrap with!

6. Looking forward to a family trip this Labor day weekend.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to arriving in Baltimore Maryland and checking out the harbor a bit, tomorrow my plans include taking in more of the city and a Baltimore Orioles baseball game and Sunday, I want to go to the Baltimore Aquarium!

Hope you all have a great weekend! Oh and Happy, Happy Birthday to my friend Lee!!

Happy Birthday Sam!

We have been celebrating Sam's 12th birthday! First was mini-golf and go-karts, then dinner at the melting pot, pineapple upside down cake (by request) and presents.

In honor of my middle son, I thought I would share 15 things about Sam today...

*He loves to sing and listens to a very wide variety of music.
*He likes to to collect things - currently it is old gameboy color games.
*He is full of drama - both good and bad.
*He likes the colors red and black.
*He keeps his room neat.
*He has a natural swagger when he walks.
*He has curly hair that when he decides to take time with it will make the girls swoon.
*He still likes pokemon and legos but doesn't always like to admit it.
*He hates to be rubbed but likes to be hugged.
*He is a movie buff (and especially loves old ones).
*He is a middle child and has lots of the characteristics that goes along with that.
*He needs to be entertained and always likes to be with someone.
*He is good eater - will try anything and is not picky at all.
*He is 12 and starts middle school (6th grade) on September 8th.
*He is loved.

Happy Birthday Sam!