Tuesday Thoughts

It is one thing to have supplies and fun things to create with but I tend to pack things away and forget that I have them. So I am still learning ways to get organized.

I had these wire cubes in another room as a larger storage piece. I have taken it apart and reassembled them in smaller cubes on top of tables. Not sure if it will stay but it is a start. Maybe need more boxes to put little items in??

Day of Memories, Memorial Day

I completed another month in my calendar and the month is July. Since the 4th of July is a fun celebration for my family, I wanted to do a red, white, and blue theme. I love the top picture with the heart. It gives a feeling of love and the tag with kindness, beauty, truth are great reminders for me and my love of my country.

And then today is a national holiday in United States observed on the last Monday of May, formerly known as Decoration Day, commemorating U.S. soldiers who died while in the military service.  And in reading today, I found that it was first enacted to honor Union soldiers of the American Civil War. It was extended after World War I to honor Americans who have died in all wars. I honor those who have served our country so that I can live free. I believe that those who have given the ultimate sacrifice deserve my thoughts and prayers forever. There is a song on right now called "If Heaven weren't so far Away" by Justin Moore. The lyric that hits home for me is "Losing them wouldn't be so hard to take. If heaven wasn't so far away." Wishing all a beautiful Memorial Day and would hope some day that War is something that our children only knew of in their history books!

Sunday simple

Can't say that blogger and I are working together!! UGH.. Trying to post and can some times and then for no reason can't.  I keep trying.

So thoughts are back to simple issues. I worked on a couple of projects today. Finished this card for one of my staff. Used the Cricut to create the flower. Stamped the saying and added the embellishments. It is fun to see what little embellishments I can create.

And always top 5 thankful items this week:

1. Offering of prayers and thoughts for thoses in the midwest storms
2. Learning to accept the unknown with faith
3. Friday nights for relaxing
4. Daughter's new journey
5. Changes that are challenging me to be strong even if I feel I am not

Inspiration_Avenue_Purple_and_Green

Worked on my journal today. Used the weekly theme from Inspiration Avenue of purple and green. Started the page with purple and green acrylic paint. This reminded me of the gardens on the Hana Hwy. We were coming back from a day spent in Hana and the mountains were full of purple and greens. One of my favorite memories of our trip was the colors. Maui seemed to blend all the colors everywhere. The purple plants and setting sun would play with the colors to add such beautiful blues and yellows and oranges in hills, so amazing. Then I loved this plant called the Lobster claw. So I tried to create some in the edge.

The opposite page I created the purple background and then used green ink and pens to create the large leave plants that were everywhere. With so much water and sunshine, all the plants grew so big and beautiful.

Moody Monday

Well I think that I am having a bird issue lately. Several of my creations have had a bird included. So I could not help but create this little guy. He came from my new machine. Yes I got a cricut machine. I am very excited for getting this machine. I have just begun to learn how to use it and it is a lot of fun. I hope to create lots of cards and paper images with it. Well for my moody Monday, I just had to create something. I wish my mood would fly but for now I just find this little bird too cute. And love my new machine.

Sunday charm

If you could choose how fast would you spend your days? When I was young, I couldn't wait to be older.. till I could ride a bike, till I could drive a car, till I was out of school, till I was grown up. Well then I became a mom.. now I have heard my girls says that they can't wait until they.. ride a bike, drive a car, finish school, grow up. I have a tear in my eye now as I wish they did not grow up so fast... my baby has become officially a high school senior today. Her school has a special Mass and they receive a pin to remind them of the four pillars. Faith, Excellence, Leadership, and Service. Today's event is a big step towards growing up. She is ready and I am so proud of her. I just can't believe how fast it seems to have gone. So for those days I had wished to speed up, I think I am ready for it to slow down a little. But some how I don't think it will. So everyday is a blessing that I appreciate and want to hold close to my heart. A day of so much to be thankful for and top 5 are:

1.  A fun day with the girls

2. Warm sunny days

3. Try to not stress out about work

4. Laughter

5. One day at a time

Inspiration_Avenue_Tropical

Here is a colored in sketch I did of a Hana waterfall that we saw on our Maui trip. It was a pencil sketch I had made in my Maui book. The book was one that I made from an "Open Spine" bookmaking class my sister and I took a while back. I have been creating different pages in the book from our Maui trip.

However, about a couple months ago, I took it on a little trip to Monterey. I wanted to practice and learn to sketch for relaxing. It worked out well until I accidentally took it down to the ocean and climbing back up I dropped it in the water. It is fine now after it dried out except the photos had to be replaced. And a few of my hand-drawn items were kind of messed up. This one had gotten some color bled on it, so today I decided to add more color and see what would happen. Still need to work on depth perspective but it is a start. This works in with Inspiration Avenue's theme of Tropical. Lots to learn but this one turned a negative into a positive, always a good thing.

When it gets that close

There is an article in the Somerset Life magazine (April/May/June edition) called "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Scraps" by Kelsi Maree Borland. This article defines me to a tee. I love scraps of paper, tags, clip art, old items.  I collect pieces in a cigar box now.

The story talks about this group where they meet and exchange scraps or create with the scraps. OH how I would love to get in a group like that. I am on a mission to find out if there is any local groups like that. I so want to meet more people like in this article. I love the people I meet in blog land but I still have not figured out how to communicate more with people. I would love to interact or do exchanges with others. If anyone has any recommendations, please send me a note. I would appreciate it very much. However, the article is wonderful and gives me much to dream about. A scrap creation waiting to happen.

First thing Monday

A gesso experience. It adds such great texturing. This is a card flyer (junk mail) I  had saved for experimenting with. So I covered the card with white paint and then added gesso. It was interesting to play with it and make the texture. After it dried, I added paint and water to get the different colors.

Could not help my self and created another simple scene with scraps. I loved making the little flowers. My favorite is the lavendar rolled rose flower. The momma bird feeding her chicks was just too fun to add. A monday morning in nature is busy too. Have a great week!

Second Sunday post

I had a late night on Saturday as I was wanting to get back into the creative mode.  Busy days and ability to put my brain in the mode took a lot more time then I expected. However, Sunday is a day that I have created into a mental health day and a day to celebrate my creative side. I am still stumbling with the idea and making sure that it happens but today was just made for it. So two Sunday posts.

It was a rainy cold morning. When I got into my room, I was feeling a little down. Started to think of work and the crazy things I have on my plate this week. With all the budget problems the State is having and all the negative publicity towards State employees, I have taken some of that on personally. But contrary to the newspaper and media reporting, there are State employees that keep working even with the cutbacks and lack of resources. My staff are a great group of hard working people doing the best they can with what we have. Soap box, sorry but letting it get to me... 

BUT.. then I looked out my window... The rain drops were landing on the honeysuckle and the leaves looked so amazing with the drops.

And then not sure if it shows but I stared at the honeysuckle for awhile. There are lots of buds and a few blooms. So just like in life, when it is raining you can see it as cold and messy. Or with a deeper look (simple prayers) and an open mind you will see the beauty in the future of the small buds and early blooms if you look for them. I have found this to be such an important aspect in my life, I will do my best to do this more often. My top 5 thankful Sunday items:

1. Quiet mornings and making time for prayer

2. Beauty all around

3. Blog friends offering warm support

4. Colors of nature

5. Taking each day with an open mind

Inspiration_Avenue_Spirtual



I find that no matter what I may be doing, I keep certain truths to guide me. The St Francis Prayer speaks to my soul. When I feel lost or have doubt, I can pray this and find myself again. This piece only includes the last part of the prayer, my favorite part. I created this for the challenge at Inspiration Avenue this week. I love the different topics and how my creative mind evokes ideas and thoughts.It is fun experience to put the thoughts into a piece.