Let's Make a Cake...No Baking Required!

Let's Make a Cake...No Baking Required!

This little cutie is one of my favorites!  I made the whole thing (pretty much) from stickers and papers I purchased at our new Hobby Lobby.  I hadn't purchased single sheets of paper in years, but it was so fun picking out the papers to make cakes!

 There's nothing quite like the solid dimension of a thick, wrapped canvas to make my heart sing.  I loved punching out pieces of old paper with a circular punch, cutting them and placing them around the sides of the canvas to add to the decor.  

 This whole cake was painted on the canvas (sort of willy nilly) and I used a sticker for the "I love my life," part.  When I bought the stickers it seemed like a good idea, but the first one I put on a piece got ripped back off because I hated the shine from the sticker that make it all too obvious that it was a sticker.  Cut to a few months later, and I've learned a trick I'll tell you now.  If you have stickers that you want to put on a piece but you hate how they end up looking WRONG in the middle of your wonderfully painted piece....because of the shine of the sticker....go over the sticker with Elmer's glue.  Just paint a layer of it over the sticker smoothly with a brush and let dry.  The sticker above had that terrible shine to it that separated it from the rest of the piece until I added the layer of Elmer's glue.  Now it looks like a piece of vellum that I just collaged on.  It gives the piece a totally different look....one with which I am much more satisfied.  Try it!!!

Another thing I did when creating these cakes was to search on the internet for cute little cake sayings.  Found a bunch I liked and some I made up in the process and wrote them all down to use in future pieces.

Some of you might be like me, and have bought just a ton of scrapbooking embellishments over the years because they are so cute and you just can't help yourself!!!  I have done this for many a year....and have quite the collection.  Making these cakes has given me an opportunity to make use of the gazillions of letters I've collected and more.  (I knew I'd find a good use for them one day....SOME DAY!!!)  I even used wallpaper for the bottom layer of this cake shown above.  Painted it the light blue color and then went back over it with a piece of yellow ochre chalk to bring out the raised details (the raised print of the wallpaper.)

This last one is still a work in progress, but it gives you an idea as to my process.  I love adding the falling dots with daubers...it's like, "sprinkle it with fabulous!!!"  

I even started adding little cakes to the journals I hand paint....thinking they would be a lovely addition to the kitchen where you can glue stick your dessert recipes (or any recipes) for future reference.

OK.  That's what I've been up to...how about you???

Thanks for letting me share, 

Cynthia

Life is Tough...Bring a Helmet!

"Life is tough...bring a helmet:)"

Life can be a real challenge....sometimes it might seem like an overwhelming challenge that we just cannot live up to.  As it turns out, we can deal with life on life's terms, one minute, one day, one challenge at a time.  We can be the 'best' version of ourselves...it just takes work;  and we must be willing to do the work.

But with the challenges and the work comes the great sense of accomplishment;  a feeling of self worth.  As we step forward and do the "next right thing," life inevitably gets better.  

How about all the fallout we've caused?  Damage we've done?  To others?  What about those relationships?  

We can try to restore trust through our actions.  We can be patient...lord knows others have had to be patient with us. We can try to be the best we can each and every day...and when we don't rise to the occasion occasionally, we can shake it off--remember we are only human--get up tomorrow and continue on knowing that ALL YOU NEED IS RIGHT INSIDE YOU.  

(By Cynthia Anderson Brock, 2014)

I have recently embarked upon the life adventure of "getting my life back and truly living it!!!"  You see, I am one of these people that can do great things, if I can stay focused on the positive and not let the sadness and sickness in the world get me down.  All too often I see things going on that effect me so greatly ...in my inner being.  Circumstances, situations and things, coupled with physical ailments, as well as, mental ailments (like depression- which is so prevalent these days) can compound upon a person and make them feel like totally giving up and self medicating until death. Obviously, this is not the answer, though it may seem like it at the time.  

If you are struggling in life, reach out and ask for help.  If you seek real and true help, you will find it.  Know that there are so many out there struggling as well, and we can each help the other.  Get out of your mind, get out into the world.  Start to remember all the things you love about life...all the things you truly enjoy doing...and do them!  Go to a support group, make friends, ask people out for coffee or a walk.  Get some exercise, and by all means, FOCUS ON THE POSITIVE.  Let go of that old movie playing in your head...and every time the negativity monster tries to take over your thoughts...ABSOLUTELY DON'T LET THAT THING IN!!! Remember, YOU ARE THE BOSS OF YOU!!!  You can allow your mind to run amok and ruin all the fun, or you can turn it off, put in a new tape, and make the best of whatever comes your way.

Choose today to be happy.  Choose today to be grateful.  Choose today to get up and live your best life.

OK...an artful post is coming up next...so don't miss out on the fun! I'm making cakes....and it's soooooo much fun!

Peace out,

Cynthia