I was in a very magical mood when I painted this picture. I love mushrooms--not the kind people put in food- but the cute shrooms that grow in the grass, or on an old tree stump. They could be so many things--umbrellas for little critters, homes for even smaller critters, or why not a lamp for children at play after dark?

This little girl is on a walk in the darkness (could be night, could be symbolic) and her little light is shining, lighting the way. Shining for others to see.

Psalm 18:28 "You, LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light."

Matthew 5:16 "In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven"

Psalm 119:130 "Your word is a lamp for my feet a light on my path Lamp Unto my feet.

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Embellished (girl) This Little Light of Mine 5 x 7 Cradled Board

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When people see my geodes, they often ask me how I make them,

or what are they made of.

Next I add a little paint at the bottom to make the color darkest here.

Then I add the big “crystals”.

So I thought I would explain how I make one.

I always start by priming a 4” disc—in this case it is a papermache disc that is very wood-like.

Then II build up the base by adding some light Golden molding paste. I build the edges up high and taper it down to the center.

The light molding paste helps to keep the weight down—although the end result has some good weight to it from everything that I add to it.

And a lot of gel medium to glue them down! I also add some embossing powder and glaze around the bigger stones and heat-set that in place. Then come tiny beads, and possibly glitter, and Ranger Stickles which is like glitter glue but more awesome :)

Making 4 at a time cuts the time it takes per piece down by about an hour!

Now I add lighter colored crystals and more beads and Sticklers and another are of embossing glaze and powder to build up almost to the edge. At the top of the edge I add clear crystal beads since this is where a natural geode has it’s lightest crystals, and the darker in the center.

And then The Big Finale, which is quite time consuming. The edges and the back. I use a sand medium at first, and then add a mix of glitter, embossing powder and embossing glaze to get the color I want so it looks like a rock. I heat set that until the glazing powder is…well…glazed, and all the other things are set into the geode. The texture is awesome!

A real geode—one of the examples I used for my hand made ones.

And the end results?

It was a pretty stressful day when I painted this. An escape seemed like the perfect solution to all the crazy going on.

I decided to paint my escape —or rather, my Maltipoo Boomer’s escape.

There is nothing like a red convertible VW Bug.

I’ve never had one, but it seems like there would be nothing like it. So this car was our method of escape.

In this world Boomer can drive, and flowers are the size of trees and the sun is bright and big and reminiscent of a flower. I’m pretty sure it even smells like a flower! And maybe the flowers smell like strawberries and bubblegum, the road of licorice.

Ephesians 3:20 (The Passion Translation)

“Never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination! He will outdo them all, for this miraculous power constantly energizes you.”

There is always hope, always a reason to look forward to brighter days.

Shine on with God! ☀

Floating hearts,

Fluid hearts

Pouring out our hearts

--for others in acts of love!

What a great way to spend Valentines Day 💖

Ephesians 4: 1-3

“In light of all this, here’s what I want you to do. While I’m locked up here, a prisoner for the Master,

I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!

—on the road God called you to travel.

I don’t want any of you sitting around on your hands.

I don’t want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere.

And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts,

but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences.”

Meet The Blessing Girl. 

She is a sweet girl, 

Gratitude fills her 

as the very face of God 

shines down on her.  

Imagine that! 

Initially, I made her as a gift for a special friend on her 70th birthday!

The new painting is a remake since I had an error in the reference verse of the original (That makes it even more valuable, right?) 

This original was done before I knew much about alcohol ink. I made it on Yupo Paper and painted the girl on delipaper and collaged it on top of the background.  

Now I know  you can prime a regular canvas with acrylic paint, and drop the alcohol ink right on top of that, since it is non-porous!   I used matte medium over the top of the alcohol inks and painted normally over the background with acrylic To add the girl And a few flowers.  

And now the version 2 of The Blessing Girl has been born! I love how vibrant the colors turned out.  

Numbers 6: 24-26

“The Lord bless you and keep you; 

the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; 

the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. ”’

Beautiful, right? 

This version 2 of The Blessing Girl is available as a 5x7 card or an 8.5x11 print!