Saturday, January 31, 2009

A little more creativity peeking through


Feeling just a bit better about these two cards than the previous two. Little Miss Creativity is peeking through a bit more. One of the backgrounds is the peeled paper technique, the other is one that a friend sent me with a trade.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Ahhh, 2 cre8 something.... ANYTHING!

Most of my friends know that my creative side left me a while back. Although I don't think it left altogether - just took a leave of absense for a bit. I'm not one of those 'artsy' people who can just whip something up anytime anywhere out of nothing. But rather a dabbler who needs clear instructions and then, once I get going can actually make somthing.

A long time ago I realized that this isn't something that comes easy to me - I love looking at other's work, especially the mixed media artists who are out there, and I buy books and scour the web for items of interest to use in my art. I've even got a room full of 'stuff' to use. But, I think that I'm a bit too left brained (is that the right side? :-) detail oriented, tend to want organization, cannot visualize something without actually seeing it... those things that us less creative types suffer with! Along with that, I've been working a lot on the genealogy lately and with that comes long hours scouring records, looking up stuff, entering data, re-reading information and documents.. all stuff that probably sounds pretty boring to you "born creative" types.

At any rate, my dear friend Tabby turned me on to a blog recently, called 2cre8art. This isn't just another challenge site, but more like a "do this... and oh by the way, here's how". What a wonderful idea! For those of us who struggle when we get away from our glue sticks for any period of time, this is just the site for me. So, their first monthly "do this" was a peeled paper technique. From the moment I sat down and started ripping the paper pages, I felt better. After I glued all those bits down I felt recharged then I cut out my ATCs and caput... nothing!!!! Usually a cool background will trigger something in me that gets me rolling through all the "bits and bobs" as June calls them. Nope, not this time.

But, I think I know the problem.. I cleaned up the place! Nothing is out, in front of me inspiring me to make something. Screaming "glue me to something!". So, while I've been busily cleaning up the place, thinking that a clear area will help me - not so! So to all you messy ladies out there who confessed to having the sloppiest room in the house - YOU GO GIRL!!! I know you're making beautiful things and you know you love your mess! How can one use what they have when it's all put away in those tidy little boxes? From now on, I'll pick up what I have to, try not to add to the piles and leave some things out on my table to scream at me!

Back to my 2cre8art cards.. they're not lovely, but they're a start. I don't think I made the deadline for the blog but that's okay, at least I made something... ANYTHING!!!


More Awards????

My dear sweet friend June at June's Arty Retreat has yet again bestowed awards to me - this time there's two of them. It's actually no surprise to me that June received them, she gives away free images everyday at her Art Freebies site.

The first is the Treasured Friends Award, to be passed along to other "Treasured Friends" in the blogging community.



For Treasured Friends that I've met through blogging:
Tabby at Crooked Heart Art
Greta at Greta's Genealogy Blog
Judy at Genealogy Traces
Susan at Ilka's Attic

The second is the This Blog has a Heart award, also to be passed along to other bloggers who "have heart".



For Blogs that "Have Heart" - to me personally, this means bloggers who go above and beyond to share their insight, knowledge and wisdom or other pieces of themselves with the rest of us.
Karen at The Graphics Fairy
Myrt at Dear Myrtle's Genealogy Blog
Miriam at AnceStories: The Stories of My Ancestors
Lisa at Small-leaved Shamrock

I currently belong to two different blogging communities, both of which have a wonderful group of caring, sweet people. Thanks to everyone for welcoming me, befriending me and sharing of your time and talent!

Friday, January 23, 2009

Kreativ Award update - (see also previous post below)

This award looks like it's really making it's way around so I apologize if any of my "Nominees" have already received it....

Susan Tuttle - her site Ilkas Attic - Susan is so supportive of artists and she has some beautiful photography on her site.

Tabby - her site Crooked Heart Art - Tabby is a wonderful friend and has inspired me to try new things.

Kris - her site Nostalgic Collage - One of the best places to get some inspiration!

Jasia - Creative Gene - Jasia is great at inspiring us to write about our family history with an occasional digital scrapbooking page - a bit off the beaten path from "artsy" but very creative I love this blogger!

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Award


To my good friend June - Thank you SO much!

June recently mentioned me for this award at her blog Art Freebies (you really must check out this blog!). She said...

"I would like to pass this award on to the following wonderful people who are first and most importantly ...CARING bloggers who take time to comment on others work. Also they have fabulous blogs with excellent artwork. Thanks to these few lovely blogging friends. I know there are many more i woud like to pass it on to and some i have passed on other awards but today is my special tribute to these ladies...."

Well, I'm not sure about the "excellent artwork" thing :-) but I certainly do love surfing around to others blogs and looking at their wonderful work - see more of June's art at her Arty Retreat blog. She makes amazing & beautiful stuff.

So, I'm to pass this along to 6 other caring and creative bloggers, which I will do shortly.

Thanks again June!

Monday, January 19, 2009

Chance of FLURRIES???


I don't mind the snow... actually I really enjoy seeing the white stuff coming down in my yard. This winter, we've not had any just yet and so today it continued... the call for "flurries" by our weather man. Flurries? you mean inches in just a couple hours? When did they change the terminology?

I'm not complaining but it would be nice to actually know that it's coming!

Friday, January 9, 2009

Feeling The Need To Create....

A cleaner space that is! It's no wonder that I've not been making anything lately - just look at this mess!!! There are piles everywhere - I couldn't find a clean corner in this room unless I brought in a bulldozer. So, I've decided to get this mess cleaned up. While I'll never have the oh so beautiful "studio" look to my room that other artists have, I'm just a "dabbler" and it is my space and right now, it's intolerable! I keep complaining about it to all my blogger friends and mentioned posting pics of the room - June recommended that I go ahead and do it, air my "dirty little secret" rumor has it that I'm not the only one out here in this boat.. could that possibly be true?

So, here's the before shots of my room, please don't laugh or leave any meanie head comments - we've all got our quirks right? Mine just happens to be that I sometimes work better amid chaos, but it does reach a point that I just can't wait any longer and I need to clean it up. It also doesn't help that I'm a pack rat (first step, admit you have a problem :-)

Keep in mind, against the opposite wall there is another table and more stuff - it's a whole room full! Sure, I'd love to have one of those room makeovers - but they might make me throw stuff away!!!! Right now there are piles on the table, piles on the floor, and I'm even beginning to stack and shove things on the shelves around all my little organizational "tools" - not good! I've also got quite a bit of genealogy paperwork sitting about for various lines that I'm tracing right now and while I DO currently know what's in each of these piles, I'm going to take my own advice, posted here and do my best to get it organized in some manner while I'm still working on it... could be several days or weeks before you hear from me again!

"I'm going in!"


Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Where did I put that Craft Room? & Go get some Freebie Images from June

The holidays have wrecked my home so I'm still busily putting away and cleaning up and such. When I find my craft room and get the table cleared I hope to get back in here and use some of these beautiful images that June is giving away on her Art Freebies blog. You really must scoot on over there and check it out! The images are beautiful and she's even got backgrounds. You'll have a lot of catching up to do as she puts several images in each post.

Here's a link to June's Freebies site and while you're there, you should check out June's other blogs!

Enjoy!!!