I have 21 Secrets!

Yes, I do, and they're so secret that I don't even know what they are!

I've been feeling a bit UNcreative lately, at least on paper.  I can still shop and reorganize my craft space ten times a week, but I'm just not finishing any journal pages right now.   I'm not finishing any projects either and I have a few of those around here too.  Blah.  That's what it feels like, which says to me it's time to re-fuel, tune-up, change the oil and start the engines all over!  Yeah!  It's time for another Class!

Whooohooo! 21 Secrets has arrived again with all new instructors and new secrets, so I've thrown my hat in (or rather my $59) and signed up!  The only problem is that it doesn't start until April!  o.....m.....g.   What to do in the interim?  Hmmm, I could finish the Wild Abandonment class I started, yep, that sounds like a plan.   And then in February I can join Bernice Hopper in her A to Z of Me. I saw what she did with her last group and I really liked it. So that should keep me busy for a while as I never seem to finish anything with a group. I'm usually lagging behind by a few days, or more, maybe even a month, maybe....ok, not going there.

There you have it. I've absolutely no plans for this week. What about you?

Beautiful Altered Bottle

I wish I could say that I made this but I didn't! It was made by Laurie Moore of Moore Art from the Heart. But I was quick enough to get to her Artfire shop and purchase it for $12!! Honestly...$12!! It's absolutely beautiful! I bought several items from her shop and I'm very happy with them.

I received a little bonus... this eyelash fiber and all these adorable corks that filled the box.  I love them!

When Simple is Best

I've been going through a lot of old stuff lately and finishing up some of the pages, or adding to the backgrounds that have just been sitting around. I like backgrounds. I have quite a few that I'll never add anything to because I'm happy with them just the way they are. Actually, I more than like them...I really like them! I'm not putting anything on top of those beautiful pages! Others seem to be getting the bare treatment, like this one here. I saw a place for a bird and I put it there. Simple. I love it.

The Boys

Grungy seems to fit boys. Grungy, messy boys with attitude. Boys with problems. Boys that need a lot of prayers. Dear God, I love these boys so much. Please watch over them.

Be Positive

Here's another little page I didn't put a lot of thought into. Background was done months ago. I used positive words and Dina Wakley's stamp that has a lot of attitude :)

Tweaking the Blank Pages

Yep, that's it...I tweaked some old backgrounds. Been shopping and cleaning, organizing and re-organizing. Looking at pages while sorting old scrapbook supplies and I start fooling around. Found all those napkins and used a few...now what to do with the rest? Anyone want a napkin? Send a SASE!

Reavely and Wakley

This is my first two page spread in my Dyan Reavely journal. I used a little Dylusions Spray, some Dylusions Stencils, some Dina Wakley stamps and voila! Love their products and LOVE THIS BOOK! I tend to overdo it....often. I use too much product because I think MORE is better. But with this book.... oh my gosh, I sprayed and sprayed, and I really thought I'd ruined the page completely. Then I went back to it, sprayed some more (!) and saved it... kinda. It's not a favorite page and I probably won't show it anytime soon, but it got me going and I moved on to the current spread.

Both of these women have new product they're introducing at CHA this weekend and I already want it! I wish I could attend, the convention center is just a few miles from me and I could meet so many fabulous artists!

Inspired by...Terri Kahrs

Well, folks, it's a new year, a new beginning, a new me! Yep, I'm brand spanking new and happy and content with my life right now. I hope I can keep this positive outlook that I'm embracing because there's just so much sh*t going on that it really depresses me! I'm not big on resolutions and, at my age, there just isn't much left to give up. :) I do, however, resolve the same as last year, to surround myself with positive people and positive attitudes while I leave the sorrowful to their sorrows. They don't need me and God knows, I don't need to be dragged down. Don't get me wrong here, I'm not talking about innocent victims, I'm talking about the people that just can't find anything good in the world. I never really did understand it myself... how one could find good when there was so much evil about, always in your face, on the news, on the radio, down the street, etc., etc. I was always told there was just as much good, and all you had to do was look for it. "Yeah", I thought, "bury your head in the sand!" I was So wrong. Maybe it comes with age, this inner peace I have, or the fact that I'm finally my own person. Boy, did that take a long time!

Onward with my first page of the new year, which is a bit of a celebration for myself and the very talented Terri Kahrs of Pringle Hill Studio. I first saw Terri's work in 2011 when I joined the Calendar Art group. I loved her lively and colorful calendar pages, so I wandered over to her blog where I found more wonderful pages! She certainly had style. Then something awful happened and Terri's husband had major heart surgery. For much of the year Terri did very little art until her husband was nursed back to health. It was a blessing to read her messages about her husband's improvement and to see her begin her art again. But the one thing she never did, in all that time of caring for him and leaving her art behind, was wallow in self pity. Her gratitude was obvious in every post. She was grateful to God and grateful to her friends, and to her family. I think she's downright amazing and I'm so happy that her husband has healed and Terri is creating once again!

I wouldn't have attempted this a year ago, but I like Terri's style so much that I had to try it for myself. This was a fun page to do using flowered napkins and a free graphic from Terri's site. A sad imitation at best, but definitely made with love.