Well that was a week!

Lost the map to the treasure.   In fact I even forgot about the treasure till Thursday.  But here is a small rug hooking treasure from a class I took a number of years ago.  If I could fit it in, I'd definitely do rug hooking!  :)

Got lost in a trilogy after a hard day of art 101.  :{   But the grand kiddies are back in the groove of drawing and shapes.  Then my other class got a mini lesson on bookmaking with a small notebook.  The cover is fun foam and the paper plain but lots of opportunity to personalize the cover and pages.   My first class had way too many options.  This class went way too quick.  Third class I'm a hoping...

Hopefully after redoing the focus of the unplanner I can get it together for next week.  I have discovered the mystery of printing the planner pages - untick the default boxes!  :/  

Prepping the cards in batches and using Avery stickers are my new secret weapons!   The cards are ready for quick finishing and the Avery sticker sheets can be printed, painted, stenciled etc.  Loads of fun!

It is not working to get much fabric medium into play but I'm hoping to sort and catalogue UFO projects before the month is out and definitely get it front and centre for February.  Thank goodness there are five weeks in January!  lol

But chillaxing in the ambiance of the front room made the whole week worthwhile!   The Rooster has fresh gluten free muffins perfecting in the oven and I do believe coffee break is approaching!    Happy Sonday! 

Kissing the planner

I just wanted a quick smooch and this has turned into a ...

ahem!

The three gals hosting the unplanner have lots of great ideas and I was game to try just about all of them but I can barely do the work of one!  They are also going for unique and I'm settling for personalized....

In trying to personalize my calendar I have lost sight of simple.

By the time I figure out spread sheets, sizing for google suggestions and blah, blah, blah ....
Not to mention fast declines in ink levels...  oye!

So with a time limit of 3 hours...

More info for my learning curve.

I had cut up the first month divider per instructions but I actually like the originals so I will not be doing all that.

I divided most every thing up from the kit and put it in monthly order.  The first six months each have a theme colour ready.

I like chalky pastels better than brights so I added more white to the title page and fussy cut some of my theme cardstock.  Now I need some chipboard numbers for the year.

I like crisp lines and that works best on good quality white paper as the softer paper kinda bleeds, spreads or feathers.  :( 

The weekly format I like best is lines and next month I have a better idea because attaching it with a  gluestick to a background paper isn't wonderful and uses up lots of pages which also need decorating.  I have figured out how to print, fold and join at the ring area for double sided!  :)

I think one day to colour, stamp, stencil  and doodle on the tags and papers for the upcoming month is the way to go.  Then I can quickly cut, glue and embellish.

Much as I lament the loss of the January divider I am not doing more than some touch ups.  Heck, January is half gone!  eek!

Now I have to go and give today's date a KISS!   vbsigh

some summing

The focus was definitely mixed media this past week.

I took a quick visit to the scrapbook store and I have some theme elements for this year's planner/journal.  The first bit seemed dark and forced so I lightened things up and brought in more of my own stuff.   It has taken a bit to get it organized and there are a few more project additions in the next couple of weeks but I'm thinking this is gonna be good! :)

The mixed media class is wonderful.  One reason it appealed was the once a month product tutorial and I learned lots about brushes.  Then the first teacher showed how to use brushes with more effect and her project is something I am definitely going to do.  I 'copied' the work of  the gal who issues the monthly challenges and I'll put them in the big binder.  I decided that I needed to expand my challenge journal which is where I'll be doing my own thing.  I'll be doing the word that best describes me- for next week.  I can't say enough good things about this year long class.  The quality is remarkable and I already feel that I have got my money's worth!

I decided to incorporate different kinds of papers in a homemade journal.  I got paper from the scrapbook store suitable for mixed media and searched for a good tutorial to improve my less than professional bookmaking skills.

The better tools certainly help and I feel this is not quite ideal but certainly an improvement. 
  

I made 5 signatures and I redid the spine as I thought it might not be big enough.  I may have gone a bit too big but I think I'll be adding lots of texture and layers to the pages so it'll definitely be getting fatter. 

The grand kiddies and I had a great time painting the cardboard casa!   Creamy crayola makers had lots of juiciness when a wet paint brush was applied to them.

The decor day began with an old look and now the challenge begins to redefine the new 'happy' look.

I did not get  any fabric related work done.  I found my old ufo busting list and it needs revising.  Perhaps I can focus on fabrics next week but I'm doing some humming as I continue to embrace this KISSable new year!