Awesome Giveaway over at Alpha Stamps

 

Alpha Stamp Giveaway

Check out Day5 Circus... My absolute favorite so far!!!!

 

Day 5 Circus Giveaway!

Circus

Don't forget to post a note on her blog to enter for a chance to win... 

I can hardly wait to see what's on tomorrows list....!!!!

Michele's Thanksgiving Dinner Recipe Favorites

Chel Marie's Gravy

2 Family Size cans of Cream of Chicken (Campbell’s soup)

2 Reg. size cans Cream of Mushroom (Campbell’s soup)

2 Reg. size cans Carnation Evaporated Milk

2 Tab. Worcestershire sauce

2 Tab. Soy sauce (Kikkoman)

¼ Tea. White pepper

Mix, heat and serve… careful not to scorch bottom of pan… burns easy….

 

Chel Marie's Sweet Potatoes

6-10 large Yams

6-10 large Sweet potatoes

Puncture patatoe's with fork and bake on a cookie sheet covered with tinfoil until potatoes are soft, usually about an hour at 450 degrees. (You can also boil instead until fork goes through potato… again about an hour…)

Let cool… peal and chuck potatoes in a stone bake ware or glass baking dish.  (Be sure to spay pan with Pam cooking spray first so it won’t stick.)

Slice a stick of butter and sprinkle potatoes…

Sprinkle 4-6 table spoons of dark brown sugar on to top of potatoes…

I repeat this step half way through cooking; also spooning melted butter from baking dish over the potatoes to recoat…

Cover with tin foil and bake at 375’ until crispy around the edges… around 3-4 hours.

When finished, I store on top of stove over night covered. Then on the day of serving, I reheat at 375’ for about an hour, once heated, I put a bag of Kraft small marshmallows on top and broil for just a few minutes until marshmallows become golden brown.

You can also add chopped pecans if you like; I add them to a small bowl of potatoes before adding the marshmallows.  Or you can put on one side of dish for those who like them, and those who don’t.

The key is to caramelize the potatoes’, sometimes at the end before adding the marshmallows, I remove some of the butter if there is too much sitting on top… I also never usually disturb the potatoes being careful not to stir too much because it starts to break them up and making them more like mashed then chunks… but whatever you prefer is best.  Enjoy!!!

 

Chel Marie's Stuffing

Depending on how many servings you want or if you’re stuffing a chicken or turkey will depend on how much you make… I will give single recipe for a chicken, I 4 times the recipe for a turkey, stuffing what I can and baking the remainder in a covered baking dish with a little chick broth poured over the top to add some moisture.

1 lb of Jimmy Dean sausage

3/4^th C. Celery Chopped

½ c green onions chopped

Brown in frying pan

While meat is frying, I prep the stuffing mixture.

In a large stainless steel bowl, add

1 bag of Pepperidge farm stuffing cubed.  (When I make the 4x’s recipe, I mix 2 cubed, and 2 crushed)

Beat 3 eggs in a separate bowl and pour over the dried bread cubs, mix to coat bread.

In a sauce pan melt 1 full stick of land-o-lakes butter and 1 cup of water, bring to a gentle boil.

Pour over the bread crumb mixture and eggs, helping to cook your eggs.

Now pour over the browned meat, onions and celery mixture… juice and all… this will finish cooking your eggs.

Add salt and pepper with a 1/8 teaspoon of dried sage over the top, mix, taste… you may need to add a little more.

Note: When I make this for a turkey, I  4X’s the recipe; Making enough to stuff a 20lb turkey with a separate baking dish for those who don’t like their stuffing to moist. Enjoy!!!

Chel Marie's Orange Jello

1 box of Orange Jello

1 can of mandarin oranges drained

1 small Cool Whip topping container

Make the jello as described on package; add 1 can of drained Mandarin Oranges, cover and refrigerate.

Once solid and right before serving, fold cool whip into jello and fruit mixture. Serve. Enjoy!!!

I will be posting more soon... Happy Sunday before Thanksgiving. Love and Hugs Everyone!!!!

1000 posts give-a-way Over at Lenna's Creative Swaps

Lenna Over at Creative Swap is Hosting a wonderful Prize Give-a-Way 

for reaching her 1000 Blog Posts.

.

*****My "Color My World Purple" ATC's happen to be her 999th blog post*****

Hurry on over and post a comment because she's picking winners Sunday August 14th.

While you're there, check out her ATC's and Post Card Swaps. You'll see my latest entry's in her Color My World ...Purple! Swap. Leanna Still has a few more openings for her August Swaps, but you might want to sign up early, for the fill up quite quickly.... Enjoy!!

Roses On My Table Tag Art

Hello everyone.... Last month I became a group leader for Zinnia at Roses On My Table  for the Tag Art Group. The jury is still out on our new name, if you have any suggestions please let me know, we are open for ideas...

It has been quite the experience so far being able to see every one's tags first hand, getting to know a wonderful group of ladies who are so creative and talented. Our group has grown over the last few weeks. We are now 78 strong and building daily, come join us, we'd love to see you there.
 
I am in ahhhh every time an envelope or package arrives, it sure makes going to the mail box a lot more fun... mixed with the magnitude of bills and junk mail, I now receive wonderful bundles of joy, filling my heart and spirits daily, not always an easy feat dealing with so many medical issues. I can't tell you how wonderful it is to receive love mail in your box. With the Internet making it so convenient to send notes and on the spot communication, we sometimes forget how wonderful it is to receive real mail that we can touch, hold, and adore. I can now say I love going to the mail box and receiving packages of love delivered by my postman.

I am not at all amazed by how loving and gracious all the participants of my tag art group have been because... they are all spectacular, loving, caring, generous creative souls whom I love and cherish dearly. These past few months I've received magical, sparkly little surprises of cards, pictures, tags for the hostess, mail art, stamps, unique and interesting ephemera, and a hand painted/signed by the artist piece of art from my Soul Sister Yolanda. All of it has filled my heart with inspiration, love, joy and healing. I am so grateful, thankful and filled with appreciation  for all the wonderful people who have come into my life when I needed them most... Thank you Zinnia, and all the ladies in my tag art group.... Love, hugs and kisses to you all!!!!

Here is a video of our latest exchange we did last month titled: Foreign Language Themed Tag Art. If your interested in getting involved and trying your hand at creating beautiful tag art, ATC's, doll art, inchies, creative journaling or learning a new exciting craft... Check out Roses On My Table... Your going to love Zinnia and all the wonderful creative souls hanging out and making beautiful art. We'd love to see you and your art there!!!! Even if your not an artist, there is something for everyone, I have met so many beautiful ladies and developed wonderful new friendships from around the world, I'm sure you will too!

Foreign Language Themed Tag Art Video

I hope you enjoyed my video as much as I enjoyed creating it along with my tags. 

Here are my contributions to this months swap:

These are the tags I received in last months swap titled Music

Here are the Tags I made for the Music Themed Swap

Happy creating everyone, Love and Hugs!!!

Exciting New Give-A-Way at Willowing.ning

Tam over at Willowing and Friends is at it again.  Willowing.ning.com has recently surpassed the 5000 members mark and she is celebrating. She is having a BIG MASSIVE GIVE-A-WAY for her members, so hurry, there's still time to join in on the fun. She's giving away several prizes including a place in her up coming year long workshop called The Life Book. I am sooo excited for her, the prizes and her up coming workshop. What an opportunity for several lucky member's, not to mention everyone who participates in her new Life Book year long workshop... which she is offering at a very reasonable price of $99.00... Who offer's a jam packed 12 month workshop for under a hundred bucks these days....Tam does, your gonna love her!


Over the past year I have participated in several of Tam's online workshops... I have learn so many new techniques, remembered old ones I had forgotten, met friends from around the world, and sparked a renewed interest in creating multimedia art. There is so much magic, enthusiasm, inspiration and love floating around Willowing and Friends, your bound to be swept up, hugged and loved to death. What a better way to spend some quality time then taking care of you! Her new Life Book WS is all about learning to love and cherish our selves...Something that's hard to do for most of us...So if you haven't visited her Willowing.ning give it a try... Who knows, you may win one of her lovely prizes, meet a new friend, or find something new about yourself. I hope to see you there!!! 

{{{{{{Love and hugs everyone}}}}}}

The Elements of Art Journaling

 

The Elements of Art Journaling

How exciting, A wonderful opportunity for all... A journaling workshop is being offered by Effy over at Wild Precious Studio. 

This 6 week Course starts July1st. 

~*~*~*Sparkly Glitter*~*~*~

The Elements of Art Journaling is going to take you on a journey through earth, air, water, fire and spirit that will help you to create the most meaningful pages you possibly can. These pages will be beautiful. They will glow with your talent! They will shine with artistry and vibrancy and glorious colour!

Most importantly, these pages will be authentically, gorgeously, vibrantly and undeniably YOURS.

The art journal is more than just a collection of pretty pages, right? It is a snapshot of your very soul preserved forever in paint and glitter and kept like hidden treasure up on a shelf in your studio. It is a gritty, raw, love-oozing, self-reflective testimony! It is a dioxazine purple remembrance! A quinacridone nickel azo gold love letter! It is you – all of you – wrapped up in hemp twine or antique lace like a gift from the you of this present moment to the you of tomorrow.

When & Where

Registration is NOW OPEN! The classroom will be held in a private group within the gorgeous cyber-walls of Wild Precious Studio. There will be a fantastic PRE-CLASS PARTY but class won’t start until JULY 1, 2011. After the course is over the classroom itself will remain open for six more weeks to allow for catching up and downloading.

What Else?

The course will include videos & PDF's along with personal attention from Effy. everything you post will get her feedback. There will be a live chat every week for the duration of our ‘chapter’ weeks.

There are six ‘chapters’ but she will continue giving feedback on your work for a full eight weeks. The group itself will stay open for 12 weeks, and all course materials are yours to keep!

There will be 6 projects.  And one of those projects will be an altered composition book journal that we’ll make ourselves to keep all our TEAJ stuff in!

Mail Art ~Postcards ~ ATC's & Current Projects

I've had a lot of down time these past few weeks which has been great for making art. I use my art as a form of mental, spiritual and physical therapy. Even when I'm feeling my worst, I try to do something that makes my heart sing and others smile. Some days all I can do is cut...I've found that having a pair of scissors in every room (bathrooms) helps me to keep my mind off less pleasant things...ie: pain.

I cut up old magazines, broken discarded books, brochures, or other interesting items I find around town or given to me for my many collage projects. I have friends sending me old magazines from the late 1800's from around the world.  Currently I'm looking for anything Victorian, so if you have any to spare, please send them my way... especially anything with flowers.

 I believe that by bringing art into your life whether it's something your doing with your hands, listening to music, playing music, baking, putting your hands in the soil of your garden, or maybe even looking at others art,  seeing art in person, or in a magazine, out at a park or garden, museums, or art gallery's is very healing. It helps us connect to each other, helps us see life outside our self.

On days when I can't go any where, or don't feel much like doing anything...if I pick up one of my artistic magazines or books, I drift off to another place, sort of a mini artist date with myself. A sense of peace washes over me and I get lost in the art either by the act of doing or by the visual of seeing or listening. Cutting for my collages brings me up close and personal with each piece I cut. I've learned so many new things about the art of our world just by cutting up old discarded magazines...  All of which help ease my pain, make my day much brighter, and bring sunshine and warmth into my soul. It helps me to forget about my illness, my aches and pains and see the beauty of our world in a different light. There are even several different forms of therapy utilizing art as their source of healing world wide.

I challenge you to give it a try. spend one hour a day or even a week doing something artistic, something that you love, or something that brings a smile to your face and peace to your heart. Tell me how it makes you feel. Maybe there's something that you've always wanted to try, or something that you use to do in your old life... the one before marriage, kids, mortgages and bills... Maybe it's just allowing yourself to get lost in a CD, or hot bath or with a book that you've always wanted to read but have never found the time.  You can even get in an artist date by looking at someone's blog that gives you inspiration... like mine :)

My point is... do something, anything, as long as it makes your heart sing. Let yourself become a beginner again... let your spirit feel like a child filled with wonder and curiosity. You will be amazed at how it makes you feel. Share your story with me of your artistic adventure/artist date and I will send you one of my post cards...Give art a try!

Sharing my art with you brings happiness to my heart, mind and soul.  

Until next time, happy creating!

~Enjoy~

~♥~

ATC's I've created for my healing art group  here in Port Townsend

Flower Series

Postcards I've created for my Mail Art group 

from around the world

yes... they are going out tomorrow ladies...lol

 

Journal pages

Kindred Spirit Project for Betty ~ Roses On My Table

Betty an artist and group leader over at Roses On My Table is a bit under the weather, so some of her friends have put together a Kindred Spirit Project to help cheer her up. Each of us contributing will send a 5 x 7 decorated front and back page to another member MJ who will put together a chunky book to send to Betty in hopes of cheering her up, lifting her spirits and  aiding her back to health with love from each of us.  

If your interested in sending a page to a fellow artist or if you'd just like to get involved with a community of loving people from around the globe...you can go to Roses On My Table. Zinnia has amazing classes, workshops, art exchange groups, along with other exciting activities to keep your interests inspired for hours and hours... I know, every time I visit her site, I spend several hours admiring the amazing art work posted by Zinnia, her participants and community member's. I end up getting lost in all the beauty, excitement and every one's encouraging words... Making me always feeling better then before I entered. That's what I want to do for you here... 

I would like to put a smile on your face, add a bit of spirit to your heart, inspiration to your creative soul,  and a skip to your step... maybe encourage you to pick up a paint brush or scissors, cut some collage art, create a card or painting, crochet a scarf or dish cloth, bend some copper wire around a stone, draw a doddle in a journal, write your life story, create something out of things you have laying around your house or items you find on the beach, at a park or out in nature... Art has brought so much love back into my heart and life... I hope what I create here brings some joy into your life as well... Love and hugs everyone. Until next time~ Enjoy~

Here is the front page of my gift to Betty

Here is the back page without the attached card:

This is the back page with the card that slides into the back decorated envelope attached. 

The Healing with Art magnet is removable, underneith are hidden charms...

The Love card is one of my designes.

~♥~

My love and prayers are with you Betty, please heal quickly!!!

For Today, Poem and Watercolor by Chel Marie

FOR TODAY

 

I will let my spirit shine above cast shadows, clouds and doubt .

I will be the person I know, love, and want to be around.
...
I will love myself first because only then can I love another with a whole heart.

As my spirit shines and my energy grows, healing begins and darkness ends.

I am a writer,

An artist,

A Mother and wife,

I am a teacher,

And student,

A child of life…

I am one with spirit, one with the world.

I am me…

For this minute, this day, this year, this century…

I will love and honor myself… ♥

May love be with you today, tomorrow, and always ♥

{{{{{{{Hugs & Blessings}}}}}}

Spring Challenge

Hello everyone, where has the month of May gone? It has been far too long since my last posting, that won't happen again. I've allowed too many things to get in my way, silence me, and distract me from what's really important in my life...

It's been a busy, busy past several weeks, with lots of healing, treatments, hospital visits, infections, rashes and too much down time. I always seem to be in catch-up mode... I do try to do something everyday that's artistic, it helps me to stay focused on the good in my life, and it also helps me to see all the love and beauty around me. Sort of picking myself up when my spirits and body are down.

One of the good things about the style of art I do is that I can do it in bed when I'm not feeling well, or while waiting for a doctor’s appointment, while getting my treatments sitting in a recliner at the hospital or just about any place I find myself with a small block of time. I always have my art bag ready to go, and when I'm home, its right by my side. My hubby teases me; he calls me "His wife the cutter." Because I always have a pair of scissors in hand and garbage can on my side. Some days it's all I do, cutting up magazines helps me to keep the focus off my pain and on the page. I tend to get lost in the art of cutting. I had to remind my hubby that he shouldn't say that too loudly, they might get the wrong idea....lol. When ever you hear "cutter" we all think of a person with a razor blade, knife, and scarred up skin. I can assure you, I am a good cutter, no skin is involved. One time I even had to show my doctor my arms and legs because when she asked both my hubby and I what I do to distract myself when I'm having a really bad day, my husband said...."She's a cutter... “Not thinking about the consequences of his statement. Most people wouldn't understand unless they too were a collage artist... We know who we are; we can be closet cutters together.

Here are some of my projects that I've been working on over the past two months when my body wouldn't allow me to do much of anything else. I did for a Challenge on willowing.ning for the Bunny challenge last Easter and then again for the Friendship Challenge in May because it fit both and they were back to back so I kind of got two done for the price of one...  It was also a gift to my son Jake for his 21st Birthday. It really meant a lot to paint my son's childhood best friends for him for his 21st birthday. I hope you enjoy it.

The Story of Hopper and Friends

I'd like to introduce Snowball, Hopper, Mousier and Maui... Hopper was a gift to my son Jacob the day he was born by his Papa. Snowball came when Jake started kindergarten; he didn't want Hopper to be alone so we went on a search for another friend. Mouser entered our family when Jake was in grade school, Mousier was so small he could go to school with Jake and hide in his school bag. Maui came to us 9 years ago; Jake became Maui's segregate Papa. He and Maui became inseparable...I think it was harder for Jake to leave Maui then it was for him to leave his Papa and me...lol.....

When Jake went away to school he decided that he needed to leave his friends in our care until they could be reunited when Jacob finishes college. So this was my way of reuniting them all until Jacob returns home to get his friends...
I was worried that my gift to Jake would embarrass him on his right of passage (21st) birthday, but he actually really loved it, not embarrassed at all by his mom's creation. It always feels so good when you can do something for someone and they love and appreciate you and your efforts.

For me, I've always loved receiving gifts that were made from the heart rather then something someone ran out and bought. It just has so much more meaning and thought behind it. Not that I didn't appreciate each and every gift I've ever received, but my home made ones are truly treasured. I still have a music box that I received in the 10th grade by one of my dear friends Janie, she hand painted the box with a poem she wrote just for me. I still wind up the music box whenever I'm down, it's sure to put a smile on my face each and every time.

I used watercolor on a wooden frame with marker out line and then sealed it a matte spay finish. I also made him a matching card.

~Enjoy~

  I've also recently worked on a few post card swaps, ATC's and Tag art swaps that I've mailed 

out to my friends around the world from Roses On My Table Here are a few that I've recently made:

Do you remember a time when you loved getting mail? When I was young I'd be the first out to the mail box to see what surprise awaited me, I'd even go as far as sit outside and wait for our mail man "Larry" to come walking down the street, I'd run up to him and almost beg for a letter from someone, somewhere in the world.

Then computers, emails and cell phones became our form of chosen worldwide communication and the art of letter writing and cards stopped coming, becoming more and more obsolete... only holidays or birthdays or a rare special occasion would warrant a real card. I wish all my bills would become obsolete, but they seem to continue to find their way to me no matter where I am.There's nothing more heartwarming then to receive a precious card in the mail.

In order to get some nice mail for a change, I  joined a couple different mail art groups, One is an ATC's  (Artist Trading Card) group, another is a Postcard Art group, and the last a Tag Art Swap group... Now... every month I get at least ten-twelve real cards, postcards, homemade cards or small little pay it forward gifts and treasures. It's so much better than the constant droves of bills and junk mail we normally get.

 I'd also like to share some of the wonderful cards I have received in return from my many different art groups. Almost daily I'm receiving a wonderful gift in the mail. It is so wonderful to have a postcard in the mail that is meant to cheer you up, inspire you, or just say hello from a friend from around the world. Normally these days I dread getting the mail with the mountains of medical bills I have piling up. But now knowing that there may be a wonderful gift waiting to brighten even the darkest of days, I'm excited once again.

If you’re tired of just receiving bills and junk mail in your mail box, I highly recommend joining an ATC group or Postcard swap group. It only takes you a few hours each month to make your cards to mail out, and in no time, you too will be receiving little bundles of joy.

 If you’re interested in getting started, drop me a line and I'll hook you up with the groups I'm in, or I'm sure you can put "mail art swap" into goggle where you'll find several.

I have met so many wonderful women from around the world who I now call my friends. We have started to learn about each other the old fashion way... in the form of a dying art ... the written word/letter writing. Let's get back to the basics and start writing letters again. Even if you only do one exchange per month, that's one more letter of inspiration than you're receiving now... give it a try, I'm sure you'll be hooked just like I am. I can't wait for my next set of postcards or tags to arrive; they should start trickling in any day now. If you'd like to be added to my list, send me a note.

This is what I've received so far

Until next time... and I promise it won't take me as long as it did to post this blog. 

Time just has a way of slipping away from me; some days I have to ask myself.... "Where did the time go?"

I hope spring has been good to you, and summer will bring you loads of warm healing sunshine filled with flower, and the gift of relaxation so you can work on some art, write some letters, mail a card or take some time for yourself and enjoy life.

Blessings to all, 

{{{{{{Love and hugs}}}}}}