One Little Word-2015

My one little word for 2015

Action

ac·tion

ˈakSH(ə)n/

noun

1. 1.

   the fact or process of doing something, typically to achieve an aim.
2. 2.  a thing done; an act.

I chose action because it will remind me that despite all the dreams I dream, the goals I establish, the objectives I plan to effect to reach my goal will not surface without action.

Over the past few months, I've reflected on my actions, as well as the actions of others around me. I think this quote sums it up quite nicely:

I can say that I'm going to eat better, get more exercise, be kinder to myself. I can tell you that I love  and respect you. I can vow to make choices that will allow me to evolve both emotionally and spiritually, but unless I take action, all my words are empty, my intentions meaningless. 

If nothing changes, nothing changes.

Accountability goes hand and hand with action. This year I intend to be accountable for my actions  and to monitor my follow through. I'll aim for 100% , but remain mindful that I can't do it all. If I can put forth an effort each day to take action in one way or another, I'll be content.

What word will inspire you this year?

The distance between your dreams and reality is called action

-Vicki~

On the Eve of a New Year

And although my heart was broken, it emerged.

Stronger and Beautiful and open to what the Universe will deliver.

Two Thousand and Fourteen proved to be a challenging year to say the least.

I could dwell on the negative and tell you that it probably was one of the worse years of my life, or I could alter my perception and tell you that it has been a year of lessons and spiritual growth.

Sometimes one needs a symbolical slap in the face to wake up and realize the need for change.

Sometimes it takes a rude awakening to open your eyes to the truth, to remove the rose coloured glasses to peer at what is real and what is not. This year I got the slap, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Through the pain, confusion, sadness anger and anxiety I gained some clarity and an understanding of purpose. I looked inward and upward, praying for strength, peace of mind, forgiveness and spiritual growth and I am well on my way to attaining those desires.

Just like the Lotus, we too have the ability to rise from the mud, bloom out of the darkness and radiate into the world.

-author unknown

Yesterday is gone and its tale told,

Today, new seeds are growing.

There is NO looking back

My wish for you is to take charge and create a wonderful year for yourselves and those that matter to you.

May you all have a Blessed 2015

-Vicki~

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Hearts Abound-February Mixed Media Art Challenge

In the past few months, I've really enjoyed delving into the world of Mixed Media.

It allows me to go to places i've never been and to experiment with fun techniques.

I'm loving the free expression of my creativity. I've never been what you call a "technique" oriented stamper, but rather preferred colouring, a cleaner style and a more "white bread" approach to paper crafting. So this Art Journalling Calendar Project is perfect for me!!!!

For my page, I started with a Heart Stencil and sprayed using Tattered Angels Glimmer Spray. Taking the advice of my mixed media mentor Kim Pargeter, I didn't waste the ink on the stencil and ended up with that fun white space to the right hand side of the Calendar Page. I found it just a touch too pink, so I used a couple of Impression Obsession Stamps to add a little more depth and then sponged with Vintage Photo ink around the page. The Two stamps I used:

Chicken Wire Heart

Love Heart

Then I punched out the Circles and Hearts with some Pink Paislee Paper, inked around the edges and adhered it to the background. Using my Foutain Pen and Chocolate Ink, I outlined the edges of the punch outs, to give them more dimension. I added a touch of Doodling, as well as hand lettering the Title. To finish up, I sponged and added the Cupid Die Cuts and the Floral Heart Strip and some Corner Metal Stickers from Close to my Heart. I'm Happy with the way the page turned out.

Art Journalling seems to be my new Solace.

Stay tuned for more...........

My Heart is in my Art

While in Texas, I had the opportunity to learn monoprinting with my new "in person" friend Lydia!!! This is one of the backgrounds that I created. What a fun technique this is!!!!

I vowed that I will do more Art journal and I'm pleased to say that I now have TWO pages complete!!!!

I used this pretty YOURS TRULY stamp from Stamping Bella. Gee, I wish my hair was this long and flowy!!!! 

I hope to create more and more pages over the next while as I quite enjoy the free flow to this form of crafting!

Hope you are all enjoying a wonderful weekend!

Happy Stamping!

In my Garden, I am the Flower

Last Fall my good friend Fabrizio shared the following words with me:

"Vicki, you have to stop being a Gardener, constantly tending to all those around you. When are you going to realize that you are the Flower? When are you going to to have a Gardener tend to you?"

I suppose that people are like flowers; we need sun and water. When the sun, glowing orange against the horizon, settles in for the evening, we need to draw our petals and leaves tight against our stems and get some rest. People, like plants, need card and nurturing. They need the sunshine of kindness and kind words, they need to feel appreciated and loved. They need clean water to nourish their souls and air to breathe. Flowers depend on nature to be their gardener, some tougher than others. Wild Flowers in season are hearty; they survive the elements and grow without tending. Other flowers, such as the orchid are delicate and fragile and do not thrive without a very patient and meticulous gardener, needing a precise amount of water, light and fertilizer to bloom and grow.

In my opinion, people differ a little in that we can be a mix of wildflower and Orchid. Wildflower, in that through our lives we face the elements, rain, storm, wind and darkness; and after all that our stems remain, our petals worse for the wear, but we look for the sun to nourish them again. The sun does not always shine, but eventually it will. Sometimes the Orchid in us needs some care and nurturing. It's a little more difficult for the Orchid in that the Orchid can not ask for help; people can. 

The Beauty of being a Human Being is that we can take charge and become our own Gardener. We can engage in self care to ensure that we continue to grow. We can't always be prepared for the elements that await us, but in tending to ourselves, we can be better equipped to endure.

It's impossible to be a Gardener unless you tend to yourself. In taking the time to be better for ourselves,  we enhance our ability to be better Gardeners. It's important to tend to our own Garden, because without self care, we don't have the tools to thrive and nurture the other flowers in our garden. 

I will be my own Gardener and work harder each day to ensure that my stalk is sturdy, my leaves hearty and my petals strong enough to embrace the sun.

Supplies:

Stamps: Impression Obsession-Cover a Card Harlequin

Ink: Donna Salazar Colorbox Mossy Mixed Media Ink. Tim Holtz Vintage Photo, SU Soft Sky

Paper: Little Darlings Caladium Paper Pack, Kraft Cardstock

Journal: Prima Mixed Media Journal-6x6

Donna Salazar Glitter

Half Pearls: CTMH

Machine Stitching

This Journal is Fabulous! I got it at Scrappin' Great Deals and not only do I LOVE the size, I love the fact that the book is bound with a rope and the pages pull out so that you can work on them without creating a mess!!!! This is the first page of many in my Inspirational Journal Series. I've just purchased a bunch of new supplies to expand into mixed media a little more and to create some pages to capture my  thoughts, feelings and inspirations. I sure hope you enjoy my shares with you!

Happy Stamping!

Growing in my Creativity-Letter Love

Although I've always got WAY too much to do, I have a strong desire to learn and grow with my art, photography and creativity in general. Yesterday while blog surfing, I came across a beautiful Journal page on my DT friend Willy's Blog. She shared a course that she is taking online called Letter Love 101 with Joanne Sharpe. I was very intrigued by the course curriculum, bit the bullet and signed up! Made a  quick trip to Michaels to top up pen supplies and stock up on Journals and completed my first assignment, which was to create a cover page for my Journal.

This is going to be our Practice Journal, where we learn to get more creative with our handwriting. I used my Touch Twin Original and Touch Twin Brush Markers to create the lettering. The bullet point allows for finer lining, while the brush and chisel nibs work great wider areas and cursive writing. For shading, I used Y169 Putty, which works as a great shader for kraft paper. Cherry Pink (R5) fills the heart. I added Sakura Gel Pen highlights. Flowers are from M's and the Fun Dotted paper is from Canvas Corp and I got it at Scrappin' Great Deals as well as the dotted Smash Tape. I really hope to improve my handwriting skills and learn a little bit more about art journalling! Additionally, I'm hoping to bring more diversity to my blog!


Happy Stamping!