busybee

don't fade

The challenge was...

Paint an emotion. Or paint how your mojo feels the day you sit down to paint. The challenge is to not use any distinct shapes, just keep it abstract.

THIS. WAS. A. CHALLENGE.  Infact, I sat down with this canvas EARLY this morning, and had to set it aside several times, until finally I decided that perhaps the only thing abstract about me is the inside of my brain...  and that without words, I am at a total loss.  I need words to create... Without words, I got nothing.

So I broke the rules completely...  but I know Mark (the challenge originator) will forgive me for it.  I am not a girl who thinks inside the box...  And yet I failed the only abstract challenge given to me.....  How is that possible?

Either way...  Here's my painted emotion.  Was feeling much like my soul was fading.  So I painted some words to make it stop. 

Don't Fade.

 

And there is perhaps one other person on the planet who will pick up on the song reference.  Words are half the inspiration, and typically the other half is music.

right now...

The challenge was:

How about doing a "Right Now" page, documenting what your life is like right now? Ali Edwards is doing it.

Aside from the fact that the entire time I was creating this page, I was humming the Van Halen song, Right Now...  This was really fun.  Cathartic, I guess you could say...

Thoughts on my mind, right now.  Things that are happening in my life right now.  Vows I am making to myself, right now...

 

Not exactly how the amazing Ali interpreted this idea (and believe me, Ali Edwards has been one of my idols for as long as I've been scrappin)...  but this is SJ style, and I think that is what matters most...

Loved this one...  

Mmmmmmmmm...

This was almost finished last night, but then I got sidetracked with some strawberry shortcake which is a direct result of those GLORIOUS strawberries I picked up at the farmers market yesterday... Yummm.

So this challenge was:  take a cereal box, pasta box, brownie mix box... a box of some food item out of your cupboard and use it to inspire a creative thing :)

I opened the cabinet and my eyes went straight for the thing I reach for the most...

 
(Sorry for the blurry picture.)

And here is what it inspired...

 

And because the package was sitting with me in my studio, I ended up eating about 5 cookies while creating this painting...  This was of course before the strawberry shortcake.

(Mojo Rehab is good for the mojo, but not so good for the butt.)

Wow, I am Rusty.

The challenge was...

Pick a quote from your favorite TV show or movie and use it on a scrapbook page or painting....

I picked a quote from (of course) Grey's Anatomy... The quote, to me, is very personal at the moment...

 
It reads:  Did you say it?  I love you.  I don't ever want to live without you.  You changed my life.  Did you say it?  Make a plan.  Set a goal.  Work toward it.  But every now and then, look around.  Drink it in.  Because this is it.  And it could all end tomorrow.

And, just for good measure, I scrapped my little ballerina too...

 

I haven't scrapped in so long...  I AM RUSTY.

Oh so true...

The challenge was...

pick a song from the playlist you posted and let it inspire you!

I picked "You're the Storm" by the Cardigans...  If you do not have that song in your own playlist, you should definitely download...

Time for a snack, then back at it!!

The Clinic is OPEN.

 
I woke up bright and early... 

I am off for a quick rinse, and then off to fulfill the first challenge, maybe after a quick pit-stop for a GIANT ICED COFFEE...  Back in a little while with more.....

You Complete Me.

I am overwhelmed with AMAZING ideas!  I am feeling the love.  (I am so excited that I went and purchased new paintbrushes.)  I received lots of ideas here in the comments, I received several emails, and I got a couple verbal ideas too...

You guys are simply amazing...  I wish there were enough hours in the weekend to bring ALL of these challenge ideas to fruition...  But I'm nervous enough to take on this list!!  Check in periodially throughout the weekend...  My plan is to post the results of each challenge as I complete it.  If your idea did not make the list, keep your chin up...  I've got ALL the ideas printed out and hanging on the wall in my loft for future reference...

Without further adieu...  Here are the 10 challenges that made my eyes sparkle, and my hands twitch!  I have GRAND ideas...  Let's see if I can make it happen...

1. Instead of locking yourself away, you should go out and do something all by yourself...like go to the beach and just enjoy some you time...go on a hike (well, something simple and not too dangerous to do by yourself)...go on a drive and photograph nature or whatever inspires you, then maybe go back home and scrap out your adventure.

2. Take 5 pictures of things that can not move, and explain how each thing moves you.

3. How about some "hidden pictures"? A treasure hidden in a reflection like when that guy took a picture of something he was selling for Ebay but forgot he was naked and you could see his reflection in the mirror..haha!

4. take a cereal box, pasta box, brownie mix box... a box of some food item out of your cupboard and use it to inspire a creative thing :)

5. Paint an emotion. Or paint how your mojo feels the day you sit down to paint. The challenge is to not use any distinct shapes, just keep it abstract.

6. How about doing a "Right Now" page, documenting what your life is like right now? Ali Edwards is doing it.

7. pick a song from the playlist you posted and let it inspire you!

8. Pick a quote from your favorite TV show or movie and use it on a scrapbook page or painting....

9. Create an "I'm so lucky" scrap page....go around your house and take pics of anything that makes you feel lucky to have "it" in your life. Things one might be envious of, things that just warm your heart and make you smile... things that make you think..."I'm just so lucky."

10. Think back...  Way back to when you were younger.  Remember something that you loved way back then even if just for a fleeting moment, and find a way to let it inspire you today.  Reconnect with the old you, and I think your mojo will find it's way back.

NOW...  LETS GO CREATE SOMETHING!!!!!!!

NYC, scrapped.

It's been a while since I got all crafty with myself...  But I ended up with some extra time on my hands today.  This is still a work-in-progress, but I thought I'd share a peek...

 
 
 
 

It's just a simple 4"x10" book, bound with snap-rings...  Mini-books are definitely my favorite way to scrap trips...  Such a fun way to stash things like tickets, reciepts, trinkets....  In between pages of pictures & journaling... 

Good Stuff...

stuff to shaaaaaaaaaaare.

I haven't shared any creativeness in a while.  What the heck is that about?

A couple weeks ago, my Jenn was here playing in MY CRAFT STUDIO, which was exciting for a variety of reasons, but mainly because I've never really had a space big enough to SHARE before.  Good times, and M&M's were had by all.

So what have my little hands been up to?!  Take a look....

FELT MONSTERS for the kiddos. Yup, with my van being on the fritz, it's going to be a low budget Christmas this year, but lucky for me, my kids haven't discovered iPods and Play Stations yet...  Making these is so freaken easy, and UNBELIEVABLY fun!

   

Finished up 2 Monster hats (will be in contact if yours is done) and needed a little break from all the monster-ness, so decided to teach myself a new knitting technique called entrelac.  Um, yeah, so can we just talk for a minute about how FUN this is?  And HOW PRETTY?!!  Loving it!

 

Haven't been doing much scrapbooking lately, but managed to squeeze this little lovely out.  Oh, ya know...  Just adoring my giant-type guy.  Standing next to him feels good - even if it hurts my neck.  Love is good.  Life is good.

 

Have had lots of fall photo shoots this year, and still have three more on my plate!  Working my way through proofing all the pictures, and stumbled on the above shot.  Holy-take-my-breath-away.  Some combination of that adorable little girl (the daughter of college friend), and that magnificent fall back-drop.  I still have a long way to go before I am REALLY confident with my camera, but once-in-a-while I have to slow down and recognize that I am growing SO MUCH as a photographer.

And, it is November, and it is has been raining for three straight days...  You know what that means, right??  Time for some Axl.  Come on, click it, you know you want to....

Peace Out!

sunday night syndrome...

I have MAJOR Sunday night syndrome tonight...  It's Sunday night, back to work tomorrow after a very relaxing and quiet weekend, and I just wanna stomp my feet and pout.

Walmart screwed up my photo printing, and therefore screwed up my plans of scrapbooking all weekend, so instead I broke out some brushes and canvases and got my paint on.

 
 

And, a couple elsie flannigan inspired creations....

 
 

Clearly, my creative side was experiencing some bi-polar-ness this weekend....  Clearly, I need some prozac or something.  But actually, and more importantly...  I wanted to talk for a minute about water colors, because I. am. LOVING. them. lately.  And I'm not talking fancy-schmancy expensive watercolors in the itty bitty tubes...  Nooo sir...  I am talking a ghetto-style package of crayola watercolor ovals in the plastic tray.  $3.99 at Target, peeps.  I borrowed them from Alyza, and I think I'll keep them.

I also spent some time working on these...

 

...which I can't really discuss just yet, but HOLY CRAP they are rocking my little world...  SO EXCITED ABOUT THEM RIGHT NOW!!!

Walmart finally managed to get my photo order correct, so I will hopefully be posting some new scrappy creations soon!!

Happy Sunday.