Gaining My Bearings... Through Art...

The summer has flown by! It has been a whirlwind of a summer in the best possible way! Beginning with our engagement at the beginning of June, to a long trip up to CT to visit family for most of July!

I have been back to work unofficially since Saturday completing our incoming K student testing, and it's been a struggle to get my brain back in the swing of things. I have been feeling overwhelmed and anxiety-ridden. I went to my classroom for 30 minutes where all I accomplished was opening one box, unwrapping one shelf, and fighting a bookshelf to move all of 4 inches. I had to walk away after the power struggle with the bookshelf, due partly to the frustration, but mostly because the dust was on high & was attacking my sinuses. Hello clogged, gooey sinus cavities!!! I have not missed you! (I made sure I took my Zyrtec today though! But, I never made it to my room! Go figure!)

To relieve the stress yesterday, I played in my craft room with some new stuff I picked up on a recent craft spree my Auntie Karen took me on. We went to a place called Papercraft Clubhouse and Beautiful Impressions. They are both located in Westbrook, CT and boy were they spectacular! So much to look at! So much to buy! We had to keep each other in balance. We did a perimeter sweep first before we hit the center of the stores & found our treasures! :)

This is my Auntie Karen and Me! :) We are standing in front of Beautiful Impressions, which carries a ton of rubber stamps & other craft supplies. Beautiful Impressions is just a few store fronts up from Papercraft Clubhouse. This was definitely my kind of street! Lots of art & craft stuff all in walking distance! I liked the sign in the window & had my fiance take a picture. It's hard to see in this shot, but the sign reads "Art & Craft". Our craft store visits were followed by an afternoon of play at my Auntie's house with our new treasures.  My Auntie Karen has a blog & it is wonderful! She is also part of a design team for TCW. (The Crafter's Workshop) She has so many wonderful pieces that she's created! I was inspired by our day of play we had! Check out her blog! My Creative Endeavors

I bought my first ever art journal. It's a small one, as the thought of the journal intimidated me a little. It was in this art journal that I found my release! (After my second glass of sangria of course!) Here's what I accomplished...

This was my starting point. My sangria matches my color scheme! ;)

I found this perfect stamp at Beautiful Impressions. (It's the store my Auntie and I are standing in front of up above!) It looks just like my Doodle. So, he was my starting point yesterday! He's my best buddy! My Doodle Boy! My Moogie! 

This is just acrylics, over a stencil, with souffle gel pens, colored pencils, rubber stamps, and card stock. 

I am an avid Pandora Radio listener while I am in my craft room, and I happened to be listening to a Luke Bryan station, getting my country fix! I was playing with my new gelattos in the tropical color set & was looking for some inspiration. I love quotes and I love lyrics. So, as I was trying to brainstorm, Lee Brice's 'Love Like Crazy' came on. The lyrics spoke to my heart & that's what I used on this page. This is just the gelattos smeared with water, acrylic through another stencil, souffle gel pens for outlining & writing.

This is my first tag EVER! It's my favorite of the 3 pieces I completed yesterday. This stamp is from a line of doll stamps I saw at Papercraft Clubhouse. She was on a sample card & she was my favorite. I had to order her because she was not in stock, but she was waiting from me when I arrived home from CT. #anotherhappymailday

Her name is Betty & I adore her! I can't wait to make more outfits for her! This is just the rubber stamp of Betty stamped twice on different papers, washi tape, acrylic paints, worded stickers by Tim Holtz, glitter gel pens, colored pencils, crayons, and stickles. (I LOVE Stickles!) 

This afternoon of play yesterday really helped to center me. I felt a lot less stress as I went into work today & a lot less anxiety. I was able to come home today & start brainstorming classroom decor & set up ideas. I have about 5 different lists going for myself & DIY projects lining up. I am getting excited about returning to work. I tried a new craft for my room as well! Get ready! My room will be loaded with bright colors & LOTS of these! In an array of colors!!! :) 

SIDE NOTE: I got my 2nd StitchFix yesterday too! I loved, loved a couple pieces, but in trying them on... I didn't love, love them on me. So, they were sent back. Oh well, more money saved to put towards projects! Whether they be classroom, wedding, or play related! 

Thanks for sticking with me this long! I jumped all over on this post! Ahhhh... the brain of a teacher! SQUIRREL!!!!