Homegrown Hospitality

Happiness Influencer

I am quoting "The Seed" again and using the Tim Holtz Distress Markers to help influence happiness.

Who knew a book & a marker would make a girl so happy.  You may want to consider getting the book and the markers, well and a highlighter for the things in the book you want to remember.

I was inspired by the colors in the wrapping paper I had so I pulled out the markers closest to them. Using the brush tip and watercolor paper, I just added the color onto the paper:

Then because I was playing, I placed a papertowel on top of the page and with a little spray bottle, I soaked the papertowel with water, patted it down and let it sit for a minute or two.  Then I pulled off the papertowel and was happy to see that it now looked like corduroy..Yay!! 

Then I used a heat gun to dry it which took about a whole minute.  

Insert Picket Fence.

Not an actual fence, a pen.  A magic pen that is a happiness influencer on its very own.

Wrote out my word, watched the magic happen, traced the word, wrote out the excerpt from the book, added another word in Picket Fence, traced around it and called it done.

Today, be a happiness influencer. 

Just added...I got an idea...

Stay tuned...

okay...happier than before..

Something To Reflect On

I am reading a book called "Replenish" in preparation to, well...replenish and a line on page 64 jumped out at me and asked to be highlighted:

"Just because you can doesn't mean you should.  It's a mistake to chase after every opportunity" 

Something great to remember, remind and reflect on.... 

Unique Contribution

Today I am sharing a new doodle with you that I am sending to all of the Scrapbook LIFE Journal 2012 class participants. It was inspired by a sentence in the book, "The Gifts of Imperfection" by Brene Brown. This month we are focussing and learning about Talents, Abilities and Creativity and here is my shameless plug..."read more about the class here"

Something that I think we all forget and need reminding of  is that we were each individually handmade which means we are unique...

and when we use our "unique" as a tool to better this place...it makes a difference. 

Soul Care

I started reading a new book on Ministry & Leadership and just in the first few pages, I have highlighted more than I might want to admit.  I am quickly being reminded of things that I already knew, just forgot to remember.  Good stuff, not just for ministry and leadership..but for life.

As I continue to read, be reminded and learn, I will share with you..lucky you!

Winning

Sunday I sat in church and listened, laughed and learned from Dave Ramsey.

WOW.

I walked away thinking, looking and feeling 100% different about business, leadership and faith and I am ready and anxious to do it all different.  I got all of that from just an hour of listening to him. (Julie, if you are reading this, I think GOD heard me talking to you on Friday night)

WOW.

Now I am reading his new book and already highlighting and underlining even though I only made it to page 17..because I fell asleep. (that is what happens when I slow down to a "reading pace"..it had nothing to do with the book!)

Can I suggest that YOU get this book...

 and lookie here..already doodle'd something from page 5:

whew. 

Things To Do...

I may be one of the last people on earth that NEEDS to write things down (and then cross them out) on paper vs. typing info into my "smart" phone(even though I have a new phone and a super cool little stylus to poke the screen with..hey,it is the little things for me)

I suppose I could choose to switch over to "smart" skills...but, I choose NOT to.  As Bobby Brown once sang..."It's my Perogative" (and don't hate me if you sing that song today.)  Three cheers for all of you that rely on your phone...Personally, I just have visions of me once accidently throwing my phone away, into a empty trash can that had water in the bottom...

the only GREAT memory about that is that Tim tried so so hard to be my super hero and save the phone....thanks buddy, I appreciate your trash can diving skills to this day...even though the phone ultimatly died.

Anyways...my 2011 Day-timer only goes to July so I COMPLETELY relish in the day that I "GET" to go purchase my new calendar inserts (I know...just hold your comments!).  Last week I had not purchased my inserts when I realized that I was hitting the road, so I bought a little "purse sized" calendar from Wal-Mart for like $4.94 that has become my go-to-handy-dandy-journal-doodle-calendar and I am highly suggesting that YOU go get one...oh, and treat yourself to a few new felt tip pens while you are in the office supply/stationary aisle and tuck it into your bag. 

This is a great example of RANDOM CREATIVE...Use it for notes....for ideas...as a journal...heck..use it as a calendar (duh) but use it...and enjoy it.  It may just be the best $4.94 you spend!

No need to thank me...it is my pleasure!

What is in my bag...

By the time you read this I will:

A. be on my way to the airport

B. be at the the airport

C. be on a plane (1 of 3) on my way to Pennsylvania

D. be in Pennsylvania (not actually in that Red Barn below..but you know what I mean!)

 
When I pack my "carry on" I am always ready for pretty much anything (I think..at least, I HOPE!) 

I am sooo ready to go (and not even HOMESICK anymore, that was last week!) I even packed my running shoes for some early morning PA runs down the tracks...(yes, the police have been advised that I am coming) and I am NOT kidding!

Anyways...I will be spending many an hour either in an airport or on a plane and because I am pretty sure that I have ADD (it's okay, I know!) I MUST be prepared for a cornucopia of things...so here is a look at what is in my bag besides the normal boarding pass, I.D, phone and leopard snuggie...

 

• A TON of markers...working on A LOT of new things... A LOT!!!!
• My "Choose Joy" workbook to create new doodles from...
• The Power of a Praying Wife book....soooo good!
• My big honkin bible because it is  A. my companion and B. something to grip onto during take off and landing...and anytime in-between.
• 1/2 YARD of canvas that I have been "scrappling" on (details soon!!!)
• A new issue of "Cloth Paper Scissors" that I have been holding out on to look through after I hit the "Sky Mall" catalog!
• My "Windows of the Soul" book and pages of AWESOME notes that friend Cheryl created for us on a new amazing creative venture we are working together on (details also on this soon!!!!)

I probably will not blog while gone...just know that I will be soaking up the AMISH countryside...the Red Barns...the creativeness that we will be generating on Friday night and Saturday...and I will meet you back here on Monday!

Have a GREAT next few days...and do not forget to Choose Joy...regardless of your situation RIGHT NOW...no matter HOW BAD....Exhibit your FAITH by Choosing JOY

and

Laugh until you cry..Cry until you Laugh (THAT needs a doodle!)

 

Fell off the Wagon

I have been crazily kitting away for this weekend and have had to hold myself back from pulling the sewing machine out, about 100 times, or so.  I have to say, THAT is an achievement for me, you know..staying on task.

I "pre-ordered" Alisa Burkes new book coming out this summer and it seemed to calm my need to stitch, kinda...

 
okay, so I must confess, even though I stayed on tasked with the urge to sew, I completely fell off the wagon with something else...

As I was helping Ben build the Great Wall of China out of styrofoam, I remembered Alisa talking about making stamps with a wood burning tool.. so I thought I would try it, you know..because we were already messing around with styrofoam....I did not want to waste it (thanks to Tracie).

so... I tried it...and..

I made stamps and stamps and more stamps. (these are COMPLELTY different from rubber stamps...so don't be confused or worried) These are for paint..and ink...and fabric...and felt...oh gosh (insert squeel)

 
 
 
If you follow me on Facebook, then you saw that I wrote..."Houston, I think I have a problem...."

 
Yikes...and yippee....I am excited to let you know that I will be back at Grove's in Pennsylvania JULY 29-30 for a  "12 Days of Christmas"in July class (details to follow soon) and I will be incorporating some of these techniques, as well as a sprinkling of Prima..some felt...buttons...stitch..Helmar...who knows!!!!

Okay, I need to pull myself back onto the wagon and get on the road to Art-Full Horizons...

Have a GREAT weekend...see you when I get back!

p.s. If you click the link about and decide to buy Alisa's book, please let me know so that we can create together!!!

Cultivating My Reading Skills

I think I love to read, the thing is, when I "make" time to read, I cannot find my glasses. (I need a chain to hold them but the valentine says "NO WAY") Most of the time, when I do start to read, I fall asleep.  This is probably because the only time I have to read is

• at the end of the day, which of course is when I am tired, duh.
• when I take a bath, which is only once in a great while, and then I either am being interrupted by "mom????" or the dog sniffing underneath the door.
• or waiting for kids at pick-up from school or practice, which again, I fall asleep because I can take the BEST naps in a warm car...(I lock the doors and crack the window!)

Happily, I have managed to read my way through some amazing books in the past 6 months or so.  That is how long it takes to get through a book (unless I am on a lounge chair at the Maui Marriott) but that is okay, because I do like to read slow so that I can absorb what I am reading....highlight things, re-read good parts and think about it.

anyways...I have mentioned Brene Brown's "The Gifts of Imperfection" a thousand times, and coincidentally, it is right here tucked into my doodle bag for on the spot reminders & inspiration...

 
but another one of my new favorites is this book:

 
It is called "Living, Loving & Learning"written by Leo Buscaglia.  It is a book filled with his lectures and lessons, and everytime I pick it up, which is not as often as I would like, I smile while I read. This is the perfect book to put in your bag, your center console, your beach bag, wherever...because it is one that you can just pick up and read any chapter...GREAT great great lessons, stories and reminders of how good life is..even when we think, feel or sometimes act like it isn't.

I was so excited to take a bath on Sunday night (something I should make more time for...so should YOU!) and grabbed the ol' book, opened it up and read the best chapter

 
Hello. 

I do not think I am allowed to take photos or re-type the chapter, because I would probably be breaking a law..but can I just say, "duh!"..really SIMPLE things, that we all can do..all should do and probably don't because we are all a bunch of "Whirling Dervish's", well, at least most of us...okay, at least me. 

The chapter ended with this, and I quote:

"You know, I have a feeling that this wonderful quality of humanness, with all of its wonder, is Gods gift to you.  And what you do with it is your gift to God.  Don't satisfy yourself with anything less than offering God the perfect gift that you are. And have a blast doing it."

You can read more about these two books by simply clicking on the links above.  They will take you to the Amazon site where you can read a little more of the book, read reviews..and should you feel compelled..order them to put into your beach bag.

oh..p.s..the authors of these books also have sites that you should check out:

Brene Brown -  http://www.ordinarycourage.com/

Dr. Leo Buscaglia -http://leobuscaglia.org

by the way...I have now managed to "misplace" TWO pairs of glasses.

Ready To Launch!

In case you have not noticed (but I think you have) I have been a little vague with alot of my cre-a-tive-ness since the beginning of the year...actually even before then because I got myself into a pickle with everything I was doing..not doing...trying to do and not wanting to do...(and how does one even get into a pickle, anyways??)

then, 

it all pretty much fell apart.

It was all a long time coming and I do not need to go into the gritty details. I am not one to point fingers, name names and blah blah blah because that does no good.  The  point is, I recognized what was happening, I picked myself UP, dusted myself off, stretched myself out, and now I am moving on and moving up.

It took getting to a certain point where I had to STOP, pretty much "drop and roll" and now, with the help of an amazing GOD, some really GREAT books, a handful of wonderful friends, a family that is always ready to witness my "take off" (over and over and over) and a renewed confidence....

I am ready to launch. (here is a little snippet from my art journal yesterday)

 
During this self proclaimed "Self Intervention" I am taking alot of time to really listen to what speaks to me the most. (and no, doodles do not talk..you know what I mean!) This is hard for me because I love LOVE love to create alot of things....all at the same time.  doodled this yesterday..first thing in the morning

 
well, DUH! who would not want to do that...BUT that is not going to help me..help you unless I refocus it into a lesson of some sort...through inspiring, teaching and sharing...so, in a nutshell..that is exactly what I am in the middle of..right now!

I guess I could have just said that in the very beginning...but that would not have been as fun!

Thanks for sticking with wm and "getting me"!