Tickled Pink

Or maybe I should say "blue":  my niece Jen, husband Dave, and my new grandnephew Rylan!

Blog Candy

I made this card for a sweet stamping friend who leaves lovely comments on my blog!

Watercolour Spray Backgrounds

A few months ago, I taught the lovely ladies at my stamp club how to make background papers using watercolour sprays and masks.

Today, many of them had brought cards they made using this technique.  And one of them gave me this:

Isn't it beautiful?

Thanks, Dianne!

Sometimes my sister and I exchange stamped images.  Recently she sent me a whole stack, to keep me busy colouring outside during the summer months.

I made her this card to say "thanks".

Believe!

Here are a couple of ATC's I received in the recent Word swap.

And here is one of the ones I submitted; there were many different colours and backgrounds:

Pretty as a Picture!

My sister, Dianne, sent me this lovely card. You can see more pretty pictures on Dianne's blog.

SoulPancake

I was listening today to Oprah's interview with Rainn Wilson on her Soul Series.  Wilson was raised in the Baha'i faith, and I am always interested to learn about different religions. 

Wilson has a very cool web site, SoulPancake.com.  What is SoulPancake?  Here's what it says on the site:

"Well, it’s more of a mission than a Web site...

We want to make discussions about Spirituality, Creativity, and Philosophy cool again. Were they ever cool? I have no idea. But it seems like a good idea. We want to engage the user to “Chew on Life’s Big Questions”™. (I was kidding about the ™ symbol; you can use that phrase however you want. Even to sell frozen taquitos.) Where do you go on the Interwebs if you want an irreverent, fun, and profound take on God and Art and the Soul and Faith and Beauty? Fox.com? Maybe. But maybe also here at SoulPancake.com."

You can listen to Oprah's interview with Wilson at http://www.oprah.com/article/spirit/inspiration/pkgoprahssoulserieswebcast/20090309_oradio_oss_rwilson.

Variety is the Spice of Life

Here are some of the beautiful Vintage ATC's I received in the May Vintage Collage swap.  They are all so different, and each beautiful in their own way.

Happy Birthday!

I made this card for a sweet choir friend who loves her bling!

Thanks to Julie at Amuse for this great layout. I love inchies, and I love how this card uses them.

Worth the Wait

Was it?  Worth the wait?  This one is a special one going to my sister, Dianne.  The last May Vintage ATC:

When We Are Together

Two more to go!

Vacation Memories

Day Five of the Vintage ATC's!

Through the Eyes of a Child

Here's another May Vintage ATC:

Find pleasure in anything

"Whatever you’re doing, be fully present … and also appreciate every aspect of it, and find the enjoyable aspects. For example, when washing dishes, instead of rushing through it as a boring chore to be finished quickly, really feel the sensations of the water, the suds, the dishes. It can really be an enjoyable task if you learn to see it that way. The same applies to other chores — washing the car, sweeping, dusting, laundry — and anything you do, actually. Life can be so much more enjoyable if you learn this simple habit." Leo Babauta

Read more of The 10 Essential Rules for Slowing Down and Enjoying Life More at http://zenhabits.net/2009/06/the-10-essential-rules-for-slowing-down-and-enjoying-life-more/

Naturally Beautiful

Another May Vintage Artist Trading Card

Friendship

Another of my May Vintage ATC's for swap.

Forever Young

The May vintage swaps have arrived in the mail, so it is now safe to reveal my creations without spoiling it for anyone.  I must have been feeling especially creative, as I made several different Artist Trading Cards rather than six of the same.

I think I'll tease you and dribble them out gradually.

Put Your Own Mask On First

We are having to make big changes in my mother's living arrangements, and I am currently having her assessed to determine exactly what kind of place will give her the care she needs. This can be very overwhelming as it involves large changes in finances, housing, independence, location, etc. Some days I find it all a bit too much - there is a lot to do and think about!

My good friend Judith reminded me recently the importance of keeping my own life in balance during this time. She said, "Remember to put your own mask on first, before helping the person in the seat beside you."

Nap Time

My Sister the Artist

My sister, Dianne, sent me this cheery card recently. Isn't it wonderful? You can see more of her beautiful creations on her blog: http://passionforstamping.blogspot.com/