One Pearl Button is having a Two Years of Blogging Giveaway! 

Check it out!

I had no idea what an ACEO card was before Style School’s Project 25. 

ACEO stands for “Art Cards, Editions and Originals” also known as ATC for “Artist Trading Cards”. These cards have one main rule – they are 3.5 inches by 2.5 inches – the size of a trading card.   – Leigh-Ann (Freckled Nest)

I used some of my favourite sayings and lyrics as my main graphic with some of my favourite colours in the background.  This was a fun quick project to do.   Check out Elsie’s ACEO…they are fab-u-lous! and like she’s says, a great way to start collecting original art!

Does anyone want to trade?

I have learned how to crochet! The girls at work have been trying to get into it for a while now and I finally cracked!  So far, I’ve learned a few stitches and managed to make:

A toque. 

It’s a little small and very pointy. 

It’s suppose to look like this:

Here is my attempt at the flower:

Hmmmm…need more practise but I don’t think that will be a problem….this is FUN!

My garden gnome isn’t complaining!

My dog (Lady) escaped from the yard yesterday.  She’s generally very good but if she sees the gate is open…she’s gone!  She doesn’t ever go too far but she does get into trouble.  She a scavenger and will eat anything she “thinks” is edible.  Then she comes home with a tummy-ache and we get to clean up the mess! yuck!  We were especially worried yesterday because she didn’t have her collar on.  We generally don’t have her collar on in the house.  It’s more comfortable for her and she will shake her head to have her tags rattle around and make noise in the morning (on the weekends) to get us out of bed.  Smart dog!  Luckily, she was at the front door waiting to be let in this time and we didn’t have to go all over the neighbourhood looking for her.  BUT she did have a tummy-ache! 

This dog hates getting her picture taken!  As SOON as you take out the camera, she avoids looking at you! 

WEEK 4 – AUTUMN

Autumn is the prettiest of seasons and has always been my favourite.  The colours are jeweled toned and rich, the weather is perfect for sweaters, cords and warm liquid in oversized cups. 

***ALL PHOTOS ARE FROM WWW.WEHEARTIT.COM***

“AUTUMN” was also referenced here as something I {heart}.  Check it out!

Go see Janel at Run with Scissors for her GIVEAWAY!!!

Another Style School project! This time, we sewed a sketch book cover!  It was nice to bring out the ol’ sewing machine.  It’s been a long time since I did a sewing project.   Since I’ve made this, I have actually been using it.  It’s full of sketches, notes and drawings.

I subscribe to Zen Habits.  It’s a great read on my bus ride to work in the mornings (thank you…Black Berry).  To be honest, I don’t read all the emails I receive but sometimes there’s one that speaks true and loudly to me.   This morning, it was like Leo was speaking to me directly.  This morning’s post was entitled: The One Deadly Sin of Changing Habits.  Basically what he is saying is: In order to change a habit you have to stop doing the habit.  Sounds so simple…doesn’t it?

I’ve been trying to change my habits lately.  I’ve started making myself 30 day challenges.  For example, I just finished a “No sugar in my coffee” 30 day challenge. I am trying to kick the habit of drinking coffee and I am doing it in stages.  My challenge went fairly well.  I only cheated a couple of times so the majority of the time, I was not using sugary-goodness in my coffee.  I don’t enjoy coffee as much without sugar and that certainly reduced the amount of coffee I was drinking.  Now I don’t think it changed my habits because I still WANT sugar in my coffee.  Is that still breaking a habit?  I suppose it’s like what Leo says…not doing the habit, is breaking the habit. 

I am trying to meditate. I have A LOT of thoughts running through my head and I need to settle it down because it is starting to affect my health and happiness.  This is habit I NEED to get into and yet I struggle to do it.  All I need to do is 3 minutes in the morning and 3 minutes before bed.  Am I doing it? NO. WHY? Well..that is something I need to figure out but perhaps if I didn’t think about it so much and just did it, I would be more sucessful.   

Looks like I have a new mantra…

In order to break a habit, you have to not do the habit.

In order to start a habit, you have to do the habit.

What habits are you trying to break and/or start?

This was one of my favourite Style School projects!  It has added so much to my craft space and it was a lot of fun to make.  It has also inspired me to do the DIY I will unveil shortly.  (Soon…Soon…I just ran out of paint.)

I went for the mini clipboards instead of the regular sized ones because they were so adorable and they $1 each! I LOVE the dollar store when things are actually a dollar! hehe.

Here are all six of them together…

 The acetate is actually the plastic film that comes with new cutting mats for the Cricut.  I saved them thinking I would use them someday and I am really happy I found a way to reuse!

I painted the back with magnetic paint instead of chalkboard paint.  I made the magnets except for the large green one on the left.

This is a combination of Project 6 and Project 10.  I didn’t want to sew a saying on a pillow but liked the idea of using a saying as art. 

The “wood frame” is mac-tac (shelf liner).

I hope these mini inspiration boards inspire YOU as much as they have for me!! xoxo