Here’s to the ones who make every day brighter, every moment sweeter, and who sprinkle magic in everything they do. Happy Mother’s Day to all the incredible moms out there! Your love knows no bounds, and today, we celebrate you 💐✨
Happy Mothers Day!!
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“Mothers hold their children’s hands for a short while, but their hearts forever.” ~Unknown
I hope that you’re enjoying this Thanksgiving holiday surrounded by family and friends, creating special memories.
I’m so very grateful for all of you who are following me on this creative journey! Thanks for your love and support, it means the world to me 💖💖
Wishing you a Very Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving!
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You hear the terms acid free and archival paper quite a bit especially when being used in regards to art and photos. But many get confused with the difference between the two.
Acid free paper is just that, it’s acid free. These papers are made using an alkaline technology so the pulp of the paper is neutral and above 7. The paper is buffered with calcium carbonate to neutralize acid compounds that may come from natural aging or the atmosphere. Papers treated with an alkaline reserve make them last longer.
Acid free paper is used for a number of things that you want to last, like storing photos, displaying artwork, stamp collecting and more. If you use non-acid free paper then you run the risk of damaging your item because it can change the chemical composition of the photo or artwork which affects the color and clarity. Non-acid free paper can also cause chemical burning where it gives off a microscopic fuming of sulfurous acid that causes the paper to become brown, dry and brittle.
Archival paper is acid free and shouldn’t contain any brighteners making it whiter. It also should not contain any ground wood or unbleached pulp but it should meet limits on the metallic content. Although there are no universal standards in what makes paper archival, it should meet these general accepted properties.
Archival-grade paper, also known as museum-grade or museum quality paper is used by many artists. It’s superior in quality and stability when compared to other papers especially in fine art. An archival print is designed to last a 100 years or more.
I hope this helped to clarify the difference between acid free and archival papers. Thanks for stopping by!!
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This is another flashback art journal page I made a while ago in my Strathmore 6×12″ Watercolor Journal. It’s a bit of an odd shaped journal that challenges me to create something fun in. I love zentangle designs and that’s what I ended up making here.
I made this while on vacation with my kids when they were little. My daughter was always my cup of sunshine and she was the inspiration for this page. Every time I look at this page I think of her 😊
I remember prepping a few pages with watercolor washes before leaving on the trip so I could travel with less supplies. All I ended up taking with me was this journal and my micron pen set.
If life is too busy for you to find time to create, then a vacation would be ideal. Journaling helps you to capture lovely memories with your creativity. You can even add pieces of memorabilia to your journal pages to make it even more special. Take as many supplies as you want or prep pages before leaving like I did here. It’s fun, easy and makes a great keepsake.
Hope this inspires you to create!
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“Don’t think about making art, just get it done.” ~Andy Warhol
I can’t believe that Father’s Day will already be here this Sunday, June 18th. This is a special day to celebrate those great dads who are here with us today and also to honor and remember those who are no longer with us.
Dads have a unique style all of their own in how they handle life and teach us what they know. I learned so much from my dad and he was the one who inspired me to create art. My love for photography, roses and birds all came from him. So how will you show your love to that great man?
Here are a few ideas for Father’s Day:
Wishing all Dad’s a very Happy Father’s Day!
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“A father is neither an anchor to hold us back nor a sail to take us there, but a guiding light whose love shows us the way.” ~Unknown
Mother’s Day is this Sunday, May 14th. Often we take for granted all the wonderful things that mom’s do for us everyday. Like the pile of clean clothes that magically appear in your dresser or the sweet love note with encouraging words that are hidden in your lunch bag. What about the breakfast or dinner that’s ready to go just when you’re starving, in a rush and don’t have time to make anything for yourself. Let’s not forget all the love and support they give as the biggest fan of our lives!
This Mother’s Day give her a gift that touches her heart. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Get creative, put a little extra thought into it and give her a special gift from your heart!
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“When you look into your mother’s eyes, you know that is the purest love you can find on this earth.” ~Mitch Albom
It seems that most of us are in a perpetual state of searching for happiness. If I only had that car, owned that house, had more money I’d be happy. But is this truly what happiness is?
For some, the material world and all it’s contents define their happiness. But happiness looks completely different from one person to the next. For me happiness is the scent of warm bread baking in the oven. It’s hearing the wind gently rustling the leaves on the trees. It’s seeing the sunlight sparkle and dance on the waves in the lake. It’s completely losing myself in my art, painting and letting the outside world with all of it problems simply fade away, at least for a little while.
Don’t get me wrong, you can buy “things” that make you happy, but the happiness is short lived. Although these “things” are nice to have, they don’t make you feel alive. They don’t bring that sense of joy and wonder into your heart and soul, filling every cell in your body with true happiness.
So what is happiness for you? What does it smell, taste or feel like? What makes you smile from ear to ear all day long? Have you found happiness or are you still looking for it? Would love to hear your thoughts….
Have a beautiful day, thanks for stopping by!!
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With the loss of my little Cocoa this past summer and being stuck in bed this entire holiday season, my thoughts were on her a lot. She was quite a character and loved to rip our presents open. You can see her ears flying madly as she shredded the paper on this gift. This was serious business for Cocoa, she made us all laugh 😂
So to keep a reminder of Cocoa at Christmas, I made this ornament. It’s a beautiful way to remember those we’ve lost whether our furry kids or family and friends. It’s also a great way to create a custom keepsake for special moments. This started as a simple paper mache circle ornament, but wood would work just as well.
Supplies
Instructions
I hope you enjoy creating your custom keepsake. Keep in mind, these would also make great gifts too 😊
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Mother’s Day is fast approaching, this Sunday, May 9th. So why not give mom a gift that touches the heart. I have many fond memories of Mother’s Day celebrations but when my son baked me a vanilla cake with chocolate frosting, all vegan from scratch with a beautiful design in colored sprinkles, that really touched my heart 💖 He put so much love into that cake for me I’ll cherish that memory forever. Not to mention, the cake was so delicious we polished it off in only 2 days!!
Another touching memory was when my daughter spent a very rainy Mother’s Day with me watching our favorite movies with popcorn and candy. We had lunch in between and even played a few board games which is something I’ve loved doing since I was a kid. We had such fun together as we laughed all day. She created a wonderful loving memory that I will hold in my heart till the end of time 💖
So what are you going to do for you mom on Mother’s Day that will touch her heart? Here’s a few ideas to get you inspired:
Get creative, put a little extra thought into it and give her a gift from your heart 💖
Thanks for stopping by!
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“When you look into your mother’s eyes, you know that is the purest love you can find on this earth.” ~Mitch Albom
Flowing Waters Art 