Stop and Smell the Coffee!!!

Good Friday ALLLLL my crafty friends!!! It's a great day to be alive!! It's Friday, it's  beautiful outside, I'm healthy and God surrounds me with His amazing love!!! What more could I ask for??? Ok, well maybe a Hobby Lobby gift card, but that's beside the point!!! LOL I'm truly blessed to have woken in a comfortable bed this morning in my beautiful home surrounded by my loving family! A day doesn't go by that I am not SO VERY THANKFUL for ALL that my Father in Heaven has given me!! Thank you Lord!

Today, I want to share a cutsie page! I like to do them every now and again!! It takes the edge off, you know what I mean?? I have had this journal spread in my mind for a bit because of a digital photo I had downloaded quite a long while ago and was waiting for the right moment to use it in my journal and this week was the time! I had so much fun making this spread!

This spread was inspired by an AWESOME artist, Vicky Papaioannou, whose blog I follow and love! She has such an eye for detail and I love her techniques and art journal style! She has one technique in particular that I love and use from time to time. It's time consuming, but effective! She will cut up tiny pieces of paper in various sizes and make a patchwork collage for her background. It ALWAYS turns out lovely in her journals! Mine is similar at best!! LOL So I knew I wanted to do it with this particular spread.

I am very fortunate to work for a municipality who has their own engineering department. Engineering, like many other skills, have turned pretty much digital. So, the old days of physically drawing engineering plans out have been replaced by the computer! A whole lot easier for them, I am sure. That being said our engineering department did a spring cleaning and got rid of a lot of "ancient" things that they don't use anymore and one was architectural drawing paper. A WHOLE box to be exact!!! I jumped on it like hot coals under my feet. That paper is simply AMAZING. It's something like heavy rice paper if you can imagine. I got it thinking of using it with my jelly plate. It doesn't work so well, with that, but it does great with sprays and stencils and stamping! SCORE!!!

All that said, I stamped all over a sheet of it with one of my new Judikins Bollio stamps that I got from my friend Peg Robinson's over on Google+'s craft room sale! I think she still has some cool stuff available if you want to go have a look see! I haven't used these AWESOME stamps yet for what I intended them for, but I used it for this background in the interim and it worked great! I then just sprayed various ink sprays around until I got the effect I was looking for. I then just set about cutting strips and pieces to do my background. I glued them all down using Mod Podge.

When I was done I distressed the edges with Distress Ink in Vintage Photo and then because I knew I was going to be doing some things on top, I obviously had to spray a fixative over so that all that yumminess in the background wouldn't move. After I did so, I then took my Faber Castell Big Brush Pen in Cobalt Blue and shaded the pieces for a more vivid effect. I then fussy cut the digital image and adhered with Mod Podge and then shaded with my Big Brush Pen in Nougat. On the opposite side I knew I wanted to do tiny coffee cup balloons to complement the big one, so I just drew some out, colored them with some Sharpies, fussy cut them and then added them to the page. I drew the basket and cable lines afterwards because that would have been too hard to cut out. I then added my sentiment and some fluffy clouds with some heavy gesso through a stencil. Voila! 

Coffee is one of my all time FAVORITE things so I loved using this "theme" to express my thoughts out of Genesis 1:31 that says "And God saw everything that he made, and, behold, it was very good." In today's society and world we have all become so preoccupied with what is going on around us that we don't take the time to be thankful for TODAY! Just to be alive in the Creator of the Universe's awesome creation! Each day is filled with so many amazing blessings that God has provided for us to enjoy! But often, people miss the every day blessings that are right before their eyes because they are "too busy!"

Today, STOP and take the time to give reverence to the Creator and His creation and all the many blessings they afford! We aren't assured another day, EVER, therefore offering up your thanks for TODAY is a wise thing! Our Father in Heaven is the Master Craftsman so we should take the time to mindful and consider His workmanship in our lives and around us and be grateful!!

Blessings for a glorious weekend! :)

Let Freedom Ring!

Good Monday.....oops, I mean Tuesday all my crafty friends! We had a holiday yesterday!! It was so nice to have a long weekend. I hope, of course, that you all remembered someone who you could honor for serving this nation in any of the armed services for our country this Memorial Day. I have had fathers, brothers, friends and a nephew in service for our country that I am so thankful for. I venture to say we all know at least one person that we can lift up and honor for our freedom in this country! We are an extremely blessed nation and we need to continue to lift up the men and women who serve for our country!

Today, I am going to share with you a DIY project that I did for someone. I don't have people usually commissioning me for a project. I'm not an artist like that, but I have had several here or there that know I love to play in my art closet and will ask me to do a little something for them. And, OF COURSE, I say, yes I will! I mean who turns down an opportunity to get messy and crafty???? Not me, I tell you! LOL

Office Shot

So I had this friend of mine at work brought me this initial that she had had lying around and didn't know what to do with it. She had liked one of my tags I had done not too long ago and asked could I do something similar with her initial!! A challenge to be sure since to me the tag has a lot more real estate than an initial does!! LOL But, I was up for the challenge!! This was a first for me, so see what you think!

I took different pictures of the piece under different lights. My crafty room lights are not the same as my office lights, and one shows color differently than the other, so I wanted to show you both.

My friend just brought me the raw piece which was some sort of wood or pressed board of some sort. So I thought I had better cover it with gesso to begin. After doing so I then painted it with Prima Chalkboard paint in Sea Breeze. I knew I wanted that to be a background to start with although the brightness of that color doesn't really show through in the end.

Craft Room Shot

I then simply started spraying with several of my Lindy's Stamp Gang sprays from the Autumn Leaves set, which is my favorite!! The colors I used were Tibetan Poppy Teal, Ponderosa Pine Olive, and Cattail Copper Brown. I just kept spraying and "splotching" until I had the effect I was looking for. I then took a couple of background stamps form Unity and Inkadinkado and stamped onto the initial with StazOn in Saddle Brown.

My friend really like the crackle paste I had used in another project that I had done, so I wanted to be sure to try to use it in this project for her. So I used Art Extravaganza Texture Paste in Copper Crackle through Tim Holtz's Harlequin Layering Stencil. I love those stencils! I wish I had them all, but you crafters know how that is!!! LOL I let that dry over night so it would get the full crackle effect versus drying with a heat tool. I then distressed the edges with Distress Ink in Vintage Photo.

So while I let that dry, I went to work on my embellishments. To be honest, I didn't know what in the blazes I was going to do! I knew this would be a trial by error project!! LOL I took some burlap and fashioned a bow of sorts (a bow maker I am not! LOL) and secured it to the initial by tieing and hot glueing it to the the back. I then just started going through the stash and pulling out what I thought might go and just playing with this piece and that! That took forever, I tell you! I was so indecisive! LOL

I had a Prima flower left over from another project, but it wasn't dark enough for me so I simply started spraying with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in Starfish and my Lindy's in Autumn Maple Crimson and then I finished it off with Glimmer Mist in Pearl. I made a few little rosebuds to go with out of book page and sprayed also with Lindy's in the Ponderosa Pine Olive, Tibetan Poppy Teal and finished those with the Glimmer Mist in Peal as well. I then pulled out some of my lovely metal pieces that I got from sweet Sheri Whitfield from her awesome Etsy Shop. I have so enjoyed using those pieces. I also used some glass beads from Finnabair's collection and also put in one my art tiles that I had made. I think it turned out fairly well.

I wanted to add just a tad more something so I decided to add another gear with a cute little brad in the middle from Paper Studio and then some twine and more glass beads from Finnabair. It was for better or worse, but I liked the little addition. Voila!

Not a masterpiece, to be sure, but done with lots of love! :)

If you don't have someone in your immediate family you can honor this month for their service, take the time to lift up the MANY who do serve on a daily basis on our behalf in your prayers. I know they and their families would be appreciative. Whenever I see a person in uniform, I always try to thank them at that time. I know they appreciate it when they are recognized! I am so thankful for my freedom, it is not something I take lightly! So I want to honor ALL those today who put themselves in harms way for MY freedom! :))) What a blessing you are to me! :)

Make it a blessed day 

Made New!

Good Wednesday all my crafty friends! It's mid week and I hope everyone is feeling blessed! My girls are counting the hours and minutes.......tomorrow is the LAST day of school!!! Yippeee!! I am excited, but the reality check for me is my oldest starts high school this coming up year and then my youngest will be in middle school! I just can't believe it! I've shared that we are older parents, so many of you are past this stage in life, but it really does bring to light that time really does fly! When I look at them, I see young ladies, but in my heart I see my babies! *Sigh!* Hope everyone has great summer plans!!

Today I am going to share a journal spread that I so enjoyed doing! Well, I enjoy them ALL, but this is in typical "me" colors! I am really excited to share this spread today because my good friend Wanda Hentges over on Art by Wanda did a journal page yesterday using the same scripture I used on my spread!! I LOVE IT!! Neither of us knew the other's thoughts, but GOD DID!! I love to see God move on like minded individuals to confirm His word! NOTHING in His Kingdom is ever coincidence! :)

I began this page with a coat of gesso and then using a baby wipe applied Distress Paint in Antique Linen and then some cheapo acrylics in various browns until I got the effect I was looking for. I then applied some Prima-Art Extravagance-Texture Paste in Copper Crackle through one of my favorite stencils for The Crafter's Workshop - Specimens, in various places. I also took a stamp from one of my newest favorite to use stamp sets from Unity and applied here and there using Archival black ink. I then just edges my pages with Distress Ink in Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain.

I always pull out pages from magazines that I like or rip scraps here and there and keep in a box to use at a later time. I had ripped some pages from a magazine featuring some really neat rug patterns that I liked so I just took pieces of those and some emphemera, along with a piece of corrugated cardboard and distressed their edges and applied down using gel medium. I also brought out my gears, some Tim Holtz and some from Sheri Whitfield's Etsy Shop to use and applied them with Aleene's. If you haven't checked out Sheri's shop, you should head on over, she has some fabulous deals! :) I also added some brads to the corner of my "who" emphemera card and popped it up with pop dots.

The letters I used were from Paper Studio and there is also a heart on the gear (that you can barely see) that I used from the same set to which I applied Versa Mark to and then covered with a glittery black embossing powder to and then simply heat embossed. You can't tell it from these photos, but it really was a neat effect. And then I used some of Tim Holtz's chit chat stickers to add a further sentiments. Voila!

You know, as believers, we are not to allow our past dictate who we are "NOW," which is, if you have received Christ, "a new creature in Him!" In 2 Corinthians 5:17 of God's Word, it says "Therefore, if ANYONE is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here!" We are no longer our former self when we are seen through Christ! Therefore, you should no longer allow the enemy to bring your past back up to you! God's Word also says that we are to "forget those things which are behind and reach forward to those things which are ahead, PRESS toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Jesus Christ.!" (Phil 3:13-14) When you receive Christ, God ONLY sees you through His Son's blood! He doesn't keep a tally sheet up in Heaven to throw up in your face, that's what the enemy does! You have been REDEEMED by the blood of the Lamb! Holy, righteous, without spot or wrinkle!!! Nothing you have done made it so, only the blood!

We are new creatures and we can certainly use who we formally were as a learning tool to be a part of who we will become! We haven't arrived (or at least I haven't) but I am about BECOMING ALL God has called me to be! So I don't look back for a brow beating, I use it as a step to "press on toward the goal to win the prize..ETERNITY with my Savior! Oh how He loves me and YOU! :) Aren't you glad He takes you as you are, cleans you up and remembers NO MORE!! What manner of love is this? Unconditional, amazing love from a Father and Son! :)

Today, won't you choose to forget those things which are behind and press towards eternity! I, for one, would love to see you there! :)

Blessings

Everything is Coming Up.......Flowers! :)

Good Tuesday all my crafty friends! It's a beautiful day again here in good old Georgia, but once again, it's already 86 degrees and climbing and it's only mid morning! Ugghhh! Mother Nature is already working overtime!!!! LOL I won't complain too loudly however, I'm thankful for God's beauty and the opportunity to live in, no matter the degree! LOL

Today, I am going to share my tags that I sent my sweet friend Becky Wentworth over on Google+ as a part of the tag swap on the group Creating and Sharing Mixed Media. The theme this month was "Growing!" Wow, this is month for all that to be going on! Flowers coming out everywhere and I sure do love them! As mentioned above, I live in Georgia and we have many beautiful flowers that just grow in the wild. So couple them with native plants that we have to plant, makes for a beautiful countryside! I got a little carried away in light of that and made three tags for Becky because I had a few things on my mind and wanted her to have them all! LOL

Although I enjoyed doing all the tags this first tag is full of "me" colors and I know Becky likes these colors as well! I simply embossed my manila tag and then sprayed the tag with Lindy's Stamp Gang in Cattail Copper Brown, which is soooo, one of my faves! And then I continued spraying with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in Sunflower and I think Plumeria. I then took my favorite Inka Gold and rubbed over top of the raised embossing to give it that gold shine and then I distressed the edges with Vintage Photo. I alway spray a fixative over my tags because I never know what I am going to do next and I don't want the sprays to move. 

I die cut some flowers using my Big Shot on book page and sprayed them with Lindy's also in Autumn Maple Crimson and I believe the Cattail Copper Brown. Then I added those yummy glass beads from Finnabair in Licorice to the centers. I applied them along with a yummy metal finding, some twine and the sentiment with Aleene's. I added some complementing ribbon and some more twine and voila! 

Well as already stated, I couldn't help myself, so the next tag I did, I knew I wanted to do a little doodling on! I haven't done enough of that lately. I used to do it all the time. I began this tag by spraying with Lindy's Stamp Gang in I believe Tibetan Poppy Teal and Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in Olive Vine and then distressed the edges with Vintage Photo. I again sprayed a fixative over the top.

We are so blessed in the art community to have so many free things available for us by people who take their time to provide it! Kudos and thanks to them all! I got the free digital art in the corners from either Emphemera's Vintage Cottage or Graphics Fairy, I'm not sure. But both ladies who do these sites are just the best! I distressed them with Vintage photo and then applied them with gel medium. I shadowed them with my wonderful Stabilo Pencil that I got from Heather over on The Kraaft Shaak! I then doodled a flower on there and accented with some stickles. I added some faint access flowers with a Itty Bitty Unity Stamp and also added some of those die cut book page flowers and then added some micro beads to the center and some black twine for the stem and faux leaves. Voila!

And then because I know Becky likes Vintage, I had to add a little floral vintage to the show! LOL This one was super cute to me because amidst my "woodsy" colors I added a little soft flair....it just made me feel good! LOL I actually started this tag by adhering this awesome knapkin that I got from my fabulous Mixed Media Kit over at the Kraaft Shaak! I love that knapkin and just had a tag in mind when I saw it. I then lightly covered it with gesso to soften it up a little. I also lightly sprayed it with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in Pearl. I had this fun measuring tape that I got in a big sale box from Maya Road. They do little sales off and on and you get what you get! But I thought it was cute and I just wanted to add some to the tag. I also added some lace to the bottom of the tag.

From there I simply die cut the floral looking embellishments with my Big Shot and then sprayed them with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in Lilac and them lightly stamped on them with a script stamp using Distress Ink in Dusty Concord. I also lightly sprayed them with the Pearl spray. I adhered them along with some gauze sprayed with the Lilac, some emphemera, metal embellishments and the pretty flower down with Aleene's. I topped it off with some pretty ribbon and again voila!

I really enjoyed the challenge this month and so enjoyed doing them for Becky because she is such a gracious recipient! I don't think it ever gets old! :) I am also going to submit one of these (I CAN'T DECIDE WHICH ONE, LOL) over on Sheri Whitfield's blog and the Tag it Tuesday Party Link!!! I guess it will be an eenie meenie miney mo kind of ordeal!!! LOL If you'd like to be a part of either challenge, won't you go by and check them out? We have lot's of fun! :)

Thanks for stopping by and checking out my goodies! Have an AWESOME day! :)

Copy Cat!

Good Friday to all my crafty friends! Yippeeeeee, we made it to another Friday! Isn't that funny? I don't know why we get so excited about Friday (except for the obvious), when I think we should be excited about making it to another day, EVERY DAY! :)  God's word says we aren't assured another day, something I try to teach my girls when it comes to the value of things, so we should be thankful that we wake up and breath each and every day! LOL

Today, I am going to share a "small" project with you, heeee, they are really small! :) Now, let me preface this by saying I TOTALLY stole this idea from a sweet, sweet lady by name of Linda over on LivArtNow!  She has the sweetest voice and I love watching her videos and browsing her blog posts! She is such a creative artist in many areas and you should definitely check her out.

Now, when I posted yesterday that AWESOME haul I got in the mail, I mentioned that I wanted to use those amazing stamps for many things, but one in particular was to make art tiles! I have so wanted to delve into polymer clay on that level. I don't desire to do anything else with clay, not really my thing, but because I love ATC's and the amazing looks of mosaics, I came upon polymer clay tiles through Linda and some other online artists showing how I could use clay in both of those areas. Linda has a YouTube video here that you can watch and see her technique for making art tiles.

I loved the tiles Linda made and I was confident that I could replicate those tiles. Now, let me also say, it is not my intention, EVER, to copy an artist, but to maybe glean from their gift and then somehow incorporate it into my crafting hobby as well. So I wanted to make a first batch that is very similar to hers and then as I continue, put my own own style and mark on them. Also I wanted to make the first batch as a launcher for my polymer clay tiles. Obviously the clay will be a totally different game, but it gave me a feel for working with something small.

I am already antique/flea market hound, but after I saw her video, I began to comb my local markets for old Scrabble games to use the wood pieces. Score! I found one for $2! Can't beat that! So I immediately went home and dove in! I first Gesso'd all the pieces and then got out Tim's tissue tape in various backgrounds and applied to the tiles. I then gave them another coat of Gesso.

When I first saw her video and the stamps she used, I was so envious because I thought, hey, I don't have any cute "little" stamps like that! But I went through my stash of stamps and you wouldn't believe the stuff I found, that I didn't know I had!! I hat bits and bobbles stamps from Prima, Unity and I even inked up pieces of stamps and used! It worked out great! I used Archival ink in black for all. I then pulled out my Distress Inks in various colors and added a little here and there.

I then edged all the pieces with Archival in in black and then coated the sides with just acrylic black paint. I didn't bother with the back because I am sure I will be using them in projects. After it all dried, I Mod Podged over and let dry again. I then Added the 3D Crystal Lacquer over top and VOILA!  Not too shabby ay?

I enjoyed this quick and easy craft and I thank Linda for sharing her style with us on YouTube. I want to make many more of these and then find a way to incorporate the wood pieces with the polymer clay pieces in my mosaics. I think it would be cool!!

Becoming a Christian taught me A LOT about learning to be comfortable with "me," because I am who I am because of Christ! When we are younger, we get so fixed on what the media, books and magazines say "we should be or look like," and we try to fit in those molds! Not a great choice to make because mostly those are unattainable goals! You can't really look like someone else because they are unique all on their own! So we should never strive to be like or look like someone else, UNLESS you are striving to "be like" or "look like" Christ! That's the only One I want to say that I truly "copy cat!" In Romans 8:29, God's Word says that "For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son!" That is something I DEFINITELY want to strive to do...conform to Jesus's image! When people see or hear me, they ought to be seeing or hearing Christ!

While I don't condone being a "copy cat" I do believe God gave us gifts to share with others that we could all enjoy! Each gift is different, yet each is unique! So I am so thankful to Linda for her beautiful, unique gift! I love our art community because EVERYONE freely share's their talent and I am so thankful to be a part of and amongst that as well!

Won't you strive to "copy cat" or conform to the image of Christ today? That's one "copy cat" you will be blessed for!

Have an AWESOME weekend! :)

The Squeaky Wheel!

Good Thursday all my crafty friends! Boy it has been a week, and not without chaos I might add! The best way to look at chaos in your life is that it adds character! LOL Just got to be positive my friends, just got to be positive! LOL

I sure you have heard to old adage "the squeaky wheel gets the oil!" I have never been one to hold back my thoughts! Now, I will say, I used to be worse than I am now! When I was young and living in "the world," I was quite vocal! LOL But after I became a Christian and learned more about become the character of Christ, the Holy Spirit has tempered that part of me, THANK GOODNESS! LOL But I still believe that if you want something or believe in something, you have to speak up! And that's just what I had the opportunity to do this week!

Last week Peg Robinson over on Google+ art community started cleaning out her craft room, much to my delight!!! Since I only started heavy mixed media crafting about two years ago, my supply is minimal. I am not one that feels I have to have "everything" per say, but our hobby is quite addictive and let's just say it's hard to say no to some things. LOL But I KNOW none of you have that problem, but me! LOL So when Peg started posting that she was selling some of her supply in effort to clean up her craft room, I just had to take a peek! I am so glad I did! I bought the COOLEST ever items from her. Now again, I am pretty new to a lot of this stuff, so I had never seen these goodies before, but many of you probably have. Never the less, I just had to have them! So I ordered them last week and Peg put them in the mail lickety split!!

Long story short, the box  arrived in my home town and the Post Office lost the box! SHOCKING, I know, but there you have it! My heart grieved and for three days, three days, I tell you, I stormed the gates at the Post Office (remember that squeaky wheel?)! Well, I think those folks just wanted to get rid of little ole me (cause it didn't look like I was going away, LOL), so guess what? They found the box!! YIPEEEEE!!! I had already contacted Peg and was going to see about insurance on the package, blah, blah, blah and they called and told me it was my lucky day! Can't tell you how happy that made me...and probably Peg too, cause she didn't know what to do with me!!! LOL Yep, so now I'm oiled up and all ready to go!! 

Right out of the gate that sweet Peg sent some lovely, lovely lace that I can't wait to find some yummy projects for! I love it Peg! I was never a lacey kind of girl growing up, but as a crafter I LOVE some shabby chic! Then I peered into my AWESOME box and found my prize!!  NINE gorgeous Bollio 4 sided rubber stamps from Judi Kins! These guys are awesome! I had never seen these before so when Peg displayed them, I was ON IT!! LOL

These guys are like rolling pins, if you will and each side of the stamp is kin to the other, which makes for great projects, especially if you have a theme going on. But I not only got this for stamping on journals, tags, cards, etc... I got them for clay crafting!! That is my newest addictive notch to add to our hobby! I can't wait to give them a go!! The themes were things like Egyptian, Romanico, Pets, Travel, Southwest, Floral, etc.. and each one had AWESOME patterns and textures!

Along with my stamps Peg enclosed a beautifully handmade card that I loved and then as if all that wasn't enough, she tucked inside the cutest little stamp set for a "birthday theme" fun! PEG YOU ROCK!! I can't thank you enough for cleaning out your craft room and sharing with all of us frenzied crafters!! Many, many blessings to you and I hope your sale was a success! :)

Hey, next time you feeling a little squeaky, don't be afraid to go in for some oil, you will be blessed in the end!! In James of God's Word, He says you have not because you ask not. Of course He is speaking in spiritual terms, but same is true in life! Don't let a good thing slip away!

Have an AWESOME day! :)

Faith!

Good Wednesday all my crafty friends! You know, Wednesday gets a bad rap most of the time!! LOL Some people hate to have it because it reminds them they are in the dreaded middle of the week and when is Friday ever gonna get here and then others like it because it gets them closer to Friday! LOL I say, you just have to look at it like the "glass thing," either its half empty or half full!! I choose to see Wednesday as half full! What about you??

Well, I am still trying to play catch up with a LOT of projects! I still have several on my desk. One day I finally finished (push came to shove) was one I will share with you today, which was my Mother's Day present to my mom! I had fun, as always, but I really wanted to make something special for my mom and this is something I have had in the works for awhile. So it was a labor of love and fun with some great products that I got in a recent Mixed Media Kit from the Kraaft Shaak and some other stuff in my stash!

Many of you have read my blog before know of my family's recent task of placing my mother in a nursing home, so I wanted her to have something nice on her door that invites people in and expresses who she is..."faithful!" No matter where we are or the circumstances we are in, if we are in Christ, we can remain faithful that He will be there for us, meet our needs and guide us in all things!:)

I began this wood cross by covering it with gesso and then applying Prima's new chalkboard paint in Sea Breeze just on the outside of the cross. Then on the center part I collaged with Tim Holtz tissue paper and some scrap paper that I had.  I have always like the color combination of red and turquoise together so I sprayed the center part with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in, I think, Plumeria and Apple Cobbler? I am going off memory, but I think that is correct. And I just kept spraying until I got eh color I wanted. I then just stamped with some various background stamps that I had with Archival Ink all over the cross.

I let that sit to dry and then gesso'd the "faith" piece. After doing so I sprayed with Lindy's Stamp Gang in Cattail Copper Brown until I got the color how I wanted it. I edged it with Distress Ink in Vintage Photo and thought it still needed some outlining so I took my Faber Castell Big Brush Pen in Cobalt Turquoise and did some more outlining but though it still needed something else. I stamped with a background stamp in Vintage Photo and used some yummy glass seed beads to further outline. I thought that did the trick

In assembling, I added a cute flower boarder tape down the middle and then hot glued "faith along with bits and bobbles that I had in my "bits and bobbles can" and then added this really cool flower on top that I have had in my stash that I bought out of gluttonous moment (LOL) but had been saving it for just the right piece and here it is! I hot glued some twine to the back to hang it with and voila!

I really like how it turned out and I think mother did as well as she was all cheers and jeers!

Every time I think about how we had to place mother somewhere other than "home," I get a little pain in my heart, but I HAVE to remain faithful that He has got her in the palm of His hand NO MATTER where she is! I marvel at her beautiful spirit and huge smile no matter where she is! That's the type of person I want to strive to be like each and every day!

Mother & My Abigael

In God's word it says "For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope!" (Jer 29:11) That tells me that God is always on my side. He's always got my back and He would never allow something that wasn't in His plan for me! He knew me and YOU from the foundations of the earth and already had a plan for our lives. Jesus sealed that deal on the cross and now He is our every day tangible hope in every situation! Aren't you glad?

Today and EVERY DAY my glass is half full because I choose to see my life as one FULL of joy, peace and hope that my brother Jesus sealed for me on the cross! If you think your cup is half empty, I encourage you today to take that cup to the River of Life and fill to the brim and then take it to the Fount daily, He's all about refills! :)

Blessings

Prayerful Nation!

Good Thursday my crafty friends! Today is National Day of Prayer! The theme this year is "Lord Hear our Cry." The theme this year is based on the scripture in 1 Kings 8:28 that says "Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence this day." This scripture most surely emphasizes the need for individuals to place their faith in the unfailing character of their Creator, who is sovereign over the nations, over EVERY authority and ALL men. It is time that we come together as a nation, one body, one mind and one accord to lift this country up before our Almighty God in repentance and prayer! This means across every line that would divide us as a nation, as a world....race, culture, religion, male, female. etc.....it's time we come together for Him!

This day is near and dear to me for I was honored to serve as the Chairman of our local National Day of Prayer Task Force for about five years. Each year I wasn't sure how it would all come together, BUT GOD set people on my Committee each year that had a desire to pray for our community, nation and world. He continually shows up and shows out each year by setting the stage, going before us and drawing those who have the same desire as the committee, to see His Kingdom Come and His will be done!

I will share a quick tag today, and I mean QUICK! I bet it took me all of 10 or 15 minutes to make this tag! A record to be sure, but it was a thought that just came together like that. I used one of the brown tags, I can't recall what they are called, but they are not my favorite and each time I make one I remember why. But I keep giving it the old school try thinking I will change my mind.......but I don't! LOL I just don't happen to like how they take mediums. I simply prefer the manila tags, but I will share this one with you anyway! LOL
I began this tag by applying one of my faves, Silks Acrylic Glaze in Sunflower. Since I don't like how it applies to these tags, I then went over it with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist, also in Sunflower. I then took this really cool round plastic doohickey (for lack of better terms because I don't know what it is!! LOL) that I got in my Mixed Media Kit that I got from The Kraaft Shaak and sprayed Glimmer Mist in Slate over top...I loved it! When Heather was showing off her kits and she showed that doohickey on the video, I was so hoping one would be in my kit and alas it was! I love that guy, it's really cool!! I am sure I will have many uses for it!

I then stamped using a stamp from the March Unity Stamp Layers of Life Kit with Versa Fine and then embossed with white embossing powder from Zing. I added some ribbon and twine and voila! Pretty simple, no?

When I thought about this tag, I thought about that feather and the old saying "light as a feather." To me, being a believer is like being "light as a feather!" Why? Because there is freedom and liberty in Christ! Because of that, we can go through life, light as a feather because He bore all of our burdens on the cross! He took it all! There should be nothing weighing us down anymore if we live in Him. That's what brings us freedom, that's what brings us liberty!

I am reminded on the scripture in Psalm 91:4 that says "He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart." That's a promise from Almighty God! If we are in Christ, allowing the Holy Spirit to work in and through us daily and walk in those promises, we will be light as a feather because WE KNOW we are under the shadow of His wings! He is faithful to shield, guard and protect us! What an amazing gift!

Today, I hope you took the time to take part in your local National Day of Prayer or even had a moment of silence in your work place, but most importantly I hope that you don't just make it one day of the year, but DAILY Pray for our nation, world and communities to come together for Christ! You be faithful and I guarantee you HE WILL BE FAITHFUL! :)

Blessings to you today! :)

Happy Dance Mail! :)

Good Tuesday all my crafty friends! I'm still trying to get back into the swing of things around here! It's a one day at a time slow process for sure! I am up for the challenge however!! LOL

Today I am going to share some AMAZING happy mail that I got from my FABULOUS friend Becky Wentworth! Becky and I met on the online art community on Google+!! Becky and I just seemed to hit it off immediately, to which I have been extremely blessed ever since! She is not only a neat gal, she is a very talented and creative artist! You can go over to Google+ and check out all of her wonderful creativity!

Becky and I were swap partners for the month of May on the "Creating and Sharing Mixed Media Art" group challenge, to which the theme was "Growing!" Becky, as usual is on top and ahead of things this month and I had mine by the 1st of the month!! Woo hoo, go Becky! :) LOL Well, to say that Becky did me up right, is an understatement!! Not only did she send me quite a few tags, she sent along some great RAK to a VERY HAPPY recipient!! LOL

IMMEDIATELY upon opening my package I was blessed with ALL THESE yummy papers! One of the things I love about Becky's art is that she has an eye for color! Not only that, but though she is very versatile with her colors, she uses a lot of "me colors!" So, yippee for me, right! :) These papers were no exception! I believe a good portion of these were done with gelli printing, but I do know that some were done on papers that were crumpled, sprayed and I believe ironed, which is such a cool effect!! I love it! The one at the top is a card that she made which I simply love!!

Each tag offered something catchy and creative and a different style, which I love and shows her versatility at creating! I always ask her about her techniques and she's always so quick to share! She spreads the love, I tell you! :) The tag with flowers in the pot has a background of hand painted paper scrunched up and glued on and I also know that she experimented with 3-D Gloss Gel through a stencil, which looks like the one with those amazing colorful flower on it! I loved how that turned out Becky! The "growing" tag had yummy color and cute emphemera - love that butterfly!


If that wasn't enough, that sweet gal made two other smaller tags that I just loved! The orange and yellow "Let Your Spirit Soar" tag was so yummy with that great feather which was embossed and the edges were also dredged and embossed! I love how that looks on projects! Then there was the cutest bird on that fabulously colored green/blue tag! I just loved the creativity of that tag and how it wasn't the "norm!" She also outlined that tag with what looked like stickles for another cool effect!

Becky also gifted me with an amazing bag of stone pieces and bits and bobbles that could be used in jewelry or to do those lovely pieces like she had hanging from the tags she made me! What a clever idea! I am working on a new project whereby I already have an idea of how to incorporate some of those pieces in! I can't wait!

Needless to say I did a happy mail dance for sure...grinning from ear to ear and itching to get into my closet with my new goodies! I shared with Becky that my daughter always goes to the mailbox with me in great anticipation as to what my crafty buddies are sending me and then she and I sit down on couch and open the packages together and eeeewwwwhhh and awwwhhhhh till our hearts are content! It's fun mommy/daughter time for sure!

Becky, I can't thank you enough for such a special blessing my friend! You are so creative and I love your projects and always learn something new with your creativity! If you have never visited Becky's Google+ site, you must go visit! She is hot and heavy making some gorgeous projects for an upcoming Festival! They will be blessed for sure! :)

Hey, share your talent with someone today! God gave us all gifts to share with another! In His word He says "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms." (1 Peter 4:10) It was a free gift to you, so freely share it with another.

God placed a gift inside of you to share with another. Whether it's art, crafting, baking, sewing, planting, shopping for another, taking someone somewhere, it doesn't matter, "whatever you do for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of the Lord's, you do for Him!" (Matt 25:40) I guarantee that you will put a smile on their face and in their heart! Gift a blessing today! :)

Blessings

Seasons!

Good Monday to all my crafty friends!!!! Phew, it has been a LONG time since I have posted!! A few weeks to be exact!! I feel terrible, but at the same time, it was a time that I needed to focus. First of all it seems like the last several months have been piled with many things to do and all had to be done in a timely manner! Boy that can get taxing! Second I had committed myself to things that took me away from my first love. What is that you say? My Bible studying!!

The Holy Spirit has been nudging me on several levels that I had gotten complacent with my studying and my relationship with the Father!! Boy, there is nothing like being corrected by the Holy Spirit!! LOL I don't mind because I have always been one of the "brick over the head" kind of people! LOL It's still uncomfortable, mind you, but I don't mind because I NEED to be about my Father's business!

I love my art and it is a sure weakness for me because if I had my druthers, I would stay in my art closet 24/7! But.....that is not realistic! Who would do the laundry????? LOL There is quite a bit of truth to that however! In my growth as a Christian, I have come to understand that we can be too frivolous with our time! God speaks about being a good steward of our time and that time includes HIM!! Any time you let something take first place over Him, your priorities have gotten out of order!! Hence, the correction. I had overloaded myself with so many art projects that I took Him out of the drivers seat! Never a good idea! Why? Because every gear in my body runs more smoothly when the main gear, "My Lord," is in tip top shape, oiled and in FULL operational order!

So, I had to step back and take a breather for a few weeks and get myself back into order!! I managed to get one of my challenges in the mail last month, but that was all! But that was ok, because I have since gotten back on track with my studies, which was what the "down time" was for! Thank you Lord for keeping me straight! And thank you Lord for much needed season in my life whereby You continue to encourage my growth as a believer!  I hope to get back into the swing again with my other challenges this month.

All that said, I will share a journal spread that I did in the interim and in light of spring and the wonderful saying "spring showers bring May flowers!" I sure hope that's true because we have had a lot of showers here in Georgia for the spring! So this month should be quite colorful! LOL

I had great fun doing this journal spread. It was so relaxing and enjoyable and probably because there was nothing attached to it. I could work at my own pace and with not thought to a "theme" but just because! LOL That being said, I hope I remember the process! LOL

I started this spread by taking some just cheap tissue paper and crumpling it up and then adhering it to my journal with mod podge. I then pulled out my Dylusions because I LOVE their vibrant colors! Got to love Dyan's sprays!! I sprayed here and there with Lemon Zest, Bubblegum Pink and Squeezed Orange. I have always loved that combination and how it looks. I then took a green oil pastel crayon and grazed it over the top of the crumples to get a really cool effect and then simply distressed the edges with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.

The rest of this spread consisted of A LOT of fussy cutting! Normally, I would have been taxed, but since I used this as a time to reflect on the season I was going through and what God was ministering to me, I welcomed the cutting! I stamped using stamps from Dyan Reaveley, Unity Stamps and Prima with Archival inks onto old book page. After fussy cutting, I simply distressed with Vintage Photo and adhered with Aleene's. 

I had some twine that I thought would look cool and coiled up like a flower and then used Finnabair's awesome glass beads in the middle. I also had some really cute emphemera butterflies that I thought would look good in my little "fairy like" garden. I added my sentiment, a cute little dragonfly and some of Finnabair's yummy glitter to give it a "sunshiny" look!

Do you get off track sometimes or allow things to exalt itself above the Lord? In His word in 2 Corinthians 10:5 He tells us to "Cast down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." There are many thoughts in that one verse that you could expound on. And you may think that I am being extreme with my art vs. my studying, however when it takes my attention away from my Lord, I have to be careful! In His Kingdom, He is number one and I always want to be sensitive to that! Anything can become extreme if you let it! I want to be obedient to what I know He is calling me to, especially in these perilous times when the enemy can be quite clever with any open door!

I encourage you step back and have a good look about where and how you are using your time. Is it wise and does it bear fruit? My Father knows my heart, so I am certain He knows I would never jeapordize our relationship, but He's a little jealous, so I want to make sure I give my first love the #1 spot! :)

Blessings to you today! :)