Journey to the Heart:Shake it Up/Do What it Takes to Listen

‘“Never be afraid to try something new. Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark. A large group of professionals built the Titanic.” – Dave Barry

There are times when I just want to think.

 I don't want my mind cluttered. 
I don't want to worry about others...
I just want to think.

Yesterday was a day like that. I woke up with a Heart filled with anxiety and fear. Instead of seeing the bright side of everything I was only seeing the negative. From the clothes hanging in my closet (I have NOTHING to wear/I look fat in EVERYTHING) to my hair (I threatened to cut it all off....LOL) I was a big, ugly ball of negativity. 

One of my first mixed-media pieces. I create so differently now!

As I continued to spew pessimistic sarcasm throughout our home I suddenly stopped. What the HECK was I doing?? 

I went to the kitchen, made myself a healthy lunch and sat at the table. As I looked around at our clutter I could feel my heart tighten...I knew what I needed to do...

This may sound crazy to you but when I am so over the top unwilling to even crack a smile I know what I NEED...I need to put some of my favorite tunes on and CLEAN!

Yep!

Clean!

There are few things more rewarding to me than an orderly,  fresh-smelling home. And while I am sweeping, mopping and putting things away I am thinking. I am submersing myself and connecting to my Heart. It's one of the few times in my week when I don't check my phone, stop by the computer, sit down to watch a favorite show. 

I just clean.

And think.

I have had some of my best ideas while scrubbing the toilet!

What My Heart Told Me

During my Scrub Fest I heard my Heart tell me I need to bust out of a rut. It is the New Year after all and I have Big Dreams to Dream, goals to reach, blog posts to write! I thought about what NEW Challenges I have started and what practices I want to keep in 2016. There are quite a few...maybe almost too many...and yet this is the year I want Grow and CONNECT to people, to my art, to my body...to my Big Dreams. 

Today's Challenge

This weekend take a few hours to break out of your rut. Try something NEW...Find something NEW! Sometimes it's just fun to Google a new art technique or head over to YouTube and watch a few videos. Here are MY NEW Challenges for 2016...I am so excited to try them all!!

Mixed Media Monthly Challenge

Here is what I am working on for their January Challenge...Time Flies.

His Kingdom Come
I have been a member of this faith-based group for a year but never participated in their challenges. My intention this year is to complete each monthly challenge and post on their site. Shonna is a wonderful leader! If you want to enrich your relationship with God I encourage you to check this out!

52 Card Pick Up
My cousin actually told me about this and I loved it! A fun and very easy challenge creating ATC's (I am using index cards) with their weekly prompts. Here is mine from last week...

I have ALWAYS loved lists so it's a natural for me to participate in the Reset Girl's Lister's Gotta List Challenge!!   Cori even has FREE downloads that fit perfectly in your planner or in an art journal. I am using a small journal for my lists...all I need is a pen or marker and I am good! Super simple and VERY do-able!!!

Girls, the bottom line is this...if your Heart is telling you to be creative...then BE CREATIVE. I found mixed-media art 8 years ago...and even thought I DID create...it wasn't much when I look back. I thought about it, I made plans to do it...but I always put something ahead of MY TIME. In the past 2 years I rarely make excuses for my art time...I just DO IT! And this year I am SUPER EXCITED about these challenges...they will hold me accountable to my ART! When we create we become more creative...it's TRUE!!

So take time...find a new challenge to shake it up a bit. Listen to your Heart...scrub a toilet...do whatever it takes to HEAR those Heart Whispers. It will be so worth it!

Journey to the Heart:Just Be and See What Happens

“I have to be alone very often. I'd be quite happy if I spent from Saturday night until Monday morning alone in my apartment. That's how I refuel."
(Audrey Hepburn: Many-Sided Charmer, LIFE Magazine, December 7, 1953)” 


One of the best ways I know to get to the Heart of my Heart is to spend time by myself. Not only is it a time of peace and relaxation but also one of restoration. A time to reflect, to dream, to contemplate on our life. Today's challenge will help you in those ways while having lots of fun, too!

Today's Challenge 

Let's face it...we don't always have time to finish a project. We may go into our studio's, our bedrooms, our kitchen tables...with every intention of working on a project from start to finish. But through the years I have learned that for me, I work best when I have several different projects going at once. And there are many times when I feel creative but don't necessarily want to work on anything tedious like journaling or even putting pages together...I simply want to get messy and let go.

That's where today's Challenge comes from...that idea of just SIMPLY being in your space, favorite tunes on (or not) paint brush in hand....creating.

Circles were make using a shish-ka-bob wooden stick.

We are going to have FUN creating backgrounds in our journals. I have at least three journals going at all times...so on my background days I gesso, paint, stamp at least 2 pages in each book.

Don't you just LOVE all that texture?! It looks so old and beat up! Again I used the shish-ka-bob wooden stick to scrape shapes into the gesso before it dries.

Before you get started you will need....

gesso (if you don't use already you are missing out! Gesso adds strength to your pages and allows lots           of texture!!!)
acrylic paint (just pick a few favorite colors)
stamps
paint brushes (various sizes)
plastic fork
pipe cleaners
bottle caps
palette knife
spray ink
alcohol ink
wooden shish-ka-bob picks or toothpicks
old credit card or motel keys (to spread the gesso and add marks)
water
*anything else that adds texture!


My process is like this...

cover page in gesso using old credit card/motel key
take wooden stick to make marks (circles, lines, zig-zags)
stamp into the gesso with my favorite word or shape stamps

For this page I applied the gesso on thick then stamped Beautiful You into it while still wet.

Before applying gesso to this page I sprayed blue Dylusions ink to page (one squirt) then poured gesso on top of that. Next I took an old motel key and spread the gesso through the ink. I really like how the gesso turned a light blue. Then I stamped into it with a diamond foam stamp (look at top left). I also wrote a few words in the gesso with wooden pick. The orange stencil was already sprayed on page before I started.

Not sure what I will end up doing with this page but I like it!

This page was a mess up at first. But after looking at it awhile I realized it had potential.  I stamped gold acrylic onto the page using an old foam stamp of mine.

During the creating of these backgrounds I let my mind wander. I thought about my goals, ways to better implement them AND I came up with a Big Dream Goal that had been stirring in my heart but I had been too busy to hear!! AMAZING what can happen when you just let go....

Other Things

Last week one of our Face Book girls asked what the best way was to use her new vintage images she received for Christmas. She said they were just too pretty to cut up/use. Kassity this post is for you and anyone else that LOVES vintage images like I do!! I hope these ideas inspire you to start creating!

I bought these LOVELY cards at my local Hobby Lobby...they are from Tim Holtz  I was just like Kassity and could not use them. They are very think first of all, like a card AND the fact I could see myself using them again again...I just couldn't bring myself to use them! So I took the cards that really spoke to me, taped them lightly to a piece of copy paper and made copies...that way I can re-use them over and over!

Here are a few pages to show you what I did with them....You will notice I usually cut the girl out of the background...

And my fave girl...

You can embellish them, color their outfits with water color, add crowns, words...so many uses!!

I use vintage girls in almost all of my art and have found some gorgeous photos! This next set is from Reminscince Magazine. I was fortunate to find dozens of them at a yard sale...all for under a DOLLAR! I took the images I loved, cut them out, put on copy paper and re-use them in everything!

Here are some pages...
 This little peanut reminds me to live with JOY!

How cook is that she just happens to be holding a heart?:)

I also use images from the internet. This one is a girl I found from Woodstock.

There are SOOO many ways you can incorporate these girls into your art! I hope you have enjoyed!!

Words of Me Challenge-Week 1

I am soooooo over the moon excited about my NEW Art Journal Challenge, girls!!

Six Words in six weeks.

 And remember it's not just about the art....but also about growing ourselves.

Each Monday I'll post the Word along with a few of my projects, quotes and whatever else inspires me.  Lots of daily inspiration via our Face Book page, too...please join here...

Alrighty...so are you ready??!

Oh don't you just LOVE that word??! I do. It makes me stand tall and gives me confidence. It makes me want to be a better me.


 Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.  ~Winston Churchillt


When I was trying to decide the six words for our challenge this one in particular kept coming to mind. I think it's because it's one of my favorite words.

This past year I have had to have more Courage than I ever thought I could muster. It takes Courage to ask for help, to pour your heart out and share...to admit your worn out and broken.


Courage doesn't always roar.  Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I'll try again tomorrow.  ~Mary Anne Radmacher



That quote by Mary Anne is one that has hung in my office for over 10 years. I read it often throughout my marathon training but never have I related more to those words than this past year.

Courage takes on many forms, many faces. There is Courage in the Kindergarten girl who walks into school all by herself everyday. There is Courage in my friend Sheri who has been dealing with breast cancer for more than 10 years. Courage is on the face of every American Soldier fighting to protect our freedoms.

Courage is in YOU. It's in ME. And even though we may not feel it enough...its there.

Just for today think about YOUR Courage. 

Make a list of courageous things you've done throughout your life. Make a list of every courageous thing you WANT to do then put a star by each one as you complete your goal. Keep these lists to remind you that YOU ARE STRONG ENOUGH.

When I was 32 years old I decided to train and run in a triathlon. The catch was...I didn't know how to swim. Not only did I not know how to swim...but I was deathly afraid of the water.


Courage is doing what you're afraid to do.  There can be no courage unless you're scared.  ~Edward Vernon Rickenbacker

What did I do? Did I learn how to swim and cross the finish line??? You will find out in my next post, girls:)

Enjoy your day...make your Courage list....create an art journal page, doodle, paint, whatever your inspired to do today.. Be sure and post your work on our Mind.Body.Soul. page and share any Courageous stories you have, girls!!!! Inspire us!!

Be sure and grab our Word of Me button to let your friends know about this Challenge!!!

You can link it to this page.

The bravest thing you can do when you are not brave is to profess courage and act accordingly.  Cora Harr

Art Journal Calendar-Kathryn Wheel

So ever since I saw these FUN art journal calendars I have wanted to make one...and guess what?? I finally did!!! And even though our Word Challenge starts today I wanted to do one quick post about Kathryn and her calendars and show you MINE!!!

Kathryn is this amazing mixed media artist that has been published numerous times in Stampington and other magazines...her work is fabulous!! You can go here to check out her calendar as well as others.

Okay...here is mine for September...my first calendar....I LOVE it!!

I just put this right in my regular art journal but it would be cool to have a Book of Days type one where all your calendars went in that.

I chose the oranges and yellows and green...3 colors we see often in Northwest Missouri as we go into fall by late September.

I used a square punch for each day. SOOO easy!

Here is a close-up of my days.

I didn't get too fancy this time around. Mostly I just wanted to get in the hang of things....I plan on creating one every month so will have plenty of time to try lots of ideas.

So many things I enjoyed about this calendar project, girls. You should try to make one, too!! Remember to stop by Kathryn's clog and check out others beautiful work. Thanks for looking.

Oh and remember....the Words of Me Art Journal Challenge will be posted later today!!! I hope you'll join us!!:)

A Little Challenge...

So my last post I shared with you how my MOJO had taken a hike and that, after a month it was slowly coming back. Well, you know what?? I want it back 100%. And the very best way I know how to get it back is to just put in the time...

The creative time that is!


‘The creative is the place where no one else has ever been. You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. What you'll discover will be wonderful. What you'll discover is yourself.’  Alan Alda

Like Alan Alda says...I want to leave my city of comfort and go into the wilderness of my intuition. 

I want to take all those ideas running around in my head and get them down on canvas or in my art journal or scrap with photos of my family.

Art is what I love.

It fills me up like nothing else.

So, I have decided that starting Monday, January 23rd to create everyday for 2 weeks.

Everyday I will journal or paint or scrap or draw...something.

AND I will share it here with you.

What to know the best part??

I want YOU to join me!!

I know, I know...there are about a dozen e-courses going on out there right now...but all I'm asking is just 2 weeks of your time! 

January 23-February 6.

“There is no doubt that creativity is the most important human resource of all. Without creativity, there would be no progress, and we would be forever repeating the same patterns.” — Edward de Bono

So, will you join me? Come on, girls!! Let's get our creativity on!!!

Oh and don not worry!! You do NOT need to post your work unless you want to:) The goal is to JUST CREATE!!!

You girls are awesome:)