Art Wall

First of all...I apologize for the stop in blogging!  Blogger has had some glitches with the browse button for posting photos. I have been so frustrated...that I actually switched to Typepad for a trial period!  Today, I was giving Blogger ONE MORE chance...and what do you know?  It seems to be fixed!  I hope so.  I have been missing my blog!

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Over the holiday break, my daughter decided to display her art.

 

I absolutely LOVE her confidence and her free spirit.  I'm not sure when girls lose that...but I'm praying that hers will stay for a very long time!

 

 

This is the wall of her bedroom...the edited view without the floor!

 

I absolutely LOVE it!  She did a wonderful job!

 

Thanks for letting me share!

xo-

Lara

 

 



Brave Girl Art School

Today is an awesome day! 

 

 I attended Brave Girl Camp in October 2012!  It was wonderful in so many ways!

 

The ART barn

The food

Melody and Cathy

Melody's home with all of its creativity

All of the amazing women that attended camp that weekend

ETC...ETC...ETC

 

You can read all about it here:  Brave Girls Club

 

But...the reason today is so AWESOME is because:

 

 

The Wings session started today!  Ohhhh! It's going to be so much fun!  The entire session is going to be about wings...freedom...birds...butterflies...and pursuing what makes you feel like you are flying! 

 

Come join me on this amazing journey! 

 

I can't wait to share the art I create from this course!

 

Thanks for stopping by!

 

xo-

Lara



DIY - Making stamps

Carve Your Own Stamps

 

I was making some paper for a Valentine project, and I needed a heart stamp...or two...or three! ;-)

 

So, I decided to carve my own stamps!

 

 

 

These are my favorite tools!

 

This is a little glimpse of me at work.  My daughter took these pictures.  She had so much fun being my assistant! I really didn't even have to crop the pictures much.  She did a great job!

 

 

 

And...the final stamps! 

 

 

It is so much fun to carve your own stamps.  Stamps add character, dimension, and a personal touch to your art projects. When you make your own stamps, all of your art has a unique and original design.  I LOVE that! 

 

Thanks for stopping by.

 

xo-

Lara

 

 

 

 





At the Cross

Sunday - At the Cross

 

This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

                                                      Psalm 118:24

 

"A life lived close to Me will never be dull or predictable.  Expect each day to contain surprises! Resist your tendency to search for the easiest route through the day.  Be willing to follow wherever I lead.  No matter how steep or treacherous the path before you, the safest place to be is by My side."

                                                                             Jesus Calling - Sarah Young

 

Thanks for stopping by.

 

xo-

Lara



Art Girl #2

Dreaming is a wonderful gift

 

I finished Art Girl # 2.

 

 

Thanks for stopping by.

 



xo-

Lara

Polymer Clay Pendant

I made a new pendant for the first day back to school.  A reminder...to LIVE life to the fullest everyday, to LOVE deeply especially on the hardest days, and to PAINT...even when you don't think you have time!

 

My daughter's all time favorite saying is "live, love, laugh".  So, I did a little spin on it...and made it mine!

 

Here are a few other pendants that I made this weekend. 



 

Thanks for stopping by!

 

xo-

Lara



At the Cross

Sunday - At the Cross

 

 

Ephesians 3:20-21

 

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen

 

Today is one of my dear friends birthday...so to her I say, "Play ball!"  May 2013 be a wonderful year full of more grace, love, and peace than you could ever imagine!

 

Have blessed day!

 



xo-

Lara

Mixed-media Little Houses

The Finished Houses

 

Remember these found boards in my scrap bin?

 

 

After a little paint and some extra love...

 



 

Well...here they are all finished!

 

 They will be available in my Etsy shop on Sunday.

 

Thanks for stopping by.

 

xo-

Lara



DIY - Making Tags from Painter's Paper

Remember my stamp!  Well, I finished mounting it on the little piece of wood yesterday.

 

I needed to make some new tags to put on packages when someone places an order.

 

I started with brown painter's paper.  It is cheap, durable, and easy to find at your local hardware store.  I absolutely love this stuff.  First, I painted it with four different shades of turquoise!

  

 

You could do this with any colors.  I made all of my Christmas tags this year.  I started with this same process.  I painted those red, lime green, pink, and yellow. 

Next I cut the paper with a 2-inch punch.

 

I was able to get 30 tags to stamp with my new Business stamp.

 

 

I LOVE how they turned out!

 

 

On the backs I added my other personal stamp.  I had it made for me...isn't it cute!  An artsy girl with a crown and heart!  It also has my initials "lej".  This is how I sign all of my pieces.

 

 

I hope you are inspired to make a few tags of our own! 

Thanks for stopping by!

xo-

Lara

 

 

Making Something from Scraps

Yesterday I was rummaging through my wood scraps, looking for a small piece of wood to mount my new business stamp on...when I found this:

So...I got side-tracked from mounting my stamp...and started painting these beauties.

 

 

Look what a fresh coat of paint and a little love can do for an old, thrown out piece of wood.

I've felt this way.  Old, thrown out, and not worth much.  We all have times like this.  BUT...this is a New Year.  There are 363 days left in 2013, to LIVE, PLAY, RENEW, and find beauty in your ashes.  So...if you are feeling like this old piece of wood...there is hope!

 

I was just reading today in John 16, Jesus said, "in this world you will have trouble.  But, take heart, I have over come the world!"

 

This is amazing news!  I love that I don't have to stay stuck.  I can be repainted, refreshed and re-purposed each day into something beautiful.  So...what else did I do to these pieces?  Take a look:

 

 

I added a new set of clothes...ok beautiful paper! This is where my daughter wanted them to stay.  She is a very good artist...but she always likes to paint inside the lines...her mother does NOT!  Remember...the messier...the better!  So...I painted them a little more:

 

 

Yep!  That's more like it!  My daughter was appalled.  I told her to just look at them for awhile...they would grow on her.  She said, "Mom, everyone has there own style.  You should probably make several kinds...not everyone will like them all messed up!" 

Ohhhh!  The beauty of an honest child!

 

So...I took a break from painting...and created a few embellishments:

 

 

And...that's it for today!  Check back later this weekend...to see how these old, thrown out pieces of wood look when they are rescued, reused, and re-purposed with love!

Ohhhh! The suspense of a finished project!

 

 

xo-

Lara

 

 

 

My First Art Girl

I have been looking at art and falling in love for the past 3-4 years.  I admire and love the work of many artists...Julie Fei-Fan Balzer, Alisa Burke, Kelly Rae Roberts, Melody Ross, and Christy Tomilnson...just to name a few! However, I've never been brave enough to make my own.  This is why one of my goals is to have "No Fear" in 2013 when working in my art studio.  When I just let go and start...beautiful things happen!  I love the process...the messier the better...maybe after a year or so...I will share the process...but for know...showing my finished pieces is quite a step!  So...without further ado...My First Art Girl...

Love the Art that's Inside You

 

 

 

 

Have a beautiful day!

 

xo-

Lara

 

 

A Glimpse into my Journal

 

The white pages finally have some color!  I am so excited!  Take a look at the first pages! 

 

 

 

 

I hope you are already coloring your world in 2012!

 

 

xo-

Lara