Project Life: Week 2 and resizing photos to print!

Hey friends, near and far! How (truly) are you today?  I'm excited to share my second week of Project Life with you!  If you're thinking "didn't she JUST share week one?!" the answer is yes!  

The end of another week snuck up on me and before you knew it Sunday night had rolled around and I had this huge urge to design another page before Monday came knocking.  Once again, I'm so glad I did!  I truly am loving Project Life so very much, like wondering why I haven't done it sooner. 

For me personally, being able to slip some cute journaling cards in with my photos is very appealing visually, plus I'm getting my story down a bit on paper, instead of just being lost on the "inter-webs", as Chewbacca mom calls it.  

For right now I'm keeping this super simple and easy.  I have a million ideas on how to include painting, more creative layouts, etc. but I think the point is to make it fit your life.  Right now "simple" fits my life! I really enjoy recording a bit of one week, before another begins.  

I had a good question last week about how I resize my photos and print them myself.  I made a video to show how I do that in Lightroom.  I have a whole list of disclaimers about the video-like the shifting light, the weird wind sounds in the background, etc. but this is real-life!  I'd rather post it and help someone than hide it due to perfectionism. 

You can view the video here: Project Life photo resizing

 I hope this encourages you to give Project Life a try! 

Paper bird's nest and feathers (a VIDEO how-to!)

Good morning everyone! How are you on this Tuesday? I want to thank each of you who watched my last photography video. I'm warning you though, I only want to make more videos now! It is the teacher in me, I suppose. I truly love creating and explaining and teaching.  I miss that about being a classroom teacher.  I certainly do plenty of that with my own children (like all day!) but there's something really nice about connecting with you all through video.  It feels more like we're hanging out, instead of me just blasting a blog post.  So, I've got some fun video ideas planned for the blog and I hope you'll carve out some time to watch! I am long-winded even when I try not to be and talk with my hands at an almost humorous level.  I'll go ahead and give you that disclaimer for all videos here on out. 

Today we're making paper bird's nests and painted feathers! Watch, learn, and enjoy!  The photos below are a few ways you can put your creative nest to use.  

Thank-you for being a safe, kind space for me to be brave. 

I wish I could give you each a hug and a cup of tea! 

(see ya tomorrow!)

pretty packaging (and happy birthday to me)

No, no, no, I didn't wrap myself a present.  Although as soon as I typed those words I immediately thought "Wouldn't that be a fabulous idea?!"  Lol, only me would think that.  But it actually IS my birthday today so yippee!!! We are celebrating with a date night, some camping, and as much silliness as I can cram into three days.  Something about these birthdays…gets me silly and wanting to throw caution to the wind.  And you know the best part? I'm a twin! So I get to celebrate double. 

I actually wanted to pop in today and share this packaging I did on a present for a best neighbor friend of mine.  I used vintage sewing patterns for the wrapping paper, a handmade paper flower, and a happy message on a scrapbook card.  This was quick and easy to wrap and so fun to secretly deliver on my friend's porch! :) 

Well, I'm off to boot, scoot, and boogie my way into year 32. 

A scrapbook of time (DIY)

Yesterday we dove straight down into our hearts, to the truest stuff of life.  We reflected on the middle moments that are really the bulk of our breathing here on Earth. It's lovely to sit and reflect on the rosy, merry, and treasured times we know we each have.  But what happens when real life comes rolling along, or the dishes come calling, or the laundry knocking?  Where are the treasured thoughts then?  

I found myself missing a practice I used to do regularly and decided to dust the 'ol idea off again. 

Scrapbooking, in a modern way.

For some reason I've never been one to delve into my deepest thoughts and desires into a journal that just anyone might happen upon.  And by just anyone I mean my toddlers or the other moms I have over for playdates.  But still, these thoughts are usually tucked away where even I can't find the journal half the time.  So this particular scrapbook I wanted to be kept light and loose, a little mini vacation of sorts when I flipped through it.  

I filled the rusty, chippy tin full of scrapbook cards and embellishments I had laying around but was meaning to get to "someday", added a blank journal found for 40% off at Hobby Lobby, some Instax photos (I'm still mad at this camera, but these were from my one and only roll of film), and some watercolors. 

Each day I reach down into my bucket of happy thoughts tucked away and spill them over onto the page.  Little blessings or laughs here and there, moments of kindness between the girls, a slight breeze that interrupted a hot day, this is the stuff my worship is made of.

What's a do-able way you can start writing your story today? 

(Don't forget, sign-ups are ending soon for the Photography Rosy Retreat, coming September 19th!  Photos are an excellent, visual way to capture your unique story! Read more here or email me at sunshinebysara@hotmail.com)

Art Journal #3

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, I'm back to art journaling! 

I love art journaling.  I'm on journal #3 since I first decided to dive into this art form.  

One of my favorite places to find journal inspiration is Pinterest! You can find my "journal" board here.  As far as materials I use, I tend to go for saved scraps from the mail or magazines, cute tape, photographs, paint, and a few store-bought papers and embellishments.  

My journals previously have been a Smash journal, and a homemade one from cardboard pieces.  The design of the pages were mainly collaged elements.  For this new journal I've been enjoying using collage, photographs, and watercolors/acrylic paints on the pages.  Adding in the paint element has been super fun for me.  From what I can tell, it seems like most people use mainly just paper elements and photographs or paint. Not necessarily both.  But I like both, so here it goes! 

This is a little work in progress view of a page I'm in love with and don't want to ruin by working too quickly.  My craft room/studio stays very messy while I work on my journal and I like that!  It's easy to pick right back up where I left off.  

So how about you? Do you art journal?  Why or why not? 

Inch by Inch: my art, garden, and girls

 "Inch by inch, life's a cinch.

Yard by yard, life is hard."

Amen and amen.  

I always feel like I have too many ideas and too many inspirations and too many projects.  I never have the problem of being bored or wondering what to do. Ever.  I think this is a good thing.  But sometimes  it feels like the tiny, daily things take up most of my time and I'm not making progress in other areas.  When really that's a trick and not the case at all.  Every bit of progress counts. 

Inch by inch, things add up to a beautiful picture.

 I've been wanting to get better at my art so I drew on a mug one night while Brett watched PBS and we visited.  This was easy.  I used a $1 mug from Harps and a white painters pen.  

Practicing little watercolors has been fun for me lately too.  I'm SO interested and wanting to learn SO much I have to reign in my excitement when it comes to art.  I'm trying to learn to be patient with having limited time and $$$$$ for online classes and art supplies.  I'm finding you can actually do so much with so little if you put your mind to it. 

This painting was requested by my Papaw.  I was pleased (honored really) to oblige :).

 We're finally starting to see little flowers in the yard....

 The playhouse Brett is building the girls is making progress. 

Isn't it awesome?!

 Inch by inch the girls are getting bigger and louder and sweeter and messier and ornerier and smarter.

 This makes me want to start shoutin' and dancin'! 

The garden is starting to grow!!

:)  Our inches are looking pretty all-right to me.

What's growing in your world?

(p.s.-Did you know you can pin any of my post images on Pinterest? There's always a "Pin It" button at the bottom of each post!  Click that and then you'll be directed to click on the post image you want to save!)

Paper Bead Necklace {DIY}

Happy Weekend friends!  

Brett and I had our weekly at home date last night and it was so nice to feel like our evening was free enough to visit and listen to music and just be.  Without having to worry about waking up too early the next day.  Today one of our little gals is resting off a tummy ache so it's a low-key kind of day.  

I have an easy project for you that I think you'll like.

I made my own paper bead necklace and wore it yesterday (to the park even!) and was pleased with how well it held up.  It's colorful and simple to make and you probably have the supplies on hand already.  I found the idea here and just went for it.  

The necklace is made using art scraps of paper, but really any type of patterned/interesting paper would work if you don't have painted scraps laying around.  Or you could quickly paint your own paper scraps using watercolors or acrylic paint, which is what mine are painted with.  

I gathered some paintings I'd done, an old atlas page, and some Target packaging (the white paper with black dots) and cut them into long skinny strips or long skinny triangles.

I didn't get a picture of the next step :( so imagine it with me instead.  I placed the longest side of the triangle around a kitchen skewer and rolled it up a time or two.  Then I placed a bit of hot glue on the paper bead and continued rolling.  Last, add a tiny drop of glue to the very end of the triangle before giving it a final roll.  You'd follow the same process for rolling up the long strips of paper too.

Next I added a coat of ModPodge (which dries clear) over the beads and then strung them on a long string of embroidery thread.  

And that's it!  You're done and your necklace is ready to wear.

This would be fun to do with kids too,

and would make a great bracelet.

I've also thought about adding some real beads or fabric in-between the paper beads for a different look.  Maybe I'll try that next.

{This weekend I'm looking forward to getting some rest, possibly watching a movie, and painting!  How about you?|

Sunny: Bucket list and Art

Happy Sunny skies to you! 

It is finally starting to feel like spring around here.  And sound like it too!  We live in the windiest house there ever was.  Sometimes I'm afraid it might topple over! But so far, so good.  

Something Brett and I started to do a few seasons ago was make a "bucket list" of sorts for the upcoming months.  We, as always, don't intend to plan every second and minute of our free time. But, between his work, our farm, and family, extra time is very limited!  And so we want to make sure we're including plenty of fun in the gaps of time we have that aren't allotted to necessary things.  

Enter: the "list"!  This year we made a list that's for spring and summer (even though it just says "Spring").  Sometimes we get every single thing checked off the list.  Most of the time not.  But we always, always, ALWAYS make good memories doing these together.  Most of the activities are things just for our family, or immediate family.  Some will include friends as well.  

I hung our list up inside this giant yellow frame that's been hanging in our kitchen ever since we moved in.  It used to house a large black chalkboard, but I got tired of it and the chalk wouldn't write very well on the surface anymore.  Down it went.  Instead I placed our bucket list inside, a large fabric panel on the bottom by my most favorite illustrator Cori Dantini, and art done by me above.  She Art it's called, inspired by Christy Tomlinson's online course (you can google both of these!)  I could make She Art every. single. day.  

And really taking this online course is what inspired this canvas!  I am so, so hungry to know more.  I just never knew how much I would love learning about paper and paint and sketching.  Like I think about it a lot.  I can't wait to learn more.  There are several good free videos on Christy's blog that you can watch that would be so fun!  Videos on mixed media canvases and paints.  They're just kind of long, which is a totally good thing because it means they're full of great content!  But, for me video watching time is somewhat limited so I'm holding out for the weekend to treat myself with some new info :) 

I made this particular canvas for my sweet twin sister.  She is always encouraging me along, whether I ask for it or not.  She saw a picture on my Instagram account with the words "I can do hard things" (which I read on Pinterest I think?!) and asked if would make her a piece of art that said the same thing.  Of course! 

This is how the art ended up!  

A little word about this...

I love the before AND I love the after! Both.  And when I was done I wanted both copies, before and after.  Both were beautiful, both valuable to me.  

A lesson there, perhaps? As my pastor says, "That'll preach." 

As always, my art, my heart, my thinking process, my intentions and goals, my passion, my everything...........

all because of and for Jesus Christ. 

The most creative of all creatives. 

The masterpiece Himself. 

{Tomorrow on the blog: Filtered or fraud?! A real life look at The Rosy Life}

We've got SUNSHINE, yes we do!

 I hope you read the last article I posted a link to with the title "Filtered, not fake" or else you're going to potentially be super irritated at how peppy my post title is.  We don't really have sunshine...we have buckets and tings and pings of sleet.  The ickiest, coldest, ugliest sleet.  BUT, my sweet girls and handsome hubby are healthy.  So, sunshine it is.  

It's really all a mind game, to me.  As long as my head is filled with God it seems He adds a sun ray here, another there.  Sunshine and spring even in the midst of another harsh winter day. (Northerners, go ahead and laugh. We are SO not used to all this winter stuff!)

So I mentioned on Instagram (you can see the tab above to follow me!) that I started taking an online art class.  People, I have been so tired of saying all the things I want to do and then never doing them! Like taking a class like this!  I signed up for Christy Tomlinson's She Art class....basically, learning how to draw gals.  I've always liked an artistic view of a gal,  paintings, fabric (like you see above), or even the angel figurines you can buy (without the facial features, drives Brett crazy)

I signed up for the online class this weekend.  Once I received my login information I was able to view the class, and will have a whole year to do so.  It has incredible teaching information and tips, videos galore (like hours of helpful videos), PDF's to help you, an online community where you can share your art....It is fabulous!

I would highly, highly recommend you take one of her classes! She has several to pick from, if the girl art isn't your thing.  The cost is $44 (I totally used the money the Nielsen T.V. survey people sent me to buy this!), and that is such a bargain for all the tips and teaching and videos.  It is next to impossible for me to get away to all these neat art retreats right now (and I wouldn't want to leave my babies!), so this felt just like a retreat at home.  I can make some hot chocolate or coffee, and get cozy in my craft room while learning new things!  Perfection. 

Soon I will be painting a "girl" on a mixed media canvas and I'll show you the finished results.  The sketches you're seeing here were just done as practice, with regular Crayola colored pencils and a black pen.  The gal with the face colored in is my mistake...I started trying to do eyes, noses, etc. and just didn't like what I was seeing so I colored her face in. :/  (I'm trying to be good about showing real life on the blog...and real life means I make mistakes)

 I picked up some new art supplies this weekend because I actually had $$ left over in my monthly spending money! Whoohooo! A tip....if you're local (NWA), I went to Tuesday Morning to get the girls some puzzles and also found these packs of big scrapbook paper for like $6! They are usually at least $15.  Also, Hobby Lobby had the canvases on sale.....2 for $3.99 (for 8 x 10) And I used the 40% off coupon for the Modpodge (I just showed them the coupon code on my phone, no need to even print it)  SO, there's my two cents on saving money on supplies.  It feels so good to have this happy stack waiting for me in the craft room but there's no need to break the bank, so to speak.

 Oh, the tales our dining room table could spin....

another place that is my happy spot in the house.  We do everything around the table,

art, stickers, puzzles, eat, talk, listen to music, bird watch, read,....

 I mean...really.  Rays of sunshine people...

absolute rays. 

 Remember how a few weeks ago I was feeling sorry for myself because I closed my Etsy shop and shut down plans in my mind for spring, as far as pursuing a creative hobby job goes? 

Yeah, I'm SO over that now.  :)  I'm happy and excited to fill my non-chore time with little projects and art and learning about being "an artist" (which sounds so official to say)...learning to paint and sketch and do mixed media.  Giving myself photography challenges and outdoor dinners and parties and photo shoot ideas, just for fun.

  I don't know a lot.  I'm not super organized or smart at math.  I could probably do a lot of things, a lot better. But, I DO know that I was made to create.  I know that this is a season for me to learn about all kinds of art.  I am almost positive someday I'll have a job that encompasses being "an artist".  And really, I already do  have a job like that right now.  

Mama.  Showing my girls the beautiful masterpiece that is our world.

 One day this week Anna Ruth decided to push Betsy Grace in the cozy coupe car.  I just could not quit laughing!  Hysterical!  I don't know why, but sometimes my girls just strike me as so funny.  And those are the moments I try to remember when they're being ornery..because boy do they sure know how to be ornery too.  But aren't we all?  

We've got SUNSHINE, yes we do! 

This place is my sanctuary,

my eternal sunshine.

What sun rays are keeping your spirits lifted this week?

I have plans to make a box of "sunshine" (yellow items) to gift someone with..

because I think telling others how they're sunshine to you matters too.