Have you ever .............

................ wished you were someone else? We all have at some point. But eventually we come to realize that the body, mind and circumstances we were born with - even if they seem 'imperfect' to us - can all be used to create a beautiful and meaningful life. The choice is always ours - continue to wish - or accept and improve upon the gifts we've already been given.

Ron Atchison

The Mayor of Inspiration Peak

More 'Choice' Quotes The Christmas Envelope

It's a crying shame that I have not been able to produce something/anything original for some time. 2011 will be better, I hope.

Take care and big hugs to all

Denise

oxoxox

YIPPEE ......

...... I am doing my Happy Dance!

This was the card I did for Hilda's LTD challenge some weeks ago. The image was from the lovely June Boy am I rusty after such a long time!

And then having to fight with Blogger and some things don't work like they used to and getting frustrated to the point of wanting to throw the computer into the swimming pool LOL. Yip, I'm a tad short on patience lately.

Anyway, it's good to be back in the swing of things (sort of back, you understand)

Take care and keep creating.
Hugs
Denise
oxoxox

What the ............

.... 'BLEEP' is going on with Blogger?

I have jumped through hoops and loops trying to get to the bottom of my problem, which is I CANNOT UPLOAD IMAGES TO MY BLOG.  It seems that Blogger decided to do some changes (in April, I think) and 'forgot' to inform it's followers and going by the comments on Help, under the query of CAN'T UPLOAD IMAGES TO MY BLOG, are doing diddly squat to help those bloggers who have a problem.  We do seem to be in the minoritory. Blogger's mentality seems to be, 'It's only a few, so why worry, sweep it under the carpet and if we ignore it for long enough, it will go away.'  What Blogger doesn't realise is that those with the unsolved problems will find another platform and their followers, will change and follow. In the long term Blogger will not be the victor, unless they resolve problems experienced by it's users.

The only reason I could Add an Image was by changing to New Editor and going through old photos in Picasa. So any new scans or photos are ..................................... who knows.  Rather frustrating, like I need this.

But it won't stop me from making my cards and playing, even if I can't share and enter the challenges.

Take care and keep creating.

Hugs

Denise

oxoxox







Hi Everybody ...

..... no I have not been abducted by aliens. I am just having a serious issue that I cannot upload any images. Someone stole my BROWSE button in the Add Image window! I checked out the Help section and it seems that I am not the only one. Some have been struggling since September and threatening to jump the Bloggership! This is soooo frustrating and just plain damn annoying.
I thought I was just rusty, not having blogged for ages, but my friend Jaqi spoke me through and I did everything right but still no luck. So what's wrong? Is it me or is it Blogger? Video stole the radio, back to the dark ages?!?!?
Otherwise Life is Grand, the Summer is here in all Her warmth.
Take care and keep creating.
Hugs
Denise
oxoxox

I have not blogged for a while.

No excuses, but an explanation is deserved and is necessary. My blog is and was intended to share my bits of totally random art, share messages and accept challenges. It was not intended to share my personal life.

I do feel that I need to explain the reason for my non-creative contributions and/or non contributions.

On 28 June my Mom of 82 was attacked by a boerbul (a large dog) He scalped my Mom and bit her arm which she raised to defend herself. Her wounds are severe. Thank goodness the danger period of infection has passed. The healing is slow. A skin graft can only be done when sufficient granulation has taken place.

After that shock I can honestly not put the sequence of events into any logical order. Life has been a blur! We are living one minute at a time.

This was one challenge I could not foresee and at times feel, I cannot meet.

My Mom is in severe pain and I can’t take it away or make it better.

All I can ask is that if you belong to any prayer or healing group, please put my Mom on it.

With much appreciation and thanks

Denise

oxoxox

Those who love you are not fooled by mistakes you have made or dark images you hold about yourself. They remember your beauty when you feel ugly; your wholeness when you are broken; your innocence when you feel guilty; and your purpose when you are confused.

Alan Cohen

Inspirational Author, Speaker and Teacher

Difference ....

There is little difference in people,
but that little difference makes a big difference.
The little difference is attitude.
The big difference is whether it is positive or negative.

W. Clement Stone

American Author and Businessman

Take care and keep smiling and keep creating!

Hugs

Denise

oxoxox

I was ……..

…………. Blog hoppity skipping the other day and came upon a blog and I can NOT for the life of ME remember whose (I am sorry) but the essence was, USE your stash, your bits and bobs and cut offs . I had the background (Cuttlebug folder), an ATC with one of Cora's images and a bit of Basic Grey left-overs. Then on another blog (I do remember) – Cuttlebug Challenges - it was using a few different folders and making a sort of white card. BUT I couldn’t just go white, so I dragged a bluish chalk over it, added a bit of ribbon and sanded a rather luminous butterfly.

What with this World Cup Football and family members coming and going and then coming back and offspring having university degrees but not able to find employment, spouse having a knee op and worst of all, someone stole our SUMMER. I do seriously suspect that it’s those from the SOUTH, so therefore, I have not been very productive.

So I’ll BLAH BLAH BLAH back into my hidey-hole and keep cozy with them warm furry bears!

Take care and keep creating! I do apologise that you have to ‘haul my slack’ while I try to locate my illusive mojo! and also find out why the spacing and text on blogger goes totally postal!

Hugs to all

Denise

oxoxox

P.S. For some reason I cannot link to Cora or Cuttlebug Challenges. I do apologise!

Silly ....

............ If people never did silly things,

nothing intelligent would ever get done.

Ludwig Wittgenstein, 1889-1951

Austrian-British Philosopher

Blogger has changed. I can't say my say in Word and copy and paste. So if there is anyone out there who can tell me where I have taken a wrong turning, please do, otherwise, my pics may be there but my words won't.

Take hold of your own life.

See that the whole existence is celebrating.

These trees are not serious,

these birds are not serious.

The rivers and the oceans are wild,

and everywhere there is fun,

everywhere there is joy and delight.

Watch existence,

listen to the existence

and become part of it.

- Osho

Take care all and have a wonderful weekend.

Hugs

Denise

oxoxox

I played ...

.... with a 'cup of soup' box, modge podge, bits of string, tin foil, a brayer and alcohol inks!

It looks a bit like a battle field in the hills at mid-day!

Take it, twist it, turn it and change it, this way and that! It's yours to do with what you will! But please don't abuse it, i.e. don't sell it as your own creation, in any way or form. And please let me know and see how you do use it!

Take care and be good to yourselves.

Hugs

Denise

oxoxox

I know …..

……. I have been pretty pathetic lately. Guilty as charged Your Honour!

Where the time has gone, I do not know. Where the challenges have gone, I do not know. I’ve missed so many buses lately. Like this one from Jeanette at http://jeanette-soartfulchallenges.blogspot.com Blogger is playing silly buggers or I am doing something wrong. I can't link!

When I printed out the image, I got a rather washed out look and so changed the colours and then tried to reprint it and gremlins took over and changed the size too! How spooky looking is this?

I am now going to hibernate. Being an African, I can! See you in the Spring/Fall! Maybe before, then and only if and when I can fathom out what is actually happening with blogger!

Take care all those from the North enjoying the sunshine and those of us in South, snuggle!

Hugs and good wishes

Denise

oxoxox

Lame ...

.... I know and I missed the bus at Hilda's

I am trying to link the challenge and blogger is not playing nice! Gosh have I been gone sooo long that chances have passed me by so fast that only if I become supersonic will I catch up!

I want to do some art but this cyber-supersonic-crap is cramping my style!

I am now going to bed, since it's past pumpkin hour and I am about to turn into a butternut!

Take care.

Hugs

Denise

oxoxox

Missed the Bus …..

….. Yip, I did it again. Thought I had all the time in the world to do the challenge over at LotsToDo

This little ATC didn't make it. I used the background technique from Jann and the packaging tape transfer from whoever originally perfected it. I think there are many 'claims to fame' for this one.

Oh well, I’ll have to try again!

Or, I’ll have to be trying, again and again and again!

Take care everyone and keep creating!

Hugs

Denise

oxoxoxo

Happy Valentine's .....

..... Love is so exquisitely elusive. It cannot be bought, cannot be badgered, cannot be hijacked. It is available only in one rare form: as the natural response of a healthy mind and healthy heart.
Eknath Easwaran

(Unknown Freebie)

I like not only to be loved, but also to be told that I am loved. I am not sure that you are of the same mind. But the realm of silence is large enough beyond the grave. This is the world of light and speech, and I shall take leave to tell you that you are very dear."
George Eliot

(Dover Free Image)

I could not have said this any better or more eloquently.

I love my Hubby, my children, my family and friends and I love and appreciate all those generous ladies out there in blogland. Though we have not personally met, you are very special to me. It is wonderful having an ‘extended family’ don’t you think, I Do!

Have a wonderful Loving Valentine’s Weekend.

Hugs and Love
Denise
oxoxox

I made a …………………….

………………. CARD! I have no idea who it’s for but I made a card! I think my mojo came back with Cora's most delightful young Princess dancing amongst the flowers.

It’s about time, about my mojo, that is! She/he has been missing/hiding/running away/playing hookie/silly buggers/annoying and being down right RUDE! Since when does something/someone just go/disappear, without a cheerio or how’s your father or a word about how long, where, why, when or what? Holidays are O V E R HunnyBun! It’s shoulder to the wheel and/or grindstone time. Translated that means getting back to some sort of routine fun time, creating time and having a blast time. All those in favour, please leave a comment!

And this is my card and my Ramble for the day LOL!

Take care and let’s keep encouraging and inspiring each other. We’re Really All We've Got!

Hugs

Denise

oxoxox

Hail oh ……………………

……. 2010! Happy New Year Everyone.

We are all on the same page ……… yippee …….. THE 2010 page, that is. (Forget that it’s Day 5 of 2010 already)

I do hope everyone had a good festive/holiday season. Ours was family orientated and therefore quiet.

The days of wild parties are over. The old bones can’t take the punishment anymore and for some reason the eyes can’t stay open ‘til the wee hours LOL! Alas, gone are the days when we would party all night, go home when the sun was rising, bath/shower, change and then go off to work. Ah, to be young again. Actually, if the truth be told, been there, done that, got the t-shirt and wrote the book and most certainly would not try it again, any time soon. BUT, what I wouldn’t mind is, to go back in time with the knowledge I now have.

I read somewhere (please don’t ask where, can’t even remember where I put my memory pills) that, words to the effect, at school we are taught lessons and we are then tested – in life we are tested and then learn the lessons.

So, therefore, I’ve decided that this year I need to be a more frequent blogger. I need to be a better friend. I need to respond far quicker than I do. I need to do more challenges and will support those where it doesn’t matter whose product is used and where you have a reasonable ‘response time’. (Some of us, are slower than others ….. hehehe) There are quite a few challenges where one needs to be invited (struggling to understand that logic – Exclusive Club Status?) Can anyone care to explain this to me? I most probably still have a long road to travel to reach ‘Diva’ status! Tough! (Please don’t hold your breathe, all in good time!)

So, therefore (at the risk of repeating myself) I will do what I can reasonably manage, (thanks for the nods up Candace), what appeals to me, makes me happy and excited and can help minimise my stash of paper and embellies, thanks Jaqi Our plan will work.

Here’s to 2010 and may it be the best ever! Keep Positive, Keep Doing What You Love and that is Creating, being Creative and Enjoying.

Take Care All You Special Beings Of The Creative Nature.

Hugs

Denise

oxoxox