wander through life

Greetings out there in blogland, it's been another long season where my hands have not been inky, but dirty with earth from gardening.  Now that the weather has turned, I find myself anxious to return to my studio for creative fulfillment.  Today I am playing in SCS's color challenge to use the colors kraft, white, and green. The Card Positioning Systems sketch 242  fit well with my idea.  Credit for the doughnut image goes to Suat Eman Free Digital Photos.net.

'As you wander on through life,
Whatever be your goal,
Keep your eye upon the doughnut,
And not upon the hole'

Mayflower Coffee Shop, Chicago

I've had this wonderfully positive quip for awhile waiting for the perfect opportunity to use it. And how true it is...a positive message wrapped in yummy sweetness...can't you just close your eyes and pause just a moment...that yeasty smell filling your senses...warm, the perfect softness as you take a bite.  I don't know about you, but I need to remember to focus on all that is WHOLE, and true, and good.  And that, my friends will save me 600 calories, cause no one can eat just one!

Thanks so much for stopping by, if you found me again today.  I'd love to hear how you've been and especially how you are wandering through life.

Blessings,
Susan

A Cameo...

I've been thinking on the latest big Moxie Fab Challenge for quite awhile now, you can find it right HERE.  The call was to create a cameo in an innovative way.  Like Cath, I do remember my grandmother wearing a beautiful brooch in which the cameo was two tone coral.  It was exquisite.  I know many people love to collect these miniature works of art. And of course, those of us a certain age probably remember sitting for a silhouette that went home to hang in the bedroom wing hallway.  I pondered on all these ideas before going to my studio to blank paper and inks.  Funny where the muse will lead, if you are patient.


And so here is my take on The Appearance of Cameos Challenge in the Moxie Fab World

I'll bet almost everyone will recognize the silhouette  and instantly have an image of Da Vinci's most famous painting smiling at them.  While my talents do not include carving gems to create intricate portraits, I hope you will see the beauty in your face and let YOUR art wash away the dust.

Thanks for stopping by....

1st Blogged Altered Project for Flashback Friday

hey gurls, I had to dig deep to find my first altered project.. Flashback Friday 8.0 Challenge 

.

 This was created for an Inspiration Challenge over on SplitCoast Stampers for 12/19/08.  I found the template in the resources on SCS...a very handy place, I might add.   I remember I enjoyed creating the 3D tote.   And now that I am revisiting it, I might just have to 'whip' up a few more for that hearty day comin' up!

Thanks so much to Karin for the challenge and to Amy for this everah so fun Flashback!  Be sure to check out this modern retro challenge...

oh, to be Queen for the Day

This past week I was chosen as the 46th Queen for the Day over on SplitcoastStampers. It's been a lot of fun seeing how people interpreted my style.  I think in all the time I've been paper crafting, my style has ebbed and flowed more depending on my mood than anything.  Most of all, I strive to remain true to my ART.   Don't forget to click to enlarge the photo...I wouldn't want you to miss Maude!

I wanted to create a card to celebrate what it is to be Queen for the Day.  The quirky TV show from the late 50's-60's is considered a forerunner of the 'reality' type series.  I recall my mother watching when I was a young girl...I learned to tie my shoes one afternoon while she was enthralled with the story.  There was an applause meter, a crown, a throne, and prizes galore.  Even as a girl of 5, I thought a washer and dryer was a lame gift, though I did like that red velvet robe with the fur trim!

The I Brake for Stamps Stage Stamp is a favorite of mine.  Here I combined it, again, with B Line Designs 'movie house' image.  Playing on the big screen is Art Impressions 'Maude' and my quip is from
Prickley Pear.

So for everyone who shared their art with me, I thank you very much.  I hope you enjoy my tribute!

EYEing you...

I adore Inkadinkadoo's Kid's Quotes line of sentiments...out of the mouth of babes so to speak.  And this one from Cameron Koch, age 4 paints such a picture in my mind!  Can't you just image a pair of glasses with springs on the lenses, going boing, boing, bong back and forth?  So when I saw the  Moxie Fab World  Tuesday Trigger with it's colors, textures, and shapes...an idea was born.

I used Stamp Francisco's optical lenses image placing tiny hearts over the eyes and then using UTEE to make the 'glass'.  The cupcake liners in the challenge photo inspired me to crimp my pink/orange panel.
along with the white scalloped felt edges.  I added the pretty gold ribbon for a bit of elegance of that scrolled paper.  PTI's Sweet Blush is the card base.

The layout is Card Patterns Sketch Pattern 101.  My friend, Amy Tsuruta  inspired me to give the sketch a try.  I must admit, I find sketches intimidating!  I am thankful for her encouragement.

This card also fits City Crafter Challenge Blog #42  All You Need is Love, to include the word,
 Love or hearts on your project.

Last week I mentioned that my husband and I will celebrate 24 years of wedded bliss on Valentine's Day.  Well, Cameron's quip is exactly right...my husband will look up at me and that connection still
leaves me 'twitterpated'!  MY eyes turn into little hearts for him.

Thanks kindly for the gift of your comments.

Blessings

Happiness is a...

perfume which you cannot pour on someone without getting some on yourself.   What a great analogy from Emerson, don't you think?  I love having a visual image to trigger a concept.

Happiness is so much more than a temporary occurrence brought about by a person, experience, or object.  It is to me, an essence, all encompassing that doesn't drift away when outside circumstances threaten to steal it away.  Sort of like a beloved perfume.  One that has had decades of wear.  Once again, I am reminded of my grandmother who's favorite perfume was Estee Lauder's 'Youth Dew'.  She had dusting powder, bath soap, and the beautiful crystal bottle which housed the perfume.  To say she slathered it on, would be an understatement.  And now even 15 years later,  I can open a box, cookbook, or linens, smell her essence and be instantly transported to her house, her arms, her happy countenance.

I took my inspiration from the Bright and Bold color challenge on Moxie Fab
.  The quote is an Impression Obsession stamp.  And my perfume 
bottles are a cube from B Line Designs.  I stamped them with VersaColor and used UTEE on the 
crystal parts.  The metal atomizers are colored with a Copic in gold.  The papers are Basic Grey.




My favorite perfume is Ralph Laren's 'Romance'.   And while I do not slather it on, my hope is that wherever I go, it could be said that I leave behind happiness.  How about you?   I would love to hear your take...

Beauty is not in the face...

I am really lovin' the color challenges on Moxie Fab World this month...next up for me is the Pretty Pastels.   And I was inspired by the examples that Cath posted, especially Erin Lincoln's adorable 'glad we're friends'.  The dress forms were just so cute.  And an idea
was born!  Isn't this B Line Designs 'MAN'nequin great?  I knew I would find lots of uses for a

MANform.  Today I would use the stamp to create an anniversary card...cause there's nothing better
than being held by my loving husband.

The Khalil Gibran quote:  Beauty is not in the face; Beauty is a light in the heart  seemed to be perfect 

for my headless mannequins and the thought I wanted to convey to my husband.  We will celebrate 24
years of marriage on Valentines' day (yes, I got a true romantic).  In fact, our faces have become a road
map of our journey (read wrinkles here)!  He'll say, 'you're still cute to me'...but I know that it is the
light in our hearts that help our eyes to see the road we've traveled down.

I dressed the Crafty Secrets dress form in a sheer ribbon skirt, vintage German scrap underneath, and
ity bitty vintage lilac buttons on top.   I cut the MANnequins' hand free so I could slip the WOman into
his arms.  They are cut and popped to create depth.  Along the side, I stamped the numbers 24 to record
the years.  The quote is placed between the beautiful paper doilies of My Mind's Eye 'Adore'  paper.  And about that wrinkly seam binding up top...I purposely wanted to use it as a gentle reminder that it is truly about what lives in our hearts.

Thanks kindly for stopping by, I wish you beauty.