No One's Watching....

So....let's dance!!  Happy Monday, Friends!  I hope today finds you feeling more like dancing than anything.  Afterall, Mondays are hard--right?

This little cutie, from I Brake For Stamps, is called Monster Mash and is one of the new designs from Carmen Medlin.  The whole line is super cute--you should check them out!  I couldn't keep the smile off my face while coloring this adorable monster!

I created my background by starting with a color wash using some distress inks.  And, then some splatters.  My water colored monster and cut apart sentiment finished things off for a quick, colorful, happy card!  Just the way I like to start my weeks.

May this week find you dancing--Be Awesome,
Jane

Your Beauty...

Beauty....it's a hot button issue.  What is it that makes us beautiful?  To what standard do we hold ourselves--is that the same standard others use?  Too fat, too thin, blond, brown, short, tall etc, etc. Yikes!!

I have three daughters and four plus decades of struggle to have true acceptance of myself and all that makes me who I am.  I mention my daughters in the same sentence because this is a struggle I'd like to minimize for them.  I could say eliminate, but.....well, that's not going to happen and I am a strong believer in the value of the struggle. And, as I ponder, maybe even minimize isn't right either.  Perhaps, my job is to interpret. To guide....to lead......

The struggle has brought/is bringing me wisdom.  I find more beautiful in myself when I reflect on more than what you see.  My spirit is my strength.  It's my inner self that does not fade--in fact, as I age, I think it begins to burn brighter.  I'm no longer confined by the superficial.  No longer held to an impossible standard.  Sometimes, it's a two steps forward, one step back kind of dance, but slowly.....I'm moving forward.

This image set, God's Sight,  from Unity Stamps just speaks to me...speaks to my struggle--I still work on gentle and quiet with myself, with others. (Two steps forward, one step back)  The verse reads:  "Your Beauty should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle & quiet spirit which is of great worth all in God's sight."

 I began by stamping off the girl image first before placing it on the water color paper.  This created a lighter version of the girl and allows the verse to pop in full strength ink.  I water colored the girl, also, making sure to keep the colors muted and soft.  I used my handy little Janome machine to stitch a simple frame around the image.

It is all of great worth in God's sight....embrace the struggle--
Be Awesome--Jane

Brakin' For Flowers...

Happy Monday!  It's time to begin another week and what better way to do it than with flowers?  I know you've seen this image from I Brake For Stamps before.....every once in awhile, I have to pull it out--it's such a gorgeous image, I just can't help it!

The Kerr Jar image can be found in the I Brake For Stamps store.  Don't forget to save a little by using my coupon code while you are there!  (SAVE10JANE)  There are so many wonderful images to choose from, sit back and take your time :)

 To create my card, I started by creating a wash of color on the background piece.  then, I colored and trimmed the Kerr Jar image and popped it up on dimensional tape.  It's a great image for a birthday greeting, thank you note or just an all around "thinking of you" kind of card!

Have a great day!  Jane

Everybody Has A Story.....

Have you ever heard, "Everybody has a story....be kind"?  I try hard to remember this. Sometimes, it's harder than others.  I work in an environment that comes face to face with those stories, yet it feels more like a puzzle to wade through most of the time.  It helps to remind myself that I don't know the whole story.  Not for the kids I serve and definitely not for the parents who are doing what they can.  It's easy to think they aren't doing the best, but I must remember, they are doing their best.....and, sometimes that just sucks.  But, I don't know their story.  I need to remember this so I can remain kind.

For many of us, the story is the storm.  Right?  The junk that defines us?  That molds us, shapes us, changes us.  I've been pondering my storm lately.  Life is hard.  Parents get sick, friends aren't what I thought, I get older, my kids start to leave, the world is full of super bad stuff, politics :), not enough money, not enough time, and on and on.....

But, GOOD NEWS....my pondering really hasn't been on the junk.  When I think about the storm, I'm drawn over and over again to the truth of Christ and the way He carries me; the ways I find Him in the middle of the storm and--strangely, my gratitude for the storm.  I'm forever amazed and grateful that I find Him there.  Have you?  Finding Him doesn't change the storm, it changes you.

I created this canvas to honor and remind.....made it for a couple of folks who know the storm too well, but have also met Him there....for this, I am grateful.

I was anxious to use the brand new Scribble Flower set from Sweet 'N Sassy Stamps! The focal sentiment is such a great image and wonderful reminder, Calms His Child, also from Sweet 'N Sassy Stamps.  I shared some of the how-to over on the Creative Worship blog.  Feel free to check it out! 

I read every comment you kindly leave for me, so if you have questions, you can comment and I will respond.


If your storm is currently raging, be sure you are not alone!  Pray for calm--He will meet you there!

Be You...Be Awesome,
Jane

Flowers In Bloom

Happy Day, Sweet Friends!  Today, I'm sharing a project from Sweet 'N Sassy stamps!  I find that I either have time to stamp or time to blog, but not time enough for both lately!  So, when I'm feeling creative (or just plain busy) my blog suffers :(

I created this project a few weeks ago when I had a need to color.  I often explain my love for stamping as me being unable to completely grow up.  I still want my coloring book and crayons!

I find myself leaning toward the clean and simple layouts more and more often....especially when I have beautiful images that can stand on their own.  For this project, I'm using Flowers In Bloom from Sweet N Sassy.  The sentiment is from the Faith set.

Wishing you a happy day....and, lots of light! :)
Be Awesome!  Jane

Old People....

Happy Monday, Friends!  Monday means it's time for some I Brake For Stamps!  Thanks for popping by to see what I'm up to!

I thought I'd pull out one of my Humorous Seniors images to get ready for an upcoming birthday in our family.  I can't exactly recall when we went from young parents in our prime living life to the fullest with time for everything and then some to....old people, with jobs and mortgages and kids who think we're so dumb....LOL!  This card is a shout out to all that old people stuff with a little reminder that "we're not old people, we're recycled teenagers!"

There's still a lot of fun left in this girl!!

To create my card, I chose a clean and simple style, stamping the image in one corner and then water coloring the image using distress inks.  I cut apart the sentiment from  adding half to the front and the other half on the inside.  Simple and sweet.

Have a great day!  Be Awesome! 

Jane