WOYWW #381

Happy WOYWW all my crafty friends!! It's a glorious day to be alive isn't it??? In spite of whatever is going on around you, whatever your circumstances, you can still have amazing joy and a song in your heart! That's my story any how and I'm sticking to it!! LOLOL

So what's on my desk? A TON of projects that I have to get done for various people and events! I love it! The more chaotic for some reason, the better I do! I'm running around with hair on fire, mind you, but it always seems to work best!!! That being said, I will share a couple of things with you today! Woop, woop!

As a part of the Pick A Stick Challenge over on the Facebook Group by the same name, I will share my September Journal Challenge today! This month, Lizzie pulled the sticks for our journal challenge and they were as follows:

My September Journal spread was oh so fun for me and turned out pretty good, I think! :) By the way, this is what came out of last weeks "Help!" WOYWW #380! You were right ladies...I just slapped the paint on and look what happened! LOL

I always start my pages with a coat of gesso and then for step 1 - Use a color you never use, I had a Paperartsy Fresco paint that was gifted to me that I had never used! Not because I didn't want to or not liking the color, I just had never used it! Now sad part is, I don't have the color in front of me, so I can't tell you what color it is, but at any rate it is a discontinued color, so.......LOLOL  I combined using the "mustard color" paint with step 2, which is use a non-tool to apply on my page. My non tool was a cork from a wine bottle! I had it on my desk for some reason, so I simply dipped it in the paint and dotted it all over both pages.

Step 3 was to add acrylic paint using your fingers.  That was an easy one because I LOVE to get fingers all up in that paint! So much fun, right? I just used assorted and various acrylics that I love and thought would go ok with that "mustard color" paint from Paperartsy. Step 4 was to add waffle paper. I don't even know what that is folks, so little ole me just used some corrugated cardboard pieces that pops up off of your journal and "could be" waffle looking! LOL Step 5 was remove paint through a stencil. As Fresco paint dries pretty quickly, I had to improvise. So I just blotted paint here and there and then pulled it back up with various stencils using a baby wipe and the residue turned out pretty cool!

Step 6 was collage printed tissue paper or wrapping paper. My ATC swap partner Sue Marrazzo from last month gave me some GREAT papers to use and so as an ode to Sue, I used them in my journal! I loved the paper. I believe it was clothing pattern paper that she had stenciled or sprayed on! It was yummy! Step 7 was cut out a word or phrase from any printed source and I had an old magazine lying around that had this "blown away" title in it and I thought, hey that little pop of color would be cool!

Step 8 was use something from the opposite season. I thought oh, dear, what to use from winter? Then I remembered I had these wooden snowflakes that I had in my stash that I use during Christmas time that would be perfect! So I painted them using the same paints in the background and then used coordinating Stickles on them to make them pop! Woop, woop! LOL Step 9 was use black gesso/paint to cover something up and so I simply used black acrylic to cover the edges of the phrase I had stuck down and shade it. And finally Step 10 was use a black marker or pen. I actually used both. I took my Faber Castell Big Brush Pen in black to edge my journal and then simply took a black Micron pen and doodled here and there on the pages! Voila! Turned out pretty good after all! :)

One of the other projects I will share with you today is the making of my daughter's 16th Birthday Party Invitations. I simply refuse to buy invitations when I can clearly make them myself. This was a fun p project with a mandala stamp I had and great discount paper and "party invitation" stamp set that I found in the bargain bin at Michaels! Can't beat that! I also used some Distressed inks and

different color Micron Pens and there you have it! It's just way too simple to NOT do! We will be having her big birthday bash next weekend and she is so very excited! I am doing all the decorating and catering myself and a sweet girlfriend who bakes on the side is doing her cake! Hope to share pix from the fun soon! :)

Well, I am off to check out all my crafty friends work desks! I hope you have an awesome Wednesday and rest of the week with a joy and song in your heart as well! :)

Blessings

WOYWW #380

Hideee Ho all my crafty friends!! Happy WOYWW!! Wow...#380!!! I haven't been along for the whole 380 ride, but have enjoyed the ride since I have!!  Julia over on Stamping Ground is the fierce moderator of this journey and has made it available for ALL to participate and meet new friends and glean from their crafty creations!! Come over and join us, its free and fun!

This week, I do have many things on my desk that I am working on for various swaps and challenges!  Some are actually through, I stunned myself, but none I can really share right now because I am a creature of habit and like a certain order of things and how to do it! YES, OCD would be the disease that I have, but there you have it!  All revealed in good time!

One of the challenges that I HAVE NOT started on which is lying in wait is my Pick A Stick Journal Challenge for September! I have my prompts, my journal and...........nope....NO ideas yet! LOLOL As full proof, take a gander at the photo below!!!! LOLOL

LOLOLOL, How do you like them apples????? White pages are daunting aren't they? LOLOL I will get there, for sure, but at this particular moment, I can hear crickets! LOL Send creative vibes my way peeps! :)

Let me share another thing on my desk that I received in the mail on Monday...yipeeee! I love getting mail, don't you?  As a part of the Pick A Stick Challenge over on the Facebook Group of it's same name, I won a prize due to the fact that I entered my journal and ATC! I didn't win the overall prize, but I was so stoked to win an ATC from sweet Sheri Whitfield, one of the Fab Four Moderators! :) If you want to join along each month and have your own chance to win, hop on over to the group and ask for an invite! :)  Sheri sent me this CUTE, CUTE ATC based on last month's prompts in this beautiful card! Sheri's a card maker at heart, so I was super excited to get one of her cards! Thanks so much for the opportunity and the prize Sheri!: )

Well, I REALLY have to share ONE MORE THING with you on my desk today and it is a COMPLETE MESS!!!! Now, I always try to give products that I use their proper thumbs up and I like to share them on my blog so folks will give them a try too and maybe like them as much as I do! That being said, I don't think I have EVER shared a product that I DIDN'T LIKE!!! Well, TODAY IS THE DAY, my friends!!  Check out this shambles on my desk this morning!

I ABSOLUTELY LOATHE this glue gun!!!!! I implore with you (and I am sorry to anyone out there who works for this company and loves them) to NEVER buy this product! It is the worst glue gun I have ever had! I bought it after I read all these great reviews about it online, but let me tell you, that brings to mind to NOT believe everything you read!  See those BIG, HUGE blobs of glue? Such a waste!! I waste more glue than I actually ever use! This is EVERY time I go to use it! Thank goodness the gun didn't cost me too much, but the $3 gun I had before that last me for YEARS was ten times better than this gun! Too bad it finally bit the dust! Their other products may be good, but don't even bother with this guy!

All that said, if anyone knows a  REALLY GOOD glue gun that I can purchase that doesn't make this huge mess every time you use it, PLEASE, PLEASE share with me. I don't want to spend a whole lot, but I am willing to spend a bit more if it's good and will last me for years! Phew, glad I got that off my chest! LOLOL

Well my friends, have a MOST BLESSED Wednesday and rest of the week! Not sure if I will have any finished product to post this week, we shall see! I am looking forward to my weekend, whereby I will be having a girls weekend (which simply means me and my bestie and my daughter and her bestie) in HOTLANTA! Going to go visit my old stomping ground and maybe a show and some good foodies! Yippee for me! My daughter's bestie's mom is my bestie, so it makes it all cozy for us four to do things together, isn't that great? Hope you have great plans as well!

Blessings

Watercolor World

Good Thursday all my crafty friends! It is such a beautiful day here in good ole Georgia and I sincerely hope it is in your neck of the woods! We had some blistery summer days and then this past weekend Hurricane Hermine brought us some much needed rain! Unfortunately some in its path experienced damages to which I hope all make quick recoveries from, but we did not experience quite that much damage. All that said, it has brought us some cool mornings teasing us with the feel of fall! Oh how I would love for it to stay, but I don't think it's time for Father Fall to come yet! Sigh.........

Lately I have been so wanting to watercolor. Now, I am not a water color artist, but I am so fascinated by the art and definitely want to learn more. Unfortunately I live in a small town and as with most things I have done, I am having to teach myself the art. I would love to take a class, but YouTube seems to be my only teacher. I acquired a Koi Watercolor Set some months ago, which I had been wanting for some time, so I have been playing and enjoying!

Today, I will share three panels that I have finished that I will be making cards out of. I don't do snail mail much anymore, but when I do, I like to send a homemade card versus a store bought card because I really believe it sends another punch of love with it! Nothing wrong with store bought cards, but I love receiving something homemade from folks, so I
always hope others do too!! LOL

This first panel, I did all watercolor along with the tree stamp that I love from Unity and then the next two panels I started with watercolor and some stamping and then finished them out with pen and acrylics. I just really enjoyed playing to be honest with you!

I know there are sooo many beautifully, creative and talented watercolor artists out there and I would love to take some of their online classes, however, and no offense to them, they usually are a little expensive for me so I just comb the internet for "freebies" and hope I get the gist of it all!  One day I will choke up the money and treat myself, but until then, I will be winging it! LOLOL

A concept and spiritual law that I TOTALLY believe in is being a light to the world! Father God, from the foundations of the earth, needed to convey His great love for us, His creation, and so He chose to create man and woman that, that great love be shared to others. Our greatest testimony about who our Creator is, is loving others unconditionally! It's hard to do, we all have so many expectations in the world we live in today! But in God's Word it states that He is "no respecter of persons," meaning He shows no partiality when it comes to His creation! He loves us ALL, UNCONDITIONALLY! As we are to show forth His characteristics in all we say and do, we are to reflect that same love to others. 

"In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in Heaven." Matthew 5:16

Shine a little light today! Be that beacon of hope for someone that may just need a smile or a hug....I guarantee you IT'S CONTAGIOUS!! That's One thing you will NEVER mind catching!

Blessings to you today! :)

WOYWW #379

Happy Wednesday all my crafty friends!!! It's that time again.....WOYWW sponsored by Julia Dunnit over on Stampin Ground! I so love being a part of this online gathering! I have met so many lovely people and been able to gaze upon SOOOOO much talent and creativity! I'm just honored to be able to be amongst all those crafty folks!! Hop on over to her blog and check out this week's myriad of artsy creativity and join in! :)

This week there is not a lot going on my desk. Unfortunately my time has been taken up with my beautiful elderly father who has been in hospital! Last week he had a mishap to which we had to admit him into the hospital finding out he had a couple of strokes. My sweet father is 89 years young and has seen a lot in his lifetime, first and foremost taking care of his happy brood of 10 offspring! Phew....doesn't that just make you tired thinking of it! LOLOL He has been the best of the best!!! So consequently, I was busy last week at the hospital and not doing any crafting. Hubby, kiddos and I stole away over the weekend to clear our heads and start back a fresh week this week. My father is now in rehab and we are looking towards the future for his care. Not sure where it will be headed, but I know that God does! Keep him in your prayers my friends!

So all that being said, I WILL share what GLORIOUS, LOVELINESS, I do have on my desk!!! I have an AMAZING package from my beautiful overseas BFF Zsuzsa!!!! Woop, Woop!!! Zsuzsa and I have known each other a couple of years now (can you believe it) through our online art groups that we are a part of. She is just a precious, encouraging, inspirational, make me laugh out loud (LOL....hee hee), kind of friend. That seems like the best kind doesn't it????? Well, we have NEVER been paired up after all this time through various SWAPS that we have taken part in and so we just decided we'd swap because we want to!! So before I left for a couple of days this past weekend, my
surprise came in the mail!! I tell you what, I couldn't wait to get in the house fast enough to open my package!! My daughter, who has heard all about this Zsuzsa person over and over, kept saying "hurry up mom, geez you are so slow!!!" LOLOL And I'm like...."don't rush me, I can't rip the package!!!" LOLOL Can you just imagine the scene???

Would you look at ALL THAT GORGEOUSNESS!!!!!!! The package itself was AMAZING, hence why I didn't want to be rushed! LOL, but the goodness inside was just yummy! Zsuzsa had featured some of this goodness on her blog not too long ago, where I have to admit, I was looking on with envy, and then low and behold it is now mine to behold!! Yay me, right???? Each ATC had it's own lovely envelope whereby, I believe, they were geli printed, just like the big envelope. The paint she used was so lovely that they almost felt like fabric! Just gorgeous! And then to top it off were the gorgeous ATC's inside!! I wish I could say that one was a favorite, BUT THEY WERE ALL FAVES! 

Zsuzsa also made me a tag with the same gorgeous style and then take a gander at they beautiful card that she made as well! I have it displayed out where I can see it on my shelf because all that beautiful color with that "friendship" sentiment just plain makes me happy......can you see my HUGE grin from ear to ear??                                                                                                               Along with her homemade treats, Zsuzsa graciously gifted me with the cutest stamp set, that is oh so timely. I don't have tiny stamps per say, and I really needed these for some upcoming projects that I have slated on my desk!! In addition she had that gorgeous knapkin and digital prints that I can't wait to use on some projects!! Zsuzsa my wonderful friend, THANK YOU hardly seems adequate, but I do thank you from my heart! I love it ALL! Next thing on my agenda is to purchase some sleeves to put all my glorious ATC's in. I know some folks use baseball card sleeves to do so, so I will be headed to the Hobby Lobby before long to get the same!!!

You know, I LOVE how God blesses us with those who fill our lives with a purpose. We may not always know or understand, but God doesn't make mistakes and I believe "sets" people in our midst to bless us out of His great love for us! He knows our need before we do to fulfill His purpose and will for our lives! I don't take these things lightly and continue to be His grateful child! Thank you Father for your goodness and love for me!

I hope your Wednesday is fill with His abundant love!!