Digi-Jolene

Well, I have been quite the digital learner during the last few days. I not only finished my first Jessica Sprague lesson, but I finished the bonus lesson too. And I don't want to brag or anything (well, maybe a little) but I aced the little test at the end. I also learned about organization and found myself learning about and buying ACDSee software to organize my growing collection of digital stuff. Here's the bonus page I made.
Once again, it was finished for the most part and I just followed along with the instructions. Not alot of creativity was used here. I certainly can see myself as more of a "hybrid" scrapper. I love the options with digital but I'm not big on flat pages. I AM big on the idea that I can put together some great pages in less time, because, while I LOVE cutting and using glue, I have come to the realization that I am, in fact, a busy mom who would like to focus what little creative time I have on other projects too. Not to mention, I need to become a little more technically savvy. Don't want to get left further behind, you know. For those of you who are worried that I am going totally digital...I promise that I will continue to play with real, live paper. I could never give that up. I have loved paper my whole life and I don't see that changing.

Looky What I Did!

One of my goals for this year is to learn how to become proficient on the Photoshop. My parents gave me Elements 7 last year for my birthday and I have only the very basics down. So I bought a book (thank you mom!) and an online course from Jessica Sprague. This is my first project. Now in all honesty, she has most of this done for you and you just follow her instructions to add in all the details, but, still, I'm pretty proud of myself. Yay me! I made it through lesson one of my course.
If you're ever finding yourself wanting to be more Photoshop saavy, Jessica is your girl.

A Valentine Surprise

Every Friday, (usually) I can be found working at my parents' house. I have the BEST parents ever! And we have always made sure that we know how much we love each other in our family but Valentine's Day has always been extra special. Well, last night, (can't have a great idea until the last minute, you know) I had the idea to make something for them. The plan was to hang it on their door so they could be surprised when they came home.
I have had STEPHANIE Ackerman's little banner piece on my brain all week and her paper roses are to die for but I haven't seen where she has told you how to make them. I decided that I MUST find a tutorial on making these incredible roses. I did a little Googling and found THIS little gem. It turns out making the pattern is a little complicated but once you've got that in place, then you are on your way. I didn't use the pipe cleaners or florist's tape that they used and I crumpled, distressed and rolled out the edges to make them my own. I LOVE them!
Plan on seeing them on absolutely everything that I do for a while. OK, well, maybe not everything.
Sorry the pictures aren't that great. It has been overcast all day and I couldn't get any pictures unless I used my flash. My beautiful, swirly jewels really don't appreciate flash photography. Those gems are from Michaels, by the way. The book print paper is Jenni Bowlin and the black and white dots are brand new My Mind's Eye, I took it right when the sweet lady at the store put the freshly opened stack on the shelf. Is it goofy to receive glee from being the first customer to touch this paper? Well, so what, it made me happy. The roses are made from My Mind's Eye and Bo Bunny Press (old). The black glitter chipboard letters are Making Memories and the little glitter heart I made from a chipboard button covered with Best Creation glitter paper. Add some ric rac and ribbon and voila, you have a Valentine Surprise. It was so much fun that I didn't even mind the fact that I finished it at about 1 a.m. and had to be up at 5 a.m. Which means...bring on the Diet Coke...I need a wake up. Or maybe my kids will let me have a "power nap". Well, a girl can dream.

Dreaming....

Okay people, is there anyone else out there that would find attending Donna Downey's "inspired" artist workshop an absolute dream come true? How I love Donna's art and you should see the people she has teaching. Take a look HERE. It looks like the best 3 days ever. And just as a little disclaimer, I have never met Donna, nor has she paid for my endorsement. I just happen to think that if 1) I didn't live all the way across the country (it's in North Carolina, where it's much warmer, I'm told) and 2) I had the pesos, I couldn't think of too many better ways to spend 3 days of my life. I probably wouldn't even be able to concentrate on my art because I think I would just sit there in absolute awe. Well, time for me to wake up from my sweet little dream, but I hope that if someone out there gets to go to "inspired", I'd be HAPPY to hear a report (and see all of your projects).