Linky Love

Neuroscience Reveals That Gratitude Rewires Your Brain

The Smell of Rain Reduces Stress - We have been having record rainfall so I don't know if this is true or not

My Son picked up a bugle and played it for us. He played a decent version of Taps.
He is a trumpet and french horn player

Borrowing a Literacy Strategy from Band Class - This is an education article but I found it interesting.

Celebrating 50th Years of Wedded Bliss

Happy Happy 50th Anniversary!!

Cachet from  1971

This Year's Semi Homemade Valentine

Sometimes I get an idea stuck in my head. I was inspired a preschool/elementary art idea. FriendsArtLab shared a heart made with watercolors and pastels creating a resist. I love preschool art. This inspired this very amateur artist.

In the spirit of Alisa Burke, I used what I had. Mediums used oil pastels, crayola pan watercolors, and colored pencils. I scanned my picture and had it turned into a card at Wahlgreens. I was lucky enough to spot a 60 percent off sale on stationary. I am so happy how these turned out.

Giant Heart Wreath

I am a BIG Damask Love fan. She has a tutorial on this giant heart wreath. I think this can best accomplished with using a cricut. However this is cutting craft so if you don't mind cutting out a bazillion leaves it is doabable. I am going to give a few more details than she did on her tutorial. I consider myself above average crafter but I am new to the cricut. I have a maker.

The flowers are made with the cricut. You will need a quiling tool to create them. Jennifer Maker has an excellent DIY quiling tool.

My husband ended up making me one. Jennifer also has some great you tube videos. The flowers I made are from the flower shoppe cartridge.

The heart is cut out from foam board. I used Christmas wrapping paper as a template.

Below is some of the build in progress. I did score the leaves so it the leaves don't look flat. Damask Love did too.

I even got a shout out from Damask Love. WOOT WOOT

Wordy Wednesday - New Letter Board

COULD not resist this new letter board sold at Office Depot/Office Max. It was created by Damask Love.

Flower Prints With CDs/Printmaking with Old CD's

Sometimes the creative bug strikes me. This is a low entry art project as it is basically geared for preschoolers and elementary students. I was inspired. I like the project better on black paper.

Supplies
paint
cotton swabs
old Cds
paper
paint brush

I got this idea from several places

thepnterestparent
artwithmrs.e

What is Saving Me

Up here in the Pacific Northwest it is dark. Sometimes I need to remember what is saving me. I am linking up with Modern Mrs Darcy. Check out what is saving everyone else.

Cookie Stockpile

I think I have listed this almost every other time on "What is Saving Me." I remember sitting at a MOPS (mother of preschoolers) presentation by Lindsay Ahrens. Lindsay has a cookbook called Fix Freeze Feast with Kati Neville. Lindsay was saying how having freezer meals allowed to extend her hospitality. This month I was able to contribute cookies to a funeral because I had a stockpile of frozen cookie dough. It was easy to extend my hospitality.

Piano

I purchased an electric keyboard from COSTCO. I have been wanting a piano for a long time. I just couldn't pull the trigger. I took lessons for like 12 years but after I left High School I basically quit playing.  I was amazed how much has come back to me. I find playing super relaxing.  I basically have been playing a little bit each day.

Preschool Art

Printmaking with Cds

I like to be creative but I am not an artist. I have been doing some preschool art projects and I find it is good low entry way to stretch my creative muscles. I am only doing it for my own satisfaction. That is such a luxury and so freeing.  Is that considered Art Therapy?

Decluttering Challenge

I am partcipating on a online challenge at Creating Mary's Home. I am amazed at how much I have gotten rid of . It is nice to have some guidelines on how to do this. It is also holding me accountable. This is a 90 day challenge