Choose Courage...

 "Every time we choose courage, we make everyone around us a little better and the world a little braver." ~Brene Brown

 My soul journal is filled with layers and layers of collage and mixed-media.  I will sometimes journal and then gesso right over the words on the page and then create a whole other layer.  I love texture and use text pages and dies and different media to create it -

 and then sometimes I'll collage an inspiring magazine photo over it or maybe draw or stamp something that I think is beautiful and suits my mood...

but sometimes, I just want to write something simple, yet powerful and then leave some empty space so that the pages can answer back with a response.  Whatever my heart needs at that moment.

And look!! Only a few pages left here and it's on to a brand new book!

CHOOSE COURAGE my friend.  Be gentle and kind to yourself. You will make this world a better place for it. 

What I Know For Sure... ONE

• Everyday brings a chance to start over.
• Life - it goes on.
• Being a mother is the hardest job on earth. I admit it.
• The happiness you feel is in direct proportion to the love you give.
• I am loved unconditionally by my Savior, my husband and my children.
• I never stop myself from doing something because I'm afraid of what people might think... Okay, yes I do - But I need to stop!

• I like salty and sweet. Like Dark chocolate caramel with sea salt. oh.my.word.
• I forgive easily, but I never forget.ever.
• I may cry, but it's not because I'm weak.
• Potato skins will clog the garbage disposal. every time.
• I prefer being at home to going out - unless it's with my family. 
• Take this moment. Enjoy it.

• I can't stand bullies.
• I am a loyal friend and believe in life-long relationships.
• I will not let others write my life script - ever again.
• Crayons (Crayola brand) make me happy.
• Coffee is essential to life.
• I am enough. Enough.
• Everyone deserves to be safe.

I was obviously inspired to do this page by a page I saw in O (Oprah) Magazine.  She has this section, I believe, in each monthly issue.  I have always kept a list of thoughts and quotes that I've agreed on or thought were a revelation that I wanted to remember.  I transferred them to these two pages and decided that I'd like to do this regularly.  I chose just some of the ones I've written in my journals and I'm saving the rest for another time.

Supplies: 

Gesso - covered both pages with gesso to give it some "tooth" and thickness.

Acrylic spray - I put some acrylic craft paint mixed with a bit of water in a spray bottle (travel size found at 99cent store), sprayed the background.

Magazine - torn out words, quotes and pictures

Rubber stamp - swirls for border

Black Staz On Ink - my favorite ink. Water proof and permanent

Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Walnut stain color for edging

Black and White Faber Castel Gelato crayons - for shading - can be used dry or like water colors

Green fine tip Sharpie Marker - Journaling

Post Card Swap with Artists in Blogland

I recently participated in a postcard swap with a community of artists at Artists in Blogland.

I used a 12x12 piece of brown chipboard and cut it into 4 - 6x6 squares. 

I painted/inked it with different Distress Inks and then mod podged pieces of homemade paper to it. 

The swirl stamp was inked on with Staz On.

I added some vintage ephemera photos (copies) and then edged them with oil pastels.

The last thing I did was add the quotes. I used black Sharpie markers and white Signo pens.

"I did my best and it was enough."

"Believe you can."

"Do what you love."

"Sing your bravest song."

I have received two post cards in return so far and will posts those soon.  I had lots of fun and am always glad to do something fun and creative.

ATC's, a couple good quotes and One Little Word

 "I did my BEST today and it was ENOUGH"  ~Oil pastels

 "Don't stumble over something behind you." ~acrylics

 My One Little Word for 2013 "minimize" ~watercolors

 My One Little Word cards for the last 5 years. (Click on photo to enlarge)

To read my post about my One Little Word - Go HERE to visit my other blog HE{ART}

No Fear...

I don't think I've told you about this amazing little mini journal I bought on Etsy.  

After sending out several orders and being blessed with lots of sales, I decided I'd like to purchase something fun for myself.  I had this little book tucked away in my "favorites" section for a while.  

I didn't even have to think long about what I wanted to buy.

It is genuine cow leather and measures 2.25"X3" 

It fits in the palm of my hand. 

Lots of pages - 320 counting both sides 

Hand-stitched... 

Swoon.  I was in love.

It came all the way from Thailand, but did not take long to arrive at all.

I did a few pages with water color right away.  

It was fun and interesting to work on a small space like this - smaller than an ATC card, but lager than inchies.

The pages are a bit too thin to handle wet medium like water colors, so I decided to glue a few pages and paint them first with gesso to give it some thickness.  

This is a recent spread I did.

 I have been thinking about fear a lot lately.  

I don't want to live in fear. I don't want to worry.  I don't want to doubt.

I want to have a voice.

I want to understand.

I want my heart to be safe and I want to offer safety for the hearts of others.

I don't want to fear about being perfect.

I don't want to fear about being forgotten.

 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

1 John 4:18

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalm 27:1

"Fears are educated into us, and can, if we wish, be educated out."
Karl Augustus Menninger

"Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy."
Dale Carnegie

So, dear friend, do not be afraid.  Get out there and let your voice be heard.  Do you feel like you need to express yourself through painting? Then paint!  Do you want to sing?  Sing!  Do you want to believe? Then believe.  Do not live in fear.  Do not let it trap you any longer.  You can be free.  No fear.

"The enemy is fear. We think it is hate; but, it is fear."
Gandhi

Creativity Project...Day 3

I've been taking Hannah on drives looking for things to photograph. There was only one category left in photography for the Fine Arts Competion. Film photography...Scenery/Still Life

I took her to the Mission Inn area in downtown Riverside. Lots of old, historical buildings with beautiful architecture.

Anyway, while she was snapping away with the 35 mm Nikon we borrowed, I was snapping away on my digital.

This sign on an old church caught my eye and I had to remember it.

Isn't it good?