Having Faith and believing in Oneself  is my biggest challenge of late...not from a tragic standpoint mind you,but from a New Journey that I have embarked on.......weight loss.....yikes,..that was quite scary to or print 'outloud'.......but for so long now and not realizing it,how I feel about myself on the outside has affected whats on the inside.

 I will try to appreciate all the attributes I have on the outside as I'm as well as staying positive and looking in......

 I will accept the challenge,and learn(hopefully) from the Journey,and remind myself to capture the details of each experience.....

 I will try not to be afraid of what is behind ANY door...

For I maybe pleasantly surprised what I find there!!

  wishing you all pleasent surprises behind your doors,
                                                       virginia:)

Feeling Hauntingly Witchy

I have been feeling in the mood for Ghost stories,some Witch spells, and the magic of Wizards...I was lucky enough to have bestowed upon me some Matt board pieces in many different colors,and while going through my new stash I came across this Grayish Lavender color,which inspired me right away(as if the Grey Lady whispered into my ear),..to create a Board book keeping with this color theme and using some of my favorite techniques,vintage trims,and unique images....

this is the cover,which i did some fun stamping,added an image from an antique book I own,added a little gold embossing,a few words from an old dictionary,then decided I needed a Haunting,Ghostly image...to be framed,but wanted a look that was textured,old,grungy,and 'Damaged' from age,use,fire or weather...I LuV doing transfers,but being inspiration hit me at Night,not having the "proper" materials for an image transfer,and then the image itself being an ink jet image,I was a little limited...But I played with around and "accidentally" got lucky with the look I was trying to achieve(mind you,trying for 'Damaged' is more difficult than it seems)...

Here what I used...clear packing tape,

ink jet image of wedding couple,

a paint brush wet with water,

and a butter knife...

I added image to tape,ran wet paint brush over back of image,then scraped "Gently" with butter knife to remove paper in parts(careful not to wet the ink),then took my inked up dauber and ran it over some of the "empty spots" of image.

I used a Spray Adhesive to attach transfer to some handmade,distressed paper.

I have to admit,I have not tried this same process again,but I will tonight!

Here is the back of my Board book with a "Contact Paper" transfer that I learned from a very Cool "ATC Tutorial" by Lesley Venable,over at the Art of Altering,(Please see the badge at left)...

this is a Great Group and I'm a BiG Fan of Lesley's.

Hope to See you there!

Thanks for stopping by..:)~~virginia

Look at All the Pretties I Found on Etsy Today...

Fall is on its way.....although with parts of the States it seems so far away.....But just Dreaming and Thinking
                  of these cool,rich FaLL Colors,
                         Soon to be  here....
                                EnJoY!

Where Has Time Gone?....

Hello to my Friends in Blogland...How I have missed ALL of you! I'm doing fine,just been very busy with life(like all of you)...I had surgery in June, so I'm in my 3rd week of recovery...and quite frankly...Really,Really BORED...but lucky for me I have a Very Loving Family to entertain me(very much needed).....meet Fancy& Jamar....

As you can see,they are resting too!.....They are sweet and so so lovable...Also to help beet my boredom blues,a little creation for my Daughter....using only what we had on hand(nice way to say totally broke),we made a much needed Drawing Notebook....

An Artist Flip book.....and completely in her colors,

NO BROWN,or Tea,Coffee,Vintage stained...

 We Did pretty good.....

She was Happy,therefore I was happy, and resisted the temptation to give a little "Aged " appearance....

but that's the fun of being 13...

COLOR

                                   And Lots of IT!!!
Thank you for visiting me,and I hope to get to visit all my Fav blogs
soon,hopefully very soon!.....Have a Great week,and wishes to you having a Wonderful Summer!~~~~~virginia

It's Just Another Monday.....but with Goodies!

ok...I Totally Forgot that its Market Monday

Market Monday

But better Late than Never....so please checkout these Wonderful artisans ...great place for that last minute shopping!....and if you get a chance,I found a couple more really Great Giveaways going on....
  the first over at Tarnished and Tattered for a Beautiful Nature Giveaway.....and the other Wonderful Giveaway,is over at Kathy Maximo Designs for another Gorgeous Journal giveaway....please visit these talented artist soon to get in on the action!.....here is to wishing you ALL a Fantastic Week!
 ~~~~~~~~~~~..:)virginia~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Kitchen Mishap and A Wonderful Spring Giveaway!

Yes,I know,I have been away a little longer than I wanted to,but....well,as we all know"Life Happens".....in my last post I mentioned how I was inspred by the Sea,and how it calls to me....
   Well....I truly have been inspired,and one of my Fav things to do is play with my paints,inks,Glitter(can"t forgt the glitz),and totally transform paper....I don't have to plan,I can just do and be Free!.....well maybe I kinda should plan,at least when it comes to using certain'products'....I'll explain(sorry)...
there are times when I just have more time in the evenings,and the certain 'product' I use is,....table salt....I like the technique when mixed with watercolors,...it gives the feel of little bubbles,or effervescent......Now more explaining(really sorry),awhile back ,while food shopping,we had purchased what is called"crazy salt"...it has some herbs added to flavor the salt(you can see whats happenin).....well,Eves. might not be a good idea to try to 'create'....
  yep,you guessed it,the regular salt for "technique" was left behind(not on purpose).....I used this crazy salt,complete with herbs,in my watercolor technique.......ooopppss!

These are the second time around...the herbs just didn't do it for me!.......

Now that I have tortured you long enough,here is some Cool info on a Wonderful Spring Giveaway...

Hop on over to

Tattered Treasures

for the most Beautiful Tags Giveaway!

Nancy is giving away 5 sets of her gorgeous tags,

YOU get to choose!

BUT be quick,

you must visit her BEFORE

April 10th,for drawing!

check out her blog for more details....its worth it!

they are that pretty!

Thanks for Stoppin' by.....til next time,

Have a great week......:)virginia~~~~

The Sea Is Calling To Me

Oh,the Deep Blue Sea....there are just some days you want to get away...I had a Week of those days....It all started with a little car trouble,then it turned into money trouble......sigh....

But have no fear!...we are happy as can be with a semi-new vehicle which will hopefully bring us to many trips to the Beautiful Sea.....
I have been inspired,and started playing with my paints and papers....please visit me next week to see what I created

Does the Sea call to you?...
I hope you feel inspired....til Next time,Enjoy!~~~virginia...:)

Spring Is In The Air....

I know that Spring is Near,
      the sounds of Nature
         are everywhere...

Just take a look around you,
       and you will see,
what the birds have been doing

      to keep busy...

It's what could be inside

that excites me....

So here's to Spring and the Hopes of what could be....
           so I hope you have some inspiration,
                     from Natures gifts of anticipation!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
                         Have a Wonderful Week!
                                 virginia...:)

A Little Love for You Today

Just wishing ALL of you a 'Little Love'today,
my children are sick so I really can't stay....
But I'm sending some loving thoughts out
                     for you,
in case you are feeling a little bit like me,
        red is not the color that I see,
                it's more like ....blue.

So I'm pulling out the pots and pans,
simmering some soup on the stove,
but its whats in the oven that's showin us some Lovin'...
                             CupCakes!
Maple Banana cake,with a vanilla butter frosting and sprinkle of soft pink sugar.....mmmmmm,
I think I'm starting to feel better.....ooops,
there goes the buzzer,time to wrap up this letter,
                Back to what I originally wanted to say,
I hope you find some 'LOVE' on this
                           Valentines Day!~~~~~

Have A Great Week~~~~~and thanks for stopping by...:)virginia

Somethin' Sassy and Springy about these Polka Dots!
just sharin some more Love...:)
     Enjoy!~~~~~virginia

I'M IN IT FOR THE FOOD.....

Super Bowl Day!....
and I'm cooking away...my Fam has asked for their Favs,and I'm going to oblige!....afterall,I'm really in it for the food...(heeeheee)

actually I do like the Game,just that the Team I Like isn't in it this year,but I will be supportive to the ONE member in our household who's Team is in it to Win it!.....

But here are a couple of the goodies I made,
Chili Dip,it is in layers,Bottom is cream cheese,Next is Chili(Homemade),then your Favorite salsa,top it off with cheddar cheese,Heat in Oven til BUBBLY,serve with a couple of bags of chips,mmmm

Next is my favorite,well,it was actually my Mother-in-laws favorite(and we are missing her today),so in her honor,here is one of the EASIEST Pies to Make,
    Caramel Pie,if you have a Sweet tooth,this is for you (also if you are a lover of caramel)...
you take 3 cans os Sweetened Condensed Milk and place them in a pot of water,and boil for 3 hours,

after 3 hrs,let cans cool,then open and you will have Caramel(milk is color of peanutbutter)....
Pour into a chocolate Oreo crust,let cool in refrig. then top with Whipped cream(I don't add sweetner)and add some Heath bar peices on top of Pie....

Now when serving,you truly don't need to a big peice,this pie is very Sweet and Rich(why I don't sweetin Cream),....this same recipe I have seen cooked in the crockpot,(the milk poured into crockpot) ,which is the way I used to make it,But it took 7 hrs,and constant stirring(and days of scrubbing the pot)...I hope you are Enjoying your Game Day Today!

meanwhile,this is what I've been working on....
       til next time~~~~virginia:)

Lookin for Love on Etsy today....

my first Treasury list on Etsy,and it was a LoT of FuN!~~~~~my ONLY problem was just being able to only choose 16 items..:(,I was just LUVIN them ALL!

Well,I hope YOU enjoy!....:)virginia~~~~

Bringing Some Love Into the New Year...

Well,I know I'm a little early,but it just seemed right to go with the moment...Yes,I'm talking about that Special day in February,where we share a Little Love...

So I had some inspiration,and started

"Feelin the Love"

and went to work on tags....

I Love Stamping,Embossing,Painting,Coloring!

and the color Pink...

But I didn't stay there too long....

Yes,I went in a totally different direction,
               softer...calmer
                Not the Norm
                    for
                Valentines!

    But filled with Love just the same....

      Where do I get my Inspiration from?
              from my Assistant
                 of course....

He's Loyal,Loving,and very supportive with
         Everything I do!
I can ALWAYS count on him to be by my side!
        that,and He NEVER misses a photo op!


I hope you are finding Love&Inspiration,
    Thanks for stoppin' by~~~virginia..:)

Wishing You All A Wonderful New Year....Cheers!

                                            The Party......

                                          The Waiting....

                                            And Finally......

See You In 2011,

My Freinds!

Be Merry And Safe....virginia...:)

Keeping it Simple,Small and Colorful....

OK,first I must admitI just can't seem to get motivated this with the Decorations....Last year I was ALL OVER IT!(maybe cause I was the Host).
          This year my Beautiful Sister is Hosting!yaaaah.....But,I was feeling guilty,the kids wanting the big tree up.So,I went to work...I begged and pleaded like nobody's business,and with luck on my selfish side,they agreed.....what???...Iknow,I am Lucky!.....Here's why,my beautiful Daughter came up with this cleaver ,simple,colorful,SMALL display.....I hope you all  enjoy it as much as we do!

  
                  A Princess Fairy,waiting patiently under the tree

                                   Pink Santa Gourd with gifts to bare...

                  A Cool Blue Blast from the Past......

         With a Friend thats hangin around so sweetly....

And A Winter Wonderfulness that Special Freinds share,

It might not seem like much,But to me it is a Great reminder of All that is TRULY important,Family,Freinds and A little bit of

Magic...as seen through the eyes of  Children!

Thank You my Beautiful  Children!

And Thank You for stopping by!

Wishing You Some Magic this Season~~~virginia...:)

Sugar Plums & Candy Canes Are Dancing in My Head...

Primitive Style.....I started with one,then kept on going til my 'Sugar Fix' was satisfied...

I LUV to grunge Tags,paper,fabrics....

But I was trying to think of a way to add some Christmas colors...thats when peppermint

Dreams came into my head!

So out came the acrylics,and shimmers,and then

there was the Sugar.......

Lots & Lots of Sugar,

Don't worry this type of sugar is calorie free,

I used German Mica Flakes!

LUV this glitter!

I use it on Everything....:)

Wishing you a little "Sugar"with your Holiday Dreams!

ps~I left the backs of these tags,Sugar-Free,(Iknow,silly me)

have a Great week!~~~~virginia..:)

I Believe

First,I apologize for not posting this a little sooner,But I did not forget that I would show you what I created with Kathy's Snowflake...

Isn't she Special?!....I Love the colors of Vintage Christmas,and the Snowflake turned out to look more like a Poinsettia....

And of course I had to do some art stamping,and fabric dying,and then my favorite,Glitter!

Yes,that's Glitter on the feet too! I was in the mood for Chocolate covered cherries at the time I painted these little wooden beads,(of course they look more appetizing in person LOL)!

Thanks for stopping by!

And I wish you well in All your Holiday Happenings!

(don't forget to 'Believe',whether it's a Snowflake or Flower,Just 'Believe'in what you create, right up to that Magical Hour!)

Have A great Week Everyone...:)virginia~~~~

Getting Ready for Christmas!

The Holidays are around the corner....

Are you ready????....me neither,well,as ready as I'm going to be!...But its like this for me every year.I have all these wonderful ideas and great expectations,and some of them workout and then others I don't get to....ohhh welll.

I wish I were more like a Poinsettia....take the Summer to become something Beautiful and Loved in the Winter....

   But you know what else I love?...And I bet You will love this too...are Snowflakes.......

Isn't this just a Fun Snowflake?....I found this on the blog ,Inspirational,(Ihave a link below)...But you can go here for the Tutorial on how to make this Beautiful Snowflake...http://kath-allthatglitter.blogspot.com/2010/11/snowflake-hanger-tutorial.html

So checkout Kathy's Blog for some truly beautiful artwork and some wonderful inspiration to get you into the Holidays!

come back to see what I created with my Snowflake!

Thanks for visiting!....Have a Great Day!....:)~~~virginia

A Wedding....







It was a beautiful weekend for a wedding...An outdoor wedding!



seating for guests,under the Big Oak Tree...

The grounds were just so beautiful!....The weather was perfect!

Here are some pics of the Old Manor,where this wedding took place...





original church built in the 1860"s



Fountain outside entrance to Manor

My Camera was not cooperating with me on this evening,
so my pics were limited...
But this place was just wonderful and had a very
elegant feel to it!
During the cocktail hour,I snuck around to take some pics,of the other rooms...

the Manor serves as a Restaurant as well as holding Weddings...Each room was different

We snuck upstairs to see the Bridal Suite,but it was too dark for pics...
The Ballroom where the reception was held was
magical,but also dark,(the lighting)
there were hardwood floors,and 2 very Large chandeliers...
It was a Beautiful Wedding!

Topiary arrangement from Outdoor Decor...

Here's to Wishing you a Magical Week!
Until next time~~~...:)virginia