Dapoppins

Craft Warehouse Fox, Decorating for Fall

I saw this little guy at my local Craft Warehouse last year. It's a big craft store a little bit like Hobby Lobby, only not.

Don't you think he is so stinkin' cute? Just a decoration, not an actual stuffed animal, but still. So simple.

I picked this My Minds Eye (MME) paper pack from the same store. (on sale!) I love that wreath. All the papers are hand-cut by me, no measurements. I just sketched and cut. I thought he was cute. He will fit nice in an album...but then I wanted something more dimensional to hang.

Flowers, glitter, bits of this and that.

Again- I hand cut him. I had made a template from the first fox, but I couldn't find it.

The trees in my neighborhood are already starting to change into fall colors and yesterday we had some lovely rain. I'm a cold weather creature, can you tell?

The kids are back in school and I've been busy re-doing this website, planning some school Story Times, and telling people about my free children's audio book! You can get one too, just go to the top of this website and click "FREE STORY."

It's a 15 minute audio story guaranteed to be fun, interesting and engaging for kids ages 4 through 10. Okay, maybe I shouldn't be throwing out guarantees, not only is every child different when it comes to story time, I also haven't quite recorded the story yet (I gotta get on that!) so I can't really promise it's wonderfulness. But it's FREE. And that is always pretty wonderful. I hope you take me up on this offer and let me know what you think of the story. Seriously. Is it as cute as my fox or am I just delusional?

Could be the latter.

But I won't know unless people take a chance and order their free book. Wait. You don't really have to take a chance. Since, you know, it's free and all.

My goal is to have the story recorded and sent out to you all by October first.

What goals are you working on now that the kids are back in school?

Let me know in the comments. I love hearing from you.

And what happens when I doodle while talking on the phone....

There is this really cool kind of doodling known as "Zentangle," which combines art with meditation. Maybe you have seen it around or done some yourself?

There are lots of how-to books and classes on this creative drawing that can be done with a Sharpie pen - or a fancy pens and pencils. I gotta say that the fine point Sharpie has been one of my favorite pens since high school - it's my doodle tool of choice.

Some folks love the complex designs of Zentangle, and some not so much - but it is one of those art forms easily adaptable to all skill levels- I've tried my hand at it a couple of times.

Tattered Angels came out with a line of papers named Tattered Tangles that are an awesome starting place for this kind of doodling.

Printed on a plain white, slick surface (one perfect for Sharpie's!) called, "leather paper" for a mistable surface, these paper's are great for adapting and altering to my own style. I really love that the Tangled pages are a starting point for creativity. Recently (last week) there was a designer challenge at the Canvas Corp Brands Creative Studio to use these papers, and I spent some time playing with them.

I cut up a 12 x 12 page and used Mod Podge to glue it down to some chipboard I had purchased at Scrap. (I'm going to have to blog about the Scrap Store in Portland.)

I added some personal touches and Tattered Angels Paints.

And then I did another one...the same way.

I messed up a bit on this one - if you can't tell it's supposed to say, "Life is better when you laugh!" Because it is. Life is better when I don't over think it, don't sweat the small stuff, and laugh at my own mistakes.

These pages are so fun to play with. And there are so many things you can do with them. I was checking out some of the other designer's projects - you gotta check them out too! Oh Crafty Goodness! The Fearless Creativity is off the charts. Some of these designers- just - WoW. From the simple to the sensational, The Canvas Corp's Creative Crew really preformed. If you want inspration to try new things and new doodle ideas, go HERE.

Here are a few of my favorites -

Tangle Tiles Gift Box

Get Tangled Card

Tattered Tangle Tea Cup

You can see the full line of papers here:

You can see the full line of mists, paints, sprays, and glazes to colorize the papers here.

Have you ever tried Zentangle? Do you find it relaxing? Do you doodle when you are on the phone? (This may or may not be why I made the mistake on the "Laugh" page.) How would you use these pages?

(Posted while on duty in Arizona)

What is next for the Blog? What is next for Dapoppins? What is the next step in the journey?

The Heart of Gratitude Journey was such an amazing ride. I had focus, goals, prompts and yes, giveaways all planned. I was feeling so very professional blogger there for awhile. I made new connections, met new people, and explored new feelings. Seriously amazing ride.

But unfortunately I don't get paid for this, and I don't have an avenue for income set up on Dapoppins.

I love that Nancy found some focus along the journey about who she is and where she is going. Those are my favorite posts. But I still feel like I want to do, try and be everything! (cue confetti)

My word of the year last year, actually, was focus. I thought I was going to focus: find the center of an activity, produce a clear vision, become able to see clearly, go in one direction, and one goal. I tried to focus my blog to be more audience driven instead of random stuff. I set myself the challenge of blogging weekly, promoting my blog, promoting myself, participating in more social venues, and putting myself out there.

But at the end of 2014 my epiphany was a totally different kind of focus. I should have been focusing more on God. As a Christian believer, when I focus on God, when I make Him the center, all other things become clear, all other things come into balance. My perspective becomes one of faith, hope, humility, and gratitude instead of worry, strife, struggle, and disappointments. The Heart of Gratitude Journey has given me a reset to my focus and literately renewed my love for God and His creation: the people around me.

But I still don't have a focus for the blog or my future. I'm just taking things as they come.

March is World Read Aloud Month - I will be posting about that and other literacy related topics
I am on The Canvas Corp Design Team - I will be posting and sharing projects
I belong to several fun G+ crafty groups. I will be posting some crafty stuff related to those groups.
I'm leaving my family home for three weeks and going to Arizona to live with an elderly couple and help them out- I will be posting photos etc. about that for sure.

I truly hope that any new followers who might have found me because of the Journey, might stick around and take things with me, and share not just my journey, but my story.

I have really been focusing on my creative side here on the blog so far in 2015 - Not to worry, I will get back to some Children's literary explorations in March- But there have been some personal (non-nanny) opportunities that are just kinda taking over.

Being apart of a creative crew for Canvas Corp Brands is one of those.

If you do any scrapbooking, memory keeping, or scrap-related mixed media you would have heard of Canvas Corp Brands/ 7 gypsies/ and Tattered Angels.

7 Gypsies did grunge and vintage BEFORE Tim Holtz came along. Way before. And they are still doing it very well.

Tatered Angels was doing color mists when my sixteen year old was a baby.

And Canvas Corp does - well they do so much. Paper packs, tiny clothes pins, things made from canvas and burlap. At least one of their products can be found in every craft store you walk into.

To be on their Creative Crew is HUGE!

It's a big stinkin' crafty deal!

And Their CREW is huge.

For a family run company, they have a huge lot of wonderful, diverse designers. The company wants to remind people about their diverse range of products, and the best way to do that is to have a lot of different craft bloggers posting about Canvas Corp products. The company has been very generous with their product too, so that all the designers can have a chance to show it off.

I am so incredibly grateful to be one of the team.

Our very first challenge was to create personal, meaningful 4x4 canvas in our style.

I think by now a child holding an umbrella is self explanatory for Dapoppins. I used golden gel medium, golden bead gel medium, paper, a FabScraps chipboard child and LOTS of Tattered angels mists. I layered the mists with the gel medium.

Cell phone photo shows the shine a little better...

Now I need you to do something for me. Go to the Canvas Corp Brands Creative Studio Blog, find my canvas and VOTE for me.

I know there are about ten or twenty other canvas's you might want to vote for. They are interesting, and diverse and so cool. BUT find MINE and SAY "I love that Dana S. aka Dapoppins!"

I would be ever so grateful if you did.

Click photo to go to Canvas Corp Brands Creative Studio

Thank YOu.

Tattered Angels Mists, Card, Valentines Day, The Heart of Gratefulness

You Matter.

Whoever you are. Where ever you are. Because you are alive. You matter.

One of the core values of my personal faith is that in spite of our individual actions, beliefs, thoughts and feelings there is Someone Greater at work who declare's "You Matter."

As apart of the New 2015 Canvas Corp Brands design team I was sent this card with some beautiful Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist Sprays. My first February challenge is to make a Valentine Card and give it away to someone who doesn't expect it.

Now if you have read any of my posts since January, you know I'm all about Creating fearlessly yet I will be honest, I was quite intimidated by all the other design team examples. Canvas Corp Brands has recruited a huge team of seriously talented crafters and designers. I am blessed, excited and slightly overwhelmed at being apart if this incredible crowd. I had no idea how I could make my card pretty and yet stand out in a good way from the rest of the team.

After several tries, in the end I just had to power forward and go with my gut. I tried to think of something that would be memorable.

Valentine for A Stranger

I met the recipient for my Valentine Card during the rush hour commute home.

After a long day. And I'm starving.

This is not wise. I don't recommend it.

I do ridiculous things on an empty tummy, such as go grocery shopping and come home with a eighty dollars of snacks but not one thing I can use to make a meal for my family, unless you think M&M's and pretzels make a good dinner, then it's okay.

Or instead I stop for a supremely not-quite healthy meal paid for using all the change on the bottom of my purse, because I'm thrifty like that.

A couple of times on the drive, I've stopped at a local McDonald's. I was lured by the inexpensive three bite hamburgers and the One Dollar Diet Coke.

Okay. It's only ONE DOLLAR! What diet coke addict can resist that?

Anyway, a couple of times there has been a man in very well worn clothes that scream, "I sleep outside!" standing just at the corner of the restaurant holding a sign that says something about, "Spare change, anything helps." He is scraggly. He smells like wet pavement. He looks so sad, worn, and tired that it's hard to look him in they eye.

I don't know his story. I don't know if he is just down on his luck, has a mental problem, or dresses this way for work- I could drive away. I think I might have driven past him many times. But twice I gave him my change and I grabbed his hand and prayed for him.

Poor guy. I think I scared him. He jumped like I'd hit him with electricity. I should have asked his permission first but it is one of those times I just acted on impulse. In my head I am thinking, "My dollar in change is not going to help him. I should do something more."

Prayer is the most powerful thing I have to give him.

When this challenge came up, despite all the people I know, he was the first person I thought of. I need to find him again and give him this card. I need to get out of my car and talk to him. I want to grab his hand again and pray for him. I need to share this experience with my kids so that they can see, so they can know that this man with the hurt in his eyes - he matter's. He has value.

So- for the month of February I will have this card in my car and stopping often at the McDonald's to see if he is there - I'm not sure he will be. I'm not sure when or if I will ever see him again. I am pretty sure he isn't used to crazy ladies in Mom van's slurping giant diet Cokes who want to pray with him. But, what can being nice to this stranger hurt? This is my year of living Fearlessly, living outside the box, learning new things and meeting new people.

Can you think of a stranger who might be encouraged with a special card? Let me know in the comments if you give a card to someone who isn't expecting it - I'd love to hear about it.

Keep checking the blog this month to see what happens- I will let you know.

Now for a Contest!

Win Gift Card for Tattered Angels, Win Dapoppins, Win 50$

1. Create a Valentine board on Pinterest (if you don’t already have one)

2. Find 3-5 of your favorite Valentine cards on the Canvas Corp Brands Blog Crew Chalenge Post Here! and pin them to your Valentine board using the

hashtag #myfavoritevalentine

3. Place a link to your pinboard in the Canvas Corp Brands Post Comments.

Also In February-

The Heart of Gratitude, February, Blog Party,

February is the month of love and families are gearing up for hearts and candy. This year my friend, blogger Nancy Gaines of Domesticraft.com and I are going to change our thinking and go on a 21 day journey exploring the Heart of Gratitude in our lives and in our family's life. Join Us! There will be giveaways, art, laughter, glitter, paint and more! Keep an eye out for an Face Book event invite so you can be in on all the fun!

I am so excited about this. Craft Warehouse is a local family owned craft store,

-smaller than Hobby Lobby - and with less furniture/ decor items (although they do have a really fabulous decor section, just not isles and isles
-better stocked with paper craft supplies but with less fabric than Jo-Ann's
-and with a better mix of scrapbooking companies than Michaels.

It is a fantastic place to take crafty kids.

My daughter and I have made a tradition out of going to the Holiday open house.

Raffle to win gift card. We didn't win but still had fun.

Fox that inspired me to create two layout's based on his sweet face.

Design Team examples that inspire me to spend money.

I want to make one of these.

When they had their call for new guest designers I decided to give it a go. Why not? Hundreds would apply, my chances weren't great, but - WHY NOT?

I couldn't believe it when I got an Congratulations letter. Really. I Could Not. I almost didn't believe it until I got my box of crafting goodies just after Christmas.

What is a design team?

A company sends product and I get to play with it, take pictures and blog about it. What can be more fun that that? Seriously. I can't imagine anything more fun than that!

I'm not going to tell you everything that Craft Warehouse sent in my box - but i need to gush about one item right now. I need to gush extensively.

They sent me a Large Dylusions Journal.

I did not have one. These babies usually retail about $24.00. I thought it was too expensive. I thought the paper was too thin for paint, I thought it wouldn't lay flat, I thought it wasn't all it is cracked up to be.

Journaler's Everywhere. Listen to me. It is CRACKED UP, JACKED UP! It is AWESOME.

The papers are done in sections - I can't remember what book binders call them, but the sections help the journal lie flat. It opens to a big, nice page - I like a 12x12 surface. Using both pages you get about (just guesstimating here,) about that much space to work.

The paper is unique. It is smooth like manila. It feels a bit like manila. I love the way the clean unused journal feels under my hands.

Untreated with gesso or anything the paper can withstand a ton of water. I've been playing, trying to figure out my design team layout and seriously. A lot of water. Using the Dylusions Ink Sprays and a water spray bottle, to stretch the ink and move it about, I have put these pages through their paces. And they can take it. They don't absorb the moisture. It stays on top.

One drawback - because of the binding the middle of the book is "weaker." This area will absorb color if you don't sop it up or stop it with tape. However, the Dylusions Ink Sprays I have been working with are messy, imprecise, and slightly sloppy in that highly popular color-grungy way everyone is loving. You are suppose to mess this BoOk up! When I forget to tape, or just don't want to, this interesting, organic thing happens and just adds a streak of "character" to the page later.

Testing Dylusion sprays and stencils.

Test page, mixing colors adding water -using stencils

Test page, blue and yellow made green, and I had some of this bead gel that I thought I'd try...

I want another one of these books. Or five. And guess what? These Dylusion Journal's are on sale at the Vancouver Craft Warehouse right now!

Do you have a Dylusion Journal? What do you think of them? Have you thought about exploring art journaling? GO GET ONE!

Dapoppins, scrapbook, scrapbook for boys

I made personal books for all my kids, but not in order of age. I don't know why but the first book I made was for my second born, and the last book I made was for my first born.

Of course I have lot's of ideas for more books- stories just waiting to be born. And I I've been hoarding supplies for years because a large stash to draw from is essential -tell me I'm not the only one!- making more personalized scrapbooks is one of those things on my to-do list that I'm hoping to find time for.

This box, simply covered with a single scrapbook paper sheet, is the special case for the book for my boy.

I will try not to go on about how fast time has gone by, how special this kid is, or how he just turned sixteen years old without my permission.

Now if you look closely, you will notice I spelled my first born son's name wrong. And I just noticed it when I took the book out of the box to take pictures.

Stop laughing.

You know you have done the same thing.

It's a simple day in the life of my son Jonathan, with a silly twist.

I filled it with random facts about food - The boy could travel around the world, see the most amazing wonders, and the first thing he would tell you about was the food he ate.

Now being the awesome kid that he is, when Jonathan notices something strange trying to steal his supply his bubble gum, (again a favorite, I think it's his personal mission to try every type of gum on the market) he grabs his secret special weapon X - a sticky hand - to defeat the evil invader.

I made this book a few years ago and I still don't feel confident with the layering techniques that makes photos stand out so well. However, I don't think my son noticed my lack of fancy tecnique one bit.

He uses weapon X - the sticky hand to defeat the nefarious, evil, gum chewing, naked alien zombie chicken invader!

The book is filled with special effects. The Alien Zombie Chicken's suit lifts up to reveal his "chicken suit."

The chicken target spins (sorta) and you can smack it with the sticky hand.

I loved making this book. I giggled through most of it. My kids inspire me to do the craziest things.

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to visit Party Time Tuesdays blog to help Challenge & Inspire you to Create. They have challenges every Tuesday you can enter your projects for your chance to win prizes.

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