My One Little Word for 2012...

My One Little Word from the last three years

Inspired by Ali Edwards, this is my fourth year choosing one little word as a "guiding" word for the year. I have long since given up on making new year's resolutions.  It always seemed like it was a sure way to fail.  By choosing one word that I can reflect on throughout the year as a guide word would be more realistic.  Words that I've chosen in the past are FOCUS, TRUE and JOURNEY.
My word last year was JOURNEY.  I wanted to be more aware of this journey - my life.  I needed to be more aware of what was going on during the journey not just working my way to the finish line as fast and as best as I could.  I didn't want my life to be about performance or expectations.  Well, 2011 certainly was quite the journey.  There were plenty of ups and downs along with many learning opportunities.  There was heartache as well as joy and happiness.  Overall, I can say that God continued to bless and I ended the year better than I started it.
This year my chosen word is indeed a little word.  Just two letters.  DO.  That is my word.  As I looked back on my words from past years, it seemed like DO was naturally the next thing to choose.  I needed to FOCUS on the things that were most important, I needed to be TRUE, authentic, and to surround myself with authenticity, I needed to be present on the JOURNEY, to experience, learn from, enjoy and appreciate all I encountered.  Now, it's time to DO.  Time to get down to business.  There are many areas in which I need to DO.  Here are some that come to mind:

Physically

Spiritually

Mentally

Creatively

Financially

Responsibly

Those may not make sense to you right now, but in the next few days I will lay out my plan.  For now, I just know that I have plenty I want to DO - However, this is nothing new.  I am very active, always busy, always doing...but in the DOing, this year I want to get many things DOne.  This is where 2012 is going to be different than all other years past.
Won't you join me in choosing a word to help guide your year?  Share your word in the comments or leave a link to your blog (of course you don't have to be a blogger to participate).

 Here's my ATC card for this year's word: DO

ATC Card Swap ~ Journal Prompts ~ Received!!

Hey there! I promised I'd come back with an update about my Journal Prompts ATC card swap and here it is!  You can click on the link in the previous line to go to the post with the pictures of the cards I created.  Here are the cards that I received:

 The picture doesn't do them justice.  There is lots of texture and detail on every card...

 Each one is unique and from a different person.

 I liked that this one had something "interactive".  You could put the little card in and out of the envelope.

 I really liked the soft effect of the spray paint on this one.

 Not only do I love the bold owl on this one, but I also loved the stitching around the edges.

 I loved the fall colors of the first one and all the collage layers...so rich. Then the second one had a great picture and a little bit of glimmer to make it shine just right.

Just a sample of the surprise goodies from our swap hostess, Sarah.  I love vintage ephemera and these will go to great use in my art journal, card making and crafts.

I need to start on my next set. It's due on September 30th!

Journal Prompt ATC Card Swap

It's been a while since I've participated in any swaps, but I'm so glad that I decided to do this one. I always enjoy Sarah's swaps at our Soul Journaling Yahoo! Group. This swap was a 13 for 13, meaning you make 13 cards and will receive 13 different cards in return. Each card needed to be made with a playing card. The only guidelines were that one side had to have a journaling prompt (writing or art) and the other side needed to have decorative paper of some sort and your email. Also, the cards could not be 3D (nothing coming off the card like buttons and such).

Here are my 13 cards. I made them each different and on most of them, I tried to do the actual prompt as part of my artwork. I really enjoyed these little ATC cards. I can't wait to see what I'll get in return. I'll be sure to come back and share what I receive!

(click on photos to enlarge and see details)

The "backs" of the first set...

The "fronts" of the first set.

Top Row:

1. Writing Prompt: "I love the sound of..."

2. Look through magazines to find pictures that make you smile. Cut them out and collage them.

3. Choose a favorite color and base your whole page around it. Write why you love that color.

Bottom Row:

1. Apply some paint or ink to bubble wrap and then "stamp" with it on your page.

2. What has been the highest compliment you've ever received?

3. Include some large hearts in your journal today.

Middle End:

What line in a song do you often "hear" in your head?

The "backs" of the second set...

The "fronts" of the second set...

Top Row:

1. Scatter water color pencil shavings over a water saturated page.

2. Write a secret you've been keeping, then gesso and create over it.

3. Writing prompt: "I am happy with..."

Bottom Row:

1. List 10 smells you love.

2. Add some sort of "bling" to your page. Glitter, sparkles, gems...

3. Make a page with 25 adjectives on it that describe YOU.

This was one of my favorites. I took a water color ATC card and totally saturated it with water. Then I just sharpened some of my water color pencils over it, allowing the shavings to fall where they may. I did that with several different colors, shook off the "wood" part of the shavings and then let it dry. I then adhered it to the playing card with tacky glue. I mod podged over the shavings to kind of "seal" it.

This one was my favorite out of all of them. I lightly gesso'd the card and then went over it with a wash of acrylic. I believe it was a mix of camel and mango. While it was still wet, I took a scrunched up paper towel and dabbed it. It left the nice texture and I heat set it right away. Then I stamped my image with Staz On black ink and then splattered the red acrylic paint on top of it all. I then added the prompt with gel medium and of course that was inked with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.

They've gone out and are on their way to Florida. Come back to see what I receive. =)

ATC cards that I made while in Washington...

I like to take some sort of art or journaling supplies with me whenever I go on a trip. You never know when you'll be inspired and want to do more than a pen/pencil sketch. I pack a little pencil pouch with some watercolor pencils, gel pens, ATC cards, cat's eye ink pads, etc. and go. I also have my SMASH book, but am still trying to figure out my groove with that one. My favorite time to journal and create is early morning or late at night while everyone is still asleep. I was inspired to create some ATC's that would remind me of my mom and dad when I returned back to my home in California. Here's what I came up with...

Some people may think they have a green thumb, but my mom has a green hand! Her house is filled with beautiful and exotic flowers. She has already started a vegetable garden in her new backyard too. Her favorite flowers are orchids and she has so many varieties. I was amazed at how full they all were with blooms. I will always think of her when I see a delicate orchid.

As long as I can remember, my dad has enjoyed eating Snyder's of Hanover Hard Sourdough pretzels. My grandpa loved to snack on them as well. With my dad though, it was almost like an art. haha. He'd get a chunk of sharp cheddar cheese and he'd grab the well-known brown box of pretzels and sit down to watch t.v. or whatever and start munching away. Makes me crave them just thinking about it. The way he'd take a bite of pretzel and then the cheese. Even my kids love them now. It's just a bit of comfort for him after a long day at work. Now the brown box and hard pretzels bring me comfort when I think of them. =)

Bye-bye Judgement...

ATC Love

Background painted with water color paint and water color crayons. Rubber stamped bird cage, bird and date with Jet Black Staz On ink. Book text from an old copy of Pride and Prejudice. Felt flowers from the dollar spot at Michael's. Hand-written script with Sakura Glaze pen - my favorite for mixed-media writing.

You Can Soar...

I gave this little ATC card to my daughter Hannah on Monday. I made it the night before as I sat at my craft table and thought about her and prayed for her. She would be facing her first "real" week of high school finals this week. Good grades do not always come easily for her. She has to study hard and really apply herself.
I have been very proud of how well she has transitioned from being homeschooled or going to a small Christian school her whole life to going to a very large public high school that has very high academic standards. She makes good choices and shows strong balance in her life. She loves fun, music and friends like any normal teenager - but she also loves the Lord and it is evident in her walk.
I wrote her a little note on the back of the card telling her how proud I was of her. I never really heard that growing up - and I hope that she knows how important it is to me that she believes me. =)

*I used watercolors for the background. I first painted it red and then after it dried, I painted a wash of black over that. I then took an absorbant paper towel and blotted it dry. I was pretty happy with the result. I then painted the black circles...I love circles =) and then sharpied around them. Then I stamped the bird images using Staz On Jet Black. I believe they are Studio G brand found in the $1 section at Michael's. I colored in the heart using a red Glaze pen and finished it off by writing "Soar" and adding details with my Black PITT artist pen. Those have become a favorite, by the way!*

One Little Word ~ ATC's

Focus ~2009

True ~ 2010

Journey ~ 2011

Just one little word to be my guide...