Janna Wilson

House of # Artwork-->REPOST

Hi - if you are visiting to pick up my House of {insert your number here} artwork from this post-- for framing or home decor, I'm reposting it in this post because there are some issues with the download. I've tried fixing but there is some strange glitch within that post. These are pdf files and they are pretty large at that - so it might take a minute or two to download the page.

Download House of 2

Download House of 3

Download House of 4

 Download House of 5

Download House of 6

Download House of 7

These are the only files/numbers I have available right now. Thanks for visiting my blog to download this freebie...it really is a classy project that makes a great gift this Holiday Season! 

Please remember, my printable freebies are for personal use only.

 

seriously? REALLY?

 

Have you noticed that those (post title) are the trendy words these days? LOL! It makes me giggle a little - seriously!  So since its been SO long since I blogged, I thought I must come up with a fitting- catchy title! REALLY!

I'm about 2/3 done with my semester of school...finally, I am in a groove.  I think?  Things are going smoothly for now--maybe this is just the calm before the storm?  Oh well, I'm going to enjoy it...for the fleeting moments that it lasts. I really love my classes -- I have an illustrations class, a graphic design class and a grds history class (+ Philosophy and an Art History).  Interesting stuff.  I look at the world a lot differently than I did before.  I love the art history classes...good stuff.  

I was reminded in an article I read this week to "do something creative everyday."  Well, I'm pretty well creative to some extent everyday, but I think I'm going to try to do better.  I haven't really taken a lot of pics in recent months because I'm so busy-- for that I'm really ashamed.  REALLY!  We've got a little assignment going in one of my classes where we utilize photography...so I thought I might better warm up a bit.  So today I thought...I'm going to look at things with my creative eye...just some things around the house- that I love. All taken with my 30D 50mm lens on manual settings-- some slight PS adjustments on each...well, except the lamp...I had to bring it to life!

This is just some cabinets in my dining room...I liked the lines and light situation.  I cropped all these into squares because I have plans for them...  : )   And because I love Instamatic/Instagram prints.

 

Used the Instagram "earlybird" filter on the above.  Can you guess what it is?

I absolutely LOVE doilies.  I think about how someone handcrafted these beautiful pieces of art...to me they are like snowflakes.  No two handmade ones are truly alike.  I buy them a lot and love to just look at them.  It amazes me how inexpensive they are.   Beautiful. 

 

Last but not least...this is a knob from the closet doors in our "powder room."  I admire it often and have meant to photograph it.  I like how this turned out.  Wow. 

Other creative endeavors this week...I typed a letter on this...which was both fun and a workout for my hands and fingers...

 

I made this cute banner for a customer at the store.  Let me know if you need one. 

I ordered this pic in a wrapped canvas...YAY!

(snapped by my little sis at Hendrix campus)

Hope your fall is abundant with blessings.

 

 

December...winding up the year

I've been going through my pictures from the last month...fun fun FUN!!!  Lots of good ones...wish I could magically print all the ones I want and had time scrapbook them!  But I'm enjoying them all the same!  Here's a recap...

I slept only about four hours for a span of 3 days (during finals week) the first part of December...finishing up all my portfolio stuff for my art classes was a booger!  But I managed to get everything complete and praise the Lord got all A's in my classes!  Here's an IN PROGRESS pic of my final drawing project.  I still can't believe I got an A in that class.  I probably ended up with 10-12 hours in this drawing alone...

 
 

Jenny (my baby sister) graduated with her Bachelor Degree and we went down to UCA for her graduation!  I'm so SO SO proud...I could barely hold tears in during the ceremony...I was bursting with pride! Plus, I kept thinking...in just three more years I could be holding my OWN degree with my sister by my side!

 

I made burlap banners for gifts for family this year-- I put mine here on the mantle.  Finally got the house decorated the week prior to Christmas because we had both families here for the holiday!  Yesterday...we took it all down.  Sad and glad to see it go.  I'll have to share a pic of my tree later...

 

As usual I gathered the troops for the annual Christmas card picture...though anymore...I can't seem to send a Christmas card...the picture is as far as I get and I usually distribute to family at our gatherings.  Here's a couple of shots I liked...

 

I know...they are SO BIG!!! 

 

Our Christmas Eve tradition started when I was pregnant with Cash and we've done it every year since...the kids really look forward to it.  And I imagine one day, we'll all still get together on Christmas Eve with their families (hopefully :) and carry it on. 

I'm usually doing a lot baking, we bake cookies for Santa and I'm prepping for family gatherings and stuff so cooking an actual meal is the farthest from my mind.  The only restaurant in town open on Christmas Eve after 6:00 is the little Chinese place (we learned this on that Christmas Eve in 2007 when we were starving and I was prego and went out in search of some fast food!).  So we get take out and make it easy!  Plus...Chinese food right in the middle of the usual holiday fare is a nice change of pace. 

Then, after we eat...the kids open one gift from us.  And, of course, they know that it is NEW pj's.  Every year.  But it's still fun!  The last few years they have enjoyed buying gifts for one another too...so we let them open the gifts for each other as well. 
 

Santa does not bring a sleigh full of presents to our house--usually not more than three things...we've respectfully asked him to give modestly because we really don't need a lot.  This year each kiddo got a new bike from Santa and just a few surprises from us!  They all LOVE their new bikes!!! 

 


 

We might have a new tradition...because it was SO fun!!!  I planned a Princess for a day (I'll have to tell more about that later) birthday for Sara...and one of our surprises for her was ice skating.  The kids LOVE to go skating and apparently...Scott does too!!!  He caught on fast!

 

We ended the year with a surprise slumber party for Sara and invited a couple of her friends! 

 

The girls partied and painted all night!  I finally called it a night (morning) at 4:30!!! 

 

So that pretty much sums up the last month.  Whew!  I still have a precious week before I start a new semester at school...so I'm going to savor the days!  We have another birthday coming soon so I am going to enjoy planning another party for Cash!!!  Number FOUR! 

 

Saturday...Monday...days of my life :)

Saturday...we got crafty!  The kids wanted to make fall and Halloween decorations--so the table exploded with goodies!  We made a cute "spooky" banner together! 

This weekend was pretty much do nothing.  Ahhh...haven't had one of those in A VERY LONG TIME!   Wow!  The weather is absolutely perfect.  That crisp chill in the air.  Trees just starting to turn.  Love it. Woke up Saturday morning to the windows raised and the clatter of all the bikes down in town headed up the hill for Bikes Blues and BBQ in Fayetteville.  They all pit stop in Alma. 

I should totally be doing homework right now...but I've been feeling very disconnected...unplugged.  I had to get on the puter to check up on my little sis through Facebook, and well, you know how that goes!  I thought maybe since I don't have a lot of time to blog...maybe I can blog from my phone more?  Hmm?  Well, it might be interesting...to document my school progress here?  To look back on one day?  Maybe?

School is super busy.  Coming up on mid terms and who knew...art teachers really don't hand out grades until then!  LOL!  The only grades I have are in Speech and Algebra...A's -- I'll take 'em!  As for drawing, digi design and 2D design, who knows?  I don't think A's come easy in these classes.  I should have a grade after midterm I guess?  I can't believe its already time to schedule classes for the spring semester!  I meet with my advisor next week to do that!  WOW!  Already nearly half way through this round!  I guess the good thing about going back in your thirties is that time just goes by like 3 times as fast as when you are 18 or 20...before you know it you've graduated (and turned 40 ;) LOL!!!  Thats okay-- I'll take 40 if it means I've graduated!

I'll have to post later about IU and other stuff.  IU was so awesome...what a time!  Miss my new friends, old friends...my heart swells when I think about 'em!  Maybe I can get caught up on emails while I'm procratinating my homework! 

Hope you all are doing well and fall is finding you wherever you are...happy, healthy and blessed :)  with love--jw

 

 

Free For ALL FRIDAY: Soap Labels (+ recipe)

Many of you know by now that I am a FRUGALISTA!  I clip coupons and save money where ever I can...especially these days!  Months ago, my Mother shared with me an idea she'd clipped out of our local electric coop magazine, Rural Arkansas.  It was a recipe for making your own laundry soap and it was a short list of ingredients.  She made a batch and raved about it.  I was in the throws of coupon clipping and picking up laundry soap for $2 or less a bottle at Walgreens so I filed the thought and figured I'd revisit later when my stash of ALL and Arm & Hammer ran out. 

Anyway...fast forward to a month ago, it was love at first SNIFF!!!  The Fels-Naptha soap bar used to make this stuff is HEAVENLY!!  Mother gave me a little sample batch of her soap and I was hooked!  And it is SUPER, DUPER cheap.  A few cents per load...yeah, cheap!!!  There are several different recipes out there and if you have hard water you may have to make some adjustments...so just google "homemade laundry soap" to find the variations.  I also found a recipe for making dishwasher detergent...so that's why I've included that on this printable.  Guess what --it also uses two of the same ingredients from the laundry soap. 

So I made a batch...or six :)  For one batch--

• You need one bar of Fels-Naptha soap
• 1 cup 20 Mule Team Borax
• 1 cup Arm & Hammer WASHING soda (NOT baking soda)

(find all three ingredients at local groceries in the laundry supplies, hardware shops, or visit the links below on Amazon).

(forgive my photos...took with the phone)

 

 

(to give you an idea of what the packages look like)

The process is so very simple it just takes a few minutes...and contrary to what the images may look like, there is NO CHEDDAR CHEESE involved :)

 

I grated the bar of soap with my food processor.  It looks like cheese at first.  Then I processed to a finer consistency with the blade.

 

To make sure the three ingredients combined well, I processed all three to mix well.  

I tend to keep (hoard) containers :)  so this oats box was PERFECT for storing the detergent in. 

 

And then I transformed it...

Just cover the box with a favorite scrapbook paper, use a strong adhesive to ensure it stays put and print the label on cardstock to match.  Voila! 

It looks so sweet perched on top of my washer :) 

Here's what I used to create this simple project:

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Download the FREE PDF file here:

Printable:   Soap Labels

PLEASE carefully read the Terms of Use when using my printable designs :)

Hope you enjoy! Happy Friday!

Today in Pictures...tales from the kitchen

 

The girls were baking cookies and decided they would film it with the Flip Camera and play "cooking show."  LOL!  Can I tell you how many times I did this as a kid!?  A LOT.  Except I totally DID NOT have the Flip!  Totally took me back and I grabbed the camera, of course...

 

So here is some behind the scenes...Sara is the "star" of the show and I believe Abby is something like "director" or "clean up crew?"  LOL!  Obviously, you can see who's the camera man!

 

CUT!!! 

...and ACTION!!!

{more from the kitchen}

Even the boys like to get into the action of the kitchen...Scott's specialty is breakfast foods (greasy ones, of course ;) and he makes a mean pan of gravy in his iron skillet.  This day he was making fried eggs. 

Cash likes to make his own pizzas...we like to do homemade pizza once a week...so good on the Old Stone and totally easy with the Kitchen Aid dough hook!  Can you tell he likes black olives?

Our kitchen is definitely the heart of the home...and the messiest part too!

Today...in pictures

So, I've purposed that I will take more pictures...and maybe I'll start a little category...today in pictures...hmm?  It makes me happy, oh-so-happy to see these little snips and snaps of the kids and daily stuff...

No professional photography here...mostly just unedited, reality...home.

Love.

...here's how most days begin and end...doing dishes, unloading, reloading...)

 

...coming from the mailbox...just found out who Abby got for her 4th grade teacher....

 

...a REAL, geniune, perfect Abby smile...she got Mrs. Ingold/Mrs. Griffith--thrilled :)

 

...lunch yesterday, okay, I had more than this one.  We LOVE bruschetta...with homegrown tomatoes and my fresh basil-- YUMMY!

 

...wishing, hoping, pleading to take my old sax out of the case...nope!  (for sale to a good home :)

 

I love this view...from the kitchen to the dining room (my old scrap space).  I love that it is clean, clear of clutter, bright, and features some treasures that are dear to my heart...china that my Mother in Law bought Scott when he was a teenager, crystal that she bought me when we got married, the table that Scott crafted from tree to table, the wood floor we put in...the first update we did in this house, those charming glass doors...just so much about this room I enjoy.  Though I'm going to work on taking a better photo...

what is it with boys and lining their cars up?  LOL!

...playing favorites!

...my Dollar General haul...a whopping $9.66 after $7.55 coupon savings...LOVE clipping coupons!

Post it Notes & Flags: $1 minus $1 coupon here

Dawn $.85 minus coupon from last Sunday paper

Chef Boyardee $.75 minus $1.50 off 4 here

Scott paper towels $6 minus coupon from last Sunday paper

Dr. Pepper $1.25: .55 cent coupon on bottler

Today...in pictures

...I picked up the mail and I found my TWO brand new batteries for my OLD camera (that I love).  Can I mention that these TWO brand new batteries cost $12.95...shipped!  Gotta love eBay :)

...and of course, I had to charge 'em up right away and challenged myself to capture the day with my camera...today!  So first I caught this little guy...looking adorable, of course :)   I played with this one-- some PS actions.

 

This was the look he shot me as I was trying to convince him to eat his egg sandwich (which he didn't eat :).

The kids were so happy they all survived the "snake in the pool" incident this morning!!!

I had this beautiful visitor in and amongst my zinnias this morning...so gorgeous! 

 

  The party moved inside where we all took up residence in the craft space...Cash likes to watch his "shows" (iTunes ;) on the puter while we create!

 

Sara made cards for some folks at church...I love this one!  She HAD to use this cute Bella Blvd. birdy!  Speaking of...a little birdy told me that YOURS TRULY will be the guest blogger on the Bella Studio Blog on Thursday!!  So be sure and check it out! 

And to end the day...Mr. Sleepy gave it up just before dinner...
(took this one with my phone and tweaked with Camera Bag app)

Ten things on my mind...

maybe you can relate?

1.  My mind is still wrangling this college thing...feet are a little cold, but it feels so right.  Just worried about kids, family and finances...aren't we all!!?!  

2.  Inspiration Unlimited.  Excited, nervous, anxious...need to start ordering.  Photograph sneak peeks, start writing instructions, order kitting supplies, getting everything organized on my excel sheet, price printing costs, set up files...I could go on :)

3.  Hubby.  Love, LOVE, Love him...he had a bad week last week.  Thinking and praying about that for him. 

4.  Need to get away from this dumb computer and start laundry, tidy kitchen, get ready, decide on lunch and dinner menus, and get the kids all dressed and motivated for the day. 

5.  Praying for God's divine inspiration to entertain, amuse and (most importantly) TEACH while doing the previous two the kiddos at church TWICE a week (Sunday school and Wednesday night).  Anybody got any good advice on where to pick up some fun (free) church teaching material?

6.  Thinking back on the weekend.  Really enjoyed the family-- mini stay-cation at home.  Scott was home Friday...just relaxed (so happy he did for once).  A little yard work, everything looking nice a kept outside...love my flowers. 

7.  Just bought the domain www.jannawilson.com in anticipation of being a "real" designer someday :)

8.  School starts in a month.  Life could change big time in a month.  People do this all the time...what am I worried about?!  Eating beans and cornbread eight nights a week is fine.  LOL!  We love beans!

9.  Need to do some fun stuff with the kids this week...hmmmm...

10.  I'm hungry.  :)  Time to get busy.

...mia? (for my seven readers :)

Well, it seems I haven't engaged in a real post in awhile so I thought I'd say hellooooo!!!  These days I find myself busy but really content:

• cooking three meals a day for these little hungry critters which leads to lots of dish doing and mess cleaning however...I've been grilling everything possible...hee hee...just discovered that grilling breakfast is WAY less messy and greasy than frying (bacon, sausage) and even is perfect for those frozen hashbrowns!  (no added cals...as if they don't have enough already!) Cooking on the grill in the morning reminds me of camping too...the smell of breakfast in the air...mmmmm!

• Sitting by the pool playing life guard as our super-fish-boy loves to swim and is all over to pool these days!

  

(photo edited 80's style :) with Camera Bag App)

• Been doing SOME sewing...finally found the time and mojo to finish some projects...I have ONE of these available (putting in shop soon)

• I'm knee deep in peaches...going to make some peach butter tomorrow.  My sister and I went and picked a bunch on Monday-- very fun!  We've enjoyed lots of bounty from my Dad's garden and our {bless their heart} neighbor's too!  My friendly Harps cashier was razzing me just today and asking if I'd been shopping somewhere else because I hadn't been in to see her...just enjoying all the garden goodness!

(Sara was amazed and astounded at the size of the tomatoes -nearly six inches in diameter!!!  Thank YOU neighbors!!!)

• Making the most of the times my sister and her hubby come to visit...last weekend was her birthday and it was so much fun!  Love that girl...

 

• Creating a few scrapbook pages for various assignments and totally racking my brain to create and finish up my class for IU!!!  Its hard to go in there with scrapbooking super stars and impress!  So I'm pulling out all the stops!  
• Been tending my flowers and enjoying the gorgeous blooms this wonderful rain has brought! 

• Working on a secret project X...that should be revealed sometime later this summer :)  Yes, it is scrapbook related.  Here's the formula...me + accounting genuis + web programmer = secret project X {squealllllll!!!!!}

• Loving my new phone...totally addicted to Words with Friends (thanks to my sister and TIm) and do you know that all my photos in the post were taken (and edited) by it?  My favorite photo apps...

LOVE IT!!!

So that's pretty much what's been up in my world.  I have NOT been as productive as I would like to be but I'm finding it very difficult this summer with the kiddos all around...and as I've mentioned several times...I'm smelling the roses for a change :)  We've really enjoyed everyday this summer...even though its passing WAY too fast!

Still have hopes of heading back to "class" -- this fall?  But still not sure how the cards will fall until later this month.  I did get a scholarship from the U of A for $1000 dollars for the year!  WOW!!!  I was thrilled to death over that!  ...just letting the good Lord lead the way.