Don't ask me WHY? (also info on...God Box and Pennies from Heaven)

...I've been so motivated and inspired lately.  or as my Prissypal put it "Stella's Got Her Groove Back" WHAT?  But I won't question it... just go with the FLOW.  Woohoo.  Recently, I read this article in "Real Simple" about a God Box and I thought I'd make one too.  It's a perfect time of year to start new things.  I took an empty used box left over from Christmas gifts... this one was a chocolate brown so I loved the base color to begin with.  Then I printed out a pretty (and appropriate) saying on 8x11 printer paper.  I aged it by singeing the edges with a match (blowing it out immediately so the entire sheet doesn't burn up, this can be tricky in a hyperventilating manner) and then I affixed it to the box top with double-sticky tape.  I also made a loop with ribbon for a knob.  I just punctured a hole into the center of the box top, made a loop with the ribbon and tide it on the inside of the lid to keep it in place.

Below is a picture of the box top using a favorite verse (I have many) from the bible of mine.  I don't know about you but bible verses always bring me a sense of peace and comfort.  I thought this verse was especially appropriate for use with my "God box".  Lawsy knows I have plenty of crooked paths that need straightnin' Ya'll.

 

Inside view of God Box.  I punched various scalloped shapes for use to write my little mini-prayers on.  I keep a few xtra blank ones in there too.

I also finished my "Pennies From Heaven" journal.  I'll post pictures more on that later. I am going to use it for my gratitude journal this year.  This is a journal class that is taught by Debby Schuh over at the Memory Bee blog?  You can read what the Pennies from Heaven journal means to her over at the Memory Bee  <---- click and where it originated.  Just love that.

Always love a new gratitude journal and fresh new beginnings that the New Year brings~~

Shoot for the Moon You Might Just Land Among the Stars~~~

As you might be aware... my word for the year is "FIT" So far so good. On NYs weekend the girls and I decided to make vision boards (also called Treasure Maps, Visual Explorer or Creativity Collages?) in place of making "resolutions".  We all know that resolutions fall by the wayside and never get kept anywayzzzzzzzzz. It was a lot of fun, easy and we hope it to be inspirational in the coming year.  You will notice on mine that I used the word "FIT" quite a few times as a reminder of what my focus should be on this year.

The idea is to surround yourself with images of who you want to become (me, fit), what you want to have, where you want to live or vacation etc.  It can be approached with knowing what you already want, a theme or opening and allowing.  I think we approached it with a combination of those ideas but more so just opening and allowing.  A lot of times I used pictures that had the "feel" of what I would like to become, do or have.

So with clear hearts and minds, some yummo hot holiday drinks and inspirational music we approached it with just a few thoughts in mind. Focusing on:

1. Ask yourself...what do you really really really want? (yes, more of that please)
2. Don't worry about the "why or how"

We went through magazines and images that we had saved over the years and tried to tear out those images that brought great joy and delighted us.  Like I said not worrying about the why or how.  Just smiles and having fun.  Open to whatever spoke to us.  Ohmmmmm. Breathe. ,)

Ok that's a little hippy-dippy

I had been unknowingly gathering photos for this purpose because I had been working on an "Illustrated Discovery Journal" <----click for the past couple of years. Which is still in progress not done. But I was able to grab some pictures already cut out from magazines for this journal to use on my vision board. As a result my vision board came together quickly. 

As I go through the year I will keep in mind what is it telling me about me?  The answers will unfold and we hope that our vision boards will be powerful guides for us as we go through the year.

My vision board is propped up on my dresser where I can see it daily. 

On top of dresser (my daughter added the candle to wake me up one morning) She's such a little spa-fairy

 

In addition, I took a picture of it and have "set it" as my computer desktop both at home and work (this is pretty cool) having it ever present in front of me.

As I added images I found it cool that the pictures all found their "place" on the board fitting just right in most cases.  As my board developed I noticed sections forming.  Predominantly... health, fitness, home, financial freedom, inspiration, faith and R&R.

I also used a lot of favorite sayings as reminders.  Some of my favorites... "You will never find time for anything you must make time", The picture of the eagle with the word "intention",  Set your goals high and don't stop until you get there, the word "gratitude" / "faith"...  The words "effortless" and "deliberateness" found themselves on top of each other (see the upper left corner) when put together effortless deliberateness.  That sounds really powerful to me to go forward in a deliberate manner yet make it effortless.  There's another reference again on my board to my path being straightened??

Must be kind of crooky overhere in prissyland.

My daughter also said that answering this question... (in reference to your one word) Does this choice (fill in the blank) agree with my word for the year?  So I added that sentence to my board in the "FIT" section of the board as a reminder to ask myself that when I go forward in my day or when I get ready to eat that cookie or say no to exercise.  Get it?  Let me see does eating this cookie agree with my word for the year?  um.... NO... um that depends.  Ok come back to me.  I also added the words delight and fun because I need to have more of that.  I don't really know how to have fun in an exciting sort of way so I guiltily made myself into add those words. 

IRONICALLY while I had pictures cut out sitting on the table in a stack of other pictures all ready... my dream "crafty space" somehow didn't make it on the board so I intend to make a second board to fit the pictures that inadvertently were missed (there were a couple of other ones too).  EEK.

Vision board 2011

Don't laugh....

ok so this is the longest post EVER.... whew! I tarred, I gotta go get a cookie

~out

To insure good health...

...eat lightly, breathe deeply, live moderately, cultivate cheerfulness and maintain an interest in life. ~William Londen

This Year I Hope To...

January 02, 2011

1. Get fit, stay fit
2. Keep a gratitude journal daily
3. Write a" that would be fun to-do" aka bucket list
4. Read more
5. Start a God Box <----click
6. Be present
7. Finish this list  <----click
8. .....

I started drafting posts daily after the 1st of the year and I SWEAR there are several still in the queue.  So I've decided to finish writing and get them posted.  There are a couple items of note.  I've been doing some housekeeping on my blog.  Lately I've been changing the "look" with the season.  It's a bit cumbersome and time-consuming but I thought it would be really fun.  So come on over and take a peak.  Right now I just have a pink florally-theme going on.  I was trying to do something with a Valentine theme but that didn't work out.

Also, I've added some tabs.

One is called "FIT" <----click and this is going to be an area where I record my progress for the year.  To help me stay focused on my one-word for the year a sort of one-stop shop to record my stats. My intention is to make it a daily journal BUT I have to back fill already.  Stay tuned for that because I have a lot of stuff I want to share. 

The next new tab is called P.A.D. <----click I've seen others participate in this and have always wanted to give it a try.  This is where you take a Picture-a-Day (hence the PAD part).  So far so good I have all of my pictures loaded here and am current with this project.  YAY.

A couple of others things that I really really like on my blog.  In the right sidebar ----> I have an area of all of my shared "links" <----click.  It's really worth checking out sometime.  Its blog articles I've favorite'd and shared from all of the blogs that I read through Google Reader.  While I am web-surfing if I see an inspirational idea, a color combo, a great sketch or even some decorating and fashion ideas... I will click on the "share" function and it populates in the right sidebar of my blog.  That way if I want to go back and revisit the article I was reading I can do so quickly.  It also gives a good feel of what me likey's if anybody's interested.

Well that's all for now folks.  All text post today.

Goodbye Christmas, Goodbye 2010

The holidays and 2010 fade away...

Write it on your heart

that every day is the best day in the year.

He is rich who owns the day, and no one owns the day

who allows it to be invaded with fret and anxiety.

Finish every day and be done with it.

You have done what you could.

Some blunders and absurdities, no doubt crept in.

Forget them as soon as you can, tomorrow is a new day;

begin it well and serenely, with too high a spirit

to be cumbered with your old nonsense.

This new day is too dear,

with its hopes and invitations,

to waste a moment on the yesterdays.

ralph waldo emerson

Since...

normal programming is down the river with the donkeys and until normal programming resumes.... I'll just C.A.S.E. (C.opy A.nd S.hare w/E.veryone) stuff that I like instead:

Definiteness of Purpose the starting point of all achievement.

By: Napolean Hill

Don't be like a ship at sea without a rudder, powerless and directionless.

Decide what you want, find out how to get it, and then take daily action toward achieving your goal.

You will get exactly and only what you ask and work for.

Make up your mind today what it is you want and then start today to go after it! Do it now!

Successful people move on their own initiative, But they know where they are going before they start.

Positive People, Positive Thinking, Positive Results!

CASEd from Mind Power 365

Happy Thanksgiving Day - An Iriquois Address

Greetings to the Natural World.

The People

Today we have gathered and we see that the cycles of life continue. We have been given the duty to live in balance and harmony with each other and all living things. So now, we bring our minds together as one as we give greetings and thanks to each other as people.

Now our minds are one.

The Earth Mother

We are all thankful to our Mother, the Earth, for she gives us all that we need for life. She supports our feet as we walk about upon her. It gives us joy that she continues to care for us as she has from the beginning of time. To our mother, we send greetings and thanks.

Now our minds are one.

The Waters

We give thanks to all the waters of the world for quenching our thirst and providing us with strength. Water is life. We know its power in many forms-waterfalls and rain, mists and streams, rivers and oceans. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to the spirit of Water.

Now our minds are one.

The Fish

We turn our minds to the all the Fish life in the water. They were instructed to cleanse and purify the water. They also give themselves to us as food. We are grateful that we can still find pure water. So, we turn now to the Fish and send our greetings and thanks.

Now our minds are one.

The Plants

Now we turn toward the vast fields of Plant life. As far as the eye can see, the Plants grow, working many wonders. They sustain many life forms. With our minds gathered together, we give thanks and look forward to seeing Plant life for many generations to come.

Now our minds are one.

The Food Plants

With one mind, we turn to honor and thank all the Food Plants we harvest from the garden. Since the beginning of time, the grains, vegetables, beans and berries have helped the people survive. Many other living things draw strength from them too. We gather all the Plant Foods together as one and send them a greeting of thanks.

Now our minds are one.

The Medicine Herbs

Now we turn to all the Medicine herbs of the world. From the beginning they were instructed to take away sickness. They are always waiting and ready to heal us. We are happy there are still among us those special few who remember how to use these plants for healing. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to the Medicines and to the keepers of the Medicines.

Now our minds are one.

The Animals

We gather our minds together to send greetings and thanks to all the Animal life in the world. They have many things to teach us as people. We are honored by them when they give up their lives so we may use their bodies as food for our people. We see them near our homes and in the deep forests. We are glad they are still here and we hope that it will always be so.

Now our minds are one.

The Trees

We now turn our thoughts to the Trees. The Earth has many families of Trees who have their own instructions and uses. Some provide us with shelter and shade, others with fruit, beauty and other useful things. Many people of the world use a Tree as a symbol of peace and strength. With one mind, we greet and thank the Tree life.

Now our minds are one.

The Birds

We put our minds together as one and thank all the Birds who move and fly about over our heads. The Creator gave them beautiful songs. Each day they remind us to enjoy and appreciate life. The Eagle was chosen to be their leader. To all the Birds-from the smallest to the largest-we send our joyful greetings and thanks.

Now our minds are one.

The Four Winds

We are all thankful to the powers we know as the Four Winds. We hear their voices in the moving air as they refresh us and purify the air we breathe. They help us to bring the change of seasons. From the four directions they come, bringing us messages and giving us strength. With one mind, we send our greetings and thanks to the Four Winds.

Now our minds are one.

The Thunderers

Now we turn to the west where our grandfathers, the Thunder Beings, live. With lightning and thundering voices, they bring with them the water that renews life. We are thankful that they keep those evil things made by Okwiseres underground. We bring our minds together as one to send greetings and thanks to our Grandfathers, the Thunderers.

Now our minds are one.

The Sun

We now send greetings and thanks to our eldest Brother, the Sun. Each day without fail he travels the sky from east to west, bringing the light of a new day. He is the source of all the fires of life. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to our Brother, the Sun.

Now our minds are one.

Grandmother Moon

We put our minds together to give thanks to our oldest Grandmother, the Moon, who lights the night-time sky. She is the leader of woman all over the world, and she governs the movement of the ocean tides. By her changing face we measure time, and it is the Moon who watches over the arrival of children here on Earth. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to our Grandmother, the Moon.

Now our minds are one.

The Stars

We give thanks to the Stars who are spread across the sky like jewelry. We see them in the night, helping the Moon to light the darkness and bringing dew to the gardens and growing things. When we travel at night, they guide us home. With our minds gathered together as one, we send greetings and thanks to the Stars.

Now our minds are one.

The Enlightened Teachers

We gather our minds to greet and thank the enlightened Teachers who have come to help throughout the ages. When we forget how to live in harmony, they remind us of the way we were instructed to live as people. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to these caring teachers.

Now our minds are one.

The Creator

Now we turn our thoughts to the creator, or Great Spirit, and send greetings and thanks for all the gifts of Creation. Everything we need to live a good life is here on this Mother Earth. For all the love that is still around us, we gather our minds together as one and send our choicest words of greetings and thanks to the Creator.

Now our minds are one.

Closing Words

We have now arrived at the place where we end our words. Of all the things we have named, it was not our intention to leave anything out. If something was forgotten, we leave it to each individual to send such greetings and thanks in their own way.

Now our minds are one.

ohenton kariwahtekwen - iroquois thanksgiving address

Its a Bird, It's a Plane, NO it's...

Superdaughter? It was a beautiful evening for flying (www.flytorrey.com) <---click - for some CRAZY PEOPLE. I took these with a point and shoot but it's times like these I wish I had lots of zoom. There were 10 balloons in all up tonight. I love hot-air balloons but you wouldn't catch me dead in one of them. They are pretty however. Warning!! Lot's of pictures... but I like pictures, don't you?

Hot Air Balloons

Sunset - LaJolla, CA

Sunset - LaJolla, CA

Can't my daughter read? It's says, "PILOTS ONLY", "NO PARKING", "EMERGENCY LANE", and most importantly... "KEEP CLEAR"

Ah..hem? "DON'T CROSS"

It SAYS "NO FLY ZONE"

BUT...NO it's thumbs up for Paragliding

The pilot is taking a test drive to see if the winds are STRONG enough

Second thoughts? Now's your last chance to RUN away. Hurry quick.

Pilot coming back to get my daughter because she apparently CAN'T READ and the winds are perfect.

All systems go with a little instruction

Just get a running start. HEY didn't your mother ever tell you? Just because your friends are jumping off a bridge (er in this case, cliff) doesn't mean you have to. STOP don't go. Look at that guys calves!

Commit (this was one of my favorite shots)

OMG Noooooooooooooo

They went up and down the coast. It was beautiful and the wind was cooperating. The pilot said that sunset flights are very rare. Usually they only get 10 days a year where sunset flights are a-go. The winds are usually not strong enough after sunset. Best flying times are from noon-3:00. He said she was LUCKY.

Safe landing. Peace out yourself little Missy, now get out of that get-up. Look at that guys calves!

Deflate the KITE already it might take off again when your not looking. EEK

TADA

Superdaughter

Whatever Happened to My Daily Gratitude Posting?

Here...

Golden Opportunities are everywhere for me. Prosperity of every kind is drawn to me.

What's Great about my Life Right Now?

Still designing my best year ever and I was completing another of the exercises. I am supposed to answer the following question. It's a great question and is built on the premise that before you can focus on designing your best life ever you have to come from a place of GRATITUDE. Yay because that fits right in with the word I've chosen for the year. Anyways... after giving it some thought here is what is great about my life right now...

There is so much great about my life right now I don't know where to begin? My family is all together and and healthy We love, support each other no matter what and keep things "rolling" always. I have a great job of which I am exceedingly happy and grateful for. I have finally achieved a modicum of simplicity in my life and surroundings (still a work in progress but I have made progress, it's hard downsizing after 30 years of accumulating). I highly recommend space clearing activities, purging etc. It is very cathartic peeps!!!! I can't wait to do more myself and continue with the space clearing projects. I have really great and fun friends both IRL and virtual. I have fur friends that are a constant source of joy and love. I have finally figured out how to be positive (well sort of ...hater that I am winkwink). My daughters are great peeps succeeding at their careers of choice carving out lives for themselves in this big bad world. Ok I better quit while I'm ahead because it's starting to head downhill (hear that tone of sarcasm creeping in).

Just wanted to multitask and list my things to be grateful for for the day and complete my assignment too.

More crafting later once I get home. Oh and I had a huge aha moment that will save me approximately $110 plus and I will share it with all of you. HINT: Its a repurposed item that will be used for organizing. I was so excited when I thought of it this morning I am going to stop and get supplies on my way home from work today. Cost of materials is going to be approximately $4.oo vs $100 if I would have bought a commercially made system. WHOA that's big. I was so excited I couldn't believe I thought of it. Well I am sure I am not the first to think of it but it was a new idea for me. I am going to try it. I'll take pictures and show you soon...

Still Celebrating the Newness of the New Year...

...it is after all less than a week into the New Year. As I am still drafting (it's ok I don't have to have them done, I'm working on it) my New Year intentions, promises whatever you will call them. I've dusted off my "Simple Abundance" books in an effort to find additional inspiration. They are classics and I just get inspired every time I read them. If you've never read them you should really pick them up. I have them all (Simple Abundance Daybook of Comfort and Joy & the Companion, Simple Abundance Journal (blank book), Illustrated Discovery Journal (A cross between a personal vision board and scrapbook, great, still using mine it's a work in process), Something More, Moving On your House of Belonging, and Romancing the Ordinary. I also decided to wander on over the the website (hence where I found the freebie). Sarah Ban Breathnach is such a great author she also shared a free vintage image with us. I found this over at the "Simple Abundance" website.

...And January is the perfect companion and co-conspirator for our reflections and renewed commitment to personal contentment and self-nurturance...

--Sarah Ban Breathnach.

What a perfect way to put it... January is a perfect companion and co-conspirator to renew our commitments to ourselves.

I had to laugh because the six principles of "Simple Abundance" are Gratitude, Simplicity, Order, Harmony, Beauty and Joy. Simplicity is second and comes after Gratitude. Looks like I went out of order. hehe. Anyway, here is a portion of what Sarah Ban Breathnach says about Simplicity my One Word for the last several years:

Yes, you already have everything you need… It’s time to simplify. On the Simple Abundance path, simplicity does not mean making do with less, but appreciating the important things more. Embracing choice as a spiritual gift (wow love that line). Making deliberate decisions that will inspire, comfort, soothe and serve you, whether it’s weeding out curios (renting an 18 foot dumpster), paring down commitments or creating a front hall to enthrall every time you cross the threshold. Simplicity requires not only honesty and courage but gentleness and more patience than you ever believed you possess...

--Sarah Ban Breathnach

Considering simplifying has been my "One Word" for the past few years no truer words can be spoken re: the patience part. I am glad that I am now enjoying a more simpler life and home. I'm not 100% there yet but close enough to move on to a new "One Word" for the year which leads me to "Gratitude". Here are some excerpts from the same website...

Well, when was the last time you counted your blessings? Now let’s live it. Together. Find something new to be thankful for today. Many of Life’s most sublime moments sneak up on us and then just as quickly vanish. The smaller the moment noticed, appreciated and savored, the deeper its connection to your sense of peace and plenty… A bottle of milk when you need it most, pie for breakfast, a fortune cookie with just the right message, a compliment from a stranger, not caring (or keeping track!) of who says ‘sorry’ first, and the sound of your own laughter are potent reminders of the bounty of every day’s overlooked bounty.

--Sarah Ban Breathnach

Here's wishing we all have more happiness than cares this year...

--M!ssPr!ssy

A Year in Review

Write it on your heart
that every day is the best day in the year.
He is rich who owns the day, and no one owns the day
who allows it to be invaded with fret and anxiety.

Finish every day and be done with it.
You have done what you could.
Some blunders and absurdities, no doubt crept in.
Forget them as soon as you can, tomorrow is a new day;
begin it well and serenely, with too high a spirit
to be cumbered with your old nonsense.

This new day is too dear,
with its hopes and invitations,
to waste a moment on the yesterdays.

ralph waldo emerson

Well how exciting... its that time of year again and I get to pick my word for the year. I have to admit I have a bit of of a problem with this. Last year I waffled between the word "Focus" and back to "Simplify". Ironic because I didn't keep my first choice "Focus" because I couldn't stay focused on that word to save my life. I found out about doing this "one little word" exercise over here. Anyway, I went back to and kept the my word "Simplify" which I had been using for seven years. I really liked that word and it was fitting for the changes that I was going through in my life at the time. I had pulled up stakes and made a major move out to where I live now.... California and unintentionally had a lot of baggage to go a long with this move both literally and figuratively. It has taken me a good several years to go through said baggage and simplify IT. Good golly what a mess. But what a ride it has been too. I am happy to report I feel that I have scratched the surface and at least attained a modicum of simplicity (thanks to my family who helped (threw stuff out when I wasn't looking) me sort through most of my crap).

Good golly I still haven't settled on my word for this year yet EITHER. Here are the contenders

• Gratitude
• Fitness
• Grace
• Faith
• Optimism
• Allowing
• Do It (but that's two words and that would bug me all year and I would probably switch back)
• Believe
• Imagination
  

Every year about this time I embark on a whole new set of intentions for the upcoming year. I don't call them resolutions anymore because we all know we never keep any of those past the first two weeks of the New Year. At least I haven't. Intention is just a more fitting word... it seems to me... I downloaded yet another eBook to try regarding a formula for achieving BIG goals. The first exercise it suggests we try, is to review our previous year. Grrrrr. Already hating the exercise. But I'm a good sport so I push on. After all I am trying to set a good intention. Not so great starting off with my hateful attitude as usual. ROFL. Anyway, so I adjust my bad attitude and push through all of my major resistance. So I start here's the short list:

10 great happenings from last year...

I didn't get run over by a yellow bus
That tree didn't fall from the sky and hit me

OH I'm quite sure that's not what the guy meant and no matter how hard I willed death it didn't ever happen. Only the good die young... God must not be finished punishing me yet. Snap out of it

Ok rose colored glasses have been affixed. Pollyanna has arrived

lemme see, licking the tip of my pencil, lets try this AGAIN

Seriously I'd rather have a root canal than figure this list out. But it's supposed to help me FOCUS on great things to come. There's that word I was totally unable to do last year too.

Back to the assignment

10 great happenings

1. My faith
2. Simplicity
3. Designer Pottery Barn bedroom furniture (hey it was big for me since it was my first ever bedroom set that wasn't a hand me down or shabby chic cast off from someone else)
4. I had hot and cold running water
5. A roof over my head
6. I ate 3 square meals a day
7. I discovered a new papercrafting store
8. We all had our health
9. Great jobs
10. I live in paradise (hello)

I think its a lot that we take for granted and when you spell it out they are GREAT things.

Next part of the assignment..

List 5 lessons learned:

Stay tuned I am still working on my "year in review" grrr this stuff is so hard for me.

Then you move on to your intentions and alas those are also in the drafting stage.

I'm getting there

do it do it do it....

Thought for the Day

Make every thought, every fact, that comes into your mind pay you a profit.
Make it work and produce for you.
Think of things not as they are but as they might be.
Don't merely dream - but create!

Lucky You

One more for the Sketch Challenge over at Anna Wight's I sure did have fun with it and it sure did get me out of my uninspired pity party I was having for oh a nano second. I still have one more to post for this challenge but that will have to wait until tomorrow. I finally used a sentiment from define your life from SU. I love that set and can't wait to use it more. So many stamps so little time. ~enjoy

I also uploaded these to my SCS gallery keyword SMDSC03

OMG 13 days since my last blog post

I still have nothing to report. I have had a headache for 2 days now. My lovely mother is visiting and I think the holiday let down and being back to work after a 2 week vacation has just put a screeching halt on my creating and art flow. I am very upset about this. I am finding the stop and start... stop and start very hard when it comes to creating. I lose my momentum and my mojo. I took my mom to my LSS today and she really enjoyed it. She was attracted to an altered book sample they had on the counter for an upcoming class. Here's one of the pics:

It made me happy that she showed an interest because she doesn't do anything arty and I have been trying to suggest she do some scrap booking. But she didn't "get it"... When she saw the altered book (I had been trying to explain mixed media to her) she got it. Art has brought so much to my life I just think it would be an excellent pastime for her. I would love for her to enjoy it too. I think I saw a tiny aha moment in my mother's eyes today so I'm excited about this. Anyway, back to me whining.... OH we also went to Barnes and Nobel and I found THIS. OMG maybe we should table the whining for a minute. I picked up Betz White's new book called "Warm Fuzzies" I have never done any felting but I love the look. Hehe but I just h2h it.

I guess I did have something to post after all. I'm so moody. Geesh. This reminded me I also bought my mother a couple of Somerset magazines and I picked up the new Papercraft magazine. What am I moaning about? I think I will go read my new stuff. Hey I said I had a headache I'm not thinking so straight today. Hopefully I'll create soon. Thanks for listening.

Focus

I think I figured out my one word for 2008. I have decided upon the word F O C U S. Why? Well because I need to focus on more than one thing so I wanted my one word to remind me of more than one thing. I think the word focus accomplishes this for me.

EDITED TO ADD:
Things I am focusing on this year....

faith
health and fitness
business goals
gratitude
simplicity
vision

....among other things Ok so do you see why focus is a better word for me I can't choose just one, now I am off to choose some visual reminders to place around. Maybe I will create a vision board or something, EDITED2 TO ADD: just added a visual reminder to my blog, let's see how this works yay... so I think focus will be a good reminder for me this year. I think I will try it on for size and see if I like it. I'm still partial to "S I M P L I F Y" and after seeing this post on Ali's blog... I even thought it was a sign that I should keep my word "S I M P L I F Y" another year. But I think it's boring having the same word for 5 years. Dare I say... even a little too simple? hehe Ok stay focused.... focus it is (for now)

fo·cus/ˈfokəs/ –noun {foh-kuhs}

1. A central point, as of attraction, attention, or activity

2. The clear and sharply defined condition of an image.

3. To bring to a focus or into focus

4. To concentrate: to focus one's thoughts.

–verb (used without object)

[Origin: 1635–45; ]

Post It's a Post YAY

Well my Prissy Pals will be proud of me I finished a card. Yes... as in uno... one... You really must click on the image to enlarge to get the full glitter effect. I embossed it with black and I used glitter pens and diamond dust to make it look like the snow was falling. Ok I was quite the dodobird last night at open crop night at my house. I couldn't stay focused for the life of me but I kept my Prissy Pals entertained at least. FINALLY I have a card. This card will go to my bil and sil in St. Louis. I lived near St. Louis for 10 years. My children grew up there and spent their grade school days in a little town call Edwardsville, Ill. It is on the IL side of the Mississippi river across from St. Louis so I guess you could say I left my heart in St. Louey a bit. hehe, I couldn't help myself. I loved it there but alas we were transferred with our work so we moved. I would probably still live there today if I could have. When I saw the Christmas Cardinal set from SU it had my name written all over it. Did I buy it when it was current? Of course not. I ended up getting it off of SCS B/S/T or ISO forums. Now if you've lived under a rock you probably don't know about SCS but it is a great community for the stamper and scrapper in you... so go check it out if you haven't already. I participated in Anna's sketch challenge and thank you Anna so much for helping me get some mojo back. This sketch is such a pretty one. All supplies are SU except where noted. The pattern cs is Basic Grey Figgy 6x6 paper pack(really love need more, when I saw that holly berry pattern I new it had to go with Christmas Cardinal sooooo perfect). I used my nestabilities to cut and emboss the small mattes, SU corner punch for the black photo corner look. I like how Anna uses a lot of black cs for her mattes and wanted to get that look. The black corners helped me pull the black cs into my design. Holly ivy embellishments and ribbon from Michaels and the creative candy is A Muse. I don't have to tell you how much I love this card. It is my newest favorite. Oh I almost forgot I used my Copic markers to color the image as well as the Spica glitter pens OMG new favorite tool? C1 cool grey and R59 CARDINAL to die for. I was looking for the perfect red to color in the cardinal and imagine my joy when I noticed my Copic set of markers had one named CARDINAL. And yes it was perfect. The cardinal has a lot more shading IRL it doesn't look this solid as in the photo. Love this set... stay tuned I have some others up my sleeve using this sketch. Now go stamp...

Sunflower - Anna's Challenge

Whew 2 weeks it took me to finally finish my sample for Anna's sunflower plate challenge. I scrapped 3 different versions (or more) and this is what I finally came up with. I Also wanted to sew on this card and forgot to and before ya' know it I was all done and it was too late for sewing. Oh I was going to add a sentiment too. I'm a slow poke. I really like it... it's just that it took me a while to decide on what I liked. Plus I got sidetrack alot. That's been happening a lot lately. For my interpretation I tried to use the color scheme of the sunflower plate (if you click on the plate it links to the challenge)

and also I highlighted my sunflower with layered silk flowers attached with a center flower eyelet. I also cut out the little sunflower from the original stamped image and layered it on top of all. I wanted to point out that the ribbon I used is brown gingham checked not black and it's really pretty. It might be my newest favorite ribbon. I still might add the sentiment to a tag and attached it later. If I do I will take another picture to show you the real final version. Geesh that means I'm still not really done with this card. I tried my hand at watercoloring using SU re-inkers and waterbrush. Seriously it needs a sentiment. Now that I am looking at it online. Oh well its nearly 2 a.m. so I won't be adding that tonight. I have to get some sleep.

Grateful for You

I just love this time of year....after all....after Halloween then comes Thanksgiving and it such a great time of year to remember to be "Grateful" in all things. This is another card I did at card class. It such a great sketch and the colors I thought I'd share it with all my PRISSy blogging friends.

Thoreau

When I made this card at my upline Debby's "stamper's choice" card class I just new I had to have this set. Henry David Thoreau is one of my all time favorite poets. How appropriate that the thougth of the day is also Thoreau. I used to read his "shtuff" all the time when I was in college. Anyway, it was a hostess set, and by the time I decided to get it... it was gone... so I ended up purchasing it on evilbay oh I meant ebay (did I say that out loud?) Oh come on you know you feel the same way. It's only evil because I buy so much shtuff from there. Yet another love-hate relationship I have. Don't ya just love this card? Design rights go-to my upline Debby! Now go on out and try and affect the quality of your day. Monday is on it's way. boohoo. I'm ready for it. Then, GOOD Tuesday, mammogram day. (my attempt at trying to be positive). Sorry this picture is so dark. I'm such an amateur.