Dapoppins

Ladies and girls, females and women, we have a WINNER.

WINNER, WINNER CHIcKEN DINEnR

Well, y'all will have to make your own chicken dinner- but we do have a winner. If you didn't see it announced yesterday over at Domesticraft.com you should click on over there and see. I'll wait.

Are you back yet? (is this just too silly and cute for words?) I wanted you to head over there for another reason. Because Nancy is doing another giveaway. ANOTHER ONE! And we are not done yet. NOPE. Not one bit. NOT done being generous. Not done being thankful. Not done with doodles, art journaling or sharing our hearts. This is a 21 Day journey and by-golly, we got 21 days of gratitude in us to share with every reader who comments, shares their own words, or says howdy.

(and yes, I am aware I was being redundant and I just pretty much said the same thing three ways. I thought I would be extra descriptive and give you more ideas on what to do to win something.)

I belong to a very wonderful g+ community called the Kraafter's Kommunity. This months challenge to win this really cool canvas art bag is to color something.. As apart of my art journaling I've been doodling and coloring stuff. If you are looking for a Kraafty Group of Kraafty Individuals, I totally recommend this great group. We laugh, we share, we post our projects and get immeasurable amounts of encouragement. If you join them make sure to say Dapoppins sent ya. Ya'hear?

There are several really great g+ groups and I would totally steer you in the right direction if you asked me. And no I don't get paid for that. If you want to pay me that is fine with me. Just send more craft supplies and gift certificates. My contact info is on the sidebar.

Thank you all for your sweet, positive comments. Your response my post about my Grandma Angel and working to overcome my own fears of rejection have been so beautiful and kind. You make me feel good about my writing, about my sharing and about the direction I am going. If you need anyone to cheer you on or want a word of encouragement, or just someone to read your words, feel free to send me an email or fill in that contact gadget on the sidebar. Seriously. No one should have to feel alone in this day and age when communicating on the internet is so easy.

We are also thinking of forming A Gratitude Girls Cheer League group on face book. (working title. That may be a bit over-the-top) Invite only. So if you want an invite you will need to let myself or +Nancy Gaines know.

Okay. Check the blogs on TUESDAY. More giving away. More of everything. Maybe a even Glitter Bomb!

Oh and, what do you think of my doodles?

This is the second umbrella mixed media framed board I've created. I see more in my future. I find I have so much I want to explore, technique, texture, color, mixing patterns, colors, collage and layers.

I used to wonder why an artist would create the same essential piece of art over and over. Now I know, it's not just a matter getting a subject right, to me, it's become all the different ways I can tell the story of the same subject.

I used torn pieces of patterned paper from my scrap pile. Not one piece was new or even whole, smoothing them with a credit card and gel medium as I went. I tend to use what is on hand, sometimes Golden Brand medium but often Modge-Podge because it seems to be less expensive. After the first layer of decoupage is finished, I scraped a bit of gesso over the top because the patterned papers were just to dominant for the direction I was headed. You might notice the translucent rays. I used my favorite Studio Calico Template and painted the empty spaces with Tattered Angels glaze.

I printed the girl on paper, decoupaged it to thin cardboard, (this time from a cereal box) and set her aside as the very last element. But I needed her to help me place the water rings, also cut from used papers (I'm pretty sure these are K & Company). I added an extra wash of blue over the rings with Distress Paints, painting with my fingers.

The rain drops are hand cut tissue paper that I sprayed with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mists, and then later, after they were glued down, touched up a little.

The girl's overcoat/dress is yellow tissue paper I cut to fit.

Her face shape just formed itself by accident. I attempted eyes but this seemed to blur the lovely profile. I didn't want to ruin it so I used a charcoal pencil to emphasize the edges of the "hair," and Distress Paint to make her face stand out.

The umbrella is Tattered Angles Mist and Glimmer Glam.

The idea of dancing in the rain, holding the umbrella, but not evening using it- it expresses such freedom to me.

The skirt is tissue paper too, both yellow and plain white that I painted with Tattered Angels. It had a softer, tissue feel before I finished the whole project with spray varnish, but I thought a sealer might be a good idea since some of the media I used was still reactive to water.

There may be a storm outside, but I'm just going to dance my way through the mud puddles.

Thanks for visiting.

The Bride

I have a lot of photos of my Mom and Dad's wedding. It seems that many of the pictures taken at the time, by both sides of the family, even the professional ones, ended up in my possession. I'm not sure how long my parents were together, but when I was about five they separated, and by third grade they had divorced and my dad remarried.

They said, "We just can't be together anymore."

Or something like that.

I've forgiven and let go of all the hurt the divorce caused me, but I'm not going to lie and say that my parents choices didn't effect me in a very negative way. It's of my opinion that too many people get divorced and run away from their issues instead of facing them. In running away they bequeath painful issues for their children.

I don't want to judge. I've only walked in my shoes after all, but with so many happy matches ending in divorce, they can't all be blamed on infidelity or physical abuse. As a Nanny I've seen couples just "give-up." And I've watched how it devastates their children.

I wanted the page I made with these old unwanted pictures to be pretty, but "broken." I wanted them to reflect hopes and failures.

My mom was a gorgeous bride. She wore a dress worthy of Jakie Kenady made of heavy cream satin, with seed pearls, light gray beads, a sweetheart neckline and a princess skirt. She bought it from Nodstorm. It stood the test of time so well I wore it at my wedding and no one thought it was old fashioned or out of date.

I layered printed papers over a white page, then painted over them all with gesso. I used a stencil for the circles with the heavy gesso and then spritzed with several different mists. Under the photo is a simple chipboard circle, painted with gesso then mists and randomly stamped. I wrapped wire around three sections also to add a little more interest. The little flowers, originally white, are are spritzed with mist. I added faux pearls from a broken some broken vintage necklaces, and some scroll bling from my stash. I had a couple of corner scroll chip board pieces that I used some gold enamel on. I love how they turned out.

This layout is one of the Anything Goes challenge examples over at Party Time Tuesdays this week. I am so privileged to be able to post all my stuff over there. Be sure to click on over there and join this weeks challenge. I'd love to see what you come up with.

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.

My Artistic Adventures

Digital and Paper Designs

ABOUT AUTHOR

Search Dapoppins

Labels

I beg your pardon

Story Time

Happy Autumn: Sharing my Fall Foxy With You