Use your Light - Lessons for My Son Art Journal

Now that summer is here I have found it hard to be inside and create. But tonight I sat in my craft closet and made this quick page in my son's life lesson's journal. I used four supplies - chalkboard paint (I bought it at the dollar store), chalk, white pen and a gold pen. Love how it turned out. A little bit of chalkboard art in my journal.

The journalling reads:

There comes a time when you must stand alone. You must feel confident enough within yourself to follow your own dreams. You must be willing to make sacrifices. You must be capable of changing and rearranging your priorities so that your final goal can be achieved. 

Sometimes, familiarity and comfort need to be challenged. There are times when you must take a few extra chances and create your own realities. Be strong enough to at least try to make your life better. Be confident enough that you won't settle for a compromise just to bet by. Appreciate yourself by allowing yourself the opportunity to grow, develop, and find your true sense of purpose in this life. 

Don't stand in someone else's shadow when it's your sunlight that should lead the way.

- From author Deanna Beisser

Enjoy the little things - upcycled piece

I was able to find some time to create again and this makes my heart happy! I love playing with paint, watercolours, inks and texture paste. So much fun! I got this piece (brown) at my local thrift store and really enjoyed turning it into something else. Thanks for stopping by!

Rise above - Life Lesson For My Son

You know some times things don't work out like you hope. You just don't have the mojo going on to create. That was me tonight. I have been wanting to create for a while and put too much pressure on myself. But I decided to share anyway so please be kind.

I am behind on the Documented Life Project.  But I'm ok with that. I decided to try May 16th challenge - Rise to the Occasion and use some modelling paste. I couldn't think of anything about rising to the occasion so I went off topic a bit.

My journalling to my son are lyrics to a song I can not find again for the life of me to reference.

Dear Son,

The world is full of people,
content to be what they are
Who never know the joy of success;
they lack the will to go that far.

Yet in this world there is a need,
for some to lead the rest
To rise above the average life,
by giving of their best.

Are you the one who dares,
to try when challenged by the task
To rise to heights you've never dreamed,
Or is that too much too ask?

This can by your year,
for great purpose to achieve
If you accept the challenge,
and in yourself believe.

be the light - mixed media upcycled frame

Hello everyone, sorry I haven't posted in a while but I have been sick and it really knocked me out of the game for the past few weeks.

I was inspired to create a piece from this old framed print I purchased for $0.50 at my local thrift store. It started in a different direction that it ended but I am happy with the finished result. I was inspired by the darkness we all have inside us. I strongly believe that it is a daily choice to choose to let the light in and to be the light. Our gremlins are more vulnerable when we choose to shine the light on them. They are not as powerful and we may even stop listening to them when we realize what they are and what they are really doing to us.

April 18th The Documented Life Project Challenge (yes I am behind) was using a gelli plate. I didn't have one so I googled how to make my own. I found this great video on how to make one. I'm not sure if I made it thick enough but it was good enough to play around and make my own sheets. It was fun and I will be buying a real gelli plate soon. I used the papers I made in this piece.

(original thrift store frame)

Thanks for stopping by! Have a wonderful Mother's Day weekend!

Enough is Enough - Lesson's for My Son (DLP)

I am on a roll with this book and I love it! I thought I would also try my hand at the Documented Life Project.

To me 'cry me a river' was a little tough for me so I googled it to see the meaning behind it and decided to journal about how to deal with people's harsh opinions. This came at the right time as today my son told me his feelings got hurt at school the other day because a boy told him he didn't like him for no reason.  I have been really motivated to work on my son's lessons book and this journal entry was very useful for me as well (they always are).

I did use lots of acrylic paints and some inks (spray and india). I did collage some papers on this page but ended up covering most of them.

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The journalling reads:

Sometimes 'enough is enough'. So please be strong and know when enough is enough. Take your stand, speak up and refuse to let others hurt you. Throughout your lifetime some people will discredit you, disrespect you and treat you poorly for no apparent reason at all. Don't consume yourself with trying to change them or win their approval. And don't make any space in your heart to hate them. You don't have control over what others think about you, but you do have control over how you decide to internalize their opinions. Leave them to their own judgements. Let people love you for who you are, and not for who they want you to be. Or let them walk away if they choose. They can't harm you either way; it's their understanding that is faulty, not yours. Please love and respect yourself enough to say enough is enough and choose what your heart tells you. 


Thank you for stopping by!

Every day there are a million choices competing for your time, your brain space, and your commitment. It's so important to look for the good instead of the bad, and to see all of the wonderful little things all around you rather than letting yourself feel annoyed by other little things that really are not important.

Try to find peace, and then remember that feeling and seek out whatever it takes to get back to that feeling when you seem off track or uneasy. When life feels dark, just step into the light. One step at a time. And before you know it, the darkness is gone. Go where the peace is. Go where the beauty is. Go where the good stuff is. Most of it is just a choice. Use the gift of choice wisely. You know this stuff! Just remember to remember it! (Brave Girls Club)

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This week has been a rough one for me and getting to create a lesson in Parker's journal was soothing to my soul tonight. This lesson is also a reminder for myself when life gets crazy to 'Go where the Peace is'.

Have a fantastic night!

It is Ok

I did my first page for my son's lessons journal. I wanted a first page that was more of an introduction to the journal. Lots of paint on fingers for this one! I used this custom element technique from Rae Missigman using washi tape. I added ink, spray ink, alcohol inks and spray paint.

Few close-ups:

The journalling reads:

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To my sweet Parker,

I want you to know something that has taken me a long time to learn. It is Ok. It is ok to fail, it is ok to be scared. It is ok to make wrong choices, it is ok to get overwhelmed, and it is ok to get off your path for a while.

That's how you learn. And sometimes a lesson will come to you over and over until you learn it. That is ok too. That is what this book is for. To help you learn how to deal with those difficult days and to learn from every experience - good and bad.

I want you to grow up to be a happy, peaceful man who knows who he is. The lessons in this book are the ones I have taught you  and I hope will serve as a reminder when you need them.

I love you,

Mom
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Happy Easter!