Handmade Cards: Move

Objects in motion tend to stay in motion

Objects at rest tend to stay at rest.

My pen and my card table have both been at rest for far too long. There is always a reason (or an excuse). I'm busy... aren't we all? But when I go a month without making cards, it becomes even harder for me to get down there and ignore the laundry or the vacuuming, or give up a chance to veg on the couch and watch a movie. I often choose to stay at rest when it comes to creating. But the longer I go without creating (whether in writing or in card making) the crankier I get.

And when I get cranky, I'm not much fun to be around. So this month of October will be a month of moving... I will jot down a few words on this screen, I will share some cards I have made in the past... and before this month is over, I will move and I will get back to down to my craft room and I will create some new cards to share here... and to list in my etsy shop!

Sometimes it just starts with a little paper, a little stamping and a little bit of coloring. I start with flowers and I color and cut... the cards will come later.

When I will realize that I need to send a note to one of my kids' teachers, I will whip up a little set of stationery, because notes on fun paper is so much more enjoyable.

So today's share isn't even a card... it's just a perfect paper for a little note, or a long letter!

The question is this: Do people still send actual letters? Would you buy a set (10-20 sheets) of handstamped stationery with envelopes to match?

My word prompt came from Kate Motaung who is doing 31 days of 5 minute free writes this month!
Five minutes of writing is about all I can squeeze in these days, but it's better than no writing!!

Thanks for taking the time to read and comment as I get moving again in writing and creating... (it might just benefit you at the end of our time this month)

A different kind of art

So my "God-sized Dreams" mostly include making cards and writing and encouraging others with both. The month of January was a bit sparse in both. So I'm linking up with Crystal Stine to share a little bit "Behind the Scenes" of my instagram feed lately (lots of baking)... and linking up with Holley Gerth, because I needed some encouragement for my heart today!

Thankfully, God has also given me another outlet for creativity... and I've been using it a lot this month. Maybe it was because I missed eating Christmas cookies, or maybe it's just because I love to bake!! First there were scones for the kick-off of Downton Abbey. There was birthday cake and cinnamon rolls (three times). Pumpkin muffins with chocolate chips.

Fresh bread (with a machine), and apple pie and banana bread. Banana cupcakes with homemade frosting and pumpkin cookies with glaze... And then there was the rainbow jello in team colors for the Super Bowl party. I just couldn't stop myself...

And that doesn't even count the home made pizza I make almost weekly, the new dinners I tried and the delicious corn fritters we had last night.  There is something about using my kitchen that delights me. Now if only I could learn to bake and eat healthy stuff!

I was getting a little discouraged about my quietness on the blog and my dormant etsy shop, but I was reminded that I do have other dreams (being a better wife and mom, being a real-life friend and encourager, etc) and the time I spent in my kitchen helped me do that when I shared some of the goodies I created.

All this to say, I haven't been writing lately, and all my good intentions for my card shop fell flat this month, but I still made art... in my kitchen!!



So on the long hard days, when you aren't sure you've done anything right (and believe me, I've had a handful of those this month), and when you aren't even sure what your dreams are, or how to pursue them... and you still haven't figured out what you want to be when you grow up, just look around you, look at what brings a smile to your face, look at what fills your instagram profile, look for the gifts and the graces from God. Chances are you might just find something that you've done right, something that fulfills the dreams of your heart. Sometimes you just have to be quiet to see them.

So friend, can I encourage you heart today?

Keep dreaming.

Keep taking snapshots of your daily life.

Keep spending time in God's Word.

Keep asking Him for guidance, direction and encouragement.

And Keep trusting Him to fill the desires of your heart!


holleygerth.com

Community Conversation: What do YOU need to hear on the long hard days?  and What do you like to create in the kitchen (any recipes to share with me)?