NEW Memories...NEW Project...NEW Series!!

It's time for another round of NEW-ness here at The Creative Life!!

NEW MEMORIES!

This past Saturday I did something NEW...I ran my first 10k!

 I started running back in August with the app Count-to-5K for 2 reasons: (1) I wanted to be an example of a healthy lifestyle to my kids and (2) I had my SILs and some great friends who had started running and I was totally inspired by the confidence it had been giving them.

So I just...started running. The Couch-to-5k (and eventually the 5k-to-10k app) really helped hold my hand through the process. Being someone who's never been "sporty" I had no clue where to start.

I had a lot of cheerleaders like my SILs Kelly and Leslie, my sister Leslie, and my friends Kristen and Kelly, but my biggest was this girl right here!

My friend Deana has already run a half-marathon and a full-marathon and was my go-to person for all my questions, my "OMG...what am I doing?" moments and my confidence builder when I was injured a few weeks ago and wasn't even sure if I was going to be able to run at all.

We ran the 10K together and even though she finished about 10 minutes ahead of me, she made her way back on the course after she had crossed the finish line to run the last 1/4 mile with me. 

Here is my first metal:

And here is where my family and I went for my "victory" breakfast afterwards!!!

So what next? Well...this race was my "practice" race for a half-marathon I am scheduled to run in just 2 weeks. Since my injury put me behind on my training schedule (I had to take 2 weeks off), I am a little more nervous now than I was when I ran 10 miles 4 weeks ago, but I'm not going to give up!

NEW PROJECT...NEW SERIES!!!

Heidi Swapp's Color Pop is one of my FAVORITE new things out there in the paper-crafting world. I've always loved the "resist" products, but where as all other products resist white, Heidi has taken it up a notch and made her resists BRIGHT Colors and Fun, Bold Patterns.

In her Color Pop Collection, she has her trademark Memory Files in all sorts of yumminess like Teal Chevron, Pink Polk-Dot and Black Diagonal Stripes, shown here in front, which is what I used to make MY first ever Memory File!

I decided I wanted to do a fun Yellow and Black color scheme, so I used Tattered Angels' Jingle Bells Glimmer Mist on my folder.

I wanted my Memory File to be all about my hottie hubby and me, so I had this really cute picture my SIL had given me of us from a few years ago. From there it was just all about adding fun. I popped a lot of it up to give it a lot of depth and allow me to "tuck" embellishments here and there. (See below for a complete supply list!)

So fun, right? 

You can join me over the next few months in my NEW SERIES as I add to my File and join me in building more memories!

Until then my friends...enjoy YOUR Creative Life...where ever it may lead you.

Complete Supply list of today: Memory File: Heidi Swapp; Patterned Paper: Echo Park, Glitz Design and My Mind's Eye; Chipboard Arrows: Pink Paislee; Washi Tape: Sandy Lion and Recollections; Enamel Dots: Teresa Collins; Lace: May Arts; Title Card: Glitz Design; Stamps: Fiskars; Glitter Dots: Mark Richardson; Button: Teresa Collins; Gem: Paper Studio;  Paint: Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in Jingle Bell; Misc: Harlequin Felt (had it so long....no idea who made it! LOL!)

Feeling Springy!

Here is Arkansas, our weather can not seem to make up its mind!

In the last week our temperatures have varied from 14 degrees to 67 degrees. I think our state forgot that it's winter!

These warm temps have me dreaming of springtime fun, so I decided  I was going to jump the gun and make a little spring home-dec project.

For this Project I used: Canvas Corp's 10X10 Chunky Stretched Canvas, Burlap Pocket Shape, Easter Sampler (not released just yet!)Mixed Media Glue and some misc Canvas Corp patterned papers. From Tattered Angels I used Glimmer Mist in a Blue that I can't remember the name of (WOOPS! LOL) and Leap Frog, Baseboard in Ivory and the NEW High Impact Paint in White. (Other supplies are a little bit of Krinkle, floral wire and foam, random buttons and May Arts ribbon.)

Here's a couple of close ups of the background:

I used the Blue Glimmer Mist over the entire surface of the canvas and honestly, after I did it, I thought "That is way too bright!" So I took my Baseboard in Ivory did light spray over all of it and then a few heavier sprays. I did this while the blue was still wet so that it would give it more of a watercolor feel and less harsh lines.

For the clouds, I used 1/2 flat brush and the Tattered Angels High Impact paint. (I'll give you more info on those later in the post!) Once again, I did this part while the background was wet to avoid harsh edges. It really is just a "play with it" kind of thing. For the larger clouds, I made my base cloud and then added more paint where I wanted highlights in my clouds. 

(Note: White Acrylic paint mixed with a little water will give you a similar effect.)

For my grass, I poured a little of my Leapfrog Glimmer Mist on my Pink Tattered Angels mat and starting from the bottom of the canvas, drug my paintbrush up. (The one thing I remember from elementary school art "Grass grows up, so you should paint it that way.") To make the variations in the green, I added a little High Impact paint next to my pool of Leapfrog and then just picked up a little of both in difference amounts. 

The rest is all in your creativity! You don't have to use the sampler I used (the flowers were made using an Accu-Cut die cut machine.) You could use flowers cut from your Cricut or Spellbinder or whatever your die cutter of choice is!!

Wants some more info on the High Impact Paint? 

Debuted at the Winter CHA Show in Anaheim, these paints are ready to revolutionize any Tattered Angels fan! They come in 6 metallic and 6 basics and although they can be used along (like in this project) their main purpose to allow the artist to begin to CUSTOMIZE their current and future Tattered Angels paints.

Love the color Rosey Simply Sheer in the Plain Jane Collection, but you need it to sparkle? In a separate sprayer (or a small mixing container if you are using a brush), just add your Simply Sheer and a little of your choice of the 6 metallic colors. Voila! You have your own unique color!

 High Impact paint is compatible with the entire line of Tattered Angels paints. Can you tell that I am super excited about this!!?? The possibilities are endless! (Now if it was just the end of March so they would be ready.) 

Kylee on Fri-Dee

For those of you who stopped by on Monday, you saw the Valentine banner I made.

Well, my 5 year old (Kylee) has a love for crafting just like her mama so she decided she needed to make a love banner, too.

Thanks for stopping by and remember...each day...get caught being creative!!