Time to pull this all together! 30 Days of Creativity has turned into something like “months-and-months” of creativity. I’m wondering how many others have kept up with this challenge. And that’s exactly what it’s been… challenging.

Day 21: Find and photograph one object in your home and create something inspired by it.

Our stairwell. It greets me each morning – and when the sun is out, an amazing amount of light comes pouring in.

I’ve been sketching lines upon lines trying to capture the geometry, but I still want to incorporate some shadowing. So, the project isn’t done… yet.

Day 22: Take time today to thank your favorite creative people for their talents.  Comment on their blogs, Facebook and Twitter.

If you have a little time, visit these sites of goodness!

Mod Podge Rocks by Amy Anderson | Angry Chicken with Amy Karol | Ashley at Film in the Fridge | Architecture at Searching for Silsbee

Churchmouse Yarns & Teas | Share the world of tea with TeaLula

From October 10-12 some of the best stampers are joining together to support and encourage fellow stamper, and former Craft Critique Reporter Katie Renz, who is currently battling inoperable gastric cancer.  If you’re not familiar with her, Katie’s cancer story started just before Christmas last year.  This young, beautiful, healthy, vibrant mother of 3 with her infectious smile was suddenly diagnosed with an inoperable cancer, virtually overnight.  A few tummy aches and then stage 4 gastric cancer.  Her first post about it is here.  The idea of “Swimming for Katie” came from her recent post here.

This exclusive stamp designed by Becky Oehlers is available as a clear stamp, as well as a digis or a dig and SVG cut file.  100% of the profits go to Katie’s fund to help her and her young family.  Her husband Kevin and her three young children need our help and support.  In addition to the Keep Swimming Octopus, Marianne Walker and True =D Doodle Designs both also donated digis that are for sale.  Direct donations are also being accepted.  Information central is HERE.  This is a permanent page that will stay active at i{heart}papers with current information and the full 3 day blog hop listing, as well as the donation button.

Please visit the blogs in the hop today to see what they have done with this inspirational stamp! Here’s mine… won’t you Swim for Katie, too?

If you would like to send her a card, her mailing address is:

Katie Renz

PO Box 5913

Bellingham, WA 98227-5913

**update** Craft Critique will be posting more creations (I submitted mine.) – supply lists and/or tutorials will be included!

Day 14: Make something to give away.  Send a card to a friend or make a little gift for someone you care about.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been busy making a few things to give away. It’s just that time of year: end-of-school, graduation parties, summer birthdays, etc. And, I have all these ideas and inspiration, but there’s just never enough time. For my daughter’s teacher who is retiring, the class wrote letters of gratitude (or poems and just goodbyes). I put their little works of art together with pictures from school parties and their last field trip.

Over the weekend, we also hosted a going-away party for my sister-in-law and her husband who are moving out to the West Coast. *sad face* Really, we are so proud and excited for them. We will miss them so much… thank goodness for video chatting. So, a few friends and family came over, we laughed, we feasted on some favorite foods and bid them farewell. The thing about going away parties (I don’t like saying “goodbye”.), it’s all about spending time with your family and your pals. You could go nuts with decoration or theme, and I might have if there were more time. We just pulled together a few things. My daughter and I wrote cute messages on some vellum that we embossed, then we taped them to some glass jars for homespun hurricane jars.

And for our guests, something to conjure up Washington (state): some Starbuck’s to go, a copy of a vintage downtown Seattle postcard, and my sister and brother-in-law’s new address.

How would you prepare for a farewell party? Share some website loves in the comments!

Day 9: Make a list of creative people you are grateful for today.

There are so many creative people I’m grateful for… look at the inspiration every day just by searching different blogs, but here’s just of some of my favorite people.

Mrs. Moe and Mr. Walter (1994)

Mrs. Moe & Mr. Walter: In the absence of playing team sports, (and I mean I’m really not that coordinated, like you’d be concerned if I were on your team), I learned how to be a team player while singing in a large ensemble. We all depended on one another to make the most amazing music. My high school chorale teachers had to be creative to teach so many squirrelly teenagers, and teach us well. They taught me the importance of listening to others… on so many levels.

Craft Critique editors, Sarah Moore, Simone Collins and Dana Vitek: They’ve introduced me to some of the most creative people I’ve ever known, and gave me a break in the crazy world of craft product reporting.

My mom and aunts: They were my first creative mentors. One of my earliest memories of the family pooling together is my youngest aunt’s wedding. One aunt sewed all the bridesmaids and flower girl dresses, my mom and other aunts worked on centerpieces and corsages. My first introduction to floral oasis, I was eight years old.

The aunties and me at my college graduation party (1995)

Who are your creative heroes? Give them a shout out or a little hello today!

Blizzard 2011 was memorable: kids playing in the streets, our neighbors helping dig people out, snowbanks that are four to six feet tall. But, as all good things do, it came to an end and my husband went back to work on Friday as did most everyone around here… except for my daughter. Little A is sick with the flu, so there hasn’t been too much going on here except for lots of snuggling on the couch, periodic temperature checks and lying around in PJ’s all day for her.

There’s been a lot of time spent in the kitchen these last few days… I need everyone to be back in school and work so I can stop eating so much! We did celebrate Chinese New Year at home, but will have the BIG family gathering in a few weeks… and then celebrated my husband’s birthday yesterday with a homemade bolognese lasagna (Saturday night went out with friends for a grown-up night). The house still smells like garlic and  rich Italian sauce.

Hilarious Product Placement

In the meantime, I’ll be back in full force next week. I’d love to do a little “craft-along” project with whomever would like to join.

Thank you, readers, for sticking around,
thank you for reading along,
thank you for all your comments both on the site and private.

It means the world…

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