What do you want to be when you grow up?

Sometimes, just sometimes, I feel the need to do a project that has no real purpose. That's where art journaling comes in. In this case I wanted to use/remember this quote by Former First Lady Michelle Obama from her book Becoming:

Now I think it’s one of the most useless questions an adult can ask a child—What do you want to be when you grow up? As if growing up is finite. As if at some point you become something and that’s the end.

I think it is probably a good thing art journaling doesn't have to have a purpose, because this looks nothing like what I was hoping for. But it did let me just experiment, which can be helpful when suffering from a mental road block. Basically, I was going for something shinier and dreamier, but I'm okay with the end result.

My only inspiration, besides the quote, came from this months Creative Embellishments Color Challenge. It helps that my favorite color is blue! I even managed to get the twist in (clouds or waves) when I stenciled on some clouds!

I can't guarantee a video. I recorded as I went, but my computer was acting up. In the end it actually decided it wanted to restart while in the process of recording. The last step is actually not recorded because it involved texture paste & paint and I couldn't wait for my computer to stop being temperamental.

I, more or less, know what is recorded, the problem is my computer cooperating during editing.

While I see how the video is willing to come along, here are some photos!

Products:

• Silhouette
• Silhouette Curio
• Silhouette Design Store
• All three fonts & the flowers are from the Silhouette Store, but I can only say with certainty that one of the fonts is "CG Free Font," the other two I can't remember (and I broke them apart for editing, so they are no longer "type" in the file).
• Creative Embellishments
• Heart Flourish
• Flourish 24 (Maybe...I didn't buy it myself, it came in a 3rd party kit so I am not sure. It might have been Curly Flourish. I forgot to compare to the CE website before cutting it apart & gluing it in!)
• ReneaBouquets
• Chunky Glitter Glass
• Diamond
• Butterfly Kisses
• Delicate Beauty (The two largest I received in a swap from Jenn D!)
• Shimmerz
• Vibez
• Snow Way Man
• Paste-eez
• Puttin' On The Glizt
• 13@rts
• Acrylic Modeling Paste
• Hip Kit Club
• Star Stencil (Sept. 2017 Kit)
• Cloud Stencil (May 2016 Color Kit)
• Tonic
• Tim Holtz
• Paper Distresser
• TCW
• Light & Fluffy Modeling Paste
• AC
• Vicki Boutin
• CreativeFX
• Iridescent Glaze
• Prima
• Finnabair
• 3D Gloss Gel
• Color Bloom
• Summer Sky
• Stampers Anonymous
• Tim Holtz
• Mixed Media CMS125
• Wendy Vecchi
• Rectangle Collage WVBG035
• Ranger
• Dina Wakley
• Large Art Journal
• Scribble Sticks (Set #1)
• Night
• Sky
• Acrylic Paint
• Marine
• Archival Ink
• Jet Black
• Perfect Pearls
• Perfect Pearl
• Blue Patina
• Tim Holtz
• Distress Oxide
• Weathered Wood
• Stormy Sky
• Dylusions
• Ink Spry
• London Blue
• Liquitex
• Clear Gesso
• Daler Rowney
• White Gesso
• Unknown/Unbranded
• White Cardstock
• Watercolor paper

Adventure

For the More Than Words July (Main) Challenge: Discover & Stash

Discover made me think of maps, right away. Maybe my subconscious is trying to tell me something. After that I didn't really have a plan, I just went where my stash led me.

Stash:
Clipboard - I don't know how old it is, but I've owned it for almost two years now.

I think Tea Dye was one of my first Tim Holtz ink pads I bought! Way back when I wasn't sure what "distress" really meant, but hey, "this Tim Holtz fella has stuff to make new stuff look like old stuff!" My husband could actually make a pretty good case claiming Tim was an original "supplier" that got me hooked leading to an entire spare bedroom being filled with paper craft related items! I love Tim Holtz so much I have hoarded his papers waiting for just the right time. I have been working on accepting the fact that it's a lot more productive to make the right time myself rather than expect a sudden epiphany. Plus, I'm having a much harder time remembering EVERYTHING I own...so if I can't even remember everything, how will I ever use everything?

Anyhow, all but 11 of the items on the product list are at least a year old (and that includes adhesives, the 3D Gel, the wax & such), of those 11 items, I think 5 have "appeared" within the last 6 months.

I used as much from my stash as I could, and I can't tell. You'd never know anything was "missing." I tell myself I should stop buying until I get my stash knocked down, but every time I think that something new is released & I realize I need to just stop thinking nonsense and do more projects!

Process Video:

Close-ups:

**Postcard Image from: Public Domain Pictures


Products:

• ReneaBouquets
• Glass Microbeads
• Rose Gold
• Creative Embellishments
• Moroccan Lattice Panel
• 13 arts
• Ayeeda Mist
• Patina Bronze
• Lindy's
• Magical Shakers
• Grab A Guy Gold
• Bratwurst Brown
• 7 Gypsies
• Architextures
• Ornate Garden Stakes
• Silhouette
• Cameo 3
• Design Store
• Design ID #34811
• Ranger
• Perfect Pearls
• Blue Patina
• Archival Ink
• Jet Black
• Tim Holtz
• Distress Ink
• Tea Dye
• Distress Spray Stain
• Rusty Hinge
• Mini Blending Tool
• idea-ology
• Tim Holtz
• Paper Stash
• Memoranda
• Lost & Found
• Ephemera Pack
• Expedition
• Sanding Block
• Tiny Attacher
• Small Talk
• Tonic
• Tim Holtz
• Paper Distresser
• 5" Scissors
• Stampers Anonymous
• Tim Holtz
• Harlequin Stencil
• Prima
• Finnabair
• Metallique Wax
• Bronze Age
• 3D Gloss Gel
• Julie Nutting
• Tag Pad
• Hancock
• Fancy Pants Designs
• Me-ology
• Button Set
• Dear Lizzy Date Stamp
• Mod Podge
• Antique Matte
• JudiKins
• Diamond Glaze
• Art Glitter Adhesive
• Krylon
• Workable Fixatif
• Liquitex
• Clear Gesso
• Unknown/Unbranded
• Twine
• Metal Stars
• "BINGO" Card
• The "other," non-Tim Holtz, ephemera
• I got the roll of map paper at Hobby Lobby, so it's likely by The Paper Studio.

Lets Go To The Drive-In

A set of ATCs that were relatively quick and easy thanks to my Silhouette Cameo 3!

Yes, the pen I used did leave some extra lines. I've decided to call them power lines...

This project was just one of those projects that fought me every step of the way! I couldn't get my idea to come together. I had to redo a few things, some more than once. The pen I used can get build up on it (apparently...maybe I knew that but forgot *shrug*) and I think that is was gave me my "power lines." But I had had it with this particular project! I almost didn't do this topic for the swap (there are four categories, I've done the other three already: Flag A.T.Coin, World Tiger Day, & Forest Key.)

I did finally finish, and my package is ready to get sent to the hostess, Marci (who you can find here and here) ASAP!

I even managed a quick process video!

I turned the cityscape into a sketch, the sign into a Print & Cut, and added an outline (Offset) to the car, then put it together and hoped for the best!

I thought the sign needed a little something more, so I used Crushed Pineapple Stickles for some "lights." And since the sky seemed a little to gloomy, I added some "stars" with Shimmerz "Buttercream" Paint.

Products:

• Showmore (Etsy)
• Vintage Car SVG
• Silhouette
• Cameo 3
• Pen Holder
• Silhouette Store
• Cityscape (Design ID #2346)
• Retro Sign (Design ID #10011)
• The letter panels came from Retro Christmas Labels (Design ID #35461)
• Curving Road (Design ID #297750)
• CG Retro Font (Design ID #292616)
• Shimmerz
• Buttercream Paint
• Ranger
• Stickles
• Crushed Pineapple
• Tim Holtz
• Distress Spray Stain
• Blueprint Sketch
• JudiKins
• MicroGlaze
• UniBall
• Signo (UM-153) - white pen
• Unknown
• Cardstocks (they were in my scrap stash)
• Glossy photo paper

"Flag" Artist Trading Coins

Artist Trading Coins - "Flag" Theme - scrapbook.com June-July ATC Swap, hosted by Marci (you can find her here: Blog: A Scrap from Marci and here: scrapbook.com Gallery)!

My quick process video:

Products:

• Silhouette
• Cameo 3
• Pen Holder (Original)
• Store Design ID: 11034
• Creative Embellishments
• Artist Trading Coins
• ReneaBouquets
• Shard Glitter Glass
• Silver
• idea-ology
• Tim Holtz
• Adornments, Stars
• Stampers Anonymous
• Tim Holtz
• Splash Mini Stencil (THMS080)
• Tonic
• Tim Holtz
• 5" Scissors
• Prima
• Finnabair
• Metallique Wax
• Old Silver
• Waterbrush
• Ranger
• Dina Wakley Media
• Scribble Sticks
• Set 1 - Ruby
• Set 2 - Lapis
• Tim Holtz
• Detailer Tip Waterbrush
• Transparent Gloss Texture Paste
• We R Memory Keepers
• Crop A Dile II
• UniBall
• Signo
• Micro 207 - Black
• Scotch
• ATG
• Tacky Glue
• Canson
• Watercolor Paper
• JudiKins
• Diamond Glaze
• Unknown/Unbranded
• Red & White Beads (they are the kind used for fingernail art, so they are really micro!)

Dragonfly Express

The Dragonfly Express! (This photo was taken in full sunlight.)

This project actually had two sources of inspiration. The first was the ReneaBouquets June 2019 Mood Board Challenge, the second inspiration was the Creative Embellishments June 2019 Challenge. (Both sources of inspiration are below) I actually saw the Creative Embellishment challenge first, and I have a thing for hot air balloons. A looking at them from the ground thing, not an actually getting into one thing.

Anyhow, I also really wanted to use this dragonfly I had been working on, and a hot air balloon doesn't need any help flying, so it (slowly) transformed into a flying ship! Besides the flying in the Creative Embellishment inspiration, I also love the whimsy of the image, and the Ferris wheels made me think of actual wheels!

Creative Embellishments Inspiration

ReneaBouquets Mood Board

Process Video:

The following photos were taken in a more shaded area, because my front porch had a convenient hook I could use to get some greenery in the background and not have to hold the project in one hand while shooting with the other! LOL!!

ReneaBouquets Glass Microbeads for the dragonfly's eyes and ReneaBouquets Beautiful Beads on top of the masts.

ReneaBouquets Tiny Anchor and Creative Embellishments Pipes and Gears pieces.

And here are some photo of the dragonfly while it was still grounded! [Note: I found the dragonfly in my yard, buried in the dirt by a tree, apparently left by the previous owners. It was shortly after finding it that I came across a Finnabair DT members (I think) post in Instagram who used Finnabair's Leaves to build butterfly wings (I think it was a butterfly) and a solution to my broken wing dragonfly was born!]

Products:

• Ship
• My SVG Hut (Etsy) - 3D SVG Pirate Ship Galleon DIGITAL download
• (My SVG Hut Blog - Assembly Instructions) (Mine is smaller than the original, "intended" size)
• ReneaBouquets
• Beautiful Board 
• Tiny Nautical Anchor Laser Cut Chipboard
• Beautiful Beads
• Magic Stones
• Creative Embellishments
• Steampunk Pipe Corner
• Gear Cluster Set
• Gear Cluster Set 2
• Ranger
• Tim Holtz
• Distress Oxide
• Hickory Smoke
• Distress Spray Stain
• Rusty Hinge
• Dylusions
• Ink Spray
• Melted Chocolate
• Heidi Swapp
• Color Shine
• Tinsel
• idea-ology
• Tim Holtz
• Metallic Kraft - Stock
• Hitch Fastners
• Prima
• Finnabair
• Rust Effect Paste
• Brown Rust
• Red Rust
• Gold Rust
• Metallique Paint
• Rustic Brown
• Metallique Wax
• Brushed Iron
• Bronze Age
• Vintage Gold
• Opal Magic Wax
• Turquoise Satin
• Sizzix
• Big Shot Pro
• Tim Holtz
• Embossing Folders
• Waves
• 3D Foundry Metal
• Riveted Metal
• Diamond Plate
• Silhouette 
• Cameo 3
• Premium Blade
• Nicapa Cutting Mat
• Best
• Double Sided Tape
• Spellbinders
• Tool 'n One
• We R Memory Keepers
• Crop A Dile
• JudiKins
• Diamond Glaze
• Art Glitter Glue
• Liquitex
• Clear Gesso
• Black Gesso
• Matte Super Heavy Gel
• Apple Barrel
• Black Matte Paint
• Unknown/Unbranded
• Fishing line (used for hanging)
• Kraft Cardstock
• Chain
• Eyelets

• Dragonfly
• ReneaBouquets
• Glass Microbeads
• Black
• Prima
• Finnabair
• Mechanicals
• Woodland Leaves
• Mould
• Mechanica
• Opal Magic Paint
• Rose-Gold
• Metallique Paint
• Royal Blue
• Romance Pink
• Opal Magic Wax
• Vintage Silk
• Metallique Wax
• Bronze Age
• Wax Cire Cera
• Indian Pink
• Blue Lagoon
• Rust Effect Paste
• Brown Rust
• Red Rust
• Gold Rust
• idea-ology
• Tim Holtz
• Swivel Clasp
• Ranger
• Glossy Accents
• JudiKins
• Diamond Glaze
• Creative Paperclay
• Amazing Cast Resin
• Liquitex
• Black Gesso
• Unknown/Unbranded
• Gears

Altered Notebook - June ReneaBouquet Swap

Altered Notebook - June ReneaBouquets Facebook Swap

The notebook is a 9"x6" notebook I found at Wal-Mart.

I've owned the Prima Wildflowers Pillar for a few years now, and have been waiting to use that big, orange hibiscus on just the right project! Apparently the "right project" does eventually come along! LOL

ReneaBouquets always seems to have just the right pieces for so many of my projects.

This flamingo is made with Amazing Cast Resin & a Wilton, silicon, candy mold!

Some more "waiting for the perfect project" items I had been hoarding. Studio Calico was the first crafting supply subscription I used! I love them, and in a perfect world I'd be a subscriber to ALL clubs I could find, but since I don't have Jeff Bezos' money, I try different clubs, one at a time!

And here is a process video if you'd like to see the high speed version of assembly!

**I made the cut file for the "replacement" cover using Silhouette Studio.

Products

• Notebook Cover
• ReneaBouquets
• Purple Spring Mix Mulberry Paper Flower Set
• Beautiful Board Small Twisted Chain Frame Set Laser Cut Chipboard Frames
• Webster's Pages
• Dream In Color
• Drifting
• Studio Calico
• {Yello!}
• the floral print transparancy
• Shimmerz
• AcriTonez
• Blue My Top
• Pinkadelic
• Ranger
• Tim Holtz
• Mini Blending Tool
• Distress Oxide
• Salty Ocean
• Picked Raspberry
• Dylusions
• Stamp & Stencil
• Quote Medley
• Stampers Anonymous
• Tim Holtz
• Bubble Stencil
• Prima
• 2" Silicone Brush
• Wildflowers Pillar Pack
• Mixed
• Finnabair
• 3D Gloss Gel
• American Crafts
• Thickers
• Pick-Me-Up
• Crate Paper
• Oasis Ephemera
• TCW
• Light & Fluffy Modeling Paste
• The Paper Studio
• Bright Lace Ribbon Scrap Pack
• Chickaniddy
• Mini Brads
• Spellbinders
• Tool 'n One
• Liquitex
• Matte Super Heavy Gel
• Daler Rowney
• White Gesso
• Krylon
• Workable Fixative
• Brea Reese
• Texture Pebbles
• Art Glitter Adhesive
• Best 
• 1" and 1/4" Ultra-Thin Permanent Double-Sided Tapes
• Sorrento Crafts
• 13 color stamen set
• Silhouette
• Cameo 3
• Unknown/Unbranded
• Stamen in largest Hibiscus
• Lace on inside of cover
• Chipboard

• Flamingo
• Wilton Candy/Fondant Mold
• Flamingo
• Prima
• Finnabair
• Metallique Paint
• White Pearl
• Wax Cire Cera
• Indian Pink
• Sweet Rose
• Americana
• Gloss Enamels
• Black
• Amazing Cast Resin
• Daler Rowney
• White Gesso

• Tags
• American Crafts
• Amy Tangerine
• On A Whim Collection Foil & Resist Tags
• Shimmerz
• Coloringz
• No Yolking
• Vibez
• Jeni B Bleu
• Ranger
• Dylusions
• Ink Spray
• Funky Fuchsia
• Squeezed Orange
• Tim Holtz
• Distress Ink
• Twisted Citron
• Picked Raspberry
• Dina Wakley Media
• Scribble Sticks
• Sets 1 (Magenta) & 2 (Fuchsia)