ICAD

I'm still trying to keep up with ICAD!

Gelli Plate Madness

It seems like everyone has jumped on the gelli plate bandwagon. Not that I blame them, I've seen some gorgeous stuff come off those plates! But it's too much work for me. I tend to whine if I have to reach too far for something, or learn another new trick that I'll forget before the paint is dry. I'm just trying to maintain the brain cells that I have left. I can't afford to confuse them at this stage.

Besides, if you're lucky enough to know someone who just happens to be the Gelli Plate Queen, you might end up with a sample of their beautiful work! These are envelopes with notecards that Patti Tolley Parrish sent to me, aren't they adorable? Looking at this stuff online and seeing it in person is like two different worlds. No comparison! Yesterday, I watched a video where Patti was using her gelli pad with clear tape. I was stunned with the results she got. Absolutely beautiful color!

She made me want a gelli plate.

Visit Patti's blog at Inky Obsessions

YouTube - Patti Parrish

ICAD

I mentioned in another post that I've started ICAD. It's a little thing that pops up every year from Daisy Yellow, called Index Card A Day, (ICAD - get it?) Every day for two months (2 months? holy cow!), you create art on an index card. Then you share it with all the other ICAD people on the internet at the Daisy Yellow site or Facebook page. Believe it or not, it's fun! It's amazing to see what can be created on a little 3 x 5 index card.

I thought I'd share a few here each week for your viewing pleasure.

Biting off more than I can chew

No wonder I can't get anything done! I have so much going on that I don't know what to do next. I take too many classes for one thing. I'm not finished with one when I sign up for another. And do I finish all the classes I sign up for? No. But I watch all the videos and think about all the things I'm going to do!

Christy Sobelewski has a new class that I want to take, 30 pages in 90 days. I'm ready to sign up for it, but I know I'll never finish the classes I have going on now if I do. And even though I'll have a whole year to finish Christy's class, I'll get side tracked by the other unfinished classes, and nothing will get done. I have classes in 21 Secrets to do yet, a class with Cathy Bluteau that I just started, Cotton Candy Girls which remains unfinished, a Junelle Jacobson class that I think I'm running out of time on, and against my own better judgment I started ICAD! Stop the madness!!

I can't do them all at once and I know it! Back in March, I wrote "No More Classes in 2013" in one of my journals...hahahaha. But then something happens, like I buy a cheap sewing machine and take the Remains of the Day class! Did I make a journal? No. Have I used the sewing machine....? No.

I know there are other classes. I just don't remember them at the moment.

I used to do swaps. I loved swaps. I spend too much money when I swap.

I think I'm a video addict but I can't be sure it's a real disease. I know my addiction to Facebook is real. I bought a Kindle so I could take FB with me wherever I go. It frustrates me so I don't use it much.

These are the problems I face each day. Let me tell you, retirement isn't easy.

I wonder if I still have time to sign up for Christy's class?

Inspired by AJ...

I've been a bit off for a while now and it doesn't appear that I'll be jumping back on the blog train any time soon. I'm just not into it right now, which is an awful shame, because when I AM into it...who's gonna care? One thing I've learned about blogging is that you have to keep it up in order to maintain interest, and I'm too hit and miss. So for now, I'll accept it and hope that those linked to my blog feed or networked with me, will still be there.

However! In the interim, I have a lovely friend in the UK that I would like you to meet. She lives on the Isle of Wight (if you're a Beatles fan, this is a very cool thing!) She's an artist who blogs on a regular basis and has most recently found a niche in the style of Teesha Moore! I'm so blown away by the pages she creates (and now teaches) that I'm awestruck each time I visit her blog. So get on over there and have a look-see, and leave a little love. You'll be happy you did!

AJ's Art Journal

30 Days without Journalling

My attempts to post on this blog have failed miserably. I haven't published anything since February, started to blog in March but never finished, and now it's April. I'm so (not) ashamed of myself. I'm just not a dependable blogger, even though I want to be one. I also want to be an artist and be 5'4" but that ain't happening either. ;)

I finished The A to Z of Me class in February and haven't journaled a thing since! Guess I needed a break between that and the 21 Secrets class that started April 1st! I'm very excited about 21 Secrets and will no doubt be kept very busy! Hope I can blog every now and then and show what I'm doing. I've only completed one page out of four "secrets". Some techniques I'm already aware of and have used them in the past, so I'm not journaling along with each one. I have 18 classes (courses?) left and I'm sure I'll be working along with most of them!

This is such an excellent program and I'd encourage anyone to sign up if you still can. If not, maybe next year, but don't miss out on this. You get SO Much knowledge at an unbelievably low rate. You can pick and choose from 21 different artists or attend all of them, it's up to you, (and why I've only completed one page out of four classes!). Do it! Sign up now! You'll have until the end of the year to complete the entire program. 21 Secrets

In March, I joined an altered cigar box swap at Your Paper Pantry, and Loved playing with that box! My partner was Cari Masciangioli who wanted a black and white box, and I was most happy to oblige. I really enjoyed making this.

I also tried my hand at another mixed media mosaic. I adhered bits and pieces to the cover of a bolsa box from Michaels. I'm liking this too, but I still need to spray it! I ordered some Lindy's Stamp Gang sprays and have yet to open the package! That'll be next, promise! But as usual, when I have something I need to do, I always end up reorganizing my room instead of working in it!

See you Soon with a new Inspiration or two!

A to Z Slide Show

I left off at E, F, G and never returned! I must have been having too much fun. As a matter of fact, I've had a blast with the A to Z challenge and we're almost at the end. For some reason, (I have a few ideas about this), I've been extremely relaxed and comfortable with this challenge. I haven't been concerned with comparing my work to everyone elses, and when I look at their work I honestly appreciate it without envy. Wow. Yeah, that's a big one...cuz envy can choke the life out of you. Trust me, I wasn't choking, but I sure did gag a lot!

This has been nothing but pure enjoyment for me, and I think it shows in my pages. Some are extremely simple and.... what am I saying? They're all simple! It just "felt" different. Freeing maybe? Sheesh, I've been doing this for a couple years now and I think it finally kicked in. I stopped TRYING and just DID! Amen to that!

Enjoy!