Be True

Is the glass half empty or half full? It's actually all full! It's a matter of perception. The bottom half is water and the top is air.... OMG.... I have a new mantra!!!! I never liked that analogy... because I know what the other person is looking for.... but I always thought.... IT DEPENDS! Now I can say it's ALL FULL!!

A blog topic can pop up instantly on some days when I sit in front of my computer screen, some days its a little harder to think of something interesting to me! And then some times I think too much. I think it's true that some people really have a lot of opportunities or events happening in their lives.... they're no longer answering the knock on the door anymore because their plate is full. I'm constantly looking for the opportunity and trying to make something happen.

I read something recently ... find something you love to do and you'll never have to work a day in your life. Can you find that at age 47?

Some people are so busy, their calendars are full... to make a lunch date with them you have to plan it out for months away. I've never experienced that. I don't have plans even for tomorrow.

If I create my bucket list, discover my passion in life, am positive, am empathetic and I set goals ... will all these things others have discovered to make your life complete... make me 'feel' like I'm on the right path to happiness, success & prosperity?

Today I feel like my life is like drawing with chalk on the side walk.... a clean slate happens once the rain has come. Self help, self talk, self serve? I want to be an original version of myself... and be true.

My Sources Say...

- You've got Style
- Butterfly wishes

It appears from good 'ole Albert that I have been doing some things incorrectly here on my blog. The word BLOG is a blend of the two words WEB LOG.... which is a type of website. As of February 16, 2011 according to some source which I think MUST be accurate since it was on Wikipedia, it states that there over 156 million public blogs. Many blogs focus on show casing Art, photos, music and short posts.

The Albert I'm referring to is Einstein.... 'the secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources.' Now I find out the 'secret'.... all these years I've been telling you who inspires me and where I CASed a project (C-copy A-and S-hare {or S-steal} E- everything) Yikes, busted! . You are suppose to think I'm this brilliant! I do state when I'm brilliant!! I admit when I think I originated something.... show off!
I do feel, however, that the description of a blogger is something that I can proudly answer to. A blog is often maintained by an individual who gives descriptions of events or commentary with regular entries. Over 5 years and 1,700 posts.... I am a blogger. Plus not to mention the 3 other blogs I started..... you can always see the other blogs by clicking on the boxes in the left column. The cute yellow girly girl of Creative greetings too.... just my paper craft blog and the flashing camera of PR-eview, my 365 day photo project blog.

Now I'm off to take a fantastic picture, create an amazing card, work in my beautiful garden, figure out a wonderful gourment meal, ponder about the true meaning behind making the decision to be a stay at home mom and not get mixed up in the drama of someone elses life! Stay tuned!

Out of the Box

- Dragonflies & Poises

There are too many cute ideas out in the blog world... and then in magazines and then in books... I'm having so much fun trying to CASe card ideas and then add my own touch.

I met someone a while ago that bought a new electronic crafting tool (It's called a Cricut)... a personal cutting machine, she was so excited about it.... but it cost her over $300 for this 'gadget'. I can't say that I'd ever want one that bad to buy it (love to win those type of prizes!!) .... but then I also read on a blog that someone else bought the same 'gadget' and hasn't even taken it out of the box. But they just had to HAVE IT. To me, that is crazy.... although at times I think I 'hoard' paper or little embellishments because the are cute to look at... and in a soothing sense, make me happy... I would never be willing to spend that kind of money on something I'd never take out of the box.... whew!

I was in our local Wal-Mart ( is that one of those Box stores) the other day.... during lunch hour. I would NEVER go there on a weekend. Have you seen the crazy email that circles around with pictures of Wal-Mart shoppers.... it is pretty scary. Every time I leave that store I ask myself.... why in the world did I come here???? Although I personally think the store is very clean, well lit and they do have 'deals' on some things..... I just can't get over the poor service.... every time!!

The first thing I noticed is that people do not know how to drive in the parking lot. People going up the down or walking down the middle of the road aisle. Then when I pulled my cart, I seem to get the one with the wobbly wheel or it squeaks every time it goes around. This is funny.... the greeter was facing inside the store. His back toward the entrance.... I don't know how he was going to say Hello to us. And then everyone shopping that day was buying groceries for the month... so the 5 lanes they had open were filled with large purchases. I went to the "speedy checkout" (20 items or less) which I think is an oxymoron. There is NO SUCH THING as a speedy check out at Wal-Mart. And once again, as I walk out.... I say to myself... I'm not coming back here.

Now I know why more people are buying things on line!

Ecletic Mix

Searching through my left over pictures this wee,k I have a wide variety of cre8tive greetings!! waiting to be shown off. Just so you know winged fairies still seem to be quite popular. Lately my cards lack thoughtful sentiments because I'm not inspired to finish them ... so just before they go out the door as some piece of FuN MaiL, I'll figure out something clever and witty to put inside!

Who wouldn't want a 4 tiered birthday cake? Although a lot more work goes in the cake doodle than the fairy doodle... I don't charge any more for the card. At the time of this writing, all cards are $2.50 each. I'm not like the gas station with prices going up and up through out the day. The cake is mostly colored in with water color pencils, I achieve the shadow effect with a build up of color.... and this all and only comes from looking at an image someone else has done before me. One card a simple fun fairy with glitter on her wings and shoes and one card a bit more love and caring going into the doodle with dots and dashes and swirly mc bobs... yet the same price for love of art!
And finally, punch art cup cakes. Too simple... from top to bottom, a heart, half a circle, and a rectangle with tiny scallops cut into the top! Then the pieces are popped out with some foam tape pop dots that give the entire card a dimensional feel. Hard to see in the photo but the pink background paper is stamped with pink in... it's like a cross hatch... tiny squares, I love how it looks!

xoxox X(kisses) o (hugs)

Hey there!

Did you know that a 'smiley' face is now known as an Emoticon ( a facial expression pictionally represented by punctuation and letters, usually to express a writers mood).

The image above looks slightly human with two eyes and a line for the lips... according to Wikipedia it was seen in 1953 & 1958 in promotional campaigns for motion pictures Lili & Gigi. I did not know that it went back that far.

In 1963 Commercial Artist Harvey Ball is credited for the first 'smiley' button with the iconic yellow background, dark oval eyes and the crease in the mouth for the smile. :) I recall seeing bumper stickers and having buttons as a kid.... the 'smiley' face was pop culture.... Have a Nice Day!!!

I still love that part in Forrest Gump where some PR guy runs along Forrest just as he's been sprayed from tire mud.... and the guy gives Forrest a t-shirt to clean his face.... and it leaves behind a "Smiley" face image... the guy thinks he has created genius and Forrest says... $h!t happens!!!!

I so enjoy taking something that is iconic.... and I can use it today.... and make an adorable piece of FuN MaiL for a friend. And then everyone thinks I'm amazing with my cre8tive greetings!! And I'm recycling art!

My Favorite Things

Okay, in no particular order, and this one I probably could list way more than 10... but it gives a good varied idea...

1 ~ my family

2 ~ cooking new recipes that we actually enjoy. And saying the word Yummo!
3 ~ cute fuzzy friends.... look at that adorable face and he's not even trying!

4 ~ When my garden is in bloom, it makes me look like a professional photographer!

5 ~ Paper crafts....amazing things you can do with paper, scissors & glue (well, much more... but this is just a generic list)

I am so lucky and fortunate to have all of these 'favorite things'. Oh my goodness... I was thinking about the tornados in Alabama the other day with people finding pictures blown over 100 miles away from origin..... I can't imagine what a tornado would do to me and my cre8tive lab... there would be quite a paper trail.

5th month~ 5 things

Need to change things up a bit. Change is good, if its change you can count on. It's also good if you stay consistant and follow through! Although I like my journey here with my 'little' blog and it's my opinion, there are some very cute things happening out there in the blog world. I'd love to be a part of it.



Even David Letterman has a top 10 list. Lists help to keep us on track and task. However, sometimes we lose lists and then forget what we need to do. Ten, is kind of a lot, I fear I'd bore you to tears.... so for today's post it will be my top 5 paper craft favorite tools or gadgets that I MUST HAVE when completing a cre8tive greeting!!!!

No 1~ a good pair of scissors. After hearing and seeing so much about them, I got myself these Tim Holtz scissors. Very sharp and precise!

No. 2 - Creative Memories (this thing is old) corner rounder. It has a clean punch every time and just fits in my hand very comfortably. It will soften the harsh corner of a card.

No.3 - black pen with a fine tip nub. It doesn't really matter to me whose pen I use. but I have found that permanent ink is better.... it won't run or smudge if water gets on the paper. I use this type of pen every day to sketch my doodles.

No. 4 ~ 3M Glue stick.... I buy them in a 12 pack at Sam's club. Love them. I use them on all my projects.

No. 5 ~ Fiskars self sharpening paper cutter. I use this to cut the cardstock and to cut every piece of paper that goes on a card. Edges are starting to fray on some paper. I hope I don't have to replace this, just tighten a screw or something.

There you have it.... my top 5 items I love to use in card making. Oh, there are a ton more.... but I think for everything I make.... I use these items the most. Can't do well, without....

Stay tuned for my next list.