Author: queentracey1

by Martha Lucia Gomez

Watercoloring is a very special technique that most artists use with a brush and watercolor set. In today’s tutorial, I show you how to use a watercolor technique and the Misti stamping tool to stamp a watercolor image instead of using a brush. Creating this effect is very simple if you combine Ink Potion No. 9, Memento Inks and Kaleidacolor Inks. Let me show you just how easy it is:

Directions

Step 1

Ink your mat with the colors of ink that you want to use. Be sure to not intentionally mix the colors, just ink the mat and spray it with Ink Potion No. 9.

Step 2

I am using a double step stamp set. One stamp is the border and the other is the inside layer. Stamp the border images with Peanut Brittle Memento Ink.

Step 3

Ink the solid image directly over the…

I remember many years back when a terrible panic came crashing down on me with no apparent reason. I was so scared, my heart was pounding out of my chest and I couldn’t get enough air that I have to be brought to a nearby hospital. I suffered a nervous breakdown.

The days that followed after the hospitalization was more difficult to bear but I was determined not to take any medications because I was afraid of becoming dependent on it. I read everything I could and realized later that attending to my mental health was crucial to my general well-being and to living a life that is full.

Understanding oneself is necessary. What you believe about yourself are usually based on what the significant people in your life told you or the result of your reaction on what they say about you while you were growing up. Distorted self-concept arise…

We’re going to try little exercise. No need to change into your sweats, it’s not that kind of exercise. Or do; I’m a DIY semi-financial blog, not the fashion police.

Start by taking a deep, slow breath.

As the sawdust fills your nostrils, let your mind empty itself of any thoughts.

Don’t think about that hole you just drilled in the wrong place.

Don’t think about the time and money you are going to have to spend to replace that new door you just ruined.

And definitely don’t think about the throbbing on the end of your thumb, where the hammer slipped.

Another deep breath, and, as you exhale, let all intrusive thoughts of giving up and hiring a contractor leave your mind.

Feel better now?

I See Said the Blind Man, as He Picked Up His Hammer and Saw

We’ve gone over many times how the feelings of accomplishment…

By Dr. Perry, PhD

“There’s nothing like impending death to rouse you from existential boredom.” ~Roger Ebert

One of my pet peeves is to hear others complain about how bored they are with life. They wonder out loud, “What is the purpose of it all if we are going to die anyway?” To be bored with our life is a luxury we cannot afford and should not indulge.

I believe that this combination of boredom and the unreasonable belief that time can be wasted without repercussions is due primarily to not having a clear meaning for your life. Meaning can be found in the most beautiful moments of life as well as the most heart wrenching ones. Often, the meaning of one’s life is found after you have crossed paths with death. After an encounter with the possibility of nonexistence, we tend to renew our vows to life. Suddenly, life appears…

Watch your head!

The History of the Headquarters now goes back about three years. In that time, we ripped out and replaced the kitchen, ripped out and replaced the bathroom, installed all new floors throughout, and even put lights in the bedrooms where there had been none before.

All of these projects were in the first six weeks of owning the home; we hadn’t even started living there yet and we knew these projects had to happen. And yes, that was a ridiculously busy six weeks. Full time job, spouse with part-time job, and two kids under the age of five.

More recently, specifically in the dead of this most recent winter, we realized that we could really utilize the house far more efficiently than we had been.

What a Beautiful…Basement?

One of the selling points of this house for me was the large, spacious basement. I know…