ATCs and some PAPER ARTS FUN!

So, in my last post I said I was feeling a creative jive... joined some swaps, and here's a little bit of what I've been up to:

ATC International Swap

Crowns and Tiaras ATC
Bailey joined in with me, and even swapped ATCs with another girl her age! Here's what she's been working on... quite a little budding artist, I must say! I am so thrilled she loves to be right at my side creating, it's a ton of fun when were singin', inkin', paintin', cuttin', gluein'... hmmm, there's a little jingle in there somewhere. ;) (She's a little busier than I am, hence more production takes place). lol

Then... I am sooooooo excited! Last year I attended Silver Bella Paper Arts Retreat for the first time. I went by myself, which was a little bit frightening ( I have never traveled by myself before). But it was in Omaha, Nebraska- How bad could it be? That was practically back home where I grew up! So I felt like I was in some-what familiar territory... I was so lucky to have been able to register after someone had canceled, because it ended up a sold out event. (Miss Foof sure knows how to put together one doozy of a retreat!) I then made flight and hotel arrangements, and Little Miss Cinderella was on her way! I am so glad I went, it was total paper arts heaven! And now I'm attending again this year, and I am sooo excited to go and see friends I met from last year! Yay!

And not only Silver Bella, but I'll be headed south to the Paper Cowgirl Retreat in September. Tina, who hosted the Cowgirl Swap a couple months ago, along with her friend Cindy, are going to be hostesses of this big paper pow-wow! (Tina will also be one of the talented artist, teaching a class!) I am so excited because I'll be going with Valita (who I met at Silver Bella last year), and I'll be meeting Ms. Nancy ,(whom I've never officially met in person... we met via swapping over the internet and have been blogging "friends" ever since! I never thought when I started blogging, that I would have met soooo many talented and absolutely wonderful people. Oh so much fun and excitement!

My "Unplugged" Results...

Well, after starting out shaky, with some (great) expectations (I know, Rebecca said not to), but I thought I could get SO MUCH creativity done!! Though once I decided that it didn't matter HOW creative I got with whatever I did, then the flow and rhythm of creativity set in...
I made around 15 cards for thank yous and birthdays. I kept them simple this time (I even used leftovers just lying around), so that I could have a good pile ready to go. I sent out 4 of them right away...
I then decided to pull out a box of vintage "paper stuff"- magazines, ads, cards, stickers, children's books, etc. that had been compiled from past projects and thrift/estate/etsy sales. That was kinda fun. I sifted through and pulled out some pieces for some projects I've had in my head to do. With that, I started (but have not finished yet) a dimensional project that I need to take another unplugged day to finish! ;)

























And finally, after school I sat down with my kids and we made their no-sew fleece blankets that they have wanted for, well, let's just say for a really long time now... THAT had to of been the most fun and creative project of the unplugged day. McKenna walked back and forth all over the blankets while I was cutting the fringe, and while Bailey and Braden tried to tie. We talked, laughed, goofed around, and were just plain silly! It reminded me that I need to take more of those moments to share creativity with my kids- after all, it was part of my motherhood dream...
I am very happy with my simple unplugged day... I was creative and tackled some projects that needed finishing or tending to, AND spent some truly quality time with my kiddos, all at the same time.

Thank you, Rebecca, for suggesting a much needed kind of day. I, too, will be setting aside these kind of days much more often...
Update 2/26: Don't forget to leave a comment, I will be drawing a name later on tonight! I know Elizabeth & Tara unplugged, did anyone else?? ;)