Note to self...

Hey, everyone!

(if you are looking for my GREETING FARM preview & giveaway, click HERE)

Today is the last HIP HOP of 2011...can't believe it!  The end of 2011 is bittersweet for me... I really loved this year for the most part.  I learned a lot, felt a lot, grew a lot as a person in some ways, and watched my children accomplish a lot.  so very much actually.

I can only hope that 2012 will be an even better year- or at least as good as this one :)  That's my prayer, anyway :)   I really, really found a lot of truths this year whether it be what's good for me in the people who I surround myself with, the goals I set for myself and my family, and what's important.

This project I'm showing you today is actually a sneak peek of a project that will be fully revealed tomorrow having to do w/ my art journal... for now....here's a look at it, using the "Note to Self" Itty Bitty stamp by UNITY STAMP CO....

I can't wait to reveal more of this special project tomorrow....but for now, head on over to the UNITY BLOG for all the HIP HOP details and to catch the 1st stop on the hop in case you missed it!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

xoxo,

Mixed Media and MOTHERHOOD...two of my favorite things...

Hey, everyone!
I am up today on the UNITY BLOG with a Mixed Media project focusing on Motherhood and I thought I'd share it with you guys, too.   
I had some special help w/ today's project and am very proud of the little hands that helped with it!   I am participating in a 24 week Art Journaling course through The Greeting Farm and this week's assignment was "mother/Motherhood."  I LOVE that subject.
Becoming a mom of my 'fab four' as I always refer to them was the best thing I ever did.  They are my greatest accomplishments and although I have some wonderful childhood memories and wonderful teen/early adult memories that I wouldn't trade for anything, I feel as though my life didn't even begin until the day my first child was born.
My twin boys were upstairs playing in their room last night and the girls noticed me getting out all of my paints/ markers, mixed media 'schtuff' and said "can we help?"  It was my first instinct to say "not this time, guys.." but you know what?  What better assignment to have them participate in than one surrounding my FAVORITE quote by Elizabeth Stone:
"Making the decision to have a child is MOMENTOUS...it is to decide FOREVER to have your heart go walking around outside your body"....   
Isn't . that. the. truth.

I started by stamping the flowers and butterfly from the "A Mother's Love" set and watercolored the background using some Gelatos by Faber Castell (LOVE these- you have to try them and they are totally washable/cleanable!)  
The girls were beyond excited to be able to help color in the flowers with my copies.  I did the butterfly but they helped w/ everything else.   They also helped stamp the dots from an Ippity set, "Love in Return".    By this time, the boys had come downstairs so all 4 of them took turns stamping some all over the page in pink ink ;)
I can't think of anything better to share with you this Sunday afternoon, especially after Thanskgiving because I am so grateful for these four amazing little human beings and the wonderful people they are becoming with each passing day.   No better thing to share, either as we embark to the theatre to have my baby girl's (ok, she's 6...but I can still call her a baby, right? ;) birthday party -we are seeing the Muppets!
Have a HAPPY Sunday, everyone!Thanks for letting me share w/ you!xoxo,Jess :)

Head in the Clouds...feet on the ground....sorta?!

Hi, everyone!

{{{please scroll down if you are here for Operation: Julie's Smile! Thank you!}}}

It's me, Jess, and I'm SO excited to be posting today for a little 

MIXED MEDIA Sunday here AND on the Unity Blog!

My love of art journaling came to be about 6 months ago and I haven't looked back since.

Not only is it a great outlet, but I feel like I'm living it as I create it, and that's something that I hope will be pretty special for my kids one day.

I LOVE the Itty Bitty "Silver Lining" and after I watercolored the background of my page, the clouds were the 1st thing I stamped.   I then did some "hodge podging around"  (ask my kids- they LOVE when they ask me "what are you doing now on the page, Mommy?" and I answer, "oh, just hodge-podging around..."  ;).   I used the musical note background from one of my favorite Ippity sets, "Music of the Heart", and finally the polka dot background from another Ippity set, "Love in Return".

I was happy with the little bit of chaos I created in the background and then moved on to my hand-drawn girl.  I was SO afraid to draw these until an assignment a while back had me 'having' to draw one and I was so excited when I realized I was able to do it!  I took an old dictionary page for her legs, arms, and face and the rest was crafted from some of the new Crate Paper "Random" collection and some crocheted trim.

Ok, so FUNNY story time.  I didn't find this out until after I posted over on the Unity Blog...so, this page was created on the back of the last entry in my art journal.  I took it out, went to work, ONLY to realize that ummm, OOPS.  I did it UPSIDE DOWN.

That gives a WHOLE new meaning to the sentiment, especially the feet on the ground part, HA! 

As for the sentiment and my written words?  Well, that's just me: "head in the clouds...feet on the ground..."

....MOST of the time ;)

Thanks for coming by today- I am SO happy to be BACK!

xoxo,

Journaling from the heART...

Hey, hey, everyone!

A little rainy-day post today...I wasn't going to blog today but I sort of felt like it, and haven't gotten to show all of my art journaling pages yet so I thought I would...

First of all, I just have to say how absolutely AWESOME my friend and boss, Marie is.  Not only does she encourage everyone to start art journaling, but she believes in it so much that she actually is sponsoring a 24-week journey with a prize at the end, even if you do not use a single TGF stamp on your journaling pages.  How amazing is she?!?

The Greeting Farm is truly...TRULY my heart.  I am reminded of this daily...because of the people who support it, the amazing talent of ALL the people who share with us, the sweet spirit of the stamping community, and the devotion to promoting a small business who otherwise wouldn't be able to thrive without such wonderful support.  Most of all, think it is amazing to work for someone such as her and be able to put my own heart and soul into everything I do, as well as being free to design using other stamps as well so that I never feel creatively 'stunted.'   She really rocks, and I don't know two people in the world who work better together than her and I  <3

On that note,  I am so happy to support this awesome challenge issued by The Greeting Farm and am also excited to be participating!    Here is a page I created a few weeks ago for our "paper piecing" challenge.  I think the page TRULY speaks for itself: 

The "Hanging Heart" stamp is from Stamping Bella and is one of my favorite backdrops to use for Art Journaling.  If you are REALLY into it, you can also participate in the Stamping Bella Art Journaling Monday challenges/tutorials over on Bloggabella.   :)

That's about it for me today, but I'll be back tomorrow with two posts so thanks as always for staying with me...gonna be a busy week over here!  <3

Speaking. MY. Truth...

***IF you are looking for my ECHO PARK/TWINERY Blog Hop post, click HERE ***

Friday.

Fun Day.

an "I don't have to run day..."  LOL!  No, seriously, it's prob the first day in a WHILE that I don't :)

It's also time to share another week's topic from The Greeting Farm's "Heart Journaling" journey.  This is a journey that I am REALLY loving!

This past week's (week 4) assignment was to create a HAND DRAWN girl.

Say that with me.  HAND. DRAWN. G....

no, just stop at HAND. DRAWN.

yikes!

I had NO idea how I was gonna pull this off.  NONE.  Thankfully there was Google, and the fact that I pretty much knew I wanted my creation to look SOMETHING like the "SheArt" stuff by Christy Tomlinson that I've been seeing around the blogosphere.

Still that one PESKY little problem though- the fact that I cannot draw.  True story.  It was google and my daughter, Madelynn to the rescue- madelynn was my cheerleader and she actually created a page too that I'll be posting later!  I am so proud of her!

(please click on the image to enlarge- you can see a lot more of the detail on the face and legs if you do ;)

So....here's the deal.  I did it.  I did it ANNNNND I liked it!  after decorating the background with Spring Butterflies,  the Mini Bubblewrap, Mesh and French Script, I went to work on drawing her.  It helps if you start out with the DRESS portion, I can tell you that.  I think it makes it more 'proportioned' when you're trying to draw the rest of her.  Worked for me, anyway! 

What do you guys think?  As for the paper, it's the new My Mind's Eye 6x6 Stack "lost and found" and I'm in LOVE!  The papers are perfect for her and when I saw the measuring tape DP I knew EXACTLY what I wanted to do.

Every stamp on here is Stamping Bella except for the sentiment "Speak the Truth, even if your  voice shakes" is from the new Verve set, "Words of Wisdom".

...and wisdom this is, INDEED.  

"Speak the TRUTH...even if your voice shakes... "

...and my first 'truth'?  As shown above... NO ONE. should EVER. ever. hold you up to their own 'measuring stick' of expectations.  That is on them, not on you.  

True friendship and love comes from and by ACCEPTANCE of the beautiful person you are...the unique makeup of one's SOUL <3

remember that, k?

I am a 'people pleaser.'.  So this little bit of wisdom took me a while...and it's a precious lesson learned.

FREE to be me.

and you are FREE to be YOU.

and I will appreciate you for all the "YOUness" that comes with that, because we are all so beautifully different.

TRUTH.  Acceptance.

They are BEAUTIFUL things... and that is the TRUTH :)

Madly Excited...

...about another fun art journal page :)

hey peeps!

I'm back today (on a Saturday, I know!) with a page hot off the press and that'll go RIGHT into my art journal after I'm done blogging about it :)

I couldn't wait to use the hanging hearts from Stamping Bella- I LOVE this image.  The sentiment is something I found on Pinterest which I absolutely ADORE and printed out:

"Be MADLY EXCITED about the potential of TODAY..."

do you LOVE that??????

I also used the MESH background from the Stamping Bella set shown HERE.

How many of you guys are art journaling?  I TOTALLY love it and would love to see your pictures! Weekend project, maybe?

Yes, let's ;)

xoxo,

Jess :)

We're Blushing...

TGF is BLUSHING....

...and you'll see WHY when you check out the BRAND NEW, Fresh-faced group of FARMERS announced today on the TGF BLOG!   I am SO, SO excited to be working with another talented bunch- and these ladies really are the cream of the crop...I think you'll agree :)

A HUGE, warm, TGF-style welcome to:

Carisa Zglobicki

Tracey Pickersgill

Denice Bartucci

Becca Fabozzi

Kim Yu

 and our Guest Designer who is NO stranger to TGF, Jen Shults!  Just wait til you see what she has up her sleeve for us this month!

How's that for a bunch of blushing beauties?!?   Well, turns out we're not the ONLY ones BLUSHING at TGF....

...introducing the BRAND-NEW TGF BLUSH SOCIETY!!!

We are thrilled to bring you TWO brand new card, scrapbook, and mixed-media friendly backgrounds to compliment SPLOTCHY released a few months ago....with our HEART Background and HELLO Background!   In addition, the pride and joy of the new BLUSH SOCIETY?   We bring you Blush Bonnie and Blush Babbette...two new "blushing beauties" that will be fantastic for cards, art journaling, and MORE!    Here is my project, using Blush Bonnie, the "Hello" background, and hearts.  Remember my ART JOURNAL that I showed you a while back that I finally began?  Well, here's the latest page!  I am SO excited:

I painted a tree/grass/cloud background using Claudine Hellmuth paints on a watercolor paper that I had Gesso'd a head of time.  I stamped Bonnie on Tissue paper using StazOn and adhered her w/ mod podge to my page, then I painted her.  I really LOVE art journaling even though I'm still really wet behind the ears...but whatcha think?

There is so much excitement buzzing around the Farm today, you'll definitely want to start on the TGF BLOG because we have a HUGE PRIZE PACK to give away today for visiting us NEW Farmers and leaving some love and your thoughts on the new "BLUSH SOCIETY!"  We can't wait to hear them!

That's it for me today, but I'll be back later this week, still blushing ;), with MORE TGF previews!  

Discover Your Wings...

Hey everyone!

I'm really excited about my post today because I am CELEBRATING my blog, The Whimsical Butterfly, and also, my brand NEW Blog, "Yeah, She Blogs..." a NON-crafty blog where you can hang out for random ramblings, inspiring quotes, marvelous mommy-hood, and even some yummy recipes.  I hope you'll join me.

The real reason I'm celebrating today is because I started re-arranging some blog elements for the new blog and updating this one and it occurred to me a few days ago that I somehow got over 200,000 visits without my noticing!   Well,  I mentioned it to my sweet hubby the other day and it just happened to be the same day him and I had discovered this new cupcake place in town, Biddy Bear cupcakes.  

I called to inquire about it and also was thinking that our boys' bday party is scheduled for the week that school gets out (they had their birthday back in March but are opting for a fun summer pool party ;)  Anyway, my hubs knows that I LOVE cupcakes and also knows that I'm SUPER duper picky about frosting-I don't like when its' too sweet or waxy or artificial tasting...but he decided to give it a go and um...can you say AMAZING???

Check out the detail on these ADORABLE crafty cupcakes that she came up with after talking to me and paying attention to what I do:

My sweet hubby brought these home and I swear the entire neighborhood heard me scream:

Look at these CUTE little buttons!  I have to say, I'm not a fan of fondant at ALL but it wasn't bad...I didn't eat the spools and thread, but I did much on a button or two ;)   Seriously, the frosting was light, airy, no aftertaste, and not sickeningly sweet -it was perfect.

Anyway, such a SWEET and FUN tribute to my crafty blog- I couldn't get OVER the handstamped fondant with "The Whimsical Butterfly" stamped in...is that not adorable?  I am one lucky girl, I am tellin' ya.  I just need another excuse to order cupcakes now, I think ;)   Seriously, she came up w/ the designs all on her own and I just adore them!

Lesley, the owner of Biddy Bear, serves the local Nashville area, but she DOES ship fondant "toppers" anywhere, so be sure to check out her blog and Facebook page and PLEASE tell her I sent you- they are just delicious!!!

Well, before I leave y'all, I DO have a crafty project I'm ready to share...be gentle...another mixed media frenzy I went into last night using Stamping Bella's "Spring Butterflies" by Balzer Designs!  I have been itching to ink these babies up but I finally decided that they belonged on this little 5x5 canvas that I prepped last week and was just so hesitant to start. I don't know why I get so nervous about this mixed media but for some reason I feel like this type of art lends itself 'deeper' into a person's soul/personality than a card does....does that make any sense?  Seriously, what do you guys think?

I'm looking forward to starting a new project with this mixed media art that involves a little challenge from Helmar...stay tuned for more info on that....and did you know that Stamping Bella carries Helmar products?  Talk about a match made in heaven.

Here's to 200,000 more views as I continue to DISCOVER my wings...and I hope you are doing the same! <3  

much love,

Jess...

You've got a little somethin' Splotchy right there...

{{{Be sure to scroll down for my Bella-riffic Friday post- Thank you SOOOO much!}}}

Welcome back for our 2nd day of previews for The Greeting Farm's MAY Release!   No, that's not your eyes and you don't need to adjust your computer screen.  You are DEFINITELY seein' somethin' SPLOTCHY on the Farm!

We are trying something NEW this month...and it's the FIRST 'background' stamp that TGF has ever released.  If all goes well, we are hoping to coordinate this set with something SUPER FRESH and NEW coming this summer...so stay TUNED!   For now, I introduce you to our "SPLOTCHY BACKGROUND stamp set", which will be released on May 1st along with Hoo Loves You and the stamps we have yet to show you (wink wink ;)

I have been seeing Mixed media ALL over the place and I know it's not 'new' by any means but it's new to me and I'm SO NERVOUS about showing you my first canvas!   Here it is, using Splotchy Background and Flutter Anya:

What do you guys think???  I am ITCHING to know...then again, I'm skeered, haha.   I used White Gesso to prep my canvas, painted a sky/grass/sun with some acrylic paints, then added the splotchy Background.   Then I stamped the image and sentiments onto white tissue paper (stamped with StazOn) and then used Helmar Acid-Free Glue as a decoupage to paint it right onto the canvas.  Once it dried, I took a few different acrylic paints and stickles to fill her in and doodled some flowers with a Marvy pigmented Artist pen and some more paint :)   

Thanks for stopping by today-I am SO excited about this project and can't wait to do another one!  Any tips or suggestions would be fabulous to hear!   Make sure you stop by the TGF Blog to see some Splotch-tacular creations by the rest of the DT ;)
xoxo,