15 June 2013

Meant to be...

Hi everyone and thank you for stopping by. Apologies if I panicked anyone with my mention of Bloglovin' on the last post. DON'T PANIC! My wonderful friends Brenda Brown and Alison (Butterfly) are pointing everyone in the direction of a post by Chris Warner HERE as it takes you through everything in a calm, reasoned and sensible manner (thanks SO much Chris xx). OK, time for some reflection...


Some times it all gets too much, juggling umpteen balls and feeling like you are dropping a lot of them.  It's all too easy to get caught up with some things (like blogging for example) and forget to see what else is going on.We put ourselves under pressure and it can lead us to question why we are doing any of it - we can even lose our 'mojo' altogether and just stop doing the things we started out loving!


That's good - you need to step back to reflect and prioritise sometimes. I can only speak from my experience and say be kind to yourselves; if you need 'time out' then take it. The only thing that disappears for good is precious time spent with our families and growing children/grandchildren. Everything else will still be there in some form or another as and when we return.


And when you do feel lost try looking for something which inspires/excites you. For me it's all about Italy/Venice at the moment. Other themes are having to be covered (like Father's Day) but thoughts of the Mediterranean are never far away. I had a real play session with glass bead gel medium to see what was possible and then went mad with gesso, stain/paint resist, and ink misting, so now there are piles of CS waiting for their moment in the spotlight.


So here's me, post-play, left with a gorgeous coloured and textured panel with added gilding wax highlights wondering what to do next. Thoughts of enigmatic faces like Mona Lisa came to mind so I dug out this beautiful face from the ever-expanding stamp collection and to my delight found it fit beautifully. Stamping directly on top was not an option but the wonderful Laura pointed out that you can stamp onto the white 'under-layers' of tissue napkins and apply them with watered down PVA. It worked a treat.


The rest sort of fell together as if it was meant to be. During a Creative Expressions blog hop the idea of using ribbon as a background was suggested and as I won some beautiful crushed ribbon as part of a prize in said hop it seemed rude not to use it. This works really well if you want interest that doesn't detract from the focal point. Finally the latest Simon Says Stamp and Show challenge asks for buttons - well I've got one or two (hundred!) and these special Mother of Pearl ones, layered on some simple die cut/punched elements, seemed to fit the bill rather nicely as I'd been at a loss for what to use for the finishing touches.


There is a sentiment - I had a special destination in mind when creating it and I hope the recipient will be as thrilled to receive it as I was to make it. And that's the point of all of this. Make things you love for the people you love and those you care about and it all makes sense.

Finally, a couple of 'heads up's' for you:
Over at Frilly and Funkie, Sue has a superb step by step for her recent DT tag, and Terry shows you the magic she spins with Wendy Vecchi products. These are now being stocked by The Funkie Junkie Boutique and have been heavily discounted for the launch this coming week.
And today sees the unveiling of four superb projects by members the Our Creative Corner DT as part of the 'Recipe' challenge - these are also a must see.
For now I hope you all have a weekend that lifts your spirits and recharges your batteries. And remember, don't sweat the small stuff!
Take great care of yourselves, hugs Jenny xxx

37 comments:

  1. So much to look at - and all of it beautiful.

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  2. Hi Jenny, totally agree with your words of wisdom. Sometimes we get craft overload and our mojo gets buried under the deadlines. Love your card with the beautiful enigmatic face emerging beneath the textured layers. Have a great weekend. X

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  3. Some good words of wisdom and a beautiful piece of work with the bead gel - look forward to seeing some of the other experimental pieces in due course. Thanks too for the link about blogs etc, much appreciated.

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  4. A wonderful creation and some very wise words in your post today

    Love Chrissie xx

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  5. Fantastic make Jenny. I love all the details and the embellishments you have used. Beautiful keepsake card.

    Have a great weekend

    Annie x

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  6. Wow Jenny. This is wonderful. Those delicate buttons bring back so many memories, in fact I still have some. Hoe you can relax a bit over the weekend. Hugs Rita xxxxx

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  7. What a beautiful card, Jenny! Love the texture and all the flowers with the buttons! Thank you so much for joining us at Simon Says Stamp and Show. Hugs, Sandra

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  8. This is so lovely Jenny. While I have not used the gel you describe I have just thrown beads into ordinary gel medium and been delighted with the look! How funny that we are both playing with tissue paper stamping - separated by a very large ocean but kindred artists in spirit!
    It's a funny thing because my favourite magazine is Craft Stamper which arrives weeks after release in England and Ialways have a laugh as so many techniques are being played with over here - I feel like I must be privy to publishing planning. Ha ha!
    The end of the saying is - don't sweat the petty stuff and don't touch the sweaty stuff! Hope you have a wonderful weekend - we had the most glorious day here and at lunch time the ladies in my class all perched on the steps in the sun. It was fun!

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  9. I'm back to say I adore your pearl buttons! I have a small stash and avidly add to them whenever I spy them!

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  10. Gorgeous, love the neutral colour scheme

    Sam xxx

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  11. Great card, I love the autumnal colour scheme and the rich textures! Thanks for joining us for this week's Simon Says Stamp and Show Challenge!

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  12. Beautiful panel - you look like you had a great time creating this!!

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  13. A beautiful mix of texture and image Jenny :)
    Wise words indeed :)
    Von ♥

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  14. an absolutely gorgeous make, in true jenny style! love this and look forward to more of those glass beads make soon..
    some real words of wisdom here too
    much love
    xx hugs trace x

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  15. Gorgeously enigmatic!
    Jenny I have to say that I adore glass bead gel medium (I use Golden) and it is something I always reach for when working to a theme of Venice as it brings such richness to the piece. So I was excited to see you using it.
    Love your colours - divine.
    Wishes
    Lynne

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  16. This is a fab technique Jenny, I love the decadent, luxurious feel to the metallic result. A beautiful card with a lot of love gone into it. Chris xxx

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  17. Hi Jenny - great words of wisdom and all so very true! You have cheered me up no end and I don't feel so bad about losing my mojo at the moment.

    Your panel is just stunning, I love the face, the wonderful beads and of course, the beautiful buttons. Love the whole feel of this piece. Hugs, Anne x

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  18. You should submit this to SSS&S for buttons as well! Gorgeous gorgeous! The texture is exceptional! I love her face Jenny...just a wow!

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  19. Thanks for buttoning up with us this week here at Simon Says Stamp & Show!!! Love love love this! The texture is amazing on her face...just striking Jenny!

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  20. Great Jenny, that almost hidden face ...so artistic! Lovely creation in total.

    Have a nice weekend, Alie :-)

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  21. I was hoping we'd get to see some of Buttons's buttons this week... and what a beautiful creation it is! The effect you've achieved with the golden glass bead medium is amazing.

    Would love to see a video (!?) as I've no idea what it is really... and the face emerging is so haunting. Beautiful work!
    Alison x

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  22. Lovely words Jenny and a very inspiring piece too. My "place to go" when I'm feeling down is Skye - if I can imagine myself there with the buzzards or even an eagle, wheeling overhead, I'm in heaven. Love, Margie x

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  23. Hi Jenny, WOWser, I love this project, the textures and colours are divine, and the 'face' is a stunning addition. I would have loved to watch you do this project !!
    Brilliant 'words of wisdom'. Have a lovely weekend.
    Lots of love from Patricia xx

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  24. I can so identify with your post Jenny so thank-you for nailing it!

    As for your 'piece', well just when I think you can't get any better, then you do! This is stunning. Can't believe how well the ribbon works. As for glass beads well they are fantastic little items! Gorgeous make. Nicola x

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  25. This looks fabulous, Jenny. Need to see this IRL please
    Rosie x

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  26. Jenny...you must have been inside my head lately when you posted your comments about trying to do too much and sometimes losing your mojo. :) Thanks for posting that...it made so much sense! I also love your piece that you've entered this week. The bead gel really worked up into such lovely texture for the background of your stunning card. I love the colors and the guilding wax. The buttons you've embellished as centers of flowers across the front of your card are so cute and perfectly placed. Love it! Thanks for sharing with us this week at Simon Says Stamp and Show. <3 Candy

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  27. Great post Jenny, you're right it is very easy to lose track of the really important things in life and then live to regret it.

    Love your card - you did have fun there didn't you! Great textures - I love microbeads! Have a great week MMx

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  28. "Words of Wisdom" thank you for pointing out something that should be very obvious to all us crafter`s.
    You are so right our families are so much more important, we sometime loose that when we get "lost" in this crafting jungle.

    Love what you have done with your wonderful project and the fantastic use of those glorious buttons. Looks like you have had loads of fun doing this one.
    Happy Crafting

    Patricia xxx

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  29. What a lovely post! Definitely hit the right note there. Lovely layered card jenny, great use of the buttons and that glass bead medium looks gorgeous, x

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  30. This is such a stunning work of art! I love the glass bead gel and the soft neutral color palette! We do push sometimes and then almost draw a blank, so I hear you! Hope you had a wonderful weekend!

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  31. Great layered card...loving the beads too.
    Love the depth of the colour andthe overall feeling of this card.

    Just wanted to say that I am home from the lake and was finally able to check the amilbox. Waht wonderful surprises awaited me. Your ATC is gorgeous. That verdigris etal feel to it is fabulous.Love the embossing and the glimmer and shimmer. Finally the words are all so true! I need to remember that more often!

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  32. Such true words spoken Jenny. Your creation is awesome. So love the textures and colours. Thanks for becoming Follower at my little blog and taking part in my give away.
    {I would love you to take part in my 600 Follower Give-away. Thank you so much if you have already entered and good luck.} Hugs Desíre {Doing Life}

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  33. Your words were exactly what I needed to hear and confirm for myself. You're right, we all go through it and it's so refreshing to know that others do to and see the creative mojo that returns and inspires. Your card is gorgeous. Almost an optical illusion at first as I didn't see the gorgeous face, but WOW, is that ever stunning.
    Thanks for the pick me up and the smile from your inspiration. :)
    hugs,
    Lisa x

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  34. Gorgeous card Jenny, love the effects and so pleased you enjoyed this make also. Take care and remember your own wise words. xx Flora

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  35. Well what a beautiful and insightful post Buttons, and very very true my friend. Love your card, but love your outlook even more! BTW - that was a really lovely comment on the decoart site and I thank you very very much - Cx

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  36. Such an inspirational piece Jenny, your really are the queen of texture. I love it.
    hugs {brenda} x0x

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  37. Absolutely a true treasure my friend,,,,,horayyyy for Jenny......

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Thank you for stopping by and leaving your comments - they are really appreciated and will be published when moderated. Jenny xxx

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