Valentine’s Day Paintings

Can you believe that Valentine’s Day is already knocking on our doors and is only one month away? It’s one of my favorite holidays, but I wish it was longer than just 1 day. I always felt you should celebrate love every day of your life and not limit it to a single day 💖

I’m working on some new paintings but the ones in this post are currently available in my Etsy Shop. I’ll keep you posted with the progress on the others, but for now I’m waiting on a few supplies to come in.

I really enjoyed making all of these bright, fun mini paintings filled with lots of love. I love how the confetti makes it look like a celebration, it’s just fun! With that said the canvas panels with the creative lettering are my favorite. Which one is your favorite?

Have a wonderful weekend!

Thanks for stopping by!!

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“I love you, not only for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you.” ~Roy Croft

Thoughtful Thursday 15 Motivational Quotes

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The beginning of a new year is a chance for most to set new intentions to create the life of their dreams. But things don’t always go according to plan and we can get discouraged and even give up.

In my personal experience I’ve found that sometimes all you need is to hear the right words at the right time to get you back on track and reignite your passion. I’ve collected these 15 uplifting and inspiring quotes to help keep you motivated this year:

  • “When obstacle arises, you change your direction to reach your goal, you do not change your decision to get there.” ~Zig Ziglar
  • “You’ve got to get up every morning with determination if you’re going to go to bed with satisfaction.” ~George Horace Lorimer
  • “Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.” ~Theodore Roosevelt
  • “Identify your problems, but give your power and energy to solutions.” ~Tony Robbins
  • “Do not fear ridicule or rejection; fear the consequence of an unlived life that comes from not expressing yourself or pursuing your own path.” ~Brendon Burchard
  • “Not having the best situation but seeing the best in your situation is the key to happiness.” ~Marie Forleo
  • “Your life does not get better by chance, it gets better by change.” ~Jim Rohn
  • If you are depressed, you are living in the past. If your are anxious, you are living in the future. If your are at peace, you are living in the present.” ~Lao Tzu
  • “Whatever you put your attention on will grow stronger in your life.” ~Deepak Chopra
  • “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.” ~Aristotle
  • “All of our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.” ~Walt Disney
  • “Whoever loves much, performs much and can accomplish much, and what is done in love is done well.” ~Vincent Van Gogh
  • “Faith is the bridge to all dreams.” ~Bryant McGill
  • “A river cuts through rock, not because of its power, but because of its persistance.” ~James N Watkins
  • “You can’t just wish for a better life, you must go out there and create it.” ~Joel Brown

I hope these words of wisdom will lift your spirit when you need it most and fuel your passion so you can work towards your dreams!

Thanks for stopping by!!!

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Watercolor Flower Journaling

I wanted to share with you a fun journal page I made in my Strathmore 6×12 inch watercolor journal. I started with a loose, watercolor wash for the background and once that was dry, I drew in the flowers using a Sakura Micron 003 pen. It’s a good way to have some old fashioned carefree fun! As most of you know, I have a thing for sparkly magic so I added accents of glitter throughout the design✨

Hope this inspires you to create art today😊

Have a fabulous day and thanks for stopping by!!!

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“Flowers are the music of the ground, from earth’s lips spoken without sound.” ~Edwin Curran

For the Love of Outdoors Art Journal

I came across an old issue of Romantic Homes Magazine and fell in love with some of the images. So I thought it would be fun to cut them out and turn them into a journaling layout.

I started with blank pages where I wrote thank you notes to all of my family members who are no longer here but inspired me on my artistic journey. It felt good to create this journal layout with all that gratitude as the foundation for these pages.

It took a bit of time to finish because there were quite a few layers and I had to be patient and let things dry. I was going to for a romantic and dreamy vibe. And I wanted to pull the viewer into my magical garden. What do you think?

Hope this inspires you create a fun journal layout with some images you love!

Thanks for stopping by!!!

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“Gratitude is the single most important ingredient to living a successful and fulfilled life.” ~Jack Canfield

Thoughtful Thursday Draw Yourself Calm Book Review

Last year I had the pleasure of participating in Amy Maricle’s Inchie Challenge which was a lots of fun. I had so much fun that I bought her book, “Draw Yourself Calm.”

It’s a wonderful book that is well written and teaches you to simply slow down. The best part is you only need minimal supplies to get started. I find the practice of creating these mini works of art very calming and relaxing, a good way to destress. It’s also a good warm up for me to get the creative energy flowing.

In this video you an see the inchies I made for Amy’s 2022 Challenge that I put into a handmade book I created. I hope you’ll hop over to her site, Mindfulartstudio.com and learn more about Amy and her work. Highly recommended!

Stay inspired and create some art!

Thanks for stopping by!!

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“Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.” ~Edgar Degas


Dr Wayne Dyer Quote

I’m taking a much needed break before the holidays so I’m sharing with you a very inspiring quote by the late Dr Wayne Dyer on my watercolor painting titled “Change.”

“If you change the way the look at things, the things you look at change.”

Hope this inspires you in some way. Thanks for stopping by!!!

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Thoughtful Thursday Cold Remedy

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With the cold and flu season here I wanted to share an old remedy that my mom used to make. She believed that honey and garlic would cure anything a cold or flu could bring and she was right. Although I’m vegan, this is one thing I didn’t give up.

Growing up honey was a staple in our home. We used it on toast, in recipes and to sweeten tea. It was always delicious! Honey has lots of benefits including:

  • Rich in antioxidants
  • Strengthens the immune system
  • Eases sinus issues
  • Helps suppress coughs
  • Promotes the healing of burns and wounds
  • Boosts memory and more!

Now add some garlic to the honey and you have even more health benefits like:

  • Contains antioxidants
  • Helps protect against illness including colds
  • Reduces blood pressure
  • Improves bone health
  • Improves cholesterol levels and more!

When you combine these two superfoods along with a bit of onion, no virus or germ can survive. I’ve used this remedy for years and it shortens my illness without fail every time.

It’s easy to make, just put the onion and garlic in a mini food processor and puree. Then transfer it to a small bowl and add enough honey to cover the pureed mixture (I always add a little extra 😊). Store it covered in the fridge. Normally when you refrigerate honey it becomes thick and crystallizes. However, with the added onion and garlic, it becomes more fluid like a syrup.

Now I’m not going to lie, the garlic and onion can be strong so don’t chew it, swallow it like cough syrup. Take 1 tablespoon 3 times a day and you’ll feel worlds better in no time!

Ingredients:

  • 1/8 onion
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • Enough honey to cover the minced onion and garlic.

Hope this helps you stay healthier this winter. Thanks for stopping by!!!

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Zig Ziglar Quote

With the New Year fast approaching I wanted to share a motivational quote with you by Zig Ziglar on my Determination Painting, it reads:

“Time can be an ally or an enemy. What it becomes depends entirely upon you, your goals and your determination to use every available minute.”

Time seems to fly by faster and faster. But for me, the worst feeling is to have time fly by and feel that I made no progress and spun my wheels in the mud. Time is always moving so we need to move right along with it so it doesn’t pass us by.

Are you ready to grab time and make it your ally this coming year?

Hope this inspires you in some way. Thanks for stopping by!!!

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Thoughtful Thursday Hope

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Hurricanes are not to be taken lightly. They can cause loss of property and life. The state of Florida was hit by Hurricane Ian on 9/30/22, and it caused mass destruction across the state. Now Hurricane Nicole has caused even more. Nicole missed us thank goodness but the east coast of Florida, north of us was battered by winds, flooding and King Tides. King Tides are the highest possible tides in a calendar year and that only compounded the already serious issues caused by the hurricane.

I’ve been watching the news and am horrified to see homes in Daytona that are literally crumbling and being washed out to sea. The devastation is terrible and breaks your heart. One resident, a widow had lived in her home for over 30 years and thought she was in her forever home. But sadly her home is now uninhabitable.

I wish I had something happy to share with you today but I’m at a loss of words I guess. I can’t imagine how these people must feel at this time. My thoughts and prayers to go out to all affected by these storms.

Thanks for stopping by!!

Share the Happy because many need it now more than ever 💖

“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old but on building the new.” ~Socrates

Angel Journal Covers

Many of you followed me on my art adventure as I filled this journal with angel paintings. I love painting them because they give me a sense of peace, an inner harmony. With as crazy as the world has become, when I sit down to paint one of these angels, my outer world simply disappears and I drift into a place of complete joy.

I was happy and sad when I filled the journal because I knew it was time to start something new. I wanted the covers to reflect the love and magic these paintings exude. It took a little bit of time but I was finally able to create some pretty cool covers for the journal.

Now for the hard part of sending this journal off to Stampington in the hopes that it will be published in their Art Journaling Magazine, wish me luck 🤞

I hope you’re having a wonderful weekend and thanks for stopping by!!!

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“Every great move forward in your life begins with a leap of faith, a step into the unknown.” ~Brian Tracy