Help [ME] Ronda

Memories Tag & CHA happenings

Yesterday was my first time helping setting up a booth for CHA.  I am usually showing up the day before, hanging out, chit-chatting, and gearing up to walk the floor.  It was a whole new experience for me seeing the behind the scenes.  I am helping out Maya Road for a couple days plus also working with Christine/Cocoa Daisy, doing a make & take at Lily Bee, and doing a couple other things while i am here.  Busy Busy. Of course i will be posting pictures of the action over the next couple days along with pictures of the new releases.  I am excited to see the products, the people, and of course my friends.

Today i am sharing with you a mixed media tag for the Maya Road Booth. Since i did the zipper butterfly on the other tag, i decided to do a more fairy like butterfly tag to show my softer side. The flowers are the white organza trim that has been painted with mist and then i hand stitched the stems.  I am happy with the way this tag turned out.  it makes me smile.

Butterfly Love

Unlock Mini Album

Inside every human being, there are treasures to unlock.  Mike Huckabee

Last year i did an Accept mini album for my One Little Word.  I loved it so much i decided to continue the tradition.  This Unlock mini album holds some of the goals & wishes of this year.  I found quotes that resonated with me about my desires for this year.  I love the art journal feel of this mini album.  Lots of gesso, The Crafter's Workshop stencils, and of course Maya Mists adorn the pages.  I had lots of fun creating each piece adding in bits & bobbles here and there.

The cover was created with strips of Amy Tan's Amy Tangerine line, then gesso & mists.  I love the Maya Road window chipboard with the Rock Candy crackle paint from Tim Holtz/Ranger.  Can you tell i am into zipper trims?  I cannot get enough of them.  They add just the perfect pop of color.

Turn, Turn, Turn

It's always hard to make decisions for me, especially those that require moving on from special places.  Today it was announced that i am leaving the Cocoa Daisy design team.  It was a decision that i didn't make lightly because i do truly love Christine.  I love the kits she puts together & i love working for her.  I love our "work" relationship, it was easy, carefree, and full of laughter.  I also love the design team and have become friends with so many special ladies on the message boards.  So stepping down really weighed on my shoulders.

My life is shifting & changing right now.  I am a doer and tend to put me last on the list if i make the list at all.  It's time to change that aspect.  I need to explore my own paths and see where they lead me.  I need to have time to just create and find time to take care of me.  Self Care before Self Destruct.  I also have some plans, goals, & dreams to chase down. 

You will still feel my presences over at Cocoa Daisy.  I will be on the message boards chatting with friends & finding inspiration there.  Christine & i have some special plans for later on this year as well.  And on Sunday, we will once again walk the floors of CHA finding inspiration, laughing & causing bit of mischievous together as friends.

Soar Canvas

This mixed media canvas was created for the Maya Road Design Team area at CHA.  Caroline sends us all blank canvases with the deceptively simple requirements of using a photo of us, have the piece reflect our style, and use Maya Road products on it.

I started this piece with some gesso and an older Maya Road 12 x 12 butterfly sheer.  Can you see all the wonderful textures & butterflies in the background?  Next i layered on some old text paper.  If you watched my Creative Jumpstart video yesterday you might notice some punched text paper that made it onto my layout.  Once those dried, i started adding lots of colors using all Maya Road Mists.  After finishing the background i let the piece sit for a while contemplating my next step.  The tag i did the other day while just playing around with leftover mists.  It struck me after a day or two of sitting on my table that it would look good on this canvas, after that is, i dipped it in some wax.  I wish you all could feel the texture on both the canvas & tag.  I finished off the piece with my photo, a tiny scrap of zipper trim, the bird, & my quote.  Sidenote: If you want some wooden bird inspiration, go check out Lisa's fabulous creations!

In other news, there will be an announcement sometime today.  I promise to follow up with some of my words & thoughts once the news is broken.  I'll be traveling today so the post won't be until later today.

Zipper Butterfly & Dunes

I love this picture of Anthony.  It was a good day at the Persian Gulf Shores.  He was playing a little Jack Johnson on the shore.  I love that his love of guitar continues to grow.  This layout fell together rather quickly.  I layered the Maya Mists in the background with drips, swipes, and Julie's awesome Herringbone stencil from the crafter's workshop.  I then layered on strips of patterned paper mixed with the zipper trims.  Add in a few bits & pieces of stamps, kraft items, and rub-ons and call it done.

Zippers are so in style.  Maya road has come out with some new colors including this yellow found in my little butterfly.  I knew a while ago i wanted to attempt this butterfly.  It was after watching Caroline demo other zipper flowers that the idea formed in my head.  I finally got around to putting it together.  I love the way it turned out.  I think after CHA i am going to stick a pin on the back & use it on my bag.  I am going to create a video tutorial soon on how to create your own butterfly.

Blissful Love

Maya Road Sneak 3: His Journey Peek

A small peek at this mini i made for Andrew.  I cannot quite show the interior yet but will do so once some other Maya Road goodies have been reveal.  This mini might be one of my favorites i have created.  I love the canvas mini's because you can create so many different looks.  This one is adorned with some of my favorite Maya Mists.  The same can be said about the title.  I used the art journal stamps to create the titles in the background.  The words were perfect for my handsome pilot: Journey, Fly, Wings, & Travel.  The clocks are rub-ons.  Love the symbolism on this album.  I do things very deliberately and this is a perfect example of it.  Lots more sneaks coming up so stay tuned!

Maya Road Sneak 2: Both Layout

This past year has really taught me how to see the beautiful colors through the rain.  Spending 46 weeks apart has been really tough.  However it also has made me appreciate and love Andrew even more.  It has made our relationship stronger.  It has taught me to rely more on the Lord and the power of prayers.  It has made me appreciate every moment i get with him. 

So this quote seemed perfect for this layout.  I misted the background with various mists and using an older 12 x 12 sheer from Maya Road.  I included my journaling in the adorable polka dot envelope.  I tied it up with the latte brown twine cording.  I love those little spools.  I covered them in various rainbow colored patterned papers.  Check out this video if you want to learn how i did the rainbow ribbon.  I love When Skies are Grey Chipboard set.  I used mist on the sun & heart and then used embossing powder on the rain drops.  I stitched around the sun creating the rays. 

Colorful Love

First CHA Sneak with Maya Road + Giveaway

Here's one of my first sneaks with Maya Road.  I love this photo of lexi. This layout has lots & lots of mists on it along with the new stamps.  I love that burlap ribbon i dyed with the mists.  There is something else new on this layout that hasn't been revealed yet.  Do you see it? 

I love all the new releases.  The above photo is one of my favorite releases.  Twine Cording shown on the larger wooden spools.  This Twine is thicker than bakers twine & comes in 6 fabulous colors. Make sure you are stopping Maya Road's Company Blog each day to see the new releases & for your chance to win some new releases. 

Now onto my Grab Bag Winner.  This prize pack is filled with papers, some stamps, & tons of embellishments.  While on the phone with my Martha, my bestie from Florida, i made her pick a number. 

29

Anna-Karin said...

I am so looking forward to seeing your book. It is going to be great!

Anna-Karin email me your Address so i can get out your prize pack! 

Art of Layers: The Time Line, pt 2. Deeper Thoughts

Pre-Sept 2010: When i said i had inklings, it has been a long time coming.  When i worked on the newspaper staff in both Middle & High School, i feel in love.  It just seemed so right for me, a love of writing, a love of art & design.  Fast forward to being part of the scrapbooking industry.  I have always been a lover of techniques, both old & new, so the idea of a technique book just wouldn't leave my brain.  So as it kept swirling around in my brain, the picture was becoming clearer and i knew i would have to try to chase down this dream.  If i didn't succeed at least i knew i tried my hardest which to me is equally (if not more) important as succeeding.  If you aren't taking those risks, if you aren't putting yourself out there, are you really living or just merely getting by?

Sept: 2010: When i said complete outline, i mean it.  This included chapters, techniques, some similar art i had done in the past, etc.  I know this is the over acheiver in me.  However, it really helps to have a clear vision of what you want your book to be. This reminds me of a pilot joke. 

Pilot comes on the intercom and says i have good news & bad news.  The bad news is our navigation equipment is not functioning properly.  We have no idea where we are heading.  The good news is we are making good time! 

You have to have a clear direction of where you are heading or all your efforts are fruitless!  By flushing it out like this I not only had a direction but i was also ahead of the game when it came time for deadlines.

Oct - Dec:  You seemed surprised by the self-doubts.  I understand that sometimes i come across full of confidence.  While i do have confidence it doesn't mean that it always stays with me.  Confidence & Self Doubt compete over space in my head. It's a rollercoaster ride with many ups & downs.  But i will fully admit that you need that bit of self-doubt to keep pushing you forward.  Too Much EGO kills creativity.  But don't let self-doubt take up too much space, otherwise he will consume you and you are going to miss out on some incredible opportunities.  Like every thing in life, it's all about balance.  Find the balance.

Don't forget you still have until tonight for the First Grab Bag Giveaway!  Just leave a comment to this post.  I will pick a winner & post it on Friday.

More Creative Sneaks

I have been creating almost daily.  The hard part is not being able to share.  I am really enjoying this process and not letting it overwhelm me this time.  I cannot say the same for years past.  I take off next Thursday for CHA.  I will be all over the place wearing many "hats" this time around.  And while it is work, it is so much fun.  I always laugh so hard while at CHA and just really enjoy the atmosphere.    I will be able to share full projects soon but in the meantime just enjoy these snippets of creations.

Sneaky Love