When Pigs Fly

Learned a new word to today..... the phrase, "when pigs fly" is an adynaton, which is a figure of speech.  Who would think that cu-pig could go from a cherubic little Roman figure to an adorable portly pink pig.... but he has! That, is no hyperbole... describing an impossibility. I just love the layout and the colors of this card and of course the su-weet Cu-PIG! Love is in the air ♥

I'm on day 4 of the new part time job.  I am job sharing a receptionist position and a small manufacturing plant in the city I live it.  So far, so good!  I think I have answering the phones down pat! I must truly admit, I thought I needed a change in my life, and I certainly have got one. It's been a year of changes with our son off to college, our daughter driving and getting more independent, my dh going through a stressful job situation..... according to Pinterest.... the funny thing about life can be put into 3 simple words.... it goes on!

Sweet Hogs

In simple drawing terms, all animals and people and landscapes can be drawn with shapes - circles - squares- triangles etc... that are just built up upon themselves to create the shape and then color and shading come into the picture.  Pigs are cute roundness.... a lot of pigs aren't really fat.... that's the image to create a good pig story.  Wee wee, fat piggy toes..... weeeeeeeeeeeee goes the pig Max in the car with his pinwheel!

Sometimes the most simple things mean the most.

Ribbon Wraps

This is about half my ribbon stash.  I finally figured out that I could actually use a lot of my straight pins to hold the ribbon to it's cardboard holder.  Before, long and short strands were flailing everywhere, and it wasn't quite as neat... or in other words, it was a mess  Also too, a few years ago, why they did this ... I haven't a clue.... but someone wrapped ribbon around clothespins.... man, it looks way cute in jars or baskets on display in an open shelf... but not as practical when you unwind it.... unless you were intending to have 'curly' ribbon on that flat card.  You can see a few of those cloth pin mummy wraps, mostly with rick rack on the left side of the photo. It is amazing when you purge and clean, you find things you

a. either never knew you had or

b. things you were looking for and could never remember where you put them 

Why is it that you buy three of one really off (ugly, wont match with anything ) color ribbon, but the one's you use most you never have a back up in the big stash?

Well, I think the best way to get back on track and be creative is to clean your studio, clean your mind, find some new ways to Jump Start your Art, or your heart, or your daily life.... and get back in there.  Let's see what I can make today!!!  Thanks for stopping by!

Label Made the WaY

Part  2 of my Year of SELF- organizing my 'studio'.  I found that I had a little trouble on F=FOCUS last Friday when I was trying to finish up cleaning. I would find a bit, a part, a piece and was not sure exactly where to put it, to find it again.  Some things were easy to dump in a trash bag, but some 'things' surely could be used for something else... where to put them?

The best thing when you go on a major clean, if you take everything out room and slowly weed through it and then put like things back in a similar labeled spot, I think I found success in cleaning out my studio (sounds better than craft room, maybe more sophisticated :).  I have just a teeny tiny pile of papers and miscellaneous things I'm not sure.... when in doubt, throw them out.... but just not quite yet.

I was also able to clean out the kids report card drawer.  I always liked looking through my old papers and awards... it brought back good memories.  Now all of that is in folders by school and by kid

Purple post to my ART Journal.  This is still quite a challenge.  I like blurfing to see how other mixed media artist bring in the color and the shapes... only about 10 pages have been covered and this stuff still scares me.  I want it to turn out "right" but have discovered there is no right when it comes to free-style art.  The pages in my book are approx the same size as a full sheet of copy paper 8-1/2" x 11"

Want to step along a new journey with me on this Year of mySELF?  Today we will focus on E=employment.  I got a new part time job as a receptionist at a local manufacturing company. Oh, I know I can do the job.... but my head hasn't been quite in the game for a long time... but I'm going to go in there and SH!NE today!  Wish me luck!

Moving Forward

Here are a couple more cards that I made at stamp camp from last week.  Everybody needs to add more masculine cards to their stash, and I think these fit the bill.  We learned a 'new to us' technique in taking the patterned paper and adhering it to the card stock and then run it through the embossing folder, the paper takes on a whole new look and with these masculine cards you don't seem to need a lot of extra embellishments.  I really like how they turned out. The colors are vary manly as well!   I may have to get a few pieces of the Graphic 45 paper with vintage male motifs!

I having been working on my S.E.L.F. all week.  Just proud of my accomplishment.... off the computer I burned pictures to a CD and made the cover for the next in the series.  I deleted pictures I am done with.  I am still (but almost done) purging my 'studio' and took all the extra crap out, and slowly weeded through and put like items together in labeled drawers and then tossed out stuff that just doesn't work or fit my style anymore.  I've also revamped my faux company logo (more of that to come) and I've cleaned out the 'kids' drawer and organized report cards and school papers.  That is a lot to stay on track with, but it has to be done, to be able to move forward.  New Year, new SELF.

Also, I got a part time job, but more of that, later!

If it's important to you, you will find a way.  If not, you'll find an excuse ~ pinterest

Details Matter

I'm having fun LEARNING something new every day (or trying to find that!) These made from scratch mini scrap books have been quite a challenge to re-cReate,  (following tutorials from Laura at Following the Paper Trail) but they are interesting, especially when it comes down to the details.

All the little elements put together to cReate the whole cover.  Hand cut and stitched Silk flowers with warped edges from a lit tea candle and a pretty little pearl cradled in the middle of all that fluffiness, 1/4" scored one inch strips of crisp paper that when fanned with a little coaxing turn into lolly pop circle flowers, add a coordinating button on top for the center. Cute dangles of beads and charms and wire works make for something that swings unexpected when the book is picked up.

Clips hold tiny messages and butterflies and flowers look best with a little stickles of glitter glue on their wings and petals.  And this is just the beginning of these cute mini scrap books... there is more when you open the first page...

We must be willing to let go of the life we planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us ~ Joseph Campbell

2.1.12

I went to Stamp Camp over the weekend and we got the opportunity to make about 5 different cards and 2 super cute paper craft boxes.  Here is one of the ♥ cards.  I did not know that they made so many variances for red paper.... this is a bright red!

Need to get some FuN MaiL addressed and  out the door.... pretty soon it sounds like the post office will stop Saturday service....  I think that's okay... maybe for delivery, but they might need to have the office open for those who work Mon-Fri and can't get in during the work week.

Here is a recent page from my ART Journal, just a snippet of a page, I love the color.  I'm sticking to being 'creative'.  This journal has been a fun challenge for me. Messy at times, but fun!

Just wanted to mention that we got the kids passports last week.  It only took two weeks!!!  Dear Hubby was surprised but I told him, the post office lady said the Fed. Govt puts it out there as 6-8 weeks for delivery but they often get it done quicker, but don't want the public to know, just in case there are problems or it's a busy time of the year and they wouldn't be able to meet a 2 week deadline.... makes sense.

Our snow has all melted!  But I'm sure I will see something about our big 3 foot snowfall one year ago today!

Where ever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sun SH!NE...