My First (Two) Scrapbook pages that took me longer than 5 minutes

Ok disclaimer: I always thought scrapbooking was kind of lame, I could barely manage to print out my pics and put them in the photo album. I did have a few of my oldest, who is almost 9 but that's it.  It all started when my recently turned 6 year old said; "hey, where are all the pictures of me?" Busted.  Time to locate the external hard drive, look through thousands of pics and figure out how to put them somewhere to then up load to be developed. SO. MUCH. WORK> seriously, it took hours...but that sweet little toothless face wants pictures so you figure it out!
OMG I had no idea that sheer amount of choices/products/services there were out there to get started with scrapbooking.  Let me back track and say that I had first discovered that through Pinterest, and some artist's wonderful tutorials and endless inspiration, that I could start to create some mixed media projects that I had always loved.  Then the art journalling....then the altered projects, mini books, tags and finally scrapbooking.  I was hooked. But.  It is all so beautiful and overwhelming I often don't know where to begin. I've watched thousands of videos, read everyone's blogs I could find, and even took a few classes but I do struggle with keeping my focus and finishing the projects I start.  So of course as soon as I joined the Paper People FB group I decided that I must start doing scrapbooking immediately! I admit, I don't know what I'm doing, I've barely printed photos out but I've jumped in with both feet and tried to incorporate some fun elements like stamping and stenciling that I so enjoy seeing in other's pages.  The talent out there is AMAZING!!! From the beautiful elegance of Lisa Gregory to the awesome grungy-ness of Anai Dembrowska these woman (and A few men) are true artists in every way!! Once again, I love to look at this yummy eye candy, can't get enough, but then I get sad and think "I can't do that." Why bother? I don't even know HOW to do most of these techniques.  But then I remind my self that I want to create because it's fun and because I feel compelled and because it feeds me in a way that leaves me very satisfied when I am done.  So what if I'm no where near talented as these people, I just started for heaven's sake! My most recent favorite quote is "don't compare your beginning to other peoples middles" or something like that.  And I must keep reminding myself of that! Wow did I enjoy the process of creating these pages and that is what it's all about!  I don't know how to make them not warp so much or how to store them but I'll learn.  People in this community have been so awesome and supportive and helpful. I also want to thank the few people who signed up to follow the blog and for all the wonderful comments and emails I have received.  Thank you all so much!! (I really do hope to scrounge up a few more subs though!)
Enough rambling....my first 2 real scrapbook pages ever!!!

This is our boxer Prince and I just love him to death! I had so much fun spraying mists, using modeling paste, and adding the embellishments, even a little crown because his name is Prince!

Of course I had to do my girlies next or they would've killed me!! This is them having a tea party a few years ago...I just thought it went so well with the Prima papers.  I love this fairy chipboard! I think I may gesso the flowers now that I'm looking at the pic on my computer.  I get so nervous that I'm going to destroy the beautiful flowers!!

As always, I appreciate comments & feed back, thanks for looking!

Here we go!

Hello and welcome to my blog..."kitchen sink creations!" This is a place where I hope to fill with scrapbook pages, mixed media art, pinterest projects, art journalling and other crafty goodness. I'm very new to both blogging and art in general so this is pretty much my learning process, out in the open, both scary and exciting! I hope I can scrounge up a few followers and would love any comments.
Here are a few of my latest projects:

This is a "She Art" girl I made for my mom for Mother's Day.  I was really nervous making this because I really wanted her to like it.  I had taken the She Art 1 class from Christy Tomlinson so I had learned some basics.  My mom collects those angels without faces so I thought she may appreciate these faceless girls. First I collaged some Tim Holtz tissue paper and patterned paper onto the canvas. Then I used acrylic paint, stamps, rub ons, modelling paste and I collaged book paper heart for the background. Then I added the girl I had cut out of book paper and patterned paper, and painted her skin and hair.  I finished with a flower and some purple metallic gelato around the edge.  She was a lot of fun to make, I was pretty happy with the result, for it being my first attempt at a girl on canvas.

Next is my "creative dare" from Tracy Weinzapfel Studios Mixed Meda Mondays group http://tracywburgos.typepad.com/treasure_the_momentlove_l/2013/05/mixed-media-monday-re-cap-52013-free-1.html
We had to come up with 5 words that we would like people to use to describe us. She records a live show almost every Monday and has fun "dares" that anyone can participate in every month, with of course, fab prizes.  I didn't win but that's ok...

This mixed media collage was something I had been wanting to do for a while and was SO much fun to create!! I was inspired by Leeanne http://luvleescrappin.blogspot.com/ who is awesome and has many inspiring videos on Youtube, you must check her out if you haven't already! Each little element in my collage has meaning and while I'm not crazy with the way the colors came out, I still like it. 

Thanks if you are still reading, I have one more thing to share that was also really fun to make.

Here is my altered printing tray where I added black and white photos of my 2 daughters in their recital costumes and lots of ribbons and Prima goodies.  I can't wait to make another, I loved it so much.  I do plan on taking more pictures of the process of creating in case anyone is interested in that.  These were all I could find for pics on my computer for now.  I'm still trying to figure out how to get the pics off my camera/phone and up on here.  Next will be figuring out how to add links and things on the sides. Sad thing is, hubby is a comp. programmer and I am at the opposite end of the spectrum.  I suppose I'll learn as I go.  Thanks for joining me and hope to be posting again soon!

Sarah