Day 12:: The {21} Challenge & weekend warriors

Day 12: Wow. It's another weekend. It seriously seems like yesterday I was posting about our first weekend & how difficult it would be! But, LOOK! Here we are...our 2nd weekend. &....we are weekend warriors. We can do this. It will take courage & perseverance....

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Today's quote: "Courage & perseverance have a magical talisman, before which difficulties disappear & obstacles vanish into air." John Quincy Adams

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*magical* i love that word during this challenge. love.

It makes me feel like I have a magical power within me...that I can do anything. Like super powers! And with the courage & perseverance of this weekend...the difficulties & obstacles WILL disappear. We just have to stay strong & work hard!

Are you with me? We are at the end of our 2nd week...on Monday it will be our 3rd week. We've come this far...it's not worth it to have all of the hard work, courage & perseverance go to waste, right?

Let that magic shine through, 21ers!

Happy Day 12!
R

P.S....so fun to get over to Oh Sweet Sadie & meet lots of you there! (hi Staci & mom!) Dani & Heidi are Spark girls...can't wait! Locals...if you haven't been there...GO today! It's awesome! They are open until 8 pm.

soldered pendants from The Pink Chandelier
these cool nursing covers that are so soft: Keiki Kovers
Tribal Jewelry has fab stuff...I'm in love with their cuffs
And..if I could eat this stuff, I would devour it...it's packaged so cute, too!


then...we popped on over to the Garden of Art show! Lauri is another Spark girl & we loved meeting her there...& even more local artists!

Thelma's Handmade had THE coolest felted bags & darling owls I want!!!!
& Robin Wade's whimsical jewelry was unbelievable....so unique!

It's going on until tonight at 6pm. Jump on over..you won't regret it!

P.P.S
the '21' is correct. I designed it with the whole '21' in mind..so, no. the 12 is not switched on accident.
it's purposeful. *wink*

5 dollar friday at House of 3

today, at House of 3. check out more of what we've got at the Inspiration House, too! Janet's done a fast, fab, halloween box!
& Heidi has some more fab boxes to give away at her blog...run on over!
R

Day 11:: the {21} Challenge & Cards for Kate Card Drive

Day 11: Our halfway mark! We are on the right track! coming to the end of our second week! You've come this far...do NOT give up! Every time you feel weak, just think of this quote:

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"In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure." Bill Cosby

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Desire. It's all about desire.

How badly do you want this?
How strong is your desire to succeed on this?

It has to be stronger & greater than your fear of failure...so, go forward! Be positive. Believe you can do it! I KNOW you can...trust me. If I can go off of my daily diet pepsi(s) & daily candy....(& oh how I love & miss it!) then YOU can accomplish your goals! Our lives are so precious & each day we can either move forward or move backward.

Let's choose to move forward!

Together!

**Speaking of together...look what many people are doing together to help out Kate.
House of 3 is part of the prize donations & I'm excited about the card I made & am sending on over to Jennifer, too! Thanks so much Kristina, Jana & Jennifer for working together & bringing lots of love to this sweet family!
If you are interested in getting involved & sending a card for the drive...go HERE for all the info!

Thanks & happy Day 11!
R

Day 10: The {21} Challenge

Day 10: We are in double digits, girls! 10 whole days. You are living in the present; looking to the future. Imagine it. Day 21....how will you feel? *** I get goosebumps just thinking of all the GOOD that is happening right now!

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Today's Quote: " Live out of your imagination, not your history." Stephen R. Covey

So...the days before the {21} Challenge?... they are in the past. They are history. Let it go. Don't think about your history...you are making history NOW by breaking or making an habit!

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LIVE out of your imagination. Take action. LIVE your best life today. I truly believe that we can live our best life as we are trying. learning. growing....and going out of our comfort zone to do what we know is our best, we can become what we know is our best self.

Ask yourself these questions:
Do I know what my best self looks/acts/thinks like?
Have I ever lived a day as my best self?
Do I know what living as my best self feels like?

Do you?

I hope during these 21 days you can answer:
Yes. And I am living it right now. It feels great.

Now...on to the winner from yesterday! I have a fabulous book from Compendium I'd love to send....LISA G!!!! Send me your addy & I'll send you the Gratitude book! Perfect plain or for altering, adding any House of 3 art journaling to it or, of course, the {21} Challenge!

And...questions to the answers...strike that. reverse. answers for the questions.

Q: How can I add the {21} Challenge badge to my blog?


A: To wear your badge proudly, *Click on the {21} Challenge badge on my sidebar & save image on your desktop.

*Blogger/Blogspot: Go to Dashboard>Layout>Add Gadget>Configure Image. Add the image & then put the link to this blog.

*Typepad: Go HERE for more info.



Q: Tell me more about your creativity exercises?

A: In 2006, during the first few rounds of The {21} Challenge, I was really struggling with creative ruts. It seemed like I was in a rut more often than not. And as a designer, I just couldn't afford it. So I started these exercises. every day. They have become a habit for me & I really do it out of habit now. It's part of my daily routine for 3 years. And guess what? It helps me so much. I have ideas coming out of my head faster than I can execute them. I'm overflowing & I haven't been in a rut for a long time! (knock on wood)

So, I decided to share my exercises with anyone that needs them. (Available on my website here. ) And it's perfect for anyone. anywhere. all over the globe! A workshop for you in your home!

If you already have a great creative mojo going & you are comfortable with your process & don't get into ruts..this isn't for you.

But, if you feel like you need that little creative boost I've got 100 ways for you to kick it up a notch. The key is: consistency. Just like any exercise program, if you do it consistently you will see results. I can't tell you how long it will take to see the results because all results vary *wink* but, it will work!

Q: I missed the beginning, can I still join in?

A: Absolutely! You can join in anytime! Simply start from Day 1 & track your progress. Please keep commenting on this blog & other 21ers so we can give you the support you need! Trust me, when you feel like you have a bunch of awesome people behind you...it gives you strength! Just be sure to let me know so I can put you on the side bar links!
**and...if I've missed anyone, please let me know!
Q: Can I print out the quote & word art?

A: YES! That is exactly why I offer it...for YOU! To inspire you creatively & motivate you! Simply click on the image so it takes you to the larger image, then save image to your desktop. They are JPG files which means they can be opened in almost any kind of printing program. If you have a:

1. Word program; simply insert it as a Clip Art image & print.
2. Photo Editing program; simply open it & print.

The files are about 3-4" big, so don't expect huge images...they are just the right size for an art journal!

**Note: These images are for personal use only. No resale, no sharing (just send them on over to my blog to get the art for themselves), no manipulating & calling it your own. Copyright still applies. Please play nice! And...proper credit to my art would be soooo appreciated, too! Thanks!
Q: I want to use the word art over photos. How can I get rid of the white in the JPG file?

A: Great question! This is a little more advanced & can be done in a Photo Editing program like Photoshop or Photoshop Elements. In order to do this, you'd make your own brush out of the word art.

1. Open your JPG image to create your brush.
2. Go to SELECT>ALL.

3. Go to EDIT>DEFINE BRUSH. Name your brush when the box prompts you.
Voila! You've created a brush!

See this tutorial for more information on brushes. Again, please give proper credit to the art! Smooches!

Happy Day 10! Just think: tomorrow is our half way mark!!!!
R

P.S. All you locals...come to see our Spark table at Oh Sweet Sadie Art & Gift Show today, tomorrow & Saturday!

Did you see the House of 3 Heart box?

If you aren't on our newsletter mailing list...run on over & sign up. The heart boxes are so fantastic. I seriously can't get enough of them. We are running a special: only $14.99 or 5 for $50! (trust me, you'll want more than one!)

These hearts are missing something: YOU!!!
You put your creativity, your style, and your "heart" into them... and they become beautifuL!

hearts ready for creativity!
ready for color!
ready for life and love and joy!
fill them..

We've been busy working on lots of inspiration.
check this cute Halloween one out! Heidi is giving 3 of them away over at our Inspiration House! Hurry!

R
P.s. I have to confess 21ers. In an attempt to have a treat tonight, I grabbed a pack of gummy vitamin c slices, thinking they were glucose. I ate them (they tasted so good.) And THEN, I looked at the ingredients...
it had stinkin' organic cane sugar in it! arrggghh! I feel bamboozled! :(
Oh well...I'll pick myself up. Dust myself off. & continue the journey!

Day 9:: The {21} Challenge

Day 9: 1 week. 2 days. How are you doing? Are you still enthusiastic? Are you still on fire? Are you still working at it? You've come 9 days...do NOT give up! We can do this! I love hearing about your experiences!

Dee Dee..I love how you took yesterday's quote about creativity & tailored it to your {21} Challenge! WTG!
&
Lisa...you are feeling it getting easier...that's FABULOUS! You are feeling the enthusiasm!

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Today's quote: "Flaming enthusiasm... is the quality that most frequently makes for success."
Dale Carnegie

Yes. Flaming enthusiasm! I love what these words evoke! Not merely a little enthusiasm..but, flaming! On fire! We are on fiyah, girls!

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So, share your enthusiasm today. Share your Spark. Share your fire!
Check in here today & tell us HOW you are doing! I've got a prize for one of you 21ers!
:) (and, if you have any questions, please ask now. I'll answer them tomorrow!)

Happy Day 9!
R
P.S. finally got some pix taken of my journal....wanted to share.Here's part of my {21} Challenge art journal. I took the HOPE journal from one of my faves: Compendium. It's a blank journal for the most part, but I put a piece of decorative tape on the front, the silver is one of our new House of 3 rubons included in the new Heart Box kit & they rub on like buttah...seriously! LOVING them! And, on each corner of the page in the journal there is:
HOPE every day.
I love designing the word art, but as I'd mentioned....I wanted to do something different this time & add just a WORD. a prompt. a catalyst to kick it in high gear. So, I have been printing out just the word art on clear sticker paper, cutting it & putting it right in my journal.
Some days I have more time. So, some of my creativity exercises are longer & more in depth.
Other days, as shown here, I don't have much time....maybe 5 min. tops. BUT>>>I still do my creativity exercises, create something in my {21} Challenge journal & keep myself going!
I love seeing everyone's take on the challenge & what works for them...very creative! kudos!

Day 8:: The {21} Challenge & the photoshoot

Day 8: Here we are...headed into our 2nd week. We have 1 week under our belts. We've done great...maybe a few slip ups, but nothing to give up on, right? RIGHT!

We are overcoming fears. We are kicking up our creativity by creating everyday...in our own ways. And....with or without knowing it...we are losing or fears. We are getting out of our creative ruts!

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Today's quote: "To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong."Joseph Chilton Pearce

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Ok, so up until this journey...we've been living with our bad habits...or lack of good habits. We haven't been living the life of our best self. But now, with each day...we are re-programming our brain. We are creating new habits & breaking old. We are learning to live a creative life...

...without the fear.

"You may think you don’t have talents, but that is a false assumption, for we all have talents and gifts, every one of us. The bounds of creativity extend far beyond the limits of a canvas or a sheet of paper and do not require a brush, a pen, or the keys of a piano. Creation means bringing into existence something that did not exist before—colorful gardens, harmonious homes, family memories, flowing laughter.

What you create doesn’t have to be perfect. " D.F. Uchtdorf

So...as we live the creative life...give up that fear of having to be perfect or right. Lose it. Do not let it in your mind. It doesn't have to be perfect, but whatever it is you create in your creative life....remember: you did it. It is something you have accomplished.

I love that.

Truly... creating something everyday brings me so much joy & fulfillment. And when people ask me if I have creative ruts...no. Very rarely do I, because I am learning to let go of fear. I focus on living a creative life & doing my creativity exercises. every. day. I figure it's preventative measure, LOL! So I can live the creative life. daily.
Speaking of living a creative life...Heidi & I went out yesterday & did a fun photo shoot for our new House of 3 product..these heart boxes. Be watching...we are getting ready to show these kits off in so many creative ways...we are having so much fun!

And...today...another Spark planning meeting. We are loving this journey...so excited about it! Locals...do all you can to come & join us...it will be amazing! Everyone else...we'd love to have you, too!

Have a fabulous Day 8.
R
P.s....I added all the names of the 21ers on my side bar...check & make sure you're on there. If not, LMK & I'll add you. This is a great way for all of us to keep supporting one another through our journey!
PPs...for a House of 3 haunted treat...check out these images for some FUN decor ideas...my little sister never ceases to amaze me! Well done, Amy!