fake it til you make it

     So, you know as well as I know, some years it's just hard to "feel" the Christmas spirit. All that Ho Ho Ho stuff and singing loud for all to hear (to quote Elf, my favorite Christmas fella). But, what do you do? Think of getting up on a Monday morning and putting your happy face on for work... you pull out the musty tubs of garland and glitter and glorious ornaments, turn up the carols and fake it til you make it. Here we go, gang, it's Christmas once again.

Ho ho ho. I saw similar on pinterest and just had to laugh. So on the inside it says Bah Humbug. Yeah, this card is for my big brother. He's the king of bah humbug but he's really a toasted marshmallow, all crunchy and scorched on the outside and has the hidden sweet, soft and mushy inside. Plus he likes odd humor.  And this is pretty darn odd, right?!

Well, onward we go into the season of giving. World Vision scored with me today, how about you?

thought for the day

                                           just a little true crooked thought for your day

from the blog of Susan Branch, one of my favorite artists.

So weird to feel so embarrassed...

     So, I did this craft show. Haven't done one in a long time and never put this much effort or thought into one. STRESSFUL!! I wanted to have plenty of product for sale. I wanted my presentation of the cards to be professional. I wanted my booth to look well done, creative and nice.

So, what was embarrassing? Looks pretty nice to me. Got a banner and everything. Business cards. Tall card display. Nice tablecloths I borrowed from a good friend along with other great little display boosts. So, again, what was embarrassing?

Major lack of interest. Oh, I'm sure I wasn't the only disappointed vendor. Poor, poor promotion and not enough shoppers plagued most of us. Even so, I just felt like I was using this day, this event as a gauge for further endeavors. Well. Sometimes we just have to step out there and give things a try. I did. Now it's time to turn a corner and head in a different direction.

However....I LOVE PLAYING WITH PAPER!! So. I won't quit my day job ;)   AND I won't quit doing what I love.

they say I'm not really an artist,,,

              OK, so. They say I'm not an artist. What am I? Ooooohhh... a crafter...a hobbyist.

every so once in a while (well maybe more than once in a while) I want to cuss big. This is one.

So...beware. Caution. I'm about to cuss.

Who the HELL do you think you are defining me or what I do or what I create or any other aspect of my creativity??

On the other hand. Why the HELL do I allow myself to be so affected by other people's opinions and judgements? Sheesh. Or, for the love of God, (SHIT!)

OK. confession. just having a really hard time post craft show exhibit.

That's an example of my non "art" card. ......And here's another.

Oh well. Stupid me for letting others' opinions phase me. 

Because, you know what? I really, really like them. And, I really really like stamping, drawing, coloring, inking, punching, die-cutting, embossing, gluing, pasting, cutting and crimping. 

Now. I'll go calm down with a nice glass of wine.

It's 4:34 AM, time to blog

Sometimes we just have to get up out of bed and go do those things that keep waking us up thinking about them. Sometimes the dreams we are having make us feel so dreadful getting out of bed at 4:34 AM is a relief.

That's today.

                                   So, here's a few things I've been waking up thinking about.

this boy=my heart 

                                  And a craft show coming up this weekend. so much to do!

And these Tim Holtz crazy birds make me smile.

 

One of my new passions, coloring with alcohol markers. Such a fun, artsy way to be creative. Haven't you always wished your markers would blend without those streaky lines? Well, alcohol markers to the rescue. It takes a bit of fiddling around with them to get used to the difference but you'll love it!

          Well, it must be time for a cup of coffee and an early morning run. See you soon!

paraphrasing my mood

"traveling around sure gets me down and lonely
can't say much of anything that's new
i sure hope this road don't come to own me
there's so many dreams
i've yet to find"
 Carole King

NOT the most wonderful time of the year?

     Ok, I definately am experiencing a challenging Christmas season. But actually this is not the first Christmas I have felt rather bah humbugish. However, I will make every attempt to stifle my inner Scrooge and get with the tempo of the season. Listening to 24/7 Christmas music on the radio..
                                                             
                                                                   put up my tree...

                                         Made a very cute little ornament with my grandson....

                                              AND I have been into the Christmas card creating!

Hope you are getting into the spirit of Christmas better than me!

Check back in a couple days and I have more creations to share and 

hopefully and merrier tune to sing!

just a little fall fun...

Happy Sunday to you!

Just thought I'd post a few little fun Halloween creations. I'll have to move on to Christmas creations soon, but I am having so much fun with cute spooky stuff and pretty fall leaves. 

Ah well, crafting is usually half a season ahead (or more if you judge by your local crafting stores!)

Aren't those little boxes cute?! I found a sale on a box die ($7!) that had a flip top with the open square. So then I had some leftover clear plastic packaging that I cut to fit the opening and voila! And I love my boxes so I imagine stocking stuffers and work friend birthday gifts and secret pal surprises..... oh yeah.

And here is a spooky little creature...

I used a light core cardstock with an embossing folder and sanded over the embossed image, added a little hello and easy peezy done. My Mom will love this one! 

This last one is a tag in a top open ended card/envelope.

The leaves are heat embossed with different shades of powder I was experitmenting with. Add a little burlap (which seems to be very trendy right now!) and you can write on the back of the tag and that is a unique fall card, don't you think?

Well, get off your computer, put down your phone and go see how beautiful your day is right outside your door!

13.1

     This morning in Umatilla, Fl at 6:45 AM it was 100% humidity and around 70 degrees. And time to do a trial run for my half marathon coming up Nov. 3. So many reasons I didn't feel like pounding the pavement for 13 miles this morning. Achey legs. Sore feet. Too humid. Not in the mood.

     This morning at North Lake Park in Umatilla, Fl I got that run done and in the books. Actually I ran 13.5 just to be sure ;) Yup, the challenge of the mind, body and spirit all came together and whew, I feel so good! In a very achey, soaking wet, tired kind of way. So good! I can do what I don't feel like, what is uncomfortable, what is painful.

     If you want to prove to yourself you can do more than you think you have to set a goal you have never done and KEEP AT IT until it is done. If you just say to yourself you can't, well, you won't. If you have a loyal friend, make your goal accountable to them. Encouragement is an amazing boost.

     There is a quote that says " you are stronger than you think, smarter than you think and braver than you think". But that is something that has to be tested to be believed. Like faith. Just saying you have faith doesn't make it so. Let your faith come under duress. Hang on to your faith, pray through your firestorm believing and as you come out on the other side...growth. Each time you do this your faith becomes stronger, something you can trust.

     Something I learned a long time ago is that if you pray for a stronger faith, trials will come your way. Because that is what builds faith. You don't need faith in a bright sunny day. And even knowing this, I prayed for a strong faith that would not fail when terrible times came. I prayed for a building of my faith because I wanted to be without doubt in the faithfulness of my God. Without doubt in His unfailing love. To be able to trust in His mercy and grace no matter what. And some trying times have come my way. And my God, my Lord, my Abba Father remains my comfort and my strength. He lifts my head and holds my hand. And He will do the same for you.

    

Good job, Janie girl

     That's what I was telling myself this morning. Good job, Janie girl. Running 12 miles can be largely a matter of psyching yourself up or psyching yourself out. Such a mental challenge to keep going when your hip joints ache and your bones in your feet are whining. For me, the biggest obstacle can be just getting out the door in the morning! But hey, I continue to tell myself in many areas of life, just one more time, just one more mile, just one more day, just one more lap.

 Here is a simple card with a great detailed stamp I found at Hobby Lobby. Up close it almost looks digitalized. And yes...Life happens. Love helps.

 Another fabulous Hobby Lobby stamp. Reminds me of PSX stamps.

Had to show you my little man. Reaching into Grandma's overnight bag to see what fun things
 he can find. 

And the prize he found? My curling iron. Look at the fella trying it out! I am constantly amazed at how smart he is. 

Well, you go have a wonderful Saturday. I'm going to downtown Mt Dora to a great book store called 

Barrel of Books and Games.

here is a link to their website.  barrelofbooksandgames.com

Then I'm headed to a craft festival in Eustis. Fun day for me!