Long Time No Post

Where has the time gone.  I haven't posted anything since May.  I have gotten way behind in my reading group and everything else.

I was able to do a little scrapbooking and got a few page done over the weekend.  Today in between loads of laundry I decided to do one of my unfinished projects.  I pulled out some partially completed tags I was working on and then set aside.  I had collected some magazines images that I liked and decided to make some tags out of them.  I loved the black and white images and decided to use markers and colors in some of the images.  Found an image of one of my favorite people "Betty Boop" and made a tag using a magazine image.  I added bling, ribbon and completed my tags.

While I am not setting the world on fire with my creativity, I like the fact that I got something done.
We shall see what I can find next to finish.

Artful Reading Club - May 2013

The month of April was a changer in my life.  I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes and High Blood Pressure.  So I have been doing a lot of research trying to figure out what I need to do to take care of myself.  I have been reading a lot of material learning about Diabetes and High Blood Pressue and what kind of foods I can eat.

So I had to make some changes in what I was reading (I know we aren't suppose to change up the books  but this was a necessary change).  This month I read The Diabetes Miracle:

I found this to be a VERY GOOD resource book. The book helps you learn how to manage your Type 2 Diabetes have a diet plan and exercise.

This books is written in a very clear manner and very helpful in understanding this disease and how to help yourself.

I have attended 2 seminars about Diabetes and the one fact that I have learned from reading and attending these seminars is that you are the one in control of your body and this disease.

I give this book a big thumbs up.

My Artwork is another collage from material found in some Diabetes Magazines:

Artful Reading Club - April 2013

This month I chose to read Ransomed Dreams by Amy Wallace.  This was the first book in a series called Defenders of Hope Series.

The books starts out on New Year's Eve with the family mom, dad and 2 children planning on how they were going to spend theirs News Year's Eve.  A deadly car crash leaves dad and the 2 children dead and mom with the memory of following behind them in another vehicle, seeing the family van being struck and looking into the face of the driver who kills her family and leaves the scene.

What follows in the books is how Gracie continues on with her life without her family.  She continues to see the family van go over the embankment in her dreams.  She wears a locked necklace to remember the faces of her children.  Gracie's live continues on, she moves, teaches school but continues to pressure the police to find the person who killed her family.

The book goes in several directions involving diplomats whose children attend her school and have to be guarded due to threats of kidnapping.  One of her students has a father who is a police officer and he works for the child protection unit.  Steven and Gracie become involved but both come with a lot of left over baggage that must be sorted out.

So you can see where this is going everyone has something to do with bits and pieces of the puzzle.
The characters wrestle with their convictions about God and must resolve issues within themselves.

I can say that I will not be looking for the next book in the series to read.  I find there are way too many books out there to read and this one was not a favorite.

My Collage involves image that I related to the story:  a family van, a bed, a chair with a child's toy left behind, a necklace to remember loved ones.  I inked, collaged and stamped for texture.

Artful Reading Club - March 2013

This month I chose to read The Beach House by Jane Green.

I actually picked up this book to read in December while I was vacationing in Daytona Beach, Florida.   I did not have time to read on that trip and set the book aside.  So while we are having cold weather it sounded like a good time to read about the beach.

I had a very hard time reading this book.  It did not catch my interest.  It was very easy for me to read a chapter and put this book down for days at a time.  There were a lot of characters in this book and   eventually they all had a connection at this beach house.  I found the second half of the book held my interest more than the first half but I would not recommend reading the book.  There are too many books to read so I would pass on reading this one.

 

Artwork collage:

I started with a 6x6 background paper, used torn images from magazine, did some inking and stamping and decided to put book title on the page.

 

Paper Tubing Challenge

Thought I would share two mini albums I made out of paper towel and toilet paper rolls.  Added tags and pictures.  This was for a challenge....while it is not original....I did do the challenge and actually put pictures in the mini.  Most of them are sitting around with no pictures in them.

Artful Reading Club - February 2013

This month I read:  Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom.  My granddaughter just read this book for a English Class in High School and I decided to see what they were having students read.

 

 

  This is a true story told by Mitch Albom about his professor.  Once I started reading this book I did not want to put it down.   While in college these two men develop a relationship that meant a lot to both with a promise of keeping in contact.  But life happens and things get in the way of reuniting until 20 years later when Mitch learns that Morrie is dying of ALS.  Mitch makes a trip every Tuesday to visit Morrie who knows he is dying and what his ending will be like.  Morrie attempts to hold on to his dignity while his body is failing him.  Morrie has great wisdom to pass on about life to his former college student and these weekly meetings are exchanges of conversations that may not be what everyone wants to hear.  I know some people would say what Morrie told Mitch was sappy information that everyone knows about life but do not practice because we live in a busy world.  Most people are in the fast lane trying to get to the top, make the most money and step on whoever is in the way.  This is not the life Morrie talks about.

 

So while I give this book a high rating, I realize it is not for everyone.  It deals with life and death and some of the ugly things that happens to your body when you have a disease. This book may not be your cup of tea.

 

My artwork is again another collage.  I decided to use an old calendar to make my collage.  I wanted to stress that these men met only on Tuesdays and made Tuesdays my main focus of the collage.  I  marked Tuesdays with a red star to set that day apart from the others. I finished with a numbers stencil.

My Collage: 

 



 

Prize from Darcie Glam from New Year's Eve Streamathon

 I received a happy mail box of goodies from Darcie Glam.  During her stream Darcie covered the top of plastic boxes with clear glues and floor wax mixed with glitter and sprays.  I won the Steam Punk Box with the floor wax mixture on the top of the box.  Not only did I get the gorgeous box, it was loaded and she sent a whole load of extra.  A gorgeous card, metal camera embellishment, metal frame, paper pad, beautiful pink fibers and each item was wrapped in pattern tissue tape.

Darcie sorry for the delay.....I have pinched nerve in neck and sitting a computer is painful.  Ipad easier but not as easy to update blog.

Pictures:

Darcie.....thank you for the wonderful package of goodies.  I can't wait to use it.

3D Dress Form

I was watching a Ustream - Morgan's Fancies - Kathleen Roussel and she was making a 3D Dress Form using the Tim Holtz Dress form die.  I love seeing streams using things that I have in my stash and decided this was another way to use that die.  Kathleen was good enough to send me a link to a You Tube where she originally saw the 3D Dress Form.

So it has taken me a while as I saw they used clear tacky glue which I didn't have, so I had to purchase that and then I did it in steps as it too the glue longer to dry that the quick dry stuff I usually use.  But today I was able to put the finishing touches on it and here it is:

And to give credit here is the link to the You Tube that Kathleen gave me:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spxJ6x0gpZk&feature=youtu.be.

Artful Reading Club - January 2013

My January book was:  The Collage Workbook  -  How to Get Started and Stay Inspired by Randel Plowman.

  I was excited that I was able to purchased this book used on Amazon instead of paying full price....$8.99 which included shipping.  Since it was an art book, it may get glue or paint on it so the bargain price was great and the book was in great shape.

I absolutely love this book.  I love collage work but am not very good at it.  He tells you how to get started, which tools you need and what kind of materials you can use in collaging.  He gives you ideas on how to store your  material, but I determined I need to sort mine more than he does.  He instructs you through various creative processes to try including layering 101.

The great parts of the book are the 50 Creativity Exercises he provides with examples.  You can look through and see which ones appeal to you or you can try all of them.  I decided I want to do a collage as my art project to go with each one of the books I read for the Artful Reading Club.  Also included are free clip arts you can use.

So my first collage to represent The Collage Workbook was exercise #4 - Color Charge.  You were instruction to experiment with applying color to a collage that's primarily black and white.  A few strokes of bright can make a collage pop.

Here is my Color Charge Collage:

I was very happy with my black and white collage with the triangle pop of color.  I decided on using 6x6 size on my collage.  Basics: black cardstock paper, torn old book pages, pattern paper, magazine images, glue stick and distress ink.

I highly recommend this books if you are interesting in learning a lot of collage techniques.

Avalynn Rose - Great-Granddaughter

Avalynn Rose arrived January 15th, 2013 at 3:01 PM.  She weighed 8 lbs 5 ozs and was 21 1/2 inches.
She is a real beauty.

Just wanted to share her picture on my blog.

The Artful Readers Club

Let the reading begin.  I have picked my books and have taken a photo of the basket full of books I plan on reading for the club.

Only one missing is Tuesday with Morrie and I will get it from library and read it on my Ipad.

Clean Scrapbook Room

Starting the year off right by straightening up my scrapbook room.  Now I just need to get busy and make something.

Maybe tomorrow....tired from sorting and straightening.

Entry to Mitzi's Plastic Bag Challenge

Mitzi challenged us to make something out of a plastic bag.

I made these shoes using plastic bags fused together, using the Target bag as the main design.
I watched numerous You Tube Videos to learn how to fuse plastic bags and make a thicker fabric to work with.  I then cut the shoes out and hand stitched them.   I added a little embellishment and this is what I came up with:

I am getting a great-grandbaby, Avalynn, sometime in the next two weeks.  We will see how they look on her.

2013 Calendar

Made this calendar from Jen ... Ozegran....on the Stream-a-thon today.  This was what she was making during her streams.

It has been wonderful watching these fantastic ladies stream all day long.

Here is my calendar:

My last project of the year to use for the next year.

Postcard #52 - Mexico

The last week of challenge finds us in Mexico.  I checked out my books and found a great costume for the region and went with it.  Paper pieced, title and inking.

Postcard Front:

Postcard Back:

Postcard Reads:
Last postcard is addressed to Darcy W.
December 28, 2012
Dear Darcy:
We wanted to thank you for the wonderful places our families have been able to
visit and learn about due to your challenge.  We were college room-mates, had
successful  careers and wonderful families.  Hope you enjoyed our journey from
January 3, 1985 to December 28, 2012.
THANK YOU    Ann and Zoey

Sad for the journey to end but I am so excited that I actually completed the full challenge.
While it was not always been easy, it is the idea that I started it and wanted to finish it.  It has made me realize that I am really a scrapbooker and not an artist.  I love doing new techniques but I love
paper and glue.  It has been interesting learn facts about these countries.  There are a few I would love to see myself and not through the eyes of my characters.

Here is a picture of my completed 2012 Postcard  Challenge Book, it is absolutely full. I could have used a few more pockets.

THANK YOU DARCY...........fabulous challenge.  I am ready for the book challenge.

Holidays

While the holidays are exciting and I love having the family together, it is always nice to unwind after all of the food and get-together are over.  We had a very nice Christmas with kids, grand kids and family.  Then had another get-together with in-laws and then had kids fly in Christmas night for a few days stay and enjoying their company all with a snow storm.  So they are able to do a little sled riding while they are home.

I got a wonderful gift my my granddaughter, Victoria.  She made me a beautiful wall hanging names of all of the grand kids:

 I absolutely love this gift.  Thank you Victoria, I love it.

Postcard #51 - Greenland

This week finds us in Greenland.  I know nothing about Greenland.  I checked out one of my map books to check out the location.  I did an online check and liked the looks of the flag.  So I combined the flag and map for this postcard.

Postcard Front:

Postcard Back:

Postcard Reads:
May 11, 2012
Dear Zoey:
This is a wonderful project here in Greenland.  I am so glad you are coming here
to meet me next week.  It is beautiful and want you to see it with me.  My work
will be done and we will see the sights together.
Hugs and Kisses Bill

Postcard #50 Hawaii

Thank you Darcy for giving us the rest of the destinations ahead of time.  Time saving for me and greatly appreciated.

This week finds us in Hawaii....have never been there but would love to go.  Checking out my travel books and found a great picture, did a title and inked edges.  (I feel as though my cards are getting skimpy but with Holidays and silly us took a week of vacation in December, I am just happy to keep up.)

Postcard Front:

Postcard Back:

Card Reads:
August 21, 2011
Dear Zoey:
John and I are having a wonderful time in Hawaii.  Long awaited 2nd honeymoon.
Can't believe we have been married 26 years....how time flies when you are in love.
Hugs and Kisses Ann and John

Postcard #49 - Sweden

This last week found me in Daytona Beach, Florida for 7 days.....so I did not get time to do postcard until today.

Again a very fast card using flag design.....to keep me up to date.

Postcard front:

Postcard back:

Postcard reads:
February 21, 2011
Dear Bill:
Having so much fun in Sweden with Ann.  It is
great working together on her newspaper special.
Getting great photos for her special.  Thanks for
keeping the home front going while I am off with Ann.
Hugs and kisses to you and the kids.
Love Zoey

Postcard #48 Argentina

This week finds us in Aregentina.  Again I looked up what the map looked like and since I love blue I decided to make a map.  It was rather plain so I went to my book and found an Argentinian Cowboy and he was a perfect match for my flag.....so I did some paper piecing and inking, title and there I had my postcard.

Postcard Front:

Postcard Back:

Postcard Reads:
October 12, 2010
Dear Ann:
I can't  believe I got a photo shoot in Argentina.  It has been a while since I worked and
jumped at the chance for a 3 day shoot.  So good to be back doing a little work.  Seems just like
old times.  Hugs and kisses....Love Zoe