Yay!!!.....and Not Yay.

Layout: "I'll Be in the Garden...where else?"
Yay!: I had super fun playing with re-inkers on this layout for August's STAIN class...

Layer 1: Rub various distress ink colours onto cardstock using blending foam (i used wild honey and crushed olive). Spritz with some water and some stamp cleaner. Dab to blend

Layer 2: While layout is still a little damp, squeeze drops of ink from re-inker bottles (i used vintage photo and forest moss) at the top of the inked area and let it drip down. (This is like what Donna Downey does with paint on her inspiration journals - it's called 'drippage'). Spritz water on ink as it drips down to blend.

Finish off with stamping various images, embossing, adding twine, distress stickles for mud, lettering....oh yeah, and photos!

Yay!: I managed to hide a photo behind the main photo. See?Yay!: All my favourite Purple Onion Stamps....plus my favourite Ali Edwards Technique Tuesdays one
Not so Yay: Would you believe I never got to teach the class at all??!! ('cos of scheduling and other demands, Shirley had to help me teach all the classes - Thanks Shir Shir!)....oh well, hope you guys had fun! Wanted so much to see you drip drip drip the ink and get messy!

Solution: I'll just have to do this again in another class! haha!

Sunday Meditation, Daily Reminder

Layout: "Everywhere there Evidence of Love"

Inspired by This:

It's written in the colours of a thousand Autumn twilights
Painted in the eyes of a child
Spoken as forgiveness by an honest open hand
It's the friend who will walk the extra mile
It's the giving, when there is not enough
There is everywhere the evidence of love

Open your eyes
And look upon the handiwork of God
Open your souls
And feel the breath of glory all around
Everywhere there's evidence of love

It's living in the rich earth, waving in the wind
It's music that moves us to believe
And dying in a small town, knowing where true life begins
It's hope beyond what we can see
It's the mercy, when tears are not enough
There is everywhere the evidence of love

Open your eyes
And look upon the handiwork of God
Open your souls
And feel the breath of glory all around
Everywhere there's evidence of love

A simple crucifix hanging on the wall
There is everywhere the evidence of love

"Evidence of Love" by First Call

Created with these:
1. 7 Gypsies Conservatory Collection - (a closer look below)...love the little sparrow...
2. Purple Onion Design Stamps - Zothique alphabet, antique ledger background, Happiness Is Rouge Et Noir Music clip, drooping flowers,

(yes, the stamps are all there...you just have to look quite hard to spot them....haha)

Something to remember today ya?

Poor Thing....

He's been feeling a little under the weather...

listening to "Alone Again Naturally" by Gilbert o'Sullivan....so emo...

Papa: let's pick a less depressing song...

Something to cheer me up: a layout with my favourite shot of him from our Disney holiday.....definitely not under the weather here....
Layout: "5 Reasons Why I Luv Disneyland"
- Studio Calico's Documentary collection (the papers are for sale at Laine's already by the way)
- Purple Onion Design stamps: Carnival Set, Happiness Is... and Small Number Block Set

Happy Accident:

I started this layout by spattering yellow and blue paint blobs on the background, but as you can see, they are nowhere in sight....'cos they're all hiding under the papers. (didn't like how they looked in the end)

Except for one little yellow spot which happened to be the perfect spot to highlight the word "happiness". Moral of the story - making mistakes is a good way to find out something new!

Hope you and all you love are well....Our little man is on his way to recovery today.

Reasons to Smile

So many reasons to smile today:
1. I am thoroughly known, loved, forgiven, saved and therefore...eternally grateful
2. My sweet Baboo grew sunflowers that are taller than he is

3. The kids studied without (ok, minimal) complaining
4. We all went swimming together
5. I finished off two layouts for September's layout class:

Paint splats inspired by Ronda

Yes, those are pink (ugh!) roses. And yes, they have (gulp!) glitter on them

6. Which means that I finished ALL my September class projects (here are sneaks of the other 2 classes)

Metal cover album using 10 Seconds Studio tools

altered suitcase using Sassafrass Lass paper

7. Because I finished all my class design assignments, it means I get to play with all my new goodies:
- a new batch of yummy Purple Onion stamps
- all the 7 gypsies goodies I got but haven't touched yet
- new products from CHA that Cyn, Mer and Laine brought back for me to play with

Hope all my smiling is contagious..... otherwise, drop by the store tomorrow. I promise to show you the real thing and throw in a hug for good measure.