The Documented Life Project 2015 : Week 25 "There's no place like home."

Can you believe we are in the 25th week of the year already? Is it just me, or has this year really gone by fast? It seems each year goes by faster than the last.  The earliest memories I have were with my mother at my grandfathers house laying in my crib.  That had to have been about 25 years ago.  To look back to memories at my grandfathers house through the years are some of the best times I had while growing up in my hometown in Ohio.  

If you have been following my blog these last few weeks you may know that I have been participating in The Documented Life Project 2015.  Each Saturday the ladies from Art to the 5th put up a Weekly Challenge, and each month there is a new theme.  

June Theme
Travel Journaling
June 20
Art Challenge: Hometown Inspiration
Journal Prompt:  There is no place like home

 I wanted to do a fun house scene for this weeks challenge for my "home town inspiration" .  You can see in the photos and in my YouTube video below, that on the house there is an address.  Memories of my hometown were at my grandpas house.  The address 362 does have some meaning.  

Supplies Used:

Dyan Reaveley's Dylusions Creative Journal

Liquitex Matte Medium

Liquitex Basics Acrylic Gesso

Crate Paper

Tim Holtz Distress Paint

Tim Holtz Distress Stain

Faber-Castell Pitt Brush Markers

Halmark tissue paper

Cricuit Machine

Heidi Swapp Trimmings

Xyron Sticker maker

Studio Calico Mistables fabric stickers

Simple stories (home spun) sticker sheet

Prima say it in crystals (free spirit)

The clothes line reminded me of my grandfathers neighbor Velma.  She was a sweet old lady that didn't mind if my 5 year old imagination took me playing in her yard, and sometimes on the metal bars of her clothes line.  I thought I was a gymnast.  

I really enjoyed doing this weeks challenge, and reflecting back on the many memories at grandpas house.  Below is a video that I have made while creating this layout.  

I hope you enjoyed the video! xoxo

The Documented Life Project Week 24 "Taking The Road Less Traveled"

June Theme

Travel Journaling

June 13

Art Challenge: Recording Memories

Journal Prompt:  Taking the Road Less Traveled

Hello, and welcome to the Mixed Media Attic!  The Theme for this month is "Travel Journaling".  The last time I traveled, it was to Florida to visit my family and we also took a road trip to Ohio during my visit.  For that visit I was blessed, and able to stay for a month. During that month of course we captured many memories, and photos, but I also collected memorabilia from each place that we ate at, every state we drove through I picked up a post card, menus, business cards, tickets, anything to remind me of my time there with my family.  At the end of my trip I put all my photos, and keepsakes into a SMASH Book from K&COMPANY. 

For this weeks challenge, I wanted to take some of my memories of that vacation and make the layout look like its part of my SMASH Book.  I had some really cute 3x4 journaling cards that were travel themed.  I collaged them into my background along with some 6x6 "Open Road" Crate Paper, and Tim Holtz "Postale"  Tissue Wrap.  After collaging the papers to the background I went over the paper with a watered down layer of Gesso.

                

I had a few pictures left from that vaction that I wanted to include into the page.  One photo was perfect for this weeks challenge of "Taking the road less traveled" since it was of the road going through Tennessee on our way up to Ohio.  

On the left side of the page I included a striped patterned tag envelop, with a journaling card, where I jotted down some memories of my vacation.  

                            

A sunset on the pier with my mom, and a delicious dinner on the water.  Some great memories with the ones I love the most.  

                                                     

                       

I have a video to go with this weeks challenge, be sure to check it out right below.  Thank you for stopping by.

Thrift Shop Upcycle: Craft storage for ink pads

Hello, and welcome to the Mixed Media Attic!  A few weeks ago I stopped in my local Thrift shop down the road and I came across a great find.  What someone in the 80's and early 90's would use as a cassette tape holder, I found use for it as ink storage, something I'm always needing as my crafting addiction grows. Today I would like to share with all of you, my latest upcycle. 

After getting this wooden storage unit home I wiped it off with some damp disinfecting wipes, followed by a damp towel.  I also stopped at my local Michaels Store and picked up a can of Krylon Color Master Spray Paint in "Blue Ocean Breeze for this project.  Since this is spray paint, I took this project out doors.  I set up an area and began spray painting the unit.  It took the whole can to really get into each of the compartments, and soak into the wood.     

I was very happy with the way it turned out, and it was relatively inexpensive compared to an ink storage units you see in the stores.  The ink pads fit perfectly in the slots too.  Now I just need to get more ink to fill it up with.  (wink... wink)

Thanks For stopping by and checking out my latest upcycle!  Be sure to check out your local thrift store.  You never know the hidden gems that you can find to take home and polish up!  

The Documented Life Project 2015 : Week 23

June Theme

Travel Journaling
June 6
Art Challenge: Illustrative Art Journaling
Journal Prompt:  Take Me Away

Hello, and welcome to the Mixed Media Attic! Today I would like to share with you my Week 23 challenge for The Documented Life Project 2015.  If you are new to The Documented Life Project, and would like more info please go over to Art to the 5th 's website and check the ladies out there. This year I have been doing this challenge every week from California, and I got my mom to join me in Florida.  Its hard sometimes to find times coordinating so we can do them together, while we Skype.  Every week there is a new challenge that goes along with the "monthly theme".  For June the theme is "Travel Journaling".  I love to travel, and get away from reality!  I can remember as a child growing up going on vacation every summer.  The prompt this week "Take me away" got me thinking of leaving to go on a vacation... and not coming back.  Kidding! 

While at my local Tuesday Morning Store this weekend, I picked up quite a few craft supplies, among lots of other goodies.  If you have never been to a Tuesday Morning Store I highly recommend checking one out if you have one in your area.  They have adorable stuff for your home as well as a pretty good aisle full of crafting supplies with top name brands at low discounted prices.  I found this adorable wooden stamp by Stampendous with the quote "I would gladly live out of a suitcase if it meant I could see the world."  The moment I seen this stamp, I knew that it was going to be used for this weeks challenge.  The wheels in my head immediately began turning. My shopping cart filled up fast, coming across Heidi Swapp 'travel paper", Prima Wooden Tickets (one stamped with Bon Voyage), and 7 Gypsies "Global" chipboard alphabet.  It seemed like it was meant to be, that the theme for June being "Travel Journaling" and me finding all the travel themed goodies at a very deep discount.  

Supplies used for this weeks challenge:

Liquitex Matte Medium

Liquitex Basics White Acrylic Gesso

Heidi Swapp 12x12 Specialty Paper (HS00908)

Tim Holtz Distress Paint ( Brass, Vintage Photo, Broken China, Salty Oceans)

Adirondak Acrylic Paint Dabers (Sailboat Blue, Espresso)

Tim Holtz Idea-ology Tissue Wrap (Postale)

Ranger Archival Ink (Sepia)

Tim Holtz Distress Stain (Broken China)

Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Vintage Photo)

Faber-Castell Pitt Brush Marker ( Cobalt Blue, Nougat)

Prima Wood Tickets (554385)

Tim Holtz Rub ons

Tim Holtz Metal Embelishment (Journey)

Hello World Rub on's (Beauty)

7 Gypsies Chipboard Alphabet Letters (Global)

Amy Tangerine Tags

Stampendous Wooden Stamp

Tim Holtz Twine

White Card Stock

Xron Sticker Maker

Baby wipes

Here is the finished page for this weeks challenge "take me away"

Steps

1. Began with ripping the Heidi Swapp paper in pieces and collaged them to the journal for the background, covering  the paper with matte medium.  
2. Wet my large brush, squirted out some Gesso onto the page and made a light wash with the gesso and water over the page.  
3. Put down the shades of blue paint, spread with a baby wipe. 
4. Cut out pieces for The suitcase.  Crumbled up the tissue wrap for a "leather" texture. Painted the papers with shades of brown.  Applied the suitcase to the journal page with matte medium.
5. Stamped journal tag, cut down the sides of the tag, and distressed the edges with ink. Tied piece of twine in hole of tag, then wrapped around the handle of the suitcase. 

    6.  Glued down the wooden ticket and round metal embellishment to the suitcase.  

    7.  Used Xron sticker maker to adhere chipboard letters to page.  

     8.  Outlined the letters and suitcase with Pitt Brush markers

     9.  Used Rub On's for a finishing touch.

Thanks for coming by and checking out my page for this week.  I had so much fun with this challenge that I even made a process video to watch.  Check it out below.  

Bon Voyage!!

The Documented Life Project 2015: Week 22

May Theme: Touchy Feely (Texture) 

May 30th 

Art Challenge: Textured Paper

Journal Prompt: I'm so not feeling it!

For this weeks challenge, I went shabby chic with a little bit of desert.  The journal prompt "I'm so not feeling it" reminded me of being in a funk and not feeling the mood I'm in.  When I get those bouts of "not feeling it" I tend to eat my emotions.  Desert has always been my weakness, which led to my inspiration for this weeks challenge.  

I kinda borrowed the quote "Keep Calm and carry on" but, instead I changed it to "Keep Calm and eat a Cupcake."  

Materials used: 

Liquitex Matte Medium

Liquitex Basic White Acrylic Gesso

Liquitex Modeling Paste

Mini Spray Bottle (Water)

Paint Brushes/Pallet Knife

Recollections 12x12 Card-stock (The Sweetest Thing)

American Crafts Remarks Letter Sticker Book (Madison)

Cricut Die Cutting Machine

Cricut Cartridge (Straight From The Nest)

Craftsmart Acrylic Paint (Robin's Egg Blue, Brown, Golden Brown, Ivory, and Pink Chiffon)

Claudine Hellmuth Studio Semi-Gloss Acrylic Paint (Purple Palette)

Americana Multi-Surface Satin (Lipstick)

Bo Bunny Stencil

Prima Color Bloom Spray Mist ( Iris, Peony)

Lace 

11mm. 7/16 in.  Round Foam Dots

Art Minds Extra Fine Glitter (Crystal Diamond)

Paper Doily

Dry Wall Tape

Ranger Glossy Accents

Faber-Castell Pitt Brush Markers (Pink Madder Lake, Nougat, Chromium Green, Deep Scarlet Red)

I used modeling paste to give the frosting some "texture", then I added some glitter to give it a little sparkle.  

The Glossy Accents by Ranger, really make the cherry look shiny and gives it a little added texture. Please be sure to check out my process video for this weeks challenge right down below.  Thanks for stopping by!

The Documented Life Project 2015 : Week 21

May Theme: Touchy Feely (Texture)

May 23rd

Art Challenge: Cheese Cloth

Journal Prompt: Say Cheese

For this weeks challenge I kept it pretty simple, and easy.  The journaling prompt "say cheese" automatically made me think of posing for a picture.  Since this year I was able to get my mom to join me in doing the Documented Life Project,  I thought it would be nice to add a photo of us on the pier in Florida. This is a photo sent to me from my mom, she used a photo editing app to get the pretty design around border.  I thought the colors in the photo went well with the spray inks I used from Tattered Angels.   

Cheese cloth was added as part of the background for texture, along with pieces of dry wall tape.  More cheese cloth was added behind the photo loosely.  I decided to leave the cheese cloth behind the photo white to make the letters pop on the right side of the page. My intention was to have a translucent color for the background so you could see the camera paper in the background.  

Here is the finished page of my layout this week.  I have uploaded my very first process video to YouTube.  You can check it out down below.  I hope you enjoy, and thank you for stopping by.