Funny Face Competition....

I never go anywhere without my camera.

With only 2 cats left in the normally full menagerie,

I've very little choice when it comes to

photographing funny faces.

First I asked Dodger....

'Show me your funniest face'.....

hmmm.....not bad.

Blue, 'Show me your funniest face'.....

Actually that looks a bit frightening to me,

can you do another one with your mouth closed perhaps?

Yeah.... that's a better one.

Now your turn Daisy,
can you show Grandma
your funniest face?


Hahahaha.... but it does make you look a bit.....errr drugged.
Have you got a funnier face inside there????

Hehehehe.....YES! Spot on.
So the winner of the funniest face competition goes to.....wait for it.....
Daisy aged 22 months! Da-Daaaaaah!

It's Wedding, Weddings, all the way.....

It's been a busy week at the studio. Busier than I can ever remember. With 2 lots of place cards to do and a visit to the studio today to start and finish these little beauties, the week isn't over yet...

I designed and made some Valentine's Day Cards. Every year I get the occasional customer into the Gallery asking if I have any of these cards, every year I say, I haven't. I assume that people go to card shops to buy these cards... obviously they don't.

Anyway....if you want to read more and see other photos, you'll find it on my Love, Love Me Do, Valentine's Day Card Blog Post

I've also completed the Wedding Stationery, for a bride who is getting married in September. Wedding and Evening Invites, R.S.V.P Cards and little cards to ask in a polite way for money not gifts. You will find more about that along with more pictures at the

Butterfly Themed, Foiled, Wedding Stationery post.

I'm loving the way Brides are being a little bit more adventurous these day, regarding the theme of their weddings. For so long the UK has been behind in the adventure stakes and generally most brides choose to go Traditional.... something that is at last changing and makes my work all the more interesting.

You are not alone.....

When I wrote this post at the beginning of the year,
I somehow thought I was alone in doing this and thinking this way.....
To my surprise I found this blog called One Word 365 where I see that there are (at this present time) another 364 people who have blogged about the very same thing!

You see, even when we think we have come up with something totally unique and different... by the very fact that there are millions of us on the planet, our ideas can never be totally unique.
While we are different in many ways, we are very much the same in others, we are all connected.

Celebrate your uniqueness

and your connectedness.

What is your word for 2012?

Have you seen it materialise yet?

Feeling Creative? Need Inspiration? FREE Downloads!

Feeling Creative? Need Inspiration? FREE downloads!


I've know of and ordered from Craft Creations
for many years.
Their company has grown and grown
over the years
and offers a large range of
cards, envelopes and accessories
for the home crafter.

I was impressed when I received and email this morning
which sent me to this link of FREE Downloads.

There's some great ideas and something for everyone!

So if you are wanting to get creative and need some inspiration....
pop over to the website and let your creative juices flow.

You can also find them on Facebook
Happy creative day to you!

Wishing on a star - Hand Coloured Birthday Cards

Only 2 days back at the studio

and I already had the Doodle Bug!

These little outline drawings,

made with a permanent, fine-liner pen

ARE SO MUCH FUN!

It was my son, Paul's 31st Birthday

on the 10th of January...

I can't believe how quickly time flies!

First I rainbow foiled the design

on the card,

then added some colour,

for extra pizazz!

Here's the completed card...

My mum's birthday quickly follows
on the 13th of January,
and I used the same design
but this time painted pink,
using water soluble brush pens and water.
(Far less messy than paint!)

Funny how the two cards can look so different!

I'm a little bit behind on posting pictures

of my latest work on my blog,

so to avoid cross posting

and save me time....

I'll add a picture and a link here.

To see more of this Personalised Ruby Wedding Card

click on the link below

MORE PICTURES AND DESCRIPTION HERE

More links to follow, as they happen :o)

Smile For No Reason

OK....it's still Winter, the light is returning, but not by any noticeably degree. After the fun and frivolity of the Christmas period, it's easy to feel down in the dumps as we get back to the mundane-ness of life.

It's important, if like me you suffer from S.A.D. to focus on the sunshine to come. The promise of the flowers that will soon be on their way.

A good morning, hello or smile given to a passing stranger can make all the difference to them. It costs nothing and it may be that YOU are the only person that has spoken to them all day.

Rarely is a smile not exchanged.... and so what if it isn't? It takes less muscles to smile than to frown and also releases endorphins within the body which will make you feel better and lighter.

I chose to illustrate this Power Doodle Quotation with Sunflowers. The giants of the flower world, that never cease to make me smile when I see them. That gorgeous sunshine yellow is definitely uplifting and the quote reminds me to SMILE.....even if it's for no reason :o)

Onwards and Upwards

In the blink of an eye and flash of a star 2011 seemed to be over before it started. Where does the time go? I swear that time goes ever faster as we got older....or perhaps I'm having too much fun and want it to last forever!

Thankfully, yet another year with more great dreams than dramas!

We shared a wonderful extended holiday with family and friends and to be honest, by the end of the year we are whacked and need a break to recharge our batteries before the madness and mayhem begin again.

With Spring progressing to Summer comes Art Shows, Craft Fairs, Wedding Fairs, Camps and long walks in nature... it's certainly a busy old time and one that I wouldn't change for the world.

The year was marked with me and Steve moving in together and we settled down easily and effortlessly into our shared life. Thankfully, neither of us likes high drama and it's refreshing to at last have found someone who is not only calm and fun to be with but supportive and unfazed by most things.

The business has steadily grown and I think at last I am more focused on my goals and where I want to be, but with the artistic mind, anything could happen! .... we shall see.

Daisy is growing up fast and will be joined very shortly with a baby brother.....great news, another fun, little person to join the clan and for Gramps and Grandma to spoil rotten.

As many old time friends and followers of my blog know, I'm not one for resolutions.... to make them is heading for a fall in my opinion. So, I tend to make wish lists and come up with a word (usually given to me in meditation).

The *WISH* list this year was particularly difficult, as I believe I have everything I need, so instead I'm making a goal list....which is still in progress.

My word for this year though is

opportunity

and my affirmation will be:

I am open and available to opportunity.

Now, I'm not one to turn down opportunity, but I do have a problem with resistance to change and some of these opportunities involve change. Change makes me feel a little bit jittery and new things slightly fearful. I need to go with the flow and embrace new ideas, whilst not letting go of my gut instinct. I am with worlds greatest procrastinator, so I'll need to work against this. Above all though I am a pragmatist (I'm sure being a Virgo doesn't help much here!) but sometimes it's a strength not a weakness :o)

Above all, I want to take more time to do Art for myself. It's all very well having your own little business, but producing things with the sole intention of selling it can become like a straight jacket and stifles creativity.

I also intend to sort out my work/life balance. Spending time with Steve, my friends and family....most of all my Grandkids is important to me and those years, if lost, can never be replaced. Those early years of growing up are so important and all too soon, you turn around and they are all grown up.

I've watched over the last week, my fellow creatives, getting started on new projects. I've enjoyed my time off and appreciated the rest period.... but now I'm itching to get going, fully refreshed and rejuvenated.

As of Monday, it's all systems go and I'm looking forward to the unfolding year, with exciting new opportunities and challenges that it brings.

I hope everyone who reads my blog has a year filled with possibilities. Open yourself to new adventures and opportunities. Free of fear.

It's 2012, a new year and the chance of a slate wiped clean, all ready for you to create your new story.....what will yours be?

Many blessings for the year ahead,

Sue xxx