Coloring – Anxious Crafter

Challenge Accepted!

The most important thing I have learned about myself is that I cannot control everything. Part of coping with PTSD is the desire to control everything, your environment, your family and the people around you. In doing so, you can develop unfavorable ways of manipulation and often, the result is the opposite. The outcomes are viewed as failure.

Failure is a word or idea that no one wants to have around. It can destroy your self esteem and lock you into a dark place.

To be successful, we must learn to let go. Things will not always be perfect or foster self growth.

My favorite way to simply ” let go ” is through watercolor. Think about it for a second. The water flows without bounderies on paper. You can set a few bounderies by using more or less water or maybe the size of the brush or paper. Many times, the creation of simple embossed edges can keep the color from going ascew.

The freedom to choose any color you wish.

We all need to let go sometimes.

Drop me a comment to let me know you were here.

As always, the support is very much appreciated.

Remember, Be still, create something beautiful ❤️

Hello, You’re Beautiful!

Consider this a subtle reminder with a not so subtle creation.

You are beautiful just the way you are 💕

Sometimes, life gets in the way. We get lost in who we are. Lost, in everyone else’s expectations of who we should be.

This was created for all those who may be lost.

When different media come together as one.

This card began as a card base covered with a strip of peach washi tape. The tape has the illusion of stray alcohol inks. The tape was sprayed with gorgeous copper mica.

Watercolor paper was then stamped with this gorgeous magnolias and embossed with matching copper powder.

I used my favorite Derwent graphitint watercolors to shade the flowers. Once dried, they were die cut and added to the card with 3D foam tape.

The card was finished with a strip of burlap ribbon that I picked up at the dollar store, more mica spray and shades of Nuvo dream drops.

Topped with the most appropriate “Hello, you’re beautiful” sentiment.

⭐Drop me a comment to let me know you stopped by. ⭐

Remember, Be Still and Create something Beautiful. 💕

Just A Little Shabby

Usually I begin with a little story but this one doesn’t have one. Well, not really.

You see, we all lose loved ones and memories come sneaking back to us at times that leave us with a smile.

Inspired by the memory of my Mother. This would have been something I made her, had she been still with us. It’s her style through and through. A little sweet but not too obvious.

Enough mush, here is the nitty gritty of this card. I was inspired by the washi tape that I had purchased on sale at Altenew. I knew I wanted to do something with it because it really caught my eye. I decided to try and add a little watercolor to the tape to give it a sweet muted look. I used Altenew woodless watercolor pencils. I chose these because the color is very soft and I didn’t want to tear the washi. I applied the color after adhering to white cardstock.

I then ran the entire panel tucked into the wood planks 3D embossing folder through my platinum. This came out gorgeous!

The edges of the card base were dredged across the embossing ink pad. Then the antique rose embossing powder was poured on and heat set.

Lastly the panel was adhered with foam tape to the base. This is important because tape runner generally doesn’t stick to washi when it’s tucked around the back.

Sentiment taken from the vintage roses stamp set and also embossed to match.

Finished off with some sweet acrylic white pearl dots. Try using washi on your next project and tag me because I love inspiration! 💕

Remember…. Be Still and Create Something Beautiful ❤️🥰

Grow where you are planted

I couldn’t pass up sharing this pretty little piece of art with everyone. A simple reminder to continue to explore healthy ways to release stress. Grow where you are planted. Learn to play again. Dance in the rain. Love relentlessly.

The weekend is nearly here. Get out and go hiking, explore your backyard. Sunshine truly keeps the clouds away.

Aa always, that you for the tons of support I have recieved. If just one person benefits, my time is worth it.

Until next time, be still, create something beautiful 💘

I love you

Its just 3 words. But, it has Proven difficult for some people to say.

I know because I grew up in a home like that. I never heard those words growing up.

I know, its just words. Sometimes you need to hear it, for a little reassurance that you are indeed, loved by someone.

My mothers last words before she passed away was, ‘I love you”. I had never heard them from her so, as you can imagine, it was a bit shocking.

As a result, I also find those words difficult to say. It is just something I never learned or practiced.

It was a major milestone, in recovery to learn to express myself better. I cant change the past. I can only move forward and shape my future.

There it is, the inspiration for my next project. This is pretty much “Me”. Straight forward, not too mushy but flexible.

A simple reminder that we all need to tell our loved ones how we feel and express our true selves every damn day!

This project showcases the ink blending technique which is typically a background. I added a fun twist by blending ink onto a doily and using that as my focal point.

This project started with card stock from my stash. Two layers were cut and the second one was covered in beautiful Altenew washi tape to create the background. A paper doily was then ink blended with oxide ink in hues of red. While that was drying, I fussy cut flower bouquets from the washi tape. It is time consuming but worth it.

I cut 3 layers of “hello” from the Altenew “Waterbrush Hello Die” from red card stock. I glued each one together to add dimension and stability to the “Hello” word phrase.
The word was layered on top of the paper inked doily. The washi flowers that I carefully cut earlier were added around the center. The sentiment strip was added at the bottom from the “All the Hearts” Altenew stamp set to finish this project.

We all should say “I love you” a little more and remain silent a little less. Drop a comment and share this with someone who needs this today.

Remember, be still and create something beautiful. 💘

Because life happens…

Here we are, its finally 2021. It doesn’t feel like it yet. People around me are me are still suffering. Families are still grieving and people are still assholes.

Me, I am simply working hard in an attempt to remove myself from the effects of the past year. Who said 2021 will be better?

The reality is, the beatings will continue until you make your own changes. Prioritize your goals and write them down. Keep them in your face all day long. Stick them to your bathroom mirror, your dashboard, the wallpaper in your cell phone.

Statistically, the majority of us create goals and then by March, the motivation is gone. Perhaps those goals were not obtainable to start with.

Maybe instead if your goals of losing weight, it should have been lose 10 pounds because that is visual and therefore obtainable.

Now, revise those goals and create something obtainable. Hold your head high because you have the courage to even move forward after the assault that 2020 gave you.

Keep up the good fight, kick ass and keep moving forward.

“Courageous You”, inspired by two lovely ladies.
Ka and Pauline keep up the good fight. 👊

Discovering an old love 💘

Its seems as though many of these “stay at home” orders are not going away anytime soon.

I have decided to dust off some of my tools and direct my creative energy into learning something new.

Being able to sit down in the evening and reduce my anxiety by simply coloring, organizing my planner or just writing was proving to be therapeutic.

I have decided to take on some art classes at my own pace and time.

While some weeks get really crazy with work, some weeks I end up with more time than I know what to do with.

Check in frequently to see what I may be getting into and what crazy things I may be doing. You just may find something that you want to try yourself.

Welcome…

Thanks for dropping in.

This is intended to be a blog to share stories, experiences, creative energy and my life.

Though, it may not seem like much right now, great things are about to happen.

As we close out 2020, the disaster as it was for many folks, we have to push forward. You simply cant go backwards and staying where you are isnt possible.

Stick around, check in frequently and lets support each other on this journey. The world is changing rapidly. We don’t know what is up ahead. Lets grab it like we own it and move on.

Is sleep overated?

Why can’t I sleep?

For me, this was gradual. I slowly went from 6 or 7 hours a night to maybe 1 if I was lucky. I have since learned to practice better sleep hygiene, as the Docs call it. Its simply a routine that gets your body and mind ready for sleep. I allow myself an hour every evening before bed for journal writing and papercrafting.

Sad to say but, my life isnt this beautiful sometimes.

There are no set plans or ideas. I just simply reflect on my day and plan to have a better day tomorrow. Write down thoughts and ways I can improve. It keeps me on track and lessens my night time anxiety.

Over the next few weeks I will share some of my creations as well as some tools that has worked for me.