Favorite Things - Just a Few

It's funny how things evolve. This journal page started out as a plain sheet of watercolor paper painted with some lavender acrylic paint which happened to be sitting on my desk leftover from another project. I had bought some Glimmer Mist Spray in Patina a while ago and decided to try it for the first time over the lavendar. I gingerly sprayed a few spritzes and the result was a very fine, hardly noticable mist with a fine sparkle to it. Nice! I found some metal mesh paper in my paper scrap drawers and used it as a stencil to add a little more texture to the background. The blank tag I had purchased earlier in the week with the intent of writing some sort of jounaling on it. It seemed to coordinate well with the colors, so I decided I would probably use it on this page. Then the page just sat there for a few days, empty and blank. Yesterday I was going through my basket,of catalogs, purging some old ones and replacing them with the newest issues that had arrived. I began cutting out images that caught my eye and started randomly placing them on top of the journal page. I moved the cut outs around on the page until I was pleased with the composition and then attached them with a glue stick. I added the blue paper lace, which I purchased from Andrea's One Hundred Wishes Shop. (This paper lace is actually at least twice as wide as what I have used on this page. I trimmed it and saved the other half to use on another project.)
I looked for text in the catalogs that described things I like and then glued them onto the tag. The images on the rest of the page also indicate some my favorites ~ a brightly colored comfy chair, polka dots, pink, lime green and aqua colors, birds, flowers, swirly shapes, black & white checks, hearts, all things French, scented candles, and lots of doodling.
As a result, I ended up with a fun and brightly colored journal page which recorded just a few of my current favorite things as well as my present mood. Now that you've seen what I like, I'd love to hear what YOUR favorite things are.

Beautiful Thursday

Not much happening around here today, other than the fact that I have to clean the house as we are having my brother and sister-in-law over for dinner tomorrow. It's a busy weekend with Mother's Day on Sunday and Saturday is my mother-in-law's birthday as well. We will be celebrating non-stop all weekend. The diet will have to wait until Monday to start.

Jessi, Where Are You?????

I'm still waiting for Jessi Nagy to get back to me about winning the giveaway I held last week. I've left comments on her blog twice to let her know. I know she was at an art retreat when I announced the winner and she is probably still trying to catch up on things. Hmmmm...I think I will just sit back and see how long it takes her to realize she has won. LOL!! So if you're reading this Jessi, I need your mailing address. (Just click on my profile at the top right for my email addy)

I've been creating more pages for my art journal. I got some backgrounds completed which are still waiting for me to journal on them. I worked all day at the office yesterday and had to concentrate on boring things instead of arty projects, so now I am trying to make up for it. What projects have you been working on these days?

Catching Up

A while back, Heather asked us to do a RAK for Mel because she was undergoing major surgery to remove a tumor from her brain. Happily, the surgery was a success and once Mel returned home she was presented with a container filled with lots of wonder handmade tags and greetings. You can see pics of Mel receiving the RAK gifts here. Pictured above and below is the tag I made for Mel. It was so much fun to make ~ I hoped she liked it! The little vignette pictured below sits atop a cupboard in my kitchen. I have a teeny-tiny kitchen and not much space to have anything pretty around except for the top of this cupboard. I change it out as the mood hits and right now I have this little grouping soaking up the sun from the lace covered window.
These robin's egg blue spheres I made are another of the Casa Bella projects. These were easy-peasy to make. I have them sitting in an antique milk glass candy dish which once belonged to my aunt. I have a small collection of milk glass which once belonged to either my mother, my aunt or my grandmother. I think of them whenever I see or use these pieces. I remember this dish being used on my aunt and uncle's beautiful covered patio in the summertime.

We Have a Winner!

As promised, I had the Random Number Generator pick a winner for my Blogiversary Giveaway prize this evening. The winner will be receiving this Gratitude collage done on a wee 3x3-inch canvas, complete with it's own matching tiny easel. The collage was creating using acrylic paints, sheet music from a vintage Pentecostal hymnal, vintage wallpaper, paper lace, an image of a sweet meadowlark and some glitter for good measure. The sides of the canvas are finished off with text from an old French novel. Ok, ok. . . .I know you want me to get on with announcing the winner, sooooooooo. . . . . . without further adieu . . . . .the winner is. . . . . . . . . (tee-hee). . . . . . .


Jessi Nagy!!!! Yay for you Jessi! I want to express my sincere gratitude to everyone that entered my little contest and wrote such sweet comments! I love you all and really wish I could have picked everyone's names. But don't worry ~ I just love doing these fun giveaways and will have another one real soon.

I have 4 more of these little gratitude collage and easel sets listed in my Etsy shop, so if anyone wants one, hurry on over!

Etsy Shop Update

I will be updating my Etsy Shop tomorrow, Saturday, May 3rd. Here's a sneak peek at some of the goodies. There's still time to enter my Blogiversary Giveaway by leaving a comment here ~ I'll be picking the winner tomorrow evening! TGIF!!!

UPDATE ~ I just added a few more pics of items that will be adding to my Etsy Shop tomorrow.

More Artsy Things

I spent the morning working in my Art Journal completely uninterrupted....ahhhhh, it was blissful! But the sun is shining brightly and it's just too nice to stay indoors, so I am heading outside after this for a bit of fresh air. I'm not quite sure what I will do, but I'm sure I'll come up with something. Perhaps a walk (my body sure could use that) or maybe I'll clean out the potting shed and get it ready to use or do some prep work in the garden. It really doesn't matter what I do as long as I can be outside.

Below is a pic of another Casa Bella project. I found this shadowbox at Hobby Lobby in the unfinished wood section and my Vintage Spoon Fairy fit inside it perfectly. The little quote on the spoon says, "One cannot think well, sleep well, love well, if one has not dined well."

There's still plenty of time to sign up for my Blogiversary Giveaway. If you haven't entered yet, just leave a comment on the previous post. I'll be drawing the lucky winner's name on Saturday, May 3rd!

Happy Blogiversary To Me!

Photo Courtesy of Creating Keepsakes

Today's the day! I can't believe it has been TWO whole years since I started this blog. I wasn't sure then where this adventure would lead, but it certainly has been more than my wildest dreams ever expected. I was just on a search for a few people to exchange artistic ideas with. And two years later I have so many new friends from places all over the world ~ imagine that! It is an honor to be a part of this technological experience with so many, many warm, wonderful, generous, kind and talented people. Thank you all for stopping by to say hello once in a while, and for swapping and sharing and exchanging gifts, supplies and ideas, and mostly for all the support you give to me.

Blogging has been so much more than I ever imagined.

So to help me celebrate and also to say THANK YOU to all of you, I want to have a little giveaway to mark this special occasion. I'm keeping the prize a secret, because surprises are always so much fun. But if you leave a comment on THIS post I will draw a winner from the all names in a week,

on Saturday, May 3. Good luck to everyone!This is a little piece I made yesterday using vintage papers for the Casa Bella E-Zine Class. You can click on the pictures for a closer look. Hope you all have a great weekend!

Look What I Got!!!!!

When I got home from work today, I found those most GIGANTIC box by my front door. I couldn't remember ordering anything that large, but when I got closer I discovered it was from my Junque in my Trunk swap partner Angelina of Angelina's Beautiful Cards. Still in awe of the size of the parcel, I couldn't wait to rip it open to see what was inside. And when I did, I found the most beautiful rose covered suitcase filled with A TON of goodies. I couldn't believe my eyes! Everything is so beautiful and perfectly suited to my taste. Angelina really took a great deal of effort to select such lovely items for me. How lucky am I to have had her as my swap partner? Thank you so much Angelina for such a wonderful gift. I can't wait to dig in and start using it all.

Angelina doesn't know this, but I have two smaller suitcases like the large suitcase she gave me. Now I have a complete set of stacked rose covered luggage to store my collage supplies in.

Saturday is my 2 year Blog Anniversary so I think it's only fitting to have a little GIVEAWAY to celebrate. Be sure to check back here for all the details!

Vintage Party Swap

Earlier this month Artsymama hosted the Vintage Party Supply Swap. Each of the swappers were to exchange party supplies for our chosen party themes. I chose a vintage tea party and my swap partner Rhonda from RhondaMum, really came through. Just look at the gifts that arrived wrapped like a breath of springtime!

And better yet, look what I found inside!!! ~ All sorts of fun things including earl grey tea and vanilla scone mix.
These lovely appliqued napkins will surely add a sweet touch to the table.
And a tea party wouldn't be complete without a dainty tea cup. Inside the cup is a package of "jeweled sugar." Don't you just love that?
Take a look at all these lacy beauties.... two doilies and an elegant pair of ladies gloves.
Won't my guests will be delighted to find these teaspoons at their place settings. Thank you SO much Rhonda for all the wonderful goodies and for being such a fun swap partner!

Show & Tell Sunday. . .On Tuesday!

Sunday Cerri and Analise had another installment of their Show & Tell Sunday feature and I was out of town so couldn't post any pics of my vintage bling. So I'm taking the advice of the old adage, "Better late than never" and posting my photos a couple days late. Hope you enjoy the trip down Vintage Lane!
I love these pastel enameled pieces.A little red jewelry for some spice!
Rhinestone Pins and Brooches Rhinestone Earring Collection And a prized rhinestone necklace.
Opalescent Beauties
I adore anything aqua, especially jewels. The center necklace was purchased during one of Holly's Flea Market Friday sales.

And of couse no display of bling could go without some crown jewels.
Love this pink & aqua crown pin ~ another purchase from Holly.
Summer white costume jewelry
Last, but not least ~ Classic Pearls