Six Portraits a Week – 2

Again, please bear in mind that the whole reason I am doing this project is because I don’t have inherent talent in this area. The while point of this is to practice practice and practice until I get good. Or as close to good I can ever get.

So with that here are my second set of six portraits.

First set of three drawings:

Remember, I take the drawing photos late at night right before I paint, so they are not the best. But I still like to have them as a before and after. Here they are, painted:

and then here is the next three drawings:

and painted.

I have 300 more of these to make.

Constructive criticism always welcome but only if you can actually be constructive. No need to stroke my ego, I know these need a lot of work. I am ok with that 🙂


Six Portraits a Week is a weekly project for 2011. You can read more about it here.

Daily Diary – January 12 2011

Feeling exhausted today and I am about to leave for book club soon. I feel like it’s been so hectic here for the last ten days. I need to slow down so I can catch up. Any ideas?

Nathaniel likes to play this game where he’ll hit himself and go “ouch!” he likes to do it often.

He also smiles and laughs a lot.

More attempts at getting a good David shot.

And then he’s like enough! so he’s making funny faces at me.

Nathaniel is into anything David is into. All his electronic toys. And they turn off and he goes oh uh oh uh until someone turns them back on.

And today he decided he needed one of his blankets with him all day. He’s never done this before but he looks so so cute. Doesn’t he?

My plan tomorrow is to sit and get organized. I have about 8 more layouts or so for CHA. I have homework in all three classes. (I already did the one for my fourth class) and I have my own daily tasks. Not to mention the email and comments to respond to. So it’s time to get organized.

Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I got some wonderful new product today. It made me swoon and I almost shed tears with gratitude.
2. I am again grateful for the fedex man who came to my house cause I am not a fan of going to the post office and it’s so awesome that they come to pick it up.
3. I am grateful that I lost another 3.3 lbs this week! I was so shocked this morning because I felt really bad and thought I must surely have gained weight. But here we are!

Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that i played golf {* his pick for the journal}
2. I am grateful that I played star wars at school
3. I am grateful that I played legos with mommy

Classes I am Teaching, Classes I am Taking

Since I still can’t show my The Girls’ Paperie layouts (coming soon, I swear), I wanted to share with you some of the classes I have been working on and taking. In the next three months, I will be teaching or giving content to four classes and I am taking five classes.

I didn’t arrange for it to be that way. I have an already busy schedule and I would have preferred to spread them out a bit but things work out the way they do for a reason so I am just going to enjoy myself with each of these amazing classes. And if you’re a class-fanatic like I am, you might like some of these too so I thought it might be good to share.

I’ll start with the two I am teaching.

Embrace Imperfection – Starts: February 10 – Duration: 2 Weeks – Cost: Free

This class is completely free and all you need to do is to click on the image above to go sign up. It is two weeks on how to conquer your scrapbooking perfectionism. I talk about different areas where we seem to worry too much about being perfect and how it gets in the way of actually preserving your memories and why you should not worry so much about getting it all “perfect.” (btw, there’s no such thing as a perfect layout.)

Click here to read more and sign up.

Find Your Way – Starts: February 24 – Duration: 8 Weeks – Cost: $39

Find Your Way

This class evolved from my layout a day experience back in May 2010. During that process, I finally managed to find my way, my style, my groove, whatever you want to call it. The experience was so exciting, so wonderful that I wanted to create a way for others to find their own unique way of scrapbooking too so they experience the same joy. Having my own way has saved me money and time. It has also increased my joy of creating a page tenfold. And as a side benefit, it has brought me a lot of amazing industry opportunities. In this class, we explore a different part of the scrapbooking process each week and slowly eliminate what we don’t like and discover what speaks most authentically to our creativity. It might sound wishy washy but it’s very concrete. You’re also strongly encouraged to do daily layouts along with the class (though not required.) I share over 80 of my own layouts in this workshop. If this class helps you discover half of what I did in May, it will be extremely amazing. (That’s my hope!)

Click here to read more and sign up.

Those are the two classes I’m teaching. There are also two other classes where I’ve provided material, written an article and recorded a webinar. Both of these classes are for:

Masterful Scrapbook Design – Starts: January 1 and February 1 – Duration: 1 Month – Cost: $10/month

This is an amazing series by Debbie Hodge of Get it Scrapped! It’s an ongoing series of design concepts for scrapbookers. Each month, she pickes a different topic and features four designers and explores that topic using their work. If you’ve ever read anything Debbie wrote, you’d know she’s very very thorough and detail-oriented and amazingly insightful. The January seminar alone was 56 pages!

I have specifically submitted content to the January seminar which is on Journaling (the other artists for January are: Dina Wakley, Paula Gilarde, and Lain Ehmann. And to February which is on Scrapbook page titles (the other artists for February are: Doris Sander, Aaron Morris, and Kayleigh Wiles.) This is a subscription-based class which you can add and turn off anytime and it’s $10 a month which is an amazing amazing deal! I cannot recommend it enough!

And now let’s move on to the classes I am taking:
One Little Word – Ali Edwards – Starts: January 1 – Duration: All Year – Cost: $36
It’s no secret that I’m a huge Ali fan and no secret that I’m a big fan of one little word, so I signed up for this class without hesitation. My goal is to do all the work in my art journal instead of an album like Ali’s doing. I’ve already listened to and finished the first lesson. If you’re into OLW and Ali as much as I am, it’s highly recommended. sign up here.

Stretching Within – Misty Mawn – Starts: January 10 – Duration: 5 weeks – Cost: $100
This is another class I jumped at the moment Misty put it up. It’s a mixed media class exploring drawing, painting, collaging, and writing. I’m a huge Misty fan and when I saw this, I thought she must have known my 2011 goals of drawing and painting more and better. The class started this week and it’s already unbelievably amazing. Sign up here.

Shifting Ground – Stephanie Lee – Starts: January 10 – Duration: 4 weeks – Cost: $75
I took Stephanie’s journaling class in 2009 and I was blown away. I love love love reading her posts and her words are just like little jewels to me. That class had some deep insights for me and changed my life considerably so having another class by Stephanie is a true luxury. If you’re into journaling even in the tiniest bit, I encourage you to take it. Sign up here.

Soul Restoration – Melody Ross – Starts: January 11 – Duration: 6 weeks – Cost: $99
I know I am sounding like a parrot but I am a HUGE Melody fan. Both she and her sister Kathy who are the two owners of Brave Girls Camp are amazing people and deeply deeply inspirational. I have not had the incredible luxury of going to Brave Girls’ Camp so this is the next best thing I can do. Sign up here.

Sketchbook Delight – Alisa Burke – Starts: February 7 – Duration: 4 weeks – Cost: $50
If you’ve been reading my posts in the last few weeks, you’ll notice that I want to learn how to sketch. I’ve been reading Danny Gregory’s books and scouring the internet to find some ideas and techniques. Recently I discovered Alisa Burke’s sketchbooks and I fell in love. Love love love. They inspired me to sketch immediately so I literally squealed with joy when I saw her offering that class. It’s the only one on this list that hasn’t started yet so if you’re interested in sketching, run run run. Sign up here.

And there you are. I hope to see you in one of my classes or one of the ones I’m taking!! If you know of other classes please do leave them in the comments. If you can’t tell, I love taking classes online!

A Book a Week – Peter and the Starcatchers

Peter and the Starcatchers was the November book for my kids’ books book club. Jake gifted me the series for my birthday and I read the whole thing in one day.

I’d seen the Disney Peter Pan movie years ago but I did not know this story at all. This is the story of how Peter Pan becomes Peter Pan. It was fun, fast-moving, and really entertaining read. I highly recommend reading it with your kids. Maybe not the really little ones since there’s some death and mean people.

I love being in this book club. It’s like I get to re-experience my childhood, but this time in English.

Daily Diary – January 11 2011

I’m going to do this quickly tonight because I have a webinar for Masterful Scrapbook Design in 45 minutes. If you’re taking the class, I hope you come to chat with us. If you’re not, you should be :).

Since I’d printed my photos and planned everything I was able to wake up today and get right to work. I did one page and have the next two planned as well. Though I’ve found out that I have a batch of product coming tomorrow so I am guessing Thursday morning will be back to doing CHA samples. And then more product comes towards the end of the week, and finally another batch next week. Phew. It’s all ok though, I love working with these products and I am a truly lucky gal. Wouldn’t whine for a minute.

Today was a bit wonky cause I had to go to the jaw doctor again and then Jake had a childhood friend in town and Nathaniel decided not to nap on time. So we ate lunch together and it was oatmeal. I think he is a fan.

David gave me a nice smile today. Love this.

I’m always amazed at how Nathaniel has a thin layer of grime on his face at all times. No matter how many times I clean it.

But he is so very cute.

Lots of work today. Did the developer release and a bunch of triage and now I have the webinar. Then it’s time to paint my portrait and do some more drawing. You’ll get more detail tomorrow but my classes have all begun and with lots of homework so I am trying to do a little bit each night. Once all the CHA work is done, I’ll distribute to night and morning. So off to get ready!

I hope you’re well and if you have a moment, come say hi and let me know what you’re doing and what’s inspiring you. I need some new inspiration in my life. I’ve almost stopped reading all my feeds because it’s all feeling like same old same old lately.

Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I have so much fun and new product coming my way. it’s always fun to play with scrappy goods.
2. I am again grateful for all the classes I’m taking. They are each inspiring me deeply and pushing my boundaries and stretching me.
3. I am grateful that despite the cold outside, it’s nice and warm in here. I used to live in a house with a terrible draft and I never take the warmness and wonderful heat for granted.

Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that we played a balloon game in PE {* his pick for the journal}
2. I am grateful that I got to play didj
3. I am grateful that I looked through my lego magazine

Weekly Art Journal – Only You Decide Who You Are

Today’s page is inspired by the amazing Dina Wakley. Nothing nearly as amazing as her work of course.

I cut out a silhouette of me from the photo from the end of the year (with jeans) and then taped it down and watercolored around it. I then watercolored in a different color on the top. I sprayed the circles on the left and drew some stars. There are also subtle, tiny stars inside the body. I sprayed with dark brown on the hearts and then a little drippy india ink and that was it. I am not so happy with the dripping but here we are. It’s all about playing and experimenting after all.


Weekly Art Journal is a weekly project for 2011. You can read more about it here.

Daily Diary – January 10 2011

I am seriously running out of photos. I have to get out and take some.

Today started all groggy and I couldn’t snap out of it for some long while but thankfully, i did eventually and got a bunch of work done and read to david, and exercised and even did workbooks with him. I didn’t scrap or do anything else this morning. I was too tired. I did read all my lessons in all my classes (more on these tomorrow) and I printed photos for tomorrow’s pages so I am prepared. I also processed all my CHA item photos and I have to put finishing touches on one page. All this to say that I let myself off the hook this morning. But I’ve also realized once more that if I am not focused on something to do, i basically do nothing. I surf aimlessly, I get more tired and more cranky. So it does not help. It helps to have a focus. Even if it’s to read my mail for 30 minutes or check FB. Having time limit and focus is really way more productive.

The little boy took his nap early and short today and I snapped a photo as soon as he woke up. I love his face when he first wakes up.

He played with his toys and walked around most of the day.

With many hugs and giggles in between. I do wish fewer of his toys made noise. Sometimes it gets really noisy in the room.

When David got home, he played with legos. I asked him for a photo and I got this.

When I told him he was making a funny face, I got this.

My sweet boys! Well I am off to draw some portraits. I have a lot of other drawing assignments from Misty’s class. I am a bit stressed to be honest, but I will pace myself, organize all the work over the week and get a bunch done. This class is for me because I want to learn to draw better. That will only happen with practice and practice takes time and patience. Time and patience. Neither of which I have enough of, ever.

Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that tomorrow I get to go to the TMJ doctor again and hopefully he’ll fix my splint which broke.
2. I am grateful that I exercised despite really really not wanting to do it today. Today was my 101st consecutive workout.
3. I am grateful that I am taking all of these classes. Even if I don’t get to do all of my assignments, I am learning a lot of information and I can pace myself and use and reuse it throughout the year.

Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I am going to make a snowman book this week {* his pick for the journal}
2. I am grateful that I got to watch ghostbusters
3. I am grateful that I built a jail with matthew at school

The Joy of Family Time

This layout is made with the December A Million Memories kit.

Journaling reads:
This is my favorite photo from when your grandparents came to visit. You love having them here because you get so much undivided attention and love and there’s so much laughter and joy in the house that it makes me very happy. We all love having them over so much.

Daily Diary – January 9 2011

Wow what a great weekend! I was super productive starting with Friday. I feel great and like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I still have a bunch of CHA stuff coming up but I can breathe for a bit now. I’m also caught up on my emails so if you’ve sent me email and I haven’t replied please know that I must have dropped the ball somewhere along the line and please resend your email!!

I snapped this shot in the morning while I was doing my art journal. I love that Nathaniel plays wherever David is. I love love love watching them play together.

And here’s me. I was testing the placement of the tripod as I prepared to take another family shot.

And an outtake from the morning. You can see how the depth of field is shallow so I look blurry because I am more forward than the rest of my family. This was also right after I popped Nathaniel’s thumb out of his mouth and he simultaneously burped so we all laughed and he’s looking at me to see why I’m laughing.

Here’s a great shot of two of my boys. David, again, was behind me so he got cut off.

Here’s the sunshine of my life giving me a smile.

And the other sunshine of my life. Also giving me a smile.

Here’s David working on his math workbook. I love watching him work.

And my little boy playing and smiling and having a good time.

And finally, tonight was family night. Something else we started for 2011. Every Sunday we spend the last hour of the kids’ day playing games together. Well, Nathaniel just watches for now. Tonight we played Zingo and Boggle, both chosen by David. It was really fun and a wonderful way to end our weekend.

After the kids went to sleep, I processed the 300some photos I took of all my CHA projects and everything else I did this weekend. And now that I am almost done, I will just work on the blog a bit and then read my first lesson from Misty. I will write a post about all the classes I am taking and teaching in the next two months. They add up to something like ten!!

I hope your weekend was amazing!

Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that the weekend was so productive and still full of lots of family time. Reading with David, doing workbooks, family game night, etc. Feeling really full tonight.
2. I am grateful that my hair seems to look perfect. I washed it and it’s great. The treatment did a great job.
3. I am grateful that we had family game night tonight. I really really enjoyed it so much.

Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that we had family night {* his pick for the journal}
2. I am grateful that I got to watch star wars with daddy
3. I am grateful that I have a nice mommy (whoa two days in a row, i must be doing something right)

Reading with David – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

David says:
I liked that Mr. Wonka gave the factory to Charlie because he is so poor and has so little chocolate and it was really nice of Mr. Wonka to give it to him.

What I didn’t like was that the other kids bad things that Mr. Wonka told them not to do. The one I liked the least was the girl who tried to get the squirrel (Veruca Salt) because she could have hurt the squirrel.

My favorite characters were Charlie and Mr. Wonka. I liked Mr. Wonka because he gave the factory to Charlie and Charlie because he didn’t do anything bad.

My favorite part was when the bar of chocolate goes through the TV because if that were true anytime you saw candy on the TV, you could reach out and get it.


Reading a book a week with my six-year-old son David is a weekly project for 2011. You can read more about it here.

Daily Diary – January 8 2011

Well, today didn’t go as planned. I went to sleep last night after sending myself a list of what would get done first thing in the morning. I woke up, ignored my list, and went on to make some of the altered items I’d bought for my CHA projects. And they took up my entire day. I am also only two thirds of the way there.

So much for my list.

Jake started the day by videoconferencing with his brother and their little baby. David loved talking to both.

Then I got them all around the tree so I could take a family shot. Here’s a shot I took while I was setting things up.

And here are two of the boys. As it turned out, I’d left the shutter wide open which made the depth of field way way shallow so having four of us meant one or more of us were blurry at any moment in time. Oh well, there’s always tomorrow.

Nathaniel had to entertain himself since it was David’s Wii day and he didn’t get to watch choo choo. So he played with legos instead.

He was so cute even David wanted to give him a hug (though Nathaniel wasn’t a fan).

And here’s David’s “please please let me play” smile. What I love is that Nathaniel always likes to be around his brother. He will sit with him on the couch or play near him. It’s so wonderful to watch. Especially since David’s very kind to him and never complains.

David and I read our book this morning too and he did a writing workbook today. He’s getting so good. His workbook was for grade one and he sailed right through it. Now that they are asleep, I have a bunch of todo list items I quickly plan to get off my list so that I can alter that last item sitting on my desk. I didn’t do a portrait yesterday and likely not today so tomorrow the plan is to do my art journal page and two portraits. Let’s see if I can…

Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that both my altered items turned out somewhat cute. I am really really sucky at altering anything. Really. So this is a big achievement.
2. I am grateful that despite the pain, the aches, the tiredness, I am still going in the garage and exercising every day. Every single day.
3. I am grateful that Jake got us sandwiches tonight. A rare treat for me and one that I love.

Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I have a nice mommy {* his pick for the journal}
2. I am grateful that I played wii
3. I am grateful that I have a nice daddy

Us Right Now – January 8

jake
Jake was off all week and as I expected, it was absolutely wonderful. He took David to the bus and picked him up, he helped with both kids so much and they loved having him around more. He also looks so well-rested and relaxed. He’s home for four more days and then back to work. It’s going to be hard for me to go back to doing it all without him.

karen
This week started with a lot of pain but thanks to an emergency trip to the doctor, it got much better. It was a busier week than usual with lots of CHA prep to work on and several nights out. I accomplished a lot, but also fell behind in some important things like my email and getting back to people. I’ll have to do better with that next week. I also have three classes starting next week so let’s see how that works out.

david
David went back to school this week and he’s back on his routine. It all worked out much more smoothly than I thought. He went back to going to bed earlier. We’re reading in the mornings now while he eats his breakfast. We do some workbooks when he gets home. He’s rather use all of his time to play on the computer. It’s his favorite thing to do. Being the wonderful kid he is, he doesn’t fight with me and does all of the other activities willingly. He’s getting so good at spelling and reading and even math. I am very proud of him.

nathaniel
Nathaniel is still all about the choo-choo. Meltdowns occur when the TV is not on but he will occasionally let David watch something or even me sometimes. But only for a short duration. Even if he’s in the other room, when I change the show, he comes back and says “choo choo.” He also learned to say wa-wa this week for water and uses it a lot already. I’m excited that he’s learning to speak more. Part of me is worried he’ll have speech issues like David did but we’re doing good so far. He’s much more communicative than David was.

and here’s the card version:


Us Right Now is a weekly project for 2011. You can read more about it here.