only today...

This morning, I was thinking about just how busy life is for all of us...I've been listening to friends talk about kids starting school and all of the activities that are associated with that, being busy at work, being in the middle of remodeling projects, deadlines happening every week for projects...you know what I'm talking about since I'm sure you are right there as well.

Have you ever thought about how many times you've put off doing something you really wanted to do today in order to do something you felt you had to do?  I have and sadly, it seems to happen more often than not.  This morning, I felt inspired to try something new, to learn and to grow in an area where I had little experience...creating paper flowers.  At war with that thought in my brain was the thought that there were so many other more important things that needed to get done.  Sound familiar?

Yesterday, I got my new inspiration book shipment from Amazon.  In the stash was this book-Fanciful Paper Flowers by Sandra Evertson.  Sandra's art makes me smile...it's fun, fanciful and just so whimsical that it makes me feel like a little girl playing with paper dolls, scissors and all sorts of cool stuff like ribbon, buttons, crepe paper, glitter.

This morning, I wanted to make a paper rose.  I'd never done one before and it looked so cool in the book.  So, I ditched all those things that had to get done and instead painted my brown paper bag with light pink paint.  I improvised on my tools (instead of the sculpting tools she recommended, I used a melon ball maker and a bone folder-I know I'm going to need to get the actual tools since my substitutions don't work as well :)) and made my paper rose.

I think that working with paper shaping and sculpting is a little like solder...it takes some practice.  So, just like I'm no Sally Jean Alexander, neither am I Sandra Everett.

I'm glad I took time today to do this...it was fun and it was good for me to do something out of my comfort zone.  Every time I look at this rose, it will serve as a reminder to me that yesterday is gone, tomorrow is a mystery and the only thing we have is today.

Hope you totally enjoy your today. 

Comments

[Sandy]

I have that book too & I love it! I also love your paper rose. I will have to try one as well.

[Judy in Carefree]

Love your rose, Carol, and thanks for a great class yesterday.

[margie]

I love your rose...Makes me happy to see it today! And pink...yum! LOVE it!
So fun seeing you last week!
kiss kiss
friend!
m

[Kathy Blake]

Your rose turned out superb! I love how you surrounded it with ribbon in the photo! And of course, it's pink, so that makes it even better! I have wanted to make some of the roses from Martha Stewart's website for a while now. I'm still putting that one off. LOL Here is the "very LONG" link to making those:

http://www.marthastewart.com/portal/site/mslo/menuitem.3a0656639de62ad593598e10d373a0a0/?vgnextoid=225e759a91841110VgnVCM1000003d370a0aRCRD&autonomy_kw=coffee%20filter%20roses&rsc=ns2006_m1

(Sorry, I don't know if there is another to insert the link so that it doesn't take up so much room)

There are MANY craft items I keep putting off! I feel "guilty" if I am in my craft room and there are other things that need to be done.

Maybe, today is the day I will get up there and do something "Just For Me". Thanks for the inspiration! I may have to order that book too!

[Jill]

Oh! So very pretty! So glad you did something you enjoyed. That other stuff will still be there! Beautiful!!!!

[Pinkie Denise]

Oh, I just got this book too. Love your Rose! Its so beautiful sitting upon those dreamy
ribbons. My favorite colors too. Love you blog.

[Ariane]

Your rose is amazing even if you didn't have the right tools. Love it!

I feel like I'm always putting off my creative activities because of other things that "have" to get done. Therefore, when I do end up doing my creative activites (like some ATCs I needed to get done for a swap on Saturday), I end up staying up really late to get them done. (Friday night I didn't get to bed until almost 3 am -- funny thing is I didn't really realize it was that late while I was in the midst of creating. Creating certainly makes time fly!)