My Top 10 or maybe 20....

I did a year in review of my creations last year and thought that it was a good way to reflect on my improvement in style and the techniques I've used, the themes that came up, and the design that I improved on. So, I've picked the top 10 (or so...) favorite layouts or artworks that I've done this year. I just couldn't stop at 10...

























I've had a productive year, but all in all, I know I have room for improvement. I hope 2010 brings fresh ideas, rockin' mojo, and lots of opportunities to get my artwork out there... with exhibits, DT jobs, and some publications. I have a good feeling about this year!

XOXO

jen

Happy Holidays

It's been a month of pure craziness! This holiday season has been a blur for me! I can't quite catch up... So, here is a photo peek of what's been going on:

Mark's 5th birthday!

Teaching Elementary kids- 7 levels of lessons going fast and furious!

Little drummer boy... lots of music going on here in the house!


Christmas preparations... were we naughty or nice?

Holiday photo taking... lots more layouts to make with these cuties!

So, this is just a small sampling of my crazy life. Add in shopping, wrapping, baking, parties, birthdays, relays at school, Mark's school, daycare, cleaning, and mothering and that = one tired momma!

I have just started completing many projects now that Christmas is over and the parties have subsided. I will post those soon!

Here are a few of my latest projects using the November Bad Girls kit! It was a wonderful kit full of fun items and gorgeous papers!

"Celebration Cake box"
I used the Golden Molding Paste that was included in the kit to "frost" the lid of the box here! The rhinestones and sequins made adorable sprinkles for the cake. This was so much fun!


"Imagine Paris" canvas
There was a canvas included in the kit and I transformed a doll house window into a whimsical art piece using the Graphic 45 Renaissance papers and the Molding Paste to distress the cardboard! It was fun and adding the little charms to the bottom made it very Bad Girls!
"Will You?"
This layout was inspired by my grandmother's wedding photo. She looks so classical and lovely. I loved many of the embellishments that came with the kit to add gorgeous accents to the page.

Check out the details of how I made each project when you purchase the kit on the message board at Bad Girls Kits.

Enjoy the beauty of the season and I'll be back this week with a Year in Review! Can you believe it's almost 2010?!! I hope this new year brings much relaxation and renewal.

Guest DT spots and more!

I have been a bad blogger! It's been a MONTH since I wrote! Between work, sick kids, weddings, parties and more, well I'm pooped! Christmas hasn't even started here and I'm already falling behind! Okay, enough whining about time and lack there of. I have some good news to share! I was chosen as a Guest Designer for two wonderful companies lately. First, Genuinely Jane sent me 2 of their amazing wooden albums to transform! I created a banner with the bottle shaped one that would be sweet to hang in baby's room.

Here's my other project for them and for Bad Girls Elements d'Art...
My Head In The Clouds mini album
Lots of transfers here and glimmer misting!

Next up is Couture Cardstock... a brand new company that has an amazing variety of cardstock for any needs! The quality is superb and the colors are gorgeous! So, I made several projects that feature their Vintage Christmas collection. I'm featured on their blog today and later this week with more projects. Check it out! Here is the project that was featured today:


My Cornucopia of Creativity was made entirely of cardstock sprayed with Glimmer Mist and woven together in a cone form. I made the end with metal but the rest is cardstock! FUN and a bit tedious, but I like how it came out. The paper withstood my abuse and distressed beautifully!
I'll post the other projects as soon as they are revealed.

Onto other news... Bad Girls Project 52 has a new challenge up. Challenge #4 is fun and the examples from the Design Team are amazing!!! Check it out here for more information! Also, don't forget to become a FAN of Bad Girls on Facebook. You could win a fabulous prize pack just by becoming a fan to the Bad Girls page on FB. So cool!

Well, I'm finishing a few projects tomorrow and hopefully, taking photographs of some pages and projects I've finished! It rained today and I had to work all day with crazy little ones who just want to be on vacation!

Watch Your Language!

Over at Candy Shoppe Designs blog, we are enabling you to be potty mouths... that's right. This challenge is all about using foul language! You know you do it... it slips out. You relish thouse naughty words. I know I do. I try not to in front of the kids, but sometimes when I'm with my girlfriends, I just let it all hang out! I have those kind of days where one little 4 letter word suits the situation perfectly and it feels so good to let it fly! Okay, I'm a teacher so those instances don't happen often in my day to day life, but I can THINK it! Here is my example from the challenge. You all have these kind of days where you just want everyone to leave you alone and go away!

The WINNER of this challenge will be voted for by the Lollipop Girls of C.S.D. and announced on the blog on Wednesday, October 28, 2009. The WINNER will win a 309 Piece Collection Kit by Sassafras Lass called "Starry Night" from the Life is Beautiful Line. So come on and let that nasty girl out!

Our Wonderful SPONSOR for this Challenge is Jill Coody, owner of Memorable Seasons. Be sure to check them out for all your latest needs when it comes to capturing the seasons of life. Sign up for her Newsletter to keep up with all the sales and promotions she's got going on, participate on her Forums and join in the fun challenges she hosts on the Memorable Seasons BLOG for even more fun.
You'll be SO glad you did! Link your work up here!

Boo-tiful

I'm back and it's Autumn in full swing here in Central NY. We had our first frost last night and the leaves are almost at peak color. I took the boys (hubby included) apple picking yesterday and it was brisk and breezy out. We didn't linger long, but got one big bag of apples to make yummy applesauce and crisp with!

It was cold but fun! As you can see, we had coats, hats, and turtlenecks on! Fun Fall!

Today is Columbus Day and we have a holiday from school. It's a lazy day here in PJ's cuddling. I'm finally getting around to posting an update here! It's been way too long! I've got lots to share! So, let's get started...

I got the chance to work with Nikki Sivils paper line "Boo-tiful". Being on her DT has huge priviledges! Love this paper! The designs are so cute and fun. I created this wooden mask with her bat paper and flag. I used the stamp set to create the "Gone Batty" flag. I found this wooden mask in AC Moore and knew it was destined to become a fun Halloween decor or costume addition. I added bling, ribbon, and stickles!

The other layout is "Ghost Town" from the same line. I had taken a photo of an abandoned house in the White Eagle ghost town. It was perfect for this page! Love her little ghosties!

I have one more page with Nikki's line, but i need to take a better pic as soon as it stops raining and the sun comes out before I get home from work... it's getting darker sooner. BLAH!

Here are my pages from Black River DT:

Reflect is a theme that I seem to be revisiting in my artwork. I seem to be looking back more often now and reminicing over good or bad times. It's good to reflect and learn from past mistakes, good outcomes, and choices. I feel like I'm at that time in my life where I am evaluating how I've done so far and what are my future goals now?

I love this layout with the glimmer mist through this game piece scrap. It's funky and YES, I did use the entire sheet of rub on letters here. I also used one of the other rub ons for the half circle design. These rub ons are like butter!!!

That's it for now. I'll be back to share my Candy Shoppe Designs latest challenge and sponsor tomorrow. Don't forget to check out the NEW Project 52 challenge blog from Bad Girls! HEre is the link: http://wendyrago.typepad.com/project52/
It's gonna be full of inspiration! Twice a month, they will be offering up a challenge with an insane prize pack!!! Check out the kit up for grabs!!! Join us there in welcoming the new DT and make something for the challenge!

XOXO
Jen