Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Bubblegum Sketches

Gloria's Card Sketch

Thanks for visiting us on this lovely last day of November!  Gloria's Project Monday is up now on yesterday's post.....and it's beautiful!  The sketch above is from the thank you card she designed.  Of course the sketch doesn't do it justice, so you have to see the real thing to get the entire experience ; )

And the sketch below is from Carrie's rainy 8 1/2 x 11 layout.....

Carrie's Layout Sketch

Well, tomorrow is December 1st, and we finally get to share some special holiday inspiration with you.  So, check back here sometime in the afternoon for the fun!  See you soon!!!

Love, Gloria and Carrie

Monday, November 29, 2010

Project Monday

Looking at the pictures I had chosen for project Monday it suddenly occurred to me that I needed to thank my sister in law for all the work she put into making my holiday extra special.....

Gloria's Thank you card

The girl that married my little brother took the time to bake two turkeys.....one was even deep fried.  She made berry pies from scratch and, hello, a mud pie from scratch.  She made mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes covered in marshmellows that definitely had a big impact because they were so good.  She decorated and rented tables...I was thinking about where I was when I took my picture, and how all these things I am sure were stressful.  And so I had to make my Project Monday a homemade thank you card...

Pretty Yarn

Paper Love

It was due to her hospitality that made my day possible.  Thanks Bubblegum Life for reminding me of were I was and how it came to be...

Lots of love,
-G

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I can still remember this moment like it was yesterday.....

*I am here* Layout

For my project this week I decided to make an 8 1/2 x 11 layout.  Mostly because I wanted to make the layout look like it was raining and thought the size was perfect.  Here are some of the details.....

IAH Layout Collage

And here are all the pieces I used to put it together.....

IAH Layout Pieces
Again, this week, (as you can see from the pieces above) I created another simple layout.  I cut out a bunch of clouds.....two different kinds.  Cut strips of glitter paper and rounded one end to be like drips.  Layered some pretty brown feathers around my photo, and then added my title.  And before I attached it all to the background paper, added a little black paint splatter.  I am finding that right now I'm enjoying the process of these simple layouts.  Which is a big deal for me.....normally, I am not happy with my finished creation unless it has lots of detail and different elements.  And this just feels right.  It's nice.

This weekend, I did end up taking more photos for our Where are you now? photo prompt.  I wanted to capture where I was the weekend after Thanksgiving, and try remember how it felt to be in that place.  The photos should be added to our Flickr group soon.  And if you haven't checked it out lately, there are some new really inspirational photos you are sure to enjoy!

Have fun making your little piece of art this week : )

Love, Gloria and Carrie

Friday, November 26, 2010

Your appointment with Friday

Hello again sweet blogger friends.  Our next awesome prompt.....and I say that because I feel its just so appropriate for today.....or maybe this week is.....

Where are you now?


These pictures were taken on Thanksgiving day and I feel they are very representative of where I am.  Getting ready for Thanksgiving usually means getting to see all of our relatives in one room.  This makes me just a bit nervous but it's a whole family thing that can be good or maybe not so good, but it's ours and we belong to this amazing funny, weird, and loving group of people.  They know us and they accept us.  I am holding my brother's baby.  Yes, my babies are big, and I love that I can have and feel with this circle of family that I am holding my niece.....knowing and being very aware of the fact that if all goes well I am going to watch her grow up.  I am happy to give thanks to the fact that no matter what, at this moment I am holding family.  The second picture was taken of my sister in law and me in the kitchen.  No, I was not cooking, but she can cook and I was eating and enjoying myself, her amazing desserts, and the company of my brother's wife.  Family I love, and I dont want to lie, sometimes its not so great having such a big group of people who know everything.  But the 90 % of the time it's what I am grateful for.
 
So share with us where are you now....

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With the hustle and bustle of all that accompanies these busy days following Thanksgiving, I feel like our next prompt is simple yet still leaves room for thinking about what's inside you, and where you're at..... 

*Today I am here*

3:20 Enjoying a walk

On a breezy afternoon

My photos are from last weekend.  All I did was look around and take photos of what I saw in being there.  Where what was inside of me, led me to see....  

My pictures begin in the park at La Jolla Shores.  For the first photo (above) of my doggies and Ryan's legs, I got down onto the ground and tried to capture that moment.  My doggies were in this place, being held by my sweetie.  They were looking all around at the sights and sounds.  Yet still happy be be here with us.  As we started our walk along the shore, the wind was strong and cold.  I peeked behind so I could see Ryan being there with me.  We walked for a while, and eventually stopped for a short break to rest on a stone wall.  That's where I took the photo of Ryan and I together.  I felt great.  To be close to him.  To feel his love and warmth as the cool breeze surrounded us.  I am thinking to myself "I am so happy to be with him".  We sat there like that for a minute, and then, as it often happens at home the doggies wanted our attention. I scooped up our little bear, Ponyo, and gave him a big hug.  Ryan took the camera and in his photo you can see the rustic stone wall, our beautiful view, and Ponyo and I looking at it all.  As our walk came to an end, I took a photo of the shore as the clouds slowly began to cover the sun.  I think I even felt a raindrop just then.  And that was our que to start heading back to the truck.  Even though I love the rain, it was time to go.  And that's what I remember about this lovely afternoon and being there just then.

My plan is do the photo prompt again, but throughout this weekend.  As I go through my day, I hope to capture me.  One photo at a time.  Hopefully making peppermint ice cream, or hanging a Christmas wreath, or whatever.  I think it will help me enjoy the process of the beginning of the holiday craziness, so I can see who I am, and what I really want it to be.

I wish for you a wonderful weekend, and to capture a moment that when you look back, can say "I remember me then", and smile : )

Love, Gloria and Carrie

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Cozy & Sweet Photos

*A friend*

A friend is one who knows you and loves you just the same.

-Elbert Hubbard

*A true friend*

A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though she knows that you are slightly cracked.

-Bernard Meltzer

*My wish for you*

This is my wish for you: Comfort on difficult days, smiles when sadness intrudes, rainbows to follow the clouds, laughter to kiss your lips, sunsets to warm your heart, hugs when spirits sag, beauty for your eyes to see, friendships to brighten your being, faith so that you can believe, confidence for when you doubt, courage to know yourself, patience to accept the truth, Love to complete your life.

-Author Unknown

Love, Gloria and Carrie

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Bubblegum Sketches

11.23.10 Gloria's Book Cover Sketch

Thanks for stopping by for our new bubblegum sketches today : )

These sketches are from our Project Monday creations.  The sketch above is from Gloria's book cover, and the one below is from Carrie's 6x12 layout.....

11.23.10 Carrie's Layout Sketch

We hope you enjoy these sketches, and if you decide to use them on your blog, please link them back here : )

And if you're looking for even more inspiration today, check out our Flickr Group, there is a new beautiful project from our last prompt that you are sure to enjoy.

See you tomorrow!
Love, Gloria and Carrie

Monday, November 22, 2010

Project Monday

What's filling your heart.  I love this prompt because it's so personal.  It belongs to just you.  We all have different things and people that fill us up.  People and things that when we look at them, take us to that special place.  Activities that fill us up with joy.  Its one of those prompts that has unlimited possibilities.....

Gloria's *My Story* Book

What's filling my heart.....well, a word that is showing up in my life and my heart is, Story.  I feel like telling mine.  I have so many.

The story of how art changed my life 
The story of how my friend showed her love for me
Our love story
The story of how our kids change us everyday
Our high school story
The story of how today changed everything

Gloria's MSB Close

It's not always possible to tell all of our storys but I thought maybe just having a little note book would allow me to just briefly jot down the words that flutter in my head.  This simple little book could hold brief pieces of my story.....the pieces I need to get out.....

I am really excited to see what's filling your heart.  I am sure its amazing : )

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It's almost Thanksgiving, and my head is spinning with so much these days.....My grocery list for Thanksgiving dinner, making the perfect gluten free gravy, Christmas decorations, presents to be made, Christmas cards to design.....it just goes on and on.  And when I sat down to create my project from our last prompt, it made me stop and remember how much I have to be grateful for.  It made me think about enjoying the holidays.  Enjoying cooking, creating, and being with people I love.  It made me think about how grateful I am so have this little reminder of such wonderful Fall memories..... 

*What fills my heart*

Putting together my layout was simple and fun.  And even though almost each piece of this project has a different pattern to it, I feel like it still blends just the way I wanted it to.  To start off, I picked out some of my favorite papers and sewed them together with pretty blue-green thread.  Then I cut out my heart shaped photo.  Next, I picked out one of my favorite alphas to add the title.  Because the heart shaped photo felt like it had movement to me, I decided to add a chipboard arrow and Hambly rub-on to intensify the effect.  But before I glued it all down, I ran the background paper through my typewriter to add the written list of What fills my heart.  And it was important to me to add it.  Even though I know what each of the photos inside my heart represents, for some reason I wanted it written on paper too.  And for the final touch, I cut out a piece of Hambly black lace transparency to layer under the heart.  I glued it all down.....and all done : )

WFMH Layout Collage

Enjoy your holiday, and if you find time to create this week I hope you are inspired by something wonderful!!!

Love, Gloria and Carrie

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Your appointment with Friday (Saturday)

Happy Saturday!  And welcome to another fun photo prompt!!!  With Thanksgiving right around the corner we though it would be nice to have a little inner reflection.  The prompt is.....
  
What fills your heart?

*My heart is full*

From left to right and top to bottom.....here are some of the things that fill my heart:
  • Nature and all it's beauty (we have always been close)
  • My loving family (and specifically this sweet photo my little sister took with her new camera)
  • Wonderful friends to play with (I love all of them dearly)
  • My best friend, Gloria (my life would not be the same without her)
  • Creating (art, photography, crafts...gives me lots of joy)
  • My sweetie, Ryan (he is the love of my life)
  • The little things (ice cream, wine, movies, music, toys, etc...and specifically rain...this sweet single raindrop)
  • My doggies, Gatsby and Ponyo (our little angels and monsters)
Today is the Saturday before Thanksgiving, and I am grateful for so many wonderful things.....things that fill my heart to overflowing.....that make me feel blessed.  When I thought about this prompt and how I was going to create a photo with it, I immediately thought of doing a collage of photos.  My brains works like that.  I see individual pictures, not one single photo.  And I wanted it to feel current, real, like who I am now.  So, I decided to choose some of my favorite memories captured in photos from this Fall.  To me, each of these memories symbolizes something specific that fills my heart (hence the list above).  To finish it off, I decided put all the photos inside a big heart!  And I now have a special photo that represents What fills my heart this Fall, and it feels great!!!

When you go to take your photo, or put together a collage, or whatever.....there are lots of different options on how to capture What fills your heart.  You can take a photo of a list, you can take a photo of a basket that holds some of the things you are thankful for, you can take a photo of one individual item or person, you can paint each item on a rock and then join the rocks together to make a heart.....just let your imagination take you there.....

I know you will make something beautiful.  Have a great weekend.....say Hi! to your camera for me ; )

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When Carrie and I were coming up with our prompt, the thoughts that twirled in my head were.....
  • my kids
  • holidays
  • work
  • smiles
  • joy
  • childhood memories
  • crafting with my BFF



This is what is filling my heart, and this will end up being my word for 2011.....

Story

I have been feeling the need to tell parts of my story.  Words that describe my who, what, when, were and how.  The most exciting story of my childhood.  My fondest mom story.  The first boy I kissed story.  The funniest thing my kids ever did story.  My healing story.

The basket of my life is full of stories.  Words, that when laid on paper help me rest, make me smile, help my soul find comfort.

What do you see?

*Gloria & Me* Fall 2010

Love, Gloria and Carrie

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Cozy & Sweet Photos

Cozy & Sweet Living

There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.

-Nelson Mandela

Play of the Imagination

Without this playing of fantasy, no creative work has ever yet come to birth...the debt we owe to the play of imagination is incalculable.

-Carl Jung

*Joy*

I've grown to realize the joy that comes from little victories is preferable to the fun that comes from ease and the pursuit of pleasure.

-Lawana Blackwell, The Courtship of the Vicar's Daughter, 1998

Love, Gloria and Carrie

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Bubblegum Sketches & DIY

Gloria's Recipe Layout Sketch

Welcome to another Wednesday of Bubblegum Sketches!!! 

The sketch above is from Gloria's Project Monday Recipe Layout, and the one below is from Carrie's Project Monday Recipe Envelope.....


Carrie's Recipe Envelope Sketch


And today I thought it would also be nice to share a little DIY.....

DIY Envelope

This is how I made the recipe envelope for my project.  It's so fun and easy!  Here are the written instructions to go with the photos.....
  1. Take apart an envelope in the size you want to use.
  2. Pick a piece of scrapbook paper, and trace the envelope onto it (i used a pencil).
  3. Cut the envelope out of the scrapbook paper.
  4. Use your bone folder to fold over the edges so it matches the envelope you took apart.
  5. Add glue (or a tape runner for not so strong hold) to the bottom edges of the right and left side flaps.
  6. Fold bottom flap up so glue attaches from right and left side flaps.
  7. All done!!!
There are so many possibilities with these sweet handmade envelopes.  You can add them to a minibook (like what I plan to do with mine), you can add it to a layout, and you can give it with a beautiful card.....simple little things like this really do make me smile : )

And for more Bubblegum Life fun.....if you haven't checked it out yet, there is a mouthwatering photo of a beautiful chocolate mocha cheesecake, with a link to the recipe on our Flickr Group (courtesy of Moon In My Garden).  Yummy!  If you have a yummy Fall recipe don't hesitate to share, we would just love it!!!

Please feel free to use the sketch images or DIY on your blog, just link them back here : )

See you tomorrow for more Cozy & Sweet Photos!
Love, Gloria and Carrie

Monday, November 15, 2010

Project Monday

There is something about this time of year that makes me want to snuggle up with my sweetie, wrapped in a soft blanket, with a warm cup of hot chocolate.  Hmmm....sounds so good right about now.....And so does cooking, baking, and ice cream making!!!  I cook more during the Fall than any other time of year, so for my project this week I decided to make a little envelope to hold some of my favorite Fall recipes. I also added a few photos from my ventures around San Diego to help document this lovely November month.....

*A recipe for Fall* Envelope

Fall Envelope Details

Here are all the pieces I used to create my little treasure holder.....

Fall Project Pieces

My plan is to add this envelope to the Fall minibook I've been working on, so it's about 3.25 inches by 5.25 inches.  The first thing I did in creating this project was to make the envelope out of a piece of scrapbook paper.  Then, I printed out my recipe photo really small and cut it out of the photo paper with scalloped scissors.  After that, it all came together pretty easily.  I just layered until it seemed balanced.  Adding the gold embellishments and spray paint were the final touch for the front of the envelope.  Next, I printed out my hot chocolate recipe and a couple other November photos large enough to help fill the inside.  Last, I decided to add a little handmade tag with some journaling to help me remember where one of the photos was taken.  And now I have a sweet little envelope that holds some wonderful memories.  I can't wait to fill it with more sweet notes and trinkets!

Have fun creating with your treasures this week!

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Gloria's *Recipe* Layout

Gloria's *Recipe*  Layout Details

Yummy...
Yummy...
 
So that's what comes to mind when I think of actually taking the time to collect all the things necessary to put a recipe together.  I love that.  I will have this memory forever.  So the words on the actual picture is easy and it makes it so personalized.  This time of year for some reason makes us slow down and cook.  It's when we pull out our grandmothers favorite recipe or our best friends mom's recipe out for those amazing cookies.....Writing and cooking and crafting some how connects us as females.  It brings us together because we get each other.....You know its a girl thang...
 
Thanks for joining us, and about my layout: Lots of different tape and mushrooms with the deer make it feel like that 70s house i wish i had.  So maybe in my head as I made this layout I was cooking it in my orange kitchen in my 70s house.....
 
See you tomorrow!
Love, Gloria and Carrie 

Friday, November 12, 2010

Your appointment with Friday

Welcome back to another fun Friday photo prompt!  We are excited because this is our first photo prompt that also has journaling!!!  The prompt is:

A recipe for Fall.

*A Recipe for Fall*

I decided to make two versions for this photo and journaling prompt.  The photo above has text I added in photoshop, and the one below has text I added onto my printed photo with a fine tip sharpee.....

Carrie's Hot Chocolate

Honestly, I really don't enjoy having my own handwriting on my projects.  But, I am also really poor at journaling.  The way I see it, is that I need practice.....and maybe to just get used to the way my writing looks.  What I thought was so cool about this prompt was that the journaling is easy.  It's just a recipe, so a no brainer.  And in the process I get to document a piece of my Fall routine with a favorite recipe that I use often.  For me, the key was to just make it simple.  If I cooked everyday, then I would use one of those recipe's, but I don't.....so this worked for me.  And yes, you should totally try making hot chocolate like this.  It's sooooo good!!!  I also really enjoy adding marshmallows!  Yummy!!!

When you go to take your photo this week, just make sure to leave enough negative space to add your recipe directly on the photo.  And of course your photo can be of a finished recipe, maybe just you cooking, one of the ingredients, a cooking utensil, or whatever you like really.  Just as long as it fits to you.

I can't wait to see some or your Fall recipes, and it would be really cool for you to upload it to our Flickr group, so others can see too  : )  Have fun creating your memory!

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Time to get to the kitchen to show our cooking skills.....

Gloria's Recipe for Fall

I am not a great cook but I do love to make food for people I love.  So, this is the time of year that I get to do exactly that.....Make some yummy food for all my peeps.  I am not a huge recipe person.  Usually I make things that I am familiar with and I don't try new things.....but I think I should.  So, when my sister in law sent me this recipe and I saw it kind of had my name in the mix (get it ), I knew I was making MUFFINS.  I love these because you can add whatever you like, and the kids without knowing, are eating.....carrots.....

Well, I hope you try these they are really good : )
Thanks!


Love, Gloria and Carrie

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Cozy & Sweet Photos

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.  
~ Albert Camus

Autumn is a second spring

Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all.
~ Stanley Horowitz


Autumn is a mosiac

autumn is leaving
tugging each others' branches
two pine trees
~ Skiki's Autumn haiku

Autumn is leaving

Have a beautiful day!!!
Love, Gloria & Carrie

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Bubblegum Sketches

11.9.10 Gloria's Bubblegum Sketch

Thanks for joining us for our second week of Bubblegum Sketches!

The sketch above is from Gloria's Project Monday Layout, and the one below from Carrie's.....

11.9.10 Carrie's Bubblegum Sketch

We would love to see your layout or project if you decide to play along with Project Monday : )  Our Flickr photo group is HERE, or you can leave a comment with the link.  Oh, and if you haven't seen the latest uploaded photos and layouts, you are in for a real treat!  They're filled with lots of color and sooo beautiful!!!

Please feel free to use these sketch images on your blog, just link them back here : )

Have fun creating!
Love, Gloria and Carrie

Monday, November 8, 2010

Project Monday

It really seems time is passing us by so quickly.  That's why I believe we are given Autumn Hues.  It seems to me, autumn is a reminder from nature that says...stop.  Look at me.  I am beautiful.  I love the richness of color that surrounds us during this season.  My two favorite hues are rich mustard yellow and turquoise. That dark turquoise that feels like night time.....

Gloiria's *Autumn Hues* Layout

My layout is a little busy, like my life right now.  It has the Hambly rub-on tree.  (love this tree).  I also included a page from The new Anthropologie catalog because it feels rich in color.  Then I just felt my way around the paper until it felt like I created my perfect Autumn layout.  Lots of little leaves, an owl for some personality with bling.  Then suddenly...it's done...Happy Crafting.....

Gloria's *Autumn Hues* Journaling

Gloria's *Autumn Hues* Title

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Originally I had decided to do a different project with my Autumn Hues photos, like make some little notebooks or tags.  But the more I looked at my photo collage, I knew I wanted to print it out onto transparency.  There was something about the way the colors were captured with the depth of the transparency and the white paper layered under it that felt like it was jumping off the paper.  Like it had something to say.  So, I ended up creating this 12x12 layout, but to me, with an art journal page feel...

Carrie's *Autumn Hues* Layout

I've never really made a layout or even art journal page like this before, and it was fun and easy.  I like that.  When I started out designing this project, not having watercolors proved to problematic.  But, I am very resourceful (and stubborn), so I ended up watering down a red liquid acrylic paint, magenta ink, and to make the purplish color, I mixed the magenta with a blue.....also watered down.  Then I just painted them onto the paper with large splatters that merged together.  Dabbed the extra liquid with a paper towel, and let it dry.  It ended up warping the paper quite a bit, so to get it mostly strait again I ironed it on high with a cloth between the iron and paper so it wouldn't burn.  Once I added the journaling and sewing, it straightened out even more.

Journaling is also something I rarely do just in general, so this layout feels a little special to me.....

Carrie's *Autumn Hues* Details

See you tomorrow with the Bubblegum Sketches of our layouts!  Happy Monday!!!

Love, Gloria and Carrie