What I've been up to lately...

  Sorry for the lack of posts the last couple of months.  It's hard to believe it's already May!  I swear time goes by faster the older you get!  Anyway, I figured it was high time to post an update of what I've been up to! :)  Rather than posting everything chronologically, I wanted to try something a little different this round and post things in categories while also keeping this post in sync with some of my other social media posts, descriptions, hashtags and all.  Hopefully it won't make the post TOO long, but either way you'll at least get all the writing broken up with some (hopefully) cool photos.  ;)  P.S.  If you're one of the rare, awesome people who follows my blog, or found it, because of my digital art, just know that I am slowly trying to get back into digitally drawing (have kind of taken a break from it for awhile) and will hopefully have some new things to share with you guys soon.  Probably something very hideous, but some sort of digital drawings none the less.  ;) 

MIXED MEDIA:

 I sprayed some dylusions sprays directly on to one of my stamp blocks that's roughly the same size as my mini sticker sheets to see what it would do and ended up with these. It was extremely messy but I really love the outcome. #dylusions #sprayink #experiments #stickers #diy #scrapbookpaper #wip #galaxy #colorful #stamps

 A couple of large sheets I did some painting on. #dylusions #balzerdesigns #painting #mixedmedia #cansonpaper #acrylic #sprays #stencils #dinawakley #colorful #heidiswapp #liquitex #jillibeansoup #thecraftersworkshop

 Recently bought some dylusions stamps at Tuesday morning and thought I would play around with painting them with some watercolor. Not the best but it came out better than I expected. The derby is this weekend, so this is actually perfect for that.  #dylusions #stamps #artistloftwatercolors #painting #watercolors #heidiswappstamps

Under painting. #painting #artjournal #dinawakley #artistloft #cansonpaper #mixedmedia #colorful #background

PLANNER STUFF:

  This section is probably pretty boring, but for anyone else like me, I thought I'd still post some of my random planner pages.  I've been struggling with keeping a planner and getting it organized, so maybe this will help those also dealing with those issues. 

 I haven't really shared a planner layout for awhile. My system is still a little all over the place but it's working fairly well for me for the most part. I've been incorporating my lettering into my layouts more too, which I really like. #happyplanner #planner #plannerdecorating #weeklayout #organizing #myweeksofar

I am a terrible craft hoarder. I buy so many cute things and then never use them for various reasons. The main two being that I'm either intimidated by them or I'm waiting for the 'right project' to use them on. Both of which are ridiculous reasons not to use my cute stuff! So my goal is to start using more of my supplies. I know some I will save for special projects, but I can't save every single thing! I've been starting out by using more supplies in my planners. I've gotten a bit tired of my current MAMBI planner layout. The colors feel so drab and boring now compared to the new one I have waiting and I really hate the morning, afternoon and evening breakout. I'm so glad the new planners don't all have that. I've started predecorating my new planner but since I can only plan so far ahead, I want to jazz up my old planner in the meantime to make me want to use it more. This week so far is still pretty boring as far as overall layout, but I'm slowly making it functional and prettier to look at. #plannerdecorating #mambihappyplanner #plannersupplies #michaelsartsandcrafts #stickers #stickynotes #letters #diystickers #postitnotes #organization

LETTERING: 

 Some word motivation for this week to try to push myself out of my comfort zone. #words#quotes #letters #lettering #typography #moderncalligraphy #calligraphy #papermatehighlighters #optimusfelttippen #papermateflairpens #lifequotes

STAMPING:

 Playing with some new, old, and handmade stamps. With just a sprinkling of lettering practice thrown in for good measure. #stamps #midoritravelersnotebook #bohotravelersnotebook #travelersnotebook #colorful #stickers #diy #scrapbookpaper #lettering

 Using some blank scrapbook paper sheets to stamp on. Can you tell I really like my new jar stamp? Best part is that it only cost .50¢! #stamps #jarstamp #michaelsartsandcrafts #mustaches #scrapbookpaper #diy #pocketletter #diecuts #wip #heidiswappstamps

I found some Dylusions stamp sets at Tuesday morning that I love. I believe they're both from the couture collection set. One is the Walk in the Park clear stamps and the other was this set of lovely ladies called So Many Hats. I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do with them, I was originally thinking of using them in my bible/faith binder, but I think they may be a good project to use for Mother's Day instead. #dylusions #walkinthepark #somanyhats #clearstamps #artjournal #biblejournaling #inspirationalcards #diycards #diynotes #studiogink #stamps #stamping

 RANDOM/MISC. STUFF:

  I always have some random stuff going on it seems.  One of those random things has been my interest in lists.  This was my listers gotta list book for April.  I accidentally labelled it March and had to change out the letters.  :P  I've slacked off on my listing the last several months though.  (I didn't even finish this one either!)  I've decided /realized that while I like to list things, keeping a daily, thought provoking set of lists is not really my thing.  I love the idea and would love to keep up with daily lists, but I'm just not that sort of person.  It's just too hard for me to keep up with.  I may have to work out a different way to do the lists in the future. 

 That moment when you realize you put down the wrong month. This was actually my Listers book for April. #itsaprilnotmarch #mybrainhasntcaughtupyet #idontknowwhatimdoing #listersgottalist #listbook #minitravellersnotebook #travellersnotebook #lists

Pulled out some of my old stash to use on my Mother's Day project. It's funny how much you can find hidden away. I had a bunch of Anna Griffin pages and a few matching embellishments that are just gorgeous. Plus a cardboard book (from Recollections I think?) as well as tons of other miscellaneous supplies and papers I had completely forgotten about. Most of which I have been saving for that "perfect" project. Half of them I don't even know the companies of. Still, this stuff has to start being used! To make room for more, obviously. #annagriffin #recollections #cardboardbook #dylusionsstamps #stamps #diycards #diygifts #mothersday #happyplanner

  A little weekly inspiration reminder for you. Don't forget that you really are amazing. #projectlife #vellumcutouts #targetonespot #simplestories #freckledfawn #scrapbookpapers #dollartree #pin #katespadesaturday

BIBLE / FAITH JOURNALING:

  I've recently wanted to start keeping a Bible or Faith journal for my own spiritual growth.  With both Illustrated Faith and Documented Faith  and just Bible journaling in general growing so much lately, it's inspired me to also want to bring my artistic side into my faith.  

Decided to try making a faith binder. I used some of my own printed mixed media pages on the cover and just went through a bunch of my scrapbook papers to find some to use inside. I've been trying to use up more of my stash so maybe this will help. #mixedmedia #illustratedfaith #documentedfaith #faithbinder #biblejournaling #havefaith #usingmystash #scrapbookpapers #mymindseye #heidiswapp #wermemorykeepers #maggieholmes #basicgrey #graphic45 #simplestories #snap #stickers #everythingbutthekitchensink

 While I enjoy doing my own lettering most of the time, I love using letter stickers even more. I don't have to worry about messing up (which I always seem to do when I'm hand lettering) and I can easily add lots of color and style using a variety of stickers. My current favorites include mini alpha stickers by jillibean soup, a colorful transparent set from the dollar tree, the aristocrat set by sticko brand, the simple stories sn@p letter sticker packs, and the Studio 112 letter stickers from Joanns. There are so many more I would love to get, but so far these seem to be my go to for letter stickers. Would love to hear what favorite stickers you all love! #biblejournaling #faithbinder #havefaith #psalm23 #thelordismyshepherd #workinprogress #letters #letterstickers #jillibeansoup #studio112 #joanns #snap #simplestories #sticko #dollartree #minialpha #type #typography

 I did some stamping over the weekend on leftover cardstock pieces and thought they would be a great addition in my bible/faith binder. #faithbinder #praisebinder #havefaith #smileandchoosejoy #stamps #heidiswappstamps #michaelsartsandcrafts #scrapbookpapers #paperclips #illustratedfaith #documentedfaith

 Got my bible/faith binder set up over the weekend and it's full of colorful pages to write on! ☺️ Can't wait to get started! #faithbinder #biblejournaling #faith #illustratedfaith #documentedfaith #scrapbookpaper #mixedmedia #prints #colorful #lifestuff #lifejournal #graphic45

JUST A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS...

   

 I found these cute sticky note sets from the dollar tree. And they are actually not too bad! A lot of the Cheaper priced sticky notes I buy just plain suck but these seem somewhat decent for a dollar set. We'll see how well they hold up I guess after I use them a bit more though. #dollartree #dollartreefinds #stickynotes #plannersupplies #spring #planner

I heard Websters color crush planners were at Joanns, so I checked it out online, since the one closest to me isn't carrying them (yet?) and found it was on sale for $20.99 and today they have a flat rate shipping coupon for $4.99, so I couldn't help but get one. Lol! I love the A5 size, but there is just something so cute about a personal size planner. Now to figure out what to put in it once it gets here. #websterspages #colorcrushplanner #joanns #joannsfabric #butteryellow #colorfulplanner #planner #plannersupplies #personalplanner

Awesome new sets of stickers I found at Michaels in the $1.99 bins. I love the colors. They should match my MAMBI 2016/17 happy planner perfectly. I can't wait to get to start using it in July! #impatient #MAMBI #happyplanner #colorful #stickers #michaelsartsandcrafts #plannersupplies #plannerdecorating

 Awesome happy mail from cocoa daisy! #happymail #snailmail #cocoadaisy #grabbag #awesomemail #funstuff

 I also picked up a couple of new things this weekend. Michaels had a pretty big sale going on, so I couldn't help but get one of the new boho travelers notebooks. And I really shave fallen in love with the MAMBI happy planner. I saw this one and absolutely fell in love. The colors and style are so perfect. It doesn't start until July so I can't use it yet but I think this will be my new planner and my current planner will become my work planner. I can not wait to start using it! #mambihappyplanner #planner #boho #travelersnotebook #midoritravelersnotebook #happyplanner #mambi #michaelsartsandcrafts

 I see why people like ordering things online. It's so much fun having a package waiting for you. Oriental trading has had a free shipping deal going on that applies to any purchase amount, so I got these awesome mustache related stamps, brads, and paper clips all under $10. They have some great items at a really low price so definitely check them out! I had no idea they carried art supply types of items like this. Can't wait to try out the stamps. The stamps can also go straight into a large three ring binder or re punched to fit a smaller 5x 7 binder. #orientaltrading #happymail #snailmail #funstuff #stamps #mustaches #paperclips #supplies #happywednesday

 

I keep forgetting about the rest of the items that came in my cocoa daisy grab bag box. How, I have no idea! Some items I took out to use but It came with these adorable little embellishments (the glasses, pens, and paper clips), as well as some lovely Maggie holmes puffy stickers and a small to do list cling stamp. I thought the glasses look pretty good on my little homemade bunny. I think they might just end up with him permanently. #cocoadaisy #maggieholmes #stickers #handmade #bunny #rabbit #paperclips #stamps #embellishments #woodveneer

Hello 2016!

 Sorry to be MIA so much the past few months.  Sometimes life really gets crazy.  :p

I guess I'll catch up by going somewhat backwards, with the most fun thing I want to share with the lesser of the fun things.

In October, I got to celebrate my birthday early by getting to go on an amazingly awesome cruise!  It started out in Montreal and ended up in Boston.  It. Was. AMAZING! 

 

I haven't had much time to keep up with my planner and crafty side since I got back.  But now that we're in 2016, my goal is to catch up on everything and actually keep up with it all year.  These are a few of the photos I had at the end of 2015 that I haven't shared here yet.  I will share my latest pictures in a new post. 

I haven't kept up with my Listers Gotta List challenge much since September.  :/  I'm going to try to start over again this January, but I'm already seven days in and haven't started yet.  :/  We'll see if I can get caught up on it this weekend. 

Daily planner pages really haven't been my thing.  I like them and all, but I really don't have enough to plan for day by day.  A weekly spread is more my style.  I've always used it and seem to fall back on it the best.  My current system is the MAMBI Create 365 Happy Planner.  It's a vertical layout, which is what I used some in high school, but that's been years ago and my brain has had a hard time getting on track with it.  It's working better now so maybe I will get used to it as time goes on. 

There really hasn't been much to update since last year.  Mostly just some planner pictures and a few crafty supply buys here and there at most.  I haven't done much mixed media painting or anything.  :/  My goal this year is to get back on board with being creative and actually do something creative every single day.  But more about that in my next post!
#mambi #create365 #happyplanner #planner #plannerstuff #mixedmedia #travel #canada #listersgottalist #quotes #wordstoliveby #craftsupplies #hello2016 #goals 

Catching up...

Sorry I've been MIA for the past couple of months.  My mom had open heart surgery and things have just been crazy all the way around since June.  :P  I think it's all starting to even out a little, so I wanted to try to get caught back up on creating art regularly and posting it to share with you guys.  :) 

This post will probably be very random and a bit image heavy, just to warn you ahead of time. 

I'll start with the newest stuff I've been working on and make my way back.  I've recently gotten into doing videos of various things but I don't know how to upload them here yet so that will have to be another post.  Hopefully I can figure it out soon!  When I'm not doing that, I'm trying to stay organized with my planner.  I have so much I want to share here about planner stuff for other people who might be wandering aimlessly in the planner world.  I feel like I have been searching for the 'perfect' system for me for the past few years and I think I may finally be getting close to having systems that work for me.  I'll probably go more into this in another post, but for now let me share with you what I've been doing lately. 


Daily inserts. 
These things are pretty awesome.  It's basically just your list of daily to do items on one page.  I found this one over at themintgreenpolkadot website.  If you haven't looked at daily inserts and would like to, there are tons of options out there.  Some you can buy, some are free, and if you don't find any you like you can definitely make your own.  I tried making my own awhile back and didn't like how they came out so I plan to keep working on that when I get time, but for now these have worked perfectly for me.  I've only been using them a short time, about a week I guess, but they are really great for keeping up with daily tasks that need more room then what you get on a weekly spread.  And if you like to decorate your pages this gives you so much more room and options for that.  I don't usually have time to decorate very much but these are perfect for letting me be just creative enough every day.  I have always preferred the weekly spread and the month on two pages layouts, but the current weekly spreads I have are just not my style.  They're very generic and just don't suit me the way I like.  I'm thinking that once I run out I might get a years supply from Cocoadaisy.  I really love the look of theirs.  They even have a free download if you want to try it! 

Also, just in case anyone wants to know, I have a basic DayTimer planner.  I got it very cheap at Walmart about two years ago I think?  I really love it but I plan to eventually get a Kikki K.  I've looked at so many brands and love a lot of the designs from Filofax, but I think the Kikki K brand would be perfect for what I want.  I'm waiting for one to come out with a design I love.  (I hate that I missed their mint ones!) 

 I haven't had much time to draw digitally in the last couple of months so I really don't have much to share in that department right now I'm afraid.  :/  Hopefully I will get some time soon to pull out my computer more often.  :)  I do have some random things from around my studio or of things I've bought/come across/started working on, in case anyone is curious to see some behind the scenes sort of things.  ;) 

I feel like I am constantly cleaning or organizing my studio.  Usually both!  These stickers have moved around quite a bit lately.  I organized them from the overstuffed drawer they were in and moved them to this bright neon pink container I picked up at the Dollar General store.  I am able to see them better so that I will actually use them now!  I still have a long way to go as far as getting my stickers into a good organized system but I think this is definitely a step forward.  ;) 

 I found these adorable markers at my local TJ Maxx.  Aren't they cute?  They're basically just (scented!) highlighters, but they were too cute to pass up. 

 I came across these old scrapbook/album books in one of my boxes.  I'm pretty sure I've shared the Halloween one here before but just in case you're wondering if it still exists, it does!  LoL!  I just need to finish it!

I've decided to use these papers for my September Listers Gotta List challenge.  I'm so behind on Augusts' lists, but I plan to try to hop back on the bandwagon this upcoming month.  I love finishing one of these books and knowing that it's done. 

These sticker paper sheets are from the Dollar Tree.  I think I bought about six different types but these three seem to be my favorites. 

I picked these up this weekend.  I just can't seem to resist paint chip samples.  They're so beautiful and full of colorful goodness! 

These two pages are from my Smash books.  The robot page I found in my large red smash book and the Think Happy page is from my daily smash journal (which I have also gotten behind in this past week).  I think for 2016 I am going to do something completely different.  I haven't quite decided yet but it definitely will not be in Smash books next year. LoL  I love them but they are way too big for using them the way I have been. 

And last but not least, my latest mixed media pages! :D  I haven't had time to paint in ages but I plan to do a little painting as soon as possible.  I absolutely love how these pages turned out.  The colors just make me so happy and they make me want to be more creative.  ;) 

I hope you've enjoyed catching up with me today.  Hopefully I will have more time to start posting regularly again, and actually get time to make things to post!  Like I said, I'm hoping to figure out how to share my videos here as well, so that will hopefully be something I'll be able to share with you all soon.  Thanks for stopping by and hope you enjoyed your stay!  <3 p="">

#mixedmedia #painting #smashjournal #smashbook #EKSuccess #stencils #nofear #explore #robot #thinkhappybehappy #paintchipsamples #color #bright #bold #colorful #stickerpaper #dollartree #dollarstore #scrapbookpaper #listersgottalist #theresetgirl #lists #listchallenge #halloweenbook #halloween #memorybook #memorykeeping #TJMaxx #cute #kawaii #markers #cutehighlighters #stickers #organization #stickerorganization #dailyinserts #themintgreenpolkadot #cocoadaisy #planner #plannernerd #planning #daytimer #kikkik #filofax