A Simple Ride

Per usual, I get so excited when something comes together that I have seen, worked on in my mind and then when I put it to paper...shaazam.... it turns out.

How can I explain this picture ....

 

It is mixed media.

It is approx. 12" x14", thin painters canvas. 

 

I ripped pieces of two different colors of patterned paper, one in blues .... for the sky and.... one in greens for the land.  Then I mod podged (glued randomly) the paper pieces on the board.  After a few days when I had free time, I started to sketch out the bike/basket/flowers and painted them in. 

 

I am a realist in so many ways and would like to paint that way... real and how I see it, but this is one dimensional and sort of country folk art-ish!

 

I added some random white dots from a small portion of painted bubble wrap.  After the painting was dry, I used the computer for the sentiments, and sealed the picture with another coat of mod podge. Up close you can see the bumpy texture of all the layers.... which creates the 'mixed' media.

 

To go along with the painting, I created a 'mini me' greeting card.  A much smaller version on a 4-1/4" x 5-1/2" card.

 

I am very happy the way these two projects turned out!!! Success!

 

Come back and visit me again..... to see what I'm creating!!

Worth Melting For

Sometimes, many times .... I don't believe in myself. I'm learning how to correct that!!!

I love to doodle.

I love to cReatE.

And sometimes I am shocked when things actually turn out.

I get giddy with happiness when I can turn this ....

Into this!

 

I still am amazed 30 years later after creatively making my own greeting cards that I can turn a blob of something .... into something else.  And I really love the process and the results.

And of course, I will always admit that a lot of truly creative artist have led the way.  The top left snowman is a version of Olaf from the Disney animated movie Frozen.  Just turning the carrot nose, having a few sprigs on top of his head and popped out eyes .... just makes him adorable.

 

..... I never met a snowman that I didn't like.

 

When I finished these 4 small pages (approx. 4" x 6") .... I'm like a little kid.... see what I did???

 

I can't wait to finish them and send them off to Brighten Someones Day!!!

One Potato, Two

Just like any new fad or trend ... it got started for a number of reasons.  Someone saw it and filled a need or a void.  It's possible that the trend setter tells all about how and why it started .... but sometimes it's not known who started it or why .... and when you see a lot of people getting on board and following, you can't help yourself but be part of it too.

 

It's simple and it's positive, finding hearts in all of nature's elements!  They reveal themselves everywhere!

 

Moved by a simple message that beauty, and love, radiate all around us, ready to inspire, uplift, even heal in some small way, if we're open to receiving them. This according to my initial Google search on 'finding hearts in unusual places'.  Here

 

Throughout this past year, I have found hearts in an sun filled illuminated Grapevine leaf in Missouri, to a small rough rock embedded in the ground on a Geocache hunt. And it's true.....they often reveal themselves to those who are ready to receive them!

Over the weekend I opened my 8 pound potato bag and the first potato I pulled out was the one above.  Surprised, I had to go find my iPhone so I could take a picture.  This potato was too big to be baked with the evening meal, and I really didn't want to spoil my heart find .... so I pulled out the next potato ... and look....

... a baby heart.  Worthy of another picture.

 

Finding hearts in dirt and garbage has the same sort of spiritual quality, only the heart shape is more universal. Its magic comes not just in the power of sharing it, but in the new way people begin to look at the scenery around them — and the different ways they find to connect with a simple shape.

 

And this too, relates (in my mind) to my Year of Possibilities.  Finding something positive, learning to bring my SHINE on and working toward sharing and Brightening Someone's Day!

 

Finding hearts is not only fun to do, but it's a positive reinforcement that there is a lot of good happening in the world.

Before, After & After

Last weeks' post was a view into our backyard.

 

This tree always lets the leaves 'fall' so late. 

 

All of our other trees have been empty for almost 3 weeks.  But this huge mulberry tree loves to hang on to its' leaves until the middle of November.  We used to place a bet in the family, and whoever guessed closest to the 'release' date, won the pot!  But now since we are an empty nest....no bets!  The backyard looked like this on Monday, November 10, 2014. 

 

It was a nice fall day with temps in the mid 50s.

 

This is the backyard on Tuesday the 11th.  Over night and through most of the morning the tree just let it go...... and now it looked like this..... the temperature was dropping fast and it was only in the upper 20s that day.

 

We waited until this past weekend (Saturday) and mowed, mulched, raked and blew tons of leaves.  It took hours.... I was exhausted .... and I didn't get a photo.... until Sunday morning when the yard looked like this.....

 

Good thing we had a very small window to clean up the majority of the leaves!!!  Fall and winter in less than 7 days.  The lovely mid-west.

 

I still love this view.... every day!!!  Before and after!

 

 

Make Like a Tree... and Leave

I see a mess outside my kitchen window. This is the view into our backyard.

 

However, when I saw this picture I took, it doesn't look that bad.  (Have I ever mentioned that I love having my camera on my iphone.... instant pictures.... so cool)

But believe me, wet, soggy leaves from this huge mulberry tree and the huge hostas that scatter around the base .... looks like a lot of work to me!!! The tree in psychological terms is ... still half full!!! Eight years now, this tree always decides to let go into almost mid-November.

The temperature is dropping from the high 50s yesterday to the low 30s tomorrow.  Frozen leaves anyone???

I am always grateful to sit at my kitchen table and type my blog.... while I get to see first hand all that nature IS, just outside my very own window.  I am truly blessed.

How can I Brighten Someones Day .... today! :0)

Established in 1990

I love the way this sign turned out.  It is a Pinterest success. 

 

I have posted about my chalkboard signs before. 

 

Earlier, you saw this sign in my fall basket on the front porch ....

 

According to the directions on the chalkboard ink pen, I was supposed to be able to erase the letters.  I used a rag and nothing smudged.  I got a corner of the rag damp and tried to wipe away Trick-or-Treat... a bit of a smudge.... but my spider didn't go away. 

 

 

 I figured that on this cabinet door that is about 10" x 14",  it had absorbed the black chalkboard paint and it wasn't going to be cleaned that easily.  Now too, it had absorbed the chalk ink.  Fine, I didn't want to scrub and rub all the black paint off, so I took the sign outside and sprayed a new layer of black paint over the text. 

 

And I started a new project on a 'clean' slate.

 

I figured the new sign would have to be a permanent sign.... I had seen ideas all over Pinterest, fun stuff about family, and decided the Robinson's needed to be reminded when they were established.  

This is how it turned out!!!

 

 

Stay tuned for the rest of the story!!!

 

 

Any Combination Works

11-5-14

I recently had a card order that I was excited to create and complete. 

Here are my cute creative greeting cards for this week.

 

Just like I hear and read about all the time, paper crafters are paper hoarders.  We buy lots of pretty papers that we love.  We use our papers, but we also just like to hoard them and say .... oh, maybe on the next project I will use this paper.  Or, it has to be a real special card that gets this paper!!! Or we just like to touch and look at ALL of our pretty papers!!!!

 

This celebrate card can be be made in hundreds of different ways, just by changing out the color scheme for the stars.  For a baby card you could use pastel colors, more feminine? pinks ..... school colors for a graduation.... silvers and gold for a milestone birthday... or, quite literally any combination in-between .... for anything!

 

I'm liking the layers and the textures on this card.  You can even pull out the little 'note' and write a surprise sentiment on the back.... tuck it back into the envelope, open the card and sign something on the inside.... two for one!! Depending how thick you want the card... you could tie a pretty bow or even add a gift card.  Again, this type of card can be made with any colors of patterned paper.

 

The card above could be any color combination.  And to make the card a bit more whimsical, I could add my Bee stamp... or even make a cute paper punched little winged bee that would pop off the card.

And finally in this set .... thinking ahead, a 5 pak of Christmas cards.  Although there are lots of bits and pieces added to this card, it is very simple with a simple sentiment.

 

So, there you go.  Here are the creative greetings I've made over the past week. 

 

Can I make something for you?  And help you Brighten Someones' Day???

Why I Blog

Over the years, I have had people ask me what blogging is, and why do I blog. 

I always found that question to be quite interesting, because I don't think I'm a technological whiz by any means, but why did I jump on board to the blogging world?

This new part of technology was starting to build up online, or on the computer called Blogging.
A blog (a truncation of the expression weblog)^[1] is a discussion or informational site published on the World Wide Web and consisting of discrete entries ("posts") typically displayed in reverse chronological order (the most recent post appears first). Until 2009 blogs were usually the work of a single individual...

 

A little over eight years ago we moved to Illinois.  Just like any family move we had in the past, there is always an adjustment period when we get to the new house.  Organizing a new home, getting everyone settled in to their routines, finding music teachers and doctors, grocery shopping and home decorating, gymnastics and hockey practices, good vets and hair stylist, restaurants and car washes .... the list is huge.

 

At first, I used my computer and blogging as a diary, a place to write about things that were happening in our 'new' life, in our new home.

 

I used blogging as a tool to work on my writing style and my story telling.

 

 

I used it to 'show off' pictures of things I created, made, doodled, designed, cooked or costumed.

 

I used blogging after I took an online class or learned something new that I could describe and add pictures .... I learned how to enhance my photo taking and using all the tools the computer programs had to upload and download 'stuff'.

 

I didn't really think anybody would read my blog....maybe only those I invited. 

 

When I met new people and they found out that I created cards, or painted and designed something, they would ask if I had a website.... I had something more.... I had a blog and it was 'free-er' than a website.  At least if they made the effort.... they could actually see and read the story behind the creativity.

 

 

Often I have heard that some people couldn't find my blog, or they couldn't comment or they couldn't 'look around'.  That makes me sad, because I thought my 'thoughts' were very simple....and my blog layout is very basic, as I am a very 'SIMPLE' person. I'm not sure how to help others who come to visit.  Hopefully they aren't too frustrated when visiting me here at creative greetings.....whimsical paper crafts with a twist on LIFE!!!

 

I'm not afraid that I'm sharing too much personal information.  I guess know I'm pretty lucky.... I have strong core values, I follow the law and I don't 'really' use my blog to target or criticize an individual who may be different than me.

 

I use it to share things that are beautiful and things I think are interesting for others. It's a way to express myself... even if know no one is actually listening.... all the time.

 

At one time, I thought my blog would be a good way to 'sell' myself (things I make) .... but I discovered it was not.  All I know for sure is that I am embracing what I like and love and what I want to share .... and I like to show that on my blog!!

 

 

I got the opportunity to dress up for Halloween at work.  I did it because it was Possible!!! And I'm not missing out on any opportunities that let me express my whimsical side .... a bigger part of me really doesn't care what anyone thinks about me anymore .... life is too short to be any other way!

 

I write a blog because I can, it's fun, it's something creative, it's easy to share and it's become a positive habit in my life.  It helps me to spread SHINE and hopefully, Brighten Someones' Day!!!