Look at my sign-in tag...

I'm in another round robin and this is my sign-in tag for my book. It's the first time in my life I have a widow's peak!!!!!

Look at what my friend Barb did!!!!!

She designed this absolutely beautiful banner at the top! I swear, this woman could start a business doing this! Thanks Barb; you're the best!!!!!

Has it been a month?

It has been brought to my attention by a wonderful art friend that I've been neglecting my poor blog. I have so much going on at school that my art time is so minimal. So Jill...thanks for making me spend time on this. I'm doing this for you!!!

Here is an ATC I did for Mother's Day. It was sent to my friend peggy.

I'm in a swap called 52 Pick-Up in Paper Whimsy. Everyone has to decorate 2 cards and make 27 copies of each. We'll get a full deck at the end! These are the fronts and backs.

Heh, heh...an ATC for Altered Art Divas' Lottery. It's an At The Beach theme.
I think sometimes my warped sense of humor gets the better of me! I had to make a 4 x 4 for a monthly swap. This one was on GAMES.
So here it is Jill! I hope it won't be a month for my next posting!

I hate May 20th!

Today is the 2nd anniversary of my brother's death from AIDS. I was so sad all day; I tried so hard to keep busy, but I just didn't have it in me to be happy. Sigh...tomorrow is a new day and things will be better. I just miss him so damn much!

I decided to post a photo of a happy me! This was taken 2 weeks ago when I visited my art buddies down in southern CA. I had to make my "L" page for the Paper Whimsy Alphabet book. I liked the way this came out. It kept me busy; I love 4 x 4's because to me they are the perfect size.
Here's an ATC I made for the RED lottery on MABD. I feel like I'm setting a trend here with my feelings. Actually, I like the way this came out...
So now I'm off to have a glass of wine. I think I'll watch a movie too! And think about my brother...

I love you Larry. Rest in peace my brother...

Happy Saturday!!!

I just love the weekend. I get to sit back for a brief moment and not think! Summer break is just around the corner; I have 23 more school days lef and it's off for the next 2 months! How cool is that!!!
Here are the Altered Trading Pins I made for Altered Art Divas:

We're Painting the Roses Red....these are the pages for my friend Julie's RR journal. Her colors are pink and gold with an Alice in Wonderland theme. Now this was fun!!!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Mother's Day!!!

Calling all artists!!!

I just found out that I am moving from Kindergarten to 5th grade year next year and I am so PSYCHED!!!!!!! What I would like to do is create "mY AlTeReD 5tH GrAdE jOuRnAl" journals with my students since we live in California and the children do not get formal art classes until middle school. Since I work in a Back To Basics school, it's reading, writing, 'rithmatic all the way. The other 5th grade teacher is freaking that I want to do this, which is making me want to do it even more (heh, heh, heh)

So I'm asking anyone and everyone that reads my blog to consider sending me any old and no longer used ink pads, rubber stamps, paper, paints, charms, etc. so that I can do this at a minimal cost. I have 34 students and have lots from my own studio to share with them, however, I plan on working with them every Friday afternoon during the school year, so I really need A LOT!!! If you're interested, please leave a message in my comments section and I'll get back to you with my address.

Thanks so much for considering helping to create our future artists!!!

Had a little down time...

I haven't had the time to write on my blog, but I have a cold and didn't feel like doing much else right now. Here are a few of my latest. Directly below is the front and the back of a bird tag book I am in with 19 other people. This piece is actually a 4 x 4 front and back. It's for Artchix C'est la vie chunky book. This is one of my favorites...
I posted a Leonardo da Vinci challenge on Bmuse and this is my offering.
The next two pieces are the left hand and right hand sides of my friend Michelle's RR journal.

I don't know how exciting these pieces actually are for anyone else, but for me they were wonderful. They gave me a little down time which I really don't get much of.

Yeah! Spring break is finally here!

I have a bazillion art commitments to complete this week. I hate when I get backlogged like this. I actually pulled out of some because I couldn't meet my obligations and that is soooooo unlike me. But work had me so incredibly busy.

Anyway, here is a layout that I did for Denise Menella's Circle Journal. Her word is FLOURISH. I had a great time making this; it was an extremely relaxing book to work in.

I'm a charm addict! I need CA (Charms Anonymous)

I think I am totally addicted to charms! I just joined a Yahoo group devoted strictly to charm swaps. Like I have nothing better to do, right? Anyway, here is my prototype for the swap. I wanted to use old NYC subway tokens, but when I looked at them on ebay, I almost died! And to think that they used to sit in a candy dish in my parent's room. So, game pieces will have to do!

Charms, charms and more charms...

I wanted to get Bmuse moving again so I'm hosting a Charm Swap. They are so popular and I'm very addicted to making them. I made one for everyone in the swap. These are made from brass washers, Staz-on ink, gold wire and beads. I have added a LARGE jump ring with beads to the washer as well but I never uploaded the revised ones. I should do that, don't you think?

It has been a LONG time...

I can't believe how long it's been since I've posted anything! Too many report cards, too many family obligations...yuck! Anyway, here are a few new things that I have done:

ATC for a Lucky No. 7 lottery

Pages for a RR that I'm in...

For a PINK postage stamp sheet...
For a Bird Chunky book...

I'm having way to much fun doing this stuff. Just wish I had more time!!!!!!!!!!!!

Having some fun...

I have been in the throes of writing Kindergarten report cards and had to take a break. I made this piece for a RR I'm in. The theme was famous artists and the colors were blue and white. I had so much fun making this. You know, it seems like I've been doing a LOT of blue pieces lately. Not a color I usually work in. Maybe I should start!

I'm Being Published in Somerset!!!

I just found out yesterday that Somerset Studios has accepted my 2 pieces for publication into their Blue theme issue. I wanted to post the two pieces again because I don't think I've posted them here. The top one is called Love Me Blue. It's done on a large blue formica tag compliments of Home Depot. The charms are "woven" onto the tag; I used the super duper hole punch along the side and then wired beads onto it. You can't really see what it says, but the heart says LOVE and the tag says 'like she's never done before'.
This piece is called Blue Moon and it is a 6 x 6 inch collage. I made one similiar to this for a Paper Whimsy collaborative book.
So here are the 2 pieces from my proudest art moment!

I'm still here...

I can't believe how busy I've been. I swear, if I could, I would quit my job and become a hermit and do art all day long. But as reality would have it...that is just a dream. I did find a few hours to do some art. Here is Aimeslee's pages for her Circle Journal. It's based on a specific word and her's is FOCUS. Hard to believe tha I was able to FOCUS long enough to get this done!

This is a 6 x 6 page that I made for a Cherished Circle Fat Book. It was based on a poem written by an artist in the Paper Whimsy group. The words were done using Word Art on Microsoft and printed onto a transparency. I love the results!

I love the rainy weather!

We don't get too much of it in California. So when the weather is yucky, I get to stay inside and play. It's so hard to stay in when the weather is gorgeous!

I had such a fun art day today! I had the opportunity to finish these Artist Trading Pins (ATPs) for a swap on Bmuse. I love the way they came out and they are the perfect size.

These are a couple of ATCs I made today. they are both for swaps in Bmuse.
I'm in a monthly 4 x 4 swap in Mail Art by Design. This is the Dance themed one that i made for my trading partner.

The 4 x 4's have made it to Vickie...

I was finally able to meet Vickie face to face tonight. My son went to a party not too far from Andrew's house and Gary, my DH, and I were able to drive there. I gave her all the beautiful pages bound into 4 fabulous books. It was truly wonderful to see her face. I think she really couldn't believe what she had in her hands.

Thank you all for helping with this project. You made her VERY happy!

My life is so busy...

This piece is for a Paper Whimsy challenge. It was so hard; the pieces just didn't flow for me. I tried my best...I like my final product. I just don't know if the person sponsoring the challenge does. Oh, well...live and learn!

This is an ATC for a Friends weekly challenge. I love these colors...earth tones are my favorite to work with.

This is my Sheet Music lottery entry. It reminds me of the Osmond Brothers.

I'm in a western themed swap. I can't seem to get Brokeback Mountain out of my head. General Custer was an interesting character...

Thanks Goodness This Week Is Over!

What a week this has been. We had off Monday and Tuesday was the 100th Day of School. Wednesday was Valentine's Day and the rest of the week was a bust! Kindergartners are high maintenance. Thank God for summers!!!

My latest atcs from this week. Enjoy!

My "Serenity" Circle Journal

I am doing a word Cirlce Journal, more commonly known as a Round Robin, with a different group of women. I'm VERY excited about this because it is a group of women I do not know at all. I truly hope they don't gag when they see my art. Their art is BEAUTIFUL; very neat and well thought out. Mine is, well, like my days. Serene and happy or just insane! The word for my journal is SERENITY...wishful thinking!


front cover












Sign in page

my own first page

The Last (?) of the 4 x 4's

Here are the last (I think!) of thepieces that have come to my home.

Lisa Gallup
Jackie Smith









Karleen Page