2014 Creative Dare

I'm so thankful for Tracy Weinzapfel Burgos and the Mixed Media Monday Group for the encouragement to create when sometimes.....I just don't think I have it in me.  Here is my entry for the January Creative Dare . My word is "Embrace"

Word of the Year Search

Once upon a time there was a mom who loved her family so much but was struggling. Struggling against the sicknesses that kept her from doing the things that a mother usually does. A wife, a daughter, a sister, a friend, a Sunday School teacher and much more but I just couldn't do it all. I wanted to so badly and it would make me so frustrated the tears would come. I would pray over and over, "Lord, if you'll just let me feel a little bit good tomorrow, I just want to feel like getting up."  Ok, so I didn't get a miracle and even after 3 surgeries, numerous tests, and doctors, I still have a lot of health issues. But.....sometimes God doesn't choose to heal you or take away the pain for reasons only known to Him. It doesn't mean He doesn't care. He just sees those things down the road and what you're going to need to make it through those. Ah, but he sent me a friend. Not just a friend but someone who taught me that in spite of my pain and frustrations I can make beauty. Lots of beauty all around me. And then she introduced me to one of the most loving group of people that have been there for me through so many things. When I didn't want my family to know how much I was worried I could tell them all about it, ask for prayers and I received some of the most encouraging words that were what I needed. When I first began watching  Tracy Weinzapfel I thought art journaling was one of the craziest things I'd ever seen. People made a huge mess of a page, slapped more mess on it, scribbled on it and called it "Art Journaling"? No beauty or art could I see. lol  Then Tracy taught me the true beauty of art journaling and became not only my teacher but an amazing friend. What I love about her....She is real! She is kind to everyone and tries so hard to make sure she doesn't miss giving each new member a welcome to the Mixed Media Monday group and encourages each new artist even though we have grown to over 500!   I haven't done much creating since October but they love me anyway!  haha  They continued to encourage me and they've encouraged me right into creating again and it feels so good!!!  Love that Angie and I are challenging each other.  I just don't have a word for the year and asked for help. MMM came through once again and I decided to write down words from everyone that posted. It didn't stop there. Since I still don't have my word chosen......I got out that page that Yvonne encouraged me to underwrite on (and boy, did I ever lol) and began to create. Now there are all those beautiful words I wrote down on that page and the reminder of the wonderful things my friends said to me. It isn't my most beautiful page ever but it makes me so happy.  I also tried some things out that I had wanted to try so I could share some alternatives for supplies with others that can't afford some of the more pricey things. It worked!  :-)

Angie.....On the left is how the page looked before (minus the flower I drew lol) If you look close at the top photo on the right you can see the underwriting faintly.  These are before I started outlining all my flowers.

On the left is my finished page.  I used a homemade gesso (Shannon Green). It's great if you like texture which I do. I had heard that you could use eye shadow for shimmer sprays. Then I got to thinking (scary, I know lol) Could you use other makeup? My daughter thought it sounded good and got me some things to try. Then I bought a kit on clearance after Christmas. The upper pink flower was done in lipstick with blush rubbed on top. It is outlined in liquid eyeliner. The stem of the orange flower is done in green eye shadow. Different colors. I found you can use the eye shadow as a chalk to get one effect or wet it and use it like a paint for a different effect. I'm still experimenting but you can get a lot of things at the $1 store, $ General, etc. I sure hope this help some of you. We went through a really rough time a couple years ago when hubby's company almost went under so I understand how you can long to create but not have the funds to buy fun stuff.  

Whew!  I really shouldn't try to make up 2 months in one post! ;-)

I do want to say "Thank You" from the bottom of my heart to the awesome people at Mixed Media Mondays! So thankful for you!