But she had an incredible story to tell us about her life and her ability to overcome challenges, and that story has been with me every day since.
Life is full of hard things. But you do have choices about your little everyday moments despite those hard things, and one of the most important choices you can make is the choice to be (and share) happy.
Happy looks different for everyone. Happy might mean saying no to a social gathering because you are more content at home in your PJs with your pet. Happy might mean cooking an amazing meal. Happy might mean NEVER cooking. Happy might mean driving instead of flying. Happy might mean deliberately jumping out of an airplane.
Happy might mean coloring a sweet little narwhal that your infectiously happy friend Beth designed.
So that's what I did.
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For the background of my narwhal, I used some Pansy and Scuba ink, with the Wrinkle Free Distress technique, with the help of this stencil and this stencil, and some experimentation, which you'll see in a video below. I used these sequins, and my favorite black embossing powder, which my friend Christopher makes. I love having friends who make things.
SO, speaking of friends who make things, I decided to try the inks for ink blending with two more friends' stuff - my friend Mary Kay (also a retreat sponsor) makes AMAZING stencils, so I used Cattail, Citronella and Fruit Punch ink with my Life Changing Blender Brushes to selectively color the background with this beautiful stencil. Then I cut the background apart and trimmed off a section in the middle. I adhered those to a piece of acetate and then stamped and die cut these adorable kitties and adhered them on top of the gap with the acetate behind the stenciled panel. I put that on a Desert Storm card base. Stencils make such a big impact in a short amount of time and these cats KILL me with cuteness.
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Enjoy the video on the background:
What do you do that makes you happy? Leave me a comment and I will choose one of you to win a prize package of things that make ME happy.Then hop over to Splitcoaststampers to see what the team has done with these inks in today's product focus.
Loveyameanitbye.
Sitting outside and reading and maybe falling asleep. Sadly it’s a little too chilly to do that now. But also buying new stamps, and I can do that all year round!
ReplyDeleteWho doesn't love a chubby narwal?! The colors on this card are majestic! <3 As for the second card - I would have never pegged you as a cat person.
ReplyDeleteWell, besides making cards and learning from great creative teachers like you, Lydia, my happy comes from picking fresh herbs from my garden and making wonderful meals in my cozy kitchen. Especially in the fall. How does sage crusted pork roast filled with cranberry bread stuffing sound? Now if only fall weather would finally show up in Texas!! Let's get cookin'!
ReplyDeleteIf I could take the background of your narwhal card and use it on every card for the rest of my life... and perhaps as the wallpaper in my house, and as the interior of my car, I would be happy. But seriously, happiness to me comes from laughing with friends and family, from walking in the woods, from learning new things, and from spreading joy to others.
ReplyDeleteI am still amazed at all the crafty, wonderfully artistic and talented people you have crossed paths with. They add so much beauty and show so much courage as they put themselves out there for everyone to see. And I am so glad that you do because I would never in twenty lifetimes find all the little gems you share with us! The narwhal will come live at my house as soon as paypal behaves and lets me check out! thank you again for sharing!
ReplyDeleteVery sweet cards, those Colorbox inks look like fun! Sorting and organizing makes me happy, hubby says all he needs to do is give me a box of colored rocks, ha ha.
ReplyDeleteMaking cards with all my crafty supplies! Simple, but true. Not much better in my world.
ReplyDeleteI've been trying to find my happy... lately it has been eluding me. So, I guess, for now, it would be spending time with my sweet husband and my four kitties. And, I am trying my hand at growing succulents.
ReplyDeleteLove your cards. What makes me happy is learning new things about watercoloring, card making etc.
ReplyDeleteWhat makes me happy varies. Your videos pretty much always make me happy! Just to see it in my subscriptions list can make my day! :) Making crafty things usually makes me happy, unless I'm already having a more-miserable-than-usual day. Then I shred papers. And of course, hanging with my bestest friend Barney (our next to youngest cat)! I love the cards you made--especially the no-wrinkle distress background. I haven't done that technique in a long time. Thanks for the tips on these new inks! :) ~ Andrea
ReplyDeleteThank you for the narwhal and the kitty cats. They made me smile and feel happy. Anything positive - sunshine, clouds, rain, snow (seeing not being in), mountains, ocean, trees, moss, animals, baby's laughing & learning new things, nice people, my jammies, pretty smells, crispy cookies, German food, Japanese food, Mexican food, Italian food, food, loved ones, safe people to tell life's secrets to, and gratitude - slowing down and feeling grateful for anything and each thing, makes me happiful. :*
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely adorable and wonderfully beautiful cards! We just got a kitten 3 weeks ago. We just sit and watch her play and sleep/cuddle for hours. That little squirt has brought so much happy, but nothing else is getting done around here :)
ReplyDeleteSpending time with family and friends and those I care about makes me happy... and of course any time I can spend crafting makes me incredibly happy! Thanks for all your inspiration and all you share!!
ReplyDeleteHanging out with Opie and crafting...makes me incredibly happy! (Love all the cards you do!!)
ReplyDeleteOh, hello. Love you blog, that makes me happy thank you!
ReplyDeleteOh, hello. Love you blog, that makes me happy thank you!
ReplyDeleteBuying new crafty supplies makes me happy! :) And being with my kitty, Coco!
ReplyDeleteMaking cards makes me happy and relaxed. I love to ride my bike, especially on a sunny day be it crisp and autumnal or sunny and dry summer. I love to just BE in the sun period. Sun makes me happy!
ReplyDeleteSuper super cute cards!!!
ReplyDeleteMaking cards and baking cakes make me happy and relaxed very much.
What makes me happiest is to spend the day among all my crafty supplies, just playing and experimenting and not worrying about the outcome!
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