Scrappin' without Scraps

Studio Friday - Highlights

Sad to say this is the last Studio Friday....  I didn't realise it but it has been going for threes years now which is a really amazing. I'll be sad - I've always enjoyed touring around the Studio Friday blogs. So thank you Tine for all the amazing Fridays and good luck to all the Studio Friday artists!

So fitting for the last one, this week the topic is Highlights

If you had to pick one highlight of your work what would it be? You might also think about the highlight of your day when you have time to be in your studio, your creative space...? Over the past years has there been a very specific highlight for you? Maybe there were several or still are. I am sure there are many more to come your way no matter what."

This  layout was published in Digital Scrapbooking Magazine last year which was a huge thrill for me.  I've had one other LO published but not in such a big and popular magazine.  And I really like the journaling which tells the story of our change jar.

The change jar in the kitchen has been with us forever but it wasn't until Teen1 was maybe three years old that it became a tradition. Who knows how and when it started but it did. The change gets collected and counted when the jar gets full and then the kids decide which charity gets the money. The rules are that it must be an official charity - like a real one, not some made up one. And none of us may benefit from that charity. So, for instance, if the band was trying to raise money for a trip, the money could be donated to them but only if none of our kids were in the band. It is always a group decision and everyone must agree which often means some negotiation. Over the years it has been fun to see what causes you choose to support. You've donated to the food bank, Toys for Tots and the Red Cross many times. And for seeing eye dog training, breast cancer quilt, trail building and books for the library. The money has gone to bring kids injured in war to the US for medical care, providing seeds in Africa and to the tsunami victims.

Our hope is that as you go out on your own that you will continue the tradition.

You can see the Highlights of Studio Friday here. 

Studio Friday - Heart

Today's Studio Friday....

Where or what is the heart of your studio/creative space? Is it your desk or maybe a special piece of furniture, a window, a piece of art on the wall, your idea board, or one of your tools, a jar with ribbons on the shelf...? "

Since I am primarily digital, the heart of my studio isn't overly pretty but does have a mind of it's own. And, bless it's little binary heart, it definitely has personality.

The other central heart of my studio can be seen below and it provides inspiration as well as warmth and comfort! 

Happy Friday!  You can see the heart of other Studio Friday folks here.

Credits:  (top) Jennifer Tripetti's papers, font is Spicy Retro and Augie; (bottom) Carrie Stephen's papers and elements, font is Big Ruckus

Studio Friday - Legacy

This is a weighty subject, for sure. Legacy is the Studio Friday topic this week ( or rather last week since i am a few days late in posting this.)

"What work(s)/successes/accomplishments would you love to leave behind for the world? What legacy would you like to or are already about to create?"

I can honestly say I haven't thought about this for ages.  When I was in high school, my AP English teacher had us write our own obituaries; something my parents found absolutely horrifying but I approached it with the naivety of an 18 year old.  Mostly it was a variation of what I want to be when I grow up and my plans then centered around archeology and anthropology with some art thrown in for good measure.  My how far from that I have come!

My legacy if I am to leave one art-wise would be that I would like my DDs to have some appreciation of art for art's sake.  And that it is okay to do your own art, whatever shape and form it takes. To my way of thinking, drawing, doodling, sewing, decorating a cake, choosing posters, planting a garden, knitting, scrapbooking and decorating your space are all art.  All require the use of color and line and creativity.  I would hope that they can find the time and place in their life to make their own art, express themselves creatively and enjoy it.

Studio Friday - Goals

This week Studio Friday is on goals...

"Staying on track with New Years resolutions, goals and dreams? Or maybe you are about to set some goals for new projects? How are things going so far?"

"What 3 things can you do today to further your goals and dreams?" - Robyn

So not to be boring but some of my goals for the new year are fitness.  I don't do well with ones that require that I do something daily - my schedule needs to be more flexible than that and it makes it too easy to fall off the wagon and then give up. So I thought I might do better if I had something to track my progress and of course, something pretty is more appealing than a word document or scraps of paper. LOL

So here's the idea - the card has space for all sorts of things.  I've been wearing a pedometer to keep track of steps so now I can record them.  Plus there is space for cardio and notes when I squeeze in strength stuff or want to record my weight (ugh!).  I print these out for each week as 4x6 cards on card stock and punch a hole so I can put them on a ring.  I think I'll change them every season just for fun!  Oh and the cool thing is that I can change things too - like add categories like WW points to whatever.

Come to think of it...you could do this for lots of things....

Happy Friday!!

Credits for materials may be found here

Studio Friday - The View

This week for Studio Friday ( which I am getting to on Sunday...I know...but at least I did get to it this week).  My view is a bit white and soon to get whiter as there is a big storm in the forecast.  We're supposed to get 6 -12 inches! 

You can see everyone else's view at Studio Friday - The View

Studio Friday - Brand New

I've been absent for awhile but thought I would try to join in the fun of Studio Friday which definitely makes one look forward to Friday even more! 

This week the topic is Brand New - A new year!!! Exciting! All new things, experiences, flavours, people and things are waiting for you to be met and greeted.
How about your studio and creative space? Are there any brand new items, materials, colours, paints, papers, wooden logs, clay, journals... waiting for you to be unwrapped or unpacked?? Maybe there is a new project or idea waiting to be polished and executed? Or you may have set a new goal for yourself or a resolution?

That seems easy enough...except....there isn't much brand new in my studio.  Unless you count the blinds which I just ordered but aren't here yet.  And, trust me, they aren't all that exciting.  New project?  Well, no, I am just trying to complete all the ones I have going.  How about a new attitude?  Will that do? 

This year I decided that I'm going to put myself out there more and actually display the stuff I make.  Crazy as it sounds, I tend to keep it to myself.  I'm not actively hiding it and I do occasionally wear things I've made like a scarf but, for the most part, I don't display it.  Probably I'm worried someone won't like it - LOL. Or that I'll screw up somehow. So my new thing is to do stuff I want to do and can have fun doing and actually use.

My work office has two very ugly screws which supported a picture which I didn't really like and was in the way of my much needed bulletin board.  But for the past 3 months I've been trying to decide what should go in that space....and I think I have the answer....

Some photos from my garden in a simple frame.  Hey, with all the snow we've had so far this year, this will be really nice!

Happy Brand New Studio Friday!

Studio Friday - Yellow

I haven't been at Studio Friday for awhile and I picked a funny week to come because the subject is yellow...

Even though I love shabby pastelly hues of pinks and robin's egg blues, I am still drawn to yellow. For me, yellow is epitome of summer and happy faces. Yellow is hot summer sun and mustard! Yellow just makes me happy and I wonder how other artists interpret this color. --- michelle

The color of sunlight, sparkle and gold... so why don't I like yellow?  Of all the colors, it is one of my least favorite.

Some shades of yellow I like - the palest shades are lovely but the darker ones I really don't like much  at all.  I think it all started with the kitchen in the house which my parents moved to when I was in college.  Not that I was actually there much at all but it had bright yellow cabinets and with a blue and green checkered rug...um mm...well...yeah...what can I say...it was the 70s .  It was really tough to face that room in the morning, especially with a hangover.  I would just grab some coffee and run. Come to think of it I don't ever remember cooking in that kitchen though I have fond memories of all the other kitchens of my youth. 

So...returning to the present...some yellows are useful like these yellow marigolds in my veggie garden which keep it bug free.

and there are these yellow flowers which I find charming because they attract butterflies and they dance so well in the breeze.  I don't know where they came from or what they are but I have let them stay in this garden.

and lastly there is this flag which I actually bought ...

but other than that I don't have much yellow - even looking through my stashes I find very little yellow...

Studio Friday - Sloth

This week, still working on the seven deadly sins it is....sloth. 

Okay, looking around here...this one is easy for me....LOL

My desk...

The wall to the right of my desk...that's stuff left over from my CHA trip...

and...the left side of my desk

I may not have three toes but I'm definitely a sloth.

Studio Friday - Greed

In the Studio Friday miniseries of 7 Deadly Sins we are now on Greed for this week.

"What is it you are greedy about or feel greedy about? Is it material or is it a behavior? Are you greedy for emotions? Do you hoard? How do you want to change for the better? It can be small steps or do you rather take a big step to change?"

Well I'm not much of a hoarder.  Maybe that has something to do with digital since you can't really share files.  So it's not like I can hoard paper or anything.  In fact this doesn't have anything to do with art...this is more like a greedy little ritual I have.  Every Sunday night I have to have my ice cream.  I have no idea where this came from or when it started but I  recall it had something to do with watching Masterpiece Theater which was on Sunday nights.  It's now become a ritual with certain 'rules' - it has to be ice cream (no frozen yogurt or ice milk thank you very much); I always have it in a coffee mug not a bowl; and it has to have some chocolate in it or on it.  Though I dearly love ice cream, I don't eat it any other night....it's my greedy little pleasure and ..it's mine, all mine!  lol

Credits:  kit is Bootleg Flowers by Rikki Donovan at Polka Dot Potato; stamps by Michelle Coleman at ScrapArtist; font is Augie.

Studio Friday - Gluttony

Working on the theme of seven deadly sins, this week the Studio Friday theme is Gluttony.  For once this is an easy one for me...

Ah...coffee...I wonder how many others will name coffee too?  I have to admit I really don't know how much I drink because I tend not to start a cup but not finish.  So my studio/office is a bit littered with cold coffee cups...LOL.  I guess maybe I should keep better track but...well, I get too engrossed in something and forget.  Ah well!  I guess it's a really good I don't smoke because I'd probably leave those around too and that would be quite dangerous.  This way it's not too dangerous unless I knock one over....here are the rest of Studio Friday posts.