Feeling guilty

So...I feel super guilty. I had this grand idea to complete an Artist Trading Card EVERY DAY in 2013. And I did just that....until the day my daughter was born. I thought for sure I could continue doing it once she was born, and truthfully I still could, however, my passion for the project has totally died. I COULD take the time every day to work on my art, but right now, spending time with Abby is more important and more fulfilling. So I feel bad, but at the same time I don't...I thought if I stopped doing this project I'd "lose myself" and become "only a mom", but that's not true. I've totally "found myself" in mothering and it really IS an ART in and of itself. AND just because this project has come to an end, doesn't mean I'm going to stop making ATCs all together and it doesn't mean I don't take time during my day for ME, it's just that my goal from the beginning of the year isn't realistic anymore. And that's okay.
Maybe I'm just rationalizing here?
Either way, here are my last few cards (I tried to "catch up" but got too far behind)

Also, I'm excited to not be "BOUND" by the guidelines of the book. For example, I'm not really into many of the ideas (like the "coat of arms" - middle, second R). I'd rather make cards like the top left one. So now I can express myself the way I want to. I might still use the book if I get stuck.

Waiting

Making Artist Trading Cards has been a great way to take my mind off waiting for baby. As of today, July 5, she's a week past her due date. But as Jordan says, girls always take their sweet time getting ready for anything. I'm sure she's just fixing her hair in there or something. haha. 

Day 164 - My niece and I made a paper bag kite! I taught her how to trace her hand and then her mom caught her doing it on her own a few days later. :) 

Day 165 - I'd love to transform an old dresser into a barbie house.

Day 166 - I made a coat of arms for Jordan and I. The top left has a snowflake and the date of our winter wedding, bottom left is a blue heart for Jordan, a red heart for me and a pink heart for baby and the years we were/will be born, and the right side is a happy sunshine with 7 rays - one for each of the years we've been married (counting one for this year)

Day 167 - Pencil drawing

Day 168 - Spooky story

Day 169 - It has been really rainy, so I thought it appropriate to design an umbrella 

Day 170 - Collage with vintage needlepoint instructions and sewing pattern as the background. 

Day 171 - I made this one at my sister's house because we evacuated our apartment due to the Calgary Flooding. :S Good thing we were able to return to our house the next day because only part of our community was actually evacuated. 

Day 172 - I'm currently working on a huge quiet book for my baby, so I thought I'd make a mini ATC one. You match up the felt shapes to the outlines.

Day 173 - I'm feeling huge with this baby bump, so I thought a Bump up Ahead sign would be appropriate. 

Day 174 - Whisk Man!

Day 175 - It's been amazing to see Calgary pull together at this difficult time of emergency, so I thought I'd honor that by painting the Calgary Tower.

Day 176 - It's nice to have plants in the house to bring a bit of nature inside....unfortunately this plant is now dead because I'm a plant murderer....

Day 177 - Utensil Robot Man!

Day 178 - I think collages are my favorite thing to create.

Day 179 - I was hoping my baby would be born today (her due date) so I could take a picture of her for this card. The challenge was "Grow it"...it's like, yes, I made this!! The ultimate creation. Instead, I made this ugly sesame seed picture. haha.

Day 180 - I remember making so many of these when I was little 

Day 181 - You'd think with my anatomy and physiology background, I'd be able to draw a better skull...

Day 182 - paper hand (took forever to cut all that paper)

Day 183 - I did not feel ambitious/crazy enough to actually wear a homemade hat...Jordan said "you can make a labouring hat"...right....haha. I instead made a mini paper hat out of a polka dot clothing tag and leather cord. 

Day 184 - Calgary!

Day 185 - Watercolor starburst/sun

Day 186 - I had a quiet day today (1 week "over due"!) and it was really nice. It is so therapeutic to just be still. 

Moving Mayhem

So despite packing up our whole apartment and moving everything into a new place, AND the fact that I'm getting ready to pop, I HAVEN'T missed a day yet! Yay!
I will admit, some of the cards are pretty lame. But the fact that I've kept it up is more important to me. 
Here are my latest creations:

Day 144 - Drawing with your feet is SOOO hard! I totally admire people who have no hands/use of their hands and use their legs and feet for everything.

Day 145 - Hot glue gun flowers

Day 146 - "Skein". I love yarn.

Day 147 - Beauty and the Beast has always been one of my favorites.

Day 148 - Purple is one of those colors that has SO many different shades. 

Day 149 - All my utensils were packed up so I had to draw some instead. This was suppose to be a sort of mandala.

Day 150 - Definitely not my best pencil drawing. Oh well.

Day 151 - Working with basic materials like crayons is super liberating. 

Day 152 - I actually REALLY wanted to make a Rube Goldberg machine for this project, but it was our move day AND my baby shower day so...I had to just imagine one. 

Day 153 - I was feeling super frustrated this day because I couldn't find my book to tell me what the "challenge" was! So I had to scour the web to figure it out. Then by the time I figured it out, I was too tired to make anything cool. So paper dumb bells is what you get! 

Day 154 - It's so hard to do this project when your house is a disaster! But I found some cardboard and some crayons, so I was at least able to complete today's card. I actually totally love my game. How it works is there are 4 different paths and you choose one to start on. Some paths are shorter, but have more "risks" like more wild cards or back-2-spots. Other paths are longer but have less risks and more "fun" things like activity cards. So it's up to you which path you think is smartest to take!

Day 155 - Finally found all my craft supplies and can make a cute card!

Day 156 - Busted out my acrylics 

Day 157 - "Make something that's strong enough to support your own weight and stand on it". I was SO stumped for this one, so I totally cheated and just stood on a painting I did back in high school. haha. 

Day 158 - Work with homonyms today (bear/bare, night/knight, sail, sale). **Wrong Mr. Scalin! These are homophones, not homonyms...but whatever...I know what you mean.

Presenting: my FLOUR FLOWER!

Day 159 - I hate this card. 

Day 160 - Jordan said this one is gross. haha. You're not actually suppose to use it. It's just for fun. 

Day 161 - I've got babies on my mind, so I had to make a baby card! 

Day 162 - This is a fairy trap...haha

Day 163 - "Work with only the items you find in your refrigerator or freezer"

My advice for creating things while in the middle of a life transition - KEEP AT IT! It's nice to take a few minutes for a mental break. 

I hope this was good practice for when baby comes. I've been really worried I won't be able to keep it up when the baby gets here, but I'm sure I can fit it in. (Less than 3 weeks until she is here!!)