Friday Fill-Ins on Saturday

And...here we go!







1. I love to look at pictures of William and Catherine right now.


2. A wink and a smile.


3. It's how you play the game that matters.


4. I'm asking you please, don't tell me!


5. Well, would you want to see that catastrophe.


6. Jeepers, creepers I love me some spring peepers.


7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to finally getting home, tomorrow my plans include an early soccer game, a trip to Sam's, laundry and some sewing and Sunday, I want to sleep in, sew some more and see what I can glue!

More Friday Fill-Ins can be seen HERE.

WOYWW #99

Seems to be a week for thinking "99" for me.

This week seems to be just a mess of project remains. And starts. And a little bit of this and a little bit of that.

Projects represented here:

Altered suitcase

Halloween tag

Quilt

Boxy bag

Crown Jewels postcard

Felt animal

Paper doll clothes

Candy notebook

Easter Inchies

Purse ATC

I amaze myself in how I manage to get a mess on my workdesk without a proper, finished project to show for it.

I didn't get a chance (alien's abducted me???) to post my desk last week. I took the picture though. See:

Again, more mess and less project showing. At least there are different things to see. 3 different holidays are represented here. (Among other things.) Can you spot them?

More workdesks can be viewed by meandering over HERE.

99 Crown Jewels on the wall, 99 Crown Jewels..... (EDITED)

Okay, so maybe not 99. But oddly enough, that's the tune that jumped into my head this morning. What? You can't hear it. Oh, sorry then. 

The challenge this week at OPUS GLUEI is:

CROWN JEWELS

We were going to label it Family Jewels, but thought that might be a bit too cheeky and offensive. To someone out there. Ah, well, here we are with CROWN JEWELS.

This, of course, is in honor of the impending nuptuals of this rather shy and attractive couple.

They are just so adorable. To me anyway. I love how they are so graciously doing things "differently" than tradition. While both of these pictures of them are great, I really love the one on the right. Diana is most certainly the boys mum. AND I LOVE that he chose Diana's ring for his beloved. (insert sigh)

Okay, now, on to the challenge. I decided to go with Postcards this week. They are just what struck my fancy. So I went with it.

First up is the Keeper of the Jewels.

I cut a piece of white cardstock to 4x6. Glued down a piece of patterned paper. Then gel mediumed some fabric scraps on top of that. (I have started to make Melissa's quilt. Finally. See list of things to do in 2011 in the left hand sidebar.) Dog face is from a magazine. As is the silver bowl. Jewels are from my stash. Paint pens were used to accent the piece.

I still had a postcard sized piece of cardstock, so I reached for the Japanese motif stamps. The Gingersnaps at Gingersnap Creations want FAN inspired creations. This little number fits both categories.

(see left sidebar on the top for link to these adorable little stamps)

I used watercolor crayons for the background. Stamped the border and the Princesses. Then put the pearls AND Stickled the heck out of this piece. I had to let this baby dry for HOURS. As in overnight. I used black enamel for their hair. I really like the effect.

I'm thinking about calling in "sick" on Friday to watch the wedding. What about you? Is it a holiday in England? Canada? Australia? Or are you calling in "sick" too?

Wishing you a Lovely Easter

Friday Fill-Ins

And here we go....

1. Pardon me, go find someone who really cares.


2. I love reading a good deal.



3. I was surprised to find that I really like my husband. Who knew.



4. Reading is one of my favorite forms of entertainment.



5. Hi, my name is Jana and I'm a collector of things.


6. Can't wait for summer afternoons.



7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to doing whatever comes my way, we have NO plans, tomorrow my plans include coloring eggs, baking a bunny cake and pulling fabrics for a quilt and Sunday, I want to seeing what the bunny brings, feasting with loved ones and maybe starting on said quilt!
 
 

More Friday Fill-Ins can be found HERE.

Jingle Belles Card & Betty Bee's Buzz too.

No time to chat. I have to be somewhere 10 minutes ago, and I still have to shower. Yikes.

Die cuts was the challenge. Snowman, tree, Top Note and Merry Christmas tag are all die cuts.

Have a good one!

More Jingle Belles Cards HERE.

AND more Betty Bee's Buzz Cards HERE.

What's in your wallet?

No, we aren't barbarians. (There are some out there who would argue that, but, we'll press on anyhow.) The Poobahs over at OPUS GLUEI are asking you to use the contents of your purse/tote for inspiration this week.  

*****

Jana here: I picked my tote as the source for my inspiration. You'll see why in a few...

Here's the tote and the contents:

And here is the project inspired by that hot mess:

Yup. A paper doll. I know it seems like a simple thing to have made, but, I have had one of those weeks. I was at the pediatricians office Tuesday with one sick kid and again on Thursday with a different sick kid who sprouted an entirely different affliction. I was lucky to have gotten this little gal done at all. (Both kids are much better now. Which is why I am able to post this little gem.)

I printed out the template onto white card stock. Cut the pieces. Punched the little holes. Covered the pieces randomly in tissue tape. Trimmed the tape to fit the template. And then I had to seal the tape with Gel medium. You know that tissue tape is wonderful, but doesn't stick well enough to survive a constant handling and I will be handling her a bit. (Plus my youngest got the cutest little gleam in her eye when she spotted my new doll.)

I have plans for Rose. (That is her name. I have named her for my youngest daughters middle name. Thought it was appropriate.) I am going to make her a wonderful wardrobe to house all of the gorgeous clothes that I have planned for her.


And now the story... There is a lovely lady, Angela, who hosts a monthly dress challenge on her blog Sew Loquacious. Every month there is a different theme to use to create a dress. I am behind for 2011. (I suppose I have to start in order to be behind, but we'll argue those particulars another day.)

I first saw these marvelous dress creations last year on Gini's blog, A Little Bit of Shiny. She made some fantastic dresses that made me think that dangerous thought that I seem to get whenever I see something gorgeous and crafty. You know, the "I can do that" thought.

Well, it only took me a year to finally make the doll. I had printed out the template from The Enchanted Gallery in January (you can find the templates here) and have been carrying it around with me. I had every intention of starting out the new year with the rest of the gang in January. Dunno what happened, but here we are in April and I am just getting the doll made. (I AM a procrastinator. Tell you all about it in another post.)

Now that I have made Rose, I am getting all sorts of other paper doll related thoughts. It's a very fine line between being crafty and getting obsessed. I prefer to think of myself as crafty. Let's leave it at that.

Zentangle Weekly Challenge # 17 - 15 Minutes

This Zentangle Weekly Challenge this week is to tangle for 15 minutes. Set a timer or watch the clock, but 15 minutes is the limit. I never realized (because I have such a long history of tangling - LOL) how much time I can spend on a single piece until now. Not that I regret a second of it, but they do tend to take a bit of time. If you add up all the little 5-10 minute chunks of time spent on one.

If you are just tuning in, this is a weekly challenge to doodle Zentangle style.

My first attempt was interrupted several times (seems highly impossible that I was bugged 4 times in 15 minutes in my office, where on any given day I am completely ignored for hours at a time if not the whole day, but it happened that way this day) so I had to estimate the timing, and here's what happened in that "15" minute time slot:

It's a bookmark. I LOVE to read, and am ALWAYS in need of a bookmark.

I like them F-L-A-T so, a Zentangled Bookmark is right up my alley.

You can see that I didn't finish. I don't know how long I really spent on this, because I had 4 different pests people intrude on my little Zen break. I kept losing my concentration. And it felt like it was taking forever to get back to where I was, Zentangley speaking. KWIM? It was really annoying. Sheesh. If I just didn't like money so much, I'd quit this pesky job and play in my studio ALL DAY LONG...

The picture is not the best, but neither is the tangle for this challenge, so I am okay with the mediocre picture. Some times you just have to use what you have and move on...

I have to admit that I will re-visit this bookmark and finish my tangling. I don't feel that this one quite meets the challenge. (any excuse to doodle more, right?!?!?!)

A doodle do-over was in order. SO, I closed my office door this time, taped a note on said door threatening bodily harm to any who dared knock, and came up with this piece:

Okay, I am just kidding. I didn't really tape a note on the door. But I wanted to. Maybe I really should next time. WHAT??? It could happen.



Friday Fill-Ins

And...here we go!

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1. For me, it was a no brainer.
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2. I hate finding myself at my local supermarket.
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3. Behind the sound of the wind in the trees, I heard the call of my paints, glitters and scissors.
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 4. A weekend ART ESCAPE with my crafty pals is something I always wanted to do.
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5. When it was over, I allowed myself to crumple and fall down.
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6. I may have been by myself but I never felt alone.
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7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to Survivor and pizza, tomorrow my plans include getting my hair all prettied up, watching a soccer game and reading and Sunday, I want to sleep in and then spend some quality time in my Studio!
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You can find more Friday Fill-Ins here.

WOYWW #97

This week I am showing you a little bit of an artistic shot. I used one of the special feature on my cell phone camera. Who knew that I had that!!! I love the way this otherwise boring shot looks.

I haven't had much time to meander into my Studio this week. I have 2 daughters playing soccer (on different teams - in different leagues) and 1 daughter running track. Throw in a sick kid a couple of days, and well, not much ME time.

I DID play a little tiny bit. I made a couple of envelopes out of a poster that the girls got at the last hockey game they went to. It was one of those freebie things they hand out to you when you walk into the arena. I thought that they would be fun to use for something crafty, so I cut them out.

Here's an un-funkified shot of the same desk. Not really the exact same shot, but close. You can't really make out the envelopes, but they are there.

You can check out more workdesks this week at WOYWW #97

Flashback Friday - **first project with stitching on it (real or faux)**

There's a new challenge up on FLASHBACK FRIDAY's. The lovely Emily of My Little Slice of Bliss is hostess this month. She has challenged us to FLASHBACK to our

**first project with stitching on it (real or faux)**

 I had to go back in time to February of 2008 to find mine. At least I think it qualifies. It's a stitched binding on a mini album I made. You can see the original post here. It was made for a class I was taking and is home to some pictures from Animal Kingdom. I love that place.

Join in on the fun, and go back and find your first stitched project and re-post it.

I dare you!!!

Zentangle Weekly Challenge # 16 - Mooka

I am relatively new to Zentangle. I am learning the different patterns out there a little at a time.

I surf way more than I should. In my surfing, I found "I am the diva - Certified Zentangle Teacher".

Every week she is posting a new Zentangle challenge. I found her blog about 3 weeks ago and am just now brave enough to submit an entry to the challenge.

This week's challenge is based on a new Zentangle design called MOOKA. Named for Alphonso Mucha and his art.

I made this 3 1/2 x 3 1/2 piece using pens that I am not in love with.

I have since purchased a different kind of pen and hope to try them out this week. 

(You gotta love those weekly coupons for buys like this!)

I'm raising Monsters!!!

.... Crafting Monsters, that is!!!

I "needed" some different pens to use for Zentangle. I wasn't happy with the ones I had. You KNOW how that goes. Well, I took my little one with me. (She really isn't so little anymore, but WILL always be little in my mind.) She wanted an unfinished wooden box with a handle and some metal trim. I indulged her because she was sick, and well, I just am a crafty kind of mom. Anyway, when we got home, she went straight to work. She raided my paints, pulled out an old desk calendar that we use for working on and got to work. See:

I love that you can see the evidence that I am not the only one to blame credit for her crafty goodness. See dear hubby in the background at his workdesk working on one of his airplane models.

I'll show the finished box when she finishes it. Hopefully this week.

Friday Fill-Ins

And...here we go!


1. In the near darkness you're really quite attractive.

2. It's all my chocolate, til further notice.

3. But this can't be my ass.

4. Don't get caught in the stream.

5. It's always nice when the visit is over.

6. You have provided delicious food and pleasant company.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to Survivor and Pizza, tomorrow my plans include ... well, they were supposed to be sleeping in then going to a Soccer game, BUT, instead, I ended up taking the little one to the doctor's office and then spending too much time and money at the store getting her meds and other things. I think they make you wait so you'll go shopping and Sunday, I want to sleep in (finally) and play in my studio!

WOYWW and Wordless Wednesday (because I ran out of time this morning)

WOYWW

Help, I've cleaned up a bit...

... and can't find my DYMO tapes. I have them. I DO. Really. I just can't find them. Right now.

I really want to use them on some inchies I am making for an Easter Inchie swap. I hate when I clean up and then can't find things.

This little guy is feeling pretty useless. Yes, I know where this is. Weird. Don't cha think????


I "lost" some rubber stamps that way. Not the ones you can just buy anywhere, but special ones that were hand carved by a very talented and wonderful lady. I have these:

(I know we aren't supposed to have favorites, but I think this flamingo is my most favoritest stamp ever.)

Gina of Tyggereye Arts has a shop wherein she sells her beautiful stamps and digi creations over at Etsy. You should totally go check out her stamps.

I remembered putting them all together in a safe place. They are precious to me and I want them protected. Not like the rubber stamps I have that I just toss into a box. But for the life of me I couldn't remember what container I had put them in OR where I had put said container. I have since found them AND I still remember where they are. NOW.






Maybe I should just go buy some more. I DO use it often. Maybe this is a sign from the CRAFT GODS that I NEED more. I mean, I DO have a coupon...

Wanna Tangle?

I was recently invited to try my hand at ZENTANGLE. I have seen it out there, but hadn't tried it. I am NOT a talented drawer, so I figured that I didn't have a chance. Boy was I wrong. If you can draw a line (doesn't even have to be that straight) then you can ZENTANGLE.

ZENTANGLE is really just a fancy word for doodling. It was coined my a couple in the Northeast of the United States. But it's just doodling. Some beautiful art works have emerged in the name of ZENTANGLE. And there is an official tile size of 3.5 inches square. BUT don't let any of that intimidate you. I have made many ATC's (okay only about a half dozen) and a couple of bookmarks and a few inchies AND ONLY ONE official tile. There are MANY sites out there that offer up tutorials, and YOU TUBE has countless video tutorials.

THe challenge on OPUS GLUEI this week is to give ZENTANGLE a try. We aren't asking for a specific project with it, just give it a try. Pick up a pen and get a piece of paper and doodle. 

I made some almost ATC sized cards (I used regular white cardstock) that I really liked. I also had these frames hanging around from a neglected project. SO, I framed my ZENTANGLE ATC's.

Dear hubby even offered to hang them in the family room. He picked the spot. Out in the open even.    

And here are some that I made to send off for a SWAP-BOT Zentangle Newbie ATC Swap. (See, there are other newbies out there.)

And the bookmark I made. I also made another one that I'll show another day.

This is one of those art forms where you don't have to invest a lot of money or time. You can do it pretty much anywhere. The only limitation is yourself. The weekly meetings at work have become much more enjoyable now, and my notes are much prettier too. I have even started trying out differnent colors. I took a red pen to the meeting last week.

Friday Fill-Ins

Picture is from Just Something I Made at least I think it is.

And...here we go!


1. I can't believe I get the house to myself for 4 whole hours tomorrow!!!


2. Glue guns for everyone.

3. How can I have glitter on my face. I haven't played with any in three days.

4. Chicken and bean quesadillas was the last thing I cooked.

5. Six of one is never enough.


6. Give up my glue stick; nonono!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to Megan's soccer game and dinner out, tomorrow my plans include going to Melissa's soccer game and spending time home alone playing in my studio and Sunday, I want to sleep in and spend more time in my studio!
 
 

For more Friday Fill-Ins answers go HERE.