pause...

EDITING to add: This card was selected as one of two winners in the Jewel Tones Challenge

This time up is a color challenge over on the Moxie Fab World,  this particular one is Jewel Tones. These colors sing to me in a mid century modern kind of way...I am thinking turquoise appliances and Cadillac DeVilles.  Tweedy furniture in golds and purples.   One got their information in a morning newspaper or the 6pm evening news with Uncle Walter across the airwaves as Dad

adjusted the rabbit ears on the TV.  No such thing as instant connections, no Xfinity, or 500 channels. 

My card celebrates these lush colors and a simpler time.  I am learning the value of pausing, how about
you?

Stamps: Judikins man and geometric 'rug'
             Tim Holtz sentiment
             Rubber Stamps of America window
Ink:       Tim Holtz Antique Linen
             VersaColor Black

Boy, your pockets have grown

I am so excited to see my card for the new Artistic Outpost release also fits the 365 Card Challenge to have three shades of blue on your card! I have used the pocket watch stamp from the Outpost set, along with the script. To create this card, I repurposed a pair of my youngest son's blue jeans for the real pocket. It's really hard to believe Andy is now buying clothes in the men's department! The watch was stamped in Versamark and embossed with super fine gold ep. The watch face (serenity scene) was stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and then I painted the whole face with Twinkling H2O's iridescent blue. The cracked glass technique on the lens of the watch was created with UTEE. My third blue is the script stamped down the spine of the card with Memento Summer sky. I attached the pocket watch with Tim Holtz's swivel chain. And the "flies" is done with a dynamo label maker.

Thanks so much for having a look. Time really does fly and it reminds me I need to seize every moment!

Be sure to check out the three new collections out TODAY at Artistic Outpost. For a limited

time you will be able to get a 20% discount if you purchase all three. Click for more details.

The newest three collections from Artistic Outpost have a very natural vintage style, an ode to simpler times. We were inspired by some of our favorite quotes of Henry David Thoreau. His simple advice to "simplify, simplify" are words we should use in our daily life - the hustle and bustle of work, home, and community - as well as in our art. How often do we just need to stamp! Just the act of simply putting ink to rubber is calming and rewarding. We hope you find simple inspiration to create something that makes you happy.



The Outpost: This collection is inspired by our Serenity signature set and continues this theme with a much larger image of our "outpost". You will love the versatility of this collection including the ATC sized farm house, and the nostalgic pocket watch.

Old Grist Mill: We live in the South where covered bridges are not quite as common as they are in other parts of the US and Europe. However, we absolutely long to be driving through the countryside in the fall, stopping at each covered bridge, and just listening to the "clippety, clap" of the tires going over each floor board. Again, we are reminded to enjoy simple beauty.

Generation Redux: These vintage images are grunged up a bit in a unique collage style. They are designed to go with not only The Outpost and Old Grist Mill, but think of using them with Home as well. We love this generation and find that this style of photo stamp is a perfect versatile style to add that "human"

element to your creations.

And while you're here, hop over to these other Artistic Outpost team members...you'll be amazed at what they've done.

• Lisa Somerville
• Gerrie Johnnic
• Kelly Burton
• Cathy Edgar
• Debby Boltman
• Judy Hayes
• Lynn Stevens
• Robin Willis
• Sharon Briss
• Susan Conrad
• Toni Tessler

now IS the time...

Good Day out there!  Hope this finds you singing YOUR heart songs!  I just love this image from Tim Holtz.   I had to bring it out for the SCS Ways to Use it challenge.  My dear friend finds herself unemployed after many, many years with one company.  I want to tell her, yes, it IS time to sing HER own heart songs. Time to reflect, to be patient,  to wait on the next door to open.  The door where the work does not define her, but rather SHE defines the work.  And I know no matter what...it will be work that nourishes her creativity, honors her knowledge, and leaves her feeling well satisfied at the end of the day or night!

If you would like to know more about the specifics of my work today, you'll find it here.

I'd love to hear what songs your heart is singing....

cupcakes and pleats

Happy Monday, AGAIN, everybody!  Why does it seem we are always just beginning our weeks? Well the sun is shining here in the PNW so I have to rejoice.  I'm listening to a random party mix my DS, Andy left for me today...it's like a psychedelic trip for my ears and I love it!!!  Right now, it's Angels and Airwaves, 'did ya know I love you'.  Priceless gifts like this make me want to shout, thank you, LORD for every tiny blessing you place in my life!  

I'm playing in the TLC today on SCS.  The focus is paper pleats.  I needed a birthday card for a dear friend and decided to use one of the first stamps I ever purchased, Tim Holtz's fairy girl with the bingo # wings!!!  I have included all the details of the creation over in my gallery so click on if you want to read more.  I love the admonition to ALWAYS  b Yoself  (forgive my slippin into some of the teenager talk around my house!)  But no matter our age, we should strive to shine as  the Lord created us to be...I know for me, I get jokes long after the punch line is delivered, I am slow to think, and my best jokes are always the ones based on my life!  

How about you?  Are you hiding your light or are you boldly going forth in this world, shining for all to see.  I know the gifts the Lord has endowed me with, I am using them everyday, some days not perfectly, but always striving to cause more smiles and tears of joy...so even though it's Monday, I'm going to count on a good one!  Oh, and if you wonder what's on the shuffle as I end this...Magic Mirror...Leon Russell

Blessings overflowing my friends, everywhere!

sovereign

I am so excited and happy for my friend, Vicky Gould chosen as the Featured Stamper on SCS. I imagine there will be an overloaded gallery from all her friends!  My card for the His Holy Names Challenge fit right in with casing this one of Vicky's. If you would like to read more specific details on how I created this 6x6 page, please drop by my gallery.

I really enjoyed this weeks study on the word sovereign. There are over 290 scriptures that mention the Sovereign Lord in the Bible. I chose two that really spoke to my life, one from the Psalms that acknowledges just who my confidence is in.  And the other from the prophet Amos, a very telling word of a famine coming where the hearing of the words of the Lord will fall on deaf ears.  I truly believe we live in a time such as this where all rationally has disappeared.  I know the Lord warns to write HIS words on your heart and indeed a day will come where there will be no Bibles or a way to read the word of GOD. 

The LORD has a supreme place of authority in my life.  In my work for challenge 2, I chose to place the word 'sovereign' on a spring green paper.  It represents the growth of my relationship with GOD. I used Basic Grey's Perhaps paper. The butterfly reminds me of how it begins life as something less than beautiful, at least in my eyes, and over time is transformed into a creature of great beauty, delicate, transparent, frail, but strong to lift it's wings in flight. To be free to live life in that perfect balance only God could create. I know I'm feeling a bit frail right now, but I'll rest in the hand of the one who created me, for I will soar again, I know I will.

I'm wishing for you today, eyes to spy something of wonder, delicate, yet strong and I hope you'll marvel at the majesty of God's creatures!  Thanks for hanging with me...big smile, well in my mind!!!!

family Christmas cards

Let's see, it's a week till Christmas eve and I have one card in the mail!  That's right on my pace.  

Terrible to admit, perhaps, but I've come to realize I can't do it all, but I'll try to do it RIGHT!  I am glad I have 'people' who love me just the same...my heart will always be in it!

It is Wednesday again and the Sketch Challenge on SCS.  My card will make #2 postal, for a beloved brother and favorite uncle.  He'll appreciate all the fluff and stuff.  I had to use liquid applique on this fun collaged Santa from Tim Holtz.  If you would like to read the full details, you'll find them here.

So how about you, want give up any hints for being more organized and put together.  I'm convinced that arty types are only disorganized and chaos reigns...please share if this is not the case with you...I'd really love to change my stripes