Sunday, 5 June 2011

Summer Camp - Prompt 6 - Explore Your Limits!

Making my own papers  for collage with items from stash (stamps, stencils, paint etc.) and paper used when using mists etc! They will be cut, die cut and torn for use on my projects.
 
Waxy Brown Paper with spray mists, paint, doodling & alcohol ink!
 
White Card from spritzing craft sheet that had paint & spray on it!

Summer Camp - Prompt 7 - A Special Spot

Hidcote Gardens in the Cotswolds - truly beautiful, so peaceful!

Summer Camp - Prompt 8 - The Fair

I love Carousels!

Saturday, 4 June 2011

Soul Restoration 2 Supplies (part 1)

Recipe Box & Extra Large Playing Cards

A Package from the US!

Yippee, my package from Scarlet Lime arrived, Neutral Gelatos, 15% discount, cost just $14 shipped, I can't wait to play, but it will have to wait until tomorrow as we have a BBQ for the neighbours today to celebrate 7 years of living here n beautiful Somerset! Hopefully my other parcel from the USA with my 12 other Gelatos (I got a great deal - just $35 shipped!) will be here soon too, it was shipped on Wednesday so here's hoping it's as quick as this one which was shipped 26th May (just 9 days ago)!

Brave Girls Daily Truth - A Little Bird Told Me!

Dear Sweet Girl,

We often get complacent when we are too comfortable. Discomfort leads to movement and action and change. Discomfort makes us get up and do big things to make things better. So often, discomfort is a humongous gift in our lives!

There are so many things that we would never do unless we were down to our last straw and pushed to the very edge until there was nothing left to do but to find a better way.

Be thankful for all of the places in your life that feel uncomfortable, confusing, or even painful. Those feelings are catalysts for change and can successfully be used as fuel to get you exactly where you are wanting to be. Ask yourself honestly, "Would I really have done _______ had I not been in an uncomfortable place that I wanted to get out of?"

Then you will start to see how life always makes sense, how everything has a purpose, and how even the stuff that we don't like is a big part of the stuff that we love. And we can be grateful even when feeling very uncomfortable. And feeling grateful is always a good thing!

Life is really so beautiful. All of it.

Friday, 3 June 2011

Brave Girls Daily Truth - A Little Bird Told Me!

Dear Persevering Girl,

Think of a time when you almost gave up, almost quit, almost threw in the towel, but decided to just give it one more shot.

Where did that decision take you? Maybe you had to decide over and over and over again not to quit at something, and now it has developed into something so wonderful that you can't imagine being fully alive without that as a part of your life.

Maybe it's a skill you've developed. Maybe it's your marriage or a friendship or the business that had a slow and scary start. Just think back on all the time you wanted to quit, but you didn't.

Now think today about something that you are ready to throw out the window, something that meant the world to you at one time. Or maybe it still does. Maybe it's someONE who meant the world to you. Maybe, just maybe, it would be totally worth it to give it one more shot, to keep going. What do you have to lose?

So often in life, it's that last mile in the marathon that shows us what it's all all about. Don't quit before the race is over.

You are so loved.

Thursday, 2 June 2011

Summer Camp - Prompt 10 - Diptych (Triptych)

 Fabric Triptych ATC's - Black, White, Grey & Cream
Love is great Triptych ATC's

Marit's Creative Summer Camp

Hey, I signed up for this, it's great - so far there's just thirteen (English speaking) members (at the moment!) and I'm having a ball. Access prompts and watch videos (short & sweet, just like I like it!)) - just €15. Have your own photo album, and go nose around other people's.



Open: June 1 - August 31.
Registration possible until August 15


The best Summer camp you’ve ever seen opens it's doors! Why the best, you say?

* You do not have to sleep in a tent.
* You will not be awakened at dawn.
* There are no creepy insects crawling around.
* You won’t be forced to sing songs together (but you are allowed if you want to!)
* You can walk in and out whenever it suits you.
* The sun always shines in Summer camp!

The Creative Summercamp opens its doors on June 1 and it won’t close until August 31. The entrance will be wide open for three long Summer Months! You can come and go as you please! And I’m sure during that time there will be days that you feel like playing, don’t you think?


Marit's Creative Summer Camp
Creative Summer Camp is a creative place for scrapbookers, card makers, art journalers… it doesn’t matter how you call yourself, the campground is a fun place for everyone! It is a big playground, with various ‘play areas’. Just choose the section where you want to play! Feel like doing a challenge? Or a sketch? Or maybe more in the mood for a photography assignment? Do you want to try a certain technique? There is plenty of choice! Over 30 prompts, challenges and sketches are waiting for you! You can choose randomly and there are no fixed ‘course times’ – just look around whenever you feel like, and choose what seems nice to you. Nose around, choose assignments from the 'group files' and get going! You might even want to create an album, and show us your results. Have fun!

52Q, Week 22 - Which Direction Am I Going?

52Q, Week 21 - Free Day, No Restrictions?

52Q, Week 20 - Latest Obsession?

52Q, Week 19 - What Gives Me Hope?

Brave Girls Daily Truth - A Little Bird Told Me!

Dear Phenomenal Girl,

Isn't it funny how we go into panic attacks about things that haven't even happened, but that we are afraid of happening?

Even if we have made it through lots of hard things, and even ESPECIALLY if we have made it through lots of hard things, we still think this might be the thing that finally breaks us, and that we can't possibly have one more ounce of strength to handle the next big thing, so we panic about what might happen and what our response might be. We let our panic steal the joy of the moment we are in right now.

Here's the truth. You HAVE made it through so many things, but you didn't do it alone. You were able to muster up tremendous strength when you needed it, but that strength was not even all your own. You somehow handled things that you think you could never begin to handle again. But you did not handle those things alone.

So you can just breathe -- just be. Because no matter what happens, no matter what the next big thing it, you will NEVER have to handle it alone. You will ALWAYS be given strength that is not your own. Miracles will come to your rescue AGAIN if anything happens, and you don't have to worry because you didn't have to worry even back then, when things were so hard. Somehow you made it. And if you look back, it was not on your own. Because we are never, ever alone.

You made it through yesterday, you are making it through today, and you will make it through tomorrow. So decide to do it with JOY! Doesn't that feel so much better?

You are one strong cookie. But you still don't have to carry it all alone. Just breathe. Just be.

Wednesday, 1 June 2011

Emma Trout's Blog Post & Me!

My picture is on Emma Trout's Blog - Yeh!

Thanks Emma!

10 Little Fishes & Bikini Bottoms!

Being a big girl I'm hard on my feet, so today I plucked up courage and visited the amazing Kelly Hooper at The Barn in Badgworth, Somerset for an Ultimate Pedicure which involved a visit with the Garra Rufa fish - hello boys I'm here!
Heaven on earth, the amazing Kelly (such a sweet girl) pampered (and I mean it was pure bliss) my abused tootsies for 75 minutes + 15 minutes with the Dr Fish to make them kitten soft. The sensation is difficult to explain, but it's very relaxing, Kelly said it would feel like a tingling bubbly sensation to begin with and Oh was she right?
I left with toes painted in the beautiful Bikini Bottom shade of nail varnish  from Jessica Nails and I'm hooked, an amazing experience, I'm booking my next one for sure and there's a Loyalty Scheme, what more could a girl ask for? Vist them on Facebook.
 Not for the squeamish, not the fish they were fantastic - but my feet LOL!

Ephemera Packs - Anyone Interested?

I've had an idea - mixed media emphemera packs, minimum weight 100g of various shapes & sizes of doilies, colours of tissue paper, pages from thesaurus or dictionary, a selection of paper serviettes, music sheets, pattern pieces, odd paper items and of course bubble wrap! Update, added a few extras too - surprises!
Are any UK based girls interested? Cost will probably work out at about £4.99 including 1st Class p&p! Will stock in shop if there's interest.

One Little Word 2011 Art Journal - May Page

May was all about going to a Scrapbooking Retreat - really enjoyed Scrap-A-Mia 2011, the teachers were super, I'm looking forward to 2012

She Had 3 Hearts Art Journal - Week 2 Completed

Final pages of my mini art journal for week 2 of the course
 
 Clockwise from top left - Pages 2,3,4 & 6
I'm learning loads of new techniques (which is great so far 45 technique videos) but not much about myself I didn't already know, the journalling is not stretching me like I expected it to.

Brave Girls Daily Truth - A Little Bird Told Me!

Dear Giving Girl,

So many things seem to go unnoticed or seem too small or insignificant to be really seen, even though we put our whole hearts and souls into the doing of them. Sometimes we even feel like giving up on our efforts because we could not possibly be making a big enough difference to even really make any difference at all.

This is one of those little itty bitty lies that have enormous impact. OF COURSE what you are doing is making a difference, whether it seems to be seen or not. When you are caring for a child or children, day after day, you are making all the difference in the world to them. When you smile at someone on the street, you may be the best thing that has happened to them in weeks. When you do your best in your career, you have no idea how many eyes are watching and what an impact you are on them. When you express yourself through your creative art, you are giving a gift to the world that could never be given by anyone else.

The most important effect your goodness has, though, is the impact it has on YOU. When we do what is deepest in our hearts, when we give all that we have, when we share our very best, it glows through our skin, it gives us new energy, it squeezes out every sadness, fear, or frustration. It makes our life FULL and BEAUTIFUL and SOOOO ALIVE.

Live with all you've got. Be the brightest light with the biggest smile. Leave every person and place happier than you found it.

And you'll see that you ARE making SUCH a big difference. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.