This is NOT a Hobby

I  don't think I mentioned, but over the holiday break ....I got a 'new' craft room.

One day I may show it, but right now it's in the middle of a creative upheaval.

After getting new carpeting upstairs, my oh-so-smart hubby made a suggestion that I move my 'office' to one of the front rooms, Bubba's old bedroom.  It's bigger and has built in shelves. I was SOLD!

We thought doing this before, but now that Bubba has accepted a job in Kansas City when he graduates from the University of Iowa in May.... he probably wont be coming back to his old room.  

So, we flip flopped.  

My old craft space has now become the 'spare' bedroom, and his old bedroom has become my creative office.  It's been a month and I still can't find some of my 'stuff'.  And I have yet to purge and get rid of things in hopes that I can find another use for them. Creativity in process.... making PROGRESS!

What is exciting is. that I'm back to card making.

I'm taking an on-line class and I'm working in an art journal .... I am being 'creative' every day.  In some way or another I doodle, practice my handwriting, journal, create a background, make a card, edit a picture in photo shop.... something to be creative.... and I love, love , LOVE it!

Today's post it's all about these fun birds.  Simple round shapes, half round shapes, imperfect round shapes.... and a cute little birdie emerges.

Brighten Someone's Day with a creative greeting!!!!

Being creative is not a hobby, it is a way of life!

Tag You're It

I had a little fun this past week on one of my days off!

I feel bad that I have limited time to write on my blog and 'show off'.  I used to be so diligent.  But I'm happy to say ... that LIFE has changed a bit, and a few things have to get rearranged.  And you know what?  That's OK!

I love a good deal, a bargain, a sale.... a steal! (Really not shop lifting)  but I was in another city last week and decided to check out their GWI (Goodwill).  It was a bit different than the one I work for.  And I found in the arts and crafts a few fun items that were priced just right!

 

This brand new TAG pad was 99c.  I loved all the papers and thought I could have fun with them.  So, I brought out my acrylic paints and stencils and other 'stuff', and started adding color.

 

 

I ended up painting 12 tags. 

 

While I waiting for each layer to dry I did much needed house work.  A load of laundry.  Vacuumed a room. Unloaded the dishwasher etc.... and then as my reward .... I went back to 'creating' another color or layer.

 

Mixed media.  Different colors, textures, hues, splotches.... random.

 

Not trying to create something here that is recognizable.... just adding color and leaving spaces open to see the base card. Pops of color to make a little whimsy.

 

 

Typed up some positive words that get mod podged to the tags.

 

Then, once all that is dry... added punched hearts, stars and flowers, buttons and finally ribbon.

 

I'm not exactly sure what I'm going to do now, with those tags.  The are pretty big... 4" x 9".... where a 'regular' tag would be 2-1/2" x 3-1/2".  I could certainly add the tag as a 'card' for a wonderfully made creative greeting of some sort.... be it a crochet scarf, pack of note cards, or a cuff bracelet. 

 

You never know what kind of FuN MaiL might be coming your way!

Click Your Heels

There's no place like home!

 

Ah, the perfect 'house' warming gift?  A little sign that says:

 

Home

Sweet

Home

 Week #40 LIFE'S simple pleasure - home

 

You could build your dream home.  You could have a home cooked meal.  You can go back to high school for a Homecoming game.  Things you get from me are homemade.  We've all had homework.  That mat in front of our door says Welcome Home.  There is a cute movie made about 20 years ago based in a Chicago suburb called Home Alone.  We all have a home town.  Some people even work from their home office.  We go to Home Depot to buy paint and we go to Home Goods to find things to decorate our home.  We can read the Country Home Magazine.  During the Olympics Phillip Phillips song Home was played over and over for the girls' gymnastic team http://youtu.be/HoRkntoHkIE 

 

Don't get me started on things that have a house in them....

 

And if you are ever stuck on a computer, hit the home button.... more than once!!!

 

When you're safe at home you wish you were having an adventure; when you're having an adventure you wish you were safe at home - Thorton Wilder

Isn't that what Dorothy wanted in the Wizard of Oz?  To get back home... all she needed to find out was that she didn't have to run away to find her heart's desire!

Home is wear you hang your heart ♥

 

 

Every Beat of My Heart

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart - Helen Keller

Week #38 LIFE'S simple pleasures - hearts

A lot of people collect hearts!

Not the loving hearts from a family member, but actual hearts that they find on their journey though LIFE.  Real heart shaped 'things'.  This week I want to explore hearts.

On one of my walks I found this heart shaped leaf.  There are a lot of leaves in the shape of the heart and each one I see is beautiful.  I like how there are two different leaf shapes in this picture and there is a small stream of light separating them.  But the way I stood on the path I only really noticed the top leaf, the dip in the center made the heart ♥ shape say....'hey, look down here!'.

 

It has been an interesting journey seeking out LIFE'S simple pleasures for me personally and for my 2013 posts to my blog. 

 

This is week #38 and I've seen an interesting pattern in my search and research.  Many of my simple pleasures are names of musical groups,  civic organizations, titles of songs/books/poems, or something defined completely different than my initial idea.

 

Heart is a singing duo from the 70s, Mended Hearts is an organization to aide awareness to prevent heart attacks, Achy Breaky Heart (* the title to  my blog post is from a Rod Stewart Song) A heart ♥ is a symbol for love or it's an organ that keeps you alive.

 

Do you collect hearts?  

 

Stay tuned to see what else I found. Nature has an interesting sense of humor.  I've also made a lot of he♥ART art!

 

Wherever you go, go with all your heart - Confucius

Tag of the Day

Oh!

 These may be a repeat on 'show casing' my creativity... little ole tags....I know I have been creative in greetings and journaling .... but sadly, this is all I've got for you today.

 I must not be doing my blog job very well... hmmm...

Speaking of odd jobs... have you noticed more road kill on the highways lately?  Segway: Now that I drive the same road over and over again, day after day to my DAY job... I notice things (as part of SEEKING to be aware) and I'm seeing a lot of squished animals... I laugh at the same time on this particular stretch of highway... the roadkill is beyond smushed by now (thus the fact of odd jobs... wasn't that part of the city road department to clean up animal carcases... I think it's a job that has been eliminated... due to cuts)

Anyway.... so one of God's creatures is dearly departed (at this point for weeks or more than a month) ... but it's fluffy tale is still in tact... and every time a car zooms by... it stands at attention for a brief second.... and then falls back to the pavement. It's saluting me as I drive by!

Another job I would not like to have... a teller in the bank in our grocery store.  A bank in the grocery store?  No more 'banker's hours' for these tellers!!!   They're open on Sundays... and at least once a month they stop us as we finish at our self-check out trying to get us to open a 'free' checking account.... then I saw one of the tellers walking  up the aisles, handing out flyers to attract more customers... I try and be nice and smile... I know it's her job... but ugh!

We have been shopping there for over 6 years... and we have been doing business at our bank for the same amount of time.... we don't think the two should mix... but as I was saying... another job I wouldn't want to have.

Oh my... what job am I meant for? stay tuned!

 

Card of the Month

This year's Card of the Month Club is coming to a close.  Here is the 2nd to the last special delivery!

I try to make even(if that is even possible) a MORE unique creative each month for the five who a recipients of this exclusive club.  They get FuN MaiL with a one of a kind card that relates to the holiday or season that might relate to the month.  Of course November.... we're talkin' pumpkins and Happy Thanksgiving wishes!

Here are the extraordinarily 'cute' thanks tags (2) that come along with each greeting.

Gotta love this day, and give thanks!

Creative Greetings!

 Hey, thanks for stopping by!!!  Today's blog post is brought to you by..... thanks!  I appreciate when you visit, love it even more if you make a comment.  If you can't or don't want to sign up for 'blogger'... you can always send me an email at prdesigns1@sbcglobal.net.

If you didn't know... I have my own little greeting card business.... PRDesigns.  I have been working with paper crafts for over 20 years now.  I have my own little faux company 'creative greetings!!'.... most cards are only $2.50! ....if you just want to see my paper crafts and not read about the 'family stuff' click on my blog here. Or, look on the right column --> there is an icon for creativegreetingstoo... click on it and it will take you right to the cards!!!   I have lots in stock, not as much as Hallmark or the 49cent store.... but lots of cards and mini scrapbooks for those extraordinary people in your life that you want to recognize with a special, whimsical and unique greeting card! 

Here is a cute scarecrow card and some gift tags that 4 Card of the Month members got as their September surprise card.... the theme of course is Fall!!

Think ahead, have any special events coming up?   Help a small business out.  You gotta admit my cards are pretty cute!!!!

Always believe that something wonderful is about to happen.

pinterest

Up, UP and Away

 I am re-creating a card from a Zindorf tutorial that I showed you for Father's day. 

I thought this would be a perfect 'celebration' card heading into America's birthday month and the summer olympics.  Not quite traditional Americana Red/White/ & Blue ... but making it a bit old with an antique feel.  I found the balloon stamp in the $1 bin at M's.  Love when I find cute stuff for a buck!

I made these cards for my friends who participate or were given the treat of a Card of the Month club.  A challenge to create them ALL the same, yet I couldn't mass produce them... there are mistakes (shhhhh!!!) I didn't mind creating four of the same because each one was fun, unique and beautiful. 

Along with the card that reflects that months holiday or season, I also include two matching gift tags.  These are always fun because the layout is uniquely mine from the left overs of the card making session.  Perfect to tie on a little hostess gift, toss around a bottle of Lemonade or just to tuck in a little snail mail thinking of you note!

We can sing a song and sail along the silver sky

For we can fly we can fly

Up, up and away

My beautiful, my beautiful balloon

Suspended under a twilight canopy - The 5th Dimension

Stand alone

Every month around this time I send out 4 special creative greetings!! that I have made for those, part of COTM (Card of the Month) club.  Here is May's card.  It could be used as a heartful thanks mother's day card... or a unique thank you to recognize someone who held a special place in your heart.

I always want to make and create something very special for these 4 gals who all received the 'gift' of getting 12+ cards for the entire year.  This card is an easel card, so it props up when set on a table top.  The row of punched art is the tab that holds things in place.  I have made this style of card numerous times before and always follow the great tutorials off of Splitcoaststampers.

A little surprise each month in the envelope have been tags.  I love tags and love trying to create something from the scraps left over from the special card, it is a small challenge I'm willing to take on and I love the results!

Never get tired of doing little things for others.  sometimes those little things occupy the biggest part of their hearts ~ pinterest

Shabby Chic

A few weeks ago I shared my 'original' design for a tag swap that I was in.  Here are the completed 8.  They measure 4"x6". Underneath the the large butterfly (Martha Stewart punch) you see tan and then pink, below that is cream card stock....two smaller journaling tags spin out... well they are attached at the top with a brad and you can fan them out and two oval shapes are inked and stamped, ready for journaling.  Will the recipients figure that out? Added some material that looks like lace, but is stitched, so I inked that to make it look tea stained.  Paper pink rose that is stickled and punched shapes and butterflies ad the extra special touches!


A tag swap is where a number of people create similar themed items, but it's their own version, in this case it's a Shabby Chic tag.(new and old materials {buttons, lace, flowers, pinks & browns}put together with a girly girl theme in mind}... made to look old  Someone coordinates the swap, so in this case we created 8 tags, and sens them to Washington State.  After she receives them all... she then figures out a system so that 8 different tags get sent back to you.

The fun part is seeing the different level of artistic freedom.  And sometimes you learn a new or different technique.  She thought maybe 100-130 would sign up, but instead over 250 signed up.  She had to get a PO Box to handle the volume.

I'll show you in a couple of weeks what I get in return.

Well, this may be my last week at the temp job.  Gotta get ready for work.  Weird April spring weather.  Last night our entire front of the house got bomb=blasted by rain and wind (Highly unusual).  Looking out my window now.... the north looks like it will bring in some pretty wicked rain storms this morning. 

April showers....