October2
Last year was the first year I entered the Altered Book Contest at the Chatham Public Library. I heard about the contest from my amazing sister Jennifer, my enabler! This year I was running out of time and thought I couldn’t not submit a project. I had an idea in mind, but I didn’t think i would have time to make it happen. Somehow I knew I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself if I didn’t at least try to get something done. Well being the procrastinator that i am, the night before the deadline, I started. My idea for the contest was to make some sort of paper jewelry, since that is mostly my business now. I spent hours punching paper pieces, and gluing wires into them and attaching them. And Guess what??? I MANAGED TO GET IT DONE!!!! So here is my finished project. My necklace was liked so much that I won an award for Most Creative as well!
May22
I have be recently doing some craft shows, and I decided I needed a bag to hold my money. Of course I work at Hobby Lobby, so I got a cute zippered bag from there. I like it well enough, its just a little plain. I mean, I like the pattern, but it doesnt scream JULIE!!!!!!! Well of course, I need it to scream for me! I had to make it scream of course, so I took my handy bag of markers and proceeded to go to work.
I colored and colored, and I LOVE the way it turned out! Now it screams JULIE!!!! I can hear it every time I look at it! Now it will make me happy just to see it, and get excited whenever I make a sale, so I can add to the bag!
November11
My sister was in town today, and after our shopping and visiting, I mentioned that we should drive by the old West Campus high school. I drove by it and saw there were starting the demolition. I happened to have my small camera in my bag so I was able to get a few pictures before it was too late.
Whoever is doing the tear down, started with the old cafeteria. Now some of the interior walls are exposed. I could see into some of the hallways from the doorway. I could still imagine rushing down the hall to get to class before the bell. I don’t have a lot of really great memories of Pekin Community High School. but it still holds a few sporadic happy thoughts. It was very sad to see what has become of the school.
All of the amazing stonework torn to pieces, strewn across the grass. Some of it was laying to the side near the fence, and I can only hope that it will be re purposed. There was so much n the old building that I feel could have been reused or re purposed. I could see shelving, doors, there was a pile of old wood with drawers still intact. I just found the whole thing very sad. I just wish that something was done with the school before it was left to rot and fall apart.
Many people drove by us while we were looking at the ruins. My sister and I were fortunate enough to talk to a couple that stopped to look at what was left of the building. We all commented what a shame it was to see. I mentioned that my mother was the last class to graduate from Pekin High as a single campus, and my uncle was the first class to gradate from the split campus. My grandfather helped to build the red building on West Campus.
Now all that is left will soon be gone, leaving only the memories behind. Memories of thousands of students laughing, school dances, music, and learning. Minds being opened by the words of the many great teachers. My son will never get to learn surrounded by those walls. He will only ever know the other campus where all of the student are together and have been for a few years now. Its all those students will ever know. Some of the teachers will remember the old school, but only a few.
June11
I have been wanting to do a blog post about stamping with bubble wrap for awhile. But as usual time is running away with me! No longer, here it is, a simple guide to stamping with paint and bubble wrap.
Bubble wrap makes a great and quick stamp. It gives a cute rustic look, and adds amazing texture to your art journal page. I work at a place that has a TON of bubble wrap tossed out on a weekly basis, so it is really easy for me to get. It can also be purchased, or if you are near a Hobby Lobby on their stock day, I am sure they would give you some if you ask nicely!
Today I was also using three different sized tubes to make circles with also. I also kept this strange cardboard thing from a package we got last year. I have collected a few tubes here and there from work and home that would have otherwise found their way into the landfill. What a great way to re purpose things instead of throwing them out. I have used paper towel and toilet paper tubes, but they are quite a bit thinner and can easily disintegrate. The tubes I used today are thicker and can be used over and over.
To start, I got out a disposable foam plate to put paint on. I like the plates because they are really cheap and make for easy clean up. I used a dark red paint and some blue to add contrast. Spread a thin layer of paint evenly on the plate, not too much or it can get clumpy. Press the bubble wrap lightly on the paint and then press it on your paper. Lift off and repeat as desired. Its as simple as that! This is the easiest technique for adding some texture.
The technique is the same for the tubes and any other fun object that might make a good image. I tried a jar lid, but that didn’t work out very well. The cardboard packaging I had made a great lined image, and the backside had foam on it, so there was some more texture. The lines would be perfect to use on a scrapbook page for jouraling, or just a added background element.
The circles can ge
t a bit messy depending on how liquid you paint is. My paint was pretty runny so it made all of these great little spots and slashes all over the page. Thats my kind of look though, the messier the better!The picture directly on the left shows different circle sizes and the bubble wrap printing on the same journal page. I have used the messy drippy circles as a background on a scrapbook page and it looks great! And even better is that no one else will ever have the same page because it was custom made by you!
