Not sure what the future holds. . .

I am not sure if I will continue this blog in the new year, but I did want to keep it up since there were many good ideas and how to's over the years of blogging.
It all comes down to the age old question of time management.  Do I have the time to put up quality posts?  We'll all have to see what the new year holds.
For many of you wondering what I've been up to for the last year,
1. Work
2. Art journaling attempts
3. This young pup joined the household around the time I stopped blogging.

Please take care and have a great new year!

Happy Halloween! What's Been Keeping Me Busy!

Hello all!
I was hoping to get into a more regular blogging schedule, but my old frenemy bronchitis decided to zap my energies.  So it is, you sometimes have to get sick to remind us to be thankful when we are well!

I have been spending a bunch of time making things for work.  I did quite a few projects off pinterest and here are just a few of the ways I've been spending my time.

 Medicine bottles made from a variety of cast off materials and free printable labels from the internet.  Seriously just google the words Halloween Potion Labels and you'll find tons!  I ended up making about 10!

 I tried my hand at making some fun postcards to send.  I think they turned out petty well.

 Various cards and postcards with Halloween theme.  Sorry about the pic, it looked better on the camera.

Finally a bat wreath. It goes great in the new craft space, which I will unveil very soon!  It just needs some touch up paint. 

I also made some mummy jars, a voodoo doll, a potions mixing vase, bat garland, and shadow boxes for the wall.

I hope you got crafty!  After all it is TRICK or treat!
My Best,
-Becky
 

Weekend Projects

There are so many project I see on-line that I would like to do, that it is sometimes paralyzing.  When I get to those points, I try to step back and think of how far I have come in the years since I started the blog and tried me hand at collaging and mailart.
I have evolved from middle school level artistic skill, to somebody who feels they could start an Etsy shop and actually sell something, but won't due to time constraints.  But I feel as though I could!   And having some confidence in my own artistic interpretation of life is over half the battle. 

paper, washi, rub-ons, stamps, inks used.

 My style is still repurposing a variety of materials often tossed.  Or mixing inks and papers to create things.  I still cannot draw very well, and my painting is basic, but I try nonetheless every weekend and most nights to make something somebody else will love.

A wrapper from a Chocolate bar.

 A little glitzy for my normal style, thus the glare. 

2 envelopes made from an ad in a fashion magazine.  I wish I hadn't stamped the quote on the upper one, but I will probably cover it with a label instead.  Surprisingly the lower one I liked better.

Keep trying to create!  It will get easier as your brain lets go!
-b

Where Was I?

Hello all!
I hope many of you are still out there and patiently awaiting my return.  I hold no grand designs that whether I blog again or not will make or break your day, nonetheless it is nice to be missed. 
So the question on your mind might be where did I go?
The honest answer is I needed a break.  I had other areas of my life that required my energies and letters and even creating had become a chore.  All the pen pals and postcrossings were neglected most of the summer.  I just needed space to breathe.  And think. 
~Insert deep breath here.~
When I made the determination that I wanted to continue to blog, and I truly did as I know it touches lives.  I occasionally get emails or notes from folks saying they saw something here and it resonated something within them.  Those comments are some of the biggest compliments I could ask for. 
In my mind floated the questions of what would I say?  Which direction did I want to take?  Mail was a topic I have warm affections for but was it my singular passion?
The answer was no.  Mail and I have a comfortable affection for each other, but I needed to jump into other hobbies and hope it will reignite the burning passion I once had for stamps and missives that carried words around the world. 
Therefore, future posts will revolve around things that make me want to create!  Things that inspire my soul whether they be tangible or not.  To start I overhauled some of the old blog links that were defunct and added some newer offerings. 
Expect art, crafts, a variety of mediums used, videos, and maybe quotes or poetry that somehow affect me.  To start, definitely check out this link on flat greeting cards that fold out into paper jewelry and let your brain imagine!

Photo borrowed from AllAboutPaperCutting.com  Link to lower right.

 

Question: What Are Your Inspirations?

Hello all!
This weekend, I was looking at taking my collage techniques to the next level.  I often enjoy being in a creative environment and learning from others.  I thought I would look into classes or magazines where I could find ideas, not that I don't have enough floating around in my head, but I was never trained in arts and have questions about many medias and techniques.
The magazines look really cool, but many where close to $60 for 6 issues, therefore I will have to par down my want list to match my budget.  So I toss this out to you all, what magazines, sites, or classes are you taking that inspire you?
Any YouTube channels that you have found particularly helpful?
Inquiring minds want to know!
-b