Friday, December 23, 2016

I am a Maker©

I  am a maker© 



Sometimes I think I should be like those who do one thing. You know like only quilt, only scrapbook or only exercise or only cook or only----.

Sometimes I think I should be like those who are minimalists, those whose have only one decorating style or those who choose to get books from the library as opposed to having a library at home.

Sometimes it's hard to explain who we are especially if we are not the same as everybody else. Sometimes it's hard to understand others or even ourselves.

Sometimes I struggle. Sometimes I am embarrassed that my studio, as one little girl said " Is this a store?" I think she was ready to shop.

Sometimes.... but not most of the time.

Most of the time I remember that we are not meant to be the same.

Most of the time I remember that we are all blest with talents, abilities, gifts and personalities.


Most of the time I remember that I love all things creative


Most of the time I remember that while my studio looks like a store it is truly a place that the inspiration (and supplies) are is free and it is open for all to come and create.



Most of the time I remember that I am a maker.  

A maker of an inviting home.



 A maker of meals in a warm kitchen. 

A maker of pretty things to inspire, to wear, to have.

A maker of family and friendships.




  A maker of a joyful life.


Most of the time I remember that I am a maker and that is how the Lord, the maker of heaven and of earth, made me. 


And by the way He made you, too!!

So if sometimes, you're like me and think about who you are and who you should be.... most of time, you're exactly as you should be!!! You are perfectly you!!!

Until next time,  Make the most of each day!!







Thursday, December 8, 2016

Candle Cover ups - a quick holiday gift idea

I love candles.  the scent, the flame that flickers softly and the beautiful jars that they come in.  However, what I do not like are the labels that are that strongest stickers ever.  it ruins the beautiful ambience when you see $3.99 on the jar or where it was purchased...So I have decided rather than to fight the sticker, I'll just leave it there and then cover it with beautiful paper, ribbon and little floral touches or holiday sentiments. Using hot glue for the elements and a paper adhesive such as Mod Podge or the Xyron adhesive.  This is perfect for any occasion but here is mine that sits by the sink,..oh so much prettier than the price...

Holly, ribbon and a red velvet flower adorn this jar. 

Choose paper that fits the theme and then die cut a desired shape.
I like to adhere mine with the xyron machine adhesive.
Until next time,  Hope your home is filled with the scents of the season....

All Wired Up - featured on the ICE Resin® Blog



all wired up


One of my favorite symbols is the heart - even though it doesn't resemble our actual heart (thank goodness) it does represent balance, beauty, wholeness and unconditional love.  For my latest project on the ICE Resin® blog, I show how to repurpose all those thin, wire bangle bracelets into beautiful wired hearts that are touched with ICE Resin® and beautiful German glass glitter.  then the finishing is up to you..but be warned you will fall in love with these hearts and soon you'll be all wired up!!!

Until next time, sending you hearts full of love....

Hearts full of love!

Friday, November 18, 2016

Time for love -an art journaling project with Gauche Alchemy


Happy November!! It's been a little while since I posted here on my blog...I hope to get back into a weekly routine or at least every other week. You can always follow me on fb and Instagram for the latest happenings with me:). But today, over at Gauche Alchemy, I have a mixed media project for your art journaling pages. I hope you'll take a look here for inspiration along with a few tips and techniques for mixed media.

Until next time, make time for love!!

Monday, September 5, 2016

Fall is when nature turns to Gold and Target has great $ bins for fall stamps


Changing Colors 


When the calendar flips over and September begins, it seems as if everyone is wishing for cooler temperatures, crisp mornings and the smell of apples and pumpkins lingering in the air.  For those of us in Texas, we still have a whole lot of summer left.  But at least one can dream... in colors of deep reds, subtle browns and harvest gold’s. 

I have a stamp that reads as the title of this post… “Fall is when nature to Gold”.  I have used this sentiment for the first project today.  Along with an original stamp of mine (Jar seal) this note card is filled with fall colors and fall (wood) leaves that have been inked, embossed and an added  touch of glitter.  I love to use the shimmer stamp pads such as the Delicata stamps in the metallic shades.  Not only on the paper but this ink can be used on the leaves as well.  Follow the ink with a sealer.  Layering the paper gives is depth and stability.  I like to display these cards so that is important to me.  Adding the Ribbon and leaves finished the card with soft, subtle shades of fall.
 
Fall is in the air and in my studio...
And along with fall and the changing of the colors comes PSL (pumpkin spice latte), Fall M&M’s and the $bins at target filled with crafty goodness for just mere dollars…Of course by the time I buy every copper tag, stamp set….the dollars could be a little bit more than just a few dollars but it’s all worth it for the sake of fall.  The $3 stamp sets are always in my cart.  These little stamps are gems, tiny treasures to add to our stamp collection…but if I put them in a drawer, I will forget I have them until sometime mid April and I exclaim “Oh that’s where I put them.”  So for several years now, I create holiday stamp or special collection stamp jars.  Depending on the quantity and size of the stamps will determine my container whether is should be a glass jar or a flea market find coffee cup.  Then I begin to stamp small tags indicating what is in this special collection.  When all has been stamped, I add ribbon, the tag and a little embellishment.  Sometimes it is a paper flower, metal charm or my favorite- seashells!

 I hope you enjoy these little “fall” starters.  Below is a little more detail on each project.  Until next time, this might be the inspiration you need to move from the Summer Heat to the Freshness of Fall.

Gather- Fall Note card,

Manila Folder
Cardstock – choice of colors
Stamps – sentiment, fall theme
Inks – Delicata (metallic), other colors of choice
Ribbon
Wood leaves (Hobby Lobby) 
Sealer – such as Mod Podge
Paper Adhesive, Glue Gun, glue sticks


*Cut manila folder to desired size.  Stamp background image such as leaves in a random fashion.  Cut each layer of cardstock a little smaller and layer in desired pattern.

*Stamp focal stamp on the top layer.  Create a mask of this image so you can add the leaves or desired image around the focal stamp.

*Stamp sentiment in the middle of focal image.  Ink edges of card with a soft brown such as Chestnut Roan by Color Box.

*Ink the leaves with various colors from the inkpads.  Let dry or use a heat gun.

*On the leaves, brush on sealer.  Let dry.

*Cut Ribbon and tie around card.  Use a little adhesive to adhere the ribbon if needed.

*Using glue gun, adhere the leaves to the card. 

It is now ready to be displayed on an easel, given as a card or added to an art journal.

 
Love this raised "dot" jar with my new Fall stamps...
Holiday or Specialty collection stamp Jars.

Gather

Small stamp set (mine were from Target, these can be from anywhere)
Jar, cup or container of choice
Tags – sized for your stamp collection
Ink – color of choice
Eyelets and Eyelet setter
Ribbon
Adhesive – I use the glue gun for attaching some of the embellisments.
Embellishments

*Select desired container
* With the ink and tags, stamp desired number of images from the stampset
* Using an eyelet setter, set eyelets in the tags.
*Add Ribbon to the container
* String the tag onto the ribbon and knot the ribbon.
*Add desired embellishments with glue if needed.






Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Reflections from my soul to yours..an original writing by Chantal Johnson



His Love is as vast at the ocean

Reflections from my soul to yours…

Normally, I share a new art project, a trip or a family event.  Today, I am sharing what is on my heart.  I wrote this reflection in June as I was in the midst of healing from surgery.  I thought of who I am (good and no so good), what I have done (good and not so good) and my thoughts brought me to the One who makes all that I am and all that I have, his and he redeems me and sets me on his path…which is way better that mine! I hope this resonates with you…I put a few scriptures to help us learn to rest in his peace and see his goodness towards us… And for my friends who find their paths on a different road than mine, I hope, this too will resonate with you as we travel this daily living together…


I am …

A gatherer
A doer
A dreamer
A believer
A try-er
A wish-er
A writer
A reader
A listener
A talker
A giver
A teacher
A traveler
A painter

 I am an experience-er.   I have lived, loved, and lost. Lived in the south, homes and apartments. Loved dogs and hens, horses, the Cowboys, but most of all, loved people. I have lost my keys, track of time and yes, people, and relationships. I have had victories, defeats and ties. I've had highs, lows and in betweens. I have seen God’s gift of grace more than I have felt his judgment. I have received redemption rather than his rejection. I see his word is truth where my truth falters.  I have had miss steps, fallen steps and wrong steps and yet my feet are firmly set on his path.  When I feel as if I can't in this day-to-day world, he is already in my tomorrow, cheering me on. He sees my past, is in my present and is planning my future and all is well. Whether I feel that I am sometimes good and other times not so good, God is good all the time. He seeks to give his good gifts to me-gifts of love, life, and forgiveness, freedom from my not so goodness,  his grace, his joy and his happiness. My good gifts pale in comparison to his gracious and loving gifts.


When I make it hard to see him, he gives me eyes to see his goodness. When I can’t hear his voice, he whispers. He asks me to lean in and rest, be still and know that he has it altogether and I don't have to. Whew!! What a relief he brings.

Relief- yes, the breathing deep, shoulders down, defenses down kind of relief. When I give my life's brokenness, my worries, my tired self, to the One who brings rest to the weary, wholeness to the broken, and assurance to the worrier-I can truly breathe in his rest, his wholeness and his assurance and feel relieved.

What do I do with this new rest, this new assurance-I must pass it on to others, to help their brokenness, their worries, their tired selves, and what exactly is "it"-it isn't an it. It is he. It is Jesus, the author and finisher the beginning and the end, the giver of good gifts, the one who delights in me and in you. The gentle whisperer, the ever present help in times of trouble, the ever encourager in our day to day world and the One who will meet me where I am and love me for who I am but will challenge me.  To love and give as he has, to be authentic and genuine, to live a life of love, to speak with grace, to have a pure heart, to offer friendship as it has been offered to me.

And sweet friends,  that is what makes the experience worthwhile- that no matter the road, be it smoothly paved or cobblestone, you and I are not alone!!
                                        - I am© Chantal Johnson, June 2016 


Until next time, I am here for you but better still He is here with you!!!





Ps 130:7
Eph 1:7
James 1:17
2 Samuel 22:37
Psalm 17:15, 66:9
Psalm 62:1,5
1 Peter 5:7
Psalm 55:22
Psalm 34:18
Proverbs 22:11
Hebrews 12:2






Reflections from my soul to yours..an original writing by Chantal Johnson



His Love is as vast at the ocean

Reflections from my soul to yours…

Normally, I share a new art project, a trip or a family event.  Today, I am sharing what is on my heart.  I wrote this reflection in June as I was in the midst of healing from surgery.  I thought of who I am (good and no so good), what I have done (good and not so good) and my thoughts brought me to the One who makes all that I am and all that I have, his and he redeems me and sets me on his path…which is way better that mine! I hope this resonates with you…I put a few scriptures to help us learn to rest in his peace and see his goodness towards us… And for my friends who find their paths on a different road than mine, I hope, this too will resonate with you as we travel this daily living together…


I am …

A gatherer
A doer
A dreamer
A believer
A try-er
A wish-er
A writer
A reader
A listener
A talker
A giver
A teacher
A traveler
A painter

 I am an experience-er.   I have lived, loved, and lost. Lived in the south, homes and apartments. Loved dogs and hens, horses, the Cowboys, but most of all, loved people. I have lost my keys, track of time and yes, people, and relationships. I have had victories, defeats and ties. I've had highs, lows and in betweens. I have seen God’s gift of grace more than I have felt his judgment. I have received redemption rather than his rejection. I see his word is truth where my truth falters.  I have had miss steps, fallen steps and wrong steps and yet my feet are firmly set on his path.  When I feel as if I can't in this day-to-day world, he is already in my tomorrow, cheering me on. He sees my past, is in my present and is planning my future and all is well. Whether I feel that I am sometimes good and other times not so good, God is good all the time. He seeks to give his good gifts to me-gifts of love, life, and forgiveness, freedom from my not so goodness,  his grace, his joy and his happiness. My good gifts pale in comparison to his gracious and loving gifts.


When I make it hard to see him, he gives me eyes to see his goodness. When I can’t hear his voice, he whispers. He asks me to lean in and rest, be still and know that he has it altogether and I don't have to. Whew!! What a relief he brings.

Relief- yes, the breathing deep, shoulders down, defenses down kind of relief. When I give my life's brokenness, my worries, my tired self, to the One who brings rest to the weary, wholeness to the broken, and assurance to the worrier-I can truly breathe in his rest, his wholeness and his assurance and feel relieved.

What do I do with this new rest, this new assurance-I must pass it on to others, to help their brokenness, their worries, their tired selves, and what exactly is "it"-it isn't an it. It is he. It is Jesus, the author and finisher the beginning and the end, the giver of good gifts, the one who delights in me and in you. The gentle whisperer, the ever present help in times of trouble, the ever encourager in our day to day world and the One who will meet me where I am and love me for who I am but will challenge me.  To love and give as he has, to be authentic and genuine, to live a life of love, to speak with grace, to have a pure heart, to offer friendship as it has been offered to me.

And sweet friends,  that is what makes the experience worthwhile- that no matter the road, be it smoothly paved or cobblestone, you and I are not alone!!
                                        - I am© Chantal Johnson, June 2016 


Until next time, I am here for you but better still He is here with you!!!





Ps 130:7
Eph 1:7
James 1:17
2 Samuel 22:37
Psalm 17:15, 66:9
Psalm 62:1,5
1 Peter 5:7
Psalm 55:22
Psalm 34:18
Proverbs 22:11
Hebrews 12:2






Sunday, July 31, 2016

This is part of an art journaling project for Gauche Alchemy..
stay tuned for the complete tutorial in August

Happy Sunday!  Can you believe is it is almost August?  Last Christmas, when I was making, creating, celebrating and shopping, getting a little lost in the frenzy of the season...I thought back to July when Hobby Lobby begins to put out Christmas and how it all makes us crazy and we think..."Come on -its way too early for this." I told myself that I should have started in July....Fast forward to today, July 31st and no, I haven't started Christmas Creating, Celebrating or Shopping...but it will all be ok come December 25th!


Travel is where I am today.  We are getting ready for our trip to Europe..It's definitely exciting much like Christmas...We anticipate the day, the presents, the feast, the family, the memories and then it goes too quickly.  Of our trip to Europe, my youngest said "We plan this for months and then it's goes so fast and then it's over!" Time does fly when you are having fun.  This is so true of all the things we love...whether it is a day in the studio, a day at the park, a great movie, a vacation or Christmas Day.



When we see the Christmas aisles in July, what we are really saying is {perhaps}we want to live in this moment not 5 months from now.  Retail has a calendar, what to sell and when.  To them it makes sense, to us it seems to rush us into the future.  So for now, I'll put Christmas in December, embrace it when it arrives..and yes, plan ahead (perhaps, I'll start in August) just as we did for this European vacation..Today, I will keep my thoughts in the present, my heart in the cities we visit, embrace the moments...and create lasting memories.


Until next time, Embrace the moments here and now, I hope that your days are filled with those you love, doing the things you love and watch time fly and then when the days are long, we can look back at these moments that have become cherished memories.


"Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory."
                                        -Dr. Seuss


By the way, there are only 147 days until Christmas...we have plenty of time!



Christmas in July....not this year.

This is part of an art journaling project for Gauche Alchemy..
stay tuned for the complete tutorial in August

Happy Sunday!  Can you believe is it is almost August?  Last Christmas, when I was making, creating, celebrating and shopping, getting a little lost in the frenzy of the season...I thought back to July when Hobby Lobby begins to put out Christmas and how it all makes us crazy and we think..."Come on -its way too early for this." I told myself that I should have started in July....Fast forward to today, July 31st and no, I haven't started Christmas Creating, Celebrating or Shopping...but it will all be ok come December 25th!


Travel is where I am today.  We are getting ready for our trip to Europe..It's definitely exciting much like Christmas...We anticipate the day, the presents, the feast, the family, the memories and then it goes too quickly.  Of our trip to Europe, my youngest said "We plan this for months and then it's goes so fast and then it's over!" Time does fly when you are having fun.  This is so true of all the things we love...whether it is a day in the studio, a day at the park, a great movie, a vacation or Christmas Day.



When we see the Christmas aisles in July, what we are really saying is {perhaps}we want to live in this moment not 5 months from now.  Retail has a calendar, what to sell and when.  To them it makes sense, to us it seems to rush us into the future.  So for now, I'll put Christmas in December, embrace it when it arrives..and yes, plan ahead (perhaps, I'll start in August) just as we did for this European vacation..Today, I will keep my thoughts in the present, my heart in the cities we visit, embrace the moments...and create lasting memories.


Until next time, Embrace the moments here and now, I hope that your days are filled with those you love, doing the things you love and watch time fly and then when the days are long, we can look back at these moments that have become cherished memories.


"Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory."
                                        -Dr. Seuss


By the way, there are only 147 days until Christmas...we have plenty of time!



Friday, July 15, 2016

Gold Ribbon Moments Journal - for Gauche Alchemy Studio


Gold Ribbon Journal 

Happy Friday!  I wanted to share with y'all today my first Design Team post for Gauche Alchemy! I received a wonderful creative packet full of color, inspiration and gorgeous papers, embellishments and other artistic elements.  I chose to use these gorgeous handmade papers to create a journal for those Gold Ribbon Moments - firsts, bests, changes, victories... really everyday is a Gold Ribbon day and there are Gold Ribbon moments...just look around and you'll see things through Gold-colored glasses.  For the full article including the techniques visit Gauche Alchemy today!!

Until next time,...hoping you Go for the Gold each and every day!!!

Write each day what matters most....

Thursday, July 7, 2016

Classic Centerpieces with ICE Resin®, vintage bottles and your creativity

Elegant Centerpiece with ICE Resin®



Happy July!! We are home from our time in Florida...Ohh, how the water, waves, sand and shore can renew and refresh my spirit... I hope you have a place like that....I actually have a few places like that......the Beach being one of them but also my home, my studio, my little plot of earth....It nourishes my heart and gives me time and space to create, to cultivate and to...clean....that is part of everyday living, isn't it?  Well, on the ICE Resin® blog, I found a few moments to create and celebrate with an elegant, Classic centerpiece that can be made just one time or a million times.... It's perfect for weddings, showers, parties or just your kitchen table.  Grab a few vintage (or new) bottles, ribbon and of course ICE Resin® as we see how wonderfully easy it is to cast images either in sugar craft molds or molds using our silicone putty.  Here's the link to creating and inspiration your centerpieces....After it's done, you might have just a little cleaning to do:)

Until next time, Find that place that can nourish and renew your spirit....and yes, a little bit of cleaning too.

Friday, June 24, 2016

Art Inspirations from the Sand and the Shore





A few art inspirations from the Sand and the Shore. 







Until next time, enjoy your view and see the inspiration all around.