What's Black White and Red All Over?

A newspaper?  Well, not quite.  Here are some elegant black, white, and red birthday cards.

Aren't they lovely?

Happy crafting!
-Jennifer Gayle

A Walk to Remember

Currently, more than 5 million Americans have Alzheimer's Disease and that number is expected to grow to as many as 16 million by 2050.  These numbers are just that, numbers, until you know someone who suffers from Alzheimer's.  For me that person is my Nana.  A woman about who the Raleigh News and Observer once said, "While Bosses Come and Go, She Stays in Charge,"  Helen Dowdy served the Department of Community Colleges for thirty years before going on to become the Executive Director of the North Carolina Association of Community College Trustees.  She became the model of associations up and down the east coast.  Upon retirement from NCACCT in 2005 Helen was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, North Carolina's most prestigious honor, by Governor Mike Easley.  

Sadly, what many did not know was that her memory had begun to fail her.  It had become increasingly difficult for her to remember things that happened from day to day.  Within a few years she was unable to navigate the town that she had lived in for most of her life.  Today only her long-term memory remains.  I fear the day when that disappears too.  

To honor my Nana I am walking in the Alzheimer's Association 2014 Walk to End Alzheimer's.  I invite you to join my team, Team Nana, and walk with us in person or in spirit.  If you prefer not to walk consider making a donation.  Your support helps fund research that could delay the day when long-term memories are lost.  If not for my Nana, for millions of others.  

Help celebrate Nana's 84th birthday today.  Visit our team page to join our team, or to make a donation.  Walk for my Nana, your Nana, and the millions of other Nanas who are affected by this terrible disease.

Thank you for your support.
-Jennifer Gayle

Bringing Out the Stash

Like many others out there I have quite a paper stash.  I love finding new papers.  The only problem is that I hate to use them.  But, despite my hoarding instincts, I pulled out some of my pattern papers and put them to good use.  Plus, it's a great excuse to add some more paper to my stash.

Happy crafting!

-Jennifer Gayle

 #overcome

2014 is proving to be a good year of far.  Already I have used this year's mantra, overcome, to keep me motivated.  It is especially helpful now that spring semester has begun.  I am particularly excited to be studying about Anne Frank and her legacy.  It should prove to be a good semester.

Since Christmas I have been working on a set of birthday cards.  I have been given creative license, so it's been a great challenge and opportunity to try some new techniques.  I thought in the next few weeks I would preview the different cards that I have been working on.  Here is the first one:

This is one of several black and red themed cards that I made.  I layered white and red card stock on top of a black card base.  The red stripe is grosgrain ribbon.  The decorative tiles were inchies matted on black card stock.  I was quite pleased with how it turned out.

Stay warm and dry!

-Jennifer Gayle

And the word of the year is...

As the first week of the new year comes to a close I begin to think of the new year ahead and all of the possibilities it brings.  I've never been one for resolutions, but I think the idea of having a word of the year, a mantra if you will, to keep in mind as I go through the year is a great one.  I have decided that my word for this year is 'overcome'.  This applies to so many aspects of life, but I believe if I can take things one day at a time, making those small victories, I will continue to overcome.

The beginning of this week marked the end of Christmas.  I continued the tradition of giving Chris a message to open on each day of Christmas.  This year I was inspired by the song. On each card I stamped a word that represented a gift from me.  I enjoyed seeing Chris's reaction as he opened the cards every morning.

I wish you all a wonderful new year.  What will your word be?

-Jennifer Gayle

A Busy Little Elf

Life has been very busy lately.  I've had a lot of school work to do.  This has been compounded by a super-migraine that has surpassed all other migraines.  You have never experienced a migraine until you have had one in your eye.  I now have a greater understanding for headache pain.  

The best part of the last month, however, was getting to design Christmas cards for two good friends, Taiya and Sandy.  It was nice and relaxing to work on something creative.

A view of my workspace.  I really do know where everything is.

I've been wanting to do something with this stamp for several years, so when Sandy told me she wanted a wintery scene with snowy trees I knew exactly which image to use.

Taiya asked for something Zentangled, so I drew this Christmas tree for her. 

I was really pleased with how the cards came out.  And Sandy was so pleased with her's that she ordered some birthday cards.  I'm über excited about the chance to excercise my creative muscles.  I'll be sure to share a few along the way.

I wish everyone a Merry Christmas.  May you experience the warmth of the season.

-Jennifer Gayle

What A Summer!

This past summer has been a doozy.  I can't say that I'm sorry to see it go.  In addition to the stress of my second semester of grad school I continued to struggle with my migraines.  Early in the summer I went back to see my headache specialist in Chapel Hill.  So far the changes he made in my medication regimen have been helpful.  Except for a few minor setbacks I have slowly continued to improve.

Given all the stress that I have been going through I have been doing what I can to relax.  In addition to my Zentangling I've started to do some art journaling.  It's nice to sit and focus on nothing but the page.  And the best of it is that I am learning to let go.  Normally I would freak if I messed something up, but with art journaling I've learned to go with the flow and figure out how to make it work.

Making mistakes is the theme for this page.  It was born out of a mistake that I made on another page.  I am really excited with how it turned out.

"I've learned so much from my mistakes I'm thinking of making a few more."

The photo on top shows what the page looked like before I added some homemade shimmer spray. I really felt like it was lacking something so I added the gold shimmer.  It's a little hard to tell in the picture, but it really added that finishing touch that the page needed.

Here's to a great fall!

-Jennifer Gayle