PRECIOUS PAGES by PAULA

Sunday, August 31, 2014

SOME NEW CREATIONS

On the day of my last post we received a message that my ex-husband, father of my children had died in Uganda while doing missions work.  I spent most of the week on Facebook and telephone notifying people we had known for the last 30 years. What a difficult time.  I was finally able to do a bit of creating to share.

The first is an art journal page.  I had done the background but didn't know what was going on it until I received an email from Kristal Norton at Beginner's Art Journaling that contained this wonderful quote...





I am also going to enter this in the Anything Goes challenge #147 at Word Art Wednesday.

Next I did this layout to begin my photos from my visit last year to Mt Cuba in Delaware.  It is for the challenges at Soul Scrappers UUS8 to use at least 3 different rub-ons (which I have but hate to use!  LOL)  and the sketch challenge at Sketches4all for anything summer.  

The Sketch:





view of the rub-ons-






Thank you for stopping by my page.  I hope to have more creations during the week.


Friday, August 22, 2014

GONE FISHING

Today I am sharing another layout created with a sketch from Stuck?!Sketches.  What a fun site - so glad I discovered it!  And this one combines a color palette challenge from Let's Capture Our Memories.

Here's the sketch:


and here is the color palette:


and here is the layout I created using both!




Thomas was so excited to get into the stream with the fishing boots his Dad had left for him shortly after opening day in April.  He hadn't realized that they needed some patches so that is what is happening in the last photo - emptying the stream out of the boot!  That day we were at White Clay Creek State Park at one of his favorite spots. Watch for another fishing layout coming soon from another fishing hole in the area!

I just saw this on Facebook and thought it was so timely.  I think I am going to make up some of these.


Thanks for stopping by!  All comments greatly appreciated.

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

TIME FOR LAYOUTS

Here are a few recent layouts - 

The first was done for the LIFT16 challenge over at Soul Scrappers.  This was the layout being lifted - 


and here is my layout - 



I also entered this layout in Pat's One Little Word challenge over at Sketches4all for using the word Sunshine.

Next I chose the August 15th sketch from Stuck?!Sketches and some other photos from our trip to Rehoboth.  

Here is the sketch:



and my layout:




Hopefully I will get a bit more done tonight.  But for now I will say thanks so much for stopping by...all comments greatly appreciated.

Saturday, August 16, 2014

A BIT OF ART JOURNALING, QUOTES AND A TRIBUTE TO THE LATE GREAT ROBIN WILLIAMS

Over the last few weeks I have created a few art journal pages.  2 of them I had done the backgrounds and wasn't sure what I was going to do with them but now they are completed and ready to share...

The first uses this great diecut eye that was an advertisement I picked up at a museum I went to last summer. The background was started with coloring my page randomly with acrylic paints which I dripped on, spread with a credit card and smeared with my fingers.  I added some Glitter Mists which gave it some nice sparkle. I then took my favorite choice for molding paste - DryDex spackle and a few different templates and went around the page randomly with those.  It worked out great as some of it remained white and some picked up some of the color from the inks.  Then for more added texture I added dry wall tape.  

I added the diecut and then a thought with chipboard letters which I traced around with my favorite black Pitt pen to really have them jump off the page.


My next page was done with several Adirondack Spray Color Washes.  I also sprayed with water and lifted the journal upright and upside down to get some interesting drips.  The other day I finally found a quote I wanted to add to it which I did with my favorite black Pitt Pen.



And finally, the last one I am sharing was done with a variety of acrylic paints spread around with a credit card.  Then I splattered two other colors randomly on top.  I really liked the color combo and didn't know what I was going to do with it. This week the world was rocked with the news of Robin Williams suicide.  He was such an amazing performer - he could do comedy, he could do drama, he could do it all.  I don't think I saw anything with him in it, from the television series Mork and Mindy, to the films Mrs. Doubtfire, Good Morning Vietnam, Dead Poets Society and of course Hook (which I saw almost daily for several months when my youngest son was really young) that I didn't love.  I also suffer from Major Depressive Disorder and have often had suicidal ideation.  It is a very hard place to be.  Even when you realize how much you have to live for - your loving family, children, friends, and in this case a large public following and lots of fans that demon called depression is a powerful one. The pain is devastating, often far greater than physical pain as it hits you mentally and spiritually and then it adds physical dimensions of fatigue, migraines and more. Often you see no way out. Or worse - you see death as the only way out.  I found a quote on humor by Langston Hughes and added this to my page in memory of a man that made me laugh and made me cry on several occasions who shared that demon of depression that I too suffer with.  I pray for his family who are certainly the most gravely affected by this.  He will surely be missed for a long long time and will live on through his films, tapes of his stand up comedy, quotes and more.  This demon stole a great man from this world.  If you or anyone you know begins to exhibit any of the signs of depression please do something to try and get them help. Whether they will admit they are depressed or not, when it's someone you are close too you will surely recognize those subtle signs if you truly listen...and that is what we need to do for our loved ones...REALLY listen.  


I am submitting these pages for Anything Goes challenge #145 at Word Art Wednesday, Outlaw Women Artists Art Journaling, 4 Crafty Chicks challenge #207 Pink, Turquoise and Lime and Flying Unicorn Mid Month Mixed Media challenge.

Thank you for stopping by.  Let me know you stopped by and leave a short comment.  All comments are greatly appreciated.

Friday, August 15, 2014

SHINE THE LIGHT ON IT!



I was switching lamps out in my bedroom and the shade on the lamp I was going to use was in bad shape. The first thing I did was put a coat of gesso on it.  

So here is how it started...


Next I gathered up several sheets of various shades of pink tissue paper and got out my huge jar of Mod Podge.  

After the Mod Podge and tissue paper I added ribbon roses and tiny bows and some gimp.

Here is the final product - 




I am entering this into Craft Hoarders Anonymous challenge # 13 Let's Cycle - Up-cycle that is!

Hope you have enjoyed getting to see my new lighting alternative and that you will stop by again soon!




GETTING BACK INTO THE SWING OF THINGS!

I am finally getting back into the swing of things and doing a bit of creating.  Last night I was able to complete 2 layouts.  The first I am entering in Soul Scrappers SLC35 - Don't Stop the Music which called for using a line from the Rihanna song by that name.  And that is what I used - the name of the song!

The photos were from a classic rock concert I took my kids to featuring Bad Company and Lynard Skynard.  We had a really great time.

Here is the layout -





I am also entering this layout at The Paper Girls challenge #61 with the theme Superheroes.  If you are from my 'era' you will know that Bad Company certainly fall into the category of Superheroes of Rock (as does Lynard Skynard)!

My next layout is also for Soul Scrappers.  It is for challenge #SC80 which is a sketch challenge.

Here is the sketch they provided:



and here is my layout:



I am also entering this one at Paper Wings Productions August challenge - Anything Goes.

I hope you have enjoyed your visit to my blog and that you will stop by again soon!  All comments greatly appreciated!

MORE FROM MT CUBA!

Last week I shared two layouts with some amazing butterfly photos taken last summer at Mt Cuba. Today, I am going to share some flowers.  I created my layout using the second August sketch from Colorful Creations.

Here is the sketch:


I chose to rotate the sketch 1/4 turn clockwise.


I realized after all was said and done that I rotated the sketch but left the 2 diagonal strips where they were...instead of putting them across the bottom where they would be....LOL!

Don't forget to head over to the Colorful Creations blog and check out the other wonderful DT samples and add yours!




Tuesday, August 12, 2014

A BIT FROM WOMEN OF FAITH

Last night I completed another layout from last years Women of Faith conference.  I better hurry because this years is only a few weeks away!

I used vellum for the challenges at Soul Scrappers and at Sketches4all  using the first sketch from August at Let's Get Sketchy.



Here is my page of Lisa Harper.  The conference was wonderful and I am looking forward to volunteering at this year's conference in a few weeks in Philadelphia.



Also, some dear friends from church were moving to Nashville to be closer to their children and Grandchildren as they are struggling healthwise. Here is the going away card I made for them.

front outside

inside


 I am entering my card in Word Art Wednesday Anything Goes Challenge #144.


I was hoping to get to some creating tonite but it is already getting late as I spent the whole day at Cape Henlopen with my son and just got home a short while ago...so my creative energies today went into a tad of photos which you will see in the near future.

Thanks for stopping by.  It is so good to get back up and running again.

Friday, August 8, 2014

WELCOME BABY!

Today I am showing off another fun mini that I created with my friend Maraline's help.  This one is a waterfall book.  I created it for a friend from church that just had a new Granddaughter so that she will have a place to show her off.







 
 
 

 
 
 
Would you believe that the cover is made with a cereal box?  Amazing how you can recycle so many odd things into wonderful new art!
 
I am entering this upcycled project in Craft Hoarders Anonymous challenge #13 - Let's Cycle - Up-Cycle that is! 
 
 
Thanks so much for stopping by!





HAWAIIN STYLE

Today I'm sharing a mini-book I made (with lots of help from my good friend Maraline).  It is a gift for the hostess of our United Methodist Women's Summer Luau.  Karen is indeed the Hostess with the Mostest!  There were lots of Hawaiin decorations, leis, awesome food, swimming, fun and of course great friends. 

We each brought a dish to share.  I brought an awesome Hawaiin coconut pineapple pudding that my friend Maraline gave me the recipe for.  She lived for several years in Hawaii so she was the perfect person to help me!

The little book shows off some of the fun and lots of the great ladies from my church.  It's hard to get the real effect here because the pages all flip open to reveal others so on here some parts are blocked by others if that makes sense to you.

 










I am entering this in Sketches4All Cheryl's August Challenge - use any kind of fabric.  The fabric included in the book are the flowers which were on the luau lei's our hostess gave us when we arrived.  I am also entering this in Word Art Wednesday Challenge #144 Anything Goes.

I did another gift mini with Maraline for another friend from church who just had a brand new Granddaughter.  So, please comeback tomorrow for more!

Thanks for stopping by and sweet dreams!

Thursday, August 7, 2014

SO MUCH MISSING TIME..........

On June 16th my PC crashed and I have not had any way to upload anything since.  I have so many wonderful things to share and hopefully can get started getting some of them to you today.

I will start with today and work my way backwards...if that makes any sense to you...

Here are 2 layouts I completed today for CSI (Colors, Stories, Inspiration) Case File #133


THE SCHEME: USE ALL 5 COLORS
  • Tickled Pink - hot pink, taken from the sign - 231.85.156
  • Orange You Happie? - bright orange - 245.164.82
  • On Cloud 9 - white, taken from the background - 255.255.255
  • Walking on Air - light gray, taken from the tree - 211.211.211
  • Don't be Sad - dark gray, taken from her hair - 92.92.92
EVIDENCE: CHOOSE AT LEAST 2 CLUES

  • suspend something
  • polka dots
  • ribbons
  • clothespins
  • dog/other animal
  • flowers
  • flair pins
  • ruffles
  • paint/watercolor
  • banner
  • tree
  • tie something

  • TESTIMONY: CHOOSE AT LEAST 1 CLUE
    • Topic: Document a chore you enjoy.
    • Prompt Idea: Choose a prompt from Sunday Scribblings.
    • Presentation: Hang your journaling on a string or as part of a banner
    • Writing Format: Write your journaling as a how-to list
    • Inspiration Words: delight, simple, oh -- use these as inspiration for your journaling, not just as a title.
    Layout #1 - I used all 5 colors.  My Evidence included polka dots, ribbons, butterflies (dog/other animal), flower, paint, (tree - in photo - not sure if that counts). My Testimony used the Prompt Idea #396 Flight from Sunday Scribblings.

    This layout uses July Sketch #1 from Let's Get Sketchy. (which of course I thought was August week #1 - this not having a PC is really messing with me!)