Have Glue Stick, Will Travel

Hey Everyone! 


It is officially Summer when the temperature hits above the 90 degree mark in my book.  For some of you the official date begins sometime in June, here in south Florida summer has arrived. It's time to start thinking of vacation and travel plans.  We've been planning a trip to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park for two years and this is the summer we are going!  I can't begin to tell you how excited hubby and I are to be going West, I've been to Yellowstone and Teton National Parks before but hubs hasn't and I can't wait to see his face when he gets the first glimpse of the Teton mountains outside our cabin and the first time we pull into Yellowstone.....priceless. If you've ever been there, then you know what I'm talking about! It is a stunningly beautiful and prehistoric, wild wilderness. Be still my heart! 

Water color palette, aqua crayons, paint tubes and brushes.

Getting ready for a trip in my world, means what art supplies do I take with me.  Most people think about what to pack, like clothing and other essentials but for me it is about the art supplies and the journal. I'm a bit obsessive about it too! We'll be doing some daily hiking, using a back pack and changing hotels frequently. That means packing and re-packing and schlepping stuff around.   Most times, I look like a Sherpa with all the stuff I am carting along. It takes me days to figure out what I need to take with me, especially if I must pare down the supplies, like this year. The least amount of weight I have to carry the better! Take a look at what I'm planning  to take and keep in mind, all supplies, except journal must fit into a small zippered pencil pouch.

Journal and zippered pencil pouch carrying art supplies. 

Here's the list:

• Cutter Bees (scissors)
• Glue Stick
• Dot Glue Runner (for the heavy stuff)
• Water pen/brush
• Water Color pencils
• Pitt, Micron & Sharpie pens
• Pencil
• Eraser
• Pencil Sharpener
• Bone Folder
• Journal

Here we go, all pared down to the essentials.

 I opted for the watercolor pencils instead of palette (above) or w/c crayons. This will reduce the need for water container, brushes,extra tubes of paint, sponge and paper towels. The pencils are lightweight and will fit into the zippered pouch nicely.  

And now that the supplies are ready I started preparing a few journal pages to get me started.  I like to spray colored inks or water color the background of the pages before the trip, stick in a few stickers  and add random stamps. Later I'll add journal notes or other memorabilia to each page. 

Map of Grand Teton National Park and Park Safety 

 The more preparation done before hand means less prep time at night and more time to cut, glue and journal each days activities. I've glued in several envelope pockets (used glue dot runner to secure) and stashed small pieces of paper ready for notes or quick sketches, etc.   

Notes on the fly. 

Decorative punched edge envelope for more notes. 

Ohh, I'm seeing a pattern here....the final envelope is attached to the back flap of the journal cover; it will provide a place for maps.  I also stashed some stickers in here to use later...go ahead, you can call me a bit crazy obsessed.  But before you do, please tell me what's your destination this summer? What you do to prepare for a trip? Do you take art supplies? How do you decide what to take with and what to leave at home? 

Let Summer Begin! 

I look forward to your comments and sharing the pages of our trip to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks with you soon! 

Adventurer at heart,

Suzy

Verse Journal Tuesday

Hello Everyone,

Join me today for Verse Journal Tuesday. Today's Journal page is on Philippians 4: 6-7.  Just click on Verse A Day Journal above to read about Surrendering Your Burdens.

Live Joyfully in Christ,
Suzy

Heavy Heart

Hello there!
It is with a heavy heart I write this post about my precious niece Amy who went home to be with Jesus ten days ago.  She was a dear sweet little thing when she was born, I remember holding her for the very first time and thinking she was a special little girl. Amy was born a special needs baby, the doctors didn't expect her to live past the age of five, but she proved them all wrong.  God allowed Amy to live to be 28 years old and she touched the lives of all who knew her. We rejoice that Amy is with Jesus, that she is free at last from the challenges of this life and she is dancing in His Glory!  For those left behind, we are feeling the pain, sorrow and  grief of missing our loved one; we thank God for giving us Amy and we cling to His promise of eternal life in Jesus and and rest assured that we will see Amy again some day.
Please pray for comfort and peace for Amy's mother and father, sister and brothers.
Blessings,
Suzy

Inaugural Journal Page Revealed

Hello there!

Today I am revealing Hosanna In The Highest, the first pages in my Bible Verse Journal. I'm excited about it and I hope you will be too!  Please click on the Verse A Day Journal above to see the journal pages. 

Be sure to come back each week on Tuesdays to see what pages I have added to my journal.   


Blessings,
Suzy 

Journal Sneak Preview

Hello Everyone! 


Thanks for stopping by today!  You're in for a big surprise as today is the day I'm giving a Sneak Preview to the Bible Verse Journal.  I've made a collage of my journal pages, just so you will have a little peep into what is coming.


Like I said before in previous posts, I don't claim to be an artist, just a wanna-be.  So, take it as you may, this is a very personal and humbling journey for me and I'm feeling very vulnerable just saying that and revealing this part of me. I guess that is why I am giving you my disclaimer up front!  Well anyway, here we go........
The Adventure begins...... 


I hope you will come back and check out the individual pages I will be posting in the coming weeks. 


Blessings,
Suzy

Linking up to: Sew Many Ways..., Polly-Wolly Doodle

Basket Make Over

Hello Everyone!

I'm pretty excited today to reveal the Basket Make Over I posted about finding at the thrift store. Originally the basket was pink and cream on the outside and blue gingham check on the inside. The lining was pretty stained and beat up but the price was good so I figured it could be revamped with a new lining and be put to use as storage in the studio.  So without further ado, here is the newly re-made basket! 

And with a little new fabric from Swell by Urban Chicks for Moda, we have a new look!  I sewed the lining and added a pleated ruffle and used red binding tape to finish the edges. There was a slight error on my measurements so I just came back in with some more dotted fabric above the red binding. Everything was hot glued into place.  

This is the lid area where I used red craft felt and a piece of snap tape to finish off the edges. The corners are faux mitered due to the challenges of using a HOT glue gun in a tight space. To faux miter the corners I laid down strips of tape on each short side corner to corner, on the long sides I folded the corners to make a mock miter. 

I rather liked the outside of the basket in its cream and pink and so I chose to just enhance the pink a bit with a my dressmakers chalk. I found it by accident in my sewing drawer when I was looking for something to mark the felt. Who knew it was almost a match for the pink already on the basket! I rub it on the ridges and then sprayed a light coat of clear spray over it to keep the chalk from rubbing off.  


Keep your eyes peeled for old baskets at thrift stores and garage sales, they are easily transformed into great storage pieces!  


Happy Crafting! 


Linking to Sew Many Ways http://www.sewmanyways.blogspot.com, http://boogieboardcottage.blogspot.com/

May Day

Hello Everyone!

Happy first day of  May!  Can you hear the shouts of HELP! HELP! HELP! (May Day, May Day, May Day!) coming from this screen? Last week I was taking a leap of faith in linking to Make a Friend Friday, over at Sew Many Ways! This week I'm in the process of learning how to add new features to my blog. Maybe you already know about linking up, gadgets, buttons and such  if you are the least bit computer savvy, but for me, it is a big learning curve.  I'm not the most techno-savvy person you'll meet but I do enjoy learning new (to me) things from time to time.  So bear with me while I make these changes and feel free to offer advice or how-to information (be kind and K.I.S.S.).  I was recently thrilled when Karen of Sew Many Ways shared with me how to "fix" my email issue (thanks Karen!).  On her blog she provides a nice tutorial called Blog Buddy in which she answers blogging questions. Check it out! http://sewmanyways.blogspot.com. Oh, you will love this blog! She has wonderful tips and projects! Tell her I sent you!

Anyhoo, you might notice (I hope) the two new pages that are under construction? They are  Bible Verse Journal and Art Journal just in case you didn't see them.  I'm pretty geeked up about sharing these journals with you!  Here's a bit of a "pre-construction zone" view of  the Bible Verse Journal and how it all started only a week ago.  I was checking out some blogs that had recently peaked my interest on Pinterest when I came across  a blog artist named Nancy Babb, and her blog site http://polly-wollydoodle.blogspot.com/  (love that name!) and instantly was drawn to her Bible Verse Challenge page. After reading the challenge and praying about it, I wrote a note to my BFF who had just that day told me that she wanted to do "more spiritual artwork" and asked her to check it out and tell me if she would like to have a little challenge.  She promptly replied, "YES!" and we agreed that we would do a private daily challenge using the Bible verses provided by http://www.biblegateway.com.  I would encourage you to check out Polly-Wolly Doodle  and sign up to participate with Nancy on her Bible Verse Challenge! And I hope you will come back and follow along with me on this journey of both spiritual and artistic growth.  

Now, let me tell you give you my disclaimer on the Art Journal. I don't consider myself an artist really, I just like to dabble and play with my art supplies, paper and scissors. The Art Journal is where I go to work out the stuff in my head.  Doodles, colors, thought process, etc.  Some times the pages are Smash work. Smash work is where you put bits and pieces you've collected during the day  into a journal page....I like that kind of art myself, especially when traveling, it is a great way to keep a daily page reminder without lots of writing. Have glue stick will travel!! Maybe I'll make a Travel Journal page to share with you!  Any way, the point of the Art Journal is to do something daily, I don't always have time to do a page a day but when I do, it is a joy to work in my journal. I look forward to sharing my journals with you.
Blessings!
Suzy