on a Lenny Day

"Happy Crafting" is the theme of one of the Big Picture Big Ideas in their free festival going on through September 17.  The idea is to only do the parts of crafting that make you happy.  Experimenting and just having fun on your projects is suggested.  I went with this and Glitter Girl's masking lesson from last week.  This layout is my result.

To make the background, I selected lots of green and blue/green papers from my stash as these are my favorite colors.  I pulled lots of stamps, some mists, chalk, ink and one Studio Calico mask I had.  I also made some other masks using my Cricut.  I really tried to just play without too much of an idea what I was going to do.  I did plan on cutting my papers in circles but that was about all the forethought I gave it.  So did making this page make me happy?  yes and no.

Here's what I learned about my crafting:

When experimenting with techniques, monochromatic color schemes help. Then your various test will work together better.

I'm happier when I have a plan.  I can't help but feel I'm wasting supplies if I don't. While I used almost everything I stamped or masked, I didn't know that at the time.  Also, when I have a plan, I often change my mind and it sure isn't a guarantee that everything is going to get used.  The plan just helps guide me and make me feel better. So a plan makes me happy.

I didn't enjoy this quite as much because I didn't feel good.  This is obvious I guess, but then again often crafting will perk me right up. On this day though I had some aches and pains that were exacerbated by working in my craft room without knowing what I was really doing.  Not a big deal but just something I noticed.

I really do enjoy masking on pattern papers. This was part of Glitter Girl's lesson.   She used very simple papers as backgrounds. Most of mine are simple but some a bit busier. I loved it all. All that visual layering is very appealing and just makes me love pattern paper all the more.

It's fun to use an old technique.  Behind each pattern paper circle is one made of crumpled cardstock. I wet the cardstock and then balled it up before spreading it out and letting it dry.  Actually I put some of it in the dryer to speed this process along. Obviously I was anxious to see how all this was going to turn out!

Sewing and embellishments save the day.  I didn't really start to like the page until I sewed down the circles.  Then I knew it could work.  I didn't start loving it until I added the trim and brads.  This page didn't need tons of embellishment but a little really boosted the effect.


The page is about a day to myself I get every now and then when my husband is away.  When he is gone I get a "Lenny day."  When I'm gone somewhere, he gets a "Lisa day."  We love our time together and we love these hours of solitude, too.

So it was all a good experiment and I captured a little of what gets done or doesn't on those Lenny days.

Thanks for stopping by!