Thursday, December 30, 2010

52 Lists for 2010 - List 52

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas! We did and are enjoying a White Christmas Week here in Winnipeg. The only complaint I have is the super duper slooooowww internet, which is one of the reasons I'm posting this so late. I should have written the post before we left, rather than planning on doing it here. Crossing my fingers and hoping I'll be able to share this, the last list for 2010!


Gessoed a piece of Christmas advertising from Bath and Body Works, wrote the title with a soft charcoal pencil, then went over it with wet brush to intensify the colour. Thanks to Donna D for that one. I did the stripes in water colours, then went over it with shimmery water colours that I used on the back side. I like the shimmer on the back, but not as crazy about it on the front.



My list, both past and present. I like this side better, with the shimmery water colours. Inspiration to paint from Julie FFB -- thanks Julie!!

Speaking of Julie, she's starting "Art Journal Every Day" in the new year and invites everyone to play along. I'll post the link soon. Any downloads are taking me forever right now -- should check into an upgrade for the internet here.

Happy New Year everyone!

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

52 Lists for 2010 - List 51

This is just about it! The second last list for this year -- that went pretty fast, ya know!


My favourite Christmas memories.

Used more cool Starbucks Christmas stuff. Did little else here: MM journaling tag and stars, Asher's chocolate sticker, Hershey's kiss tag, and tied it up with some SU tinsel.



I used some 7 Gypsies tape on this side to hold down the pieces that were folded over. And left space for more memories, as they come to me!


Wednesday, December 15, 2010

52 Lists for 2010 - List 50

                                                           My list of favourite movies.


The base is a piece of cardboard embossed with a TH woodgrain die. The bird and heart are both made using SU punches, and both are cut from Starbucks coffe sleeves. The bird punch wouldn't go through the sleeve as is, so I took the layers apart before punching. Lots of inking ot bring out detail and definition, the ADORE ticket is also TH, the bitty letters MM. The little paper tag strip is from a Hershey's candy cane kiss.


I wrote my list on a MM journaling page. I realize I don't have very sophisticated taste when it comes to movies -- these are the movies I would, and have, watched more than once!

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

52 Lists for 2010 - List 49

Every week I think this is gonna be the week that I post more than lists here. I still have a chance this week, but you'll notice that this post follows last week's list post. I just cannot seem to get it together. Its been 2 weeks since I finished radiation, and I truly thought that I would then get into more regular and frequent posts. Not so. Not yet. I hope soon though, cuz I've been having fun getting ready for Christmas, enjoying Emily and Nicole's online felting class, Jasmine's monthly photo challenge here, and am in the midst of my 3rd December Daily. Check out this year's flickr group

For now, this week's list:


 American cities I've visited.

I found some paper I had been saving -- freebies included in some of the Stampington publications -- and used it as the base. The skyline is a TH stamp, the compass is a rub on from MME, the journaling bit from BG and the letters are stamped onto tape. I found it wouldn't dry fast enough, so I covered the letters with another piece of tape! And I used a Fiskars punch for the edge.



I ran out of room cuz I started my list too big! I tried to narrow it down to cities that I had actually visited. It takes us 3 days one way to drive to see our family in Canada, and we pass through a lot of cities. So I tried to stick with cities I have actually visited at one time or another. The list was longer than I had anticipated. Obviously!

This could be done with a different country or continent, and I just might have to try that.

Monday, November 29, 2010

52 Lists for 2010 - List 48

My list of my favourite bands.


My favourite thing about this week's list is the wet felted flowers I made in Emily and Nicole's online class. (I promise a post on that soon, to share the yummy things we've been creating!)
I used a scrap of cardboard for the base, gessoed, then a coat of blue acrylic paint. Tattered angels mask, glimmer mist in silver and a couple of greens. The butterflies were made using a SU embossing folder. The label shape is a SU punch. I used ribbon scraps for the stems of my pretty flowers. Did I mention they're my favourite part?



I dusted off my ipod (actually had to charge it first) to use in the making of this list. Couldn't think of many bands off the top of my head. Perhaps it's the Christmas music I'm listening to 24/7 -- by choice, of course. I love Christmas music. In the house, in the car, in the stores. Bring it on! But I think it created a mental block. Couldn't think of the bands for this list.
The labels I used on the back of my list are from a package of AC journaling labels.

Four more to go and then we'll have to come up with something for next year!

Thursday, November 25, 2010

52 Lists for 2010 - List 47

Busy busy time of year around here. I cannot believe that tomorrow is Thanksgiving. I cannot believe that this is already list 47 -- only 5 more and that will be the end of 2010. On to 2011. What will we do next?!

I'm not sure if I'll continue with the lists, or some other sort of challenge for the new year. I'm thinking I'd love to jump on board someone else's for 2011. I loved Emily's 52Q for 2009. If anyone knows of anything for next year, I'd love to hear about it.

This week's list: Things I like to do on my day off.



The base for this is MM packaging, brown on one side, white on the other. I used black gesso on the brown side. Once it was dry, some finger painting with white, gold and pink paint dabbers. The chipboard letters and pieces, as well as the journaling piece and tape edge are all MM as well.



As I wrote on my list, Marc would say every day is a day off for me, since I don't 'go' to work. Besides DT work for my LSS, which I haven't done since the spring, I'm a SAHM who, believe it or not, needs more hours every day and rarely gets through my to do lists. Marc travels a lot, so everything that goes on here and with the kids is my responsibility. I truly thought that when Gaby started kindergarten, I'd either go back to school or seek employment, but neither happened. With Gaby still in elementary school, there are tons of opportunities to spend time at her school, and I love that I can. I've heard many women say they think they'd be bored staying at home, but that has never been the case for me. I'm here for sick days, early dismissals and can attend special events. I wouldn't change that and I'm fortunate that I don't have to.

If I had a day to myself, I would love to create art, take a class, paint, scrapbook, those kinds of things. With a friend, like Carole, Sandi or Peg perhaps. I'd also love to have breakfast/brunch/lunch with them, or any other girlfriends who might be available. Or Marc, if he was in town.

And my fantasy day to myself thing to do would be to have tea with my Mom. She's a three day drive away, so it's not an everyday possibility. Just something I'd love to do if I had the chance!

Monday, November 15, 2010

52 Lists for 2010 - List 46

This week, the list of my pet peeves.



The base for this week's list is two giant paint chips, back to back, with a smaller paint chip strip attached along the side. Acrylic paint dabbed on, grid pattern created by pressing on the still wet paint with this plastic grid sheet that I found on clearance last week at AC Moore. I don't know what it's original purpose is, but this is what I got it for. I freehanded the letters from 7Gypsies paper, attached the lace trim along the side, punched the itty bitty flowers from a coffee sleeve, and gave them bitty rhinestone centres. A filled in the space with a Fancy Pants rub on.



I didn't cover up this side. Not the best surface for writing on. It was easy to come up with this list. Not sure what that says about me!

And the 'Winners' Are . . .

Stacy

Julie

Jasmine

Personally, I sometimes feel a bit guilty posting a comment on a blog I don't visit regularly, just to have a chance at a giveaway, though if it's something I REALLY REALLY want, I can put that guilt out of my mind!

So I thought rather than drawing from commenters (which might have ended up being only these three!) I would choose those who have been regular visitors and commenters. Thinking it should be 'commentor', but I checked, and there's only one 'o' for the definition I'm after.

Actually, Stacy doesn't leave many comments here, and nor do I on her blog. We communicate with fairly regular comments on flickr.

I mailed the packages Friday, and based on the zones assigned to each package, I figured Julie should receive hers first, then Stacy, and last would be Jasmine, the farthest away from me. So I was surprised when I got an email from Jasmine to let me know that she had received the package today. Faster than I expected.

Thanks to the three of you for making this blogging journey more fun!.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Post 103 - A Giveaway!

Bloggers will often have giveaways when they reach milestone posts. Say, 1000, 3000, that sort of thing. Well, I recently reached post # 100, and for me, that's a milestone. So I've decided to have a giveaway.

Since this is MY blog, I'm going to do the giveaway MY way! Most of the time, bloggers will invite readers to comment to a particular post, and will randomly select winners from those comments. Now that might work fine if you're a blogger like P Dub or Emily. Actually, that's a lot of work cuz they have hundreds, even thousands of followers.

There's no blog envy here. I love things the way they are, and I adore those who faithfully visit and share here. Cyber aquaintances and cyber friends. People I've met in real life and those I hope to meet someday.

I've already chosen the 'winners' of this my first blog giveaway. I mailed three almost identical packages yesterday. So there's the first clue: I have your mailing addresses.

The goodies are all from my Christmas stash that I dug into recently to create the foundation for this year's December Daily. Two of you had expressed an interest in putting your own together this year. So I thought I'd give you a few more things to choose from.


They're very similar. All three have the same ribbon, tinsel and 7Gypsies Christmas tape. But everything else is different. Sort of. Confused yet?!  There's a stack of papers from Graphic 45, SEI, MME and SU, but each package has a differenty variety. The Stampin Up papers are part of coordinated sets which includes sheets of adhesive embellishments. All different.

There are felt snowflakes, envelopes, tags, journalling shapes, itty bitty clips, and rub ons. The only difference is one of these three packages also has 2 TH Christmas embossing folders. The truth is, I bought the same ones twice, and since one of you mentioned recently acquiring a Sizzix, I thought I would throw them in!

So, have you figured out if you're the lucky recipients? Here's more hints. One of you has been with me through this whole 2010 52 list challenge and we're definitely flickr pals. One of you has mentioned your other job on several occasions, so I was able to use that address to forward your goodies. And the third person, well, we've gone back and forth so much that I could well have your address memorized soon.

I'll reveal these three in my next post, with links to their fabulous blogs. I welcome guesses, though even if you're right, there're no prizes left to send you!

And to my winners: if you don't feel you'll use this stuff, or if it's just not your style, feel free to pay it forward. Perhaps you could offer it as a giveaway on your blog. It wouldn't hurt my feelings.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend -- off to enjoy the rest of mine!

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

52 Lists for 2010 - List 45

This week's list is of my closest friends.


Marc returned from Japan on Saturday, bearing gifts. With a layover in TO, he brought Nick a Team Canada Jersey. There was also an Aero bar, but I'm not sure who that went to. Marc confessed he didn't see anything that he thought Gaby would like. She was fine with that. For me, he brought a small teapot, for brewing green tea. I'll have to get a photo.

The tea pot travelled protected in a box, which I took apart for this list. The lid of the box became the base for List 45. I punched the hearts from the packing paper inside. The sticker and tape were also part of the packaging. The tab is from Kaiserkraft, the stamp is TH, and I sponged on a bit of colour. I also used the red distress ink on the hearts.


The heart on this side was punched from the paper that the teapot box arrived wrapped in. The tag on the bottom is also Kaiserkraft.

I used my own categories to come up with this list. The first group of names is friends in Winnipeg, except for Trac, who moved south to Texas 11 years ago. Jan, Carla, and Sandy have been friends since we were in kindergarten. That's over 40 years!

The second group of names is PA friends. I've been so fortunate to establish wonderful friendships since we moved here. I was apprehensive about moving, having lived in Winnipeg since birth. But leaving Canada and settling here, made me realize there are good, no great, people everywhere.

I considered adding names based on a third group, which would be my cyber friends. But I wasn't sure in some cases if the feeling was mutual. I thought if they read their names on my list, they'd fear I was stalking them!  So I stuck to friends I've been able to hug for real.

For now.

Friday, November 5, 2010

December Daily 2010

For the third consecutive year, I am preparing to document December. Christmas and the all that leads up to it.

In 2008, I ordered a kit to put together a 4 X 6 chipboard mini book. It was delightful. And easy to use. One side of each chipboard page was for photos, and extra photos could easily be added by creating a new page of 2 back to back 4 X 6's. Fun, simple, and great for the road trip to Winnipeg for our fabulous White Christmas of 2008!

In 2009, it came time to put the book together for the coming Christmas season. Ali Edwards, who pioneered the idea of the December Daily, encourages people to have the book ready for the beginning of December, to lessen the time commitment at that already busy time of year.

I'm a collector and hoarder of scrapbook supplies, and even more of a sucker for all things Christmas, so I have quite the stash of Christmas supplies. I decided to order chipboard covers for my 2009 book, but to  use supplies that I already had on hand for the pages inside.

No problem, really. I didn't make much of a dent in my Christmas goodies, even with trying to share with Sandi and Peg when we got together last November for DD making. My post about finally finishing it can be found here

Fast forward to fall 2010. While I've collected more Christmas stuff since last year, much of it was on sale after Christmas. And of course I had to get some of the new BG Christmas papers, as well as a bit of G45. And I've also acquired some TH seasonal Sizzix dies and embossing folders. Can't resist those.

I decided my book's foundation this year would be a 7 X 12 acrylic number that was part of a Lisa B kit from a couple of years ago, when she was doing a kit of the month. Something else I had ordered and hoarded.

This year, I decided to put the basic pages together and not choose and affix any further embellishments on the pages. I did this last year, and found myself spending too much time working around those pages, having to make photos fit what was already there.  It may take just as much time this year to complete those pages, but at least I won't have invested as much time up front.




My cover for 2010.

Each year, Ali starts a new flickr group for sharing our interpretations and ideas for December Daily albums. I've posted mine to the group. If you'd like to see the set of photos of each page, they can be found here   Because I love when those who share their work on flickr provide sources, inspiration, and any other details, I try to do the same. So rather than repeat myself here, if you're interested in those details, follow that last link.

If you haven't before, make this the year you start the December Daily tradition. I'm on my third year and we already enjoy looking back at previous books. The current flickr group is a great source of support and inspiration. And there are groups for the previous years, if you have time to look.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Our Halloween Weekend

This year, our Halloween weekend kicked off with the Halloween parade and parties at Gaby's school.


A diverse group of costumes. Gaby's the big baby. Can you spot her? She was thrilled to have a reason for me to finally say yes to purchasing the footy pyjamas at Target!


By the time the parade is done, there's not much time left for  partying. Lots of food and a quick game of wrap the mummy!

Friday evening we headed to the Lancaster area, an almost 2 hour drive, to visit Jason's Woods. We had been several years ago, when Manon was here. Gaby was obviously a little young to be scared over and over by a variety of creepy people/creatures jumping out at her. She and I spent a lot of time drinking hot chocolate and hot apple cider while the others enjoyed the rest of the attractions. But this year, she was excited and looking forward to it.

Nick brought 2 friends, Jess and Lee. While Gaby wanted to, we decided against that. If we go again in another 5 years, she can bring them then!



Doesn't look scary, but it was!


I might have felt safer had Marc sat beside me rather than across from me! The girl sitting two people over from Marc kept jumping clear across to the other side every time someone approached their side. There were chain saws, Freddys, Jasons, Beetlejuices, werewolves and a few other creepy characters. Gaby did much better this time 'round. On our side, those creepy characters seemed to be attracted to Jess first!


No matter what the fall festivities, its all about the food. Love that they had funnel cakes!

Nick and his friends got the deluxe tickets for 9 attractions, while Marc, Gaby and I opted for 5. So we had time to eat, while they finished up. The older kids didn't miss out though -- they picked some munchies for the ride home. The soft pretzels were pretty amazing too!

We didn't too much Halloweeny stuff Saturday. After a faraway soccer game for Gab and rehearsal for Nick, the rest of the day was spent readying for Sunday. We  always have friends over for dinner before the kids and Dads head out. I make at least 4 kinds of soup, and our friends bring beer, wine, bread and dessert. One of these years, I'll remember to get food and grown up photos. But not this year!

Sunday afternoon Kate and her beautiful daughter dropped by for a Halloween hello. It's the 1st Halloween for our neighbor's first granddaughter.


Two beauties!

Our guests were encouraged to come over anytime after 4. Being Sunday, there wasn't as much rushing to get the kids fed and out the door. It was nice to relax a bit.



The Dads took the girls out this year. Gaby SO wants to go out on their own. Maybe next year!



Nick and Jess. Now they're allowed to go out on their own. About Nick's costume: we're really not sure what he is. We called him a moldy-faced creature.

And my favourite:



We're samers! Since shaving my head last summer, my friend Elizabeth and I kept saying we should get a photo of her daughter and me, since we were sporting similar hairstyles! Now to see who's hair grows faster!!


Wednesday, November 3, 2010

52 Lists for 2010 - List 44

This year is flying by! November already. I'm reminded by having had to dig out my scraper brush that winter looms, and with that, Christmas. Gotta start making those lists.

This week, I started on my bucket list.


Used packaging from a Halloween table cloth as my base, gessoed, and added bits of colour with a tp roll and the insde of a cardboard coffee sleeve. I used that same sleeve and an SU flower punch to make the lovely flower in the corner. I stapled on a square of floral mesh,  the journalling shape is BG, the polka dotted tape is from 7Gypsies, the tissue tape beside it and the tickets are TH, and the black and white tape is 'duck' tape. Button from my stash. The '4' stamp is SU. The staples are TH's mini attacher.



I think I could easily add to this list, and expand on some of these ideas.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

52 Lists for 2010 - List 43

Appropriate for this week, my list is favourite Halloween memories.


This is a TH embossing folder, on white cardstock. I used a variety of distress inks and sponges to add colour. The skeleton, which picked up too many dark colours for my liking, got a bit of brightness from a white shimmery dabber. This image was attached to a piece of scrap cardboard, gessoed black.



Originally, I was going to list all of the costumes I had worn over my many Halloweens, but I could only recall those from childhood of which photos exist. An Indian! But I do have many memories of Halloweens past. Trudging through snow over many Halloweens, stuffing grey sweatsuits with muscle material to be Hans, Franz and Bonz, with Bonnie and Tracey. Photos exist of that also. Somewhere.

Even though I can't remember as many details as I would like, I remember Halloween always being fun!

Monday, October 18, 2010

52 Lists for 2010 - List 42

Things I would change about myself.


Yet another piece of cardboard from MM packaging. The flowery paper is from a bag I got at a shop last week. I picked up a sweater at a store I don't usually shop at, after lunch with friends. As soon as I saw the bag, I knew I would add it to my recycle/repurpose stash. Pretty. The flower is from HS, buttons SU, tissue tape strip TH, and most of the letters are Webster's Pages, except the last two words, which are MM.


 My list today. I was thinking about how much this list might have changed over the years, had I started it way back when. Priorities change, people change.  Following our own evolution is fun!



Thursday, October 14, 2010

Fabulous Giveaway!

Check out this amazing givewaway of Life. Camera. Actions. on Simple As That!  Rebecca Cooper

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

52 Lists for 2010 - List 41

Sometimes, Mondays don't play out the way you plan. Both Nick and Gaby were home sick yesterday. Gaby's symptoms were more like those of a cold, while Nick's were both cold and flu-like. Gaby had actually been feeling poorly all weekend. She managed to play the 3 games of her soccer tournament, but did little else. Especially Sunday. So Monday was for babying my babies. Gaby at least! Nick preferred to spend most of his day in his bed, while Gaby opted for the couch.

Both kids returned to school today, so I got busy with my list for the week. My list of favourite home made foods.

Another piece of cardboard saved from Amazon packaging. Gessoed first, then black and gold acrylic paint.  The winged heart is a TM Sizzix die, using 7Gypsies paper. 6X6 pads -- the pattern is smaller and great for smaller projects. For my 'title', I punched the shape using an SU punch, from a tag I had made for another project. A black fine point BIC permanent marker, and the brown is a Copic sparkly marker (can't recall the exact name) Did I mention that I love corrugated cardboard? I think it's rather obvious!


I've been doing Becky Higgin's Project Life this year. While the idea behind it is to document everyday life with a picture a day, and the product is set up for that, you can obviously use it however you choose. I jumped on the bandwagon a bit late, but had enough photos to start back at the beginning of 2010, with a two page spread every week. Not necessarily a photo for each day, but rather, photos for each week. I'll have to share more about that with another post. The reason I brought it up is because last week, one of the photos I took was my favourite pasta, heck my favourite meal. Has been for years -- 20 I'd say. It's evolved ever so slightly over the years, the biggest change being the whole wheat pasta. The uncooked sauce is chopped tomatoes, grated parmesan, chili garlic sauce, olive oil, salt, pepper, at least 5 cloves of garlic, cubed jack cheese, and chopped cilantro. Mixing the sauce with the warm pasta makes the cheese melty and the rest of the sauce warm. It's oh so yummy, and I cannot believe I'm the only one in the family who likes it. Kids aren't fond of it and Marc doesn't care for it either. Though for Marc, I think it's more the garlic breath he doesn't like. Both mine and his!

So the only real benefit of having a husband who travels frequently is in the kitchen. Meal preparation is generally more simple when he's away, and I prepare dishes like this one, that he doesn't like. But I'd really rather have him home!

The other meal I mentioned, the chorizno corn chowder, is my second favourite, and also something that only I enjoy. But this can be frozen, so I usually make a pot of it and freeze it for my solo lunches during the day. No garlic in this recipe, so I can eat this when Marc's home!

My Mom makes yummy meatballs and gravy. Always has. I think this falls under the comfort food category, as I craved it with both pregnancies.Being 2400 km away when I was pregnant with Gaby, I had to make my own, which just didn't cut it!

The lasagna I mention is one that Marc finally made, the day of my surgery in May. He may have made it once before for me -- don't recall. But I hope he doesn't wait as long to make it a second time. It was delicious.

I also enjoy my homemade veggie pizza -- lots of roasted garlic. And Marc will eat this with me. Roasted garlic is much milder. It's not that Marc doesn't like garlic. He just doesn't like walking around with garlic breath for 3 days. The steak chili is great too -- a Crazy Plates recipe.

And I think my favourite dessert has to be the tiramisu that my neighbor Sue makes. She is so sweet. She knows I love it, so not only did she share the recipe, someimes when she makes it she'll either share a few pieces or make a little one for us. Just one of the many reasons they're our favourite neighbors!



Thursday, October 7, 2010

Kal's Idea 7

Recycle/Repurpose. I LOVED this exercise.  A required trip to a coffee shop -- I visited three over 2 days to get a variety of cups. Did an equal amount of sipping, but more observing at some than others. More parking lot observing, actually!

Enjoy the coffee. Save the cup.Create. So I did.



I have a small stockpile of sleeves from various coffee shops. They're saved for future projects, and this fit the bill nicely. I cut up three coffee cups for flower petals, then decided the fleur was too full. Two of those petals were made into leaves. A cup bottom for the centre of the flower, Sleeves for the pot, the stamen (?) and the unrolled rim (rrrrrrolll up the rrrrrrrrimmm to win!) for the stem. Added some shimmer and shine with a variety of glimmer mist colours and backed it with a piece of cardboard that came with my 2011 kitchen calendar that had just arrived in the mail.
 

I took this photo indoors, with a flash. The glimmer mist is much more obvious.

Not sure what I'm going to do with this. I do like it!

The other thing we did for Idea 7 was to paint with tea or coffee. Brew 2 cups at home. One for drinking, one for painting. The cup. It was suggested to first draw the cup and use the tea to add shades and tones.


This was fun too, but I ran out of steam by the time I got around to it. Had I put forth more effort, I would like the result better, I'm sure.



More Bulletproof Goodness

Tomorrow will be four weeks of Kal's Nurture Your Creativity & Be Bulletproof. Every Friday and Tuesday she posts a new video, and challenge(s)  I don't think I've shared anything since that first Friday.

I'm still a little bit behind, though this past Tuesday's is writing. Not typing. She was very specific about that. So I wouldn't be sharing that anyway.

The second Idea was contemplating a Bulletproof Attitude. Among other things, we were supposed to find a tool that scares us and create, expressing this attitude. I thought I would try doodling, something that certainly does scare me. I see the work of other doodlers, and they make it look so easy. Just doesn't happen for me.


I didn't doodle the background. This was just acrylic paint on a piece of cardboard from an Amazon shipment. The background was the easy part. I'm not happy with the supposed doodle part, but I did get my message across.

Idea 3 was Your Space. First, taking inventory. I photographed my space, but it was in transition at the time. I was waiting on a desk I had ordered, so was kind of between spaces. Some of my supplies and tools were set up in the area of the desk, but the rest were still in the dining room, and I was still creating at the dining room table. 

Then came the tools. We were supposed to illustrate our favourite ones, anyway we liked. Kal did a fabulous line drawing, as did several others. I decided to instead list them all, including one of my all time favourite and most used: my hands.



Obviously paper, and piecing paper, is a favourite medium for me.

Idea 4 was play, and among other things, we were encouraged to play with pastels or crayons and just scribble our hearts free.



I thought all of the pastels we owned were oil. Truthfully, that's all I've ever used, so imagine my surprise when the box of pastels I found weren't oil, but rather, much like chalk. Just not as much fun to work with. I missed that smell. I missed the smudges on the side of my left hand -- south paw here. It was still fun, but just not as satisfying.

Idea 5 was Re-inventing your wheel. First thing we did was a literal self portrait. Words. Those we believe to be an accurate description of who we are. The part 2 of this was to add words we'd like to see on our list. Let the reinvention begin!

I have this thing for corrugated cardboard. The mail was delivered just after I wrote my list, and the Amazon package had, of course, a piece of corrugated cardboard stabilizing the shipment. I NEVER toss or recycle those. I used a knife to open the package, and just kept going, making a heart shape.  And created my version of a literal self portrait.



Acrylic paint, tissue paper, mod podge, black sharpie paint pen. The attached list is the words I want to see on my list, my desired reinvention.

This was a busy one. Next we did something Kal called Switched & Swift self portrait. Set up in front of a mirror, using the opposite hand, we drew mini self potraits, with a time limit. 25 seconds, at the most. Using a pen, so we couldn't erase.



Gaby thought they were pretty funny! Me too.

Next, a serious self portrait, using our comfortable drawing hand. This one is a bit better.



Not having to draw hair is a bit of a time saver!

The little extra for this idea was to take a bunch of self portraits, different faces, different expressions. While I did something similar for Jasmine's monthly photo challenge , I didn't do it for this one.

Idea 6. Reroute.

Mind mapping. Start with one word. Blue. Add ten thought bubbles. Pick one of those. Add ten to that. And one more time. Something like this:



Next, the famous upside down Picasso drawing. Turn the image upside down, and draw it upside down. Took me a while just to figure out where to start. Once I got going it wasn't too bad. It's kind of a creepy picture, so not a real pleasure to draw. But an interesting effort.



See. Kinda creepy. At least the way I draw it.

Monday, October 4, 2010

52 Lists for 2010 - List 40

One of those tough to make lists for this week. Best things about me.


The background is part of a Fiskars set of henna images. Bird, branches and ME letters are all Sizzix dies. Bitty MM letters, an AC journaling sticker and 7gypsies gaffer tape at the bottom. The patterned papers are all 7 gypsies also.



As usual, I drew a bit of a blank making up this week's list, and now, have thought of more things. Initially, I just used a list I had made up for Kal's online class that I'm in the midst of. Since I have room I can add things. I love to cook, love to travel, what else? I can fit a couple more!