GOOD is just fine... PAJWLH

I have been sitting on this project for sometime now. I can't really explain why except that for some reason or another...my thoughts or heart were not ready. Today is a great day to share it.


I made this canvas about a year and a half ago while I was on staff at my second Brave Girls Camp. Even as a staffer, I came to camp with the same openness as a camper. I needed to be there. I didn't think that I could love more women after my first camp. I left my first camp with a love, real love for my friends that I had made there. The kind of love that you know, loves you just as much if not more than you love them. The kind of love that gives, takes care of and treasures you. Yup... that kind of love. I was fortunate that both times I attended camp I had made true heart felt connections that I still treasure to this date. I have always had a tough time maintaining friendships with women and this experience made me forget all of that. Well now I am totally off topic, but as you can tell... these ladies mean a lot to me.

Back to my story...

At this camp, I created art from the heart. I chose words and images that were me at the time. This is one of them.

Let me back track to 6 months before I left for camp...

It was the end of summer, I was in transition; leaving a situation that was not good for me. I was letting go of friends, work, art... a whole lot of things that I loved dearly. Deep in my heart I knew that God had brought me to this place and that He would guide my heart through it as well (even as I write this, I CANNOT believe just how good He is to me and just HOW MUCH my heart is full of joy now) but at the time it seemed like a long and bumpy uphill battle.

At this time, a lot of my close friends were calling me up or emailing me to check in on how I was doing. The most common response from them was don't worry...everything will be alright or you are doing the right thing. And it was all true, everything was alright and yes I did do the right thing. One of my friends phone call is what stuck with me still to this day.

One of my friends who called to check in on me was having a really tough time at his job. For him to call me and check in at this time meant a lot to me since I knew that he was going through his own trials. When he first asked me how I was doing, I said. "I'm good I guess". His response to me was... "Well, sometimes good is just fine".

These words hit me to the core. I couldn't shake them, I could not let them leave my mind. They couldn't even if I wanted to.

Up until I heard these words, I had slowly allowed my life to be taken out of my own hands. I had not realized it yet, but my life had become something I didn't even recognize. Hearing these words reminded me that my life didn't have to be exciting, adventurous, over the top amazing. It just needed to be good. And that was just fine. I immediately felt my heart change. I looked at my situation and realized that what I saw as bad, God saw as good. I didn't know it at the time, but God was working His way toward making a better life for me and this was the first step towards that. I needed to change my perspective on what I needed out of life first and in order to do that, I had to hear these words from my friend.

GOOD IS JUST FINE- 6x6 Mixed Media Canvas

 

 This image shows the layers that I placed as the base of my canvas. Dress pattern tissue and music note paper.

Here is the layer I placed on after, Mod Podge mixed with Smooch Spritz with gold glitter. I allowed the tissue paper to remain wrinkle and sealed it with bees wax.

 For extra flair, I used gold foil on select places to create a tarnished patina look.

 

Here is the title, I textured it with Chip Art embossing tools, painted it with gold paint and glitter and distressed it with pen and ink.

This art piece sits in my studio as a reminder that Good is just fine. My life doesn't need to be what I had always dreamed it to be or as adventurous as my friends lives seemed to be. It just needed to be good. I am not exactly sure at what point the words good became not enough for me, but I have a feeling that it involved me being around the wrong people and listening to wrong things. Wrong is never right, as much as it may make sense... wrong is wrong and we have a feeling deep down inside of us that reminds us when we are confronted with wrong. I have for the longest time tried to tell myself that wrong was ok or maybe wrong wasn't too bad. But wrong always has a way of getting to you... luckily for me, God saw that I was surrounded by wrong and paved my exodus from it all. That little voice (feeling) deep inside of me started to speak up, speak louder and soon became loud so loud that I couldn't deny what it had been telling me for so long. I am forever grateful for this. So many lies, fears and insecurities made me feel that wrong was right, that I couldn't do better... but again God knew better and eventually I learned too, but that is another story.

So for this art journal prompt it is simple.

• Creative - Use texture... whether you build up with paper, tissue, foil...whatever, get messy and build up some layers.
• Prompt - What does the word GOOD mean to you. Do you need it to be EXCELLENT all the time like I did, or is good just fine?

I struggle sometimes sharing some of my stories, but I can't help but feel obligated to share my imperfections and insecurities in hopes that others will know they are not alone. I am not a counselor nor a therapist, so this is in no way meant to be therapy... but art has a way of helping us find truth, in ourselves, in our surroundings... in our relationships. It took me almost two years to develop from this beautiful message shared to me, but I can see the difference in me now and fully appreciate it. I pray that open hearts read this and that you find a story that doesn't necessarily speak to you, but that allows you to see that you are not alone.

We are all on our own paths, some ahead of each other, some behind... but our stories are our responsibility to share in the hopes that we can assist those to further their path in peace, love and comfort.  Judgment isn't always something we feel from others, most of the time it is something that we conflict on ourselves. I pray that sooner rather than later these hurts and fears are extinguished and that life can be lived as it was intended too.

I believe it will ♥

If you didn't get a chance to see this weeks My Craft Channel video and this weeks giveaway, check it out here. For the giveaway make sure to use the widget, you may need to refresh the page to use it.

thank you for your visit today :)

~Liz

A day with the President of the United States of American

It is crazy to think of the turn of events that allowed me to be exactly where I was yesterday. At Colorado State University able to be a part of our Presidents visit.

Here are just a few of the road blocks I faced:

• I didn't have a ticket.

I found out about the event last Wednesday, at which point I waited to hear of the details to plan my childcare around. By the time the details came out on Saturday, rumor was that the tickets were all sold out. As I walked out of class on Monday Morning (the day before the event) there was a campaign lady passing out the last of the tickets right in front of my class... I stopped and grabbed one just in case, what would it hurt?

• I almost dropped my class

I started the semester with 5 classes and each week as I prayed about our family and what my role would be this year, I kept feeling the need to be home and available for my husband and kids. So class after class I dropped until I was left with one.  Photo Journalism. I am not a photo journalist, by far but I liked the instructor and I wanted more practice with live situations and my camera. Right before I had received my ticket for the event, I was in class. It was an overwhelming day in which at the end of class I really thought I was in over my head. I spoke with my instructor, who just happens to be the head of our department and my un-official advisor (I go to him, all the time with my questions, lol). Talking with him and explaining my reservations he was able to bring me back into reality and see that the class was managable. So with that phone call, I decided to stay in the class.

• I didn't have childcare

This was a biggie for me. But thankful to my friends, (my really good friends) I was able to make it, even with just one days notice. I am so fortunate to have friends available to help on such short notice.

• My camera lens was broken

For some time now my 55-200 lens had been broken. It just wouldn't focus or take pictures. I thought that I would have to use my 18-55 for this event. On a heart feeling... I decided to just try out the lens... see how bad it was (trust me, the last time I used it... it was BAD). When I put my lens on my camera body, it worked. I can not explain it any other way than it was a miracle and I am so grateful to God that it worked and I was able to get some great shots with it. If I had been left with my short distance lens I would not have received nearly as many good pictures.

• They wouldn't let us in

We arrived 4 hours early to the event only to find out that some students had shown up from our school and already taken the spots we had counted on. After waiting an hour, the Denver Press Secretary was able to fit us in, but only 2 of us could be on the risers at a time... I didn't care where I was as long as I could be a part of the event. I am so grateful that our team works well together and that we rotated positions allow all of us to get time on the risers.

 

It was strange as I heard about the event with Obama, I knew I would be there for some strange reason or another, I felt it. even though I had given up on the chance to go, God had different plans for me. I really didn't have an urgency to be there, but as the pieces started to fall together, I felt as if I was floating towards where I was supposed to be. Kinda strange, but really cool. It just reminds me that in life... it is best to go forward in gratitude and expect nothing. Good things come whether you like them or not, so just let them come. After so many years of trying to make things happen, with limited success... its days like this that remind me I am exactly where I am, and going exactly where I need to be... just put on the cruise control and glide in. Blessing will come, and blessings will go... but nothing I do will make them come faster.

Being a part of the press at this event was a once in a life time opportunity. One I will never forget. It is surreal to think that I was merely feet away from the President of the United States. Next to me on the press risers were the reports for Denver Fox 31 news and the secret service... yes I said the secret service... the official MEN IN BLACK. It was surreal to say the least.

I have more pictures, which I hope to post. But for now, these were my favorites.

Thanks for visiting today... I hope you enjoy reading about my miracle adventure!

~Liz Hicks ♥

Everyday Creative- Creative uses for Glass Bead Medium (GIVEAWAY)

So it is that time of the week again! A time to share this weeks episode for Everyday Creative with Liz Hicks over on My Craft Channel! Today's show is one of my favorites. For this show I am sharing some creative uses for Glass Bead Medium. What is Glass Bead Medium, you ask?  Well it is an gel based medium that has clear micro beads suspended in it. I haven't actually checked to see if the beads are glass, they seem to me to be more of a synthetic of some sort (depending on the brand), but either way it is gorgeous and sparkles beautifully. Your result is a beautiful clear gloss with a bumpy organic texture, pure and clear and absolutely beautiful... that is until you get creative with it and make it GORGEOUS!

Here are a few of the samples I used for this segment of Everyday Creative with Liz Hicks over on My Craft Channel.

Hope is the parent of Faith (Mixed Media Canvas Board)

 

Here is a close up of technique one I share on the video... For this technique I am using Creative Imaginations products with Glass Bead Medium

Bloom and Grow (Mixed Media canvas Board)

Close up of technique two I share using Clearsnap Inc products! 

 

And our WINNER for last weeks giveaway of Ice Resin and Clearsnap Products IS.....

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And for this weeks giveaway... we have a wonderful giveaway of prizes from BOTH Clearsnap AND Creative Imaginations! Make sure to use this widget below in order to enter into the giveaway (If it doesn't appear, hit refresh) ... There are some fun ways to enter that hook you up with these great companies!

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks again for your support and for viewing the videos that I created for My Craft Channel. I hope you have enjoyed them, and feel free to let me know what you would like to see more of.


 ~Liz Hicks ♥

Back to School Teachers Gift- easy and fun PLUS Bo Bunny Giveaway

 I have a report up on The Scrap Review today! I was fortunate enough to be able to review BoBunny's new Detour Collection.

Now technically, I am a scrapbooker... but my inky painty side always kicks in, so here are a few peeks of some of my projects from my review. To see the rest of the projects, my full review AND a GREAT GIVEAWAY... make sure to check it out here on The Scrap Review blog.

 

I had some product left over so after I finished my projects for the review... I made these little cuties for the kids to give to their teachers yesterday since it was their first day of school. I had to work quick, but I think these came out pretty cute considering the time I had left before picking the kids up from school. (On a side note... making sure that your cookies have time to cool after baking is highly suggested, I learned the hard way)

If you are looking for a fun idea for a back to school teachers gift... this is a fairly easy one and was a huge hit!. Even the kids loved it.

Instructions:

• Make yummy cookies :)
• take a regular size sandwich bag
• Use a 6x6 piece of patterned paper... I used the Bo Bunny Collection for this one, fold in half
• Seal sandwich bag and place the folded crease on top overlapping the bag
• Next staple starting with one side, folding in excess bag as needed, staple other side to completely seal
• Decorate your topper as desired!

This is a really easy homemade teachers gift yet fun too! The teachers LOVED them and the kids thought it was funny that the teachers would have an emergency that required cookies!

Everyday Creative- Custom Resin Gems and casting

This week on Everyday Creative we take Ice Resin a step further and create custom gems for crafting. These beautiful gems can be used in any type of crafting from paper crafting (card making, scrapbooking, altered arts) to home decor, fashion to mixed media art. These beauties can be used for ANYTHING!

Make sure to check out this weeks video HERE... Custom gems and molds... this is a whole lot of fun!

Here are a few projects that I share on the show as well as some close up shots of products in use.

Us 12x12 transparency Layout

 

Here is a beautiful close up of the gem that centers this organza flower... it is awesome to customize your gems any color you desire!

  

Dupioni  Silk Accessories

In this project, the resin gem sits comfortably in a beautiful flower as its center. This hair piece can easily be used as a broach or even as a scarf or purse accent.

And of course in order to customize your Ice Resin... you need some pretty cool products to do so. To color your resin, you will want items that have a similar base to Ice Resin. Since Ice Resin is an oil base, a natural mixer would be oil paint to colorize your resin. You don't always have to use like bases, but it does help to make it easier for the products to mix (something I learned from my friend Jen Cushman).

If you really want to get creative... here are a few of MY favorites to colorize and customize Ice Resin.


Clearsnap makes an AMAZING selection of products that you may not even have thought of to colorize your resin or art materials. One of my favorite techniques is to use their re-inkers to create varying effects. They also make an amazing arrangements of glitters and accent pigments that are a ton of fun as well.

First up is the Clearsnap Archival Dye Ink Refill. This product is used traditionally to re-ink your ink pads... but it is good for so many other uses. When mixed with Resin, it offers a beautiful transparent effect that you can see through. This gives the effect of a semi-precious stone or jewel.

For this Onyx looking gem, I used the Clearsnap Black Pigment Ink Refill. When mixed well, it gives the effect of an opaque onyx gem. Really beautiful.

For some fun, I added Clearsnap Glitter to the resin gem below... Here I used a lot of glitter to give the gem an extra beautiful sparkle.

And here I used the same Clearsnap Glitter to give the gem a lighter sparkle that you can still see through.

 For this gem I used an economy oil paint that I purchased in a set at my local craft store. I wanted to make sure that this gem was next to the next gem so that you could see the difference. In this gem you can see a mild mottling of the color.

 

 Where as with this gem, I used the Clearsnap Pigment Ink Refill in a similar blue color and mixed it half the time than I mixed the black onyx gem. This offered the custom gem to have more of a mottled organic look similar to turquoise or agate.

And with this pink beauty... I used Clearsnap Smooch Pearlized Accent  Ink to colorize it. I used a pink which offered a gorgeous color and yet an even more gorgeous lustre of pearl due to the products highly metallic features.

With this gem below, I decided to have fun and just through some stuff in it :) This is just a reminder of how much fun Ice Resin is and how you can literally throw just about anything in it... This is a product to be experimented with and have fun!

 So I hope this all makes sense to you... This is a fun fun way to explore and experiment with your favorite Ice Resin and Clearsnap products. And of course to pass the fun and inspiration on to you all we are having another giveaway but before we announce that...lets announce our winner from last weeks giveaway!

Our winner for last weeks Ice Resin Giveaway is:

danaAugust 16, 2012 8:37 AM

I have seen this product where i work and am excited to try my hand at it! you can make such beautiful things! just adore the bracelet and the sparkle!so many ideas!

Dana, please email me at primadonnaliz@yahoo(dot)com and I will forward your info onto our friends over at Ice Resin.

For this weeks giveaway... we are going to be having some fun on Twitter! Make sure to use the widget below for your entry!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you again!  If you have any questions... feel free to email me :)

~Liz Hicks ♥

Nutella Rice Krispies Treats

A few weeks ago, I experimented with one of my favorite recipes, the oldie but goodie... Rice Krispies Treats. I attempted to add Nutella to give my buttery friends a nice toasted hazlenutty chocolate flavor. Unfortunately the results were well...not so good. The marshmallows I had used were not as fresh, and the Nutella had been in the fridge so it was hard to melt. Needless to say, we ended up with some tasty bricks that we still ate, although it took us about a week to finish them.

 I looked at the ingredients that I originally used and decided to re-work the recipe, after all this was way to good of a possibility to pass up. I mean seriously, have you ever heard of anything sounding better? The final recipe was worth passing on to friends, since unlike the last batch... these puppies only lasted hours and everyone was very happy with them!

So Here is my re-worked recipe that I do have to say... I pretty tasty.

Nutella Rice Krispies Treats

ingredients: 

• 4 Tbl. of Butter
•  3 Tbl. of Nutella
• 40 large marshmallows
•  3-4 cups of Rice Krispies (use 3 add more if moist)

1.  Melt butter on medium heat
2. Add Nutella and mix completely. Make sure to continue to stir as the Nutella will want to stick to pan
3. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted, turn down heat if needed
4. add rice krispies and mix thouroughly
5. press mixture into greased 8x8 pan

And for fun, I made a cute recipe card for you to print up. It is a 4x6 card. If you would like it, just click on the picture of the recipe card and right click and save :)

Tips for those using this recipe (probably no brainers, but stuff I had to learn the hard way):

• Use fresh marshmallows  (not some that you had left over from a bonfire... like I did)
• Use regular rice krispies (not chocolate because it is what you had on hand... like I did)
• Use room temperature Nutella (not stuff that was out of the refridgerator and COLD... like I did)
• Add rice Krispies as you desire (not the full 4 cups as the original recipe said, again... like I did)

I think with this recipe, and the tips above... you will find some beautiful treats that will melt in your mouth :)

Enjoy!

~Liz

Pleasant Surprise...

Every once in a while... I get a fun little email from friends using the products that I have licensed or created. Last winter I released a beautiful Alphabet Stamp Set through Unity Stamp Company. Our friends Angela and Christian are the owners and when I was getting ready to teach at an upcoming event, they helped me out by creating these stamps from my designs. 

The other day, My Instagram friend Angie Blom posted a picture of some of her cards using the stamps and it just made me so happy to see the beautiful colors.

If you would like to see more of Angie's work... check out her blog My Scraptastic World. Angie is
currently designing for Unity Stamp Company, Authentique Paper  and Creating is Fun. 

I love love love seeing these stamps in action. I haven't done a whole lot of licensing work since I have been busy with school, so it is such a treat to see these in action. Thank you Angie for sharing them!

If you have any projects using these stamps I would LOVE to see them and share them with everyone... just email me at primadonnaliz@yahoo(dot)com.

Thanks again Angie!

~Liz ♥ 

Forgiveness- Sweethaven Homecoming with Courtney Walsh PAJWLH

So it has been a while since we have had an art journal prompt for PAJWLH (progressive art journal workshop with Liz Hicks). I think it is time to start it back up again :)

When I started this free art journal workshop, I had imagined it being my own creative prompt to art journal along with you all. I never realized just how much it would effect me. This first part of the year has been really tough on our family, we have had to hold strong and tight together and each stand strong for another at different times. So with this being said, I had to take a step back from blogging and art journaling as a whole. It wasn't really a choice, more of life taking me and forcing me to other directions. Through it all we have to remember who we are responsible for and ultimately, they take priority, always.

One thing that is a common theme and that we spoke of often in the first part of our art journaling prompts is relationships and being hurt. It happens. All the time, with even some of our favorite people. We get hurt, and we hurt each other. It is part of being human, imperfect... we can't always communicate effectively what our hearts are trying to say. This is something that we have been working on as a family during this last few months. Having three small kids and two adults in the house, it is inevitable that at some point someone in the house will be hurt and the rest of us have to ban together to help the healing process.

Through it all, hurt, jealousy, pain, heartache, miscommunication or anything else along this line... the one thing that has helped our family stay in line with what we know to be true is to remember who we are deep down inside and to hold true to what we stand for. In all things this is important especially when dealing with others. Forgiveness is a part of this process. In order to heal, forgiveness is essential. This is where holding true to yourself comes in. If you remember who you are, what you stand for and what is more important to you, more than anything else in the world... you can remember your way out of your situation. Holding true to your deep down values allows you to remember who you are, what you know to be truth and ultimately forgiveness will eventually makes its way center stage. Forgiveness is contingent on holding strong to truth, not double guessing or questioning who you are, and still standing tall. I hope this makes sense...

With that being said, as a family we hold tight to Peace and Joy. Peace is priceless... It has taken me till this year to realize that peace was in the palm of my hand, yet I hid it in a drawer. JOY... joy is free. Joy is allowed, it is available, it is right there where you are. It is a hard lesson I have had to learn, but I have learned it, and I can say it is beautiful. So this is my sign, to remind me what I value...even when the world may turn sour, friends betray, or life just doesn't add up. These values are step one towards healing and working towards forgiveness.

I would like to thank my dear friend Courtney Walsh for inviting me to be a part of her Book Debut Blog feature. Even though she now lives 1500 miles away... I still hold her dear to my heart and am so grateful to be a part of this. Make sure to check out the wonderful PRIZES that she has up for grabs in her Sweethaven Scrapbook Challenge!

Peace and Joy 8x10 canvas Board

 

 

 

This is an on going lesson that I think we all learn at some point. I am glad to be on my way. Holding on to what I know to be priceless. 

So for today's prompt here we go:

Prompt: Forgive... take that first step towards understanding what you need to do to let go. Hold on to what you know to be true, let go of what you know to be false.

Here is a color combo selected from the above art piece I created for this prompt. If you would like a creative prompt as well Here you go:

     Use the colors below in a creative way. You can use paint, but try and find the colors below in your papers, inks, fabrics, trims... in something out of the ordinary.

 For those of you who were not around this past week, I launched My Craft Channel Show- Everyday Creative. To honor that... the wonderful girls over at Ice Resin are offering up a giveaway. Check out this post here for the details. This show will air every Tuesday, and each Tuesday I have asked some of my favorite manufacturers that I used on my videos to join in the fun with a giveaway. There is a ton of fun to be had, I hope you will join us.

Here is a picture of this weeks giveaway. Make sure to follow this post for the details.

 

I am looking forward for life to settle down... I am hoping that this is the season of rest for myself and my family... we could really use it.

Thanks again for your support,

~Liz ♥