You're Wonderful...yes, I am talking to you!

I am trying to be more organized and one of the things I am constantly dealing with are business cards. Sometimes they have notes written on them for me to contact that person about something, but if they get tossed on the counter or put in the junk drawer ( where they will be forever lost! ) doesn't help me out. So I made this cute little heart pocket using Arnold Grummer's Paper Making kit and the folding heart card template along with a stamp from Unity called Wonderful Owl.

I love that I can hang it up over the month and be able to remind myself what I need to do. Every little bit helps, right?

entering my heart pocket in:

Simon Says Wednesday challenge - Anything Goes ( 3rd entry )

Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes #164

My New Years Resolution and my word for 2015

It's simple.....to just do more...

To be more understanding.

Develop more healthy eating habits.

To do more exercise.

To laugh more.

To try and expand my world more.

To see more good in everyone.

To downsize more.

To lose more weight.

To go to church more.

To read more.

To take on more artistic challenges.

My word for 2015

MORE

Handmade paper addiction

I really have to admit that I am enjoying making my paper these days using my Arnold Grummer Paper Making Kit. I think I am enjoying the fact that I am recycling all my paper scraps, magazines, gift wrapping paper....well, just tons of stuff! It's highly addicting!

Here are 3 cards that I created using some of my handmade paper:

And this last card ( which has no handmade paper on it at all....gasp!! ) I am entering in Word Art Wednesday.

Challenge #163 - Two-Week Anything Goes Challenge

I think I am good on Get Well cards now, I need to go check my Valentine stash and get them put out by next month. I see that Valentine Day candy is already out on the store shelves so I better get a move on!

Cheer Up

I just love this adorable little snowman digi image. I am still trying to figure out my new Akashiya Sai Watercolor Brush pens.

 Isn't it fun to win new art supplies? Thank you Jet Pens!

 

I added a rub on snowflake plus a gem at the bottom plus a little bit of Ranger's stickles for some sparkle. The sentiment stamp is an old one from Fiskars but still works like a charm! 

entering my card in: ( second entry )

Simon Says Wednesday challenge - Anything Goes

Birthday cards are always good to have around! I like to keep a nice healthy inventory of them so I pulled out one of my old time favorite stamp set from Paper Smooches called Surf and Turf and put it together with some home made paper I made from my Arnold Grummer's Paper Making kit.

entering the birthday card in:
Paper Smooches - Anything Goes

successful artist means a busy artist

Wow, one of my ladies came into the shop the other day and purchased 11 of my cards, at $5.00 a pop, that is considered to be a successful card day for me! Not only did I thank her but I gave her a freebie too, good customers are worth rewarding. But now it means I need to restock my inventory so be expecting some cards over the next week.

Starting out with a oldie but goodie....Stella from Bugaboo Digital Stamps! I just love her sense of humor and being that she is a digital stamp and doesn't cost a lot means I get more bang for my buck! Stella always makes my customers smile and giggle and in return makes me happy!

And anybody that knows ME, knows I have to alter my image a little bit, so I printed her out twice so I could cut out her arm and hospital tray and give it a little dimension using my Helmar Liquid Scrap Dots ( if Santa didn't bring you any for Christmas then you can order it HERE. )

Entering this in

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Merry Christmas to everyone!

Home Decor favorites

I've been asked to pick a favorite home decor project.

This is very hard for me to do as I love them all, but I managed to narrow down the group to this and I collaged the pictures together so it's not too overwhelming for you to look at. ( hopefully )

The Balcony

1. Since I love writing quotes, this one is my top favorite. Maybe because it's on my back porch and that is my favorite place too. I repainted the set ( 2 chairs and the table ) I love to prop my feet up and do some sketching in my art journal.

2. Also on my balcony is an old watering can that I repainted so that it would match my pastel but vibrant color scheme. I absolutely love this humorous sentiment, it just makes me smile while I am out tending my shade loving plants.

3. And who can resist a fairy garden? I took some damaged ceramic mushroom flower stakes and an odd clay saucer and made it into this display. Perfect for my moss garden and any visiting fairies who might want to sit a spell.

4, My neighbor was downsizing and gave me an old garage style step stool. I loved upcycling it into a great side table to hold my sweet tea and plenty of space underneath for seed packets and the occasional garden tool.

5. And lastly, little touches like giving an old clay pot and uplifting re-do adds a little charm to the balcony with some whimsical butterflies for a shabby chic look. My hens and chicks look very posh now!

Indoors

1. Nothing can brighten up the bathroom space faster than a stylish makeover for your old cabinet. A little paper and paint does speak volumes.

2. I gave my switch plate covers a little mixed media decoration to complete my country charm theme!

I have so many more projects to work on, how about you?

Thank you card

This winter I won't mind staying indoors because I will have my Arnold Grummer's Paper Making Kit to play with. You may think it sounds a bit crazy, but trust me on this one....recycling paper is addicting! On this card I used some scraps of metallic wrapping paper, and all I can say is.....oooooooh...aaaaaaaahhhhh....lol

seriously

All my paper ( except for the base card stock ) was hand made and oh does it sparkle! I just love the teeny tiny gold flecks and the feel of the paper.

house stamp - Susan K. Weckesser Tumbleweed Houses

( all other stamps are old and discontinued )

entering my Thank you card in

Simon Wednesday challenge - Winter Inspiration

Santa altered paint brush

This Santa is feeling kinda sassy, hop on over to the Helmar blog to see if I have been naughty or nice!

Congratulations card

I've been working on Wedding cards, needed 5 to get my inventory back up to normal. Usually I don't really like making them, but I had a lot of fun with this group. The first one I am entering in Simon Says - Transportation Challenge

It's hand drawn and water colored in, using a large ( and old ) Fiskars stamp for the word "Congratulations".

I gave the license plate some dimension using my Helmar's Liquid Scrap Dots.

As always, enjoying the challenges :)

I am inspired!

Unity Stamp Company {be inspired} December Challenge

and I was inspired by the color challenge and also the sparkles on the tree!

I used my Unity Stamp by Susan K. Weckesser - One of a kind Winter

The blingy tree also worked well with the Simon Says Challenge - Bling it On

I used my Ranger's Distress Glitter over top of the Molding Paste for the snow and a My Mind's Eye pink rhinestone for the center of the snowflake. I love me some bling! lol

ALSO, I am inspired annually with Susan K. Weckesser's 

Christmas Love Campaign.

So I make cards each year for my neighbor ladies, at 56 I am the youngest in the group and we are all single so we try and look out for each other!

Hipster Holiday

Simon Says - Holiday Cards

I made this card using the "Garden Whatnot Collection" stamp set from Susan K. Weckesser by stamping out the images and then cutting them out. I love how it turned out. A very whimsical hip card!

Sending love

Simon Says Christmas/Holidays

Sending this card to a friend who has some unexpected bad news recently. A gift of love is the best thing I could think to send to her.

I used some of her newly designed "The Garden Whatnot" tag stamps to create a Christmas tree card for her. I think she will appreciate my little twist on using the tags like this, at least I hope so.

I used a little bit of my Helmar Liquid Scrapdots to raise up the banner over the tree.

Tree-mendous Thank you

Creating some love to send after Christmas with the newest Susan K. Weckesser stamps - Very, Very Merry from Unity.

Check it out on the {my sweet earth} blog!

I used my Sakura gel pens to color in the tree, and Ranger's stickles to the snow....I just love the sparkle and shine.

entering this in Moxie Fab World's - Tree-mendous Challenge 

Attitude of Gratitude

Do you have an attitude of gratitude...or do you need to develop one?

Maybe having a small journal around would be a great way to remind yourself of all the things that you do have to be grateful for!

I'm up on the Helmar blog today with my journal that I created and I have a great poem for you to begin your journal of Gratitude with.

Would love for you to pop over there and leave me a comment so I know you stopped by!

Thank you

Simon Says - Thanks/Thanksgiving

a very simple CAS card which are fun to do because they are easy to make.

I used my Dylusion ink on a separate piece of paper and then used a cookie cutter as a stencil to make the heart.

All the pattern papers are from mt stash which I usually try and work from which makes me feel less wasteful.

I would like to take a minute to say thank you to everyone who goes over to the Rapid River Arts and Culture online magazine to read my stories about my plein air art journaling adventures. 

My editor loves the clicks, and well, so do I!

I would be thrilled if you haven't read it, to please do so.

This story is takes place at the Biltmore House in Asheville, NC

Time Flies

To the moon....

Simon Says - To the Moon

And although this has absolutely nothing to do with my card, it does show you how my mind works...lol

I couldn't help but think of this while making my card:

I see the moon

the moon sees me

God bless the moon

and God bless me.

This was favorite nursery rhyme as a child, out of curiosity I googled the saying to find out who wrote it and found so much more. I also could not find out who wrote it, there are so many different versions....

Common Version of Rhyme

I see the moon, / And the moon sees me. / God bless the moon, / And God bless me.

Catholic Alternate

I see the moon, / And the moon sees me. / God bless the priest, / Who christened me.

A Fisherman’s Alternate

I see the moon, / And the moon sees me. / God bless sailors, / On the sea.

An Extended Alternate

I see the moon / And the moon sees me / The moon sees the somebody I'd like to see. / God bless the moon / and God bless me / God bless the somebody I'd like to see!

I See the Moon is a popular nursery rhyme that is often found as the last rhyme in books of nursery rhymes for children. Its position at the end of books of nursery rhymes make it seem like a goodnight prayer for the end of the day. In fact, the many variations of the rhyme increase the sense that the verse is that of blessing. Of course, the illustrations of cherubic children gazing wistfully out the window at a benevolent moon also enhance the peaceful concept that people have of the verse.

Sinister Intent in the Nursery Rhyme

However, the authors of The Annotated Mother Goose suggest that while the rhyme is charming the original reasons for reciting the rhyme may have been more sinister than the rhyme might lead on to believe.

In ancient times, people believed that to sleep in the moonlight was to risk becoming a lunatic. In addition, there were the many evil beings that were free to roam when the moon was full. The nursery rhyme may have been taught to children to protect them from the dangers exposure to the moon and the subsequent risk of lunacy or to use as a ward against the evil creatures that only walked by the light of the moon.

Other Literary References to the Moon and Lunacy

Shakespeare was aware of the many attributes and legends surrounding the heavenly bodies. Othello blames the moon for the madness that is around him “It is the very error of the moon; / She comes more nearer earth than she was wont, / And makes men mad. King Lear, however, laments the fact that “we make guilty of our disasters the sun, the moon, and stars: as if we were villains on necessity; fools by heavenly compulsion.”

However, fear is as powerful a compulsion as truth and may indeed be the driving force behind this nursery rhyme that teaches an awareness of the moon and the prayer for blessings from God.

I thank you for your kindness...

I admit, I love challenges and Unity has great ones because they give you different things to choose from. I seem to veer towards the color challenges the most....but that's just me.

I loved this saying by Joanna Fuchs :)

I used my Inktense pencils and Pitt Pens to color in the images and a Sakura glitter pen to add some silver embellishment.

wildlife Christmas ornaments

Simon Monday Challenge - Ornaments

I started making my ornaments and this year I went with a wildlife theme.

I drew the animals shapes on with my Deco Art Paint marker.

It takes 2 coats to make it truly opaque like a silhouette should be.

Filled the bottom with some fake snow....

added a silver trimmed ribbon and some rhinestones with some silver beads on the hook and voila....Christmas in the mountains!

I haven't added the rhinestones to these, but put the picture up anyway so you can see the different animals I did.

One of a Kind Winter

Simon Says...We're seeing stars

I'm not much of a star person and I don't know why, but I'm just not.

So I wasn't sure how I would approach this challenge: but challenges are a good thing, they make you stretch.

I'm all for stretching.

I ran across this scrap piece of paper and thought...perfect!

It inspired me to take out my Susan K. Weckesser stamp: One of a Kind Winter and create this little thank you card, perfect for the upcoming season to send to a friend to warm their heart.

I like to employ a technique I call sinking.

Which means cutting or tearing a slit into the paper and sliding your embellishment into the slot to give it an easy dimensional appearance.

I also like to roll my paper edges for a little texturing.

I finished the cutie of a snowman off by coloring it in with my Pitt Pens and adding a little stickles to his buttons and of course adding some penned shading with my Pigma Sensei Magna pens. And since I cut my image out I double stamped him so I wouldn't have to bother with fussy cutting the fringes and the tiny stick arms out.

I think he will find a friend who will love him, don't you?

new studio!! I'm official!!

Boy, I haven't been blogging as much lately because I just moved into my new studio...I feel like I am officially an artist now. Bad news is all my paintings are currently up at the Co-Op so I have a pretty bare room!

Hendersonville Co-Op

I did get the outside wall to the studio up and even have a little Christmas ornament action going on. If you want to see them close up then you can hop over to the Helmar blog where I am up today.

front wall to my studio

I still don't have my sign up and everything is looking kinda bare at the moment but hopefully I will get everything fixed by the time Christmas shopping hits full force....which means I have until Thanksgiving to get it in order! yikes!!