Inspired Me

Today, I am sharing a scrapbook layout called "Be Brave." I just finished it this week and I am still on a roll since National Scrapbook Day. Yeah!  The title was inspired by the global crisis and quarantine events we are facing. I have had this "Be Brave" sign posted in my living room for some years. I walk past it and sit under it all the time and forget it is there. But on this day, it seemed like a good time to refocus on these words and take a picture of me being BRAVE in uncertainty. Ok, enough of that! Take a look at this page. I used Simple Stories "Simple Vintage Garden District" paper and embellishments. This layout was inspired by Nathalie DeSousa @tachita55 of Instagram. She has some beautiful designs. Used green paint to add the splatters. Quote is from Webster's Pages' free downloads.  Distressed and used my brown ink pad on the edges. Thanks for stopping by and leave a comment if you are scrapb...

In celebration of Mental Health Month, today's post is about resting.  Some years ago, I was feeling restless while resting from a long, hard and exhausting situation. I didn't know how to give myself permission to really let go and rest. I remember sitting on the couch thinking about housework and other stuff I needed to do. Can you relate? Then, one day this thought hit me,  "Sometimes, doing nothing is doing something!"  I felt my whole body relax and that is when I gave myself permission to rest! Lying on the couch watching tv didn't seem like anything special, but it really was! My mind and body were recharging. I exhaled!!! Since then, I am learning to recognize, listen and respect my God given, kind voice. I must admit it is a challenge and I don't get it right all the time.  That is totally fine. Just like any good relationship, it takes time, love, trust and self compassion. How do I rest? For me, it is  things like reading Bible verses, to taki...

Anybody else scrapbooking your Christmas pictures? My hand is up! LOL! In today's post I am sharing a layout I recently finished. I loved using my leftover Anna Griffin trees from her shaker card kit and the paper is from Kaisercraft's "Peace and Joy" collection. The trees come apart and have adhesive. They are like large stickers. I loved the stripes and shapes together. I distressed the edges on everything! Life isn't perfect and my paper shouldn't be either. LOL! If you are working on Christmas in May, leave a comment below. I have one more to do and I will share that one, too. Take care and thanks for stopping by!

Today, I am sharing some scrapbook layouts I made during International Scrapbook Day weekend.  Here is a blog post I did on Inspired Me 411 about this day and some of the fun events.  Click Here Over at Two Peas Refugees, they had a weekend full of activities like video chat and scraps on Google Hangouts as well as challenges. It was so exciting to be on the virtual calls with the ladies. This was my first time seeing them in person after years of just communicating on the message boards. We had a great time! Thanks Two Peas for hosting a fun event. I haven't scrapbooked in over a year and it was fun to return back to one of my early joys. For years, I made lots of layouts and enjoyed it. But in the last year or so I have developed more interest in other art forms. So it was a treat to get my dusty scrapbook supplies out and go to work! LOL! I wanted to join the fun and finish some pages I started a while ago. Take a look! Paper is from Kaisercraft and I used Sketch...

Happy Wednesday! I started a new drawing last month. I saw this gorgeous picture of model turned fashion industry leader, Bethann Hardison in Essence Magazine. I loved her head wrap and the character in her face. She looked so joyful and even glowed in the photograph. I worked on it for a while and am pleased with how she turned out. Not sure if I am finished with it yet but here is what I have done so far. Take a look. The hardest parts for me to draw are the mouth, lips and teeth. I feel proud that they look close to the picture. Practice makes perfect they say. So, that is what I plan on doing. Have you ever tried drawing? Leave a comment below if you do. It has been one of the many surprise interest I have developed over the years. Well, I hope you are enjoying whatever creative activities you are doing. Keep it going all and have a great day! P.S. Subscribe if you haven't already. Thanks!

Hey everyone! I hope you are all doing well! Today, is a story of determination and fun. Back in January, I saw this crochet hat tutorial by Melanie Ham on YouTube:. Crochet Hat Video. It was cold and I thought it would be fun to try to make it. I started learning to crochet last year at a local church. So, I have some beginning skills but that is it. I excitedly jumped into this project and was crocheting away. Weeks after I started, I finished the first step and was ready to stitch it together. THEN, I REALIZED I had done it all wrong! LOL!!!! My measurements were all off. It was to be vertical not horizontal. Yes, how frustrating!!! After reviewing the instructions again and again, I decided to take it ALL apart and start over. Oh boy!  Fortunately, I had some previous experience with starting over. The lady who taught me how to crochet at that church class took my crocheting projects apart several times. I was upset about it but then I realized that is the best way...

Today, I am happy to announce the start of my NEW blog  Inspired Me 411 . It is an arts and crafts directory  of resources I have used over the years. Inspired Me 411 is the "baby" of Inspired Me. My blog had a baby!!! LOL! Now, I will have two blogs to enjoy and share with you. This directory is a one-stop-shop organized in the following categories:  Papercrafting, Arts & Art Journaling, Fiber Arts, General Crafts and Mind & Body . There are lists of websites, organizations, events, classes and articles that I will be updating periodically.  Plus, I will be writing blog posts on any related and interesting things I find. "411" is for everyone, new or experienced, looking for good information to help you grow your creativity. When I started making greeting cards in 2006, I didn't find many places to get ideas or supplies. It wasn't until I stumbled upon Two Peas In A Bucket website that my creativity took off. I learned so much, had f...