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