Secret Heart

Sometimes your heart needs more time to accept what your mind already knows.

** title of this post is the title of a song by Feist

 

Week #38 LIFE'S simple pleasures - hearts

 

I've been looking for hearts.  Collecting them with the lens of my iPhone.

 

When we go Geocaching or a walk around the neighborhood, I'm try to find nature working it's magic, creating this simple shape.  Above, seeds together fell from the tree and landed on the ground and I saw the heart!

 

Love in unexpected places.

 

I'm still going to collect hearts on nature walks and when they just happen!  A sign from the universe? It's like a secret!!

 

Sometimes, on personalized creative greetings, I doodle a heart. They may be obvious... or they could be slightly hidden.  It's like a "where's waldo" game! 

 

Where's the heart???

 

Dear Heart:

please stop getting involved in everything.  Your job is to pump blood, that's it!

 

Off to look for secret hearts!

Dog Days of Summer

 Good dogs are with us for a little while to teach us how to love

like it's our job,

because it is!

Lessons in loving from our most constant friends.

Four Cheers!

 Here are the remaining 3 cards from the series of four Charlie cards.  You can see the fourth card on the last post, just scroll down a bit farther!!

I loved how each and every one of them turned out. 

In keeping with latest challenge to myself... I am using papers from my stash.  It's not that I'm on a 'no buying' spree, but I felt that it would be best to start using some of the beautiful and fun things I have on hand.  Why hoard them? When I can make them into fun things to share and brighten someone's day!

 Normally I doodle my images on square 2x3 white cardstock pieces, but this time, since I see so many layout images die cut from the Nestabilities or other brands, I cut the shapes first and then doodled on the size at hand. Fun, fun fun!  The more layers and the more colors I use, the more I love how these cards turn out!

The same sentiment, "Well be-haved women seldom make history" was computer generated and used on every card in the word bubbles.  I think all the gals who receive these cards from SS will just smile and say, it's so true!

I love pretty things and clever words ~ pinterest

Charlie Shines!

 Go ahead... I dare you.... Brighten Someone's Day!!!!

I am in a constant battle with myself.  I love the concept of SHINE.  A great way realize the impact of little things! 

But I also know that well behaved women seldom make history!!  Incorporate the two and what do you get??

I think the summer heat is getting to me.  I am so confused. Right /Left, win/loose, gay/straight, happy/sad, job/un-employment ...

I was presented the challenge to take an ordinary shoe string and create something one-part Do It Yourself Project and one-part Random Act of Kindness.  I spray misted the shoe string yellow, added some grosgrain ribbon and mesh ribbon and made it into a FuNky bow.

A special birthday is coming up this month and I designed and created 4 new Charlie cards.  A perfect way to top the gift pack of creative greetings was with a SH!Ney yellow bow. I was able to complete two projects in one.

Trying to Be relentlessly passionate!

Now about that saying...I don't know if I'm willing to make history... but I need to make a dent some how, I'll participate if you will!!!

Being Awesome

Gift ideas!!
Card packs one for them, and one for you! Perfect!!! If you are thinking of what to get a girlfriend, aunt, co-worker.... anyone really....who you think loves the idea of giving and receiving unique and whimsical cards (one of a kind you wont find anywhere else).... have I got the gift for them... and you!!!

My friend SS was attending a 50th birthday party over the weekend. Fifty is a special number, don't you think? Going to a party like that (thank goodness it wasn't stupid gag gifts!!) the more you are in tune to a unique gift, the more you tug at your birthday friend's heart strings....isn't that special??

How fun is Charley with bing bonging attenae, on top of her curly head and then sitting on top of a special wrapped cute gift... next to her favorite naughty girl drink!!!! SS got 6 Charley cards blank notes for herself, and the birthday girl got 6 note cards, all similar yet different with the saying.... Well-behaved women seldom make history!

I'm trying to:

Be in the business of being awesome!

15, 30 Happy Birthday & More

- Happy Bow Wow
- Philly cheese steak

Another 2 cards with cutie pututie Charley..... wishing his human sister a happy 15th birthday(shes a shamrock baby) and a family friend turning OMG30!!!!!.... fun, personalized.... glittery.... these cards are exciting and inspiring to cre8te, and to make. I look at other cards for layout ideas.... and then draw my doodle, in this case the labordoodle. Figured out how to make tasty Philly Cheesesteak at home.

We used to get roast beef from our local deli... I warmed it full slices, put it on a bun and made aus jus sauce for dipping.... that was it... kind of blah.... now... I saute` sliced onion and peppers (can be green, but we like the sweeter red... but I actually like combining what ever I have, even jalapeno) I caramelize both on the stove top with a little olive oil. In another pan I chop up the roast beef... and saute` it until heated through with a little bit of olive oil .... mix in ...to taste salt & paper and then add the caramelized onions and peppers. Take a fresh roll, slice down the middle... put a slice of cheese on top & bottom half.... add mixture, wrap rolls with aluminum foil and bake at 350 for 15 minutes..... we are just loving the flavorful dinner. Yummo!!

I have all the Angles

- Another Charley card
- Quiet

Here's another cute Charley card. I made her mom 6 different cards to go in her stash... so when ever a birthday pops up in their lives.... and the person is EXTRA special..... SS has adorable cute wishes from Charley to send to the birthday person!!! Inside and out of card.... close ups....have to have all the angles for the pictures... so you get the entire feel! This is the personalization part of my Faux card company!


Used a Cuttlebug Birthday embossing folder. I love it as a background paper.... I think this paper has a sheen to it (Winning!!!) so it makes the embossing pop!!! Sparkles on the candle and the signature hearts...

It was odd at work throughout my day today.... either people were extremely busy.... so it was very quiet... or they were done and it was very chatty. And I think that two people who work in the department my cubical is set in were mysteriously absent.... so there is mumbling going on.... but I couldn't hear it. Really, I don't want to know... I'm just the temp worker... I don't want to get in the way of business politics.... its a nice position to be in right now! But I have a new name... I'm known as the card lady!!! hee hee

Toot-Toot

- Blowin' my horn
- Time

This is another fun and whimsical Charley card... it's a party on a card with Charley having a party and this will be giving to someone who is having a party... or a birthday. I love pink and orange together. Charley's mom thought there should be a Martini glass in the picture too because Charley is sitting kind of catty wumpus. Tipsy!

Yay! Sunshine and in the 60s today. That's a reason to party! But I'm tired.... the time change is catching up to me... working 34 hours outside of the home is catching up to me. I was sooo used to a different routine, and now we are all switched up...

Don't feel so up to tootin' my own horn.... cuz I want to play and create, make a great meal, play with my fur babies, enjoy the sunshine, but I must also do laundry, clean dust doggies, shop, dust.... just not enough time... now!

Eat Cake First

- Charley cards
- March Forth

Learning, learning, learning (although at times it is scary).... I love it!!! Made some Charley cards over the weekend. Re-cap.... Charley is the female dog of my favorite neighbor SS! She is one of my fur babies' friends! I haven't designed her for a while..... but now, learning Photo Shop... working on my 'new' label of cards (changing and update PRdesigns... cre8tive greetings) ... I felt I saw her in a fresh... spunky and fun new way of doodling. And... I'm learning how to take 'more' interesting photos.. natural lighting.. using the easel, nice background....still working on it all....being C-creative in my Back to BASICS in my mantra for living out 2011. It's part of the FuN MaiL Charley's mom will be sending out!!!

I see on other blogs how there is a full shot of the subject, and then a close up to show something special. Here is the super cute doodle cake, the stickle 'sparkles' on the frosting... and then the heart.... the heart is part of the 'signature designer' on this card.

A new week of work... day 8. Data entry on Excel spread sheet... fun!!! @@ I'm amazed with the Photo Shop on line class and learning Excel.... computers are one amazing tool!!! People are excited because it was a mostly sunny day.... still cool at 39 degrees.... but it seems like spring is in the air! Nice!

Final(ly) day 4 Charley cards

Here she is, one of Santa's helpers! This was fun to show 4 totally original cards! Another one of our computers got the dreaded blue screen, so the kids have been using 'my' lap top and let me tell you it's quite hard trying to be creative without my faithful SCS (Split coast stampers, website and gallery for card makers) up on the screen giving me ideas!!

I can tell it's going to be a weird day!!! I feel it in the air. The dogs are acting weird, the neighborhood walking the dogs seems weird!!! Oh, probably that holiday spirit floating by!!! Well, let's see if today is my last day of work! Wish me luck!!!!! And a happy day to you!

Charley, day 3

Peek-a-boo, just hidin' from you! I love making these mish mosh backgrounds where I take scraps, glue them down then stitch around it. Always makes for an interesting card.

Tick tock, tick tick, time goes by, so slowly..... Madonna... nah! time is just flying... soon will be Christmas and the new year and then more snow..... how is your day going??? No roses to smell? Take time to enjoy the view? SHINE!

Charley, day 2

I'm cool like that!!! Charley has a little penguin friend.... how can it NOT be her boyfriend Cooper. I'm telling my puppy that Charley has a new dude!! Hee Hee!!! What a talented dog to balance a little north pole friend on her nose!!!! This one was fun to do!!!

Brrrrr, cold!! About 8 degrees out! But sunny! I'm not going in to work today until about 11 am.... that's kind of good.... I can get a few things done before rushing outta here. Yesterday I sat around for about 1 hours worth of time, waiting for work to come my way. The boss lady (well kid, I think I could be her mother she graduate high school in 2003) in charge says that she and her co-workers are so busy (but it's computer stuff). I could see that.... but if you don't have orders to pull and post for the hired help.... I just HATE sitting waiting for work. Sorry, I hate complaining, but venting here on my blog does help.... some day I'll have the perfect job and understand it all!!!!!

Charley, day 1

As part of a lovely little gift pack for Charley's mom, here is one of the happy cards with her 'fav' pooch all warm and toasty in a holiday scarf. I like all the different elements and shapes brought into this card. Also like the the lollipop corner dots (thanks Kim). Staying true to my only original cards, each one has a hidden heart on it somewhere around Charley.

Yay! Beautiful and sunny day today. Counting down the days to Christmas and the time when this temp job is done. There are mumblings amongst the temp crew, 'what and when we will be told" are our jobs a kaput.... or will some of us stay on????

Happy Halloween

Charley Stork

Another new one! Charley is the bearer of good news, welcoming the baby stork like! Charley's 'babysitter' is expecting a child, so Charley's mom thought an exciting way to congratulate them on the news was to have her delivering the baby in a bundle. See the cute little toes hanging out??

Charleys wish for Amadeus

This happens only few and far between, but totally my card! Gasp...... Charley's (on the left) mom wanted a special card for a family that moved to Germany... but of course a card with the dogs Amadeus is on the right.... this is the thinnest type of card with depth that I could come up with!

Well, Homecoming weekend is done. To me, it seemed like a VERY long weekend. The kids are off of school today because of Columbus day. Thursday night was a v-ball game against a rival home team, Freshman won.... varsity didn't. Then Friday, rain all day!!! The Frosh v-ball float turned out really cute!!! My mom job was to get t-shirts for the team, and being frugal to save $5... I hand lettered every one's charachter name on the back. They went as Snow White and the 17 Dwarfs.... After that, DH I worked concessions at the Homecoming football game. Hockey club parents do that so that the football parents can watch the game..... brrrrrrrr! Varsity Football team won!!! Saturday was a Hockey tournament. Both JV and V did not do very well... I think they both came in 4th out 5 teams. I worked registration for 2 hours and DH kept the score clock. Then I helped Sissy with her hair for the Homecoming dance.... pictures at a friends house.... mass confusion and communication mix ups! Hockey finished up Sun. nite at 6 pm!!

I'll add more pictures letter, computer is having some difficulty.

Zindorf-ed Charley

Oh, this was so fun! I Zindorf-ed Charley! Charley's mom needed a few thank you cards to send a shout out of thanks for the lovely weekend of water skiing and being by the lake... and what better (and cuter) way to send a card, with the adorable Charley having fun too!!

I'm not sure about the brown sponging, sometimes I feel like I'm messing the card up more! Trying to create the effect of a sandy beach, and the foot prints! Notice a bone as the handle!!

Love, LOVED my image with the sail boat!! If you close one eye and squint the other one, it almost looks like a real watercolor painting!!!

I added little paw prints to the envelopes, to create a complete gift set!!!

Did some back to school shopping yesterday! Ah, the fun of looking at all the supplies, glue sticks, markers, pencil bags.... but ya know... I've got TWO highschoolers now.... no more FUN stuff... it's calculators that cost $100!!!! Yikes!!!!