creative Therapy

RAK recipient for catalyst six

 

 

 

 

The little boy picked your name Anna-Karin. Congratulations!! I will email you your gift certificate. A big thank you again to our generous sponsor: Altered Pages; we are so very grateful.

 

 

As always, I wanted to take a moment to thank everyone for your ongoing support, generosity of spirit, and for sharing your own journeys with us. It is so inspiring and therapeutic to me.

 

 

Thank you.

 

 

Catalyst Seven

 

As always, thank you to all of our visitors and all the encouraging comments you left for us. For those of you who did, thank you for playing along with us. We will do a drawing for the RAK and announce the name mid-week. And if you didn’t join us before, we hope you do this time.

 

Ok! I Here’s catalyst number seven:

 

 

What makes you, you?

 

 

We’re incredibly excited to have Rhonna Farrer as this week’s Guest Designer.

 

Are there any words to describe the amazing and talented Rhonna? She’s an inspiration to me daily not just in her art but also in her attitude, kindness, and generosity. I recently took her 21 class and it was one of the things that encouraged me to start this very place. She designs digital and non-digital products, she writes books, and she teaches classes. There’s nothing she can’t do. If you happen to be one of the rare individuals who hasn’t heard much about Rhonna, you can find more about her at her blog.

 

 

Rhonna’s art with this catalyst is below and you can click it to see the larger version.

 

 

 

Rhonna Says:

What makes me, me? Life! Love! Family! Love! Art! This is a piece that I did at Art & Soul. When I paint, I feel so free & alive! I experimented with textures, various mediums, patterns & listened to my fave music as I created. I cut out various words to describe what I feel makes me, ME!  This was so fun, thanks so much for letting me be a part of it! 

 

Thank you so much Rhonna; we’re truly honored.

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Here are some interpretations of the catalyst from members of our team. Click on the photos to see the bigger versions.

Christine:

Christine Says:

So much of who I am is a result of the journey I have taken throughout my life. I truly am not the person I used to be, but I am a much happier and more content person that the one I was before.

 

This project gives a glimpse of the person I am today and the different things that have influenced me and my life…those things include my faith, the abundant love and blessings that I’ve experienced through the grace of God (even through my seasons of weakness and doubts), and the hopes and dreams that He as fulfilled in His perfect timing.

 

Included in the process of creating this piece are the thoughts of my family, friends, and the memories that I treasure as a result of my life’s journey. I praise God for all that He has give me in order to come to this place in my life and to be able to create this piece that comes straight from my heart.  

 

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Karan:

Karan Says:

I sat down one day and tried to think of what I could write that would define me as a person.  I glued this photo down, and started doodling words and phrases and beliefs around it… Then I chalked some, and used stickers and stamps until both pages were filled up.

 

I like this photo of me.  We were playing in the snow and had just had a big snowball fight…  My clothes were wet and I had stripped down to my tank top… My son snapped these pictures of me from inside the car, and we were laughing because I screamed when snow fell off my hair down my back.  He always laughs at this picture.  He says it was the only time he remembers me playing in the snow with them. 

 

“Hey mom, there’s one you can put down on your list… Don’t do snow.” Your kids are great reminders of the things you do and don’t do.  If you have trouble defining it, just ask them, they will be very candid with you about it.

 

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Karen:

 

 

Journaling Reads:

what you see is what you get.

 

that’s me.

 

i don’t mince words. i am not cruel but i also don’t lie. i have no time to play games. too many people have messed with my head and i refuse to play with yours.

 

when you get me as a friend, you get a loyal person who will always be honest, kind and generous.

 

i will not change on you. i will not deceive you. i will not stab you in the back. i only know one way to be and this is it.

 

it may take a while to get to know me. to see that i truly care. and i really will be there. always.

 

you may be confused. you may think there’s more under the surface. you may wait anxiously to see what’s really going on.

 

but it’s really simple with me: what you see is what you get.

 

always.

 

Karen Says:

I used the cardboard to emphasize the feeling of being “bare” and the authentic me. I also tore the papers to give the impression that all the layers of me were stripped off and this was the true me.  

 

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Lori:

 

Lori Says:

I made this canvas to symbolize what makes me who I am and to remind me of that, when it’s needed. I have a really, really big heart. It gets me in trouble many times because I prefer to see the good in others. I trust. I love. I am compassionate. I am loyal. All of these stem from a big heart. They leave my big heart unprotected at times, which can and has lead to pain. Even so, I will not and cannot change, for if I tried, I would miss out on those rare occasions when having an open, big heart blesses my life with new love, new friendship, and even that eventual pain that leads to growth and self awareness. It makes me, me. 

 

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Leena:

 

Journaling Reads:

 

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Fran:

 

Fran Says:

Like a tree growing from the rocks of the Grand Canyon, I am a survivor. I work my way past obstacles that might make others sit back and cry. I may not be flourishing with bright green leaves all the time, but I am strong and I can and have survived many challenges through my life. That makes me, me.

 

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KL:

 

Journaling Says:

i could count on 50 fingers the things that make me, me but the one i am most proud of is that i have a soft heart. a heart that feels everything. a heart that gives love as often as it can. a heart that is open, trustworthy, loyal and content. a heart that is not afraid of being emotional or of getting hurt. it is mine and it is open, and for that i am proud.

 

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Now it’s your turn: show us your therapeutic art around “what makes you, you.” Give it a try. Embrace the healing power of art. It can be any form of art as long as it speaks to you. Leave us comments with your work and we will send a RAK to a random participant. You’ll have to link your work by Sunday night, May 4th, midnight PST to qualify for the RAK.

 

For our RAK for catalyst #7, The Scarlet Lime is very generously donating a May project kit to one participant. This kit is full of amazing goodies and here are a few of the items you will receive:

 

 

Remember, this is not a competition. If your art makes you feel even a bit better at the end, you’ve won.

 

Until next week, enjoy each and every moment.

 

 

 

 

RAK recipient for Catalyst Five

 

 

 

The little boy picked your name Sherry. Congratulations!! I will email you with the information on how to get the beautiful kit mailed to you. A big thank you again to our generous sponsor: Coordinates Collections; we are so very grateful.

 

As always, I wanted to take a moment to thank everyone for your ongoing support, generosity of spirit, and for sharing your own journeys with us. It is so inspiring and therapeutic to me.

 

And I also wanted to remind you that this is not a competition. The whole point behind creative therapy is to encourage therapeutic art. With that premise, there’s no such thing as a good or bad piece of art. I truly believe that if it has helped you feel a tiny bit better, it’s the most beautiful piece of art I’ve ever seen. So please don’t hesitate to share your art with us. This place is not about being “good enough” for us. It’s about being good to yourself.

 

I am moved and inspired by everyone’s art and often times what I read brings tears to my eyes and makes me realize that we’re all very similar. Seeing your art makes me feel less alone in the world which in itself is therapeutic for me. So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for sharing.

 

 

Catalyst Six

 

As always, thank you to all of our visitors and all the encouraging comments you left for us. For those of you who did, thank you for playing along with us. We will do a drawing for the RAK and announce the name mid-week. And if you didn’t join us before, we hope you do this time.

 

Ok! I can’t believe we’re already on catalyst number six:

 

Someone or something that really frustrates you. Feel free to vent, but in a therapeutic way.

 

We’re incredibly honored to have Vivian Bonder as this week’s Guest Designer.

 

I truly can’t remember how I found Vivian’s blog but I distinctly remember the instant amazement and awe I felt when I first saw her art. Her art literally glows with vivid color and so much texture that I wish I could hold it in my hand and feel it. Her creations beg to be touched. If you haven’t seen Vivian’s art before, make sure you take a look at her blog. I promise you that you won’t be disappointed. You can also see more of her art and even buy a few amazing pieces at her etsy store. 

 

 

Vivian’s art with this catalyst is below and you can click it to see the larger version.

 

 

Journaling reads:

laughing is my only way out of frustration at times. my soul desperately needs the silence… trying to be centered amidst the chaos…

 

Vivian Says:

thank you very much for having me this catalyst, it was definitely good for me to examine this issue. generally speaking i don’t get easily frustrated by people or things and am quite acceptive of different circumstances. however… when my soul does not get fed with enough silence and solitude i explode. and get frustrated and so i laugh and try and learn to build more solitude into my days..

 

Thank you so much Vivian, we’re truly honored.

 

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Here are some interpretations of the catalyst from members of our team. Click on the photos to see the bigger versions.

 

Kris:

 

Kris Says:

I’m sure we all have a list as long as our arms of things that frustrate us, and I’m no different but lately I’m focused on one thing. Time. I feel like I don’t have enough. Or maybe I don’t prioritize well. But with homeschooling my girls, family obligations and trying to set aside time for art…

 

I feel pulled in many directions. It never seems that I cut down on things to do, rather I add. And add and add. I made this little talisman, if you want to call it, to hang nearby so I remember to prioritize my time, to take time for myself as well as one on one time with my kids and hubby. We only get 24 hours a day, all that matters is how we choose to use them.

 

 

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Brenda:

Brenda Says:

This weeks catalyst really made me dig in deep and try to just let go–this is probably one of the ugliest pieces of art that I have created, but I  do feel a bit lighter. 

 

My sister asked me the day after my surgery if I would be able to take care of her children around the end of March, for  four days and three nights. And even though I was full of morphine I knew she was asking a lot . One of her children is a baby that does not even sleep during the night.  And I had a broken ankle.  Three weeks before she was to leave she told me she wasn’t going and this continued until three days before her fiance was leaving, and then she called and asked me if I was ready to watch them. For the first time in nine years I said that I didn’t feel like I was physically able to do this all by myself.  She sent me the most hurtful, hateful email and has not spoken to me about this since.  

 

I am so frustrated, and hurt at her and her words. I did not deserve this, she never should have asked me in the first place. I am not healing as quickly as the Doctor expected and the last thing that I want is to not be able to do something.

 

I printed out her email, burned some of it, added water and scribbled all over it and then closed it  in this tin which I had painted.  I added the “ugly words” and some other words, a lock so I can lock them away and covered it with pieces of burlap that is no longer woven, signifying the unraveling of “family”.  I added a heart for love and thought I was finished–but then I pounded a hole in the top and added the red spear – as her words pierced my soul…..

 

 

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Karen:

Journaling Reads:

fake.

 

yes, i’m talking to you. i thought you were my friend. now i can see that you don’t even know what it means to be a friend.

 

if there’s one thing i hate in the world more than anything else, it’s people being one thing to your face and another behind your back. i wouldn’t take that from anyone and i am surely not taking it from you.

 

i was surprised, at first.

 

then i was sad.

 

and then mad.

 

now i’m finished.

 

done

 

 

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Lori:

 

Lori Says:

I had to really think hard about what or who frustrates me. I kept coming back to myself. I’m full of excuses and I’m so over that!  I decided I am done being frustrated with my lack of motivation to get the last of this baby weight off, so, today I started my 21 day (Rhonna Farrer style) art journal. It takes 21 days to make a habit and I’m going to do my weight loss plan and walk every day for 21 days. I’m going to journal about it each day. I look forward to my journey and can’t wait to see how I feel at the end of the 21 days!  This page represents me and my “before.”

 

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Anita:

 

Anita Says:

This is the point in my life that I am.  I have 2 teenagers.  They can be very trying.  Was I like this?  I just don’t remember being so lazy.  Things sure have changed, that is for sure. Journaling says,”TEENAGERS, it’s what they do!”

 

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Becky:

Journaling Says:

Say no to all that money, say no to sitting idle that long,say no to all that arguing.Say YES to family fun nights, to taking walks and going on hikes. Say YES to your child’s imagination.

 

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Now it’s your turn: show us your therapeutic art around “someone or something that really frustrates you.” Give it a try. Embrace the healing power of art. It can be any form of art as long as it speaks to you. Leave us comments with your work and we will send a RAK to a random participant. You’ll have to link your work by Sunday night, April 27th, midnight PST to qualify for the RAK.

 

For our RAK for catalyst #6, Altered Pages is very generously donating a $25 gift certificate to one participant.

 

 

Remember, this is not a competition. If your art makes you feel even a bit better at the end, you’ve won.

 

Until next week, enjoy each and every moment.

 

 

 

Catalyst Five

 

As always, thank you to all of our visitors and all the encouraging comments you left for us. For those of you who did, thank you for playing along with us. We will do a drawing for the RAK and announce the name mid-week. And if you didn’t join us before, we hope you do this time.

 

Ok! It’s time for catalyst number five:

 

What you like best about yourself.

 

We’re incredibly honored to have Lisa Garay as this week’s Guest Designer.

 

When I look at Lisa’s art the first word that comes to my mind is “happy.” Her art is so colorful, so wonderful that it always makes me happy. Her use of color and ability to mix great embellishments always leaves me in awe. If you haven’t seen Lisa’s work before, make sure you take a look at her blog. Her layouts are always unique and creative. You can also see more of Lisa’s portfolio at Scrap in Style TV where she’s a fashionista.

 

Lisa’s art with this catalyst is below and you can click it to see the larger version.

 

 

Journaling says:

I am not…punctual…easily influenced…carnivorous…ruthless…shy…& I am ok with that!

 

Lisa Says:

When i was trying to think about what i loved about myself, all i could think of was the things/traits that i am not…and that i do love that i am not these things. that is what this layout is about. I cut up words & definitions from a vintage dictionary for part of my journaling.

 

Thank you so much Lisa, we’re truly honored.

 

 

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Here are some interpretations of the catalyst from members of our team. Click on the photos to see the bigger versions.

 

Karen:

 

Journaling Says:

There aren’t many things I like about myself but I will always cherish my ability to love people in an endless and unbounded way. When I love someone, even if just a friend, I give that person 100% of myself. I am always there and will always do anything needed. My capacity for love is my very favorite thing in the word.

 

 

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Fran:

Journaling Says:

I always make lemons into lemonade. Life has thrown me many curves, as it does for many people. I  work hard to be strong and to maintain a positive attitude and try to find something good in all that happens. For example, I have a chronic illness that is sometimes disabling; however, it has brought me more time with my art. By finding the positive in life, I enjoy it more.

 

 

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Leena:

Leena Says:

While I was doing up this piece of layout, I wanted my words to be big and bold, instead of the usual journaling. So, I made up all the things I like best about myself in big letters on top of my papers. And when I look at it, I’m happy that it turned out just the way I wanted it to describe about myself.

 

 

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Angela:

 

Journaling Says:

The one thing that i have been able to count on never changing, no matter how old i get, how fluffy i get or what ever hairstyle I decide to wear, I ALWAYS have my sunny smile!! I love my smile. It is the best thing about me~

 

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Lori: 

 

Lori Says:

It’s not easy to think about the positive things about oneself. The negative ones are always so much easier to list and believe. I decided to do my page on what I like best about myself, as a list of attributes in the third person. She’s quick to laugh, willing to say “I don’t know”, she loves to learn, is strongly loyal, not too serious, seeks out joy, and she gets involved in her life. I’m finally at that point where I’m willing to just be me and to no longer sit on the sidelines watching my life pass me by. I like this best about me, right now. 

 

 

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Anita:

Anita Says:

I choose to scrap the best thing about me and that would be my children.  They come from the better part of me.  I believe that I wouldn’t be who I am today if it wasn’t for them.  I try everyday to teach and help them to strive to be better people, even better people than I could hope to be. 

 

 

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Karan:

Karan Says:

The two things I like best about myself are my face, and my sense of humor. Both are very expressive. I have a loud laugh, a toothy grin, and big expressive eyes. My sense of humor has helped me through many difficult times in my life. My favorite song by Mary Chapin Carpenter says “I can cry until I laugh, and laugh until I cry.” That is me. Extremes of emotions. I feel things very deeply. I cry at everything, sad or touching stories, TV commercials, songs. Sometimes when I am talking about someone I care deeply for I will well up with emotion. We even rate how good a movie is by how many tissues I use while watching it. My family is used to me and my emotional episodes. When I was a kid, I was labeled a drama queen… then it was shortened to Queenie.

I say whatever. I got it from my mom and she got it from hers. I wouldn’t have it any other way. It is inconvenient at times, like when I start crying in public and make someone uncomfortable, but I am used to it now. I can play it off with a joke, and usually defuse it with a funny comment. I like it that I can be myself. My kids know I am like this. My daughter Kayleigh has told me since she was in Kindergarten that it is OK to cry. “That just means that your heart is so full of love Mommy, that sometimes it just has to bubble out through your eyes.”

 

 

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Now it’s your turn: show us your therapeutic art around “what you like best about yourself.” Give it a try. Embrace the healing power of art. It can be any form of art as long as it speaks to you. Leave us comments with your work and we will send a RAK to a random participant. You’ll have to link your work by Sunday night, April 20th, midnight PST to qualify for the RAK.

 

For our RAK for catalyst #5, Coordinates Collections is very generously donating an April kit to one participant. Even more generously, they are letting you have your choice of the two kits that are available.

 

 

Remember, this is not a competition. If your art makes you feel even a bit better at the end, you’ve won.

 

Until next week, enjoy each and every moment.

 

 

 

 

33 comments

Catalyst Four

 

As always, thank you to all of our visitors and all the encouraging comments you left for us. For those of you who did, thank you for playing along with us. We will do a drawing for the RAK and announce the name mid-week. And if you didn’t join us before, we hope you do this time.

 

Ok! It’s time for catalyst number four:

 

Something you remember from your childhood.

 

We’re incredibly honored to have Dedra Long as this week’s Guest Designer.

 

I first had the privilege of seeing Dedra’s work on the A Million Memories Design Team, and immediately got hooked on her art. She has a very unique and amazingly inspiring style. If you haven’t seen Dedra’s work before, make sure you take a look at her blog. Her art is always stunning. You can also see more of Dedra at paperclipping: an interview, one of Dedra’s amazing mini books, and a tour of her beautiful scraproom.

 

 

Dedra’s art with this catalyst is below and you can click it to see the larger version.

 

 

Journaling says:

throughout my life I have had one dream in particular….I remember as a pre.teen asking my Mom what this dream meant….I told her that I was five years old and my Dad and I were in a field of sunflowers….He was swinging me in the air and it was during sunset….In my dream we always picked as many sunflowers as we could hold….Dad and I walked back to the house and gave them to my Mom….After I told her about the dream she said that Dad and I did those very things before he and my Mom divorced….My memories of he and I….Journaled 4.5.08….

 

Thank you so much Dedra, we’re truly honored.

 

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Here are some interpretations of the catalyst from members of our team. Click on the photos to see the bigger versions.

 

Christine:

 

Journaling Says:

How can one photo be so significant to me? Maybe it’s because it’s one of the very few photos I have of myself at this age. It’s quite rare for me to have any pictures of the time when I was three or four years old. Perhaps it’s because I happen to be in costume and sitting on a pony…

 

I don’t remember dressing up like this too often in my childhood. However, I believe that I treasure it so much because my mother valued capturing this moment in my life. I remember her agreeing to have this picture taken during a time when our family didn’t have much money. In fact, when my father saw it, he was quite angry that my mom had spent money on it.

 

But I remember her saying then that it was worth it, and today I am so thankful for her foresight! If it wasn’t for her, I never would be reminded of the excitement that I felt putting on the chaps and cowboy hat, how giddy I felt as I sat upon the pony, and how elated I was knowing that my mom gave me a chance, for this moment, to pretend that I was a little cowgirl.

 

Thanks, Mom, for capturing that moment and preserving those memories in this photo! I will never forget it!

 

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Becky:

 

Journaling Says:

I’m still this girl. The girl with the brown eyes and long brown hair, although I don’t sport pigtails too too often anymore. I still love the outdoors. I am still an easy forgiver. I still have an attitude at times. I still don’t like to be told what to do. I am still happy and I still wear my heart on my sleeve.

 

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Karen:

Karen Says:

My whole life I was this sad, little girl. I always worried that something was wrong with me or that I would always be unhappy. I wish I could tell that little girl now that Life is going to work out for her and that she should give up constantly thinking that something is wrong.

 

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Kris:

 

Kris Says:

I have many memories from childhood, but the one I most tell my kids about is rain. When I was little, I remember my mom letting us go play outside in the rain. We used to march up and down on the sidewalk with our pots and pans, playing in the rain band. I always loved to be out in the rain with my umbrella because the smell was so fresh and sweet. It was the one time you were allowed to splash in the rain and mud puddles without getting in trouble!

 

Whenever it was too wet or not safe to be out we would spend the day inside, drinking hot chocolate and playing board games. I always smile with I hear people say they hate rain. For me, it holds some of my favorite memories. (My father used to take so many pictures of us kids. This is one he took of me.)

 

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Angela:

 

Hidden Journaling Says:

My Dolls. When i was little, my favorite thing to play with were my dolls! I would spend hours dressing them, nurturing them and talking to them! Nothing made me happier~

My mom and I (oma Nate) kid around about the fact that very often i had to pack all of my dolls! Never leaving any out! That maybe, it was an indicator that I would be the mom to 6 wonderful kids!

 

Today at almost 43, I am rediscovering my love for dolls~ 4-6-2008

 

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Brenda:

Brenda Says:

My Papa-I loved him so–he always worked in a hardware store and I loved to go visit him there. It’s probably why I love hardware stores and tools so much today. He used to take me to the ice cream store and sit me up on the counter and and fill a little white bag with candy-yum. Our favorite flavor was chocolate shower…..He always hung out in his garage just fiddlin around–and listened to country music. Funny after growing up in Sacramento, CA and listening to country music I would be living in Nashville,TN!

I used one of his old watches and his picture standing in front of his garage as the center piece and put some hardware pieces inside of the watch. The dangle has a fishing lure piece, cause he LOVED to fish and a blue fabric bead-as blue was the color of his eyes. I called him Papa,so I made the metal tag, and there is an old key—-He was always cutting keys at the store…my wire wrapping is a bit rugged this time because I wanted the hardware/wire to really stand out..

 

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Karan:

Karan Says:

When I was little, my grandma taught me a bunch of poems. Whenever we had a family get together, she would have me recite these two poems. They were taught to her by a Vaudeville actress in 1923 and she recited them as a kid herself. I remember they were the big crowd pleasers. Every time I recited them, there wouldn’t be a dry eye in the place. As a 5 year old, I didn’t understand the impact of the words of the poems. I knew they were sad. I knew the little boys both died in the poems, but as a kid, you just think it is a sad story. Now as a parent, I can’t even recite them anymore. I choke up every time. I would ask her “Why do they always cry when I say the poems Gramma?” She would smile and say, “One day when you are a mother, you will cry when you hear them too.” She was right as always. I do cry every time. They still ask me to recite them at family functions once in a while, but I can’t do it any more. Must be why grandma taught them to me, because she was always a sucker for a sad story, but she couldn’t tell them herself without crying.

 

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Now it’s your turn: show us your therapeutic art around “something you remember from your childhood.” Give it a try. Embrace the healing power of art. It can be any form of art as long as it speaks to you. Leave us comments with your work and we will send a RAK to a random participant. You’ll have to link your work by Sunday night, April 13th, midnight PST to qualify for the RAK.

 

For our RAK for catalyst #4, Cupcake Scrapshop is very generously donating a November kit to one participant. This kit is full of 7gypsies, Jenni Bowlin, as well a beautiful stamp, crocheted leaves, and many other goodies.

 

 

Remember, this is not a competition. If your art makes you feel even a bit better at the end, you’ve won.

 

Until next week, enjoy each and every moment.