everyone has a story...

Today marks my first day as a Guest Curator at CrescenDoh.com.  I am so honored and excited to be part of something I find so true and real.  The premise behind Jenny Doh's site is that art saves and it has and continues to save me personally...I am so thankful for art.  I have shared something very personal there and would love for you to stop by and visit...I am not one who openly shares my story...I think for me, I share myself through my art...it is how all of my feelings come tumbling out and how I deal with my personal struggles.  But, perhaps by sharing my story, someone else may be touched and helped in their own way.  I have learned that everyone has a story....there are experiences within each of us that make us who we are....you never know what is in the heart of the person sitting next to you...we all struggle, we all hurt, we all need each other.  I have learned that we need to be more gentle with each other...to not be so quick to judge, but to try to understand...You'll find some remarkable stories of the wonderful, healing power of art and love HERE on the CrescenDoh blog...I hope you'll enjoy them as much as I have.

Today is also a Crafty Secrets Design Team challenge...we were asked to share either a video or step by step instructions with you regarding a favorite technique.  I decided to share a brief tutorial with you regarding how I apply glitter...there are many ways, but this is a favorite of mine and one I use almost daily.  Glitter is such a fun way to dress up the beautiful Creative Scraps that I love to use and have used in this card. 

First, here is the finished product. 

I've used some new double sided Halloween Greetings Creative Scraps from Crafty Secrets on this card...they just arrived last week, and I couldn't wait to start cutting into them.   I love to highlight these beautiful images from Crafty Secrets with frames, glitter, distressing, stitching, and other accents.  Today, we'll use a chipboard frame from Maya Road, and a bit of stitching and distressing.

I like to start by gathering things that I think look good together...it rarely happens that I use them all...but the collection inspires me.

Next, I distress the vintage image by sanding and rouging up the edges and then using distress ink to create an aged look.

Then, to age it just a bit more, I run it through my sewing machine...I love the texture and character that stitching adds.

Next comes my favorite part...adding glitter.  I pretty much stick to my favorite spray adhesive by Krylon.  I coat my surface in a well ventilated area by spraying it on generously, and then I shake on a dusting of glitter in whatever color I want.  I coat it a second time with the spray adhesive and then glitter if I want more coverage, as I did with this frame.   

I added a simple stamped flourish in the upper left corner using the Crafty Secrets Flourishes stamp set.   

A bit of trim and scrunched seam binding to dress up the frame even more....

Then the sweet vintage image...and the final toppings, and we're set!

I hope this answers some of your questions....it's not hard at all to apply glitter...messy, yes...but oh, so worth it.

Here are some sweet places for you to visit today as all of the other Crafty Secrets designer's have something to share with you:
* Vicki Chrisman Team Leader

* Pam Hooten

* Heidi Blankenship

* Marisa Grosson

* Linda Duke

* Michele Kovack

* Flo from France

* Julie Campbell

* Deborah March

Thanks so much for your visit.  We're off to plant some flowers and perhaps swim a bit later today.  Enjoy your Monday!

Melis

 
  
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
 

Comments

[Milagros C. Rivera]

Melissa, many times I have shared a virtual tear with you by reading all tou have to say. How lovingly you take to Sierra is what will make her a wonderful woman and I admire you for thet. As for the glitter...I can never have enough! I had just made a project(with glitter( from one of my fave images of Crafty Secret, the praying for the dolls. I would be honoured if you stopped by and took a quick look!

[YvonneC]

Melissa, I love your blog and your beautiful cards. I always enjoy hearing about your daughter. I felt compelled to write today as the adopted daughter of my dear, sweet mother who also could not have her own children. She struggled for years to have her own children and I am exremely glad my parents decided on adoption. I love them so much and they are the best parents! I am sure your daughter will someday know how exremely lucky she is to have such a wonderful mother too!

[Erin Smetak]

Melissa, thank you for sharing your story with all of us. My heart hurts for you. We have really good friends who have dealt with the same infertility issues that you have. And by your story, I now can understand my friend a little better.
It's so nice to get a glimpse of the real person behind the blog, and thank you so much for allowing us into your home and your heart.

{{Hugs}}
Erin Smetak

[Heather Hunter]

Melissa what a courageous lady you are divulging your story for all to read.
My heart goes out to you; I have no words of comfort to offer as none will suffice a woman’s maternal instinct.
Your little bean is truly blessed to have such a loving and caring mother like you and without you, where would she be?
Hugs
Heather. x

[Kelly in Canada]

Hi Melissa,
Somehow when we courageously tell stories of our most personal and deepest struggles, we find kindred spirits which to me, somehow, seem like a little way in which God answers our prayers. My boy is six and a bit (almost Sierra's age?); I became pregnant with him very soon after our wedding! It is my dearest wish to give him a sibling and we have tried and tried. I do feel so blessed to have been able to participate in the miracle of his birth but I find myself questioning why I am unable to do it again, praying to God for the miracle to happen and hoping, as you do, that my secret hurt and desire to have another baby do not hurt anyone else in any way.
Blessings to you and your family and thank you for sharing your story.
Kelly

[Melony Bradley]

Melissa, I really appreciate your courage to post your story. Those of us who struggle with infertility feel it "defines" us. I love creating but sometimes feel it is a curse to have so much and no littles ones to share it with. god has plans for us all

[laura huffman]

blessings upon you and your family. know that a big hug is waiting for you in their arms. i can't relate to your story, but i feel oh so sad. don't put your feelings aside, look at them and accept them for what they are. real, and it's ok to not be happy all the time. ups and downs, mostly ups. thanks for sharing.

[Patty M]

Oh Melissa, I know how difficult that was for you to share. I had a feeling our struggles were similar...we too struggled with infertility for seven years before adopting sisters. Although I see God's hand in our divinely appointed family, my heart and my husbands (because it is a joint longing...a joint disappointment) still wonder what it would have been like to go through a pregnancy. I am now nearing 50 and have been blessed with two grandbabies that I watched being born so in a sense I have come full circle, but the longing is still there. I pray as he did for Hannah, that God will bless you with a house full. You are in my prayers. Blessings, Patty

[Alice W.]

thank you so much for sharing your story, Melissa. that's why your work is always full of love and is so beautiful. thank you also for the glitter tutorial. =) i love your beautiful card! have a lovely day! sending you lots of hugs! =)

[donna calamari]

I visit your blog to see beauty that I can not even imagine being talented enough to create. I read your story today and my heart goes out to you. I hope that the love and support you receive from your readers will prove to be a reward for putting your heart out-there.

[ValerieC]

It is so difficult to share our inner most feelings especially to strangers. Thank you for sharing yourself a little more than you already do everyday on your blog. Your blog brings me such joy! I check your blog ritualistically every morning. Your creations are so lovely. That actually doesn't describe them very well. Your words though, are inspiring! Your outlook on life, marriage, and mothering are make me want to be a better person. Your trials that you have faced have made you a better person. I know that sounds very cliche but, for some it could cause them to be bitter and unhappy. My oldest daughter has had medical issues her whole life. Her first major orthopaedic surgery took place at 19 months. She had her jaw completely reconstructed, a tracheostomy placed, was on a ventilator, and placed in a medically induced coma in the I.C.U.. I remember thinking at the time this is the worst she'll ever have to go through. Boy was I wrong. She has had more than 40 orthopaedic surgeries. The last four years have been literally hell. The worst was the osteonecrosis she developed in her hip. She screamed day and night. I've never heard anyone in that kind of pain. It went on for months. I remember one day when my father was visiting me that I thought I would go mad listening to her. At 13 years old she had a total hip replacement and it was a total relief for her. We thought that it was finally the end of a very long and bumpy road but, it wasn't. She began having terrible back pain. We thought it was pain from her hips referring to her back but, we end up finding out that she has severe scoliosis in her lower back. She has back pain everyday. She's almost 16 now and not a day goes by that she doesn't have pain. Someday she says she doesn't want to live like this. I was blessed to have my babies but, I still walk around with a broken heart because one of them is broken.

[Elise]

I appreciated reading your story and learning more about who you are and the perspective from which you create. I must say, you seem (from reading your blog for a LONG time now) a most devoted mother; and any child: your precious Bean or any other that God may bless you with are so very lucky to have you. I will include you in my prayers.

[Carole]

The card is fabulous. You are super talented!
Thank you for opening up and sharing your story. I know how heartbreaking infertility can be. So happy you and your husband have a lovely daughter.