New Painting Inspired by Donna Downey - Canvas Create series

Do you love to scrapbook, papercraft, sketch, paint, create stuff (of any kind) with your hands?  Well that's me in a nutshell.  I am happiest when I can create something. 

So, for anyone that is involved in the scrapbooking or paper crafting world, you probably know the name Donna Downey (she's very talented in everything she creates!!).  She has been an inspiration for my scrapbook/paper crafting, for a few years now. Last month I happened to wonder across her blog Simply Me and she is offering online classes (how did I miss out on her online classes?!).  One of her new ventures is the 2012 Canvas Create series.   Video instructions with Donna creating a new Canvas each month with her awesome advice and inspiration. 


Image taken from Donna Downey site (link provided above)

 Seriously people, I was so excited to have an opportunity to learn from this talented crafter/artist.  And for only $20/month...Count me in!  Woot, Woot!! 

I signed up for a full year of canvas painting classes at 2012 Canvas Create Series.  You can find tons of inspiration on her blog as she regularly posts videos of her Art Journal creations.  So now I also have a keen interest in Art Journals so I will be sharing my creations with you soon.

Below is my version of the January canvas, inspired by Donna Downey's class.  The flower didn't turn out quite the way I wanted but you live and learn.  I was pretty pleased with how the background looks and my ability to freehand the word "inspire". I learned a lot about gesso (my new favorite product for painting), in addition to mixing paint colors so they don't end up muddy (really ugly) colored.  Her video instruction was truly awesome.  Being a tad OCD and perfectionistic, I reckon I will re-paint the flower this weekend and post the update. Why you ask?  Well because I learned that you can put gesso over what you painted, let it dry and start over.  Holy cow....how cool it that!!  See me....I'm doing my happy, happy dance!! (which my two teenage boys think is completely uncool! --- Ha, what do they know!?)



New painting on a 14x16 gallery wrapped canvas

Hugs and a happy dance, 
Erin

Homemade Cleaning Products - Fabric Softner

Happy Tuesday Blogger Friends - Being a tad bit OCD I tend to cycle through different interests very quickly, some interests stick and some come/go quickly.  Over the last 2 months I have been on a sewing frenzy for small and easy projects, due entirely to my Pinterest obsession.  In my opinion, Pinterest this is the best thing since indoor plumbing and central air conditioning (I like my modern stuff...haha).  To me, Pinterest is photos, links and lots of great information that I can keep organized on-line however it works for me.  Here the link to the Pinterest main page so you can read about it, if you are so inclined. http://pinterest.com/about/

My latest frenzy has been on the Pinterest postings for homemade cleaning products.  I found this via The Frugal Girls blog. They have an excellent blog with lots of homemade cleaning recipes. Check them out: http://thefrugalgirls.com/homemade-cleaners

What You’ll Need: 

• 6 cups HOT water 
• 3 cups white vinegar
• 2 cups Suave Refreshing Waterfall Conditioner (I used "Ocean Breeze" but chose your favorite)

What You’ll Do:

• Mix conditioner & hot water well, until conditioner is dissolved completely.
• Add the vinegar, and mix well.
• Store in a large container (empty fabric softener container, empty large vinegar bottle, etc.; I used a large plastic cereal type container with a pourable lid)
• Pour into a downy ball (I don't have one of these cool things)… or use approx. 2 tbsp. in the fabric softener spot in your laundry machine… then wash!



Items you need:  hot water, conditioner, vinegar, pourable container, measuring cup



Hot water with conditioner added, stir until dissolved

Finished product with my ugly handmade sign (I'll type up a  pretty recipe for my next post)

Enjoy the blessing of this Tuesday!
Hugs, Erin

OCD List Maker

I played Domestic Goddess/Nanny yesterday, as the boys didn't have school due to the holiday (President's Day). The best thing about NOT WORKING at my full-time paying job.....sleeping in. Unfortunately sleeping in was only until 7:30 am as my bladder no longer tolerates inactivity over 8 hours (yeah, yeah I know, TMI!!). So, after I quick trip to make the bladder happy I promptly returned to my warm bed for another 2 hours of blissful sleep.  It was around 9:31 am when the sound of Lego's rattling in a hard plastic container drifted to my ears. My youngest child was building, using his imagination and completely engrossed in his Lego project. One might ask "Why would a 12 yr old boy play with Lego’s?" Well, everyone loves to build with Lego’s and he has no technology privilege’s right now. Amazing what one can find to do when computer, cell phone, friend visits and video games are absent from the entertainment picture (that's another story which I may or may not post).


Another thing I love about being home on a non-weekend day (besides hanging with my kids) is the ability to mark things off my TO DO list. It is a great day in the life of an "OCD List Maker" when she can cross things off a list.


TO DO list for 2/15/2010 was as follows:


1) create a grocery list, inventory fridge, freezer and pantry
2) take trash to the dumpster (I loathe this task, don't ask why, I just do)
3) organize recycling bins
4) donate 30 gal trash bag of clothes to Goodwill
5) obtain food/meal requests from children (because I really dislike the words "Mom!!! There is nothing to eat!! or Mom!! What can you make me?!!")
6) update address at library, check out books on: blogging, 365 slow cooker recipes, house organization in one week, acrylic painting or drawing
7) return movie rentals before 6 pm
8) cancel Netflix subscription
9) shop for groceries/cleaning supplies (Aldi's, Dollar Store and HyVee)
10) put something in crock-pot so dinner is done for Tuesday night
11) start on-line tax preparation (yes I do myself)
12) catch up on laundry
13) return jeans to JcPenney and Target


This was a glorious day for me.  I was able to cross off every item except #11-start tax preparation, that has now moved to the weekend list.  The ability to complete so much in one day actually gave me time to start another list of things that never made it to the above list. At this point you might be wondering why more than one list?  How does she keep track of them?  If you really don't care, feel free to stop reading here and I'll see you at the next posting about another topic.  :-)

Why more than one list?  Because one can not combine lists such as grocery list, to do list, to buy, errands, etc.  So I have a grocery list on the fridge with the goal that when something runs low or is gone, it is added by anyone in the household.  Unfortunately I seem to be the only one using this list.  I have a daily chore list that hangs on the fridge.  Each morning I write what the kids need complete when they get home from school and it is placed on the kitchen counter for their review.  This chore list was added this Fall when I realized a 12 and 15 yr old are able to complete many things that I no longer need to do myself, i.e. folding and putting away their laundry (just one of many).  I have another Task list that is electronic and with me at all times (kept on my phone).  This has been a great addition to my life as it has eliminated my previous multitude of lists that were misplaced. I have a pen/notepad on my bedside table to write down things I think of at bedtime or upon rising. These items are transferred to my electronic list or the fridge lists. This probably seems like too much for most people but it works for me.  It is the way I manage my need for structure and control my OCD tendancies.  The list by my bedside is probably the most beneficial as I put all the thoughts swirling in my mind at bedtime onto paper.  This allows me to sleep and reference my thoughts the next day without worrying that something important will be forgotten.

So have I been diagnosed with OCD? No, I just know that I obsess over remembering things and lists seem to work for my chaotic world.

Hugs,  Erin