Google app fun

Today I discovered a Google App called SketchPad. I have been spending a lot of time sorting things and my table is full. So.... lazy me decided to try SketchPad instead of actually painting. It was fun.

And then, I opened it in Paint, and inverted the colors.

one more. I just did rainbow triangle on top of rainbow triangle on top of rainbow triangle.....Kind of wild, huh. But fun.

Stuff overload....

Part of my creativeness is squashed because of all the STUFF around me at the moment. Last year my mother in law died and a lot of stuff came in here since neither my hubby nor I could deal with it. Then my dad was sick, so things piled up because I wasn't home. Add two new grandchildren to the mix. (that's TEN and counting!!) Then my dad died. Two more weeks away from home. Then my sis in law fell and had to move out of her house. More here. Umm... didn't I have enough here? LOL {{shaking my head}}

Found a stack of music I haven't played in forever, it's getting old and yellowed. Put it in the garbage can. BUT!! Think about it. Decoupage. Multimedia. Journal page. LOL but what do I DO with it? Where do I PUT it?

Then I wonder why I can't create, it's all screaming at me. Sigh.

So I'm going to go dance for awhile, see if I can find a spot in the file cabinet for that music...

p.s. I wrote about stuff on my Other Blog. It is a good reminder to read it again.

Eraser carving again

My first tries at eraser carving were inspired by Traci Bunkers. I like how she takes ordinary things and uses them for stamping. I got her book, Print and Stamp Lab and have used many of her ideas for cards and journal pages.

Lately my creating self has been spinning her wheels. I've done some knitting, made teensy Barbie doll hats, started another washcloth. Today I was reminded about carving erasers, and decided to write down what I've done, since first inspired to do that.

After a visit to the Dollar Tree, I did a tiny bit of carving on some erasers and liked the way they turned out.

just a little bit of carving made a cute stamp. I carved this with the cuticle cutter from a manicure set I got from the Dollar Tree as well as the pack of erasers.

just some variations on the airplane eraser. The kids like to stamp with it.

I started seeing a fish in this so carved it away. 

Good to be practicing on little things that didn't cost a whole lot. I got a bag of these shaped erasers for $1. 

This one is my favorite so far. It was inspired by a stamp but doesn't look like it at all. 

This one has turned out to be the most versatile and well used. The stamp is just the single swirly at the top and the bottom two are examples of what I have used them for. 

I want to get back into Creative Mode; there are some things stopping me at the moment. But one day at a time, right? Meantime, getting all my crafty stuff into one blog instead of scattered is an accomplishment too.

A bit of Silly Writing for Today...

I found this box of cards at the thrift store, They are called "You're Making that Up! Story Cards" and they are by Dalmatian Press. I am not sure they are in business any more, I couldn't find anything about these cards. Anyway, you pick some cards and write a story from the prompts.

So I started by picking some cards. You have to choose which plot:
I chose:
the character tells a whopper of a fib

two pictures:
pillow
clothespin

location: in a foggy swamp

choose 4 words from the cards to use in your story. I chose
confusing
squishy
risky
disgusting

My Story.  Title: Risky Business

One day when I was out for a walk in a foggy swamp, I ran across a boat just sitting there on the shore. I climbed into the boat and found it was filled with squishy, wiggly worms. I decided that since the worms were there I would go fishing, but it was pretty risky to just go out  in the boat all by myself. But I caught the most beautiful fish I ever saw! It was green and pink with purple fins, and a red tail.

By this time I was sort of lost, everything looked the same and was pretty confusing. It took me awhile to figure out where I was. It sure was stinky out in the swamp. I put a clothespin on my nose. I suddenly realized that I probably smelled pretty badly by now.  I knew that my mom would be really mad at me so I decided not to say exactly where I had been.

"Hi mom!" I yelled when I finally arrived home.
"Hi sweetie! " she said, giving me a hug. "Whew! Where have you been?"
"I went over to George's house," I said, hoping she would believe me. "We were digging in the yard and we found some really disgusting stuff buried in the back yard. Sorry I ended up so dirty."
"Well go take a shower, and leave your clothes in a pile by the back door and I will get them washed."
It seemed like I was safe. I got cleaned up and changed into some clean clothes. I sure was hungry.
The phone rang.
"Hello?" said my mom."Yes, that would be fine! He can come for dinner! Could you believe how smelly these boys got today?" There was silence.
"Really? Hmmm. That's not what Walter said. I think I better ask him some questions!" She glared at me."Maybe George can come over some other time."

uh oh. I don't think I'm getting dinner. I have a feeling I am going to be hitting the pillow early tonight.

The End.
LOL

Well that was fun to make my imagination go.

I want to do EVERYTHING!!

I want to do everything. I want to make jewelry, I want to paint, I want to improve my knitting and crochet skills, I want to do counted cross stitch I want to quilt I want to I want to I want to.

Well I can't. Or can I?

in memory of Dad

  I think I have my head swirling about. I told myself that today I don't have to DO... just BE. I've been running around so much I kind of feel like I am in a whirlpool. I wanted to make some hot glue stencils but can't find the glue sticks. Found the glue GUN though.

Thinking about my dad. The things he created-- anything wooden. Furniture. Buildings. a house! He and my mother designed it and were their own contractor.  He made the house with cement block. Plenty of wood in it though. He made the most beautiful exposed aggregate sidewalk.  A greenhouse. a couple tree houses. A barn. A chicken coop within the barn. Walls, doors. Shelves.

My uncle Lloyd loved to do stained glass, and my dad did some of that. He painted ceramics. He built a wooden car. Made toys. He taught my children (those who wanted to learn!) the basics of wood working. They helped him build walls, a tree house, a doll house.

It didn't dawn on me until recently that my father was an artist. He made the most amazing garden at the facility where he lived. When he could no longer garden, he made photo albums of activities, pets, people... and of course the garden He inspired other people to get involved too.

Inspiration for my journal page. Picture to follow when it is dry and photographed.

motivation and art

Wanting to do some creating other than washcloths. I mean, that's good, but it isn't really expressing anything, it is just distracting myself from the stresses of my life. Today I gathered prompts. There was an idea expressed on Art Journal Junkies facebook group to decorate a deck of cards and then put prompt words on each card. Then when stuck, grab a few cards and get going. Then I found some sentence prompts, here: http://www.blacksburgbelle.com/2010/10/50-art-journal-prompts/

Today I went to help my mom with the display about my father. She has some wonderful things lined up to display. I think my favorite is his Bible-- an old, tattered thing. My dad was not a Bible scholar, but he was a seeker, and lived his faith by loving people and helping them cope with Getting Old and having to Live in a Facility. Along the way, he did stained glass, ceramics, and a LOT of creating with wood, including chicken coops, a barn, fences, tree houses, furniture, and a house. And gardened. And gardened. Fruit, vegetables, and glorious flowers.

Remembering. Joy and sorrow mixed.

So tonight I will clear off the table, wash the dishes, declutter the living room.... and go to bed early. And tomorrow, some art journaling. About my father. His compassion, his loving. His faith, his actions.

Dad, I miss you.


 

more washcloths.... and flossing!

Today I spent some time watching a video about drawing faces. I ordered a Stabilo All pencil because it is recommended by the video lady. I also spent some time in a facebook group called Art Journal Junkies. Oh I am inspired. Now I want some Inktense blocks, too. I also need to figure out some color sprays. and then there's hot glue stencils to try. Oh my. I have a lot of stencils already, but this will add some originality instead of always having to use manufactured stencils.

I also finished a set of washcloths. These are diagonally knitted.
Not sure what I am going to do with them. Maybe donate to the Rag Quilters. I need to get involved with SOMETHING in the community. I know it's a good cause. If we have a garage sale, I could sell some there... we will see.

The other thing I am excited about is my embroidery floss holder. In cleaning out L's house, I inherited a bunch of embroidery floss and such. I wanted to add to the stash, but have a way to actually access the stuff when I wanted a specific color and not have to paw around in a box or bag. I found a zipper notebook at the thrift store, put those card collection pages in it, and put scraps of floss by color in the pages. It doesn't hold it all yet, I need more pages. But it is a good start. I am excited to get back to doing a bit of counted cross stitch. As if I need a new hobby. Not exactly new, but I haven't done any in a long time.

The more orderly my craft things get the more excited I am about being able to spend some more time crafting. I have been spending a lot of time knitting and crocheting. I just downloaded a karate uniform and a denim jacket for American Girls... I have to watch it, I will just plan and plan and never Do. I don't really think I need to worry about it.

Tomorrow, my cousin J and I are going to help my mom plan a display about my father. It will be a bittersweet day.

Enough rambling.

I'm dreaming of a white.... APRIL?

Got home just before this started.

Pea to marble sized hail. Never ending thunder and lightning. Well it DID end; but it was constant for ten minutes or so. I was running from the back to the front of the house. I started venturing outside, but then another loud thunderclap would drive me inside. That's something I miss from the foothills, the thunderstorms. Here in the valley they are quiet and wimpy. Hubby says "wow that was a big one" but obviously he's never really heard THUNDER. Of course, "there" is 3000 feet closer to the sky. "there" the lightning does things like take out phones and other electronics. I know that happens "here" too but not as often. It makes me thankful for being Inside a House. It was WILD out there. and the truth is....

I LOVE WILD WEATHER!!! 

although I don't think I would like a hurricane or tornado.

sorting and such

Today's task is sorting and such. Trying to figure out if we are going to have a garage sale. Finally ready to deal with E's stuff, she's been gone a year. Now have some L's stuff as well and it's enough to make your head spin. Do you need one of these? It's really pretty. I've tried to find something like it on google, but all the bottom says is "hand painted" and "Nippon" so we know that it is from Japan and hand painted. LOL