It Takes Courage

...to post today.

But before I go into that, I'd like to show you some work that I'm especially proud of.

The first is an altered project that I did as a response to a challenge to make something that showed a resolution that we kept.



I remember as a middle-schooler talking to my mom about someone who had offended me in some way and telling her how I was going to tell this girl off. My mom responded with "Always be nice." And it really struck a chord with me. I decided that day to do just that. Always be nice. This doesn't mean that I don't defend myself or my loved ones or stick up for something that I believe it, it means that I do so in a kind way. I've found that keeping this resolution has been a real blessing in my life. I've rarely said something or done something that I've regretted later.

To make this project, I took large chipboard letters from Creative Imaginations and covered them with scraps that I had inked around the edges. I adhered them with Mod Podge. Next, I went over the letters with a bit of gesso to tone down and unify the colors. I outlined each letter with Stickles, attached them using Daisy D's metal hinges and added various other embellishments as needed.

Little Dolls contains a picture of my mother and her sister in 1954.


When I asked my mom about this picture, she told me that she and her sister would always play on this picnic table when they were outside because their pet goose, inappropriately named Fluffy, would terrorize them if they played in the grass. I love the hats and sweet dolls here. Unfortunately, you can’t tell in my photograph, but I painted a piece of bubble wrap with glue, stamped on the background paper near the butterfly and again near the title and sprinkled white glitter over it.

Of course, I had to play with my borders in the next layout of some impromtu pictures of Cameron. My journaling can be found inside the swirl: “ ‘Love is a sign from the heavens that you are here for a reason.’ --Ghetto”


Heartfelt Thanks is a tribute to Todd. I purposefully made this layout more graphic because it just feels more like him. I took these pictures of him at work a little over a year ago and I wanted to do something special with them.


The journaling reads: “Thanks for all those early mornings and late nights. All those Saturdays and for all the stress that keeps you up at night. Thank you for all your hard work. Because of you, I can stay home and raise the children and create a happy home, which has always been my dream. So thanks for providing so well for us. From the bottom of my heart.”

This picture of my aunt circa 1954 has been a favorite of mine for a long time. I love how she is lost amongst the flowers in the field. To make the swirly border, I combined doodles with a Fancy Pants stamp. The wings are a Luxe stamp. The flowers are painted grungeboard.


Finally, my first layout of sweet baby Quinn, Babe.


This will be the last time I design for the company that provided me with this kit because

(here's where the courage part comes in)

I was cut from the team yesterday morning. I was told that my art was not up to their standards. When I read these words in the email, my heart cracked in two. Hearing something like this can be devastating. Yet, after shedding tears and talking with wonderful family and friends, a certain peace entered me and began sewing my heart back together.

I don't create art for the accolades of others. I create art because it makes me so very happy. I create because it is a way for me to express myself. It is a way for me to teach others both about myself and about things that I've learned in life. It is a way for me to express my love for my family and friends. If others like what I do, it is a sweet perk, but it is really secondary to my opinion of my creations.

When I was younger, my dream was to take horseback-riding lessons. Finally when I was in middle school, I got that chance. I loved every minute of those lessons. I would arrive at least an hour early so that I could groom my horse to perfection and I would stay as long after my lesson as my mom would allow. If I had my way, I would have lived at that stable. It was my favorite place in the world for many years. Once, during my lesson, we were out on the trails and my horse was spooked by a bird and he took off in a gallop with little me atop. He jumped over streams and through trees while I white-knuckled his mane. Finally, my instructor caught up to me and calmed my horse down enough for me to dismount. We walked for a few minutes to make sure that the horse wasn't still jumpy and then she made me get right back on. I couldn't believe it. I was pretty sure that I never wanted to ride again after that experience, but she told me that if I didn't ride again right away, that I would always be afraid. That is why, as a mother, when my kids fall off their bikes, I dry their tears, mend their wounds and put them right back on their bikes. Because I believe that after you fail at something, it is important not to let the fear overtake you. You just need to get right back on the saddle, the bike or back into the art.

Last night, I worked on a few projects and felt the joy that I always felt when I'm creating and I knew that I was back again.

You may wonder why I decided to discuss this event so openly. I could have easily avoided the topic. It is because I believe my blog is a piece of my life. A life that is made up of grand triumphs and devastating disappointments. Just as everyone's life is made up of grand mountain highs and deep ravine lows. I wanted to show the world (or at least the relatives and friends who read my ramblings) that it is okay to fail. Everyone does. So what if this particular journey ended in a fall? It was still incredible and when I stand to brush off my knees, I see a new path, shiny and bright beckoning to me.

And I'm off...