In which my co-workers wonder, "Maybe it's Maybelline?"

I wear Maybelline Intense XXL mascara. It is a two step process: a coat of white "volumizing" substance, followed by the black mascara coat.

In a mad dash yesterday, I stopped with just the first coat.

I had white eyelashes. All. day. long.

And nobody said a word.

Get time back

.....whatever that means. Sometimes I confuse even myself.

Experience the art. Yo.

I made two valliant attempts to get the color right on this photo, but it is still a bit washed out.

Fly or Sing?

Thanks for all your input on my last post. Because it was hidden there on the page all along, I've decided to call it Something To Say. Kind of ironic, since I posted it with the idea that I had nothing to say.

And now my page for tonight:

This page incorporated four punches. I didn't start out for it to be a 'punchy' page, but then I rarely start out with too much of a plan. But now that it is finished I notice how many punches I used. I got a lot of mileage out of the corner punch by creating lots of 'corners' along the edges. I got a nifty tag punch a while back that I've never used, so it got initiated on this page. The butterfly punch and music note punch round out all the tools.....unless you want to get technical and count the hole punch I used on the tag!

Someone commented that my pages are quite a bit more colorful than usual. Does that mean something deep and artsy or just digging deeper into the paint box? Hmmm.....

I have no words.........

........no, really, I have no words on this page, no title, no caption.

What does it say? What does it need? Is it finished?

I am always fascinated by your comments, how you interpret my pages, the details that speak to you. I will be looking forward to what you will have to say about this spread that I simply labeled "Green".

Good Friends

I hope you had a creative, restful weekend. We did here in our part of the world. Saturday I cleaned off my craft table until I could see the actual surface! *Applause!* I had forgotten what it looked like! The clean uncluttered surface inspired me to make this layout using an old background and bright new colors. I'm going to stare at this page for a while, hoping it will inspire me to clean up my mess! It is a vicious cycle, isn't it?

From the Heart

When he was 8 weeks old, my grandson Alan was diagnosed with liver disease. For the past 22 months our family, supported by God's grace and the prayers of a multitude, has stared down a beast known as biliary atresia. There have been many dark valleys, many hospital stays, too many emergency room visits, ambulance/careflight rides, ICU days, and countless procedures.

On Dec 30, we will celebrate Alan's 1 year liver transplant anniversary. We are on the mountain today, but we know there will be more valleys ahead, hopefully none as dark as we have seen.

Make no mistake, our entire family has been held in the grip of this beast, but standing on the front line 24/7 was my daughter.

Today is her birthday. This card is a tribute to her from my heart.

The text you see peeking out is the lyrics to a song that she sings, a song that she learned before Alan was born. She doesn't need to see them--she knows them by heart because she believes them, she lives them.

Happy Birthday, Amy.

The pathway is broken

And the signs are unclear

And I don't know the reason why You brought me here

But just because You love me the way that You do

I'm gonna walk through the valley

If You want me to

Chorus:

Cause I'm not who I was when I took my first step

And I'm clinging to the promise You're not through with me yet

So if all of these trials bring me closer to you

Then I will walk through the fire

If You want me to

It may not be the way I would have chosen

When you lead me through a world that's not my home

But You never said it would be easy

You only said I'd never go alone

So when the whole world turns against me

And I'm all by myself

And I can't hear You answer my cries for help

And I'll remember the suffering that Your love put You through

I walk through the darkness If You want me to

If you want to hear it, click here.

Thanks, Barbara for inviting me to This Thurday Its All About. This week's theme is "Art from Your Heart".

Boldness in Orange

There is just something about the color orange that appeals to me. I started liking it rather suddenly it seemed several years ago. It is just so versatile, so bright, so warm.

When I sat down to a blank page the other day, my hand reached for the orange acrylic paint. Many times if I don't know where to start, I start with orange. (The other times of indecision I start with pink, in case you haven't noticed.)

Prowling through my picture files, I found this vibrant blue butterfly. Don't you love how it pops off the page? Building around these two elements, the orange and the butterfly, this bold page came to be.

I have accumulated 5 alphabet stamps--I used four on this layout. Taking a cue from my friend Linda, I incorporated some postage stamps. They are her signature piece. I have many in my file, but seldom use them.

A new white pen was burning a hole in my supply box, so you might see a little pen work here and there.

Fairy Sisters

Soft and pastel has been catching my eye lately. This layout was hard to photograph. Getting the pinks, blues, and greens vivid enough put a yellow cast to the background. After several edits, I settled on this one--a bit washed out in the upper left and a bit yellow across the bottom. And glittler is impossible to translate to the computer screen;. Just know that this page is very twinkly! :) Squeench your eyes and use your imagination and you'll love it!!

Just for fun

There is not much to be said about this page. It just sort of happened.

Every once in a while some whimsy just pops out!

Elegance & Grace

While I enjoy the challenges I often participate in, I recently decided to step back and do my own creating for a while, because I just don't have time to do both. I wish I did. This has certainly cut down on my blog traffic, but it has been freeing artistically.

A Happy House

Some of the happiest, most creative artwork can be found in a children's hospital. It does what it is supposed to--makes you smile. On a recent clinic visit with my daughter and grandson, a happy collage similar to this one caught my eye. I made a sketch to serve as a reminder and last week created my own version.

This is an 18x24 canvas with acrylic background collaged with various papers. I think this piece does what it is supposed to do--it makes me smile. I hope it makes you smile, too!

Wishes

If I could close my eyes and make a wish,

it might be to create beautiful art or take a trip.

If you could close your eyes and make a wish,

what would it be?

We are but little ships

A card for a friend

The text, from Charles Spurgeon's Morning & Evening;

“There were also with him other little ships.”
Mark 4:36

Jesus was the Lord High Admiral of the sea that night, and his presence preserved the whole convoy. It is well to sail with Jesus, even though it be in a little ship. When we sail in Christ’s company, we may not make sure of fair weather, for great storms may toss the vessel which carries the Lord himself, and we must not expect to find the sea less boisterous around our little boat. If we go with Jesus we must be content to fare as he fares; and when the waves are rough to him, they will be rough to us. It is by tempest and tossing that we shall come to land, as he did before us.
When the storm swept over Galilee’s dark lake all faces gathered blackness, and all hearts dreaded shipwreck. When all creature help was useless, the slumbering Saviour arose, and with a word, transformed the riot of the tempest into the deep quiet of a calm; then were the little vessels at rest, as well as that which carried the Lord. Jesus is the star of the sea; and though there be sorrow upon the sea, when Jesus is on it there is joy too. May our hearts make Jesus their anchor, their rudder, their lighthouse, their life-boat, and their harbor. His Church is the Admiral’s flagship, let us attend her movements, and cheer her officers with our presence. He himself is the great attraction; let us follow ever in his wake, mark his signals, steer by his chart, and never fear while he is within hail. Not one ship in the convoy shall suffer wreck; the great Commodore will steer every bark in safety to the desired haven. By faith we will slip our cable for another day’s cruise, and sail forth with Jesus into a sea of tribulation. Winds and waves will not spare us, but they all obey him; and, therefore, whatever squalls may occur without, faith shall feel a blessed calm within. He is ever in the centre of the weather-beaten company: let us rejoice in him. His vessel has reached the haven, and so shall ours.