Monday, January 2, 2017

Welcome 2017!!

Happy New Year everyone! Hope you were able to enjoy some quiet time during the holidays. I had a nice break but did miss posting and visiting while taking the time off. And I am READY for a new year!




 Time to say goodbye to Christmas decorations...


Time to play with new art supplies:
                  some stencils, masks and stamps from Magenta
                  new pens (some to replace completely used ones) from Jetpens

    and a few more stencils from Collage Stuff-each of which only cost me $2 !!

So, who else got some new art supplies-and what are they?? Do tell:)

Anyone choose a new word/phrase for the year??? You can see mine in the detail pic at the top.

                                                              CLEANSE.

 I recently read the book 'The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up' and enjoyed it very much. Have any of you read it? Now, I have NO plans to be so drastic with some of the techniques however I knew this and my chosen word comes at a perfect time. Especially after having renovations done and needing to look for places to store more stuff until everything was completed.Yikes! I'm going to cleanse that which doesn't serve me or my well being any longer-no matter what it is. Clothes. Books. Mementos. Art supplies. Etc.


 I created my affirmation page from a bonus lesson in Tam Laporte's LifeBook 2015 online class. Another great new lesson and technique.

And look what I spotted only after I finished it (text on the left side):

wow! I'm always awed when this happens.

 I also made a dream board/ mood board page :


 Cut and paste collage using calendar pics, Oprah magazine and a few stickers.

 So looking forward to connecting with you again. Joining with T Stands For Tuesday; The Simon Monday Challenge (Start Afresh); Art Journal Journey (new monthly theme is "Every Journal Page Tells A Story" hosted by Erika) and Paint Party Friday. See you soon!

" A simple celebration, a gathering of friends; here is wishing you great happiness, a joy that never ends."        Zahid  Abas

50 comments:

  1. I love your story about cleansing. My word is purge which goes right along with cleansing. I've heard a lot about that book and think I should read it. Isn't it something to find that word stuff in the background paper? I think its all meant to be! Good luck with your cleansing and thanks for joining it. happy T day. Hugs-Erika

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  2. I love your new art supplies, so exciting and such great bargains too! I have some new supplies that I bought in the sale - embossing powder, a variety of stamps including a lovely vine leaf background and a teapot stamp and Stickles Glitter Glue :-). Your art work is so wonderful, the colours on your affirmation piece are beautiful and made me feel at peace and your dream/mood board is so fitting to start the year, and include some of the same sentiments I have signed up to myself :-). Wishing you a Happy T Day! J :-)

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  3. I put all my Christmas decorations away the day after Christmas. I was so tired of Christmas at that point, I didn't want to even think about it again until next year.

    I like your word for 2017. I also like those stencils. I plan to buy a few of them at that price, too.

    You have already made some wonderful art for 2017. I think your affirmation page and dream board page are wonderful and really reflect the feeling of cleansing, too.

    Thanks for sharing the beautiful art and your wowser new stencils, as well as your coffee with us for T this soon too be Tuesday.

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  4. All these wonderful creations in one place ~ all wonderful ~ I think my favorite is the feather one ~ Yes, I am doing the 'cleansing' also ~ weeding out 'stuff'' ~ No art toys for Xmas as I have too many! Did get some of favorite small journals to write in ~ Wonderful post and creations ~ Enjoy.

    Wishing you a Happy and Healthy New Year ~ ^_^

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  5. Hello dear Linda
    Cleansing is a very good word to start the year with.
    I'm on a self imposed cleanse too - emptying wardrobes, drawers and everything to make from for when the froggies arrive ha ha!!!
    Shane x

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  6. Cleanse = Yes!
    Lighten your load = Yes!
    We are on the same page.
    I feel like I've come so far but still have a ways to go.
    Wishing you great success with your renovations and purging.
    You are so right about when words and things appear.
    I am always amazed and delighted by that.
    Happy first T Day of 2017 my dear friend
    oxo

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  7. I benefited so much from the Tidying Up book. I found it very helpful. We keep Christmas decorations up until January 6th, so we've not started putting ours away yet.

    Happy T Tuesday :)

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  8. What a lot of lovely art supplies you got - have fun with them! Cleanse and purge are words which frighten me a bit, but it's good to let go sometimes! Your new art is beautiful and full of colour,, and my fave is the feathery one. Have a wonderful year, and thanks for joining us at AJJ! Hugs, Valerie

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  9. Your chosen word is fabulous -tidying up is for sure good for all - specially for body, soul and mind !
    Good luck for all you have on your agenda for this year dear Linda! HAPPY 2017!!!!
    You made me so happy with your beautiful x-mas- card!
    oxo Susi

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  10. i haven´t Chosen a word, but i should copy yours;) would be really necessary here...
    wonderful artwork linda, and i envy you for this awesome nigella stamp from stampington - such a wonderful plant! seeing your stencils my wishlist is growing;)
    happy t-day and a wonderful 2017!

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  11. That sounds a good word to me, but I never seem to keep on target.
    Fabulous art pages , the affirmation page is wonderful. Enjoy using your new craft goodies.
    Happy T day
    Yvonne xx.
    p.s. I put my Christmas decorations away yesterday, they are always back in storage on the 2nd.

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  12. Cleanse. That is such a good motto for the new year. One can cleanse on several levels. Declutter, clean, tidy, re-order, all good words.
    I love the feather. Wow! Yes, what a coincidence that 'stuff' appeared. Now you will have to spend a year getting rid of 'stuff' All kinds of stuff...
    No I haven't got rid of my decorations yet. Here in Spain the festivities haven't finished yet. We have Los Reyes (the Kings or Epiphany) still to come. It is the day the children get their presents. It is a public holiday and there will be parades through town etc. Schools don't re-open until after Los Reyes.
    Happy New Year and happy T-Day,
    Hugs,
    Lisca

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  13. Love your new art supplies. My next set of art pens will be Posca after seeing what Tam Laporte does with them. I bought new paint brushes, two sets of acrylics, clear gesso, and watercolor paper to get set for Life Book 2017. So excited!

    I love your feather page and your word of the year. The "stuff" definition found after the fact is awesome. Love when that happens.

    My word is "welcome" as in I am welcome (to the world of creative people and other things I've been telling myself I couldn't be or have).

    Happy T Day and New Year, Linda!

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  14. Great word and the surprise of finding "stuff" in your collage. Your vision board fits with your chosen word as in cleansing the spirit. Looks like you are off to a very creative new year. Enjoy your new toys.

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  15. Love seeing all your art supplies and your word for the year... I don't do words or resolutions... i always fail at them... I just try to be the best me i can be .....what ever that entails.. lol Hmmm.... I got a mountain bike for xmas and AND a full FULL set of Prismacolor pencils!!! woohooo!!! LOVE those stencils of yours...!!! Happy first T day of 2017!! Hugs! deb

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  16. Wow! Fabulous art! I especially love the feathers! Uh Oh! I have stencil envy - what a bargain you got of course I love those poscas - I did get some of those myself at a bargain price from a bargain corner at the local stationers! Happy T Day! Chrisx

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  17. Awesome collage and beautiful art! yes, I really need to purge...I haven't even taken the tree down yet. It's always into January before I do because i love it so much. I got some Staedtler pens, and of course my new Hobonichi that I journal in daily...art supplies are so fun! that's why we end up with more than we can actually use, right?! Happy T Day, and Happy New Year!

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  18. You've been so busy already starting the new year with wonderful art and a great word for 2017. I love how appropriate your collaged text turned out to be! I too aim aiming to downsize a bit but not my art supplues. Had a bit of a splash on Fresco oaints from Paoerartsy. Love your new stencils.

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  19. Gorgeous artwork Karen, both projects are fabulous and I love your word for the year 'cleanse' I definitely need to that, a major de clutter is in order ;-)

    Thanks for joining us on the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge
    Luv
    Lols x x x
    can you please email me a:t simonsayschallenge@hotmail.com. thanks xx

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  20. What a lovely positive post and gorgeous and cheerful page to start the year with Linda.. much appreciated on a gloomy cold day here :)
    Have fun with your new arty/crafty goodies. Love your stencils especially.
    I opened some dies I had yesterday and the plastic packaging has crippled my hands today as it was so hard to cut open... and then try and prise the die off strong sticky tape... fun and games :)
    Happy New Year... Gill x

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  21. Happy PPF Linda. Love your joyful snowman header, too. Hugs, Valerie

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  22. Beaufiful! It really is fascinating when we discover imagery, words, etc in our artwork that we subconsciously added. That's why I think art is so meditative and transformational. Your going to have fun with all those new art supplies, and I am amazed at the deal you got on those stencils... especially the TH one. Happy New Year, my friend!

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  23. Hey Linda
    First of all, A very happy and exciting new year! Hope all your dreams and aspirations turn true...'Cleanse' speaks a lot! I need to do that too! :) It's all so cluttered here as well!
    Saw the word 'Travel' in your moodboard...if you are to travel to Kerala, this is the best time as Kochi Muziris Biennale is happening in Kochi and I have a video of mine installed in one of the collateral projects. You can art, art and more art all around (& it's for 3 more months until end of March)!!!
    Thanks for always being such a great support!
    Hugs & Kisses
    Deepa

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  24. I try to cleanse, I really do, but then I find things I forgot about and then forget I'm supposed to be getting rid of stuff, lol My WOTY is adversity :)

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  25. Hello Linda, thank you for your welcoming comment on my blog. PPF is certainly a lively spot and I'm so glad I found it.
    It always feel so good after a good cleansing and tidy up (says I trying not to look around my cluttered little space ;D) ) My challenge is to keep it tidy!
    Your affirmation page is delightful and quite beautiful to look at. How cool is that syncronicity with "Stuff" on your cutout... it's always amazing when that happens.
    Cheerio now, catch you again.

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  26. I go crazy over art supplies and I definitely need to learn 'The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up' . One of the reasons I have gone to digital painting is because of the money I save on supplies but I still love dreaming over various paints and pens and spiral journals, etc. Love your dream/mood board. Happy 2017:-)

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  27. Beautiful art work today, Linda. I think purge would be the better word for me. I need to clear out my closets and get rid of the stuff I've had for 25 years.

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  28. Oh yes I put away my Christmas decorations this morning.

    happy PPF and Best Wishes for this New Year

    much love...

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  29. oh Linda, when I saw the stencils I went to the link right away. Alas, shipping outside of the US is 24$! for just a few stencils ... that's a bit steep. But they are gorgeous. How fun to start the new year with new supplies. I've heard from a lot of people who want to get rid of "stuff" this year. Even my daughter, who is 14 and a real hoarder, has started to clean out her room! Love the affirmation page you did! Gorgeous feather, gorgeous colours and gorgeous composition. You're starting the year well!

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  30. Ha! Yes, I love it when that happens too! It really IS so magical. Once a few years back, I did an art journal page about my grandma. I used vintage text ledger pages and then "randomly" ripped pieces and glued them down. It wasn't until a year later, when looking at my journal, that I realized that I had inadvertently used a piece of ledger paper with her birthday on it!! weird. and cool. I LOVE LOVE LOVE your feather piece and word of the year. bravo on all! xoxo

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  31. First I love your header. It is so happy. Art, art supplies, and a word for the year. You are on your way to a great start. Have a wonderful weekend.

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  32. Lovely pages, Happy New YEar Linda!

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  33. You really did get so great art supplies this time around ♥♥♥ Love the header and it's time for me to do some purging of supplies and all other types of stuff too.

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  34. Oooh! So fun to see all your new art supplies. I have not read that book but I've heard a lot of good things about it. Beautiful journal pages!

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  35. Lovely art Linda.
    Happy new year ❤

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  36. Your blog header is wonderful - made me smile! Sounds like you are ready for a new start and well on your way and a great year! I did the big purge in 2015 when we renovated and got rid of so much "stuff"! Last year, my word was "nourish" and it was wonderful - for myself, our home, my art and everything around me. This year, my word is "possibility" and I can't wait to see what happens! I so admire your vision/mood board. I often think about doing one, but then I never do... Today is my day to clear away Christmas decorations. Usually I miss the coziness of them, but this year I'm ready for it! Happy New Year and Happy PPF! xoxo Silke

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  37. Happy New Year! Hope to see you more in 2017!

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  38. Really great creations, can tell you are having fun!!!
    My word for the year is
    PLAY

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  39. I love the feather, your art is so charming. Happy New Year!

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  40. I have not read the book but I bet I would love it as I am in the middle of cleaning up here and there. But still more to go.
    Loved your feather art :)

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  41. Linda this is such an inspiring post!! Love how the stuff showed up on the page... My daughter is on a quest to cleanse her stuff too!! The icy roads are holding her back a bit!! Great vision board too!! Perfect word for what you want to accomplish...I chose one...but after discussion with Cupcake we realize it could go in the wrong direction!! I may go word free...still pondering! All the best and a New Year filled with joy and creative abundance!

    Hugs Giggles

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  42. Wonderful and whimsical! My newest art gift is the Guerilla Painter thumb box 5x7 pochade - and I love it!! I got a new watercolor confections pan set in the mail today! I can't wait to try it out tomorrow! Happy PPF :)

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  43. Gorgeous artwork and a wonderful interpretation of our challenge! Thank you so much for playing along and for sharing your project with us over on the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog... :)

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  44. Happy New Year, Linda!! That book sounds great. I read 'Essentialism' by Greg McKeown early last year and it seems to be along the same line. I loved it and am going back to reading passages every now and then. 'Less but better' was my motto, 'cleanse' is going in the same direction.
    Your mood board could be 99 % mine, the 1 % stands for different choice countries to travel to :)
    I jumped aboard Life Book 2017 and just started. I had taken another course by Tam Laporte and loved it, so we'll see how this one goes.

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  45. Hi Linda and a very belated happy T day for last week. Thanks for visiting and the tip to go read your friend's blog. Not got there yet but I will.
    Cleanse is what I should be doing so I can craft again.
    Hugs
    Cazzy

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  46. HNY, Linda! Sounds like your year has started out great. Lots of new art supplies to make new art. :)

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  47. Great post Linda and word for 2017!

    Yes... I have read and loved that book :) I am a convert to her ways... and I am now in love with folded socks in my sock drawer and her way of hanging clothes.

    I am clearing out my art room and enjoying the process!

    Happy New Year to you and thanks again for my lovely card!

    Karen x

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  48. Beautiful pieces and a great word!

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Thank you so much for your comments; it's a pleasure to connect with you!