a bible book cover

i gifted my son an NIV bible last week but i could forsee the paper cover being crumpled with use over time.  he liked my bible cover i had made from a technique i had published in cloth paper scissors magazine a while back, so today i made his bible a cover.  i can't wait for him to see it when he comes from work.  i hope he's pleased with it, too.

the front

the back

the roc nicholas design team post

artwork by sue waters

today the roc nicholas rubber stamp design team post is brought to you by sue waters.  sue has created an adorable new year's tag with my screaming bunny and my steampunk border stamp.

to see more about this piece of art and more of sue's art please head on over to her blog by clicking here.

to see these stamps, and all of my rubber stamps sold through stampotique.com please click here.

the roc nicholas rubber stamp design team post

artwork by karen hayselden

today the roc nicholas rubber stamp design team is being brought to you by karen hayselden.  she has created an amazing tag using a few of my stamp designs:  dog, capture the magic, roc's tree and steampunk border.

to see more about this piece or more of karen's work please head over to her blog by clicking here.

to see more of my rubber stamp line sold through stampotique.com please click here.

daily planner prompt - week 52

week 52 prompt - what is something you were reminded of this year?

wow! here we are at week 52.  this year has seemingly flown by.  i swear, the older i get the faster my years go.  it's been a joy filled year.  so many blessings were bestowed upon me, despite having had a few not-so-great moments thrown in the mix as well. 

 one thing that kept coming up for me this year had to do with being happy. 

when you experience the loss of a dear loved one, sadness seems to abound.  when you see someone you love suffering and going without it is hard on your heart.  not being able to help someone you love in a way that feels good is wrapped in guilt and grief.  it has been a year filled with a lot of reminders that most of life is out of my control.  the good news is that every day i have choices i can make.  i can opt to be sad or happy but the things that are out of my control are still going to transpire no matter what emotion i choose. 

i believe life is better when we are positive thinkers.  in todays world, so many people live in such a state of immediacy.  everything has to happen now and when it doesn't they aren't happy.  we are becoming an impatient lot of people.  so many folks look to others for love to find their worth and happiness.  examples abound and i could give you more of them, but the basic message is that we all choices in the way we will live our lives. 

 i believe it basically boils down that we program ourselves based on so many factors; social, economic, psychological and spiritual.  it is possible to retrain our beliefs and thinking and consciously choose to be happy.  yes, being content in the moment, whether it is a great time or a could-be-better time, and making the most of what you have is part of the secret to finding happiness.  the wonderful news is that no moment lasts forever.  each moment is only 60 seconds long.  there is salvation in that news. 

for those of you who have been following along my planner journey it's been a wonderful year together. what were you reminded of this year? i have my planner ready to go for the new year.  it is a bible based theme i'll be doing for 2016. i hope you'll follow along with me.  merry christmas and happy new year!

the roc nicholas rubber stamp design team post

artwork by samantha read

today the roc nicholas rubber stamp design team post is brought to you by samantha read.  sam has used my party dog and heart vine rubber stamps to create this wonderful christmas piece.  to learn more about this and to see more of sam's work please visit her blog by clicking here.

to see more of my rubber stamp line sold through stampotique.com please click here.

daily planner prompt - week 51

week 51 prompt - what do you love doing in your free time?

i guess it's a no brainer if you know me that you know i love creating art no matter what time we are talking about.  it's my therapy.  my passion.  it's fulfilling.  i'd be lost with out art in my life.  i'm so blessed to be able to do it every day.

what about you?  what do you do in your free time?

2016 planner

it's is hard to believe that it is nearing the end of 2015.  i have had a blessed year in so very many ways and i am thankful that god has provided me with a life full of goodness.

for those of you that know me well, you know that i am deeply faith filled and i have been inspired to make my 2016 planner a biblical theme.

i found a heidi swapp planner on sale at my local michaels a long time ago.  i started working in it as soon as i brought it home and i'm happy with how it is has been turning out and i can't wait to start using it.

this is the front cover.  it was just black and white striped. i added the wording with a gold metallic pen.

this is the first page in the planner.  it came with the pink flowers on it but i added the doodling, stickers, washi tape and collage bits to make it my own.

 this is my january page divider.  it came with the pink flowers along the bottom.  i added washi tape, collage items, rub ons, and the writing is my own.

 i will be posting my planner journey on my blog regularly.  if you'd like to follow along with a planner of your own i'd love to have you join me.  there is nothing greater than when people gather together in HIS name. 

either way, i hope that your bounty and your carts overflow with abundance in the new year.

 * * * * * * *

Jesus said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?"     -john 11:40-

 

the roc nicholas design team post

artwork by gemma maggs

today the roc nicholas rubber stamp design team post is brought to you by the talented gemma maggs.  she has really gone all out with using so many of my rubber stamps to create this awesome christmas piece:  roc's tree,  feline,  ponytail,  screaming bunny,

bird lady, roc's angel,  and my horse.

to see more of gemma's work please visit her blog by clicking here.

to see my rubber stamps sold through stampotique.com please click here.

daily planner prompt - week 50

prompt - week 50 - describe what travel means to you

this prompt was brought about by this wrapping paper i found at a craft store.  i just loved it when i saw it on the clearance rack at michaels.  i didn't pay much attention to the tiny words on it because i was purely struck by the bright colors and lovely roses.  when i got home and took it out of its wrapping, that's when i read the words on it.

things jumped out at me like: you should strike out on new paths, our deeds still travel, travel can inspire me, worn paths of accepted success, etc.   little bits and phrases that inspired me.  since i am not a big fan of travelling far distances i began to think about how i travel, what am i missing if i don't travel, and the list goes on - mostly because it seems my mind never settles.  

i began to realize that i can travel far and wide without really having to go anywhere, and that travel doesn't necessarily mean hopping on a plane, boat or car.  i see all limitless wonders all around me.  nature hosts a huge assortment of miracles that i witness every day.  the internet brings all kinds of things right into my home.  technology allows to travel with things like skype, email, googling about other cultures, etc.  while some people love the thrill of actually being somewhere different i totally enjoy being in my home and having every day adventures. 

what about you?  how do you describe what travel means to you?

the roc nicholas rubber stamp design team post

artwork by corrie herriman

today the roc nicholas rubber stamp design team post is brought to you by corrie herriman.  i love how corrie uses color in her artwork, and this piece is no exception.  she used my scooter girl, daisy head and scalloped lace border stamps in her design.  

to see more about her creation, and just to see more of corrie's art please head on over to her blog by clicking here.

to see all my rubber stamps sold through stampotique.com please click here.

new release from tumble fish studio

all digital imagery from tumble fish studio's christmas portrait kit

marsha, aka tumble fish studios has released a new kit call christmas potraits over at mischief circus.   head on over there and check it out by clicking here.

daily planner prompt - week 49

week 49 prompt - describe your life in 5 words or less

this week's prompt was brought about by a recent illness i had.  i babysat my grandsom for a few days and he was sick and happily shared his little germs with me.  who knew that a tiny tot could have such deadly germs?  he was better in a few days and there i was sick for a few weeks.  i had to give in and go to the doctor.  as it ended up i had pink eye in both eyes and a terrible throat infection.  i was on a few different antibiotics.  i am happy to say that i am finally better, but it is during the times your health is compromised that you truly appreciate the days of well being and joyful living.  i am truly grateful for my blessed life.

what about you?  how would you sum up your life in five words or less?

the roc nicholas rubber stamp design team post

artwork by sue waters

today the roc nicholas rubber stamp design team piece is brought to you by sue waters.  she has used my polka dot dog and flying heart stamps to create this magnetic atc.  sue will be giving one away so please head on over to her blog by clicking here for all the details.

to see all of my stamps sold through stampotique.come please click here.

new kits by tumble fish studio being released today

tumble fish studio digital imagery

marsha, aka tumble fish studio, is releasing two new kits at mischief circus.  she has holiday journaling words.  you can mix and match them to create all kinds of phrasing.  you have to check it out!

all  images by tumble fish studio

another kit being released by tumble fish studio is the holiday journaling border kit.  there are a lot of holidays borders you can use.  why don't you hop on over and check it out by clicking here.

the roc nicholas rubber stamp design team post

artwork by karen hayselden

today the roc nicholas rubber stamp design team post is brought to you by karen hayselden.  she has created a wonderland beauty using my bunny stamp.  

to more about this piece of art and check out karen's blog please click here.  

 to see more of my rubber stamp line sold through stampotique.com please click here.

daily planner prompt - week 48

week 48 prompt - honor someone you love

this prompt was brought about by my nearing wedding anniversary.  i was blessed to marry a good man.   i met todd in the  fourth grade.  i sat in the front of the room and he sat a few rows behind me.  when our eyes met for the first time his eyes were all sparkly, just like what you see on cartoons.  i just "knew" that some day i would marry him.   it really was love at first sight for me.  i'm not sure he would say the same.  i am a kind of acquired taste.

our relationship survived all of our growing pains, including a long distance relationship all through college.  he graduated in the spring of 1982 and we were married the saturday after thanksgiving of that same year.  here we are, another 33 years of being together.  i have literally shared my life with this being for almost my entire life time.

we are as different as day and night.  but together i think we make a perfect whole.  we balance each other faults and strengths.  god knew what he was doing from the very beginning.  i couldn't ask for any one better to share the rest of my life with.

what about you?  who is someone you would honor in your life?

another peek inside my daily planner

the roc nicholas rubber stamp design team post

artwork by samantha read

today the roc nicholas rubber stamp design team post is brought to you by samantha read.  i just love this piece!  she used my roc's tree stamp and my polka dot dog stamp in the most delightful christmasy way.

to see more about this piece of artwork please vist sam's blog by clicking here.  

to see these stamps and all my rubber stamps sold through stampotique.com please click here.

planner prompt - week 47

week 47 prompt - are you an old fogey or a kid at heart?

this prompt comes on the heels of someone telling me i was acting too silly.  now really, is there such a thing?  any one who knows me knows that i love laughing.  to me there isn't much that is better for the well being of someone then laughing.  i still feel like a kid inside even though i am aging.  i believe i will cherish that feeling for as long as i can remember to.

what about you?  are you an old fogey or a kid at heart?

working on some stationary

i've been making some sationary for my personal use for a while now.  i love writing letters to people.  in this day of technology everyone seems to text or email.  in my opinion, while it is wonderful to have such immediacy at times, i miss good old fashioned letter writing.  there is something so happy about opening up my mailbox and seeing an envelope tucked inside.

i'm going to share, over the next few months,  some of the notes (they're all works in progress) i've been making and maybe one of them will inspire you to send a creatively made hand written note to someone you would like to share a little joy with.

this envelope was just a plain white one.  i used a pencil to lightly draw circles that overlapped one another.   the upper left ribbon is a stamp that i thought would make a great return address label.  i used copic markers for all the color and i used gel pens  for a little pop of color.

this is the note card that goes inside.  i added some collage bits to the front to change it up a bit.

when you open up the card i used a stamp on the blank inside and then used washi tape to secure some tags and cards in place, and added numbers to help the person receiving it follow along the proper order or the hand written letter.

this letter is a work in progress, as i will add tabs and more imagery and ephemera when i actually go to use it.  to me half of the enjoyment is not really knowing when to quit when it comes to all you can add along the way.

 

another peek....

....into my daily planner

 

the roc nicholas rubber stamp design team posting

art by gemma maggs

today the roc nicholas rubber stamp design team post is brought to you by gemma maggs.  she has created this awesome tag art show casing my blessed skellie rubber stamp and my dog rubber stamp.  don't you just love the vibrant colors?!  to see more about this piece of art and gemma's artwork please click here to go to her blog.

to see my rubber stamp sold through stampotique.com please click here.

day planner prompt - week 46

week 46 prompt - what is something you are afraid of?  what scares you?

this week's prompt is about fear.  for my artwork for the prompt i picked bees and spiders, but honestly, most bugs sort of freak me out.  i know exactly how that all started.

i was a kid and standing at the top of our stairs to go down in to the cellar and a wasp stung me in the neck and i fell down the stairs and my arm got caught between the side of the stairs and a support beam for the house.  i remember my mom helping to get me down.

i admit that besides my bug phobia there are other fears i wrestle with, too, and i believe i could write a small article outlining them all.  i will spare you the grizzly details.

so what about you?  what scares you?

a postcard swap

there is postcard swap happening on facebook for the roc nicholas rubber stamp group.  the theme for this swap was "fall".  for the leaves i used the wings and tail feathers of my flying bird stamp.  the verse stamp is also one of my designs called color her soul.

there are some wonderful creations in the facebook swap, so if you have time to join us please click here.  we'd love to have you.

you can see all my rubber stamp designs sold through stampotique by clicking here.

the roc nicholas rubber stamp design team post

artwork by corrie herriman

today the roc nicholas rubber stamp design team, corrie herriman has created this fabulous fall art for your viewing pleasure.  she used my horse and heart vine stamp in her creation.  corrie has the best color skills.  her pieces are always so full of beautiful color.  to see more about this piece, or more of corrie's art work please click here to go to her blog.

to see more of my rubber stamp line sold through stampotique.com please click here.

week 45 - my planner

week 45 - how important are the opinions of others about you and/or your art?

it is so hard to let opinions and negative comments roll off my back.  i think personal remarks are the hardest to shake.  most things about ourselves are hard to change.  my gram use to always say, "you can't change the spots on a leopard".  it's true.

it is easier to let go of critics about my art, but not at first.  i remember one time i had a community art teacher tell me that my art was whimsical and i would never be able to sell my art.  i was crushed.  those words haunted me for a long time.  i eventually was able to let go of her opinion of my work.  i have come to the realization that my art is for me and if anyone else likes it then that is icing on the cake.

i had a revalation when i realized that everything is subjective.  depending on the time or circumstance every one's opinion would be different.  i can't please every one all of the time.  it's an impossible goal.  so i please myself.  it has been a pretty liberating concept for me. 

what about you - how important are other people's opinions of you?

the roc nicholas rubber stamp design team

artwork by cathy parmelee

today the roc nicholas rubber stamp design team piece is brought to you by cathy parmelee.  i love how cathy has used my stamps; the bunny, capture the magic, and the bird lady's body.  adorable!
cathy has been on my design for a long time and sadly, today is her last month with us.  she will be missed.  thanks for all you did cathy!

to see these rubber stamps, or my whole line of stamps sold through stampotique.com please click here.

week 44 - my planner

week 44 prompt - who is the real you?

for those of you who may not really know me you might be surprised to learn that i'm a little bit crazy.  but i am.  my life is sort of nothing short of an episode or ten of "i love lucy".  my husband is often found just shaking his head.  i'm always thinking.  i always have an idea.  you should see how pale my husband's face gets when he heres, "hey, i have an idea".  it is a real balancing act for me to stay present and focused.  i live with rose colored glasses in an idealistic world swirling with thoughts and ideas.  the truth is there aren't enough hours in the day to get a portion of them done. 

what about you - who is the real you?

the roc nicholas rubber stamp design team post

today the roc nicholas rubber stamp design team piece is brought to use by karen hayselden.  isn't this halloween piece "spook-tacular"?!?!!  karen used my screaming bunny to create this fabulous piece. to see more about this, or more of karen's work please head on over to her blog by clicking here.

to see my rubber stamps, sold through stampotique.com please click here.

a peek inside my planner

just a spread in my personal planner for this year.

if you build it they will come.....

 my husband is such a hard worker.  he was out building a little pond for us today. 

it is much smaller than our 10 x 20 foot pond we had when we lived in pennsylvania

but it does bring back wonderful memories of that pond.  we had so much nature

to watch at that pond.  i really did love it.  it took us 7 weeks to build that one but it was all dug by hand.  we really didn't have any idea what we were doing at the time,  but some how through our ignorance, the pond when finished, really looked like it had been there forever.  it was beautiful.

this pond took only an afternoon for todd to put in, and it is now ready to be filled 

with water.   we will be faced with a challenge of landscaping around it however,

because our water softener dumps into the ground there and it is very saline.

that is one reason we are putting in a little raised pond, because the plants keep

dying that we plant there.   we have three ledges inside the pond for pond plants so i think

those will be safe at least.  once the water stabilizes we will look for fish.   i am excited to see 

some little swimmers once again.

week 43 - my planner

week 43 prompt - what is your favorite hobby?

it should come as NO surprise that my favorite hobby is art.  i love art journaling -  everything about art journaling!  i think i love printing, fonting, making letters, what ever you want to call it.  when i first make a journal and start it i am always saying to myself, "geesh, that looks terrible!"  but in the end when it's all filled with photos, doodling, collage, and bits and bobs, i just love it.  it's all in the process from start to finish.  there is a lesson in there for me on so many levels.

so what about you - what's your favorite hobby?

making envelopes

i recently bought some notecards but they came with plain white envelopes.  i decided to jazz it up a bit and drew this bird.  maybe you will be the one who finds it in your mailbox.

the roc nicholas rubber stamp design team post

today the roc nicholas rubber stamp design team post is brought to you by samantha read.  she's created a "spooktacular" piece using my blessed skellie rubber stamp.  to see more about this piece of art, or more of sam's work, fly on over to her blog by clicking here.

to see my rubber stamp line sold through stampotique.com please click here.

tumble fish studio's new release

marsha, aka tumble fish studio, has a new release over at mischief circus.  this journal page was created using all imagery from this little moment digital sheets.  go check it out - you know you wanna!

announcing my newest design team members

it is with great pleasure that i announce two new design team members to the roc nicholas rubber stamp design team.  i hope you'll give a warm welcome to gemma maggs and sue waters.  i am positive we will see some creative and unique pieces of art using my rubber stamps over the coming months.

gemma

gemma is welsh born, but resides in york, england with her fiancé and one poodle.  her profession is a criminologist and tries to keep up with the latest findings, and she is a huge fan of crime fiction.  she is self employed and works from home but states her art room is her retreat.  she finds great relaxation when she is in there.  gemma says she tries to craft everyday, even if it something small like coloring in stamped images while she watches tv. 

gemma’s other love, besides family, is crafting.  she adores stamping, mixed media, altered art, art journaling and anything else remotely crafty.  she jokes, “if it stands still long enough, it will be painted, sprayed with inks and glued!”
gemma admits she has always been crafty and was encouraged as a child to try all sorts of things.  she credits her love of creating to her mother and grandmother.  she can be found attending as many arts and crafts workshops as she can go to.  she feels she has picked up a lot of new techniques that she can use and feels this has been her greatest learning tool.
gemma started her rubber stamping collection as a teenager.  she is fond of christmas and began her obsession with rubber stamping by making christmas cards for friends and family.  she loves how versatile stamps are, as well as how varied they are in their styles.  she loves to create backgrounds with stamps because it gives such depth and texture to her work.

her favorite “go to” item when stamping is her black archival ink pad.  she loves it because it is waterproof and permanent.  her latest obsession is colored pencils and her favorite brand is faber cast ell polychromes, followed by car an d’ache pablo pencils.   she has a fondness for gelatos, texture paste and crackle paste when used with stencils or to add dimension to an area.

gemma states, “Inspiration is all around us. I've taken photographs of old doors with cracked paint, and rusty hinges just because I loved the worn look. You will find something that inspires you wherever you look.  Books, magazines and websites are great for inspiration and when you put your own ideas with it, you sometimes get something fabulous!  I've met a lot of very good friends through our love of craft/art, and we all draw inspiration from one another.  We all share our knowledge with lots of good ideas thrown in.”   
gemma feels her biggest accomplishment to day has been being accepted to the roc nicholas rubber stamp design team.  she says, “I'm so excited to begin this journey, and am looking forward to seeing where it takes me. I'm so happy, I feel like a kid at Christmas..!

sue

sue lives in land o’ lakes, florida, just 30 miles north of where she was born in dunedin.  sue  is proud to be a native of florida and states, “ my mom’s family helped to settle dunedin in the 1860’s and my dad helped to settle palm harbor/tarpon springs in the 1860’s.”   she is married to the love of her life for nearly 27 years.  sue reports, “ we don’t have kids, but (we) have a fur-daughter cat named savannah.  she is an old lady now, at 90 in human years, so she sleeps a lot but she is our baby!”  after many years in retail sue is now a homemaker.
in her spare time, sue loves to cook, do mixed media, art journaling, card making and scrapbooking.  she recently renewed an old love of sewing.  she admits to being arty for as long as she can remember.  she says her style has evolved over the years.  she admits, “ i pick and choose who’s style i like and incorporate them into my own art.”  sue’s greatest learning tool has been to embrace her imperfections.  she has learned to say “it’s ok” even if it doesn’t meet her idea of perfect.

sue adores rubber stamps because they are so varied.  she likes how you can find cute stamps, realistic stamps, or weird stamps, and this makes the possibilities endless.  she jokes, “ all you need is a large back account to support your habit!”  she likes to mix and match stamps and put her own spin on what ever she is making.

sue finds inspiration on pinterest, blogs, everyday life and her own ideas.  she admits that she is a huge tim holts fan.  she can’t live without her tim holtz distress inks, but also loves cyan reavely’s delusions spray inks and paint, and dina wakely’s heavy body acrylic paints.  sue says she loves sharpies, colored pens, prismacolor pencils, and caran d’ache neocolors.

sue makes time to do art every day.  she tells people, “ it’s what helps keep me sane. or as sane as i can be!”  she feels her greatest accomplishment to date is being part of the roc nicholas rubber stamp design team. 
 

week 42 - my planner

week 42 prompt - what is one word that seems to best describe what you've been doing this year?

it seems this year i've been doing a lot of searching.  searching for missing art supplies, searching for  healthy recipes, searching for natural choices that aid in better health, etc.   all these things, except art supplies in a messy art room,  are easy to find if you google them.   but on a deeper level, a spiritual level, i've been searching my soul for all kinds of things.  no, not my faith, that is never lost.  never.  but for a deeper meaning of life.  how can i be more present in other people's lives?  how can i be more of a blessing and of service to others?  how can i be kinder and more loving?  those answers come easy to some.  why, yes, even i understand actions that allow that, but there are times when i am tired, or don't feel well, or just feel a bit selfish of my time, that i don't always go out of my way to do what maybe i should do.  i do my best on my most days, but there are days i am sure i fall short.  so i continue on in my prayers to ask for guidance to have god guide me where i need to be.  and some days he even leads me to a lost art supply. 

making envelopes and stationary

i've always enjoyed writing letters and sending happy mail.  i still am pretty faithful about it to this day.  i love making envelopes and homemade stationary.

being a faith filled person i like to include little reminders in my art.

here are two of the trifold pieces of stationary i'm currently working on.  they are works in progress and not quite finished yet.

when you open it up you can see it creates three sections.  i cut paper to fit each of the sections and used washi tape to secure them at the top.

i stamped lines on the backside of the paper to double my writing space in each section.  i have about 5 i am currently working on, but these two were the furtherest along in the process.

i hope you find some inspiration in this and will send someone you love a piece of happy mail.  i know they'd love it!