Saturday, August 28, 2010

The ART of Gifting

Would you believe that is here and Christmas is right around the corner? I don't.
Fall
 It is slooowly catching up to me. Plus with the economy being what it is I will be rethinking the gifts that I will give this year.
 Maybe we can all rethink ...the ART of giving.
 What if this year you make your gifts?
 My husband and I always try to make something, even if it's jar of jam made with love. or handmade card. or...herbs from your garden, maybe a date night out for a couple who have small children with you as the babsitter!!??
  **~~**~~**~~**~~
 The possiblities can be endless. It usually means there will be more effort on your part. You may say "But it is sooo easy to buy a gift card!" But the reward will be so empty.

 I'd like to introduce Etsy.com for your shopping list. The artisans are wonderful, full of great ideas, like retro and vintage and fashionista and darn exciting!!!!
I love to browse Etsy just to see what these artisans come up with. It never ceases to amaze me the creativity that is in this world. I do mean world because the artists are from all over the world. Take a peek sometime before Christmas you will be glad you did!!********************* kathy

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Hard Work and the Payoff!!

Have you ever been in the situation when you have worked and worked and nothing ever happened?
 Maybe it's your 9-5,and the boss doesn't apprectiate your contributions to the company. Maybe you even work  two jobs. Or maybe it's the everyday routine of motherhood doing laundry, cleaning toilets, wiping noses with little apprectiation from your family. Maybe your a struggling artist just waiting for someone to notice that wonderful creation that you  put your heart and soul into. Maybe your an actress who wants to be noticed for all the hard work and long hours you put in.
 Take heed and be encouraged!! All that time and effort will pay off at some point...if you DON'T GIVE UP!! That is the key to so many things in life isn't it? The trying..the longing...the perseverance.
Sure I will be the first to admit, that life can be discouraging , we can lose the focus, lose the drive, and our work can become meaningless.
 This weeksomething magical happened to me. Three of my cards have been published in "Take Ten" magazine. It is a magazine that caters to card makers. It is chock full of beautiful works made by artisans. It is a top notch magazine in the publishing world. And I am in it!! I STILL CANNOT BELIEVE IT.
 This is the point, keep trying, keep tweeking, keep talking about your product, dream about it, blog about it. And when success knocks at your door, Thank your creator God, BASK IN THE GLORY....then keep working. Someday it will pay off. kathy

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Card Creations 101

Everyone loves to receive a card in snail mail, or as a gift wit a birthday gift ...or even when someone is sad. A card says to others that you are thinking of them. And you cared enough to send a home created gift.
                                            
 This card in particular has style!!

This card is great for girl friends birthdays. The front says "STYLE" so on the inside of the card you can write...you may be another year older but you still got STYLE!
So let's get started. First get out  all your products, choose the main color you want the overall card to be . Here I used purple for the ink and embellishments and used a beige card. I like to use a heavy weight cardstock, preferably 85lb or heavier.


Now you begin with cutting your 8 1/2 X 11 1/2 sized cardstock in half width wise and then fold.


After you folded the card you will stamp the dress image onto a white card stock scrap and ink with a sponge the edges of the dress, then cut it out .You can also add the ribbon around the waist, tape into place and add embellishment. I used a dark purple diamond shaped jewel. Set aside.


Now you can take another piece of white card stock and stamp the dress image again. this time add two additional stamps for interest. I used the Paris stamp and the Fleur De Le on the corners, above the dress and handwrote STYLE in brown or purple. Then take that sponge and ink with purple(light) and apply to edges of card and overlap onto dress.
Do not cut this one out, you can add a corner punch design if you like and then matt with a dark purple mat or a lighter coordinating color.
 Next take your blank card and start to layer. Attach the designer pattern piece,which is slightly smaller than the card itself and only half the size, then softly sponge the edges with the purple ink.
Add the white cardstock with the dress inage to the middle of the card, and softly sponge the whole card again, to unify colors. Attatch the cut-out dress image directly onto the stamped dress with demensional sticker sponges.
 When card is finished, add your greeting inside the card. You can either write it out with colored pen or print message on computer using special fonts and print and cut out and apply inside. also don't forget to sign the back of your card or add a label.
 Hope you will have fun with this project. People just love home created cards. People tell me that they are so happy to know that I was thinking of them Who needs to hear from you today? Send them a greeting that only you can create.

 Stay tuned for my next project...a little Pin cushion bird that is adorable. You could make them for Christmas gifts for the people who sew in your family. They are also decorative, even if you don't sew. If you have ant old wooden thread spools keep them for this project or..but them at garage sales. I love to buy Grandma's old sewing kits or tins. They usually have lots of good things like old buttons, tools, spools, yarn and more. Talk later kathy

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Lifestyles

Socrates once said "The unexamined life is not worth living." Sounds kind of harsh doesn't it?
 But I think he was trying to make a point. He was explaining that if life is lived in the moment ,from day to day without any forethought or reflection. That is a life that can slowly slip away from you. That's why Santayana said "He who does not remember the past is condemned to repeat it."
 So an unexamined life may not be one worth living in Socrates opinion yet on the other hand one filled with passion for someone or something can aide us in our memory, give us direction in life and help us get a grip on the rote of everyday living.

 What is your most passionate subject or someone?  Do you love your family and want to pour out your life into them? Maybe you love the game of golf, you may love your wood workshop , reading, music or your favorite hobbies.
  Life is incomplete without art and creativity. I believe that God gave us creativity, it started with Him and passes on through us. I'm almost positive that whatever we can think up or create was possible because He gave the ideas and brains for it, He thought it first!!
 I'd love to hear what it is that trips your trigger, pushes your buttons and creates passion in you! And don't tell me that you have no talents or creative side to you. Do you bake bread? Do you cook or garden, do you care for others? Take minute to examine what it is you love to do, I promise it will enhance your life and everyone you touch.
 Remember that ART and creativity come in many forms, can be interpretated in many ways and can enhance our lives like nothing else can.