Simple and Sweet

Not a big post today- just this simple sweet card. Still using a lot of flowers in my art lately- missing my gardens I guess. How could you not at this time of year-we're in the brown and mud with this past weekend's thaw. Frozen mud this morning. Snow coming down although it is only suppose to be a few inches.

So to make this card I started with this simple little flower image from Flourishes. Here's the set- Botanical Bookplate I.

I stamped on white and embossed in white. I love the details that brings out. I  colored in open spaces with Copics- then trimmed the image. I die cut the oval on the polka dot paper that matched my card stock base, attached it and outline it with a white Uni-ball pen. Finally, I stamped the saying-another Flourishes set- this time Botanical Bookplates II. Then I added the light green Viva paint-pen dots.

That's it today.

Not too much to say except

Thanks for visiting.

Look Where I am Going

I am going to visit a new state for me!

I am going west

and south

and to a place very different from New Hampshire.

My friend Vicky has a house there and she invited me to come visit her during my February school vacation.

I will most likely be seeing adobe buildings like this.

1.
And scenery like this

2.
And hanging out with this fabulous lady

OK, I look pretty goofy-like a fish opening their mouth to breath.

She told me not to  plan on  a lot of sleep-which sounds like we'll be having a blast.
Know where I am going?


3.
I am VERY excited.
Thanks for visiting my blog!

citations for photos

1.commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Greetings_from_Taos,_New_Mexico._Historic_Kit_Carson_House.jpg
2.http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&tbo=d&biw=1366&bih=643&tbm=isch&tbnid=peOt_2ubJC5GqM:&imgrefurl=http://www.powderhounds.com/USA/New-Mexico/Taos.aspx&docid=PyprPPrNuWwWtM&imgurl=http://www.powderhounds.com/site/DefaultSite/filesystem/images/USA/Taos/Overview/Taos-12.jpg&w=501&h=352&ei=l2HzUKzIBcXm0QHEloGwCQ&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=528&sig=110435614107465702532&page=1&tbnh=139&tbnw=184&start=0&ndsp=20&ved=1t:429,r:12,s:0,i:184&tx=108&ty=97
3. https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQzfSnzGr6I8PKl7O5n8dQm1kUXfVxB52Vc4Hyo4SZtAJTcBKKh

Blooming

Today's art is a few snippets from another journal page. 

You probably can't see very clearly but I sprayed some silver glitter spray on this...you can see some little speckles in the light towards the seam of the page.

The background is black gesso, Then I used some bold colored heavy body acrylic paint to paint the flowers. I highlighted each flower with either black Sharpie or white pen.

You can see the sparkles a bit more here-but these photos don't even closely give the real effect.

Maybe you can make it better here.

The words on the page say-

She only blooms at night when no one can see her.

I used a Uniball white pen for the words and all the dots on the page.

There are dimensional yellow dots on the big flower centers-using one of my favorite Viva paint-pens.

So I hope everyone had a great weekend. We were warmer here-in the low 40's- before our Siberian cold arrives- BUT VERY dark and foggy weekend. Good news is a lot of our snow has melted. Think I will be hibernating before the week is over though, once the very cold weather arrives. Not sure how cold- but they are saying this will be air from Siberia, so I can only guess it will be REALLY cold. I am NOT looking forward to that!

So this weekend,  I made some studio time for myself, had lunch with a friend, went out to breakfast Saturday with my hubby and daughter, went for dinner Saturday night before a disastrous hockey game, had my chocolate martini (see yesterday's post). Was busy but ended up being a very good weekend.

And, I have my next trip in the planning.

That is very exciting.

More about that another day.

Thanks for dropping by.

I love it when you visit!

New Discovery

After a terrible horrible unspeakable hockey fiasco that we had tickets for, we went back to my sister-in-law's house to find her 20-something daughter, the daughter's boyfriend and the daughter's friend drinking chocolate martini's.

Now I have had one of those old fashioned martini's years ago-you know the kind in the 50's movies with the olives floating in them, the dirty martini, the ones no one seemed to drink when I was in my 20's. Truthfully, those old fashioned martini's didn't do much for me and I am more of a beer and wine drinker than a mixed drink drinker- except for the occasional margarita.

And then my first new discovery of the new year-

one of these

My niece's boyfriend Pat made me one these to wash away the hockey game embarrassments.

http://confessionsofapickyeater.com/2011/10/godiva-chocolate-martini/

Oh my. Pure heaven. Delicious.

I had them add a little Frangelico hazelnut liqueur to mine, oh baby!!

I don't even own any chocolate liquer or even martini glasses for that matter,

but this week, it will be what I am working on.

So next weekend,

when I am home trying not to check the really bad scores of the hockey game

or maybe when I don't check the scores at all

I will be enjoying another one of these.

Even saw photos where they put whipped cream on them.

Now that it something I might consider also.

Here's the recipe for them I found on-line.

Godiva Chocolate Martini

adapted from drinksmixer.com and from Confessions of a Picky Eater Blog

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Makes 1 martini

1 1/2 shots Godiva Chocolate Liqueur

1 1/2 shots creme de cacao

1/2 shot vodka

2 1/2 shots half and half (or milk)

chocolate syrup

1. Place martini glass in the freezer while you make the drink.

2. Combine chocolate liqueur, creme de cacao, vodka, and half and half in a drink mixer with ice.  Shake well.

3. Remove martini glass from freezer and swirl chocolate syrup around the inside of the glass.  Pour drink into the glass and enjoy.

Do you have any martini recipes that are yummy?

Since this is all new to me.

Thanks for stopping by.

Back Tracking

I really like this card I made back over the holidays. I love the fact that it is not a very traditional color. I love the snowy stamped scene from Hero Arts-and the silvery sprayed deer. I die cut the deer and sprayed it her with Perfect Pearls Platinum.  Words are from Technique Tuesday.

I know Christmas has come and gone and we are well into a new year now, but I really like this card and I hadn't yet gotten to show it to you.

So while I am talking about the near past- yesterday I had the most fabulous 3 hours after work. I came home to an empty house-well the critters were around but no people. And even though I kept feeling like I should go make some art-I finally let myself not go up. Do you ever get like that? Feel as though you should do something but just not want to? Even something you really love to do? I tend to push myself sometimes even when I don't feel super creative. You know, you should make some art every day or most every day and once you get going it is a blast and the creativity just flows and it is all good.

Usually I just go up and it is all good but yesterday it was cloudy and Friday and I was just feeling like it was end of the week and I wasn't really wanting to force my head and hand to do anything.

Well instead I made some brownies-so much for eating healthy-and read my book while they baked, and washed my sheets...was feeling a bit domestic...but the house was quiet , and I did exactly what I really wanted to do. 

And it was MARVELOUS!

Said that word at school yesterday and the kids laughed at me.

Teenagers. They think you're nuts just for wanting to be a teacher.

So have any big plans for the day?

I am off to a hockey game this evening-probably go watch those Black Bears lose-again-I shouldn't say that-they are playing sooooooo much better than back in the fall. But it will be fun to go out-we do dinner first at a local micro-brew and have a beer or two and then hit the game. It is a fun thing to do with the hubby and his sister and her husband. Get to try some different places to eat too which I like to do. So I hope, I hope-GO MAINE! We need the win!

That's all for me right now.

Have a super fabulous day!

10 Things Friday

OK guys, here's where I am with my life right now. It is Friday-Thank Goodness!!! This has been a long work week.

1-Need a couple of sleep in mornings. I am just tired down to my bones this morning.

2-Weird karma this past week-too many weird things happening. Weird misunderstandings, weird coincidences, weird conversations.

3-This head cold isn't quite gone yet, lingering ear blockage. Man, don't think I will ever be totally healthy from it.

4-Fairly mild temperatures this week-unlike last week's bitter cold. Tomorrow is suppose to be pretty warm-like maybe even 50-though.

5-I have been very successful sticking to a healthy diet for just over a week right now. Very proud of myself.

6-Just got to motivate myself to get some exercise now.

7-Got to motivate myself to get into the studio also. I come home after work and have been chilling on the couch with Katie.She goes back to school in 1 more week so that will change.

8-Finding myself a little lost in the studio lately. Not in a slump, but spent my fall so busy doing Halloween and then Christmas art and now it is like, what do I make? Trying to decide what project(s) I want to get into.

9-My intern at work has been doing his solo weeks at work and I should be more productive than I have been. I have just been relaxing and working at a snail's pace. Need to get some organization done to make life easier when the quarter ends in a couple of weeks.

10-Still hooked on making some photo books on-line. Am working on another one. Having fun though and really enjoy getting photos from different adventures off the computer and out into view-able hands.

Here's a photo I took in our big snowstorm that came a couple days after Christmas. How about these 2 silly guys? Harl, my dog, loves  the snow but Leo, one of my cats, was trying to get my attention to let him back in. One thing about winter and the cats being cooped up is that they kind of cranky at times, and I can't say I blame them.

I have a busy weekend ahead, how about you?  Hockey game tomorrow night and then having lunch with a friend on Sunday. Should be a lot of fun.

In between, we have a Pat's play off game Sunday and hopefully, a bit of studio time.

I'm sure it will fly right by and it will be another work week before you know it.

But no sense rushing life by.

And I don't want to think about another work week before this one is done yet.

That is just way to depressing.

Have a great Friday and hope you have some great weekend plans.

Dream Exotic

I made another journal page using my new favorite stamp 

(original stamp post here http://fat-emma.blogspot.com/2013/01/bright-journal-pages.html)

This multi-colored and large Lotus circle is the image I am loving lately.

This time I not only colored my image, but I gave it a light spray of orange Dylusions inks and did a lot of white pen doodling on it.

 I also used different colors-

last week I used a lot of pink and some orange

And on my new post I really went with thick layered color on the background and a bit of India on the page.

I wasn't really doing anything special when I added a little color to the Taj Mahal but I like how it came out.

I just let myself go you could say.

This new page has a lot of red, orange and some bright blue.

I really like these bold colors.

I really like the textures I got putting on the paint through some Crafter's Workshop stencils.

A bit of black stamped words (Stampa Rosa) and some white dots I made with a white pen to jaz up the background.

It was a lot of fun playing with these exotic Indian stamps-I haven't used them in a very long time.

I even gave this page a title too!

I don't always do that.

And I trimmed out the bottom.

These little mini-elephants are from an ancient stamp I own  but I really like them.

Got to use them a lot more I think.

Got to use these colors more too-especially at this time of year when it is dark and the ground is not exactly full of color...

January calls for these bright burst of bold.

Do you agree?

Glad you spent a few minutes with me.

Have a happy day!

New Stamps

So I haven't had much play time in the studio this week; my daughter is home from college and when I get home from work I have been hanging out in front of the tv with her. Naughty me!!! But she'll be back to school before you know it. But I did want to use this new set of stamps I purchased with some holiday cash from Flourishes.

I have been in a flower mood lately, anything to brighten up these slightly warmer but still wintery January days. I did make several flowery cards this past Sunday when I did have some studio time.

This one is done in a distressed style-but it is also kind of how I feel in this winter time of the year- a bit of new color needed in the old winter dark. (Which makes taking photos of art so difficult too!!!)

 I started by sanding down the card stock. Then I added random strips of washi tape. I die cut the frame (Sizzix) from this fun purple polka dot paper. I used the back side (the white side) of this die cut for the outer frame and for the inside I used the polka dot side. 

The image is from Flourishes Botanical Bookplates 

I LOVE it because it is so spring and delicate. I stamped the violets on white paper which I had die cut in an oval shape, colored them with Copics and added them to my card.

I edge the card in black and then started with an even black edge around the purple paper but decided it needed something a little more abstract-so I made this swirly black ring.

Saying is also from this stamp set.

Finally I added a little bit of lilac Viva paint pen dots around the edges.

Thanks for visiting and come back soon!

Stars

My holiday journal is full of stars.

And I don't mean those in the sky or those highly paid Hollywood Divas.

These are layered tags I made using October Afternoon flour sack elements. And a few stamped words, some gold Stickles,  and a couple of letter stickers.

How about a die cut hollow star (Quickutz) and an October Afternoon sticker in the middle?

And using those same star die cuts in color and decorated with Stickles?

And some more October Afternoon flour sack stars. I colored the edges and used them as a banner border.

I think stars are great to use any time of year, but Christmas time is especially good for them.

You  can probably guess that but looking at this snapshots.

Have a happy Wednesday.

Holiday Journalling

Wow, it is January 8th already. Can you believe how fast time is flying in this new year?

I am busy trying to wrap up my holiday journal before we get too far into the new year. I want to show you some more shots of what I've been doing.

I like this bow I made by folding scraps/strips of red paper. The 2 edges meet in the middle on the bottom of each strip. I made the strips varying lengths and then I layered the strips.Then once the bow was assembled I sprayed it with some platinum Perfect Pearls.The background is scraps of wrapping paper from our holiday.

How about some business style paper (October Afternoon) that I stamped with some green money signs? And this Tim Holtz/Sizzix car with half a die cut tree (Sizzix) on top. Probably should have cut the middle a little less straight, but I like the car on the tree. It is sparklely paper, but the photo doesn't  show that. The lady behind the wheel is an October Afternoon sticker that I embellished with coloring and Stickles.

Sometimes decorating just mean using a list of words and phrases.

I love word lists in my journaling.

A die cut tree and deer (Sizzix) and can you notice the words stamped on the Distress stained deer?

December joy banner is a stamped image from Technique Tuesday. The fun background paper is from October Afternoon.

And how about another list of words...along with this October Afternoon journaling tag?

Tired of holiday journal pages yet?

I am getting there. It is the 8th of the January which means I should be thinking of showing you other things. I should be thinking of making lots of other things too. That is kind of why this journal isn't finished...needed to do a few other things too. I have mentally moved on from the holidays but some projects just need to be wrapped up and not shelved for later. That is this book for sure! Just about done though-

Hurrah!

Thanks for stopping by and make it a great day!

Catching Up

See this spinney thing? It was a Christmas gift I picked out at Harbor Freight Tools. Had been on sale for $18 and Dave picked up for me and saved it for a gift.

This weekend I finally got it assembled (thanks to me finally starting it and Dave finishing it up for me) and set it up on my work table.

A little glare but it is perfect. Holds so many items including all my distress stains.

Love it!

And it just spin it around when I want something on the opposite side. How easy and nice is that?

Hope you all had a nice weekend. Saturday we fought the crowds at Costco (and I have never seen it so crowded-had to wait in line for over 20 minutes to pay) and got Katie her new mattress plus did a bit of stocking up. Then we saw Maine hockey lose in our horrible internet streaming ability-oh makes me want to bawl my eyes out-both the streaming and the game results. Made a big pot of chili and played in the studio for several hours on Sunday-that was heavenly bliss though for all the time I spent up there I don't think I really accomplished a lot.

Too busy spinning my spinner storage I guess..

Mostly I was trying to get rid of the last remnants of this nasty cold, ear infections and get ready for a 5 day workweek. 

Hope you are staying healthy and had a great weekend too!

Need some color?

I do.  It has been super cold lately-down around 0 (Fahrenheit) at night with about a foot of crusty snow on the ground. The days have been pretty nippy too-that cold Canadian wind, and the ocean humidity...Brrrr.

Oh yes, I knew this would happen eventually. We were lucky last year with hardly any snow but old man winter does show up eventually.

It was nice having a short week back to work after the holiday break but since I am still trying to get over my holiday ear/sinus infections, I am glad to have a weekend down to finish re-cooping.

The little bit of art I have been doing lately involves bright colors.

These flowers particularly cheer me up.

Images are from Flourishes Clear Stamps-BLOOMIN' AUSSIE FLORALS.

. I colored with Sharpies and then cut them out, did some layering on the bottom flower and then added a bit of Stickles to the centers.

Here's a slightly crooked view of the whole card. I used a Quickutz embossing folder on brown paper bag paper to make the center piece and the just because came out pretty cool with a slightly 3D effect. This is also from a Flourishes stamp set-Inside and Out Just Because.

(Fun set- this phrase is large and then there is lots of choices to complete the idea.)

To make this I started by stamping and embossing the words in pink embossing powder. Then I used my finger and rubbed some light brown ink over it, then some dark pink ink to color the whole area to give it some extra depth. Then I took a white pen and outlined the words.

Finally, I stamped little matching pink ink dots on the background card stock and added a bit of contrasting ribbon and some Viva white paint pen dots.

So any big Saturday or weekend plans? Not me. Still in take it slow mode-but think today I need to run errands.

So exciting, eh?

Have a fabulous day and thanks for stopping by.

10 Things Friday-or today I have a lot to say

While reviewing my blog for my end of 2012 year in review posts (my 12/30 and 12/31 posts)- I came across this. My 2011-tweaked for 2012- list of want to do items. Interesting to see where I wanted to go and where I ended up. 

Or didn't get to most likely.

And how many things I dreamed I would accomplish.

And did!

Or didn't!

I am always making lists. They keep my focused and organized and help me work towards a goal.

You know that study they did at Harvard in some decade-write it down and you'll make it happen.

That's what I do.

Sometimes I make these little things happen-

because mostly those are my goals-

little things.

I feel like I should have some lofty goal or goals

but I am not a lofty person I guess.

But one thing did happen to me recently, 

as 2012 came to a close,

I realized how content I am.

Happy.

Without any lofty achievements.

I have lots of achievements though.

A happy marriage.

A family who loves me and who I love.

A good job that makes me happy.

Animals in my life that I enjoy their company.

A sense of independence and a sense of being able to make choices (is there a word for that I just can't think of?)

A beautiful (though unfinished) home

A sense of belonging someplace

A sense of stability

Talents I have been lucky enough to nurture

OK, enough about that.

I think you get the point.

MY GOAL FOR 2013-

yes, just one

try to stay with this sense of peace and contentment and happiness.

That could be difficult though, since we all know (pardon my cliche) that life throws you curve balls every now and again

I'll pick a word too-but most likely, like last year-
I will forget I did that.
Not that I don't think picking a word a great thing,
but I guess if you do all the things people suggest that becomes your life and not your life.
OK, that probably does not make any sense.
And I don't mean to insult any of you who might really like doing that kind of thing.
But here's my word for 2013.
 contentment
Goes with my resolution

Anyhow- here is that list I found and thought I would have some FUN and tweak.

Instead of a ten things Friday list this week, I will continue to work on and rework my goal list/bucket list/wish list for next year

2011 2012 

2013WISH list!

*1- Practice my French some more-did it but still want to do more

and even some more-I want fluency but doubt it will happen

*2-Make ice cream and more types of chili

Yup, and is so much fun I want to do it some more

*3-Get my studio clean and organized-did it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and always seem to need to do this

*4-Clean out under the cellar stairs and get the junk there organized

maybe this will be the year

*5-Catch up on my reading

ok, but don't think this will ever gappen

6-Knit a WHOLE sweater

*7-Go to the Isles of Shoals

Yes, we took the boat out there last summer. It was interesting

8- Visit the Victoria and Albert Museum in London

9-Learn to use Encaustic Paints

*10-Go for 1 whole month without buying any art supplies

HA-HA-HA

*11-See Death Valley  did it!!!!!!

12-Go to Canada'a Atlantic Provinces

13-Go dancing with my honey

14-Grow pumpkins in my garden

*15-Pick rhubard from my garden and make a strawberry rhubard pie

YES-it did it. And I will hopefully do it again this summer

*16-Watch the entire 2 seasons we have of True Blood in one day -and see Season 3  did it!!!!!!!!

And season 4 too!

17- Go camping again

*18-Finish my summer vacation 2009 scrapbook did it!!!!!

19-Make more textile art-can always do it

20-Do a piece of embroidery

21-Pay off those nagging little credit card balances

22-Get a new Apple computer-don't want one now

*23-Keep a visual journal more regulary

Am doing that!!!!!! Yahoo- this is good

24-Knit an Aran sweater -but did several hats in a fair isle style

25-Knit Norwegian style socks or mittens

26-Exercise more

27- Replant dill in my garden this year

28-take a class about something I am totally unfamilar with

29-reread the other Jane Austin novels I haven't read in decades

*30-be more patient and forgiving with my mom

Still trying

31- find the box of vintage honeymoon emphemera my mom gave me and make a vintage travel book

32-Take a roadtrip all by myself

33-Eat a fried twinky or fried candy bar

34-Go back to the very northern area of NH where I used to vacation as a kid with my family

35-Go to Montreal

36-Drive across the USA

*37-Visit my friends in North Carolina   did this

38-See a hummingbird nest with the eggs in it

*39-Get more stamps in my National Park Passbook-did it and want more for this year

Did this too. Got a lot of stamps in 2012

4*0-Be brave and become a paid artist--did it-with my first craftshow but want to do more

41-Make cool jewelry using all the metal clay pendants I've made

42-Walk to beach more

43-Get into the sunshine more

*44-Take a few more hookey days from work-without the guilt

trying this, so far it has worked out just ok

45-Take one of those DNA tests that tell you where in the world your family roots are from

46-Read a book on my new iPad

47-Swear less

47-Don't waste so much time playing around on the internet

48-Eat more vegitarian

49-Eat at at least 1 restaurant I've wanted to try but haven't yet

did I do this????

5*0-Be a tourist in my home area

did this, and can still do this

51- Watch a sunrise from the top of Cadillac Mountain,Maine

*52-Kayak Merrymeeting Marsh-did kayak the lake in 2012

did it in 2013

53-See the ghost at the Portsmouth Lighthouse when we go by in the boat

*54-Get a new carpet for my bedroom

No a floor. Not in as of today but we have it. This is a BIG goal for early 2013

55-see life with my heart not my head

56-conquer 1 fear

57-wish on a shooting star

*58-add at least 1 new state to my get to all 50 states wish list

in 2012 I added 2 new states

59-do something "not me" just to try it (something I would say no to, just do it)-take advantage of one of those not so sure about opportunities

60-sit in the moonlight and listen to a beautiful song

61-Reread Great Expectations (its still sitting on my night stand)-started it

*62-Have a great veggie garden

Maybe 2013- I started it in 2012, then Dave lost his job and we just got very busy so the garden just stopped being a prioirty

63-keep the piles of books from building up on my coffee table-ha-ha-ha

64-spend lots of time with friends and family

65-call my "old" college friends more frequently

*66- visit my college UMO and get a new t shirt-did the t shirt part

yes, I did this in 2012. Bad hockey game but great to visit

*67-read a few books on my to read list-did it

also in 2012

68-discover more photos to take in my home area

69-eat chocolate and not feel guilty about it

*70-and exercise more since I'll be eating chocolate

AND

1-work on a sense of continual inner peace

2-work on my relationship with my mom

3-keep moving and exercising so I feel good

*4-read more frequently... I've gotten behind this past fall-and I think need to find joy in it again-I get so distracted by the internet and tv and other things

I need to do this. Seems this is on my to do list again this year

5-learn new art skills and try new art projects -work on being a professional artist not an occasional crafter-but accept my time limits and cash flow limits-but I want to do a few more craft shows so I want to get "supplied"

6-accept those things I cannot change and try to accept those things with grace not anger or frustration

7-try not to let the stress of work and other things in life get to me so strongely

working on this and seem to be winning that battle right now at least

8-try some more new recipes and have fun cooking and exploring that craft...

yes, still am doing that

9-find adventure and maybe visit a new state or 2-I wish for Europe or something far and away but don't think it will be happening this year

well, I did go to the Canadian Rockies

I hope to have a few more on the road adventures in 2013

10-finish some cleaning and organizing in my house and my big house project is to rip out my bedroom rug and put down a floor

now to get the other half to help me do these projects!

11-push myself and not get lazy...

12-learn some new things-by being open to some new experiences

13-find my years purpose and goals...I usually let it come to me. This past year my goal was to work on my art and work on my French...which I did well with both...and this year coming up...let me see what finds me.

14-work on my French some more

15-don't let my studio get too messy and out of control since I spent so much time in 2011 getting it in shape

HA-HA-HA

16-Practice patience...

17-Do more of what makes me happy

yes, I did and that is probably part of my feeling of content right now

18- and be around people who help my being (heard this before? )

19-go back and find my eagles

yes, eagles have kind of become my symbol right now-saw tons of them this last year-including the one I almost caught on my fishing line

2-watch old movies

yes, when I am movie mood

and maybe they'll be more...

until later

alligator