WOYWW #595

 Good Wednesday all my crafty friends!!! It's time to share our creativity over on Julia's blog!! Sharing is caring after all!!! LOL  I hope you all had a great rest of last week and had some crafty fun!

This will be a short quick post this week.  I have a 1/2 day at work as I have to go to see my Radiologist today!!  It's about an hour's drive away, which always gives one time to reflect on the way!  We all need that time to reflect from time to time, don't we!!  The BEST thing about going to those appointments is that it gives me the opportunity to go to my FAVE big box hobby store!!! Yay me!!! Hey, you have to see the silver lining in every cloud!!!! LOL  The town I live in is small and we really don't have any crafty shops to buy goodies from, so when I do make the drive out of town I hit that store FOR SURE!! I need goodies to aid in finishing my "Project Christmas!"  Look out hobby store! LOL

So, what's on my desk today?? A few finished pieces and a "sneak peek" of my "Project Christmas" going on.  So you recall last week I shared that I made a new friend out of the International ATC Swap Group over on Instagram that I am involved in and she asked if I wanted to swap with her because I really liked a group of ATC's that she had made, and of course, I DID!!! So I got her ATC's off just in a timely manner and wanted to show what I sent her and what she sent me!! She asked for something Halloween or Animal, so I thought I would combine them! LOL I had loads of fun doing the "Halloween" theme! You can check my new friend out over on Instagram at Juliasartcards!

ATC's for Julia!!

I received Julia's trade card yesterday in the mail!! I love "owls" and she did some fabulous ones that I saw and commented about on her page and so she wanted to trade one!! I love it!!! Great colors and he is sooooooo cute!! Thanks so much Julia!!!

Cutest owl EVER!!!

So, what else is on the desk?  Well, if you take a look at the picture above, you get a "sneak peek" of my "Project Christmas!"  I am working fast and furious on those guys!  I want to get them done, so that I can focus on other projects and feel good that my gifts are made!! LOL  I will definitely show some finished product for you guys!!

Lastly, I will show another finished piece that I had shared the beginnings of in another recent post.  If you will remember, I noted that this one, I will be keeping ALL FOR ME! LOL  I think it turned out pretty good or at least how I had imagined it in my mind.  I will be framing it for my wall.  I wish that I was tech/computer/camera/video savvy because I never can capture a sense of what the true colors are in some of my crafts.  This piece, I used my Schmincke watercolor palette as well as my amazing Finetec Artist Mica Watercolors!! I coveted those guys for so long and FINALLY got them for myself last Christmas! I love them!! They are so rich and creamy and full of mica shimmers, which you can't see in this photo! But it was loads of fun to do!

Well guys, that's it for me today! I hope to get around to everyone today, but it will be a quick morning before I get on the road and not sure if I will have the time. I'll at least try to troll your pages, but may not be able to comment! 

Here's hoping your rest of the week is EXTREMELY BLESSED!

WOYWW #594 So many projects, so little time!!!

Good Wednesday all my crafty friends!!! It Wednesday again and over at Julia's Stamping Ground, we are sharing the love....crafty love that is! LOL  Come on over and join us and share what's happening on your work desk today!

So as I kind of hinted, I have several projects on my desk, or close by, hee hee, and December is like....right around the corner!! Ugghhh!  I'm on a mad furry because as I stated last week, I like to give the gift of creativity to friends and loved ones.  I don't do Christmas cards like so many of you talented card makers do, but I will bang out a project, which I'm thinking takes longer! LOL  The problem with it all, is I get the hair-brained ideas when I'm backed in a corner and have to pull out my cape and superpowers to get it done in time!!!  I think that's called procrastination.....hmmmmmm? And besides, I don't look good in the whole skin-tight superpower suit!! Too many lumps! LOL

Last week, I also shared my ATC's that I did get in the mail on time (believe it or not) that I did for the swap over on Instagram at Amy's Art Alchemy and I can't wait to receive my swap cards from a new art friend from somewhere in this world. So exciting!! Anywho, I met a new crafty friend in the group whose art I commented on and then she asked did I want to trade with her! Of course.... who's going to say no to that! LOL  So the last photo I took of my desk was on Sunday where I actually have the beginnings of my new ATC's for the swap with her and the beginnings of Project Christmas.

Beginning Ornaments and ATC's

You will remember one of my recent posts "Project Mom" whereby my talented sister does amazing woodwork with that giant machine! She graciously agreed to cut me out some wood pieces for my Project Christmas, which are to the left of the ATC's.  I got her to cut out three different shapes and I will be making Christmas ornaments out of them. I have done some base painting thus far, but I had to do a little here and a little there because I had to get those Instagram Swaps in the Mail and to Texas by the 15th.  And then I wanted to get my new friends ATC's in the mail by this Monday. So, exhalation, LOL, now I can get back on the ornaments.  I will share as I get them done for sure.

Three cuts for my "Project Christmas!"

Well that's it for my crafts this week, but I wanted to share with you what my precious daughter brought to me on Saturday.  I was crafting, and she knows I get in the "zone" when I'm crafting, so she thought it would be a pretty good prank to call me out of my room to "help her do something," as my response would most likely be something like, *sigh to the max*, but I would drag myself away to help! And this is what I found:

My Dolly!

Isn't she a peach?????  She is just an amazing young lady, wise beyond her years, and ALWAYS thinks of others before herself!  I have a lot to learn from that little cookie I tell you! But she wanted to bless me with this little bouquet and sing her favorite song that I sung to her when she was a little tyke...You are my sunshine, my only sunshine...!  Isn't that the sweetest????   Turns out, SHE was MY little sunshine on Saturday!

I will leave you with this today:

"Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of ALL the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately EVERYTHING is going to be alright and the determined choice to praise od in EVERY situation!" ~~ Rick Warren

"Then your light will break out like the dawn. Your recovery will speedily spring forth. Your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard." Isaiah 58:8

Let God be your Joy today! Let Him be your sunshine, the lamp to your feet, and light to your path, the water for your well, and your Rear Guard of protection, assurance, comfort and strength!

Blessings to you!

WOYWW #593 - ATC's and Me!

Good Wednesday all my crafty friends! Here's hoping you all are having a lovely week thus far!  My past weekend was filled with craftiness as I have several projects on the table right now!!  Holiday time is coming up and I love giving handmade gifts as, number one, it brings me a lot of joy to give someone something I personally made and thought about "just for them," and then because its almost always something "arty" which is also something that brings me a lot of joy! There is a place for things bought at a store, especially if it's something that someone has really been wanting, but I love giving people something from a creative heart!! :)

That being said, last week was a fast and furious push to get my ATC's in the mail for the ATC Swap Group I am in over on Instagram at Amy's Art Alchemy. I am late getting into the group and the ATC's for October's swap are due by the 15th!! So I had put the peddle to the metal and get those puppies created and in the mail early last week! Here's hoping they make it in time! :)  Below see my fall creations:

Emphemera Set

 

Dip Pen & Ink and Acrylic Set

Watercolor Zentangle Set

There was no designated theme, however, with my favorite time of the year upon us, I found it hard not to use the "fall" theme.  My mind was a flurry of ideas, so I decided not to make all the cards the same but do three different crafty ways that I like to create.  The first two I did with emphemera, bookpage, packing material, and the like, and my trusty Distress Inks. I also added some of Finnabair's Art Ingredient Glass Beads and Glitter.  I love that stuff because it just adds that little extra pop of texture.

In the second set, I wanted to use my dip pen and ink.  I again used some book page but this time as my background along with a little gesso so it could still show through.  After sketching out both cards with my dip pen and ink, I then used my yummy Golden Fluid Acrylics to add color! As I said in my last post, I love, love Gold Fluid Acrylics! They flow so well and the colors are amazing!

In the third set, I knew I wanted to use Zentangle, which I love to do.  The backgrounds were all using my fabulous Schmincke watercolors.  They are amazing watercolors that are a joy to work with and the colors are so vibrant!  I then used my dip pen and ink again for the Zentangles as well as a white gel pen for some extra pop. And voila!

Sunday as I was creating, I happened to look out the window and had this gorgeous view! Usually when I see a rainbow, it's somewhat distorted, like the second one, but the first one was amazingly rich and vibrant.  The second one was a bonus!! Why do we NEVER get tired of that glorious, spiritual sight?  For me, it's confirmation of God's promise in His Word that He would never again destroy the earth with a flood.  It is said that a double rainbow is a sign of transformation. Transformation is a process of growth and sometimes it's a test of the heart.  In God's Word He says, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:2  The last year has been a year of transformation for me and sometimes a little painful, but I believe that God confirms His promises to us through many ways to strengthen us and give us peace.  I am a visual person and for me, when I see God's created rainbows, That's Abba Father saying, "I've got you, I hear you and you will never be alone or forsaken!"  I am so very thankful to serve a God who cares for me and loves me with an eternal purpose in mind!

Well, that's a wrap, my friends! I pray the rest of the week for you all is filled with the many colors of the rainbow!!  Happy WOYWW!

Blessings

WOYWW #592.....Mom Project!

Good Wednesday all my crafty friends!!!!  I know we all say this....hee hee...but it seems like we were just here!!! LOLOL  I don't mind though because that means I am "arting" again, which is such a joy!!!  I am so thankful for all your visits last week.  I try to get to everyone's home spot, but sometimes don't make all of them.  I also try to respond to ALL your special comments, but last week, I didn't get the opportunity to do so! 😢  I just got busy with my week, and it didn't happen.  NOT that I didn't read and appreciate each one!!  I'm so thankful for you all!

So what's on my desk today?  Well several projects, but I will just show you the one that I am immediately working on for a new and very special challenge that I am in.  I used to get involved in every challenge that came around, but I got so busy that I didn't know if I was coming or going!!! LOL  Since getting back into the art arena, I have decided to do only one or two challenges and just keep it to that so that I don't get burned out or feel stressed!  This year I've claimed peace in my life and so that's my story and I'm sticking to it! LOL  Anywho this challenge is a wonderful ATC swap challenge over on Amy's Art Alchemy on Instagram (#a3atcswapgroup).  This precious lady had a heart to start an ATC Swap for folks all over the world!  She is such a precious spirit and it comes out in her videos over on YouTube.  Her testimony comes out in her character and art!  Check her out and join in if you like!  Right now, there are over 300 members! WOW, right??

First of five for my swap!

She asks for 5 ATC's to send in to swap and then you get 5 back from a random artist that could be from the US or across the pond! I'm so excited to get to see some gifted artist from around the globe and be honored to keep it!!  Anywho, this is one that I was working on at the time of this photo and, of course, I pulled out my beloved dip pen to start.   You will see some Golden fluid paint in the back, which I LOVE, to use on this card.  Golden fluids are the BEST and if I could afford them, I'd have them ALL! LOL But alas, I will settle for a "few" of the itty bitty bottles!  I will show the finished 5 next week! If you want to be a part for October, they have to be turned in by the 15th! I better get my booty scootin! LOL

Ok, so MOM PROJECT!!! I had so much stinking fun doing this project.  As some of you may know, my mother is in a nursing home and at this home, she is not allowed to have anything on her walls (she was allowed one picture of her father...ugghhh!😡) so my sisters and I have always tried to gussy up her bulletin board and hang something on her door for holidays and different seasons.  Well as you know, those things wear out and it gets expensive continuously buying decorations, so we decided to make something that would permanently hang on her door and that we could change out pieces for seasons and holidays!!!! Brilliant, right??? So here is what we came up with.

My beautiful sisters are VERY crafty and GIFTED ladies in their own right.  They both work with woodworking and make signs, wall hangings, wreaths, etc.....with wood and mixed media.  The middle piece is the main piece and then the centerpiece (in this case, the pumpkin) she can change out for the seasons.  My one sister who has this amazing machine can cut any piece you'd like from what she designs on her computer:

 

It's the coolest thing ever.  Anywho, we each took 4-5 pieces each and designed them with our own personal touch.  So the pieces around the centerpiece are just some of the pieces that we designed.  They will have velcro on the back for her ease of taking them off and putting them on.  Here are the ones I designed below:

                                   

What do you think?  I had so much fun doing these pieces! And so did they.  We plan on giving her the finished product for Christmas!  Both of my sisters have their own Instagram pages if you want to look at their amazing talents.  Tiffany, who has that awesome machine, is over on Fruit of Refuge and Tara is over on Its a Baby Treasures! They are both so gifted!

Well speaking of my mom, as I said she is in a nursing home and we haven't been able to go to the nursing home to see her since March.  We did get to wisk her away for a weekend on her birthday, but other than that, we haven't been able to go see her physically.  The home has started letting us go for 15-30 minutes each month, which is such a blessing. It's all set up strictly with barriers that we have to stand behind, masks worn and we can't touch her!  I just want hugsssss!!!😥 LOL  But at least we get to see her.  I got to take her some beautiful fall roses this past Friday and see her smiling face.  It is so important for her emotional health! She has lost some weight since we have not been able to go see her and interact with her on a regular basis, so I hope we get to get back to normal (whatever that is) soon!  Folks in nursing homes NEEEEEED their loved ones!  

My Beautiful, Sweet Mama!

Well, folks that's it for me this week!  Can't wait to see what everyone is doing!!  Come on over and hang out with us over on Julia's blog!  I pray each and every one of you has an amazing Wednesday and rest of the week!

Blessings!