The Lost Art of Penmanship

When I was little learning cursive wasn't an option to learn or not, but as time passed it seems to be an art form that has faded. I am not a big fan of my handwriting, I feel like I have a million different versions of my own font! Depending on the mood, pen or how rushed I am; it can be neat and sweet or messy and unreadable. I know how important journaling is in your scrapbook, so I usually type or print out my journaling, but its also important to scrapbook your own handwriting! Calligraphy has been hitting the spot light lately and I love the way each calligrapher has their own style to such a beautiful art form. 

I have decided to take this time to not only get more confident about my own writing but learn the art form of calligraphy! I have been messing around with a couple types of pens, markers etc. I've looked at Instagram, Google and Pinterest to get inspired and start writing. I really love the look of brush calligraphy and I found an amazing artist to start my journey with! 

Random Olive Design has a great Instagram and video's so you can see her in action! A newsletter, which I love, plus it's a little reminder to start writing. Plus she has an awesome Brush Letter Practice Guide you can buy, download and print to your hearts content all the pages you need to practice. 

The class cost is going up from $20 to $27 !!! More great content has been added to the class but their is still time to get the class for $20 !!!! 

CLICK HERE TO GET BRUSH LETTER PRACTICE GUIDE

This is a peak of me practicing from my Instagram
This is a graph composition book and I am using a Copic Marker! 

Hot Air Balloon & Cloud Mobile

Hello World! It has been a whirl wind here, both good and bad. I was sick for about 3 weeks, no fun for sure, but glad to be better and back! Lots of great things are coming to my blog and I am so excited to share them with you!

For right now I wanted to share an out of the box project, it's a chipboard mobile! That's right its made entirely of chipboard. I had so much fun creating this, its definitely a technique I will do again. I had made a video but for some unfortunate reason it got deleted (insert sad face here). I am hoping to get my hands on the supplies, so I can do a quick video on this.

I used my local scrapbook store (The Creative Nook) AccuCut Machine to die cut out of chipboard these hot air balloons and clouds. (The "X" shape that holds the mobile together is also die cut from the AccuCut Machine).  I used a combination of misting water and Tim Holtz Distress Stain to create the washed out, colored look on the chipboard pieces.

Distress Stains: Tim Holtz Die Cuts: AccuCut. Chipboard/Twine: Unknown.

View from the bottom! 

Merry Christmas!!!

I can't believe the new year is almost here. I hope everyone had a nice holiday, relax and spend time with family. We enjoyed the holidays and kept it low key, our furry children definitely got the most presents! I made this as a gift per a request for something holiday that can be framed! I had a lot of fun making it :)

PP: Basic Grey (Blitzen & Dasher). Felt: Fancy Pants. 

close up! pop doted the star so it would be the same height as the rolled up paper!

close up

close up

close up 

Happy Birthday Banner

I finally got to play with my cricut and I forgot how much I loved it! I had lots of fun making this banner for a new friend :) I wanted to add a little pizzazz so I embossed the label shapes. I can't wait for the new year and to play some more with my cricut!!!

CS: Prism. Ribbon: May Arts. Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug. 

Close ups

(heart) texture

more close ups!

who doesn't love a little ribbon?!

More Scrapbook Room

I got the chance to finish hanging up some paintings/collectibles for the scrapbook room. I posted a peek on my Facebook page and you all wanted too see more! It took me a little bit to decide where everything was going to go. I didn't have much space and have lots of stuff :) How have you personalized your creative space?!

Princess painting was a gift. The kitty paintings are from Cafe Tu Tu Tango. If your ever in Orlando I would highly recommend going there and get yourself an original piece of art! 

Bird print, I love these and found this at goodwill. Tim Holtz handmade mirror made by me and autographed :D

Sailor moon keychains, its my favorite anime and I got these while in high school and put them in the frame. The funny bunny sign, there is no bad gugu allowed in the room. I made the clock myself and see more photos of it HERE. The little purple ceramic owl is a new addition too! 

Wedding Frame

Happy August 1st! I can't believe its already August, this year has flown by fast. It's pouring here and I'm getting ready for a little road trip this weekend for a wedding back home. I can't wait too see my furry family and friends, plus hang out with my mummy! She is my BFF and I made her this recent project for her from my wedding :) This is project 4/50. Happy Art Making and I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend, see you next week!

This is the project in the frame :)

PP: Basic Grey (Stella Ruby-Dining with the Daveys). CS: Prism. Rubons: Junkitz. Die Cuts: Quickutz/Lifestyle Crafts. Transparencies Frames: My Mind Eye (Bohemia-Backyard Adventure). Mist: Maya Road (Copper Metallic).

Some close ups.

Kiss Can

It has been super hectic here but fun! August is quickly approaching and for me, that means school (hopefully) and weddings! This was another gift I made for hubby while he was on deployment. This is a plain paint can I purchased and decorated it! I filled it with kisses, the candy kind of course :) After we moved I was so happy to find it in the boxes while unpacking and glad it made it safely back to the USA with hubby. Thanks for checking out my work! Happy Art Making!!!!

PP & Gel Embellishment: Junkitz. Ribbon (pink): Making Memories. Ribbon (black): Carolee's Creations.  Tag & Chipboard Heart: Unknown. 

Another view :)

The top of the paint can. 

52 Reasons

I've been sick this week, getting lots of rest and finally feeling better, so I'm back with a postie! This is a project I made for hubby while he was on deployment :) There are lots of different ways to make this gift for your special someone. I'm not a big fan of my own hand writing so I typed out the reasons and glued them to the cards and used washi tape to add something to it, plus it helps hold them down. I actually came up with more than 52 reasons why I love hubby so some of the cards have reason's on both sides. Hubby likes to play cards, so I found a set of cards that were actually used at a casino, that was by shear luck too! Thanks for looking and I hope you have a wonderful weekend! Happy Art Making :-)

Cards: Dollar Store. Sticker (52), Binder Rings, Ribbon: Junkitz. Sticker (things I love about you): 7 gypsies. Washi Tape: Queen and Co. Ribbon: Unknown.

side view of all the cards together!

A view of the cards and the little book open!

The reasons :) 

the front of the book. 

Scrap Time

I had this clock kit for a while, I purchased it at a scrapbook expo. I finally got to crack it open, I switched out the papers and embellishment, because I wanted to keep it in the scrapbook room and needed it to coordinate with our color scheme, which is pink, black and white. I can't wait to hang it up in the room. The original quote was "time flies when your having fun", well my type of fun is scrapping so I changed the words. And you know what time does fly when you scrap :)

The clock is just a general clock with a plastic clear cover. The patterned paper/cardstock is from Bazzill/Heidi Swapp, it was from event and I was at the Bazzill store and they had some extra packets. Seriously some rockin paper. I love cardstock paper with patterened, I recently explored the Bazzill website and saw the CHA catalog awesome, they came out with patterned paper, I so need it! The chipboard numbers are just covered in glitter and from Junkitz. The bird sticker is also from Heidi Swapp, I put it on top of patterened paper and cut it out.

HINT: When you do this make sure you test some of your embellishments with the clock lid on before you glue and the clock hands ;)