Magnolia Monday - The Card Maker Recycle

There are a number of crafts that I love to indulge in. Card making is one of them. I think I attended my first Stampin' Up! show more than 5 years ago.  I was hooked and started attending workshops every weekend. Occasionally, I would make a batch to send out for Christmas or as thank you cards. My problem with card making, like with so many of my crafts, is that I tend to make more than I send. I have also been given many, many cards from friends. Because I don't believe in wasting, all of those gems have gone into the basket of "do something with me one day" items. 

As much as I would like to be that person who remembers every birthday and holiday with a card, I am just not that woman. These cards, from people who do remember, are just too beautiful to get rid of so I need to find a way to use them. Recycle, April?

I don't send cards every day, but I do use my planner every day and it's always in need of a bit of decorating. I chose this card with a fall theme to insert for the first day of fall, which also happens to be my birthday. 

Rather than run the card through the printer, I glued a planner page to the back. I hope to do as little regular work as possible on my birthday. My plan is to use my special day as art journaling time. Maybe, I will record my goals for this new year of life. Now, that sounds like a plan for a Sunnyside Sunday workshop.

Workshop Sunnyside-Putting Ink to the Page

About  a month or so ago, I purchased a bible journaling kit from Jacqueline Reape who I follow on Instagram. One of my goals this year has been to increase my time studying the Bible. After seeing art Bible photos online, I knew this would be a good creative and educational outlet for me. 

But, here is my problem. While I am quite used to taking notes in my Bible and even adding a few doodles here and there, the thought of putting inks and paints down is a bit intimidating. After all, I am not an artist ... at least not in the classical sense. 

However, I'm determined to become more consistent with my Bible study. Putting color to the page will encourage me to reflect a bit more, not close the book after reading a passage quickly. My focus, now, is prayer and fasting as my local church and ministry groups are leading the charge in these areas. 

I used stamps, pens and stamp pad ink applied directly to the page. I will be experimenting with layering as I get more comfortable, knowledgeable and creative. 

The biggest lesson I learned this first time out was DON'T USE WATER.  The Tim Holtz inks are actually water reactive, so I wet the ink a bit before applying it to the page. Unfortunately, the ink pen I had used to takes notes is also water reactive. 

I'm lucky the ink didn't bleed much and that my notes are still legible. We'll consider that lesson learned. 

If the idea of Bible journaling sparks your interest, follow me here on the blog and check out the #biblejournaling and #illustratedfaith tags on Instagram. 

Wednesday Wrap-up - Summer Reading

This summer reading season provided me an interesting crop of books. As of the writing of this post, I have read 38 books of my 50 book goal for the year. Among this group are some of my favorites.

Because I was trying to get bingo in the Books on the Nightstand summer bingo card, I have a little of everything on the list. 

I read a total of 20 books between Memorial Day and Labor Day. While I can't quite choose a favorite, there are some that will stick with me.

Forty Acres by Dewayne Alexander Smith because it is speculative fiction about black people controlling slavery. Having supreme control of things turns even the most well meaning person into something vile, but I appreciate the author's ability to think the madness through. The publisher calls this a thriller, but I think it is great speculative fiction.

Autopsy of a Deceased Church by Thom S. Rainer because I'm Christian and I believe in growing in a church and growing as a church, just as Christ commanded. Too many churches are dying and we must alter that.

The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty only because the ending drives me crazy. It's one of those resolved without a resolution things.

So, how did I do at Bingo? I failed.

Oh well, until next year!