More Tim Tags & Road Weary

Hi guys,
I just got back from a quick business trip to Detroit, Michigan.
I do work for the United Auto Workers.
Too tired to pick a winner or blog much tonight,
so just thought I'd check in with a few more Tim tags.
Back on Wednesday with a winner and something
a bit more creative.

Tim Tags & Ways to Help

Here's two more of my Tim Holtz tags from this year.  I hope you like them! I'm out of town on a business trip today, so won't be posting a weekend give-away winner until tomorrow (Tuesday), but I did want to share a couple of ways to help others this holiday season . . .
One Warm Coat is a fairly new and wonderful way to turn your gently used or unwanted coat into a nice warm hug for someone in need.  It's easy.  Donate a warm coat. I bet you have an extra in your closet.  Go look for it and then click on this link to find a donation site in your area.  If there isn't a site near you, consider organizing a local drive.  There's information for doing that on the website as well.  I think this is mainly for my friends here in the U.S., but it's an easy idea to take globally.
Freecylce.  After pulling out your holiday "stuff," did you find unwanted ornaments, decorations, etc.?  Have your kids outgrown all their ski clothes? Freecycle provides a great way to pass these on to others who will use them, rather than having them end up in a landfill somewhere.  It's a wonderful, web-based program that is organized in local areas.  Click on this link to find out more.  I got rid of about 3 dozen unwanted ornaments, a medium size bag of Christmas decorations, ten holiday trays and outgrown ski clothes in less than five minutes!  And the recipients were all very appreciative!  Freecyle is global, so my international friends can check it out, too!

The Tree Farm with Teenagers (Journaling catch-up)

Things were a little different at the tree farm this year with the kids.  Gone are the days when they got a big thrill out of the tire & rope swings.  They no longer think it's "cool" to drive the tractor out to get the trees.  Anyone interested in playing hide-and-seek in the haybales?  Not so much.

But Henry really seemed to enjoy helping cut, carry and bale the 11 foot tree.







Clara enjoyed learning how to make wreaths with Paul.

And, of course, we all still loved s'mores around the bonfire!

(Art) Journal Your Christmas

In 2006, I completed Shimelle's Journal Your Christmas class as an art journal.  I did each prompt on a 5x7 card with art work on one side and journaling on the other.  I have my entire journal set up to run as a slideshow on Christmas Day, but I wanted to share a few of my favorite entries throughout December.  So as not to spoil the prompts for people who are taking the class for the first time, I'm waiting to share my entries until after the prompts post.  I hope you enjoy these!

Day 12: Christmas Past (click to enlarge)

Journaling reads:  "I have such happy memories of 'Christmas Past' - the Christmases of my childhood with my five brothers and sisters. Our living room was the centerpiece of Christmas. We'd always have a huge tree with lots of presents - I remember Green Ghost and my Cinderella watch in the pictures here.  One year Santa brought my brother Petey a puppy, who became Happy, our family dog of almost twenty years.  I'm thankful my parents blessed me with those memories."

Feedback Friday (and a Weekend Give-away)

Facial Twinchies (2x2 inch mixed media, featuring my photography, masked background and grungeboard)

Hi everyone!  This is a wide-open, rambly post.
To enter the weekend give-away, I'm looking for some feedback on what you like or don't like about my blog. . .
Or feedback on what you want the give-away to be this weekend. . . .
Or feedback on which of these topics you'd like to see me cover:

• more in the "what do you plan for it" series (including teach it, convert it, publish it, show it)
• how to get the most out of taking a class
• how to help your students get the most out of a class
• more tutorials
• more blog circles
• more slideshows
• plans for upcoming classes
• scrapbook sunday
• more individual pieces of art
• artists statement

(Yes, I'll probably do all of these, but I'm still curious to see what you're interested in.)

To enter the weekend give-away, just publish a comment with some feedback.  The winner will be chosen on Sunday evening, 9:00 p.m. California time.  Not sure what the prize will be.  Help me figure that out!

Is a Gingerbread House art? (click on photos to enlarge)

Just doing a little journaling catch-up today . . .
The Gingerbread House Decorating Party
Apparently, the kids still believe in excess when decorating gingerbread houses.  We enjoyed a wonderful day with our friends the Tighes.  Clara worked on her side of the house with Hillary, and it was all hearts and sweetness.  Henry used some of the, uh, unusual candy that we brought and decorated his side of the house with gummy sharks, gummy octopi and a gummy frog or two.  He also included two of his favorite types of candy - starbursts and skittles.  We usually wait until Christmas Even to eat the house, but it probably won't last that long this year!  Dec. 5, 2009

Thanks Gemma! (Photo grid as wall art)

During the Creative Circle Blog Party, Gemma posted this idea for displaying photo grids.  Unfortunately, I don't have the ability to make the cool digital shadows or to print the photos at home. Instead, I bought some inexpensive 12x12 frames at Michael's and ordered some 12x12 prints from MPIX.  These four are now hanging in my living room.  I wish the one of our former dog, Buster, wasn't quite that close-up, and I'm not sure how I feel about the jagged black border I used.  On the whole, though, I'm happy with the experiment, and they will be easy to change out.  Did anyone else try this idea?