indoctrinate: verb

to instruct especially in fundamentals or rudiments : teach

or

 

 to imbue with a usually partisan or sectarian opinion, point of view, or principle

pronunciation
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Springing Forward!!
Don't forget to move your clocks ahead an hour tonight
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How do you get your inspiration?
This is how I get mine.

First it began with a challenge...
which in this case is Helmar's March Challenge "Tag-You're-It".


For me, I have a slight obsession with mason jars, so I thought I'd make a tag by die cutting a jar using my Sizzix die and Big Shot Machine. So yes, my love for mason jars inspires me.

Now since I need a solid back for my tag, I took the die cut piece and traced the shape on a sheet of white card stock, I'll cut it out later.

Next, I picked out my color palette, which revolved around Maya Road's Fabric Tape, Country Rose. So the fabric tape inspires my colors.
 I picked out some of my new Ranger Distress Paints to match.
Antique Linen ( yes it was all messed up from shipping but Simon Says they are replacing it :), Spun Sugar, Seedless Preserves, Forest Moss, and Bundled Sage

My first step was to spread the Antique Linen onto the tag, wet my finger and spread it out. Let dry.

Using new products inspires me. It's fun exploring how they work. So here, I took 3 colors and dabbed them onto the Tim Holtz grunge board hearts, utilized a wet finger to spread the paint around a bit. Used my heat gun to dry them.

 Using an old favorite and well used stamp inspires me. This script stamp is made by Prima and I love it along with my stand by ink from Stazon. I'm embarrassed by how yellowed and yucky the stamp looks, but it's my testimony as to how well loved it is...or...that I don't clean my stamps very well, hmm.

Another inspiration for me is to combine challenges. Moxie Fab is having a Washi Tape challenge. Trends can be very inspiring!
I edged the fabric tape with the Stazon ink and put a small dollop of Helmar's 450 between each fold to hold it together. Snipped the ends for a banner shape.

Shopping for unusual products in home improvements stores is a fun inspiration for me. I discovered Flashing Tape years ago, and it comes in a humongous size roll which will last forever! Here I cut a section off and then into small strips which I folded over to make these flat strands which I shaped to the curve of the mason jar rim.
 ( and yes, I continually lay products out to see how everything looks as I go along to make sure I like how everything is working together )

I glued down the metal shaped strands to the jar rim with my Helmar's 450 and once dried, I used my embossing tools to draw lines into the rim. I also took my Ranger's Distress marker to outline the jar and my water pen to lighten those edges. You can also see, that by this point I have cut out the back to my tag and will adhere it using my Helmar's Acid Free white glue.

Next, was a fantastic moment of inspiration...using an old product in a new way. I wanted to silver leaf the top of the jar, and thought I would try my 450 to see how it works. So I spread with my fingertip a thin layer of 450 across the lid and let it set up.

Works like a charm, just wait for the 450 to dry until tacky and then press the silver leaf down. I then used a cue tip along with Ranger's Distress Stain to get into any creases and give it a rustic look.

Then, I took all my lovely pieces and begin assembling them together at last. I love this moment when they all come together. I use baby powder to rub on the backside of anything sticky ( like the ends of the fabric tape banner that is hanging over the edge of the jar and the inside of the bow )

I add little detail touches like the Blue Moon Beads dragon flies and the key...just because it speaks to me to do so. I think sometimes my pieces become inspired themselves along the way and they tell me what needs to be added. How copacetic!

The finished tag..ta da!

So great sketches, awesome product, and trendy challenges inspires me. What inspires you?
And don't forget to turn that clock ahead tonight, we are springing forward!
I am ready for flip flops, sunshine and shorts!

chunky: adjective

Short and thick; stocky
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I created a chunky little zen - doodle birdy for my wall hanging.
"Everyone seems normal until you get to know them"
true, huh?
 ( Sentiment from the title of John Ortberg's book )

 I quickly drew a bird shape, not thinking too much, just letting my hand go where it wanted and accepted what I got. No erasing. Then I zen-doodled the little bird, and added lots of layered stickle dots for her tail and yellow glitter for her beak. She also has painted toe nails and a pearl accent on her butt.  She is after all, a cheeky bird; having taken the flowers out of the mason jar vase, to give to you, but not before perching jauntily in the jar!

My new found love is the thin wood that I tore for the "shadowed" effect under the mason jar. I also used Sheena's embossing folder for the jar too.

I have recently re-discovered a cigar box filled with empty vials and their wrappers. Loving the texture and feel of the wooden paper wrappers, I gently tore them into small strips and layered them under the bottom of the jar. They are fragile and I do have to store the papers in the vials or they would just be shredded before their time!

Sizzix mason jar die
Sheena's embossing folder - Floral Fabric
Ranger's stickles - Cinnamon, Thistle, Platinum, Fruit Punch
Really Reasonable Ribbon - twine and shimmer
LuminArte' - H20's - Fairy Plum
gesso - Daler Rowney
chicken wire stencil - unknown
pens - Ranger Distress Marker, Close to my Heart, American Crafts - Glitter Gems, Galaxy Markers
Maya Road - flowers
font - Candy Buzz
papers, pearls and rhinestones - from stash

I have 2 wall hangings in my craft room, which means one has to be removed for the other one to be hung. Decisions have to be made...hmmm?
 do I love it more than the others? If so, which one gets taken down?
The vote is in and "Everyone seems normal" WINS a spot on the wall!
The crowd goes wild...well, OK...maybe not wild....lol

Which means "Weird Love" is now off the wall, bagged and tagged,
 with "You Can't Buy Happiness" remaining on the wall for the second week in a row! :)

"Everyone seems normal" entered in:

Divas by design - For a female

Fab 'n' Funky Challenges - #133 Use Pearl or Rhinestones

Just Add Water Silly - Inspiration Avenue, Zentangles

Tracy Weinzapfel - Monday night video

demise: noun

the end of existence or activity; termination

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It looks like a simple lay out but there is a lot going on actually, but it's all in the little details. :) First off, I am following this sketch by Becky Fleck. I absolutely love her sketches and have been following her blog for 4 years? I think that's right, but then I have a habit of losing track of time, so who really knows?

So you can see I followed the basic design of the sketch. I was really focused on the paper itself which shows the ocean washing up on the beach. But I think you can see that the large hand torn sand castle replaces the paper layering on the right and the flag is the date element on the top right edge. The only layering I didn't incorporate is on the left side. The flower embellishments are replaced with the 2 clouds and the sand dollar.

 I'm not the best at making lay outs ahead of time as my pictures usually dictate my creative process but I will have to keep in mind the lay out and work in reverse. Taking pictures to go with the design, harder to do than it sounds!

I was really inspired by the jar, and built a beach scene within a beach scene. This is one of those details. If you look inside the jar, you can see the same elements repeated, sand, seashell, sand castle, seagull and clouds. Now look at the general lay out and you will see the same embellishments. It's my beach washing up on the beach. ..( welcome to my world, lol )

Sizzix Jar Die, and Sand Dollar

Really Reasonable Ribbon Hemp Cord
Cricut - Everyday Paper Dolls, clouds

I also had a lot of fun with the sand dollar and the castle itself. I did shading, added gold beads and stickles to both. The sand dollar on the other hand became way more involved, I added LuminArte' Twinkling H20's, paint, and a thick layer of Ranger's Candy Crackle. It actually wasn't this color, but when I added the crackle it changed! lol That was a "breathe and let go" moment!

As I have discussed before, I don't add a lot of dimension to my lay outs, I prefer to use doodling, shading, bead work and sinking. But the jar began my demise into dimension, with the cloud following suit, lol It's not too bad, just a little height.

For my "sinking", I used the water paper tearing for the sand dollar and the jar, and my exacto knife for the sand castle. You can see the differences in the edges of the 2 techniques.

 Here is what the back of my lay out looks like ;) I was a little sloppy with my glue and you see where I had too much glue around the edges, be careful and don't glue your lay out to your craft table!! I can say that I've never done that, but I have come close ;)

Becky Fleck - Fancy Pants Sketch Contest

Just Add Water Silly - Artist Playroom - Turquoise and Lime

Paper playtime - Challenge #81 - Hot and Spicey + a Die Cut or Punch