Creative Souls

The Awakening of Creative Souls

“Being a CreativeSoul”

 

CreativeSouls is all about the passions so many of us share…Preserving the past, remembering the moments…Random Acts…serving others, living out our dreams, turning the complex back into simple, enjoying more of each other, journaling the good times, and the not so good times…getting back to the basics of the good life… like making lemonade from the lemons in life…as well as maybe lemon meringue pie, lemon drops, lemon oils…taking one thing and turning it into many things, for you, your family and your friends to enjoy. It is not just about scrap booking & paper. 

On the Creative Souls blog, you will find what we hope for you are ways of remembering & creating good things & wonderful feelings.  Things, that in our hustle-bustle, fast paced lifestyles get lost and or forgotten about. We are here to remind you of ... 

”The simple things you already know, you just forget to remember:”

CreativeSouls is going to be a place to help you, remind you, teach you and to hopefully inspire you to create around the concept of Home Sweet Home, Faith, Family & Friends.

To slow down, to take time, to reflect, to remember..to just be.  Be content, be patient, be kind, be giving, be compassionate, be attentive, be aware…be creative…so many ways to just be.

Some creative things to remember...

• Scrap booking, sewing, baking & general crafting takes a lot of time, but our response to that is that you have to make time.  Make time to create…whether it is in the wee hours of the morning  naptime, or maybe the late night after everyone goes to bed.
• We all have way too many embellishments and like most scrap bookers, we spend too much money on little things…
So now, it is time to use those little things to create bigger things and pass them on to others.
• The wonderful thing about creating is “It” whatever you choose to do, can change the course of your day…the day of someone else…and this is where kindness & love come into play…
• When creating, try and incorporate many things together…For example, incorporating biblical verses or favorite quotes onto scrapbook pages, journal writing, or even on a little tag tied to a string….Not only will you be able to reflect while creating, but the person who receives your kindness will also be touched, they may even be inspired to pass on the kindness…
• When baking, make up an extra plate to send of to a neighbor, “just because”.  These types of things just simply fill you with happiness & goodness, and when you are filled, then others are too…It is like the quote about smiling being contagious…it really is…try it. We all need to smile more.  We are on the go from the moment we wake to the second we sleep, and if you are like me, I am usually doing one thing while thinking of another, and my face may likely carry a blank stare that could be misinterpreted as being mad, angry, upset or just blah….try to remind yourself to smile…it takes less face muscles to smile & it is another one of those small things that makes a big a difference

Good news for all you South Africa creative souls....

 

All of Stephanie's downloadable projects will be available to you right here in South Africa in your own currency!

Look out for more of Stephanie's Make it Monday projects on her blog,  my blog or right here on CreativeSouls.

{L}

At last, here are some of our joie de vivre rub-ons in action!

I used the "holidays" set for all the Christmas goodness and cuteness, and the "block alpha" for my title.

 

 

You can color these cute rub-ons in, liven up with a little glitter or stickles, add a brad or two or just leave them as gorgeous as they are!

For the Christmas Celebrations title - carefully cut each letter out separately from the backing sheet, transfer onto colored cardstock, then cut out around the frame (free hand!) and add to your layout.

If you've already bought your own set of rub-ons, we do hope you're having fun with them and would love to see what you have created with them.

You may have picked up from Stephanie's blog that there are a few issues with Typepad and comments. The comments are appearing, as we 'find' them, so please let us know what you think!

Otherwise, email us:

Stephanie: homegrownhospitality@cox.net

Lara: laradave@mweb.co.za

Happy creating

{L}

Joie de vivre!

No, no... these 2 CreativeSouls are not learning a foreign language... but we are "loving life"!!

 

 

 

Joie de Vivre means exactly that in French - the love of life. We love the lives we live, and the paper, and fabric and batter and stamps and designs and colors and textures and embellishments and... and...and... that we get to play with!

 

 

And we love that FINALLY we get to share with you our next CreativeSouls adventure which we mentioned previously. Drumroll please......

 

..... calling all card makers, scrapbookers, paper crafters, friends, doodle lovers..... this is for you:

 

 

 

Our very own CreativeSouls rub-ons designed by Stephanie, born in South Africa, and ready to be shipped straight to you either in the USA or in SA!!

 

 

"joie de vivre " Friend

- cute quotes, special words, adorable doodles - ideal for your friendship layouts, perfect for a "friendly" little card or notelet! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"joie de vivre" Christmas

if you've been as busy as we have over this time, you may have only just managed to print your Chrismas photos - these doodled rub-ons are just perfect to bring back the Christmas cheer to your pages (you might even still have an empty spot or two in your December Daily album!). 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"joie de vivre"  Big Doodles

aren't these just the cutest?! We ALL wish we could doodle like Stephanie and now we get the chance to pretend :) Once you've added the design to paper, you'll be amazed - it looks like a genuine hand drawn doodle!! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 "joie de vivre" Block Alpha

 

a staple for anything and everything!! And look how many of each letter you get on a sheet! No running out of E's with this one! 

              

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So...next question - how can you get your very own joie de vivre rub-ons?! 

If you're in the USA you can just pop over to Stephanie's Etsy Shoppe  and order them right there. If you're in SA then you need to email Lara and you can order them just like that! (SA creative souls can also leave a comment, and we'll email info.)

 

We've both been playing with the rub-ons and will share our ideas with you too. 

 Here's to the love of life...and doodle rub-ons too!!

Love from the American Girl

Good Morning my creative souls people, it is I, the very naughty American Girl who has not blogged in...

I AM NOT EVEN GOING TO LOOK...

I am so sorry for my creative soul neglect...I think I need to get back to South Africa for a recharge!  I know that would do it...once I regained strength from a 23 hour trip over there...

but it is a new year and there are new things on the horizon for our creative souls...

one being a little something that I am doing in conjunction with my friend,  Ali Edwards.  Each New Year, she inspires us all to pick on a word that we will focus on for the year. 

This year..my word is PURPOSE

and when I was doodling my own word, I came up with a splendid idea that is two fold.  Ali does a lot of work and fund-raising for Autism Speaks...and I do alot of work on doodling...since my word is PURPOSE and I am really trying to do everything with a specific  purpose, I am now selling "One Little Word" Doodles with $5.00 of each purchase going to Autism Speaks.

IF you would like to place an order, there are two options.  One is to purchase the doodle in a frame and have it shipped...or...for my around the world friends..you can order just the doodle and it will be emailed to you in a PDF file..that way you do not have to wait for a few weeks...there is no shipping and you get it within a few days!!!

so..if you are interested...you can visit here

www.homegrownhospitality.etsy.com

you can also read a few of my posts starting 12/31 here

www.homegrownhospitality.typepad.com

Please forgive my absence...I am back and really ready to embrace 2009!

Love from the American Girl,

S

Hello all you creative souls!!  Wow!! It's the last day of 2008... are you reflecting? are you making decisions for the new year? planning something big? doing something new?

I am officially still R&R-ing... but just wanted to share something really good, and cute, with you!

Many of you are familiar with Ali Edwards and her "word" for the year (check her blog for more info). Now... my other CreativeSoul half Stephanie is doing something special with Ali.

Check out her homegrown hospitality blog for all the details of the SUPER cute doodle she will do for you of your own 2009 word.

Since I'm still enjoying my R&R, I will do an update of my own word on my "return". And since I am actually still reflecting, making decisions, planning something big and doing some thing new.... I am still thinking about exactly what I need my word to be this year...

Happy New Year to you all!
{L}

 

Blush…

Hmmm, these 2 little CreativeSouls have been a little missing in blogland…. (please forgive us, and please come visit again!)

Yes…life happens, and time just flies, especially when you’re having fun in the sun or in the snow with loved ones!

We, Stephanie and Lara, are still here, still creating, still dreaming up some exciting stuff that we would love to share with you in the coming weeks (and months)!

 

 

December Daily…

But in the meantime, how did project December Daily go? Did YOU keep up? Did you complete the album but still need to print and add photos? Have you included photos but are still thinking about your journaling? Do you have any thoughts you’d like to share?

Steph will be adding her completed pages in the next few days, and you’re going to want to see how busy / creative / homey and hospitable she has been!! My ready-to-add photos and journaling pages are in the album on the left, and I will only get to upload my completed pages in a couple of weeks, as I’m still enjoying my summer holiday here in sunny South Africa!

 

 

 

Hot off the Press…

We have also been busy working on our next CreativeSouls adventure… and we are almost ready to reveal it – yes still full of mystery and surprises!! Want a little clue??

If you are looking for something to complete your Christmas layouts…if you are a cardmaker…if you have a friend… if you are a papercrafter...if you love Stephanie’s doodles (and who doesn’t?)…if you are a scrapbooker…then this will be just PERFECT for you!!

So come and visit us here soon for the big reveal!! It might only happen next year – I love to say that – but remember that’s only a few days away!!!

 

I hope to pop in here when I manage to get internet connection, but we (Stephanie and I) are communicating, playing and creating to bring you some good creative stuff.

 

Enjoy the last few days of 2008 as you prepare for a wonderful NEW year, full of excitement and adventure – we are!

{L}

oh my!

how I have totally neglected my daily December...that is not a good thing, but honestly, it happens to all of us...I do have a rather good excuse, and that is that I have been extremely busy with a special Creative Souls project..and have been a bit under the weather...but, regardless...I owe you all an apology and I hope that you will forgive me!

okay..so let's see where I left off...oh I do not want to even go back that far...for now, I will continue from yesterday...or a bit further back to last Thursday when Ben was reading his bible..about Adam & Eva....so sweet...that was Thursday...

Friday...well, I was under the weather and feeling sappy about the old pictures I had found from years past...and speaking on years past...take a little peek at this girl...

 Yes..This is Me..December 13, 1970.  I am soooo glad that the date is on the back of the picture!  Thank you mom!

a copy of this picture and thoughts from my reminiscing will go into my book for Friday...Saturday I spent in bed a majority of the afternoon & entire evening...missed TWO holiday party's, but felt so crummy that I did not even mind. Ben was able to go to the neighborhood party and was so excited... Sunday..Ben & I painted some ornaments that we had made early last week....we had a fun little time together... 

I am headed back out to the gigantic mess in the ol' Shead-teau..

Happy Holidays...Merry Merry...Hope to be back tomorrow with a fully updated Daily December....

With Love...

s.

Here is a little from Lara...and I will load up her album...

Well... as you can see life gets busy for ALL of us creative souls!!

So don't stress if you feel like you aren't "keeping up" or you're not "up
to date". You're creating your daily memories anyway. Perhaps just jot down
a note or 2 for yourself so that you remember the little things. And... if
you're taking photos daily, these will also be a reminder.

If you "forget" to take a photo, again NO stress. You might have one that
was taken a week, a month or a year ago that will be perfect for the memory
you want to create.

Happy creating
{L}

Day three...on Day Four

CreativeSouls..and minds..think alike.....take a look at Lara's page and recipe and then mine..

"And speaking of insects, I got to play with my Cricut and the Tags, Bags,
Boxes, & More Cartridge. I chose the tree box shape, which folds into the
cutest looking  tree. My plan is do some sweetie (candy) making this weekend
and to fill these trees as gifts for the ladies who come to my scrapbook
classes. Of yes...and of course I will embellish them a little with glitter
and sparkly stuff.

The back of my page includes the yummy recipe. While I can't give a template
for the box, I can share the recipe for the Pretzel-Peanut bark that will be
going inside.

Pretzel-Peanut Bark (not my own recipe!)

18 squares white chocolate (1oz each)
3 cups skinny pretzel sticks (broken up then measured)
2 cups salted peanuts

- Line a cookie sheet with wax paper
- Melt chocolate in a double boiler over simmering water until smooth
- Break the pretzel sticks up into small pieces (not crushed)
- Stir in the pretzel pieces and peanuts, stir well
- Spoon onto the cookie sheet, spreading the mixture out
- Allow the chocolate to cool for several hours or refrigerate until firm
- Break bark into irregular pieces. Store in tins or cute boxes lined with
wax paper

So...what kitchen-made gifts are you giving this year? We'd love to hear
what your cooking / baking / mixing up!
{L}

and then...without knowing, since Lara & I liveWORLDS apart...my page is about preparation and baking...CreativeSouls think alike!!!

here is the photo from my page...

and here is my page:  

Day Two..on day three..

It is proof to you that it is okay to be a little behind...I think by this time of the year, it is normal!  So here is Lara's Day two... and here are her thoughts:

Here in sunny South Africa we don't have a 'Black Friday' for shopping
bargains, and most times we seldom find bargains at all! Tuesday was my day
though! I popped into one of our cost effective home decor stores (Mr Price)
just to have a look. And boy did my eyes nearly pop out! A box of 12 silver
baubles was marked down to R1.99. That's the equivalent of about 19cents US
and just over a penny per bauble!!  I grabbed the only 2 boxes on the shelf,
knowing that I had something in my creative soul that could fix up the
slightly peeling paint. My bottles of glue, glitter and Stickles are ready
as I plan on doing something fabulous with my bargain.

A great way to save money on decorations this year is to re-purpose those you
already have. Give them a fresh coat of paint, add a little bling or a dab
of glitter, tie a cute bow on it or cover with colorful papers.

I'll post pictures of my finished products in a couple of days. In the
meantime, we'd love for you to share your own tips and tricks for
re-purposing or 'altering' older decorations.
{L}

Now, remember...for us USA folks readers...it is Summer in South Africa...here, in California, it is not quite cold..cooler in the early morning and evenings..but I know LOTS of you out there in the mid-west and East Coast are cozy and comfy..and Christmas-y!

and my (S) Day Two...Our house, inside & out is all decorated and we are all enjoying  it, for some reason, more than normal.

I love the way the boys stop at the tree every time they walk by to look at the ornaments...That is one of the many things I LOVE about this time of the year...even as I sit and type this, as Jack as doing his homework and  he is singing along with the music that is playing..."Santa Claus is coming to town" 

The photo on my page two is of a wreath that Benjamin made last year in third grade. It is made from a wire hanger, white plastic trash bags, spray adhesive & glitter and a very not-fancy red velvet bow...and it was the very first thing we put up this year..right by the cheesy manger!

  He was so excited when John brought it down for the attic.  He came in and said "Look MOM!" with a huge smile on his face (and even a little sparkle in his eye!)  I am sure that those are the types of things they LOVE about this time of the year and will remember for a very long time.

Merry Christmas!