Night prompt

So, I've been doing pretty good on my weight watchers.  Over the cheer weekend, I gained a pound but I know it's because we had to eat out everywhere.  I've decided that the next time we go out of town for cheer, I'm going to bring a cooler with point friendly foods and snacks.  Luckily, I was able to lose a few pounds this week to make up for the gain.  I am still really enjoying the freedom of weight watchers and I can't wait to get to my goal!

Moving on.....the prompt for February at Creative Everyday is "Night."  I had actually started this piece before they posted it, so I was so excited to see that it fit the theme nicely.  I had created some backgrounds awhile back and I really wanted to use them.  

This little guy was taken from the art to share in one of my Sommerset magazines.  I thought he was super cute!  Of course, he needed a little cap and something to lean on.  I mean, he's so full of swag!  He looks like he's saying, "Just try me and watch me go all ghetto on your a##!"

Seriously though, I found this sweet quote to go along with the theme and it seemed to just make the whole thing tie up nicely.  Does that even make sense?  You know, like a pretty bow on a package?  

If you have to explain it.....

Anyshways,  I hope you like it.  The glowing lights are done with a super easy art trick that I learned at The Artist Within.  I will have to show you sometime.  But not today, cause I didn't think that far ahead so I don't have pictures of the steps I took.  Sorry.

Cheer Competition Hangover

So, I spent the weekend running around after a bunch of cheerleaders, making sure that they had everything they needed for competition and were where they needed to be, when they needed to be there!  I am EXHAUSTED!  It's not just the actual competition that wears me out.  It's the fact that I never get a good night's sleep in hotels.  I wish I could pack my tempur-pedic mattress with me.  That thing has me so spoiled!  Anyways, two nights at Moody Gardens in Galveston, Texas and I was ready to come home.  I didn't think that I would feel like doing anything artistic, but after a long nap yesterday, I was refreshed and dare I say... energetic?  So I got busy in my brand new art journal.  It's from strathmore.  It is called a visual journal and I love it.  The pages are great for multi-media, including watercolors.  I just layed down layer after layer and then added a picture from the art to share in Sommerset Studio's magazine.  It's always fun to make the first page in a new journal.  So many blank pages with so much potential. 

Side note:  My friend is coming over again tonight to finish the art journals we were creating from USPS envelopes.  I will post pics when we finish!

Creating a new art journal

So I had a girl's night in with a friend of mine.  We had been trying to get together to play with our art supplies and finally the stars aligned and we were able to get together!   I had seen a really cool tutorial on a blog that I follow and I wanted to try it. I thought this get together would be the perfect time.  If you are interested in the full tutorial you can click here.  I figured I wouldn't recreate the wheel!  :)  Plus, Amy's blog is awesome. 

Basically this project takes several of those really cool, waterproof Tyvek UPS envelopes that you can swipe at the post office.  As Amy says on her blog, "I consider them a gift." 

After cutting them so that the insides were exposed, I used alcohol inks, ranger color wash sprays, acrylic paints, and stamps to decorate them.  After letting that dry, I sealed them with a glaze varnish.  It ends up looking like really cool fabric! 

I had purchased a photography magazine at Half Priced Books for 1.00 and I used one of the photos for the cover.  Once these dry I will take my two pieces of Tyvek and glue them together, ugly side to ugly side.  Then I will sew them along the edges.  This will be the cover to my new art journal. 

This is a picture of the one my friend made.  I love the colors she used!  It was messy but lots of fun! 

This is my little space that I have carved out of the girl's playroom!  It's pretty cozy, but I love .

Once I get them put together, I will show you the finished product. 

You Are The Soul

I saw this quote by C.S. Lewis on a fellow blogger's blog and it really spoke to me.  We always talk about the soul like it is an appendage, when actually our soul is what makes us...well....us!  Eventually, our bodies will grow old and pass away, but the soul will live on for eternity.  It made me realize how much I have neglected my soul.  Sure, I go get my hair cut, my toe nails done, and the ocassional massage.  But how often do I take the time to give my soul the Salon treatment?

What does that even mean?

My understanding is that in order to nourish the soul, we must go to the one who created it.  I have definitely neglected my quiet time with God this past year and it has taken a toll.  I feel more anxious and fearful and less enthusiastic about my walk with Christ.  For me, my soul retreat will need to include quiet time reading the Bible and daily prayer.  Art is also a way for me to pamper my soul.  I will continue to take the time for that, but I think that once I really get deeper in my relationship with Christ, I will see differences in my artwork as well.

This doesn't mean that I will start neglecting my body. ie. stop my weight watchers.  On the contrary.  Taking care of the body is just as important.  In fact, I've lost almost 4 lbs. since I've started!  Yay!

Word for 2012

So I have really been thinking about the word I want to use for my inspiration in 2012.  I like the idea of coming up with a theme for the year and then creating something that represents it.  After looking up several words in the dictionary and thesaurus, the word that really spoke to me was purpose.

Purpose:
1. The reason for which something exists or is done, made, used...etc.
2. An intended or desired result; end; aim; goal
3. Determination; resoluteness
4. The subject in hand; the point at the issue.
5. Practical result, effect, or advantage.

As you know, my desired result for this year is to lose weight and feel better.  For me, the whole reason that I am in this mess in the first place is that instead of making purposeful choices, I would just turn my brain to auto-pilot and shovel anything and everything into my mouth.  I knew that it wasn't good for me, but if I didn't think about it, then it was ok.

This year I will be more purposeful in everything that I do.  It won't be easy, since I've been doing the opposite for awhile, but with God's help, I know I can.

Now I'm off to create my little piece of purpose.

More Resolution Motivation

Well, I have survived the first week of Weight Watchers and I have to say that it has been fairly easy.  Since most fruits and vegetables are 0 points, I don't feel deprived.  I have even lost 1 lb. already! 

Sunday, I went to the mall with my two girls and my mother.  While we were shopping, I spied an awesome outfit in the store window of Buckle!  I loved it and desperately wanted it.  The problem is that it is at Buckle.  I have not shopped there since NOTHING looks good on my size 12/14 body!  Everything cute is made for someone skinny.  That's when I got my brilliant idea!

I went home and told my husband how sad it was and how much I wanted the outfit.  I sniffled a little bit for extra effect.  Then I explained to him about my great idea.  I told him that if I made it to my weight loss goal of 140 lbs. by my birthday (July 31, 2012) then he would let me go to Buckle and buy one outfit.  He thought it was a great idea and even upped the ante.  He said that if I could then maintain the weight loss for two more months, I could go back and get another outfit! 

I was so excited that I went to the website and started pinning like crazy!  Miss Me jeans....Oh yeah!  Crash and Burn tops...yes, please.  Anyshways, I am so pumped about the whole thing.  I am going to do this!!!!

Here 's a peak at what I pinned:

I am so ready!  2012...Look Out!

Backgrounds for the New Year

Happy New Year everybody!

We spent our New Year's Eve with friends.  It's a tradition.  Every year we take turns hosting the event.  It is very intimate.  Just us and another couple and all of our girls.  This year we had them over for a roast and great conversation.  We never seem to make it to midnight (central time), but we always watch the ball drop in New York.

The past few days I have been concentrating on making backgrounds.  I rifled through the recycling bin and have been using all kinds of substrates.  I cut up an old cereal box, used the cardboard piece from the back of a note pad, and pretty much anything that could hold gesso and paint.  I wanted to focus on layers and I had a lot of fun using different things for texture. (bubble wrap, corrugated cardboard pieces, a piece of plastic canvas)

I also got some of Tim Holtz's color wash colors.  I love spraying them on the paper and then spraying them again with some water.  Then I hold the paper up and watch the colors swirl and drip down the page.  I just keep turning the page until the drippiness stops.

Here are a few of the backgrounds I have made.

I'm really excited to start adding more elements to the pages.  I'll repost when they are finished.