Scraps

I found myself picking up a scrap of wood to paint as a RAK.

A Facebook friend said, "waste not, want not."

It got me to thinking...

STOP IT--I know that is nothing new.🤤🙄😛

Are you giving scraps or keeping Scraps?

When we were young, Mother always took the "heels" of the bread, and gave us the good pieces--that is what good mothers do.

She would do without, so we could have better--that is what good mothers do.

Daddy always went the extra mile, so we wouldn't have it so tough--that's what good Daddys do.

He always "walked backwards" and climbed to the top of the tobacco barn, where it was dangerous, so we would be safe. He ate the "heels" of the bread, too--that's what good Daddys do.

We go through life, meeting all kinds of people.

Some people will always keep the best and give others the scraps.

Then we encounter those who keep the scraps and give the best they have to others.

A few years ago, I met a man who collected clothes for others. He told me he went through each piece, checking them, taking only the best to the poor. He told of the trash that was given, with people saying that it was better than nothing for them. He didn't believe this. He felt the poor deserved the best he could find.  He touched my heart by teaching me that scraps shouldn't be what we give away, especially to those with less than us.

We spend this week remembering the events of Holy week. The week where we see Jesus welcomed into the city, riding on a donkey, greeted by singing and the waving of palms.

We then remember the horrible cries of "crucify Him...crucify Him" 

The sounds of nails being driven into his hands, his feet, his side wounded...

We watch as He hangs on the cross...as His Mother and friends watch...as He offers pardon to a thief.

We wait as He battles death so we might live.

It is Friday, BUT Sunday is coming!

God kept the scraps of a broken heart, while He gave us the best --That is what our Father did for us. 

What will you do for Him.

Will you reflect His love in your thoughts and deeds.

Will you give Him your heart.

Or will you give what is left of your time, of things you don't want...the scraps of your life?

God didn't send Jesus to condemn us. He sent Him to save us...to teach us how to live.To give us a new commandment to "love one another as I (Christ) have loved you.."

Love yourself, too.

Only then, can you love others.

The good news is that God can take your scraps and make them beautiful and useful.

Give Him your heart. You will never want to be the same as you were. 

He will make you into a new creation! 

Hey, don't forget that YOU ARE LOVED! 

I am simply blessed to create~charlotte♡

Here is the link to the "ladybug scrap" if you would like to paint it.
Of course, it is created with
Decoart Products.😄😁

Ladybug Kindness PDF Click Here

It is well...

I have been having fun learning different styles and using different supplies.

I have learned palette knife painting. It is fun, but it will never replace my traditional style of painting.

I started these canvases with the intent of painting my home church on them for a childhood friend, but cancer took her life, too soon, and I tossed them aside.

I recently reached a little window of being caught up, so I drug these out, again, and wanted to finish them.

I wanted them to be primitive, and similar to all the palette knife churches that are all over pinterest so I think that I was successful.  I simply used a #12 Flat, and using the dirty brush method, and by George, I liked it!

This is similar to my home church.

I have shared this before, but Mother was a Southern Baptist and Daddy was a Christian, until he met Momma!
😁😂🤣😃

When Mother and Daddy got married,  they agreed to find a church where they both could attend each Sunday, together.

They found Mt. Denson Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

It was a small white wooden country church that had added a basement and a brick wing of 4 rooms.

There was a slab of concrete in front that held 3 beautiful maple trees.

I would play "1,2,3 Red light" AND "Simon Says" with my friends.

The people would gather there, after church and fellowship and share. The left top corner was jokingly called "Amen Corner."

Fast forward about 50 years, and 2 new renovations have been made...the elders are dead, and so, pretty much, is the church. It is a sad thing to watch.

I hold special memories of this church. I try not to reflect on the many hurts.

Mother and Daddy served faithfully, and so did I. I taught many classes, sang many songs, played numerous hymns and designed many a floral arrangement to share on the altar.

I did my best to share the gifts God gave me.  I was taught about service, the Bible, our Denomination, and our heritage.

I made mistakes. Got angry. Said hurtful things. Acted like a brat.

I learned about forgiveness,
mercy and grace.

I wish I had never grown up to see the ugliness of churches. 😔

So, today marks 6 years
since we buried Momma.

It was truly a celebration of her life. We sang hymns, and our former pastor spoke of God's invitation of love.

Mother shared John 3: 16, 17 with people around the world.

She lived Love.

She was my greatest supporter.
Every time I showed her a new creation, she always told of someone that she would like to give it to. 😁😂🤣😃

I have found myself developing her giving spirit. I think she would be proud!

So in her memory, you may have this pattern. I will leave it here until the end of the month.

Click here to download the Free Pattern

If you have trouble downloading it, just send me a message and I will email it to You!
romaland2.1@juno.com

Each day, I am reminded of how blessed I was. I hope you have known that kind of love. If not, let me tell you about my Heavenly Father, who loves you unconditionally.

Make time to create!
It will fuel your soul.

I am simply blessed to create~charlotte♡

Give me Jesus

This has been hanging out in my head for awhile, so those that think my head is empty- na na na na na.😁😂🤣😃

I love my regular decorative painting, but I have to admit, Mixed Media calls loudly for me to #create! 😉

I have shared so many times that I think anyone can learn to paint, if they are willing to put in the practice.

To me, Mixed Media makes art accessible for anyone to create. I am not saying it takes no skills, but it is so wide open, that one can bring their own special talents to it, without having to know the basic strokes of Decorative Painting, or tole painting.

I continue to share my process, in the hope that it will inspire you to pick up your supplies.

Again, I encourage you to USE WHAT YOU HAVE.

I am a DecoArt girl, but that doesn't mean you can't use other things--I just don't want to think about it, though.😉😊😂🤣

To begin, I used DecoArt Decoupage to glue on a piece of tissue paper to a 6 inch wooden canvas.

I used my catalyst to smear Prussian Blue onto the piece.

Now--my catalyst. A fun silicon wedge to move paint around.  Don't have one? Then use: an old cash card, palette knife, finger, or spatula (yep, artists often raid their kitchen!😉)

I repeated the process with Aqua Sky.

I printed a map from The Graphics fairy and painted a "sun". The butterflies that were added, also came from The Graphics Fairy.

If you have an ink jet printer, spray them with a clear varnish before adding paint to them, or the ink will smear.

I glued it onto the bottom with my Matte Decoupage.

I grabbed a sheet of deli paper --yes, it is what they use to wrap sandwiches-- and stamped my saying. I hand-wrote the word "Jesus".

I used stencils by Decoart to add texture to the background.  That is my favorite thing about Mixed Media--texture! 😁😊

The above stencil was used to create the sun rays, using the 4 colors below.

Another stencil I used. My thought with this was direction. That no matter what road we travel in our journey, Jesus is with us. I think the journey is better, and much easier, when we Rise with Jesus.

Now, a lot of what we do to build layers isn't often seen in the final design, but each element plays a part.

It is just like life --we each carry scars and tear-stained lives, but we get an opportunity to heal...to become a new creation. The old is past, and needs to stay there, but we must learn from each encounter. It is part of life to be hurt, but we have the choice to forgive, freeing us from the chains that bind us. We get to SHINE...to bloom into a new and improved version of us!

How cool is that!

Maybe that is why Mixed Media calls for me...maybe...

I used oil pastel around the edges and around the sun.

I also used my charcoal pencil to shade, too.

For some reason, I glued the square of the graphics, instead of cutting around it. Ok, I was lazy, but no problem, I added the elements of the background, and they melded together--oh, a cure for the lazies! 😁😂🤣😃

I hope that you make room and time to create! It will feed your soul and make you a happier, yes, easier person to be around.😉

I am simply blessed
to create~charlotte ♡

Rook ATC

For the love of all that is good,

FOCUS WOMAN!

Rofl

I know I am not alone...

Y'all know how I love a good walk down memory lane...

So, this is another path I took, last week.

Our family was not a game 

Playing family.

The few times we tried, we couldn't get Brian to turn his head away from the TV, even when we put his back to it! 🤤

Before I was born, Mother and Daddy played Rook with several couples.

It was a big event.

Bob couldn't wait for the "ma-freshments"

Mother would make Doo-dads, aka, chex mix,  to have at the tables.

They taught us how to play, and my freshman year of college found me in the grill playing with my Rook partner, Kevin,  as we beat all the other suckas! LOL

I had been thinking about getting some of the cards and making ATCs--Artist Trading Cards--out of them.

Well, last week was the moment.

Now, I wanted to share 

something different 

with all who might 

visit my blog.

I have this passion 

to ensure that people 

think they can make art.

I believe that anyone 

can learn to paint,

 IF they are committed

 to working at it.

I want people to find the passion 

for something FUN in life, 

because I don't think 

we are placed on this earth 

to just toil and pay bills. 

Life is too short for that!

I have shared so many times, 

but because of 

a paint brush and 

a bottle of paint, 

well, I have met YOU.

This week, I decided to pull out my stamps, and stazon ink. It is a permanent ink, and I like that! 

I pulled out a few of my favorite DecoArt Americana Acrylics, DecoArt Decoupage Matte,  DecoArt Premium Americana White and Black Gesso (it is far more grey than black🤤), punchinello, dry wall tape, Black Stabilo pencil, deli paper, word stickers, walnut ink stain, stamps and ink.

I began by putting a couple of coats of White Gesso on the fronts.

Next, I added texture with Black Gesso  (hearts, dry wall tape, punchinellio)

I allowed these to dry completely.

I added a coat of Decoupage to the backs. 

Using my finger,

 I added patches

 of my favorite colors.

I sprayed most of them 

with Walnut Ink stain 

to antique them.

I stamped the images on deli paper to make sure it could be read...I had one failure, but it is ok...I will fix it later.

When you add the deli paper to your surface, it basically becomes invisible.

These cards were all created using Stamps by Tracy Weinzapfel...yep...it has the one I need to fix...lol

The words are a sticker.

The words are a sticker

I used Sandy McTire's Mermaid stamp for this one.

I used a stampendous stamp 

for this one.

The words are a sticker.

This was a stampin' up stamp.

The words are stickers 

These are painted.

The words are all stickers. 

I used my inkpad to ink around the edges.

I gotta brag on me...I love them! 

I started them and was less than impressed, but I trugged along, hoping that a miracle would happen...😁😂🤣😃

I painted the dandelion on Cheryl's birthday. She is my dandelion girl! 

Y'all, please pray for Cheryl as she begins chemo this week, so when we celebrate her birthday, next year, she will be healthy and baking and painting, again.

I love ya, chick.

I can't say this enough--

use what you have.

Create SOMETHING!

Feed your soul!

Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the world.

I am simply blessed to 

create~charlotte♡