new digital kits being released AND a GIVE AWY

marsha, of tumble fish studios, has a few new kits being released today at mischief circus.  the are wonderful collage sheets to work with.  i made a few cards that i will be sending out soon.  if you'd like to have one of these cards sent to you, just leave me a comment which one you like the best.  maybe your name will be the random winner i pick over the weekend!

melange kit 1

melange kit 2

melange kit 3

melange kit 2

you can head over to see marsha's lovely kits by clicking here.http://www.mischiefcircus.com/shop/manufacturers.php?manufacturerid=29

the roc nicholas rubber stamp design team

today the roc nicholas rubber stamp design team posting is brought to you by cathy parmelee.  don't you just love her art?  she has used my daisyhead stamp to create her zetti image and the word fly from my stamp when pigs fly.  i love how easy it is to cut my stamps apart and use them to make something totally new and fun!  to see the stamps cathy used as well as all my stamps sold through stampotique. com please click here.

i'm published ......

...in dawn devries sokol's new book called, " a world of artist journal pages ".  

it is really an honor to be in this book along with so many other talented artists.  i am on page 301.

my friends renee stien, kate crane and shelly massey are in there, too!  how cool is that?! 

if you haven't had a chance to check out wonderful-chocked-full-of yumminess than please head on over to amazon.com by clicking here.

weekly planner - week 18

week 18 prompt - what do you see when you look in the mirror?

this week the prompt was motivated by one of my own unique, personal experiences. i developed this little growth on the very tip of my nose. it's a small tiny bump that just simply wants to be, but, oh, how it annoyes me every time i see it.  what is it about growing older that these bumps and spots have a mind of their own and take up residence where ever they feel entitled?

i went to see a dermatologist and apparently it is nothing serious, which was wonderful news as far as that piece of the story goes.  the doctor said i could have it removed, but that it may or may not grow back.  being the bravery-challenged person i am, i left the office with my bump still attached because i needed to think about having it removed.  

i am not too ashamed to admit that i didn't inherit my dad's high pain tolerance which causes me to fret about my health care interventions.  so, as you can guess, i've been thinking about it for quite a while now and still have not had it removed.

i don't know if anyone else ever notices it when they see me, but when i look in the mirror it's the first thing i spy.  so i frequently remind myself that god made me and i'm perfect in his eyes; the perfect reflection in his mirror of love.  do you have a love mirror in your house?

the roc nicholas rubber stamp design team post

today the roc nicholas rubber stamp design team post is brought to you by karen hayselden.  she has used so many of my stamps to create this chalk board effect piece: my horse stamp, the bunny stamp, stacked love, art junkie and scalloped lace border.  so see more about this piece you can visit karen's blog by clicking here.
to see these stamps as well as all my stamps sold through stampotiqoue.com you can click here.

new kit from tumble fish studio

everland collaboration kit

today tumble fish studio, from mischief circus, is having a collaborative kit with hollie.  my background is painted with acrylics and markers.  all paper images are from the kit.  i hope you will venture over to mischief circus to see all the great images in the kits by clicking here.

weekly planner - week 17

week 17 prompt - write yourself a love note

this week my prompt was to write myself a love note.  it isn't often we find ourselves saying good things to ourselves.  the ego is critical and wants more.  sometimes we need to be reminded that who were are, where we are, and how we are is good enough.  learning to love ourselves is a truly great gift.  have you loved yourself today?  if not, write yourself a love note and give yourself permission to be perfect as you are.

the roc nicholas rubber stamp design team post

today the roc nicholas rubber stamp design team is being brought to you by samanatha read.  look how she used popsicle sticks and my rubber stamps!  wowee!  she outdid herself with such a clever use of my stamps.

to see more about sam's creation please click here to make your way to her blog.

to see all the stamps samantha has used: crooked house, art lives here and the flying heart, or all of my rubber stamp line sold through stampotique, please click here.

weekly planner - week 16

week 16 prompt - would you rather be a big fish in a little pond or a big fish in a little pond?

the week's prompt came about because i felt like a number rather than being noticed for who i was.   growing up i was normally a leader.  i know some people would refer to that as being bossy, but i like to see it as giving guidance to the directionless.  i volunteered for all kinds of clubs and activities.  the older i got the more trouble i had with saying no.

it was about 10 years ago when i decided i needed to change my life.  i found i was doing things less than joyfully and not feeling like i could give one hundred percent of myself.  so i started saying no.

people didn't like the change. they were always asking me why i was saying no. i found great advice in an older, wise friend, who said, "roc,  you can say no without giving a reason".  i thought to myself, "i can"?   that was a new concept for me.

it's been ten years plus since i started to not have many commitments.  i am enjoying that enormously.  i believe that we need to be impeccable with our word.  if i say it, i am going to do it.  if i find it hard to say no i usually employ the line, "let me think about it and i'll get back to you".    

based on that, some might say i should be a little fish in a big pond so i wouldn't be noticed very much.  there would be an advantage to that i suppose, but at the end of the day, i really dislike being bossed and pushed around.  so for me, i'm going to go big for today.  what about you?

 

bible journaling

psalm 27:14

this morning i opened my bible to page 546 and as i read psalm 27:14 i stopped and smiled.  how appropriate this scripture is for me right now.  it serves as an important reminder to myself in lieu of recent events.

for those of you following along with, not only with my bible journaling, but my weekly planner writings, it will come as no surprise to you that i struggle with fears and anxiety over new things.

i admit that i love my routine and my same old, same old lifestyle.  imagine then, throwing a jury duty summons to that equation and it equaled a boat load of worry about the unknown.  my husband drove me to the court house so i could see where i had to go and for most people that would have been enough to squash any fears.  my mind doesn't ever shut off.  it whirls about at 100 mph with thoughts of, where will i park?, where do i go when i get inside?, what kind of case will i get?, where are the bathrooms?,  will people be friendly?, what if i have to stay the whole week?, what if i get a murder case and get sequestered?, etc.  as you can see, it is just basic nonsense that i have no control over, so why can't i let it go?

well low and behold, jury duty happened yesterday.  i had such anxiety, even when i was seated in the jury holding room that i literally thought i would throw up and faint.  it took nearly 3 hours for me to calm myself down and be okay in that new environment.  i prayed continuously and i'm sure that is why i didn't actually throw up or faint.  as the day unfolded,  i was not picked for the jury panel my name was called for and i was allowed to go home in the middle of the afternoon.

the entire time i walked to my car i was thanking god for getting me out of there.  i was mentally and physically exhausted from the dread and nervousness that whole situation caused.   it seems so silly that such a mundane, non ordinary situation can cause such internal havoc.  logically i know that.  i am trying to tame the inner body to make that connection.

so when i read "be strong and let your heart take courage" it is a reminder of what i am working on this year for myself - to be brave and do things with out fear and let nothing hold me back.  i want to be like a lion;  fierce and courageous, however,  yesterday i was more like the cowardly lion in the wizard of oz.   but i have faith that with god all things are possible.  roar

the roc nicholas design team post

today the roc nicholas design team post is being brought to you by our very talented design team member, claudine criner.  isn't her button fairy adorable? i just love it!  it's a great example of how my stamps were meant to be used; mixing the stamps to create something entirely new.  she used the bird princess head and the squiggle arms in making her button fairy.

if you'd like to see more about this wonderful piece of art, please fly on over to claudines blog by clicking here.  

if you'd like to see the rubber stamps she used to create this, or to see all of my rubber stamp line sold through stampotique, please click here.

bible journaling

nehemiah 9:32

as i was reading in my bible this verse in nehemiah 9:32 said "...our god, the great, the mighty, and the awesome god, who keeps convenant and steadfast love..." jumped out at me.  i had to pause and give thought to that.  it is an enormous concept; a grace and mercy so big and unending.

how awesome that god keeps his promises to us and his love is truly unconditional.  it makes me realize how awesome and mighty he is when i compare that to my every day life in my human existence.  while i do my best to be impeccable with my word and give grace and forgiveness to others, it isn't always easy.  i admit that i falter at times.

but i rest assured that when i come humbly before my god and ask for forgiveness his grace and love will be there for me, allowing me the space i need to improve and be better tomorrow than i was today.  he loves me as i am, where i am and for who i am.  now how great is that?

weekly planner - week 15

week 15 prompt - list 10 things you love about your life

this week my prompt was to list 10 things i love about my life.  in today's world it is so easy to get in to a trap where you just focus on the negative things.  this is one reason i don't like reading the paper or listening to the news.  i just don't want my world filled with sadness.

i opt for joy and goodness to abound in my life and i am mindful to say positive affirmations, spread love and kindness, and avoid gossip.  i truly do have so many blessings and it was fun to write about it, although i could have easily written more than 10 things for my pocket of yumminess,  but here are my blessings i chose to write about:

1.   my faith
2.  my husband
3.  my kids
4.  my grandchildren
5.  my family
6.  my friends
7.  my art
8.  my health
9.  where i live
10.  my home

what 10 things do you love about your life?

the roc nicholas design team post

today's roc nicholas design team post is brought to you by corrie herriman.  isn't this exquisite?!?!!  corrie has such a wonderful use of color and whimsy in her pieces she makes utilizing my rubber stamps.

don't you just love those flying hearts?!?!  she always think of such neat ways to make my stamps pop with life.

to see more about corrie's piece, please head on over to her blog by clicking here.  to see all the stamps corrie used: my dog rubber stamp, capthure the magic, stacked boxes and flying heart, or to see all of my stamps sold through stampotique, please click here.