Personal Journal

I made a personal journal for 2014. just somewhere to write my thoughts and jot ideas! Something to keep on myself to take in my tote or purse. So naturally I did not want to heavy embellish it!

Take a look at my video of what I created!

Head to my YT channel Brendahdp77 to see it!

I would have posted the video here but the blog is having a bellyache! lol

Have a great day!

Envies I made

I made these with left over papers from another project. Using my Martha stewart score board, punch and a digital sentiment. 

They work up quick and are fun to make.

They can fit a chunky 3 by 3 card without a problem.

I made a belly band with scraps from the other envelopes. No scraps left after this project. 

So in the futre I may just make cards and pockets out of the bigger scraps, so there is less accumlating and making my scrap bin over flow!

These would be good in smashbooks, on layouts, and junk journals. With Christmas coming I will be going through my scraps like crazy making these! (I hope so anyway, it is my goal!)

Altered Notebooks...

Sometimes I want to craft and be crafty but I am lost on what I want to create! This usually happens to me when I have been crafting like crazy, when I am burnt out and tired, and sometimes just feeling overwhelmed.

When this starts to happen I know I am about to lose all my mojo and I step back for a moment and think about what I know someone could use, or have mentioned they would like...Then, I set off on creating said item and most of the time woohoo I am back in buisness and ready to craft galore again...the times it doesn't work...well then I know I need a break just a little down time to clear the fog...lol

Sometimes we just need a little time to organize our thoughts and ourselves before we can jump back in! This is exactly what I have been doing...lol So much going on and I love to stay busy but I believe I over did it! lol But I am getting back on tract now and eager to dive in!

All the kids in my family love to write, journal, draw, etc. So I thought I would start making a few altered composition books! It was slow going at first but then I got into a groove and three were finished in no time! Woohoo! Yea three more gifts out of the way! We have three birthdays in Sept, Three in October and a huge Halloween Party! Nov. one birthday and thanksgiving, Dec christmas for over 15! I said I like to stay busy right....lol

All of the family affairs mentioned, throw in Dr. appointments at this time monthly, starting a small business, homeschooling (prep for College), and just daily life in general...I think I keep busy! lol We all do...I'm not complaining hust explaining I work best when I am active and not stagnant...sometimes I get carried away and go overboad! lol like now! Sorry about the rambling here are the journals/notebooks...

I wanted to keep them simple and utilitarian. When I write I like to use both sides of the paper so I wanted to keep the embellishments on the flat side and few so there is less to snag when being pulled out or put in a bag, or back pack or even a purse.

Here are some close ups,

Starting with the yellow one I used DCWV Spring Fling stack for the paper and some dollar store stickers this one is a bee with vellum wings a burlap strip with flowers and bling. I am not a big fan of yellow but I just love it

This is the pink one. I also used DCWV Spring Fling stack for the paper and dollar store sticker. It is a vellum sticker of a water lily flower. Love it!

The last one is a blue one. I used DCWV Spring Fling Stack for the paper, and a dollar store sticker. The butterfly is a dimensional sticker with bling. So pretty!

There you have it! I hope you like them! Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!

Password Journals

For as long as I can remember I have been misplacing internet site usernames and passwords. I set up a new account for each site, and each one needs a name and password.
we all know it isn't safe to use the same password and we have to change them so often...who can keep up with them???
I know I can't and most people I talk to have this same issue.

This is my solution.

I started with this 89 cent four by six wedding album.

Here is what it looks like from the top.

 I put an index card in each sleeve where you would normally put a picture. 

This is the paper stack I used to create my books for my mom and my two older sisters.

With a little cutting and gluing a few embellishments here are the password journals. Each one is a little different. 

The best part is you never have to replace the book! just the index cards! Keep one on your desk at work, by your home computer, your safe where ever you would like! These are great for people of all ages. Great Gift ideas to make ahead to have on hand or very quick to put together for last minute gifts!!

Mad as a Hatter...

We are all mad here!

My family and I love Alice in wonderland! The cheshire cat stole my heart as a child and still has a strng pull on my heart strings! I always have the same reaction when I see him...AWWWW!  Yes, I can be quite childish but we are all children at heart!

I created these cute little pull outs for my family to add to their smash books! I think they turned out great!

Here are the basics I used to get started! A cut out of a bread tag, a top hat shape, some ribbon, adhesive of course and later some stick pins.

I hooked the tag on the side of the hat and adhered it down. I just used double sided tape.

Next line up the ribbon and adhere it down. double sided tape works fine or glossy accents.

Make sure you write 10/6 on the tag. Do it in pencil first so it is exactly where and how you want it then trace it with your archival pen.

Here they are with a 3 by 12 paper scored every 3 inches and acordian folded, then adhered to the back so it pulls out and off the page!

Plenty of extra room for small pics or journaling in a smashbook layout!

Something new...

Kind of...I keep journals and draw but not like this!

I started with ths old drawing book I had laying around. I figured it was time to put it to use! well, at least start to! I will decorate the cover when I finish the book. 

I am a notebook, journal, drawing book collector! lol i have so many and will not use one until i know what i want to do with it. So sometimes they sit on the shelf for a LONG time! lol

Anyway, this one has been chosen to become my art journal.

Now don't laugh...lol Go ahead laugh I did! This is my attempt at an art journal! I would say mixed media because i have used a couple different mediums but not to the extent that i have seen. 

I found i have a hard time making an art journal THICK. I like to see what I can do with little supplies. Do not get me wrong I have plenty to work with. But I do not combine mediums together, so this is new to me.

I have done pencil, pen and ink, colored pencil, water color, acrylic, etc but never on one piece of paper. Well I start in pencil then ink it and sometimes color it but never with a mixture of mediums. i will do all my coloring in one medium.

Here I did water color, colored pencil and plain inking, as well as some drawing techniques. I hand drew it all no stencils. I like to keep my art journals to basics I guess I am old fashioned! lol

I decorated the first page with all things I like! A silky soft banner! I love nature so trees and flowers are a given. I used a vine because my ideas sometimes grow wildly out of control! lol the Letter B for Brenda, the brick wall for strength, celtic knotwork a passion and i'm a bit Irish, Tiger, dragon and Wolf tribal art and the little demon leading on following the stone trail. 

We all get carried away and that is what the little demon symbolizes! I got so lost creating this I spent hours planning and creating this and actually forgot about everything else...My husband called me to dinner, thank goodness it was his night to cook!

Would love to hear your thoughts on this!