Help [ME] Ronda

For the love of grids

Over the years my style has evolved.  i have learned to embrace all sides of me and know that it's ok to change things up as i need.  i love seeing art and "messy" cross over onto my layouts.  But one thing that hasn't change is my love for grids.  They are really graphically pleasing to me. 

This is a layout (& sketch) i did for the My Mind's Eye blog.  You can see all the details there along with the sketch.  I went back to my love of the grid to create this layout with the new lines from Rhonna Farrer.  i stitched vertical lines & horizontal lines on the bits & pieces grid and layered a photo over top.  A favorite photo from this unexpected play date. 

Here are some other grid layouts, for some of them i dug deep into the archives.

Even on a messy artsy background, i love the grid.  i made the cardstock background by layering gesso, paints,spray inks, and watercolors.  I then added the bits & pieces of patterned paper, embellishments, and photos in a grid pattern grounding the whole piece.  Still one of my favorites.

This layout dates back to 2008.  Remember scenic route?  I still miss their papers.  I had lots of photos from this vacation and thought a nice grid would do.  I added bits & pieces of patterned paper and journaled around the edges.  I added the painted punched butterflies to create some movement.  Look at how young the kids look, especially Anthony. 

This is one of a few grid layouts found in my book Art of Layers.  In fact, it's on the cover.  My editor is a graphic designer who shared my love of grids so we both agreed to put this one on the cover.  I love the bits & pieces in the stamped frames that make up the grid. 

Still one of my all time favorite layouts.  This hand stitched grid took a fair amount of time to create but it was totally worth it.  I love the photos placed over the grid as well as the little stamped images. 

Is there a design element that you find yourself using over & over again?

Distress Inks Tutorial + Captured Layout

I absolutely adore this photo i snapped at my neice's wedding.  It's of my sister Sandra and sweet nephew Jacob.  Taking in the deep south, hence the spanish moss on all the oaks.  I love all the love this photo captures.  I knew i had to document this special moment. On this photo i used my "This Life" photo overlays that you can purchase in my downloadable shop. 

The background of the layout uses lots of distress inks.  I love the colors against this photo.  it warms up the photo.  I used lots of Tim Hotlz Ideaology on the layout, layering the pieces together.  The metal pieces on the side are made with a texture trade from Tim Holtz/Sizzix on metal tape.  I also used a die cut to make the patterned paper tag.  I stamped the words alongside the patterned paper next to the photo along with the numbers at the bottom.  The key is a vintage find that i just love.  Below is a video detailing how i created the background.

InLinkz.com

Fabric Tape Cabbage Rose Video

Have you tried to make cabbage roses yet?  I love making them with fabric scraps and dabs of glue.  I was playing around with the Maya Road Fabric Tape and thought, hmmm i bet i could make some out of this gorgeous tape.  Why yes, yes i can!  I am addicted to them because they are so simple and easy to make.  In fact, i made a video for Maya Road showing you just how simple.  Check it out here:

and here is a look at some of the other colors of Fabric tape done up as cabbage roses. 

Thank you to all who entered the Art of Layers giveaway.  I was especially touched by those who already had a copy but were just being thoughtful enough to leave a note saying how much you love it or how you want one for your friend.  That brought tears of happiness to my eyes.  I used a random generator to pick a number because i would give all of you ones if i could so i let the machine decide. 

and the winner is #42

Cindy said...

Hello Ronda,
I absolutely love the typecase display (my favorite piece is the plate with the "Dare to be remarkable" quote! Plus Umbrella Man (love him).
To answer your question, I am addicted to stencils at the moment. They're just so versitle - LOVE THEM!!
Congratulations on the book, it's awesome and I'd love to have an autographed copy.

Cindy can you please email me your address to: HelpMe@RondaPalazzari.com and i will send out your autograph copy of Art of Layers. 

Cocoa Daisy Guest Designer: Record Label

So pleased to be this month's guest designer at Cocoa Daisy.  It's like coming home.  This May's kit, titled Record Label, is A-mazing and is filled with fun colors with a touch of retro hipster quirkiness i just love.  The dance steps is the coolest stamp!  And i am so happy the glitz camera roller stamp is in the main kit as well.  I picked up Buddy & A Day in the Life to go along with Record Label. 

I love this photo of me & my sister from the late 80s. I had it tucked away and found it recently which made me smile. The embellishments in this kit were just perfect to accent my page. When I dumped them out they look so pretty grouping together so I decided to layer them on the layout. I added the rolled camera stamp on the patterned paper and just love it sitting in the background. I punched circles and hearts out of the various patterned paper. I embossed the date circle stamps using our birthdays. I journaled with a white pen little thoughts that popped into my head remembering surrounding this photo.

i love this photo of the three of us, Dina, Julia & I standing in the Crafter’s workshop booth at CHA. It was the debut of my stencil line which in itself was so surreal and completely awesome. What’s even better is being part of an amazing team of artists I get to call my friends. On the background I added some yellow acrylic paint in splotches. Then I used metallic dabber paint and stamped those awesome dance feet. I layered the journaling card along with bits & pieces from the main kit and a little more painty layers.

I’m not a project lifer. I don’t do week to week. I really think it’s cool all those who can keep up with it. But I adore the pocket pages and all the accoutrements that tend to go with project life. So when I had multiple photos of the snow that just kept on falling here in Denver, I broke out some project life pages to tell my story. I love to layer so even on these pages, I must have layers. Using the kits, I added in bits & pieces to the journaling cards from Cocoa Daisy. On the today card I used the month circle stamp along with my typewriter to type my journaling. Those glasses went so well with the “I see” journaling card. The grey stickers were the perfect little addition to complete that little story on this page. I love that the backsides are just as pretty with a plain grid. I colored it using my favorite neocolorii watercolor crayons and then layered on some more embellishments. The epic wood piece was too cute and perfect for my photos.

I love the 4”x4” pocket pages that Cocoa Daisy has in the store. They are the perfect size for Instagram photos. I recently cleaned, organized, purged, and revamped my Studio. I wanted it to feel more me. These pages were the perfect way to document this rooms transition. I love that Cocoa Daisy & Simple Stories created 4x4 cards for these pages. When I saw the ampersand I knew I had to layer all around it for my title. Also being one to think that the rules can be broken *(in scrapbooking & art ;), I added my layers both on the inside of the pockets and on the outside of the pages. The neat wood piece cracks me up as the room is really “neat.”

This layout really fell together easily.  I really wanted to use that Cocoa Daisy "Life is Grand" Day in the Life card so i started with this adorable photo of Andrew.  I layered the card above it and then started adding in all the little fun embellishments.  I embossed the "Rad" stamp using Cricket green Zing.  Lastly i journaled in little bits around the page and stitched under Andrew's photo.

Did you hear the news? Cocoa Daisy is starting a monthly project art kit?  The Starter kit is already sold out but more will be in stock soon.  With the purchase of the starter kit you will get a free video from me that will be coming soon.  Each month Cocoa Daisy will have a new Project Art kit complete with a different mixed media item and other bits and pieces. Anna Bjorklund, Cocoa Daisy resident expert, will show you some techniques on how to use this mixed media in your art journaling.

Coming up tomorrow is the winner of Art of Layers...stay tuned!

In this Moment

Anthony is always on my mind but at this moment, he seems to surface more and more.  His 11th grade year is coming to a close with about a month & a half left.  Not quite the stellar year we were hoping for but he has made some incredible strides.  Those are the moments worth celebrating.  He asked us to come off his meds for ADHD and we agreed it was time.  It was hard for a bit to readjust but we all sincerely hoped he could do it.  He had been on them for so long and i hate to think what effect they may have had on him.  Blessedly he has done really well off the meds with some behavior modifications.  I know it helped to have Andrew here for the transition period.  Maybe that was all planned.  We both have been helping him to build ways to help adjust to ADHD without the meds.  I am so very proud of how he is determined to do this. 

Part of his reasoning for coming off the meds is that college isn't too far off.  He wants to be self sustaining while starting his life at University.  It really struck me how close he is to leaving the nest.  Honestly it makes me teary eyed (ok a bit of a blubbering idiot) when i think about this.  He is, after all, my baby boy.  But i am watching him growing up, becoming a man, taking his stand in life, building who he is, and i know great things are coming his way.  So very close.

This layout is up over at the My Mind's Eye blog along with this month's sketch challenge.  Hop on over there to see more details on how i created it plus a look at the challenge.  I hope you will play along this month.

Weekend Creativity

I just cannot help myself but to be creative a little bit each day.  it's in my blood.  I have been a little under the weather so i have just been resting on the couch this past weekend.  I am a girl who is use to doing things so just sitting still is so hard for me.  Blessedly i had a bunch of 6x6 watercolor paper prepped with different items on the background just waiting to be used. 

On this piece, i started with a layer of punched text and gesso.  i then used watercolor crayons to create this fun background.  I added a few more layers of colors on the punched heart in the upper left corner to give it a little more oomph.  I cut the to go cup from patterned paper and added the doodles.  I really like the black pen around the cup including the words of hopes, dreams, & passion.  I journaled a bit more around the cup with some thoughts.  I added some brads and chipboard numbers.  To finish it off i added a few more doodles with black ink. 

Hello Elle's Studio

Honored & Blessed to be this month's guest at Elle's Studio.  I have been in love with the shop for a while now.  They recently released new paper lines that are just so adorable.  Their tags are easy to layer on a scrapbook page, art journal page, mixed media piece, project life page, or even cards.

When i saw all those pretty little tags laying on my desk, i knew i would have to use them in a dramatic way.  Insert my Hello Page.  I've had this photo on my desk & mind for a while now.  Since Andrew has been home nearly 3 months now, that day feels even more special to me.  When i first saw the box of lovely labels i knew i wanted to just have them hanging on my page. They are so adorable and so full of color that they screamed to be the center of attention. So i added some gesso & watercolors to my page and then layered the labels all across. I turned the photo b&w and snugged it between the labels. The stamp was so easy to add right above those printed words on the patterned paper.

My son Anthony decided last year to change his look completely. Now he wears dress shirts and bow ties to school. I love seeing him so stylish and being bold in his personality. This is one of my favorite outfits he wears.

This page came together so effortlessly. I started with the awesome Day to Day paper and added a layer of gesso & paint. Next i layered the book paper with the day to day tabs. The tidbits completed my page. i love the tone on tone look but wanted to make sure they got noticed too so i stitched around them. I popped up the "My favorite" so it would stand out as my title.

It was so nice to spend a weekend away in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. With Elle's products, it's so easy to build layers. I love how the lines go together so seamlessly. i repeated the stamp three times around the page and stitched around the heart stamp. I love the little tidbit circles and decided to stitch an arrow pointing to the stamp sentiment.

Make sure you stop by Elle's Studio blog this week for a giveaway of my favorite products from them plus a copy of my book, Art of Layers!

Artful Multi Layers Canvas

This Artful Multi Layers Canvas could quite possibly be my favorite piece to date.  I always love doing mini canvases: see heartstrings, a measured heart, beauty everywhere, find your place, joy, & little bird.  There is something so magical about these little pieces so when i started creating my Sizzix blog post, i was leaning towards creating one.  as i went to grab a canvas, they all came tumbling down off my shelf.  i started thinking how fun it would be to do multiple pieces when this piece popped into my head.

mini canvas love + cascading mini canvases = multi layers canvas

an idea was born that captivated me.  I laid out all the pieces on the 9"x12" panel canvas.  Once i decided on a few details, sketching things out, writing down notes, i started creating. Each canvas could be a mini work of art on it's own.  Together they tell a story, one with many layers of texture, paints, colors, embellishments, and die-cuts.  For more details on each piece, make sure you check out the sizzix blog.  Here are closes ups of all the pieces.

InLinkz.com

My Authentic Funny Man

Some days are just great as a parent.  and some days, well let's just say you worry more than others.  i remember the day this little man was born bringing such joy to our family.  Yes you could call him a momma's boy and i totally loved it.  But he started growing up and had to tell me that "i'm sorry mommy, but i've changed my mind.  You cannot pick out my wife."  We had some spotty moments when he passed through the teen years but our bond has grown stronger.  He is the person who makes me laugh the most, quick witted & comedic in a way that brings much joy to my life.  He gets me.

Anthony also has his share of struggles, especially with ADHD.  so very smart but ADHD in a traditional classroom doesn't always work.  He's getting older and i can see him working hard at becoming a man.  His grades this year have been up & down but i have never seen him work harder (albeit in short bursts).  The mama bear in me always wants to protect him but he's at that age where i have to gently let go. He is trying to decide his path for after High School.  He is unsure of what he wants to do.  We just try to reaffirm that we know he's capable of great things and that he will find his own path.

 

 

Weekend Creativity

My weekdays always seemed to be filled with creativity whether it is work or personal.  it's just in my bones.  weekends are no exception either.  usually it's more personally creativity as i try to take weekends off, sometimes i am more successful than other days.  this weekend i did work a tiny bit on a new upcoming online class.  it was mostly editing and writing so i decided after reading in my favorite spot in my house, the library, to bring my computer in here as well and finish off my work.  i love being in this room surrounded by books and art.  it inspires me.

Last weekend i taught up at Rocky Mountain Memories in Estes Park.  Cheryl has all kinds of stamps all over her store that sit on homemade shelves from old wood collected from old buildings.  You cannot help but to feel creative in her store.  While i was there i couldn't help but to snatch up a stamp or two. 

I spotted these two wooden stamps in the shop.  Mind you i could have purchased a lot more but these two were screaming the loudest.  The Hill Flowers stamp is a Penny Black stamp.  I love the way they look all grouped together. 

Little known to me, the tree stamp i love so much is by Wendy Vecchi & Stamper's Anonymous.  I had to take them for a test drive this weekend so i stamped it repeatedly on my mini notebook pages.  isn't it gorgeous.

weekend creativity for me usually includes cooking and/or baking.  This weekend both kids were home.  Family dinners are a must around here, allowing us time to catch up and just be together.  We made homemade tortillas & beef taco seasoning for soft tacos.  i love having my own homemade taco seasoning in the pantry ready to go at any time.  Don't the spices look so pretty before i mixed them up in the glass jar?  Andrew loves the mix so much he's taking some home to Doha. 

Another weekend project is this carved camera.  I am still adding in some details but i am loving how it is coming together.  i drew out the camera and then transferred it to be carved.  I am ever so grateful that Julie showed me how to do this.  it's a way to see my own creations come to life.  i cannot wait to finish this piece.

so did you tackle anything creative this weekend?