YIKES.. I have moved my blog! You can find me HERE now.. more room and getting ready for more and more.. please change your links and update your favorites.. and I'll be doing a give away on the first post over there.. post and say hello and I'll pick a winner and send a goody bag!

October Kit "Costumes Galore" $26.99

Well here it is! This kit is near and dear to my heart, it has so many fun elements, which you just have to see in person to appreciate. Hope Wallace of Paper Relics made a mini collage sheet especially for The Art Life October Kit. She is one of my favorite collage artists and the sweetest lady. I adore her work! I also included two mini collage sheets of my fun Halloween elements. There is a black and orange vintage milk tab, vintage trick or treat bag, and a handmade embellishment from me. This kit is chock full of treats, and you won't want to miss it. Here is the full list of items, and a bunch of pictures for you! Don't forget that full color instructions for all three projects come with this kit!

This week has been so hectic for me. I am getting everything ready for the Scrap for a Cure Scrap Pink event on Saturday. I haven't even pulled any cropping stuff together, mostly make and take, goodie bags, and product for the "trunk" show. I am also trying to finalize the October Kits with pictures, instructions, etc. So, whew, I am exhausted.. I did manage to snap a few shots of Bianca and Tony. It was one of those times where we were waiting on someone, I happened to have my camera in the car, and Bianca and Tony were hanging out. Wowsers.. what a moment. Tony absolutely LOVES his big sister, and she adores him as well. I couldn't be more proud or feel so lucky to have these two people in my life. Every day, I laugh a little and stare a little in amazement at what God has blessed me with. I had Oprah on in the backround the other day and Jenny McCarthy of all people was talking about how us Mother Warriors really would do anything in our power to help or come to the aid of our children. So, to all you Mother Warriors, cheers!

Here is the finished project for the make and take for ScrapPink in Brentwood this weekend! I am so excited about this SOLD OUT event! We are going to be scrapping away raising money for Breast Cancer. I am so pleased to be working with C&T Publishing, they have donated a boxfull of product to help with the event. I hope everyone is ready to have some fun!
Also, for everyone attending the event, I have a great goodie bag for you! Plus I'll be having a mini trunk show.. with all kinds of goodies to share.

Wow oh wow.. do you ever get those emails that have such good news that you just scream right there at your computer? Well I got one yesterday. Many of you know about the Scrap for a Cure ScrapPink event that will be held in Brentwood next weekend with all proceeds going to charity. Well, I signed up to do a make and take, donate to the goodie bags, and a raffle prize. I was overwhelemed with the amount of people that were going, up to 50, so I emailed my friend Mary at C&T Publishing which I am designing for and asked if they would like to participate in some way. WOW did they come through. They are donating all of the mini shadow boxes, so I can do a make and take with it, donating a bunch of new products they just came out with and giving me catalogs to include in the goodie bags. I am so excited and proud to be a designer for this generous company. If you haven't already done so, sign up for the crop next weekend. You can sign up HERE on the website. We are going to have a great time.
On another note, here is another sneak peak at my October Kit. This is the vintage treat bag you'll receive along with the little goodie bag, which includes a vintage milk tab in orange and black, and a personal embellishment made by me. These are actually going to be available on my B Day next week, September 24th right here on the blog. Get this one fast, cause I am sure this will sell out. Also, put it on your calendar to be here on October 15th, for a fun announcement regarding this kit.

I am having so much fun with Halloween items right now.. from vintage postcards, to creating fun tags, to making my own embellishments for the October Kit.. I am having a blast.

On October 18th, My Daughters Wish is going to have a Spooktacular event with all the design team members. We'll have 5 mini home decor projects, free ATC make and takes and tons of fun for Halloween. My mini project is the shadow box above. Isn't she cute?

A few weeks ago at the Antique Fair, I found a huge box of old tin screw tops. They were filthy.. I sat on the ground and picked out a bunch of them. I wanted to make them into mini collage ornaments. I have had this in my head for a few weeks, and last night I finally got to make it! It came out super cute! My new favorite is this little witch I made. Look for more of these to be made and put on ETSY.

I also went to Tinsel and Treasures and saw one of my favorite artists and friend, Connie Govea Stuart. She is so talented and I love her style and her presentation. I bought a mini doll shoe that is embellished "Connie" style. I'll take a pic and post later.

This is my favorite time of year.. the weather is perfect. Not too hot, not cold yet. The stores are starting to get ready for Halloween. My favorite holiday. I can't wait to pull down all my Halloween boxes and see all my fun things. A few months ago, I was at a Chinese Market and saw this cute little monster guy who was this brown basic "ugly" doll with a big red mouth. I wanted to buy all the "stuff" with him on it, but since it was imported and kinda a "Hello Kitty" type thing, I only bought a cute charm for my cell phone. Well yesterday, I went to Target and my little Domo Kun is all over the Halloween paraphanelia! A huge one is hanging from the ceiling and he is featured as their "mascot" for Halloween. So, I am one happy camper and bought a little mini stuffed one. Here is a pic for everyone.. isn't he the cutest thing you ever saw!

I know its only September 7th, but I am bursting with excitement for my October kit. Its going to be the biggest one yet! I have so many exciting things to share with you over these next few weeks.
First sneak.. is this pic.. I have commissioned a special collage sheet from one of my very favorite artists that will be included with the kit. This special sheet will only be available in The Art Life October Kit. Can you take a guess who this special artist is????

OOHHHH I have seen the prototype and I must say its one of the cutest stinkin things I have ever seen.. I can't wait to get my hands on it!

I have another tag kit going up tonight as well.. Its a Halloween Vintage Tag Kit. It will be available in my ETSY store and in My Daughters Wish on Tuesday. These are limited in number and are super cute, check out ETSY tonight for details.

If you haven't noticed yet, there is a new turquoise box over on the right.. I am starting a newsletter group.. Please come join! I'll have lots of fun stuff on there.. (if I can figure out how to do it!)

Much love to everyone.. hug a friend today and tell them you love them...

Here is the debut of the September kit "Journey to the Beach". I found this beautiful Sea Life File Folder and had to do something with it. So, I cut it up and made this super cute album to house all your beach pictures from this summer. I have used the K&Company Sea Glass Paper and Embellishment Line and a bunch of beautiful other things to adorn this beautiful book. I have included the Zutter Coil if you have a Zutter machine, but this book can be bound with the beautiful ribbons I have included or book rings. This book has plenty of journaling spots and pockets to include your memories! The kit is only $29.99, get them now, as all my kits have sold out before months end! You can see this in person at My Daughters Wish. You may purchase it at the store, here on my blog to the right. You can see more on my Etsy Store and purchase it there as well. Whew.. I think I have it all covered now!

I have some things to share! I have been frantically working on the September kit, think Beach! So, get out all your summer pics and lets get them in a super cute mini Zutter book. If you don't have a Zutter, go buy one! j/k.. actually I am offering Zutter services with this kit, since I know that once you use one, you'll want to buy one!
Also, here is a mini kit I am going to put up on ETSY. Its a kit to make these four super cute pocket tags, complete with flowers, buttons, and even a mini mister full of my own "glimmer mist" liquid. You'll get a Mini Mister "pink"in your kit.
This kit will only be $15.99 and you can get it right HERE on ETSY. I'll share a sneaky peak of the September kit later this week as well..

Thanks to everyone for a fantastic Dramatic Theater Class yesterday! Also, I just wanted to thank everyone for supporting me in my new business. I officially sold out of my August Kits yesterday. That means every kit so far has sold out.. so thank you so much for letting me share creativity!

I am off to the ZNE Convention for some much needed retail therapy for upcoming kits!

My buddies at Scrap For A Cure are hosting a 12 hour crop "Scrap Pink" event on Saturday September 27th from 10am to 10pm. Its going to include lunch dinner, snacks drinks and something chocolate of course! There will be make and takes, prizes and raffles. Come celebrate those affected by breast cancer with their honor wall and wear pink in honor and support of the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Please come join us! There will be special guests, demos and lots of fun guaranteed! The Art Life will be doing a demo, donating raffle items and a special something in the goody bags. All of this for $40! Sign up here today!

Hey all! Just a quick post cause I am so busy this week, but I realized that I hadn't even posted this class on my blog! Its called "Dramatic Theater". Its a beautiful shadow box with a dancing ballerina inside! You'll get so much fun vintage embellishments, along with some collage sheets. Come join me in making this one of a kind theater! This theater was made with the C & T Publishing Box, and will be featured on their website. I'll have more on that later. But this class is at 10:30am on Saturday and is filling up fast.

Hi All! Just wanted to share my latest creations.. Grungeboard Jewelry! Ever since my grungeboard book class I have been playing with the fantastic Grungeboard. I absolutely love it! I was so inspired with Tim's Industrial Grunge, that I came up with my own version of Grungeboard jewelry. I have already shown you the bracelets, now here are the necklaces. I am hoping to get this on the My Daughters Wish teaching schedule in September. Look for it tentatively on Thursday September 4th at 6:30. You'll make two necklaces and two bracelets. It should be a ton of fun!

Also, just a reminder if you have some free time this weekend, I am teaching the Fairy in a Boot Class on Saturday at 2:30pm, you'll receive a ton of product and make a super cute fairy! Come join us!

Just a quick post to please start shopping on my Etsy Site! I am going to be working really hard at getting everything I carry on the site this weekend. Also, items that won't be available anywhere else. If you are local, just send me a quick email, and I can meet somewhere to deliver instead of shipping costs.. Here is the link to the front of my shop THE ART LIFE ETSY. Thanks everyone for supporting little ol me! I am always looking for fun and exciting new things to carry! I added the ETSY logo to the right and you just have to click it to get to my store.

Friends..

I just want to take a minute and talk about friends.. before I started scrapbooking I had a small group of friends, most from various work places and just people you've met along the way through life. I never knew anyone who scrapbooked and my mother was the one to start me on this path (thanks mom!). I remember joining a local scrapbook group and going to a crop all by myself without knowing anyone. That was probably 6 years ago. At that crop, I met some of the most amazing women I have known all my life. I still am best friends with them. Through the next few years, and especially working and teaching at MDW, I have met a lot of people along the way. I tell you that each person I become close to, brings me something different in my life. There are those that I am completely inspired by and in awe of their artistic talent. There are those whose "life light" just shines so bright that I want to grab some and tuck it away. There are those that talk, those that listen and those that inspire, those that really make you feel like your loved in this world. I can't thank each and everyone of those people, but I hope you know who you are. Its weekends like this past one with Tim here, and our newfound ATC group that I so very happy. I don't feel like I am going to work at MDW, I feel like I am going to where my friends are. This hobby is so much more than paper and glue, its all about friendships that go beyond the surface and really hit you in the heart. I love to show friendship, I love to give hugs, and I love to make people smile, if I can make someone smile, then I am truly a happy person. I am truly amazed when someone thinks of me and brings me something, or tells me they thought of me when they saw something. Thank you thank you thank you..

Oooh I am so excited! I am getting ready to head over to MDW to see Tim! I can't wait to see everyone so happy and having a great time with him.
I made these commemorative bracelets for his visit for all the girls that are working today and tomorrow. They are grungeboard bracelets. They have all kinds of fun charms and embellies.. Of course the purple one is for Sheri! I hope they all enjoy them.
These might become a class in the future.. keep a look out for it! Grungeboard jewelry.. oooh sounds fun!

Just a quick post to show the August Kit Cover. This is a Maya Road 4x4 Mini Book that is filled with all things vintage and vintage inspired. If you love ART Life goody bags (blown up), think of that all tucked inside a mini book and instructions on how to make it! This kit will be at My Daughters Wish on Friday and will also be available through this blog, and on the ETSY store. You'll love it!

Hi everyone! First off, thanks so much for all the well wishes after the crash. Everyone is doing great, and the vision of impact is fading and life is moving forward. We went and bought a new SUV, which I am kinda scared to drive, but things are much better!
This is a CRAZY week for me and for My Daughters Wish. We have the man, the legend, the freaking rock star TIM HOLTZ arriving on Thursday night. Personally, I am super excited because I just think Tim is the most down to earth, friendly and hilarious guy ever! In the business sense, THE ART LIFE is getting ready to debut a bunch of new products this Friday at the store when we will have everyone coming in to visit. I have my August Kit, which is full of vintage ephemera, ribbons, german scrap, and all kinds of fun things! I also have this new Jenni Bowlin product.. mini chipboard albums, and mini BINGO CARDS! Aren't these the cutest things you've ever seen? So, I have put it all together in some inspiration kits that also include some JB tickets, Heidi Swapp Bling, ART Life charms buttons and other doodads.. I am making a ton of new vintage inspired ephemera packs, tins, and collage sheets to add to my section of the store. Seriously though the mini bingo cards are so adorable.. I can't wait to make something with them!
I also went to the San Francisco Gift Show which is a trade show for gift shops.. it was totally overwhelming but I ended up ordering some beautiful Midori Ribbons, and some product from PAPAYA! I ordered these two Art Panel Prints which are 12x16 that have ribbon and ready to hang. I ordered calendars, journals, and cards, so if you see something you like email me and I can hold it for you.
Finally, here is a pic of some beautiful furniture I found a few weeks ago, with another one of the Papaya prints behind it. I am in love with this little dresser.. so beautiful and my colors!
Whew.. I'll share more this week, sneak my August Kit, and share more things I purchased.. stuff for a cute Halloween project kit that you'll love!

CRASH!!

Thats what happened to me and Tony yesterday. We are ok. It was so scary, and I just can't explain how it happened.. your mind kinda turns off for those 15 seconds of impact. All I remember is seeing this car right in front of me and I hit it. Tony starts crying and I just try to make sure I can move. I immediately go to him and he says his neck hurts.. the carseat seatbelt did its job. My knees were throbbing from hitting the dashboard. The car is mangled and the other car is too. We ended up just fine, but I have these feelings of wow.. I haven't been in an accident in 15 years.. and my son was in the car. So, today is a day of rest and icing my knee, I am sure its fine. But I woke up in the middle of the night with that scene of the impact right in front of me. I am going to try to do something creative today to get my mind off of it. Tony is going to grandmas to make snickerdoodles.. so a day alone is exactly what I need. I also feel so blessed that we were not hurt badly and neither was the other driver.

I can't believe how fast time flies.. and that its been so long since I blogged.. sorry everyone! We had Tony's 3rd birthday party last weekend and wow it was so much fun.. here is a fun pic of him in the bouncy house. He cried when they came to pick it up. Poor baby.. I wish we could have one full time too.. keeps the kids busy.
Yesterday I taught the "I Wanna Be Tim Holtz" class at My Daughters Wish and we had a full house! Everyone got their hands dirty and hopefully learned a lot of new techniques using all of the FANTASTIC Ranger and Tim Holtz products. We played with grungeboard, distress ink, alcohol inks and paint and had so much fun. Thanks to everyone who came out to play with us yesterday.
My Daughters Wish is getting ready for the real man to come visit in two weeks. Its going to be utter crazyiness, but to have the rockstar himself in the store is going to be incredible. Then the day after Tim is here, the Paperchase bus people are coming, so no rest for the wishchicks. I too am getting busy making new ephemera packs, inspiration packs and putting out new things. Yesterday I put out a ton of ArtChix Studios collage sheets and buttons along with some new embellishment tins. They were flying out of the store. ArtChix does such a fantastic job on their collage sheets. So if your in the area, keep checking "my" section of the store for lots of fun new things!
I am almost done with the August Kit as well, and its full of fun vintage items, german scrap and beautiful lace and ribbons.. look for a sneak peak later this week.

I have been very busy creating and playing.. having fun! I am on this vintage kick big time and have created a bunch of new projects that will be classes at My Daughters Wish. They all are whimsical, fun and completely different then what I have done in the past. I will be teaching on the same days as Lisa Super, and we will be assisting each other with classes.. so come join both of us for a fun filled day of whimisical fun, exploring another realm of art!

First is "Fairy in my Boot". This is a mini boot which features mini Jenni Bowlin papers, Glaze and messy hands. Coming out of the boot is this darling fairy girl. She will bring a smile to your face every day!
Secondly is "Beeswax Collage of Me". This will be a wooden plank in which you'll have buckets, baskets and boxes full of things to choose from that represent your passions.. of course mine has an owl, is turquoise and Hambly.. you'll be amazed at all the great vintage ephemera I have lined up for you to choose from.
Thirdly is "A Whimsical Star Gazer". This little guy is there to make you smile every day. He will sit atop a wonderful box that opens a "different" way..
I also have a "Dramatic Theater" which will be a shadow box with a beautiful ballerina inside, but I am finishing her up. I'll post as soon as she is done.

Well Happy 4th of July everyone! I hope everyone enjoys this day with family barbeques and fun! I realized that I did not share my last Hambly project, so I thought I'd throw this one out there! I love making the Doodlebug houses and I decided to make the Hambly House with Mr. Hambly himself. It was a bunch of fun and I included 3-d chandeliers, an owl (of course) on a real stick sitting outside a window, curtains, flower boxes and beautiful Overlay flowers on top. I read they got hundreds of submissions.. I know they are going to have a very hard time picking from the talented people who have submitted.

Here is the July Kit "I WannaBe Tim Holtz". This kit has a ton of Grungeboard. If you have ever wanted to play with it, but wasn't sure what to do with it, this kit is for you. You get full color instructions to make a 8 page book, with 3 "Holtzified" tags.. with all the fun new metal embellishments like Tokens, Tags, Swivel Clamps, Game Spinners and Sprockets, and in true ART LIFE fashion, a baggie full of hard to find "out of the box" embellishments. You will be so excited when you see whats in there.. Oh don't forget you get another full mini bottle of GLIMMER MIST! The color is Sea which is a beautiful aqua color!
If your in the area, I'll also teach this as a class at My Daughters Wish on July 19th, so come join me in getting our hands dirty!

Are you ready for a sneaky peak at my July kit??? If you love Tim Holtz, and you love his products but don't really know how to use them.. then this is the kit for you!

Here is a pic of the little "key" chain that hangs from the book.. super cute, and your sure to get your hands dirty with this kit!

Just an official post saying that my JUNE Kit Memories of Yesterday is officially sold out! Thanks to everyone for their support and I am so excited about my next few months kits! Make sure to get yours early!

Lots to share today! First off, I finally got pics of all my little baby turkeys.. they were in the front yard today.. so stinkin cute! I wanted to pick them up and cuddle them, but momma was right with them.. I was in the house, and I heard the babies squeaking.. and whalla.. here they all were! I was so excited!
Also, I am sharing some mini canvas' I did at the crop I went to at Picture Me Perfect where I got to hang out with Kerry Lynn Yeary, Marie and Ginger. We had so much fun chatting, creating and just hanging out!
Lastly, I am sharing a sneak peak of my July Kit! Its all about Grungeboard. Since the Tim Holtz classes sold out so quickly, I have decided to offer this as a class as well at My Daughters Wish. It will be on July 19th at 1:30pm. We will play with grungeboard and all the new Tim Holtz embellishments, like tokens, tickets and game spinners. You'll receive a full package of the Mini Elements and tons of other grungeboard pieces! $40 Call MDW at 925-952-4437 to sign up!

Today is a big day around here. My beautiful wonderful daughter is 15 today. I can't believe it. I can't believe time has gone by so fast. I want it to stop! I spent the afternoon yesterday with her shopping our butts off. We bought, we chatted, we ate, we shopped some more. I can't express how proud I am of her, how wonderfully mature, beautiful and sweet she is. I say it all the time, that I am so blessed to have a daughter like her. We had lunch at The Cheesecake Factory, and I embarrassed her by having all the waiters sing to her.. and they we so CUTE! She was beet red and very mad at me. I loved spending time with her, just me and her. We don't get to do that very often, because I have Tony to take care of and "she is 15' and spending time with mom.. well you know.. I took tony to the party store to get his invitations for his 3rd birthday party, and you guessed it, he chose High School Musical as his theme.. I have a broadway star on my hands.. he also picked out ballons for Bianca and was so proud to give them to her. He gave her big hugs and said Happy Birthday Banca.. he says her name so cute! Today we are all going to Benihana's for dinner and we are going to have so much fun! Here are some pics of her and I through the years.. enjoy and give that little girl/boy a hug today.. cause tomorrow they will be teenagers and hugs are hard to come by!

Ok, day two of reveal of my Hambly projects.. this one hopefully is going to make people laugh. I found this "antique" puppet theatre box at a recent antique show and didn't really know what I was going to do with it, and I just had to do the "people".. me and Bianca. In our little Hambly theatre in our Hambly "clothes".. I had so much fun making this, and at the crop, I had everyone laughing with the 3-d chandelier and the frame in the back with my trademark owl.. So, here is project #2.. Hope everyone enjoys this and laughs a little.. heheheehehe!