christytomlinson

busy weekend, remembering.. and new class starts MONDAY!

 First off, happy birthday to my WONDERFUL MOM! She is the big 60 today and We love her and miss her so much! She is serving a mission in Germany with my step-dad.. she is amazing.. she is kind, loving, considerate and of the most charitable people I know. She has taught me so many things..  just so lucky to have her in my life! We hoping ((ben and I)  to go see them next spring in Germany.. we hope it can all work out.. can not wait!

Oh SO  this weekend is going to be JAMMED packed with family fun and celebration. Almost a year ago (Aug 1st), my dad passed away suddenly from a massive heart attack...  What was supposed to be a day of celebration.. (celebrating the birth and blessing of my younger brothers new baby).. turned into a very sad and life changing day.  My dad was young, only 61 and it was a very hard and traumatic experience for all us (my brothers and sister, his grandchildren, etc). He died in church, surround by most of his children and grandchildren only moments after my brothers baby blessing.  I share my story about this experience and how his absence from my life has changed me in so many ways HERE in this post.  

This past year has been a really tough one for sure for all of my siblings and even our kids. My dad was so present in all of our lives and always had been.. even from the time I was young. As many of you know, my parents divorced when I was 7, and when I turned 13, I went to live with him. So I was very close with my dad not just growing up, but also in later years. Living most of my married life withing a few miles of him. My dad LOVED not only his kids, but all of his grandchildren too.. all twenty something of them! He made an effort to see all of them, as much as he could, taking them to movies, out on lunch dates, play dates.. he was just PRESENT.  He was also extremely close to his OWN brothers and sisters.. he had like 11!  They have always been close and we have always been close to our aunts and uncles as well. We are just a tight knit family.

 

( i know I have shown this picture before of my dad.. but seriously.. this just captures HIM. ALL ABOUT FAMILY and fun)

So this weekend, will mark the one year anniversary of his death and we have decided as a family to take the opportunity to celebrate "HIS" way.. by a big canasta tournament in his name. We actually had the first annual one, last year.. the saturday after his funeral.. all of his brothers and sisters will still in town and all of my siblings. They are HUGE Canasta players and it's been a big family "thing" since I can remember. Infact we spent many sunday nights having dinner at my dads playing Canasta... it was one of his favorite things to do. 

 So in honor of him, last year we held a tournament. There were team of twos.. I think we started out with over 20 teams.. made up of brothers and sister, aunts, uncles, cousins.  and  after hours of "mini games.. it was down to two teams. The winner had their names engraved on a trophy (a giant trophy) that my brother in law had  made with my dad's name on it"van campbell canasta tournement"and while the trophy stays at my dad's house.. the winners each year have the privilege of having their names engraved on it. 

  

(this is a photo of the tournament last year.. this was the "finals" ...down to the last two teams. my brother cody and my husband, Ben, ended up being the "champions.. "the boy" in our family are famous for cheating.. although my dad hated it and always chastised them for it.. I admit.. I cheated sometimes too.. lol.. it's part of the fun! :))

We had so much fun. It was great to laugh and play and remember him. The tournament lasted all night and ended with so many wonderful memories.. not just of that night, but of my dad's life.  So we decided to make it a yearly event.. on the weekend of his death each year.. to get together as family and celebrate and enjoy each other.. and have a Canasta tournament.. just as he would have wanted.  This year my goal is to get my name on that trophy..one way or another! Lol..

My dad was also a very religious man.. loved the Gospel and believed in the importance of temple work. So my sister planned a day for us to do temple work for some of our ancestors, a family from generations past doing their baptisms, inititories, endowments, and sealing them together as a family... a full day of service.. remembering my dad. My sister just rocks. 

SO I am SUPER excited for this weekend.. and to see my siblings, my niece and nephews, my aunts and uncles and cousins... who are making the trip. We sure have a lot of fun together!
I just had to share.. because I am really excited to see all of them.

 

BUT I also wanted to remind you all that the

NEW Creative Color Mini workshop STARTS MONDAY!

I am so excited!!

 

If you haven't heard about this workshop yet.. you can find all about it here..  I would love to have you join me!
NOt only do we making a new project each day, (it's a 5 day course).. that is inspired by color.. I also show you how to create color inspiration journals,

 

I show you ways to organize your color mediums including offering PDF"s to help!

 
I also show you how to create a colo-sketch chart...

  

 
and more!

 
This is really going to be a fun mini workshop

Lots of fun videos, PDF's and COLOR inspiration!
Come join me!

just follow THIS LINK Here to sign up!


Hope to see you in class monday.. and thanks for letting me share about my weekend.. love my family. They are the most important thing to me..

Again.. huge shout out to my mom.. Happy Birthday!
Happy Friday!

 

 

 

 

 

taking a leap.... and a dream come true

Yesterday, I had to wake up early (okay so not SUPER early.. but for summer and for staying up late the night before.. it was early to me).. early enough that my entire house was still asleep and the sun was just starting to come up. I had to get up so I could officially "launch" the start of the 3 Hearts workshop.. which started again yesterday! (and some of you have asked if you can still sign up and join.. and the answer is yes ! love to have you! :))..

 anyhow..  We had been gone all weekend camping, and so my son had put themail on my desk from while we were gone. I hadn't been in my office since we left.. and when I came down to launch the workshop, I saw a letter from Stampington & Company  sitting on my keyboard and underneath it...what looked like a packaged magazine...  my heart skipped a beat!

A few months ago.. I got an email from Jennifer, the editor at Artful Blogging magazine, asking if they could feature my blog in their upcoming issue.  Um.. seriously? I about dropped my phone (i was talking to my husband).. and I started to squeal!  My husband was trying to figure out what was wrong.. because when I get excited about something, apparantly  I scream like something is wrong.. but really I am just so excited I can't talk and it comes out more of a "I'm scared".. not "I'm excited" kind of scream.  Anyhow.. I couldn't even talk. I actually started to cry.. seriously.. really? seriously?  YES!! A dream come true. Of course when I tried to explain to my husband about the magazine (which I love and have a subscription too).. and how they were asking me to be in it.. and how HUGE this was for me.. what an honor.. what a blessing and truly humbling.. how it was one of those "leaps" on my list.. he got it and got super excited for me as well. :)

anyhow, of course I responded back.. I would LOVE to be included.. what a huge honor.. I think I actually rambled on.. and on.. much like I am doing now.. telling her what a fan of the magazine I was, how humbled I was to be included and that heck yes, I would love the opportunity.  That was months ago and all of my material and my article was turned in months ago as well..  I kept thinking in the back of my mind that maybe the issue would be coming out soon.. but for some reason I had it in my head that it was in September.. so I was not expecting this wonderful little surprise on my desk when I woke up yesterday morning..

 

As I opened the magazine..(LOVE that it is red. so me.. so my favorite color in the whole world). I was so excited to see that they had actually featured a piece of my art on the cover as well! Totally not expected either!  I just had to share it with someone! My entire house was sleeping.. and so I ran upstairs to show my husband.. who of course was SUPER excited too! lol (and I mean that in a totally sarcastic way, as I don't think I even got him to wake up.. we had stayed up WAY to late the night before)... I hurried and got the workshop up and going.. so I could sit on the couch with cozy blanket and pour through the magazine.. It wasn't until I had read the entire magazine and was looking at the cover again that I saw that not only had they put my piece of art on the cover.. they had also actually featured my NAME! Right underneath the amazingly talented women.. Holly Becker from Decor8 AND  Tiffany Kirchner-Dixon from The Fancy Farmgirl! holy cow!! I couldn't believe it!

 

Now I was even MORE excited! MY name was on the cover!!! lol so I had to go back upstairs and show my husband AGAIN.. I know he loved that.. being woken up twice :)

Anyhow.. I just had to share this news with you.. what a dream come true this year has been for me.. TRULY. So many amazing experiences and opportunities.. It's ironic because right before Christmas I went to Barnes and Noble with my hubby.. and we just sat and talked and I told him about all these "leaps" I wanted to take over the next couple of years.  "Wishes"  I would love to happen for me as an artist.. It was a long list.. well not THAT long, but long enough I would forget before I got home.. and so on our way out, Ben bought me a journal and told me to write all of them down.. so I would have them to remind me of where I wanted to go and what I wanted to do. Remind me to take those "leaps".

 That was my word for this year.. "leap".  Over the next couple of weeks, I looked at that list.. over and over.. and  one of the things on my list was being in the Artful Blogging magazine. I LOVED that magazine and loved all the blogs featured in there.. I had only recently started blogging again, so I didn't think or even expect to EVER be contacted (I am kind shy in that way.. I don't usually "submit" or put myself out there like that)...  so I know it would be a long shot.. as I would never submit it myself.. and really truly.. who was I in the blogging world? But it was still on my list.. a long shot. but a leap.. actually more of a "dream" I wanted...  and so when only 2 short months later, Jennifer contacted me out of the blue.. I was floored! I was ecstatic and in shock and truly felt so blessed. 

 

And I have to say, this year has been that way for me. I don't know why, or how I deserve all the good things that keep happening to me. I know the Lord is blessing me..and my family,  and I am contantly reminded of a blessing once given to me a long time ago.. that said.. I would be blessed with much, but to be weak, and humble and do the will of the Lord throughout it all. That blessing has been a constant reminder to me this year that ALL of this.. Being featured in this magazine, liscneing my artwork, starting online classes, having an article in Somerset Studio's magazine, having my own "tv/web" show, teaching at major events, being featured on Where woman create.... all of it, has only come through being blessed from my Father in Heaven. Truly..  I didn't do it on my own. He has blessed me with drive and hidden talents I never knew I had.. and has given me opportunities that sometimes I don't feel like I deserve.. so it's been really scary to always try and "stay" humble and stay weak.. so that those blessings and opportunities don't go away. Does that make sense?

 

(This is a piece that was featured in the Artful Blogging magazine.. totally how I feel)

 I am so blessed. SO blessed. I know that. I TRULY know that. I am on my knees constantly thanking Him for that. I just want to stay worthy of those blessings as well.

 

You know..  I kept that journal with me everywhere I went. Always writing in it, sketching in it. .. and I couldn't believe that by April of this year, almost all of the things on my list, the "leaps" and wishes, I had in that journal,  had been crossed off. I remember at my girlfriend retreat we did in April, I was sitting talking with my friends Jeanne and Melody and both of them reminding me about that "list" and how all of those things.. that I had wanted and hoped for and set out determined to do over the next couple of years.. had come to be in just 5 short months. They reminded me of how blessed I was and I was thankful for that reminder. Not long after that,  I was off again on another trip.. to a  convention  and during that trip, I lost that journal.  Not sure if it fell out of my bag  in the airport, or I  left it in a hotel room? ( i did call the hotel in hopes that they had it).. but no such luck.  I was REALLy sad at first.. because all of my sketching and my entire  "leap" was in that one journal.. and it meant SO much to me.. but then I realized maybe this meant it was time for me to create a new list.. maybe a list of "giving back".. a list of different sorts.. I still need to get a journal for that and start that list. It's on my "list" of things to do..( now that's funny.. lol )

Anyhow, this post has turned into another long "christy sharing her feelings" post.. sorry about that. I just hope that YOU know.. that good things can happen.. dreams can come true.. LEAPS can be made.. if you have enough faith and put enough trust in the Lord and are willing to also listen closely to what He wants you to do. I have realized it's not always been what I wanted to do, but sometimes you have to just listen and TRUST that is the right thing to do. I have seen it in my own life. It's an amazing thing.

Happy Tuesday :)

 

A matter of a few degrees.. something to think about..

you know I  have decided I am going to stop apologizing for being so absent on my blog this summer.. lol.. I REALLY AM!

 I feel like every-time I post, I am apologizing and going on about how I feel bad and will do better. But then I don't. and honestly..  really truly? It's summer, I forget how busy things are with all 6 kids home, with camping trips and family reunions, and late nights, and early morning on the boat, not to mention things are so crazy busy right now with work..  getting ready for new classes and a new WEB show.. getting new product in the store..  and just everything, so while I had WONDERFUL intentions of posting a lot this summer on my blog, it's just hasn't been happening and instead of apologizing, I am going to be happy with what I can do. I know you guys and gals don't care.. so why do I beat myself up so much over it! ??

Today I wanted to share with you a couple of things.. just a thought I had this past week that has really been on my mind.

This past Sunday, we had a wonderful lesson in Young Womens (I am a young women's leader in my church and part of my time at church on sunday is spent with them). Tami, another leader, gave our lesson and it was just seriously, something I needed to hear so much. There was a story she told that just really hit me.. I want to share it with you.

She referenced a story/talk from an Elder in our Church, Elder Dieter F Uchtdorf, he is the 1st counselor of our Church (the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints).  It was a talk he gave a few year ago, during a  General Conference meeting that was being held worldwide.  The talk was entitled "A matter of a few degrees". He is a pilot and always has a lot of interest in things that have to do with his passion. Flying.  In this talk he told of a true story.  He talked about a plane with 257 people on board that had just left New Zealand and were on their way to a sight seeing trip to Antarctica.  Unkown to the pilots, someone had accidentally modified the flight coordinates by a mere 2 degrees, which in turn placed the experienced pilots off course a short 28 miles to the east of where they assumed they were.  It was snowing and there were lots of clouds.. and so as they descended on one part of their trip, to where they assumed was "flat Land, they had no idea that they were actually flying straight into Mount Erebus, an active volcano in the Antarctic's that is over 12000 feet high. Because of the snow and clouds they didn't see the snow and ice covered volcano.. and by the time it was too late, and their plane start alerting them they were approaching elevated ground, they couldn't turn back and hit the side of the volcano killing everyone on board. 

As I listened to this story.. it really hit me that sometimes.. choices that we make..no matter how small they may seem, can really get us off course of where we actually want to be.  

It really made me think that small things DO matter.  What I  took from the story and her lesson was that sometimes in life, we decide to make choices, or start habits, or even just "put up" with things in our life.. that we know are not what we should be doing or maybe good but the not the BEST thing for us. And while they are small, and that particular consequence may be small, if we keep off course and keep making those choices or those decisions, we will soon find our self soooo far off course, it may seem almost impossible to come back. 

 I can apply this to SO many things in my life. Take for instance my new "weird" addiction to cherry pepsi..  I do NOT drink pop. I just don't. I have never really ever drank it. If we are at a party or eating out.. I will ALWAYS opt for water over pop. I  just don't like it, never have.. I hate the carbonation.. hate how it makes me feel.. it hurts my stomach, makes me gassy.. makes me gain weight.  So I just always opt for water, or lemonade.. or something else.. something without carbonation in it. Well a couple of weeks ago, we traveled down with our friends to see Kenny Chesney in concert and on the way we stopped at the gas station to get some snack for the 3 hours trip. I decided.. out of sheer.. wanting to be different, I would get a cherry pepsi. Cola for some reason sounded good and I LOVE cherries. So I got one. Another things you should know.. is that I also don't really drink caffeine.. more of a personal choice than anything... but I find it addicting and have seen friends who have really come to depend on it to just get through the day, or to even start their morning?  I have ALSo been around friends who were trying to STOP the caffeine addiction and let me tell you.. it' is NOT a pretty thing! wow.. if you ever want to see a grouchy person.. take away their caffeine for a day! lol. crazy. 

 Well I found that day that I actually LOVED the taste of cherry pepsi.. and even MORE so in  a fountain drink. I found that the carbonation in the fountain pop.. didn't bother me as much as the a pop from the can or the bottle.  It didn't bother my stomach as bad either.  So that night, at the concert, I got another one.. then the next day on the way home.. another.  But it didn't stop there,  the next day at home, I found myself heading to the gas station half way through the day to get myself a cherry pepsi.. and then the next day and the next.. it was becoming a habit.. and not always a BAD habit.. but one that I personally did not want to have. For so many reasons.  Well now it  has now been almost a week and half and EVERYDAY I have found myself going to the gas station (only a block away.. which doesn't help).. and getting myself a fountain "cherry pepsi".  It started out a small 16 ounces cup and yesterday I found myself going for the big 64 ouncer! Holy cow Christy!!  I have almost convinced myself now, that I NEED one.. it's my "treat" and that I can't make it through the rest of the afternoon without it.   I am a dork.. I know. but around 2:30 I find myself thinking.. oh I better go get a cherry pepsi, so I can make it through the rest of the day!  AND not to mention I know it's causing me to have stomach pains.. AND not to sleep very well at night because of the caffiene AND of course I KNOW the sugar is not good for my diabetes.. but now i fear I am hooked. Something I really didn't want and DON"T need in my life right now.. specially with my fibro.

 My point is this.. the first time I got one.. I didn't think ANYTHING of it.. it wasn't something i planned on doing again.. just wanted something different that day.. just one degree of course of where I normally was.  NOW.. a week and half later.. I find myself almost counting down the minutes to when I can go get my dang cherry pepsi.. and really truly why? seriously do i need it? No.. is it healthy for me? no.. and while I realize it won't KILL me.. it's just something I have never wanted to do. Drink pop or caffeine, and now i find myself needing both. Dumb dumb dumb.

So that might be a lame example.. but hopefully you get my drift.

We all have things we want out of life.. what we dream for, what we hope for.. sometimes we don't even know what those things are.. but we have a plan. We surround our self with things that would keep us on the plan and those dreams and hopes. Things that are good and right and true. But sometimes, something might come into our life.. maybe a distraction of some sort..  not always a bad distraction  either.. that seems OH so good and totally fine.. or something we might want to try.. so we do. We get distracted with it.. and before we know it.. we are not only 1 step off course.. we are 28 steps off course from where we wanted to be and we find ourselves unhappy and wondering why we are where we are and how we got there.  AND  how in the HECK  did that one little thing.. end us up RIGHT here?  Oh and let me tell you. it's a LOT harder to go back 28 steps, than it is just ONE.

I know part of this process is learning and growing and we all are here on this earth to do that. To make mistakes or to make choices.. and see which one is good and which one is better. And NOT all distractions are bad either? But sometimes.. just because something is GOOD for us.. doesn't mean it's the BEST thing for us. Sometimes we have to walk away from something good.. for something that is better.

Last summer, I was going through some hard things, decisions and struggles and trials. One of course was my dad's death.. but even before that,  there were other things too. I was really struggling with some choices I had to make.. because from the outside, they seemed so good! They were things that made me happy, stuff I was spending my time doing that seemed good and all-right. But the more I got into them, the more I realized that while they were good and happy things.. they were not the BEST things for me at that time. That they were getting me off course from where I wanted to be... as a mother, a friend, a wife.. a daughter. That even though they were good, I needed to leave them behind and choose the things that were better. WHich isn't always east. And it's not always easy to know which is the BETTER.

Well as I was going through this, I got to spend some time with one of my True's, one of my besties..  Melody Ross.We were at CHA in Chicago.. and sharing a room together and we got to have some really long GOOD talks. After one of our long talks.. the next day.. she wrote me a Brave Girl daily Truth. If you don't know what these are.. they are daily emails she and her sister send out from their Brave Girls Club website. Just daily bits of inspirations and words of wisdom. Truly love them. Well, that day, she  had woke up and written one just for me.. it of course went out to the thousands of people who subscribe to those emails.. but she told me later that morning that it was meant for me. She knew about the decisions i was having to make.. and knew I needed a little tough love.  This is what she wrote..

 

Dear Uncommon Girl,

Sometimes the very bravest thing we can ever do is to walk away from
something that we want very very very much, but that we know deep in
our gut is not meant for us. The other side of this brave decision,
is the holding tight to something else that is scary or humdrum or
not quite what we thought we really wanted...but that we KNOW deep
in our gut is our own divine path...the path to our most incredible,
uncommon life.

The really wonderful consequence of making these kinds of decisions is
that little by little....sometimes really fast and sometimes really
slow.....that scary or humdrum thing somehow transforms into the most
incredible, beautiful, miraculous and PERFECTLY IMPERFECT and joyful
thing that we could EVER imagine....in fact, we usually can not even
BEGIN to imagine how perfect this thing is going to become if we just
step out on that scary and sometimes very painful leap of faith. Life
has a way of making something very tremendous out of something
inconceivably boring or scary.

That's what bravery is, lovely friend.....it is deciding what to let go
of and what to hold on to......no matter how it feels in this moment...
knowing that you are giving up something very very good for something
OH SO MUCH BETTER.....the BEST in fact.......having faith that when you
listen to your heart, no matter how scary or disappointing the news it
has to give you....that EVERYTHING will ALWAYS work out beautifully in
the end when you make brave choices that are YOUR RIGHT CHOICES.

You know what it is....and you can do it.

Love you forever.xoxo 

After I read that message.. I seriously cried.. because I know what she was saying was true. I KNEW that I had to get back on path.. that while sometimes that path may seem "humdrum" or boring.. and the little step I take off to  the left or the right.. seems SO much more exciting.. that the PATH that is true..  and what is best.  AND that actually  it IS  the thing that can bring us the most happiness. the most joy, the most comfort. And that it's not always easy to take steps back... after you have gone 17 steps off the the left.. and need to come back 16 of them to get back on track. But the crazy and beautiful things is we can. 

I'm not really sure the point of this whole post, it probably doesn't make much sense either, but I guess lately I have just been trying to really put into perspective which things are GOOD for me and which things are BEST.  Because  sometimes  those good things.. can start to to take me off course and I don't even know it.. until I am so far off course, I sometimes get scared I don't know how to get back. Does that make sense?

I sometimes wish I always made perfect decisions.. or that I didn't have to suffer the consequences of not soo good ones.. but I have realized that that is what makes life wonderful. The ups and the downs.. the mistakes and the comebacks.. it's what MAKE US as a beautiful person.. it allows us to be sympathetic and empathetic and caring and loving and kind.. because we have been there and can relate and can console and can help others find their way back on course too.

So that's it.. just a wonderful lesson from Tami...  that turned into a moment I really needed. Maybe sometimes I think too much. But I hope that I don't. 

Well.. tomorrow we are leaving out of town for the weekend on a family campout. Im not even going to SAY that I hope to get something creatively done for this blog before I leave, because if I am at all honest... i just wont. Sorry.. just wont. This week I was supposed to be at CHA.. in Chicago. I always.. go.. infact I haven't NOT gone in 8 years. I go to see the new products coming out for our kit club and now our store. I also go to catch up with all my wonderful artsy friends in the industry, to connect, to enjoy them. It's always a good thing for me. Ben goes with me most of the time. But this time, I just felt like I should stay home, WE BOTH felt like we should stay home  and spend that time with our family instead. It was a tough decision. Our plane tickets were already bought.. our hotel already reserved. But it felt right. That was part of staying on the path. I Gave up ONE good choice.. for something better.. you know? So we are leaving tomorrow..  and I can't wait to just be with my kids and hubby. Spend time on the boat, playing games, sitting around the campfire eating smores and tin foil dinners, reading books, maybe even some fishing?  We need it. Our family is so busy, we need to reconnect.  So i am excited. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend too.. YOU Deserve it!

 oh and

Happy Wednesday!

 

Come join me! 3 Hearts Workshop!!

 
Many of you have already taken the plunge and took the first launch of my Art Journaling workshop, She Has 3 Hearts. If you haven't though.. my second launch of this same class..starts in ONE week! Next Monday and I can't wait! 

 

 

 
The class is a wealth of inpsiration when it comes to Art journaling, color, techniques, texture, doodling.. you name it. Seriously.. the class over 45 videos just overflowing with ideas, inspiration and fun. BUT my favorite part of the class isn't all the fun techniques you learn.. my favorite part is discovering and learning more about myself. About YOURSELF.  

 The idea of this class is based on an old chineese proverb.. "a women has three hearts, one she shares with the world, one she shares with her family, and one she shares ONLY with herself." 

 This class is about learning what YOU have to offer.. to the world, your family.. and  discovering which hearts are okay to just keep to yourself. I have taught this class before, a few years ago in papercrafting, but doing it again, years  later, I learned so much more about myself. My strengths, my weaknesses, my fears, my desires, my priorities. It's crazy because even though I was the one teaching the class, I got more out of it than probably anyone. It was something I REALLY needed in my life right now.  So besides all of the fun "art" that we do and learn.. it truly is something that helped change my perspective on life. 

Someone asked me.. are these techniques "only" things I can do in art journaling? I said.. Heck no! lol.. All of the techniques and art I teach in this class, can be used on just about ANY surface.. on canvas, on wood, on fabric. Someone else asked me how much cross over there is between the techniques learned in this class and in the She Art Class and I can honestly say.. almost none. This class is seriously jammed packed with technique, how to's, inspirations, color, journaling, doodling, .. it's crazy how much stuff I ended up packing into this class! here is a just a few peeks of what you can expect..

 

In week one go over how to create color on your pages.. we start with basics like what gesso, journals, brushes and glues to use for art journaling..

 

 

 

In week one we delve into color, color color.. how to create color with Paints, Paper, Watercolor pencils and Crayons, Pan Pastels, Shiva Paintstiks, Paint Dabbers, Pastes, Inks, Stencils, Stamps, Ephemera, Gelotas, Indian Ink..  you name it.. seriously.. 28 videos in week one ALONE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plus in week one, I show you how to create your own stencils and stamps, how to do image tranfer with gels and mediums.... PLUS I show you from start to finish several art journaling pages incorporating all of the techniques learned..

 

 

 

 

 AND THOSE are peeks of just a FEW of what you will find in week one.. That doesn't include Week 2 or week 3!!!! here are few peaks of those!!

Week 2: included in this week are techniques on Creative Handwriting & Doodling..

 

 


 

Adding Dimension Hot Glue, Machine and Hand Stitching technique, Embellishments, and more! 

 

 

 

 

Plus creative play with Alcohol Inks, Resist Techniques, Faux Batik, Photo Tinting.. and soo so much more!

 

 

 

IN week 3 we move into even more dimension and more color!

We talk about using Beeswax, UTEE, Wire, wire dipping, Crayons, Clay.. and the list goes on..

 

 

 

 



 

Plus show you unique ways to create your own embellishments to put on your pages.. or other mixed media projects!

 
 

 

Seriously.. this is just a small peek of that is included in this class. If you are looking for something to get your creative juices flowing in art journaling.. OR even mixed media.. this is the class! All of these techniques and things you learn can used on just about any art medium! Papercrafting projects, mixed media projects, canvas, wood.. the possibilities are endless.

So if you haven't taken it.. seriously.. join me! I know you won't be disappointed!! Ff you have already taken this class.. I would love to know your comments and feedback here! Help me spread the word about this class!  The awesome thing about this class is that once it starts.. on  July 25th..( next monday)you will have instant access to ALL of the content of this class, All three weeks..and you will have 3 months to go over all the class materials and learn the techniques. TRULY lots of time to work through it all. You will also be joining the first round of students in the classroom and on message boards and on the flickr community.. so you will have a lot of support from "alumni" who have already been through the class!

AND as an incentive for signing up.. anyone who signs before July 25th, or refers a friend to sign up..  you (or they) will be entered to win a $50.00 gift certificate to the Scarlet Lime shop! So if your friend signs up! Tell them to put in the notes that you sent them! And you can be entered to win too! The more friends that sign up, the bigger chance you have to win! So spread the word!!!

Come join me! We start in ONE week!!  Spread the word!
for more info on this class (as if this post wasn't enough.. lol).. you can read more about this class here!)

or sign up below.. I hope to have you join me!

 

$44.95

click on the button below to get registered!

(You will receive a welcome email from me this week, and next Monday morning, you will receive your log in and password information to this class!)

 

Some news and a HUGE giveaway!

So yesterday I was telling you about a cool new project I have been asked to be apart of! A few months ago, I got a call from Kristine McKay telling me about a brand new show airing this fall on the web.. called My Craft Channel

 
My Craft Channelis the first of its kind, online TV craft Network! It goes beyond simple web "how to" home videos and delivers broadcast quality programming. It will have over 20 different shows, so there is something for everyone! They asked me to be the host of their mixed media show.. and I could NOT be more excited!  They will also have other shops with craft celebrities in other niches like sewing, scrapbooking, DIY projects,blogging,  photography, painting, Jewelry.. and more. Seriously.. the coolest thing ever!  And let me tell you.. I am a HUGE fan of the other hosts coming to this channel! Seriously some of their hosts have been on HGTV, Rachel Ray and more! I feel like a little fish in HUGE waters with these gals I am doing this with! SO COOL!  Seriously.. this is like nothing you have ever seen before. Nothing I have ever seen before on the web. Its truly just like a TV show.. that you can watch each day.. with segments from your favorite hosts.. it's going to be soo cool.  I am really excited about my show.. I get to do segments on just about anything I want.. from art journaling, to canvas, to wall art.. it's going to be so fun. PLUS I also am brining on a few guest of my own.. that will be doing some mixed media projects as well! It's going to be so cool.

AND to kick of the launch of the show (which will air this fall).. they are giving away 20 Provo Crafts Cricuts a DAY, for the next 20 days!.. each day they are announcing a new "host" (monday through friday) on their blog.. and each day they do, they are giving away a Provo Craft Cricut! Now if you are a mixed media artist.. those are awesome for cutting your own stencils or masks.. or even making your own stamps! Seriously.. so cool!

 

 

SO to get entered to win.. you need to head on over to the My Craft Channel blog to get entered AND then don't forget to go to their faceobook page and "like" them.. to receive updates on what's going on!

I truly am so excited about this adventure. I am heading to Utah in a few weeks to film my segement.. and they have recreated my studio for me on my own personal set.. seriously.. how cool is that! My show will be called Art. Redifined. with Christy..  I can't wait! 

So make sure you go get entered.. BOTH on the MCC blog AND their facebook page by leaving a comment!

Here are the links..

MCC Blog

MCC Facebook page

So excited for this opportunity and so truly grateful to be apart of it.. this will be an awesome experience!

So today I am working on my "creatively inspired" project for this week.. I hope it's something you all will enjoy! See you back here tomorrow with pictures!

ALSO.. you still have time to sign up for my NEWEST on-line class! Creative Color! It's my new mini workshop for summer.. PLUS our new3 Hearts Journaling class starts NEXT MONDAY!!!

come join me!
Check out all my workshops here..

eating green update...

So it's been a few weeks since I've updated my blog about going on the new eating plan.. eating only fresh fruits and veggies and meats.(you also get to eat rice,  nuts, have olive oil and real butter.. so you get to eat a lot of great things!  

Basically just  NO processed foods.. and gluten free, dairy free and sugar free. I was doing SO good until about 2 weeks ago. I felt amazing and really DID feel a huge difference. I felt better than I had in months. Then we went out with friends one night and I ordered off the gluten free menu.. thought it would be fine.. but later that night I started feeling not soo good. The next day.. same thing.. ate great all day.. that night went out and ordered something off the gluten free menu, thinking I would be okay.. and again.. felt crappy the next day. Still trying to figure out what it was in what I ate that wasn't good for me. Or maybe I was just having an off day.?

The last three weeks I have been off and on eating "good" and eating "not so good".. ( I spent a week at girls camp..which made it really hard to eat that way)...  but have been trying to be good for the most part...and I have to tell you. I CAN TELL a difference. Specially with sugar and gluten. When I eat it.. I don't feel very good. and it's within an hour.. if not minutes of eating it.  When I stay away from it.. I feel GREAT. Dairy doesn't seem to bother me at all. which is good, because I was started to miss feta cheese on my salads :). Though I have to tell you I switched to Almond milk in my oatmeal and I LOVE It. So I just drink it instead of regular milk.

Another thing I noticed is that corn really bothers me. Even popcorn. Which I love. I can eat it and seriously MINUTES later.. achy.. feeling yucky.. and I am like.. oh but it was SOOO worth it! lol.  

So what am I learning from all of this? That I get what I get.. if I want to feel good. I need to eat good.. and when I don't.. just be prepared to not be up to par. I realize that I can't go through life eating ONLY green.. and clean. I just can't. I wish I could.. but with life and traveling, it's not as easy as it looks. Even ordering from a gluten free menu doesn't mean the dressing is sugar free.  BUT the good thing is that now I have a little more "power" behind how I feel. I mean I realize, I will still have "bad" days.. where I feel crappy.. just because I will, Just because of the weather, or because of the stress.. but if I can help it at all.. like have some sort of small decision.. it's a start. Knowing that what I eat and what I do, and how I treat my body.. MAKES a difference in how I feel. I have a choice. and that is what matters.. because before.. I felt like I didn't have a choice. I felt like no matter what I did, I would always be in pain and not be able to control any part of it.

I have also been trying to relax and take it easy this summer, not working so much, not worrying so much and I am SURE the that is helping as well. Gotta get a little relaxation in before "reality" comes back and the summer is over and it's time to work hard again :).  Exercising is helping too. I have been starting to wake-board and have plans to to try and go at least 3-4 times a week in the mornings. My husband, and I and our friend, get up early.. usually heading out by 8:00, to the lake that is only 3 miles away.. and we each take about 20-30 minutes wake-boarding or skiing. (i don't ski). It's great exercise and I LOVE being out on the water that early. It's calm and peaceful and no one else is crazy enough to be out there. (the water is cold.. seriously cold! lol). But we are usually back home by 9:30 or 10:00 and still have plenty of time to work. It's my new "gym"..  I think If I can start walking or running or bike riding at night too, it will help even more. Exercises does wonders for your health.

anyhow.. so that is the update on my health and eating clean! I TRULY love it. I do. I wish I had the will power to do it everyday. I wish I could wake up every morning and have my green drink already made. it sometimes a pain to get up and juice it and then clean the juicer (cleaning it takes the longest).. but  It truly makes a difference on my day. Even just having one green juice in the morning.. makes a HUGE difference. and by that I mean.. juicing Kale, Celery, spinach and then either a fruit or tomatoes. I love it. Love the taste too. And gives me SO much energy! Another thing that gives me energy are my snacks. My favorite snack by the way (i have 3 small snacks a day between meals).. are sliced apples dipped in natural peanut butter (no sugar added) . Yum!  My favorite! Sometimes I will just have that for breakfast too. It's so good.

Well enough about that.. I have some BIG news to share tomorrow!!! I can't wait! I have asked be be apart of a really cool new "Show".. that will be airing this fall on the web.. and I can not wait!! Tomorrow I get to share with you, all about it! wahoo!

Sorry for taking it so easy this summer.. I am just so enjoying my time with my family and with just enjoying my time. period.  :) hope you are too!

See you tomorrow!!
Happy Wednesday!

Christy

Creativley Inspired Art Challenge...#2

 
 

So as you know from THIS post here.. I wanted to do a new challenge for the summer to keep my creativity going. I am always inspired by other people and all forms of art, so thought this would be a REALLY fun change for me.

This week's challenge is TOTALLy out of my comfort zone and probably TOTALLY not what you would expect either. But when I was going through the list of things that inspire me.. I realized that there are so many things, art forms that inspire me. Not just mixed media, or fabric or canvas.. much much more than that. So this week I picked someone and something that I truly am always inspired by.. but something I have never tried before. Photo Art.

I grew up a large family.. my parents divorced when I was 7, and at the time i had 6 brothers and sisters. Well eventually my mom and dad both remarried which brought even more siblings into the mix (step brothers and sisters and an awesome half sister). When my mom remarried, she married a man who had 5 children and since his wife had passed away from cancer.. his children all lived with him.  So you can imagine when we all moved into together.. we were like the Brady Bunch on steroids! lol.. there was 13 of total, as my mom and step dad had a "ours" about a year after they were married. So 13 of us living under one house.. let me tell you it, it sure was comical.. but it sure was fun. I was lucky to have a new step sister.. almost exactly the same age as me. Cathi.. she was seriously hilarious. We fought all the time at first. Sibling rivalry? I guess? but over we actually become pretty good friend. I eventually moved out and lived with my dad, but when I would visit my mom during the summers or on weekends or holidays, here and I always had so much fun together. I was also so impressed with all the cool things she was involved in. Singing, Art, Acting.. but one thing I remember MOSt about her was her talent for doing hair and makeup. TRULY. She was an artist. So it wasn't any surprise when she graduated she went to beauty school. so here we are many many years later and she is still following that dream.  (this is her at work.. she's in the red)

She is part of an awesome business, Muse hair and makeup,  that does hair and makeup for weddings, editorial shots, Story shorts, catalogs, fashion shows.. and my favorite.. Stylized art photography shots.  Recently she has done some REALLY cool things.. here are just a few of her recent shoots she did the hair and makeup for..

 
(photo by Maren Delany Photography)

 

(photo by Donae Cotton photography)

 

(Photo by Courtney Conk Photography)

 
(photography by Megan Weiss Porta Photography)

 
So I thought it would be super fun to do something inspired by HER. I choose a really cool "circus" shoot she did the hair and makeup for.. and asked her if I could use her as my inspiration.. she said.. I can't wait to see what "circus" themed canvas you do!"

I replied back.. um.. no. .I mean I am actually going to attempt to do the hair and makeup and create a photo art shoot.. based on the Art she did the hair and makeup for! lol

so I did. THIS TRULY was out of my "knowledge" comfort zone.. I am not a hair or makeup artist, NOR am i a professional photographer.. but I do love all three.. so keep in mind this is PURELY for fun. Just something totally fun to do out of the norm for me.. and I can't tell you what a BLAST I had a blast! I asked my friends daughter to help me with the shoot... and we both had so much fun. TRULY. I hope you guys do this challenge too.

So this is the Photo Shoot I was totally inspired by.. LOVED the hair, the makeup and the style of the shot. Totally whimsical and funky. I call is the Circus Art Shoot. Hair and Makeup are by Cathi Barbi.. her daughter is the model. The photography is by Maren Delaney Photography.. and the awesome vintage hat was made by Bethany Lorelle. (she has amazing hair pieces by the way for purchase.. love it!)

 

 

 

 

isn't freaking awesome? I just love it. Seriously.. so talented. INSPIRING!!

So I realized I didn't have cool circus trailer in an old field.. like she did.. but I DO have a really cool vintage airstream trailer in my backyard.. we bought two years ago. We gutted it out and make it into a "jewelry" trailer.. were people could come buy beads and jewelry from us.  now we use it for storage.. but I would love to make it a fun "art" studio some day.. a traveling one :).

For the outfit.. we borrowed a couple of prom dresses that I layered over some lace dresses i already had.. plus added an old denim shirt over the top, to create an eclectic country feel.  For shoes, we used my red cowboy boots i got in texas last month. Then for the accessories, I used a mix of my funky jewelry and a   really cool feathered heaband I bought months ago.. (i haven't had the guts to wear), my friends daughter, Kacee.. was an awesome model! She had short hair, so I used a hair piece, to create length and then rolled the hair in curlers all over her head. I did her makeup in kinda of a high fashion.. dark smokey eyes.. with bright red lips. She's only 13.. but by the time we were done.. she looked like she was 20! lol.. good thing her dad wasn't there.. he wouldn't have liked that much.:)

so this is what we came up with.. I ended up doing three different "shoots".. just different clothes changes and a few hair changes.. but we had fun. oh and I have to say.. I normally like to photograph in "overcast" conditions.. but it was still pretty sunny out.. and it ended up being the BEST thing ever! All the cool sun effects you see in the photos.. just happened because I caught the light behind the trailer just rights.. so cool. couldn't have planned it better. again.. this was just for fun. For me, I am NOT a professional.. but I sure had fun doing this!

This first shoot was using the green prom dress with a ruffled grey dress I had, underneath. Inspired by the green dress in Cathi's photos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The second shoot, I used a lace dress I had OVER the grey knit dress.. and pulled her back a bit..

 

 

 

The last shoot I did with this cool funky Purple Prom Dress. it had hints of pink under it and with the red boots.. oh it was awesome..

 

 

 

 


 

 

So that's it! I really seriously. Had so much fun. I told Allie we might just have to do another shoot next week.. this time with her.. and find another one of cathi's amazing art skills to be inspired by. Not to mention all the amazing photographers she works with.

TRULY.. they are talented.. you should check out their sites and their work.

Anyhow.. that's it! So what are YOU going to be inspired by this week? gonna take this challenge and join me? I can't wait to see what you do!

Well it's friday.. and that means the weekend.. and lots of play! We are heading to Utah (ben and I) with some of our best friends who live right down the street from us. We do just about everything together. We are going to go to the Kenny Chesney concert. I not a huge fan.. I mean I AM SURE I will be when it's over.. but my friend Jennifer.. is the real fan. So I got us tickets for her birthday.. there are 3 of us couples going. and I can't WAIT! It was funny.. last night we were talking about the concert and someone asked.. what concert are you going to? I was like.. we are going to see Kent Chesley".. and my other friend Meredith (who is also going),  just looked at me like really? You don't even know his correct name? really? lol..  I was like what?? I don't listen to the radio??!! i don't even know how to say Ochre! lol.. .. I told ben later." no wonder when I was trying to look him and this concert  up on google.. nothing was coming up that matched it! lol.. I am such a dork. I guess that's me.. right?

well have a wonderful weekend! I can't wait.. I am more excited to just spend time with friends than anything. We have the best friends ever. Nice to have friend were all of us get along.. the husbands and the wives. Truly we do. They are like family. Even my family would tell you that. So can't wait!

Happy Friday!

Christy

Creative Color.. let's have some fun!!!!

oh my heck! that was a long week/endish.. kinda break? But guess what! I am back! wahoo! and ready to share some fun with you! Today I am working on this week's creatively inspired "challenge".. that I will be sharing with you on friday.. BUT today.. I had to come on and  tell you about my new online mini-workshop!

So.. if you are like me.. you are crazy busy this summer.. and aren't finding a ton of time to create.. BUT  but that doesn't stop us from WANTING to still be creative!

I know I do.. in fact I find myself wanting to be more creative.. and be inspired by all the colors and hues of summer! I find inspiration all around me and want to run to my art studio and create. Don't you? Well I might just find have the perfect "mini" workshop for both of us!

so... Introducing my new on-line "min" workshop..

Creative Color: Art Redefined.

 

 

Creative Color: Art Redefined

 a one week mini workshop

When it comes to art, color is EVERYTHING.Color evokes emotions.. and passions.. and memories, and it sets the stage for the art we are creating. Often times, I think we get too comfortable with the colors that we use and we don't realize how much color really contributes to the art we make.  Whether it be in art journals, on canvas, mixed media projects or in papercrafting.. we all have our "favorite color , we tend to go to for inspiration.  I know I do! I often times find myself going back to the same colors and color combinations over and over again. While this isn't always a bad thing.. it's also fun to sometimes get creative with color and give our art a whole new meaning. Well this class is a fun mini workshop for summer,  that will help you break out of that "color" habit and learn to create with color in a whole new way! 

 New content will be posted monday-friday during the week of class but the classroom will be open for 3 months after the workshop begins.  Day one we will talk about color in art  and creative places where you can find color inspiration.  I will  show you how to create and keep a color inspiration journals/styleboards, that will keep your inspiration organized and easily accessible for future projects. Plus on day one, I will show you a project I create using a  color scheme totally out of my comfort zone and you will have an assignment to do one too! Then each day through friday, a new color inspiration, board,  and project will be posted, that will help YOU break out of the rut you are in and start seeing color in a whole new way! Come learn how to look at color in a whole new way! This class will be taught on a private website with full videos, PDF downloads and patterns!

Come join  me in this fun mini workshop perfect for your colorful summer!

Registration begins NOW.. and class starts August1st.

 
$19.95

(to register please click on the buy it now button below . Once you sign up and pay, you will receive a welcome email with more info within 72 hours of sign up! )