Wordless Wednesday . . . .

Sharing the Love. . . . . once again!

Good Morning, My Friends and Fellow Bloggers!

It’s the beginning of a brand new week, and I can’t think of a better time to post another blog entry along the theme of Sharing the Love!

One of my fellow paper crafting friends, Rebecca over at Scrappers Delight, recently surprised me with the Craft Diva Award for ­­­­­­­style and creativity. Now I have to say, I've never considered myself a diva, but where crafting is concerned, I'm more than happy to have that title bestowed upon me! And I’m honored to have a fellow artisan and craftsperson think highly enough of my various efforts in paper crafts and cardmaking to bestow such a nice award. Thanks so much, Rebecca!

I hope any of you who are reading this post will take a few minutes to check out Rebecca's blog and see what creative and unique designs she herself makes! (And congrats to you as well, Rebecca, for receiving the Craft Diva award!)

As a new recipient of this award, one is asked to pass it along to a few more crafty "divas" (sorry, guys, I guess that leaves you out on this one. . . but I'll make it up to my creative and crafty guy friends another time!) .

So, without further adieu, I’m happy to pass along this Craft Diva Award to the following Blogs/Bloggers, whose talent and creativity have caught my attention, particularly from an artisan/craftsperson perspective. I hope you’ll take a few minutes to visit their blogs and become acquainted with their work. . . .I trust that you won’t be disappointed!

Lisa at La Femmme Papier - You'll see a little art, a little crafting, a little photography, but always something creative and interesting!

EFA Artists Helping Animals Monthly Challenge Blog - More than one crafting diva is represented here, but a visit to this blog is well worth your time! You'll be amazed at the talent and creativity represented here, AND a portion of the sale proceeds from any of the artists' creations are contributed to a variety of animal charities!

Lazy Bone Creations - By her own admission, Lazy Bone "makes cards, drinks coffee, and contemplates life". I discovered Lazy Bone's blog quite some time ago, shortly after I started blogging myself. And from her blog entries, I've watched her cardmaking develop and evolve. I can honestly say that I consider her card designs to be some of the most unique and creative I've seen. Don't miss checking them out yourself!

Pondering and Paper - Also known as NYPaperCrafter on Etsy and Artfire, this talented and crafty diva is another fellow cardmaker. I discovered her blog only a short time ago, but have found it to be an enjoyable place to visit. And I love seeing all her new card designs as she posts them!

I hope you'll take a few minutes to check out the great blogs and enjoy the work of these four special Craft Divas! It's been my pleasure to "share the love" today, by passing along this award to these extremely talented and creative women.

If you like crafting yourself, and might be interested in joining a network of fellow crafters. . . .


Check out Craft Diva @ http://craftdiva.ning.com. This is a free networking site, where you can get to know and share information and ideas with other crafters.

Until we meet again. . . . . May we all continue to discover our creativity within.

Wordless Wednesday . . . .

A Father's Day Card from Harley . . . .

Our sweet greyhound, Harley, surprised my husband Lee today with a lovely Father's Day card! (Well, if the truth be known . . .Harley did have a LITTLE help from me, good ol' mom. But, shhhhh! Don't tell Lee, 'cause he already thinks that Harley is quite a special, indeed, gifted dog!)


This is the card that Lee found this morning, before I even got up. It had been carefully packaged in an envelope with a pawprint drawn on the outside, and propped against the coffee pot on the counter, where Lee was sure to see it as he started his daily routine of making coffee.

And the inside . . . . . .


Needless to say, Lee was touched, and Harley got some extra hugs (and bacon bits) from him today!

Harley is pretty lucky to have a greyt dad like Lee . . . and he knows it!

I'd like to dedicate today's Blog post to all the other wonderful dads out there . .including those of you who are "dads" to furry family members like Harley.

And I would like to wish you all a

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

Wordless Wednesday . . .

BEAUTY is . . . . .

Today was the first day in almost two weeks that we haven’t had rain, usually accompanied by thunder and lightning. (Of course, there’s still time…the day isn’t over yet!)

Motivated by the relative warmth and sunshine of the day (along with a pretty strong case of cabin fever), I decided to spend a little time outdoors today exploring our yard from a slightly different perspective than I usually do.

Harley joined me, sometimes walking beside me, sometimes rustling around in the bushes searching for something of interest, and sometimes just lolling in the damp green grass, taking in the sights, smells and sounds of Spring.

It’s amazing what you notice when you’re open to possibilities and take a look at things a little more deeply than you normally do. . . . One thing led to another, I decided to go get my camera, I snapped a few photos, and the idea for today’s blog post (better late than never!) began to rattle around in my head.

Here's what came of it.

Beauty is . . . .

wherever you look for it.

whatever you want it to be.

found not only in the extraordinary, but in the ordinary as well.

Thanks for visiting my blog!

And until we meet again. . . . .may you delight in the beauty around you.

Gold Hydrant Award!

I can’t quite recall how I first came across the Life with Dogs blog. But I do recall that it caught my attention right away, and I’ve been a fan and regular reader ever since.

Life with Dogs is truly one of the most unique and cleverly written blogs I’ve found in my blog “travels” over the past year. And I think if you’re a dog lover and enjoy a healthy dose of humor as well, you can’t help but be entertained by this fun blog about the "antics" of a greyhound, and two labrador retrievers (a golden and a chocolate) living in Vermont.

The Life with Dogs blog has recently added a new weekly feature . . . something called the “Friday Five”. Each Friday, the writer highlights five other Blogs that have caught his interest, and to which he gives the Life with Dogs “Gold Hydrant Award.”

And guess what! ~ ~ My blog was one of those named among yesterday’s Friday Five! I’m pleased and honored to have my little blog mentioned among these other exceptional and creative blogs.

Thank you, Life with Dogs! I'll be proud to display the Gold Hydrant Award logo here on my Expressive Papers blog.

I hope you can take a few minutes to head on over to the Life with Dogs blog, look around a bit, and also check out the other four blogs receiving this week’s Gold Hydrant Award.

In honor of today’s doggy-themed blog post, I’ve decided to give our sweet greyhound Harley, some air time once again. . . .I’ve been saving a couple of special photos (taken by my husband Lee) for just the right blog posting occasion, and I think today is it!

Thanks, once again, for visiting my Blog. I hope you all have a LOVELY weekend!

Wordless Wednesday . . . . .

Sunday Shades of Blue . . . . .

Lee and I awakened this morning to one of those cloudy, rainy Spring days . . . . the kind that is just perfect for staying home and enjoying some activities that you feel almost “guilty” doing on a bright sunny day! Activities like curling up with a good book, spending time catching up on reading your favorite blogs, doing a little crafting. . . .the list goes on and on!

As for me, I hope to spend some time on this quiet rainy Sunday to work on a few new card designs, something which I haven’t had much time to do this past week. Inspired by all the spring flowers in our garden and our neighborhood, I have a few ideas for some new paper pieced flower designs rattling around in my head, and am anxious to bring them from concept to reality.

But before I settle into my cardmaking for the rest of the day, I thought I’d take advantage of a break in the rain and take a little walk around our back yard. There’s something quite special about the way an overcast sky seems to add to the lushness of colors in one’s yard, especially in the Spring when flowers are beginning to bloom.

During my little backyard stroll, what especially caught my eye today was the richness of the lavenders and blues of the various blossoms scattered throughout our perimeter and patio garden areas. And I was, once again, inspired to take a few photos. . . . . I thought I’d share them with you.





My favorite flowers have always been Irises . . .

And this Clematis is a Spring show-stopper this year. . . . .

A purple petunia, awaiting a more "permanent" place in our summer garden . . .


And some sweet little Myrtle blossoms, making the most of the rain . . . .


Happy Sunday, Everyone!

Wordless Wednesday . . . . . .well, sort of!