heARTful Times

Hello lovelies! Thanks so much for your visits along with the birthday wishes for hubby. I had to postpone the family dinner until just this past Sunday because of the bad weather the week before. And that's OK because it just extended the celebrating! I'll share just a few pics of our fun, and for Elizabeth and all the T ladies at T Stands For Tuesday, please note the beverages:):

 These are all the cards he received! I wanted to have a card shower for Bill so I  sent out an email asking some friends and family to send a card or two and they didn't disappoint-thank you!! So much fun seeing his reaction each time he got a card to open (some even had "special" coupons in them for "older adult" products) he he! Of course, he eventually realized what I had done :) I plan on making a journal cover like the one Susi so cleverly made -see it here- to hold all the cards.

We toasted with champagne, had baked ziti, salad and rolls, and homemade chocolate cake for dessert. See that award behind him? Here it is up close:

   Signed by I. P. Nightly :):) . I did it on my computer using this site. Check it out! There are lots of great ideas and templates- free.

Aren't hubby and our son mirror images of each other? I swear Todd does have some of my DNA somewhere-lol!

Now on to the art! First up I have a tag meant for several challenges - the Simon Monday Challenge ( Love is in the Air); the Simon Wednesday Challenge (Have a Heart); and Tag Tuesday (theme is Heart-heart-heart):

 Products: manila tag, Stickles Diamond Glitter Glue (Ranger); Tim Holtz Worn Wallpaper, Clippings Stickers; rose image (Retro Café Art); felt heart (JoAnn Stores); Distress Oxide ink (Frayed Burlap); Gold German Dresden border, silk ribbon (ARTchix Studio); tiny buttons (Gary Burlin & Co.).

 I'll share this journal collage page with Try It On Tuesday for the theme of "Time Flies". This was also a quick collage I did for an Instagram challenge (the Use It Up Fill It Up in 15 min. one I've been participating in this month:

 The focal image is a postcard someone had sent me quite awhile ago and I was hoarding it preserving it in my stash because I loved it so:) Now I have it to look at in my Creative Dyary Journal anytime I want:)

 This was yet another 15 Min. challenge collage in another art journal:

 I do believe I can get away with linking these to Art Journal Journey for the challenge of "Geometric Shapes" hosted this month by Alison.  and I will share the second one with Moo Mania and More (theme is "Squares") with the heart square I used.

 And as usual I will play along at Paint Party Friday this week!  Looking forward to seeing what everyone has been up to. Another few days of bitter snow and cold are arriving which means I will only venture out if I really HAVE to. Hopefully that means more time in the art room:) Have a safe, warm and creative week all!

 "Use your imagination not to scare yourself to death but to inspire yourself to life."   Adele Brookman

BRRRR!!!

 How is everyone? I do hope the predicted snowstorms the US this past weekend didn't wreak too much havoc. I cancelled Bill's birthday dinner because we were warned of up to 8" of snow changing to a freeze up once the gusting winds would arrive along with single digit temps. Thankfully we only got about 1 1/2 inches of snow but the winds came and everything was iced up. Good thing is that this is a federal holiday today (Monday) - Martin Luther King Jr. Day- so many have the day off from work and school. This morning when I got up the winds were still howling and it was 6 degrees F with a wind chill of 14 F below zero- now THAT IS COLD!!! And as you can see I am all bundled up and yes, wearing fingerless gloves while having my morning coffee and reading. Oh how I wish I had a fireplace...I'll try and stay warm by visiting friends at T Stands For Tuesday.

 This tag is meant for Tag Tuesday (theme is "mail/postmarks/postage stamps") and Try It On Tuesday (theme is "something old, something new") I used a new Tim Holtz Layering Stencil (Plaid) for the background with Tea Dye Distress ink. Other products; washi tapes; Versafine Onyx Black ink; Text stamp is an OLD rubber stamp from Acey Deucey; Tim Holtz paper dolls; reused postage stamp.

 I've been working on some Valentine cards and this one is meant for the Simon Wednesday Challenge of "Clean and Simple":

 yes, here again is my new Tim Holtz Plaid Layering Stencil I 've been playing with ;) Other products: small white notecard; Distress ink- Worn Lipstick; XOXO computer generated; felt hearts, foam hearts- Michaels.

 And for Art Journal Journey where Alison is the hostess this month with the theme of "Geometric Shapes", and Paint Party Friday I have this journal page to share:

 I have also done this collage in 15 minutes using my stash of ephemera for the Instagram challenge to "use it up, fill it up" in 15 minutes. These bits were practically together already when I opened my container so it was meant to be!

  Wishing you all a warm, happy, and creative week wherever you are.

      " No person has the right to rain on your dreams."      Martin Luther King Jr.

Art and Celebrations

 Hello Peeps! Time really does fly doesn't it... already mid January and no real snow to mention - so- fingers and everything else crossed that the rest of the winter months continue this way although accumulation is predicted for the weekend:(

 There are a few special celebrations to mention. The first one is that we went to our very first "Reveal Party" our sweet young friends had this past Sunday. Have you ever heard of this type of party??? I'll explain:

Lynn and Andrew are expecting their first child and had a party to reveal what the gender of the baby is going to be.

 They had gotten a sealed envelope ( so that even Lynn and Andrew didn't know) from the doctor to take to the baker who made the cake. Inside the cake it would have either blue or pink. Oh the anticipation- and everyone making a guess (hubby and I said  "girl")

and......

  It's a BOY!!! They also had this recorded live for Facebook and facetime as they have friends and family scattered about the US. Such a wonderful way to get the news and celebrate all at the same time - physically or virtually!

 Sharing with T Stands for Tuesday as you can see the cups, glasses and drinks along with the food. And Elizabeth I knew you'd especially like this last pic:) That is a vintage rocking horse.

 This week we are celebrating hubby's 60th birthday!! No photos yet but I am quite busy leaving snarky messages in his lunch each day,preparing for  other things, and the cards are beginning to come in! I am having so much fun with it all! His birthday is Thursday the 17th but I will have a family dinner over the weekend. All teasing aside he is in great shape and for his birthday wanted to go to Cape May in May to run a 5 K race! I'm quite happy to cheer him on at the beach:)

 I will share this journal page with the Simon Monday Challenge for the theme of "Recycle Something":

 I recycled an old calendar with pages of doors and quotes, and recycled the corrugated cardboard too. Some of you may have seen this on Instagram as I post there too. The bokeh dots are painted with a pearl medium to give them a sheer and glowing look. The background is a stencil  that I sprayed Gray Marabu Art Spray through. I'll also join Art Journal Journey for the theme of "geometric shapes" hosted by Alison this month.

 And here is the full journal page I did (detail pic is at the top of my post) using my word of the year again:

  I had also shared this one on Instagram for a 15 minute "use it up, fill it up" month long challenge hosted by Tiffany of SouthernGalsDesigns. Yes, I did finish it in 15 min as I began with a page that already had the leftover paint and spatters on it. I also had already made a few dymo tape pieces with my word of the year. I stenciled the red circle and added the rest from my stash of ephemera. The sewn fabric with tulle was already done when I grabbed this piece, and well, who doesn't have butterflies lying around? I'm finding this to really be a fun challenge- not much time to think or overthink!

 Joining also with Paint Party Friday. Have a super week everyone- and thanks for stopping by here on my blog and/or on my Instagram page!

 " As soon as I change my focus and let go of what no longer serves my highest good, I create space for greater fulfillment in my life."

Happy New Year!!

 Hello, hello, I took quite a bit of a blogging break over the holidays and I have missed everyone! Hope you all had a wonderful holiday. Any special plans for 2019?

 I'll begin with a champagne toast to my peeps at T Stands For Tuesday!The above is an acrylic painting I made inspired by a Painting With Jane You Tube video. The sentiment was added digitally. There are gold sparkles about but I just wasn't able to capture it. Edited In: I'll also join Try It On Tuesday (theme of "something old, something new"). I have done several of Jane's paintings but this was a totally new style for me!

 These are the handmade cards I received, along with an ornament and fabric ATC:

 Such talented friends I am fortunate to know. And my thanks also to everyone for the photo cards, ecards, and  emails- all are appreciated-thanks for thinking of me :)

 Anyone get new art supplies or books or sign up for classes?

I received some gift cards which I used to purchase a few things:

 I love the Posca pens but only had them in white and black. And people on IG have been raving about this book so of course I had to have it too:) I've only had a chance to quickly browse thru it since it just arrived. I also signed up for Dina Wakley's  online course Figuratively Speaking (for 1/2 price-yay!!) and am looking forward to it.

 For both the Simon Wednesday Challenge and the Simon Monday Challenge I am entering this card for the themes of "Use Something New":

 In all the years I've been cardmaking I never made a shaker card before but the new Simon Says Stamp Mod Leaf die inspired me. Besides, so many card makers create shaker cards and I saw a lot of beautiful Christmas inspired ones this past month that were so gorgeous I just had to try it too. I love how pretty it is and will definitely be making more!

Products: Neenah Solar White #110 card stock, acetate, Mod Leaf die, foam tape, Moonshine sequins - Simon Says Stamp); Mega Mixed Messages clear stamp set (Papertrey Ink); Versafine Onyx Black ink; assorted sequins from my stash.

 My new word for the year:

                                                           RELEASE

 and it's the first spread in my new calendar journal which is the Dylusions Ranger Creative Dyary. I love how Yvonne of Meggys Way carried the colored pages from the right into the calendar side on the left on her pages so I decided to do the same :) Do you have a new word? I was taken aback at how my word found me and knew it was meant to be. I love the energy of it! In previous years these are the words I used - focus, mindful, nourish, balance, cleanse, trust.

 Here is how I covered the front of the Dyary:

  Deli paper gelli plate printed scraps collaged down. Then a Dina Wakley tissue collage face and washi tape. The sticker sentiment is Tim Holtz, and foam stamps were used for the numbers.

 One last journal page to share:

  I'm hoping this is OK for the new theme at Art Journal Journey hosted by Alison this month with the theme of "Geometric Shapes". I figure the photos and eyes square and rectangular shapes would count for that:)

 I am also joining Paint Party Friday!!

 So looking forward to catching up with all of you again! See ya soon...

" Honor your being, release each and every struggle, gather strength from life's storms, relax into the arms of the spirit."       Jonathan Lockwood Huie