Faux Gelli Plate :-)

So many of us have found the gelli plate printing so interesting and would love to try it, but sometimes.....life gets in the way of us spending the extra money for "just fun" things.  The company my husband works for decided to save money on insurance and make higher deductibles, dr visit fees, etc. so after 3 surgeries since last August and another coming up.........I can't justify the extra money for too many of those things right now. I know Von is just one who would like a gelli plate....but is patiently waiting.  :-)  Well, I saw something online that gave me the idea to try this and since it worked....I thought I'd share it for Von and anyone else who would be interested. 

After trying it with one sheet of craft foam/fun foam I realized that it really needed to be 2 thick or buy the thicker foam. Since I already had the thin I glued 2 together.

I used one of the plastic sheets you use for your oven on top, put 3 different colors of paint on, used my brayer and.......it worked.  :-)

 I should have used more paint but I actually like the way it came out.  This was the first page.

This page was after I sprayed on some water and used what was left. I'm anxious to try this with stencils, masks, and whatever else I can think of.  

By the way.....I met Von through Tracy Weinzapfel Burgos and we have so much fun on our Mixed Media Monday Nights at 6pm PST. We'd love for you to join us.  :-)

March Mixed Media Monday Challenge 2013

The Mixed Media Monday March Challenge was.........Use buttons and lyrics of a song that means a lot to you      Well, I used buttons for my clouds and lyrics to a song  but I don't think I could say that the song means "a lot" to me!  lol  Since I was a teenager I have wanted to someday own a milk cow.  I may get sick of milking her, I may not like it at all, but I at least want to try.  :-)  I did this page for fun and had planned on creating a serious one but life kinda changed my plans. I did get to try something new on this page, though.. I did an image transfer using mod podge and a picture I printed out of my ink jet printer using plain old printer paper. :-) I did brighten it up some with markers and paint but I love the way it turned out.  I used stamps for some texture and the flowers and also more buttons as the flowers. 

It was a fun page and I'm ok with it, that I didn't get another page done.  Maybe April will be a better month for my physically and I can still do that "serious" page.   I look forward to each Monday now and I used to dread them!  Thanks, Tracy!  <3 p="">

Wish it. Dream it. Do it.

I look forward to Tracy's Creative Challenge each month.  I was so looking forward to the Mixed Media Monday Night Coaster Swap but with having to have surgery and Brooke having so many issues with her teeth I didn't think I could swing it. I was really disappointed but Tracy said she'd have more swaps and I was looking forward to seeing all the pictures. Imagine my surprise when I get a package of my own. These awesome artsy ladies have the sweetest hearts!  It was a totally rough day and Brooke and I were heading for her to get her expander put on and she was really nervous.  What an uplift that package was to me!  I already felt that art journaling could help bring healing in it's own way but it also brought some of my most wonderful and caring friends. I'll try to take pics of the soon and share them on the blog.  For now......I'm going to share my February Challenge art journal page.

I used Americana white paint (by Deco Art) in my homemade gesso, script wrapping paper, baby wipe I painted with and dried, paper tape, Basic Grey die cuts and transparencies, Plaid/Folk Art Inspiration stencil, charcoal pencil, a plain old school pencil and a walnut stain Distress Ink Pad.  :-)  The red is just an envelope I put behind it to take the picture. I wasn't real happy with it at first but the more I worked on it....the happier I got.  Check out Tracy Weinzapfel's blog and join in on the fun!

Trust

"TRUST"  So much in this one word.

Definition of TRUST

1

a : assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something

b : one in which confidence is placed

2

a : dependence on something future or contingent : hope

One Scripture that comes to mind the most when I think of this word.....Psalms 37:5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring [it] to pass.    

 Tracy Weinzpfel is my awesome art journal teacher and our challenge for January was to put our word of the year to canvas. I decided to try something I'd seen and put mine on cardboard. This year has started out with me having surgery, my Uncle almost dying, my sister going through health issues, my daughter going to have surgery, and much more. I am truly "having" to trust. Trust God, first and most of all but also trust my instincts, trust that things will be ok, etc. It isn't always easy but I am ever learning. 

And by the way......Tracy isn't "just" my art journal teacher....she is a wonderful friend that God sent along just when He knew I needed her most. She has been and is such a blessing in my life!

Grateful.......

Wow, life has sure thrown us some crazy curves but I still have much to be thankful for.  I took Brooke for what I thought was a normal dentist visit and many x-rays, tests, and appts later we are waiting to hear what the best plan of action is!!!  She has a tooth that grew toward her nose instead of into her mouth and they think a cyst or tumor caused it to do so. So thankful that they say it is not cancer, tho.
I did finally finish my Grateful Journal that was the Creative Dare from Tracy and I'm quite pleased, if I do say so myself.  lol  I'm not real good with the camera I used so the colors in some of the pages aren't true but at least you'll get the gist of what I'm thankful for.  :-)

I cannot imagine life without God!  I turn to Him when there is no one else to turn to. I'm thankful for the plan of Salvation and His forgiveness and mercy.

I am also blessed with a wonderful church and church family.  Our Pastor and his wife are the best!  I thank God for them.

I'm thankful for "Love" and for the love of my life......Chris.  In May it will be 25 years and I wouldn't trade him.

I am blessed with a multitude of friends. My besties,  Fibro friends, Family friends, Art Journal friends, just lots and lots of friends.  I love my friends!  <3 p="p">

Music!  What a blessing music is.  So many times I've sang and played the piano until I could smile in spite of the pain or fears.

 I sure have awesome family. Too many to go into names but I am blessed extremely with close loving family.

Art and "Mixed Media Monday" seems to go hand in hand.  At a time when life was so scary and I was facing things that I never imagined I would face......I found Tracy and art!  Through Tracy I gained a group of art journal friends that are such a blessing to me.  God knows just what and who we need and when. :-)

Autumn.......my favorite time of the year!  I LOVE to walk through the leaves and hear the crunch under each foot step. I love the colors, I love the leaves blowing in the wind, the leaves on the ground, decorating my house.....I just love Autumn!  :-)

I could go on and on with my many blessings but alas the journal only had so many pages.  lol  I truly am blessed far more than I deserve!

Life and so much more......

Wow!   What a difference a month can make!  I am so very thankful for the great weeks I have had.  Yes, I still have some pain at times and the rainy weather isn't always my friend but........that is nothing compared to how I used to feel.  I can actually get up in the mornings without feeling like I can hardly make it through the day.  I've only had to take a nap a few days compared to having to most days before!  I never dreamed one small surgery could make such a difference.  The night I had so many problems and had to go to ER was scary but, Thank God, if that's what it took for them to find and fix my problems.....I won't complain!
I meant to make this post about my art journaling and such.....but.....I'm just so thankful that I feel better that I wanted to share.
In the past month I have......Made a trip to and from Louisville, Ky in one day, for my Aunt's 80th birthday party, went on a 2:30am trip to Shoals, Horseback riding, cleaned house like crazy, got up "early" almost every morning, (early for me lol) made and decorated cake/cupcakes, baked like crazy, and I have done so much more and I'm still able to go!  I cook so much that Brooke said they're all gonna be fat!  haha  I am just so incredibly thankful to feel like doing "normal" people stuff!  God is so good!
I am also thankful for Bro.and Sis. Gibson, our current pastor and his wife!  They have been such a blessing to our church!  The teens and kids just love them, too!  We are going to have an awesome Pastor Appreciation Month for them and I am super excited about it!  It's going to last all month and not just one day!
Life.....I feel like I'm actually getting to live life!  I don't want to go one day without remembering how much I have to be thankful for.  So many days it was like I was just existing and I would be so happy for just one day of feeling good and now.......I have more good days than bad!!!!!    This is the perfect month to do Tracy's challenge......A "Grateful" journal!  I truly am Grateful!

Homemade Dishwasher Soap

I tried something new today and I am really happy with how it worked.  I'm trying to do more than just pin ideas and actually try some of them.  ha ha   I made the dishwasher soap and used it today and my dishes look great. I also put vinegar in the rinse agent spot like it said and I plan on continuing to do that, too.  I'll put the recipe below and also the website that I got it from.


Home Made Dishwasher Detergent

• 2 c borax
• 2 c Arm & Hammer washing soda
• 2 c lemi shine*
• 1 c kosher salt

 The borax, washing soda and lemi shine should be in the laundry and dishsoap section  Kosher salt should be with the baking items.  

  

 

1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl and stir until mixed.
2. The citric acid in the lemi shine will make everything get a bit hard.   The lady suggested letting this mixture sit out in a bowl for a couple of days, stirring often so that's what I'm doing. You will still get a few little "balls" of detergent, but that is just fine!  You just don't want it all in one big piece!  
3. The lemi shine suggests running an empty dishwasher cycle with just that in order to clean your dishwasher.  
4. Fill your rinse aid spot with white vinegar.  I did this and the dishes looked great!
5. Use 1 tbs of detergent per load of dishes.  I do about a 30/70 split with 30% in the pre-wash spot and 70% in the wash spot.  If you don't have a prewash spot, you can put it all in the wash spot. My first time using it I did use 1 - 1/2 TBSP

*You can experiment with the lemi shine amount.  The original recipe that the lady on the website found  called for only 1 cup but said to add more if you have hard water.
http://simplydesigning.blogspot.com/2011/05/hard-water-stains-dishwasher-detergent.html