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

midnite lullabies...

I'm becoming a bit of a night owl...keeping odd hours...doing what chores I can while my guy is at work...slowly adapting to his crazy hours...

Working around his schedules..spending as much quality time together as we can manage..

I'm learning to navigate life as a couple...biting back hurtful words when tempers flare, setting up the new house...learning the meaning of compromise...

 I'm missing my wonderful family..adapting to life in a small town...meeting new people.. a new experience, another adventure...

I'm learning that when you're in  a new place you discover who you really are...

I'm nurturing long distance relationships..looking forward to text messages and phone calls....reconnecting with my family out on the west coast.

My fingers are itching to play with my new craft supplies courtesy of my aunt via my mom..anticipating setting up my craft space...creating for hours listening to music or the tv late into the night...

I'm missing one of my favourite people in the whole world..one who knows me best..one who's always there; my sister..

I made this keepsake book for her to fill with her own memories ..something to tuck special cards,trinkets, ticket stubs; to pour over and to remember that I'm thinking of her miles and miles away...

A small piece of my heart;my creativity..

Something I spent hours joyfully creating with her in mind...keeping my hands happy even when my heart was not...

 Trying to take in what I can everyday, knowing I'll get by with support from great new friends, old friends, family and my special guy.
Thanks for visiting.
Have a good night my friends,
~Becks

summer's beauty...

It looks like we're turning the corner here in British Columbia. The weather this week is more summer-like, and I couldn't be happier. Summer is my absolute favourite season...I was fortunate to have lived  in Bermuda for majority of my life. How I used to look forward to summer vacations as a child. Lazy hot days, beautiful clear blue skies,camping, heading down to the beach, or out on the boat.. summer was definitely a treat. Having moved to Canada it's the season I look forward to most. It means the winters are over and its time to head on outdoors and enjoy the sun. I've been spoiled the last few years living on Vancouver Island; our winters can't really be considered "winter". Hardly any snow, lots of rain...really, compared to Ontario(where I lived before moving here) winter here is nothing to complain about.

Just as the weather is getting nice here, I am moving...just my luck. Hopefully it will be nice and hot near the lake...One can only hope. Here's a photo album all shabby chic-ed up for my friend Jo. We really hit it off when we met, have had our ups and downs, and I'm gonna miss her when I'm gone...So I decided to make her a memory book to remember me by.

A little pocket on the inside cover to hold tags, spare photo's odds and ends....

 A spot to write memories..or a favourite story or quote..and a ribbon band to tuck photos, mementos..perhaps a ticket stub or two...

A hidden tag sits behind a favourite photo, ready to write in details of the photo proudly displayed...

Dark chocolate ribbon creates wonderful loops...adding a little drama to the page..a little photo tag to jot down a date...

A picture frame to slide in a photo of someone special..

Another hidden tag peeks out, ready for journaling, perhaps the story behind the photo..

Another peek-a-boo tag...since the mini album is only 6"x6" I wanted to leave as much space as I could to display photos...maximizing any extra space to add bits and pieces like journaling tags without compromising valuable photo real-estate :)

A handmade kraft envelope, stitched together with some lace..stamped, stitched and just waiting to be stuffed with letters, postcards...anything special she wants to keep and pull out to reminisce about...

Finally, the back cover..very feminine and soft...distressed around the edges..just the way I like it.

I used a ton of my favourite items.. and some new favourite items.. Some Ali Edwards stamps..all the sentiments you see here are by her..Basic Grey papers came out of my hoarded stash... my beloved Papertrey Ink stamps- Fancy Flouishes, Giga guide lines,Background basics: Text style, Polka dots  and wood grain...Tim Holtz stamps, K&Company papers and ephemera...lacy trims, ribbon, buttons, seam binding..Tattered Angels framed fonts and Glimmer Mist..... all fun things that make my crafty fingers happy..
I hope to get in one or two more posts before I have to pack up my craft area... I'm missing all my usual challenge haunts...can't wait to get back into them...get those crafty processes all fired up..
Hope that you're experiencing all summer has to offer...Thanks for visiting!!
Til next time,
Becks.

happy hands...

My hands are happy lately.. lots of crafting has been done, and not just with paper. I do apologize for my absence. So much to do; time seems to allude me these days... just not enough hours. That all will change now that I'm finally done with work and can settle into a slower pace.

I can indulge in the roles I enjoy most-sister; daughter; friend; crafter. I no longer have to worry with my less favourite roles of student and manager...I am thoroughly enjoying the weeks I have left at home; the family dinners are well worth the effort I put into learning how to cook.Everyone coming together at the end of the week and enjoying each others company. Spending some great time with family and friends...all help nourish my soul. Good times that I will miss in the coming months.

Happy hands are trying to tame a mischievous Siamese snowshoe, who loves to jump on my lap lately bumping my hands as I type; demanding my full attention...my adopted fur faced friend who follows me like a shadow- begs for attention; who misses his mama oh so much...I will miss him terribly when I move...

Happy hands are selfishly creating..taking a break from sketch sites and challenges(for now..I do miss those challenges!) Working on a few mini albums...some conventional and some not.

A newly discovered love of all things Kraft- that can be prettied up with bits and pieces,odds and ends, ribbons, buttons, paint, ink and stamps...I'm resisting the urge to hoard every single inch of my newly acquired Melissa Frances papers;so gorgeous and feminine..they are being used for a very special album.

My happy hands are frantically trying to finish a beautiful crocheted quilt for my sister...only three weeks to finish.. it is gorgeous in cream and burnt orange...I know she will love it.

All good things to bring a smile to my face and lift a somewhat heavy heart..I'll pop in as much as I can with my finished creations.. Trying to get in as much crafty time as possible,leaving the craft supplies out and unpacked until the last possible minute...until they are unpacked in their new home, in my new studio...happy times ahead.
Hoping your hands are happy tonite too.
~Becks