Watermelon Smoothie kit freebie

Here are the papers for Watermelon Smoothie: http://www.4shared.com/zip/m5cRnB0Qba/ws_watermelonsmoothie_papers.html?

Pocket Journal Week 1 zip correction

For some reason google won't let me update and correct the link for the first zip in this series! If you already have the zip. no need to download again as nothing of substance is changed, just changed file names and added TOU which you will get in 2nd zip anyway. If you haven't downloaded zip 1 yet, please use this link: http://www.4shared.com/zip/743lRGCcba/DAA_PocketJournaling_wk1.html?

More on Pocket Journaling

“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” – Aristotle You may be wondering how writing a few words on these pocket sized cards is going to give you the reported benefits of journaling. I want you to think of these little cards you're working with as seed packets. The plan is to ease you into full fledged journaling (whatever you eventually make of it) by first developing a habit of taking a few minutes every day to write and reflect - about anything. Some where along the way, I expect you will find a prompt that calls to you or just have the experience of writing something in a few minutes that has meaning. A few words can be all it takes to recall thoughts you will want to explore more fully at a later time. In that way, your journal cards act as seeds that you can plant and water (think about and explore in writing) and see bloom. When you take time to reflect and explore your thoughts and feelings, a number of things may happen. You may better understand your stand on an issue, be better able to come to a decision, discover things about yourself you didn't realize and so on. Therefore, it's important to consider a few - not rules really - ways of being consistent so you will better be able to make sense of these short notes later on. Be consistent in writing once a day. Some people suggest choosing a particular time of day and sticking to it. That doesn't work for me and I think it takes some of the spontaneity out of what you produce. I suggest writing whenever you feel like it, when something is on your mind, or when you've got a few minutes to fill. Just be sure you write. Be honest with yourself. This is for you, so don't write things you think you should. If you need to express an opinion that wouldn't be popular spoken aloud, do it. Something make you angry? It's okay to express that. Do jot the date on your card for when you look back on it. Do name names so you can make better sense of what you've written instead of having to ask yourself, who was I talking about? While you can write about the same things every day, such as things you are grateful for that day, do vary your topics. Ask yourself questions and answer them.*************************************************************************************************************** Later we will look at the types of journals people keep but right now (in case you are already eager to move beyond the pocket cards), let's talk about mediums for journaling. Since I'm writing to you on my computer and publishing it on my blog, we must discuss using the computer to keep a journal. Lots of people do. Some have their journal on-line, while others save to their personal hard drive. I really don't suggest computer journaling. Definitely don't keep an on-line journal unless you are don't care about possible consequences, such as everyone being able to read your thoughts and emotions, dealing with those who might feel you are maligning them and so on. Even keeping a journal on your hard drive can be tricky if you want to be totally honest in what you write. Who has access to your computer? Do you really think password protection will prevent them from reading your journal? But mostly, my objection comes from my teaching experience. Students who take notes on laptops and computer notebooks don't learn as well as those who take notes longhand. There is something in the connection between the hand and the brain that makes what you write longhand stay with you better. Call it muscle memory. This also allows for you to use some tricks to overcome the inner critic and get to what you are really thinking and feeling. More on that later. And now some more prompts and another zip for you.

(Divider courtesy of a kit by Ricku) In today's zip

are 6 cards and a few elements. I forgot to mention that if you are printing the cards from the collage sheet, you will want to use the print borderless option on your printer. Also, I'd started out just noting the journal cards as ws for Wonderland Scraps but that didn't seem right so have switched over to using D'Ambrosio Arts which I use for all other creative endeavors. Not a big thing but in case you wondered. *** Every thing's coming up roses - write about something good happening in your life.*** There's a blue card I think of as Bubbling Up - good for noting thoughts that keep bubbling up in your mind. You know, ideas that seem to come from no where but are persistent? *** Sunshine thoughts - what makes you happy? *** Wouldn't the abstract card be good for things you wonder about? It also makes me think of a landscape so you might want to use it for reflections on nature *** In this life . . . go on with this thought. *** My favorite place - where is it? why? Pick up zip here: http://www.4shared.com/zip/uI6_tHzmba/DAA_PocketJournaling_wk1_2.html?

There's a new CAK in town

This month, Digi Style Designs CAK is Father's Day with a nice cool palette. You can find the first few enteries here: http://digistyledesigns.com/shop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=273 All I've completed for this so far is a package of papers:

and I have some borders in the works.

Surgery Set, Summer Freebie

Finally got a surgery date - June 12th. Found out the concern is less about gallstones and more about an "abnormality in gallbladder wall." We don't really know what that means. Plan is for a laproscopic procedure and if all goes well, I'll get to come home same day with recovery time expected at 5-10 days. There is a possibility this could turn into an "open" procedure and might involve some additonal corrections by gastroenterologist. An open procedure would mean being admitted and staying 3 or 4 days with recovery time around 6 weeks. That's unlikely though as this is a very common surgery.**************************************************************************** ******************************************************************************************************************** I didn't get finished the next zip for pocket journaling but hope to get that up tomorrow with more info. Thanks, Stacy, for your enthusiasm. Hope others join us. Meanwhile, I have a number of retired kits - most minis - that I'll be sharing with you. Tonight I'm loading the elements to Watermelon Smoothie shown here:

This little mini even includes a recipe for a cool watermelon smoothie. Hope you enjoy it. http://www.4shared.com/zip/ZVtyK6GGce/ws_watermelonsmoothie_elements.html?

Summer Challenge - Part One: Pocket Journaling

Today I'm issuing a summer challenge; I'm challenging you to start journaling and, if you are already journaling - whether just text or art journaling, then I'm challenging you to share tips and prompts with those who are just beginning. I'm sure you have heard about the benefits of journaling. If you haven't, please visit these links to learn what it can do for you in terms of mental and spiritual, as well as physical well being. http://psychcentral.com/lib/the-health-benefits-of-journaling/000721 http://www.myrkothum.com/the-benefits-of-writing-a-personal-journal/

Maybe like many people I've suggested journaling to, you have a number of excuses for why you don't do so. Just a few I've heard frequently include: It takes too much time. I just end up with a list of what I've done that day. I don't know where to begin or what to say. I don't write well. I look at the blank page and freeze. Let me refute these for you. You can journal for only a few minutes and still benefit. You talk, don't you? Then you can write. Remember, this is for you so no worries about spelling and punctuation and so on. If a blank page intimidates you, then start with one that has something on it.

I'm going to make this challenge really easy so you can get started journaling and you can easily expand on it later. Here is the plan. We're going to incorporate a little art journaling into traditional journaling, but this doesn't mean you have to be able to draw or be particularly artistic so no worries there.. We're going to start small, using some journal cards I'll provide for you to print out and carry with you. That way, whenever you've got a few minutes or the mood strikes, you can journal a little.

You've probably seen any number of "journal cards" provided for sale or free by various digital artists. Sometimes these are just small blank or decorated tags where you can add titles for photos on scrapbook pages or other notations. Sometimes the journal cards are . . . well, more journal oriented with prompts or phrases with blanks for you to fill in. For this challenge you will get (free) a combination of blank backgrounds, some elements to decorate them with, some decorated cards with prompts. And sometimes a couple of separate prompts (independent of cards) that you might wish to use and sometimes what I call a Care Card – an ATC with a quote or thought or words of encouragement

The one thing I will keep constant is the size. I've decided we will use the standard artist trading card (ATC) size of 2.5" x 3.5". That's the size of a standard sport trading card. My reasons for this choice are several: how intimidating can something that small be? It's a good size to tuck into your datebook, pocket calendar or purse to carry along. And you can cheaply buy thin plastic sleeves meant to keep sport cards fresh to store your journal cards in if you choose. You might also want to buy a pack of pocket pages which hold a number of sports cards and fit into a looseleaf binder. That way you can keep completed pocket cards together to do some journal jumps (I’ll explain more later.) I would recommend you printing the pocket cards out on cardstock (Walmart has it for low price.) as plain paper tears too easily

I had hoped to make this more coherent than it's going to be this first time, but my father became ill and I had to go take care of him. I want to go ahead and get you started even if the "goodies" aren't quite right. The first packet will include collage sheets of cards you can print out and also pngs versions in case you want to use these another way. To start, I made 3 decorated cards and 4 blank cards, plus one care card. At this point in the year, most women (at least in the USA zone) are thinking about summer attire, especially beach wear and perhaps having some concerns about their weight. You first care card addresses this, reminding you that your weight is Not your worth. If you happen to be overweight, or thinner than you'd like to be (Today this might not be the issue it was for me when I was young), don't be hard on yourself. You do not have to be model perfect to be beautiful. True beauty comes from within. Now, if you want to lose weight (or gain), you can make that a goal and we can talk about goal setting and journal about it. A bit later in the week I will post some embellishments and probably more cards. Meanwhile, if you use one of the blank cards, add whatever embellishments you'd like from your stash, draw on them, whatever.

Some topic ideas for this week (use back of your card too if you like): 1) Pansies are for thoughts - a good card to jot down things that keep running through your head so you can explore them later 2) Cameo card - think of that lovely silhouette as you. List your 5 best qualities. 3) Daisy card or any other - Every one has some qualities they would like to improve. List your 5 worst qualities. 4) Goals - choose one goal for the month of June. What is it? Why is it important to you? Set a deadline to accomplish it. 5) Gratitude - try to list one thing each day of the week that you are grateful for. This is a good repeat exercise to help you see how even the smallest things can be important and add joy to our lives. 6)What is your favorite pasttime? What is special about it? Just jot down notes to yourself. 7) When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? What's the first thing about this you remember? 8) What topics would you like to explore? These are just ideas in case you think you don't know what to write. Remember too, these cards are for you. I will probably share some examples with you, but you are not obligated to share any of your cards. However, if you would like to do so, you may send me a copy at quiltwrite2000@yahoo.com with Journal Challenge in subject line and I will post for you.

I welcome your comments and suggestions. Pick up zip here: http://www.4shared.com/zip/snrF6Whgba/ws_PocketJoournal_wk_1.html?

June 1: Sad News, Update, Challenge Info, & Freebie

It's been forever it seems since I last made an entry. Still feeling rough and had really bad day last Wednesday when I called to see if I could get earlier appointment with my gastroentelogist. There's an ugly expression often heard from military personnel about something called a "Cluster F---." It sure was appropriate for this but by Friday afternoon it was all sorted out. There was misinformation all around but now I have an appointment this coming Wednesday to see a surgeon I've met before and see when she can operate.

While I was having a conniption fit over all the medical snafus, I learned that Dr. Maya Angelou had died and was so saddened by the news. I had met Maya, as she invited me to call her, some years ago (gee 20 or so!) at William and Mary College. She was the sort of person who didn't met a stranger. She positively radiated warmth and love and she will surely be missed. I left word for her family on her facebook page and went in search of tributes. There are a good number, but I really enjoyed this page at Oprah with all the links to interviews and recitations of her poetry etc: http://www.oprah.com/app/maya-angelou.html

This lovely woman had some very rough times in her life but she refused to be reduced by them. There are so many wise quotes, it's hard to choose just one but perhaps this one will reach someone who needs to hear it.

As for the summer challenge I had mentioned, it's not quite ready but will be up this week as soon as possible. I will tell you this: it is part one of a challenge about journaling. I'm calling part 1 Pocket Journaling because we are going to start small, real small, to make it easy.

And now for your freebie. Can you use a CU4Cu pearl frame? Hope so.

Pick it up here: http://www.4shared.com/zip/pBbcJeHace/ss4cu_pearl_frame_freebie.html? Hugs!