The Elemental Journal by Tammy Kushnir (A review)

I'm all about crafting and tinkering with crafty things.  I'm not really good at being imaginative and creating from a blank canvas.  I really was excited to receive and review the book The Elemental Journal and hope to get some great ideas.  I was a little out of my "element" after reading through the book.  The author, Tammy Kushnir, is a talented lady and is especially talented at making beautiful things from what we would consider junk.  Although there are not many things in the book that I would try to tackle and re-create, it is a motivation to see what can be created from what I have on hand.  To seek out some treasures from my stuff! 

The book is described on the BookSneeze site as:  Create Expressive Books from Salvaged Treasures


Rusty doorknobs, cardboard containers and plastic packaging may seem like trash to some, but through the creative mind, they are transformed into beautiful expressions - equally parts artful book and assemblage. The Elemental Journal will show you how to craft a wide variety of journals to hold your secrets or express your inner thoughts, and discover new ways to use wood, paper, fabric, plastic and metal in your art.

This is an accurate description.  I enjoyed looking through the book but can honestly say that is as far as I would have gone if picking it up in a store to purchase.  That is not to say that it is a poorly written and  illustrated book.  By far it is a beautiful book with some great works of art. I purchase these types of books to get ideas and that is not what I get.  I get motivation but not ideas.

*Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I received no form of compensation other than the free book.   The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Reading Reading Reading - It's a boy's life!

This is super duper short notice - but hey I'm all about flying by the seat of my pants.  Today is the deadline to sign up - but hey - maybe someone will benefit from this post just I hope my son will.

We are going to take the challenge to read and chart my son's progress.  If anyone knows my man child - you know he LOVES to read.  He is all about going to the library.  (Daily if possible)  So we are going to link up over at Literacy Toolbox and chart his progress.  He made the AR 500 point club in two years and is already a member a couple times over in the Million word club. 

Here goes.... come join us.  Not sure what our goal is - but I'm thinking in June he's already read more than 10 books - so we will keep that in balance by saying 5 so that he can read chapter books and Encyclopedia type books (lots of pictures but lots of good information). 

Here's our bookworm "bridging over" from Webelos to Boy Scouts.

And this would be hog heaven for him....

He has his own private library and now his own private Librarian (his sister). 

He does love books. 

Now - if I can only find the time to enjoy my new Kindle with my many free books loaded to it.  Owen loves to read and go to the library so I don't think a Kindle is in his future yet.  I loves to watch his progress in reading a very long book by measuring the pages.  So - we'll see if I can get back on schedule myself with some good books. 

Enjoy - and link up with us. 

Broke

Nothing says broke quite like a can of spray paint.