two hearts...

Who doesn't love, love? It seems like this is the year for love in my circle of friends..engagements, weddings, babies.. We are all growing up too fast.. seems like only yesterday we were all graduating high school. While we all live in different countries, we all keep in touch. I just love social networking.. it makes life alot easier...

All that aside, one of my closest friends recently got engaged. I am so happy for him; we go way back-our parents knew each other before we came along; we even dated once. D is one of my best friends, an extended family member of our clan...I don't know what I would have done without our long chats, his advice through the years...he's one of those friends you keep in your corner for life...

I decided to take a different take on a congrats card; figured that everyone would give 'traditional' cards, and that I had to be different... of course this gave me an excuse to whip up a new template and have fun with different patterns, stamps and embellies... I enjoy watching cake shows on t.v. The work that goes into them is amazing.. This card is an ode to those fab cakes and bakers...

I know his fiance will get a kick out of it.. I do realize it is a bit on the feminine side.. but hope it's one of the cards they keep to mark such a joyous time in their lives.. The sentiment says it all... take time to enjoy the moment.. relish in the attention and excitement of planning, and starting a life together.
How exciting..
Congrats D, and welcome to the (extended) family R..
Best of luck
~Becks

mini me...

 I love creating something special just for me. It's been awhile since I've done anything..actually I think this is the first album I've made for myself! It's a work in progress, but I thought I'd share what I've got so far...I'm pretty happy with the results.. and have left lots of space to add more to each page. I've yet to create some envelopes to tuck inside as well, full of memento's and memories...but, this way I can add to it as my heart pleases and use it as an escape when feeling mojo-less...

I always enjoy looking at the pages all together. I often look at them individually and think they are not going to 'fit' with the others, as they are all unique, but then I put them all together and my heart sings.. I love how bits of trim poke out, each layer is different from the next... it's why I always take a picture of the album like the one above... it's pure paper lovin'...

 The inside cover.. this album shape has to be one of my favourite.. with its curves and points, it makes it very easy to make it girly, shabby and vintage...

 A special treatment to each page is the addition of its own corner.. a crocheted base with added embellishments..all different, none the same as the other...

 Muted colour schemes, a favourite new library card stamp all add to the charm of the different layouts. I haven't gotten into layouts for scrap booking, I prefer smaller scaled projects that I can leave about on a coffee or side table, for people to pick up and enjoy..

 A library pocket holds a journal tag memory... it takes me back to the days of being a kid and checking out library books.. how I loved that...

 A hidden pocket behind a photo.. one of my favourite ways of incorporating a memory...

 Buttons are such an easy embellishment.. I love 'em.. have them in tons of colours..they inspire my creativity just by looking at the colours together.Took a different approach on mounting the photo.. a softer feel using scraps of fabric and pinking shears...

 A handmade kraft envelope prettied up with my fave stamps holds small notes from my guy...it's always fun to read them and think back to days long gone by...
As I add to my mini album I will share the pages with you.
Until then, thanks for visiting..
~Becks

a

postage stamps and pen-pals...

I love getting mail...old fashioned mail.. handwritten messages jotted in cards, long letters full of daily comings and goings; events and celebrations; day to day life simplified into a few moments spent writing a note to a friend. There's nothing better than seeing a letter or card amongst the dreary bills sitting in the post box.

I  remember the days of writing to pen-pals; impatiently anticipating a return letter in the post box, writing about anything and everything. Those envelopes adorned with postage stamps of another country...what happened to those days?It seems that now-a-days we are all too busy to take the time to write a little note, tuck in an envelope and send it out to brighten someones day.

                                                               {click images to enlarge}
Part of the reason I love making cards is to revitalize those days of old, to make someone's day with a card and a handwritten gem tucked inside. I know how much it makes me happy to find one in my post box.. a little ray of sunshine..

I just love this frame from Making Memories. My Slice machine has found a new life...it was sitting pretty neglected by me for the longest while.

The second I saw the frame it reminded me of the postage stamps found on those pen-pal letters...and immediately I set about shimmering and distressing.. getting it to look just right before settling in place on the card...

Very versatile, it can add that much needed embellishment without being too overpowering... I promise these frames have a delicious shimmer to them in person.. They have left the comfort of my studio and have been sent out with thoughts of birthday celebrations, and an uplifting message to a friend going through hard times..hopefully bringing a little joy into their day...
Thinking of a simpler time,
~Becks

life lessons...

 

 A few things that I've learned along my journeys:

Take life at your own pace, no need to compare yourself to other people or their timelines.

As long as you set your goals and work to acheive them, everything will fall into place eventually.. 

It's not worth the time or the effort stressing about what everyone else is doing...

You find friends in the places you least expect to...

When you find someone who gets who you really are, keep them in your corner...

In the morning, what was bothering you the day before seems a lot less important than it was yesterday...

It's better to have a few close friends, than a bunch of acquaintances...

 

Absence and distance do make the heart grow fonder...

Nature's beauty has a powerful  effect on your mood. It can uplift and soothe a soul...

Do something everyday that makes you truly happy...

Have a hobby, it can be the ultimate stress reliever...

Welcome back friends,

 It's been awhile, yes; I know. Still on the search for my elusive mo-jo. It's coming back slowly..it's a process. I completely forgot about this little card that I had made one night, for some challenge or another, and never posted. A little contemplation on life's lessons along this journey of mine...it's a list I know I will be adding to as time goes by. Somedays you just have to stop and think about all that you've learned and are exposed to.

I stuck to the shabby, vintage look this time again. It's one I find to be so comforting. Some days I struggle with getting it right, and other times creativity just flows right out through my fingers. I had fun distressing the frame with paints and Glimmer mist, Distress Ink and such.. it has such a great shimmer in person. I've been trying to find the right spot in the house to photograph my cards; most of the time they end up too washed out or too dark. One day soon I hope to get it right.

I will be back shortly with a project I've been creating for myself. Have been wanting to get at all the great challenges lately but feel I need to complete something special just for me, to get that spark back...I hope to post some sneak peeks tomorrow.

Until then,

Thanks for your visit!

Feel free to "follow" my blog.. the follow button should be working now, on the right hand side bar...

Til tomorrow,

~Becks

bicycle buttons...

I'm trying to find my mojo...have you seen it lately? Do you ever get burnt out and feel like the most uncreative person on the planet? That's me right now.. no motivation to create, doubting colour schemes and layouts, over thinking and burning out...Usually visiting my favourite blogs helps, but lately it just adds to the doubt and insecurity.
So, to try and get motivated I've been looking to some of my favourite sketch sites (2sketches4you) and other challenge sites(Moxie Fab World, City Crafters Challenge Blog) to spark some creativity..and came across this site... Considering my love of all things P.T.I, this site and I are a match made in heaven.

To test the waters I decided to go with challenge #11: create a non-standardized card. I just love creating non-standard cards...to break away from the 4.25 x 5.5 inches that I usually use as my canvas, I decided to go 6 x 3.5.. There's something about an elongated card that captures my attention.. Perhaps that's why this card came together pretty easy. Using my favourite P.T.I stamp in Versamark on the pale pink cardstock just adds such a soft sweetness that makes me swoon.
I decided to keep this card shabby-vintage. It's definatly a style I love and associate with the most. I love the layering, the distressed worn look that inking the edges brings...Adding some tea dyed edging and mis-matched buttons give just the right amount of sparkle.

I came across the handmade bicycle button in a stash I found at my local thrift store. For the longest while it sat, unappreciated and neglected in a button bottle; begging to be used. I dug thru my embellies, buttons, trims and ribbons for some inspiration, and there it was; a perfect centerpiece for a shabby vintage card..
So a tiny spark has been lit, thanks to stepping outside of the usual canvas I work with...lets hope this snowballs and my mojo comes back...
Here's hoping,
Thanks for visiting!
~Becks

love is...

...creating to my hearts content, keeping my hands busy with my favourite stamps, papers, embellishments and ribbons..

...long distance these days

...an encouraging phone call or message from family miles away

...in his smile, his laughter, his eyes


...a kiss on the forehead and an "I love you" before leaving for work, when he thinks I'm still asleep

...the way he supports my creativity

... eight and a half years and counting

....reminicing about the past...

...the simple things of life

A little reflecting here today...thankful for all that I have; all that is to come..enjoying every day and finding the silver lining to the sometimes dark days of adjusting to a new life...
These cards are based on the fab sketch over at 2sketches4you...

I couldn't stop at just one card.. the sketch is so versatile..as you can see I flipped the sketch for the first card...a more traditional approach for the second card.. I will definatly be using this one again...It allows for such a simple, elegant card...
I'm off to the studio to create some more before my guy gets home from work..
Thanks for stopping by!
'Night my friends,
~Becks

pieces of me...

 I've left pieces of my heart in many places during my journeys. Each and every place I've lived has awed me with its beauty and captured a part of my soul...these places left their mark on me, and in return, gained a piece of my heart...

I like to think that my creations reflect who I am, and capture the spirit of my moods when I'm creating something special and pouring myself into each item and coaxing these little gems into existence..

These little beauties, these small pieces of my creativity, are being sent off  into the world to cheer someone up...

To thank someone for their kindness...

To let someone know that we are thinking of them, hopefully bringing a bit of sunshine into their day....

Incorporating a small part of my art into their lives..

As I send these off to their corners of the world I am thankful that my gift can touch others, hopefully lift any mood, and ensure that even more pieces of me are scattered about like stardust out in the universe...
Night friends,
~Becks