I wanted to show the messy life can be with my design, but the scripture is the supports the thought that no matter how messy life gets....with God we can "Leap over walls."
Here is a closeup of the stamp we carved in Part 1.
Head on over to The Crafter's Workshop Blog for more details AND a complete video!
Well...I did it! I finally did it! I finally bought an actual journaling bible!!
For my first entry I thought I would start...where else, but the beginning: Genesis 1:1.
For those of you that don't know, I actually have a tattoo on my right wrist of this scripture reference:
For me it's a reminder that the only reason I can do what I do creatively is because he first created me. That is what I wanted to document as my first entry. For the first page to always stand as a reminder of why I am journaling in the first place and who I am journaling to.
I had so much fun with these great Alphas, labels and washi I found at Joann's for only $1 each!
I also used washi from Hobby Lobby, Distress Paints by Tim Holtz, DecoArt Media Misters, stencils from The Crafters Workshop and a black Sharpie.
I am BEYOND excited to share this project with you today!
As you know, I have been a little (or a lot!) obsessed with Sugar Skulls lately. So when I saw that DecoArt Media was having a design challenge for Halloween, I knew I wanted to stretch myself and do something that is COMPLETELY out of the box for me...a 3-D SUGAR SKULL!
I searched high and low for the perfect surface and I found this skull at our newly opened JoAnn Fabric and Craft Store. It is made of Styrofoam and I thought was creepily perfect!
We became very good friends....
Ready to see his transformation?
To make my roses, I used the 6x6 "Cabbage Rose" Stencil from The Crafter's Workshop. {see the end of the post for a complete supply list!}
I wanted to keep my pink roses the highlight of this project, so I kept my other details simple with flourishes and dots painted with various DecoArt paints.
I added some Junque and Gem stones from Marion Smith Designs to finish it up with a little bling
What is is about sugar skulls that are the perfect combination of creepy and beautiful?
I hope you enjoyed seeing my project as much as I enjoyed making it.
What about you? Have you tried something new? Maybe a product you've been scared of? Maybe taking your art off a canvas or out of a book and trying something fun and 3-D? Or maybe...you must need to START?
No matter where you are...You CAN DO IT!!
Just try.
One of my favorite authors, Neil Gaiman, has a quote that I love:
So go and DO something...mistakes and all. :)
Until next time...
Keri
P.S. Shameless plug....PICK ME ANDY SKINNER!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)
Today I am so excited to share with you a project I recently made for the annual Saving Grace Mentor/Mentee Retreat.
This year's theme is "Soul Deep" and for our creative time we are focusing on Truth Cards and Bible Journaling.
If you haven't heard about Truth Cards, they are the brainchild of the amazingly talented and loving artist Melody Ross.
In her own words, Melody says that Truth Cards are:
The idea for Truth Cards came as a way to overpower the awful script that sometimes runs in our head, preventing our souls from feeling whole or healed. Truth cards are little messages of love and truth that are written directly to our souls….telling us the TRUTH when we are believing words that are keeping us from believing the love and truth.
For our retreat, we are focusing on Biblical Truths.
For the project, I used Heidi Swapp's "Favorite Things" collection for Michael's, Adirondack Inks, TCW Stencils and various stamps, washi tapes and stickers.
Here are the individual cards...
To keep them all together, I used a jump ring and added some ribbons and charms.
I used very specific charms, each with their own meaning:
(1) CLOCK: Ecclesiastes 3 states that there is a time and a place for everything under heaven. The clock is to remind me that my timing is not always God's timing and vice versa.
(2) BIRD CAGE: Truth is freedom. Finding truth can break the bonds of a broken past and can set you free from the cage of emotions.
(3) 7: In the Bible, 7 is a special number...it is the number of completion and wholeness.
(4) KEY: Matthew 7:7 says: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. The DOOR can be opened...the KEY is you have to have the faith to KNOCK.
(5) FLEUR-De-LIS: The Fleu-De-Lis is a stylized Iris Flower. The Iris flower's history has made it the symbol for FAITH, HOPE and WISDOM...and who doesn't need some of that!?!?
So what about YOU? What do you hold as TRUTH? Maybe there is a book quote or a song lyric or words of a special person that you hold close to your heart when things get rough.
Find those. Write them out...type them up. Document them and keep the handy for those moments when the battlefield of the mind would tell you something contrary to what is TRUE.
Until next time,
XOXO,
KERI
P.S. To see how a couple of these cards were made, check out my post on The Crafter's Workshop Blog:
Did you miss me? I took the summer to just be with my kiddos before they all went off to school again (including my littlest starting kindergarten...how did that happen?!)
Have you heard of Bible Journaling? It is a rising area of art journaling where you actually journal in the margins of your bible. It can be scriptures, thoughts or just drawings. Whatever you feel like.
My pastor has been speaking on the name of God and that day he was speaking on the Jehovah Raah (pronounced Ra-Ha) which is "Shepherd,' using Psalm 23 as his text:
Here is my journaling pages:
This particular passage came up many times around me before I did this journaling piece. It caused me to think this...I posted this on Facebook around the time I did this:
Why does Psalm 23 keep popping up?
Today I was finishing journaling my sermon notes from Pastor Casey's sermon this past Sunday (which I don't normally do.) I had some space at the end and I just asked the question in writing "Why has Psalm 23 appeared to me 3xs in the Last week?" And then I continued to just write as thoughts came... " What am I to learn from this? Why this passage? Do I understand that it's OK to be a sheep and follow a shepherd?"
BOOM.
There it is. This is why this chapter keeps coming up.
Yes...I believe in salvation and heaven and hell, but am I actually allowing myself to be LED or am I just going through the motions? I am a very independent person...I've always had to be so the idea of "following" or giving up control or even asking for help is not in my typical nature.
BUT...why am I fighting the Shepherd when all he had for me is good? Am I holding that tight to my pride and my need to be in control that I would truly give up all the GOOD he has for me just to be able to say "I did it on my own."
Why am I so scared to be a sheep? Things to ponder.
It's still something I am pondering.
I would love to know your thoughts.
XOXO,
KERI Sallee
P.S. To learn more about the crafty side of this Bible Journaling project, check out The Crafter's Workshop Blog: Bible Journaling with Stencils
Today, I am up on The Crafter's Workshop blog with a project that is very special to me.
Recently, there has been a worship song that has spoken to me greatly. Have you ever had that happen? The words of a song (worship song or otherwise) just roles around in your head and not just because it has a catchy hook or great beat, but because the WORDS say something more than merely pen on paper can describe.
Here is a beautiful version of it sung by one of my worship SHE-ros, Darlene Zschech.
I wanted to share a little of the faith-based thoughts behind the art.
First, let's start with the obvious:
(1) The words I chose are from the bridge of the song "From my heart to the heavens, Jesus be the Center." The word JESUS is placed directly in the center of the heart AND the canvas, reinforcing the idea of Jesus being the center.
(2) The rays radiate out of the word JESUS showcasing the love of Christ that should be radiating from OUR hearts if JESUS is truly the center.
(3) The heart is at the center of the canvas and instead of cutting out a perfect heart with my die-cut machine, I chose to cut one out by hand, showing how it's NOT about having a perfect heart...it's about Christ being the enter of our IMPERFECT heart.
Now for a few less obvious thoughts:
(1) The colors of paint here chosen very specially:
My background is a light wash of blues and greens and whites symbolizing water and earth and the physical plain on which we live.
The colors that my heart rests on purple, blue, red and white. Each has deeply symbolic Biblical meaning:
BLUE: Is associated with coverings (like in the Tabernacle of the OT) and other heavenly coverings. This is symbolic of Christ being the covering and protection of our heart. It is also associated with water and used in conduction with the Holy Spirit.
RED: Is associated with 2 things: SIN and Christ's payment of sin by his BLOOD. I wanted to use it because both are so important in a life of faith. SIN lives in the world because we are humans in a fallen world, but we are not a slave to SIN (Romans 6:18) because of the BLOOD of Christ.
PURPLE: Like blue, purple is associated with coverings...more specifically used in association with robes of righteousness. Job 29:14 says "I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; My justice was like a robe and a turban."
WHITE: White is most easily associated with purity, but it is also used heavily in the book of Revelation as a symbol victory in the end. The champion in revelation comes on a white horse (Revelatin 6:2, 19:11), while the heavenly armies come "clothed in fine linen, white and clean..following Him on white horses."
(2) Hidden Words
All throughout the background there words hidden with the painting. Psalm 119:11 says "I have hidden your word in my heart..."
(3) Sparks of HOPE within the chaos and never-ending love.
All throughout out the piece, I used a "tiny circle" stencil with silver texture paste. To me this shows the little sparks of hope that are always peaking throughout the chaos of our lives or in this case, the chaos that some people see as the background of my painting. The same goes for the sparks of yellow...hope in the midst of the chaos.
You'll also see numerous circles...some are broken...like some relationships...but one is completely whole, symbolizing the relationship with Christ that will never be broken.
I hope you will take time to look at my painting with new eyes and maybe you will even discover something within it that speaks to you in a new and different way.
For more information on the "creative" side and more pictures of this painting, check out The Crafter's Workshop Blog:
Today, I am sharing an Art Journal Piece on The Crafter's Workshop blog where I use 3 stencils from 3 different designers to make one harmonious piece!
Here's a sneaky peaky!
For more pics and full details, check it out here:
Keepin' it real...I would much rather be making fun stuff that writing about it...BUT...if I made it but never shared it, then how would you ever see it!? LOL. It's a total Catch 22.
My last 2 posts for The Crafter's Workshop have been a lot of fun to make.
My most recent post is one I am particularly proud of. I wanted to do a piece that was out of my normal "style", so I make this canvas that was not only bigger than my normal style (this one is 16x20), but also has no paper, stamps or stickers. It is all just acrylic paints, inks and stencils.
I hope you take time to check out these projects! And if you have time...leave me a comment or two!
Today, I will be leaving to head to The Crafter's Workshop Headquarters with some of my fellow DT members to spend 2 days in Stencil U...learning new techniques and just having a lot of messy, creative fun. I can't wait to share what I learn!
This week in the studio, I have been all about making mini art with ATCs.
If you are going "WHAT?" when I say ATC, let me break it down for you! ATC stands for "Artistic (Or Artist) Trading Cards" and they are exactly what they sound like...small works of art, about the size of a standard playing card (2.5in x 3.5in) that are meant to be made by an artist and then given away!
This week...I made 2 very different ATCs.
This first...is all about color!
You can see more info about this colorful creation on Marion Smith's Blog:
Have you missed me? I'm just gonna keep it real...I was feeling a little overwhelmed with projects, blog posts, design team stuff, PTO responsibilities, and life in general. So I decided to take a little blog-cation and relax a bit (as much as a crafty mom of three can at the end of the school year! LOL)
Wanna know what you missed?
Check this out (stick with me...it's a little long, but there's a lot of pictures!)
Family Life The Glamper
If you've never heard of Glamping...it's basically camping for those of use who like pretty things. :)
My hubby and I recently bought a pop-up camper and decided it needed a little love. The '93 decor of light mauve and country blue just didn't work for us. LOL.
Here's a few "in progress" shots.
Love that faux wood? Ya...me either. Crisp white it is.
Primer on...ready for the gleaming new white.
These are the fabrics I chose! The blue/white stripe will be our new curtains and the others will be accent pillows. Loving the bright nautical look!
We're still trying to decide on a name.
We are planning a trip in just a few weeks with my sister and her family and I want our campers to be "twins." I'm thinking something cute like Betty and Veronica or Starlight and Starbright. I can't wait to share the progress and the finished product.
Tiny Dancer's Debut Recital
My youngest, Khloe, made her stage debut for tap and ballet and...she was FABULOUS and just plain adorable. :)
Date with my soon to be Middle Schooler
This handsome little guy was my date to see X-Men: Days of Future Past. Tomorrow is his last day of 4th Grade and he will be moving on up to middle school next year.
Starting the Outdoor Fun Early
We are enjoying the great outdoors (ok...our back patio.)
Hubby is seriously enjoying his hot dog. :)
And it's never too early to learn to take a good selfie.
Fun and Field Day!!!
Water Slide Inflatables, Fire Truck, outdoor fun and friends...can't ask for much more.
Fun Hikes with my little.
With just a few days left before the big kids get out of school, taking every opportunity to spend time with my little one on one.
My BEAUTIFUL niece graduates High School.
When I met her, she was only 4 years old...now look at her! So proud of the amazing woman she is becoming.
Hottie Hubby!!
I got to celebrate 1 more year with my hubby. It's been a rough year for us and it has really made me feel even more blessed to do life with him.
Our anniversary fell on my niece's graduation, so we had a great dinner at this restaurant in Springfield, MO called Metropolitan Farmer. It's so cool...everything is locally grown and super yummy.
Creative Life
Graphic 45
While I was away, a total scrappy dream came true!
Want to see one of my favorite submitted projects?
Here are the amazing stencils I get to play with. I can't wait!!
Tattered Tangles
I had the chance to be featured on the Tattered Angels blog using their new Tattered Tangles life of Zentangled-inspired paper and ephemera.
So that has been the last 6 weeks! I'm excited to be back on the blog wagon and I can't wait to take you along on more of the journey of my Creative Life.
