Monday In Motion...

Most people tend to dislike Mondays... I don't know why that is? 
Honestly...
I adore the being of a new week, another start to gather more inspiration, 
an arrival to new creativity!

{motivational jump-start}

Your work is going to fill a

larger part

of your life and the only way to be

truly satisfied

is to do what you believe is

great work

the only way to do great work is to 

LOVE

what you do

* STEVE JOBS *

Mini Junk Journal Book II

You will find an earlier post here on the process and materials
I used to create this junk journal book.

Here is a peek...

  an inside look...

 These mini junk journals were created for 

* Pay It Forward 2012 Project *

You can read all about it 

HERE

{I have all 3 of my participants}

Please, feel free to visit their sites, there is still time to join in on the fun!

Nifty-Thrifty Finds

I have to admit... I do love going to our local thrift store! I find it relaxing... 

I might not always find something, I do not feel it was a waste of time,
and most of the time I get inspired just by looking around.

I did wish to share with you, over this weekend, these sweet findings.

I scored!

I can not wait to fill this up with my art supplies. 

I think having my supplies ready and available, is important.

I've seen this at Michael's for $24.00.

(I simply adore the inside pattern, but wasn't willing to pay that much for it.)

At the thrift store I paid $7.00!

An EASEL!!!

Are you kidding me... I just could not believe it! 

This is brand NEW.

I already have a standing easel, but I was wishing someday to own a table easel.

This will work perfect... for those days, I am not feeling well, but still wish to paint.

Retail price $79.99

I paid $16.00. Yes, I scored!!

Happy Monday!

Thrift Store Therapy

I just love taking a trip to our local thrift store... 
rummaging through stuff, you never know what treasures you might find!


I was in  search of finding a book I could use to alter for Book-Of-Days 2012.
I had a few already laying around in my studio, but for this art journal project 
I wanted a larger size.
(honestly...I need to get busy, and caught up with the everyone else who has joined this project.)


I am very excited and eager to get playing with my pages... 
so I thought, a trip to the thrift store would be the perfect place to find a book.


Plus, it is so much fun!
I also, gathered these extra treasures right up into my cart.

Van Gogh - coffee mug

(what fun it will be, drinking my morning coffee out of this cup!)

*50 cents

set of 12 cards - Stylis *75 cents

Tag in a Bag set of 12 (really cute) *25 cents each

(I can use the cards to say "hello" to my artsy friends!)

vintage hangers (2) *75 cents each

(been searching for these for some time)

I was super excited about finding these!

(deck of "fortune telling cards")

Perfect for my art journaling!

$1.00

These darling tea cups! $1.45 each

(way too sweet to pass up!)

** Total $7.15 **

Almost forgot... yes I did find a book to alter!

I will be working on that today in my art studio.

Will post pictures very soon...

Happy Thursday!

Paint Your Pain

Frida Kahlo

July 6, 1907- July 13, 1954

***

When I think of how important it is 

 to be self expressive through out artwork...

there is only one artist that comes to mind

Frida Kahlo

***

At the age of 18 

Frida Kahlo

 was in a devastating bus accident,

that left her with a lifetime of pain.

While bed-ridden in a body cast she began to paint,

addressing the issues of her fractured body 

and 

the pain that was inflicted upon her.

***

Frida Kahlo 

underwent more that thirty operations in the course of her lifetime.

Her self portraits were her main subject.

Frida's paintings were related to her experiences with both...

physical 

and 

psychological pain.

***

Life holds many issues...

It's not always pretty.

It is through self expression, that we can work it out.

Having the courage to bring it forward...

recognize it and own it.

***

As an artist,

women,

and 

someone who can relate to daily pain...

When I think of, who do I admire, as an artist...

only one name comes to mind!

Frida Kahlo

ATC

This is for a swap I am participating in.

Theme

Lady in a Hat

***

If there was anyone I could bring to a party...

IT WOULD DEFINITELY BE

FRIDA KAHLO

***

Since I am on the subject of Frida

 I want to share with you 

this wonderful find!

Over this weekend...

My husband and I took the family out to lunch.

We strolled around afterwards and came across 

this charming little thrifty/vintage shop.

What a sweet treasure I found!

Made by

Classic Hardware

***

Have a wonderful Tuesday!

Tuesday Teasers

It sounds good right...?

Thought I'd throw you all, a few little teasers...

items that excite me, ideas on projects, progress in my garden, and upcoming plans!

****

BookBook for iPhone - Twelve South

If you got an iPhone and you adore books...

than this is the case you have been waiting for.

****

Back in Spring...

I had talked about planting a small garden, due to our plans on moving.

****

We are still moving, just not as fast as planned.

So I am thrilled to say...

"I've got vegetables growing!"

I cannot wait until harvest time!

****

Remember the post on Saturday...

CLICK HERE

on those little metal containers 

I purchased at the thrift store?

****

I got to thinking...

and then the creating part took over!

I purchased these 

artist palettes 

that go perfect with my idea of creating these into -

THE

On the Go

ARTIST BOX

The exciting part...

I will be putting these up

for sale!!

****

Happy Tuesday.

Studio Update...

Here are, but a few things going on in the studio...

The

Altered Book Project

Is complete

 and

 ready for me to bind together!

***

I purchased a 3-ring cardboard folder

 from the thrift-store for 25 cents.

***

Gave it a rough surface. 

(sanded it down with sandpaper)

Applied acrylic paints.

(I'm thinking about adding more texture, design, and patterns to the front cover)

I really like the polka-dotted pattern on the inside!

(I will keep that look for the inside cover)

Now...

for the corrugated cardboard pages, 

I will be creating binging inserts for the pages, out of a verity of materials 

and "artsy" tabs through out the book.

(fun stuff, right!!!) 

I will be posting pictures of the completed project next week!

***

Thrift-store 

These metal little containers caught my eye!

Iam really glad I stopped

 and

 took a speak

 to what was inside these metal containers!

***

You know what I am thinking here...?

On the Go

ARTIST BOX

These containers can be filled with-

paint 

glue

beads

glitter

buttons

possibilites are endless!

***

I am going to paint the outside of the metal containers

and

see where it goes from there...

***

Matchbox Swap

Hosted by

The Altered Paper

CLICK HERE

***

I partnered up with 

Tee

***

Just look at this fantastic 

matchbox

she created!

Loaded with "artsy' goodies too!!

I love it

***

Look at this beautiful handmade 

scrabble game piece charm!

D-E-L-I-G-H-T-F-U-L

***

Thank you Tee.

Happy Saturday!

Nifty-Thrifty Tuesday

First I need to

apologize

I did not post on Monday.

Matter of fact...

I stayed in bed, curtains closed, 

asked for everyone to be as quiet as possible,

turned my phone off, put my laptop off to the side,

and begged for mercy from God...

please make this

 M I G R A I N E!!!

go away.

I am not 100% better.

Compared to yesterday, I'm on my way.

****

Now...

 onto something more uplifting and inspiring.

How about another Nifty-Thrifty project?

You can create your very own

Artsy House

****

Sounds like fun?

then lets get started...

You can use any size milk carton.

I happen to have a creamer carton handy.

I've even thought about using the small lunch milk cartons

and creating a mobile.

(this would look adorable)

I created a mixture of liquid starch and water.

Cut strips of newspaper.

Dip newspaper into mixer and apply to milk carton.

Let dry!

****

Next you will want to apply:

acrylic paint

vintage or scrap paper

Mod Podge

(no rules to being creative, add what you wish)

****

        

        

My

Artsy House

****

Enjoy yourself a nifty-thrifty day!

Studio Updates-

Monday Madness...

- Thrifting - Altering Old Book - Creating - Book Order - Crafting -

****

Over the weekend I was busy...

thrift shopping, yard sale searching, creating artful crafts, 

purchased a few magazines/with a coupon,

and 

received a book order form amazon.

Productive weekend indeed!

****

Let's get started...

Found these books at a yard sale

for free!

They just wanted to get rid of them, imagine that!

****

Rummaging through the thrift store, 

which is always super fun!

I came across these straw wreaths .25 each

These definitely can home with me.

Also...

found some muslin, cotton linen, and 

this beautiful black/white printed fabric.

I've got some great crafting ideas for all these treasures

stay tuned...

****

First...

I recreated this project

Vintage Book Expanding File

CLICK HERE

materials:

old readers digest book

pocket size expanding file

decorative tape

tacky glue

acrylic paints

bubble wrap ( layering & texture)

plastic I.D. pocket & a tag

****

Next...

I created this wreath.

Added this adorable wire heart that I created.

Thought it added a touch of sweetness! 

****

Last...

Books & Magazines... 

how I simply adore them all !

I could swallow them up by the mouth full.

(HA,HAA,HAAA!)

Happy Monday!

What is on your plate for the week ahead?