Martin Luther King Jr. Day... let's all help keep the dream alive

Pick your socks by their color and your friends by their character. Picking your socks by their character is just stupid And picking your friends by their color UNTHINKABLE.

Quotes by Dr. King

He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. -- "Stride Toward Freedom," 1958.

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The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. -- "Strength to Love," 1963.

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Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. -- "Letter from Birmingham Jail," April 16, 1963.

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Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity. -- "Strength to Love," 1963.

Shining Stones Journal Page

I got a Big and Juicy Ink Pad over the weekend and just went crazy making more of the Shining Stone backgrounds today. When I was finished playing, I made my first "Background Noise" journal entry. Now I won't forget how to make these fabulous backgrounds!

Now to clean up the mess...

A Scrapbooking Weekend

I've been working on a "Senior Year" scrapbook for my niece and really wanted to finish it up this week before I go back to school. I worked on it all weekend and finally finished it this evening. Here are some of the pages...

Enjoying Some Creative Time

I haven't had much time lately to do much creating and I've missed it. I have two New Year's Resolutions... the first is to create art at least once a week and the second is to use the supplies I already have to do it.

Here's my start... Inky Fun Stampers technique of the month was "Technicolor Dye Inks".

This is a simple, yet beautiful way to make background papers.

Using watercolor paper, I sprayed the paper generously with water.

Then using a large, oval sponge that I had cut chunks out of, I inked up the sponge with different colors, sprayed it with water and applied it to my paper.

Let it air dry and Viola!

Beautiful backgrounds! I made this one by 'dabbing' the sponge randomly over the paper.

For this one, I started in the middle of the paper and then 'streaked' the sponge outwards.

Dabbing

Streaking

"Next Generation Stampers" list mom started us on a 'Background Journey' for 2008.

The first challenge was to make 'Shining Stones' backgrounds by brayering dye inks onto glossy white cardstock, spraying it with water and then applying a 'paint' of gold Perfect Pearls.

This is the first one I made and the only one I used a brayer on.

The gold probably shows up best in this scan.

I can't wait to use this background... I'm thinking an ATC. :0)

The rest of these were made by using a cosmetic sponge to layer the inks on the cardstock. This was just easier for me since I don't have a kaliedoscope inkpad and I really like the look of the 'mixed' inks. I was using a very thin 'paint' and although they turned out very nicely- the entire surface is shimmery gold- it wasn't quite the look I was hoping to acheive.

This pink is BEAUTIFUL.

I'm thinking of using it on Valentine's Day Cards or ATCs.

This one looks muddy, but in real life, it's stunning and very shimmery.

Hoping to get the look I desired, I made another batch with a very thick paste.

This is more of the look I was going for and am quite pleased with how these turned out.

This blue is one of my favorites.

I used a fan-type brush to "swirl" the gold paste on and it is fabulous!

I thought I'd see what happened if I omitted the water and this is what I came up with...

Different because there are no water spots, but still very pretty.

So... I had a very good time playing with this new technique.

Now to make my journal page!

Back from South Carolina

A couple of days after Christmas, I went to S.C. to visit friends - all by myself. I've never "taken off" all alone before and it was an interesting and rejuvenating trip. Although I missed my family after a few days- and especially on New Year's Eve when they were 850 miles away and we were on the phone- I'm beginning to realize that some alone time may be what we all actually need in order to appreciate those in our lives a little more. I had the opportunity to walk on the beach and spend some time alone and that led to much reflection and contemplation on my life, where I am, and where I'd like to be.

Although I took pictures with me, we didn't get any scrapbooking done. However, Karen and I made a LOT of cards.

Happy New Year!!!

Below are some of the cards that I made. This are my friend's stamps, and coffee lover that I am, I just had to make some cards with them! I love using this cute cow set to make notecards. I find myself using my watercolor pencils a lot, especially when coloring detailed images like this wheelbarrow. I really like the soft look I can achieve with them. I used Kaliedoscope embossing powder over hunter green ink, so the "Hello" on this card is just beautiful IRL.

Three Months Later...

My son loves to watch Sponge Bob and whenever something is taking a long time, the narrrator will come on and say, "Three hours later" or "Two weeks later"... That's what I thought of when I saw my poor blog and that I haven't added a thing since September. Well, the homecoming went off fabulously (see pictures)... My husband was on strike for only six hours and things seem to be okay at least for now... I finished my classes! Last Thursday, I took my last final exam... yea!!! Now I have a month off and am planning on a LOT of creating and time spent just hanging out with my family. Oh- and I'll blog too! :)

Shannon and I at the Homecoming Dance

Ashley and Dylan

The whole gang with the Junior class float

Joey as Captain Jack Sparrow

School is kicking my butt...

I've got three classes this semester... two very challenging science classes and a Government class. I haven't had time to do much of anything besides study. So, I haven't had ANY creative time and I'm missing it very much. I signed up for three swaps on Inky Fun Stampers, so this weekend I'm going to carve out some time to make those cards and I'll share them with you as soon as I get them created! News on the home-front... Ashley and Shannon both got asked to the Homecoming dance. Ashley already bought her dress, but I still have to take Shannon shopping. The Junior class float is in my garage and coming along nicely. We'll find out tomorrow night at midnight if Mark's union is going on strike. Now that I'm in school and not working, I don't know how we'll manage with no income. Keep us in your prayers!