Safe in Columbus, Ohio

Good Friday (12.2.16) morning.  Yes!  I am safe in Columbus, Ohio.

As you know, a shooting took place in Columbus, at OSU.  We used to live fairly close to that area, but not anymore.

I heard about it first when I got a Facebook message from my son-in-law, saying, “I am safe!”.

I thought it was some kind of prank at first.  I wrote him back and said, “What is this?”

He responded, “Turn on your TV.”

It was very sad to see what was going on and how the campus was on lock-down.  Our family's thoughts and prayers go out to the families who lost or had students harmed.

All I can say is that they are still investigating.

I really wish our world was a safer place.  I just don’t understand this need for violence.

So, I want to keep my mind off all that, and go on to my own FREE offerings today.  Just right click and save to your own computer.  Put a copy of my card in the folders you build, and you’ll always know where you got the graphics.  And, of course, it’s there for you to SHARE! SHARE! SHARE!

Just right click and save to your computer.  All graphics are made by me!

Today’s graphics are: Top:  Hugs, Merry Christmas, My Love (card front), two borders for International Hug Day and Cookie Day, MARRY (Merry) me this Christmas with two different bases, Merry Christmas from our house to yours (two different bases), a blank base and another card front, Hugs again along with a blank.

Okay!  That’s it for today’s graphics.  Use them with some pre-made cards and envelopes, and your cards will just take a minute to get together. (I hate to see Halloween end….).

Remember to grab my card!

I’d appreciate any and all comments.  Please take a moment to leave one below.  And thanks!

Cj @ Grannies Print Shop.blogspot.com designs are to help grandparents and grown children reach out to those they love.  Closing the miles equal smiles (on their faces and in their hearts).  Make a connection again by sending a physical card so others will feel the joy of receiving REAL MAIL. Don’t let letter-writing and card-sending wither and die.  Keep it alive with the help of these graphics!  Enjoy!!!

You can also find me on Instagram at cj.hampton.  Thanks.

COOKIES ARE ENABLED PER BLOGSPOT; CONTINUE ONLY IF YOU ARE WILLING TO ACCEPT COOKIES!

SCRIBBLES--Another Great Tool for Drawing

Good Monday (11.28.16) morning!  I love drawing blogs, and I love Scribbles, which can be a great tool for drawing!

Conan was built from one scribble drawing.  I got Conan, Bobby the fish, and three other items:  a funky face, a hand (which I used in the Conan character), and a hat.

Below, see the scribble faintly under the shape I drew from the scribbles.  That is the blank one in the picture below.  You can almost see the scribble below the shape.  I rotated that shape 90 degrees clock-wise three times to get a fish, a hand and a hat.

Below that, you will see the finished version of Bobby the Fish.

Here is the beginning of the shape for Conan.  I just kept working with him till I found something I liked.

Scribbles are a wonderful way to jump start your brain into seeing pictures.  Give it a try and see for yourself!

Onto my own FREE offerings today.  Just right click and save to your own computer.  Put a copy of my card in the folders you build, and you’ll always know where you got the graphics.  And, of course, it’s there for you to SHARE! SHARE! SHARE!

Just right click and save to your computer.  All graphics are made by me!

Today’s graphics are: Below are some fractal papers to use in your creating.  There are six of them and the flower separately, too.  

Okay!  That’s it for today’s graphics.  Use them with some pre-made cards and envelopes, and your cards will just take a minute to get together. (I hate to see Halloween end….).

Remember to grab my card!

I’d appreciate any and all comments.  Please take a moment to leave one below.  And thanks!

Cj @ Grannies Print Shop.blogspot.com designs are to help grandparents and grown children reach out to those they love.  Closing the miles equal smiles (on their faces and in their hearts).  Make a connection again by sending a physical card so others will feel the joy of receiving REAL MAIL. Don’t let letter-writing and card-sending wither and die.  Keep it alive with the help of these graphics!  Enjoy!!!

You can also find me on Instagram at cj.hampton.  Thanks.

COOKIES ARE ENABLED PER BLOGSPOT; CONTINUE ONLY IF YOU ARE WILLING TO ACCEPT COOKIES!

A Small Lesson on Visualization

Good Friday (11.25.16) morning!  Today, I have a small lesson in how I create characters with visualization.  This is the letter V, and she stands for visualization.

Here is a word on visualization.

Definition of visualization:  the formation of mental visual images.  In the picture above, I show you examples using a tiny icon that have turned into a face, an arrow, a pen, and a bow.  You let your mind VISUALIZE what that icon could turn into.  Remember.  It doesn't have to be a perfect face or arrow or pen or bow.  But it's yours!

I use these icons often in playing a game called STRINGERS.  I developed it several years ago, and often use it when wanting to create something unique and fun!  A stringers items page would look something like this.

I have many of these from several years ago, and one day soon, on my blog, we will cover how to do STRINGERS.  But today, you can see I took item 2 above, and used it for my visualization V letter for today’s lesson.

Ways I might use my STRINGERS are below:

My finished project might look like this:

Back to visualization.  Here’s a diagram of how I would use a mandala I created to start a visualization for a new character.  This picture shows the steps I went through to reach my final creation.

In the top left box, you see the finished outline of my creature, and the mandala is ever so faint behind him.  If you zoom in on the picture, you can see the creature in the outline of the mandala.  It may not give you all of him, but all you need is seeing something to start from, and then taking it from there.

I improvised with the arms, hands and feet.  After I got my creature finished, it was time to add some color to him.  You see two different colored creatures above; one big, and one small.

You could also start with scribbling on a page.  You look deeply into the shapes till you find something interest to give you a start.  Turn the printed page around in each direction.  I often find two to five interesting starters.  It’s like seeing pictures in wood grains or in clouds.  Our brains recognize face shapes automatically, so it’s often easy to find a beginning creature to start.

If you have not tried this form of art play, I suggest you try it.  Many people use it or a variation.

Now, onto my own FREE offerings today.  Just right click and save to your own computer.  Put a copy of my card in the folders you build, and you’ll always know where you got the graphics.  And, of course, it’s there for you to SHARE! SHARE! SHARE!

Just right click and save to your computer.  All graphics are made by me!

Today’s graphics are: (top item is V (Vee), and you may use her in your art creations.)  Here are some put-together ideas for V!  V is Valery, Velma, or Hello from Vicky.  VOTE Today has past, but could be used for another voting period.

Today I've put together some fractal cards you might enjoy.  Here are 4.

Black Friday; Thankful!, Gone Shopping, and It's Black Friday.  (Yes it is!)

Here’s one last card with a joke in it and a quote.  This little worm guy started from just the two horns on his head.  I didn’t know he was going to be a worm till I got down to the bottom, and he just kind of “created himself”.

Okay!  That’s it for today’s graphics.  Use them with some pre-made cards and envelopes, and your cards will just take a minute to get together.

Remember to grab my card!

I’d appreciate any and all comments.  Please take a moment to leave one below.  And thanks!

Cj @ Grannies Print Shop.blogspot.com designs are to help grandparents and grown children reach out to those they love.  Closing the miles equal smiles (on their faces and in their hearts).  Make a connection again by sending a physical card so others will feel the joy of receiving REAL MAIL. Don’t let letter-writing and card-sending wither and die.  Keep it alive with the help of these graphics!  Enjoy!!!

You can also find me on Instagram at cj.hampton.  Thanks.

COOKIES ARE ENABLED PER BLOGSPOT; CONTINUE ONLY IF YOU ARE WILLING TO ACCEPT COOKIES!

I Am Grateful for All My Blessings

Good Monday morning (11.21.16) morning!  I'm taking a moment to say, "I am grateful for all my blessings."

There are so many blessings in our lives.  Thanksgiving seems to be the time we think about them the most.

Whenever I start to feel a little down, I count my blessings.

The ones I’m thinking of today are:

For family:  A good husband who still holds my hand when we’re out together walking.  Two wonderful, beautiful sisters who stand with me.  Nieces and nephews, too.  I’m thankful for my children:  each one is unique with their own strengths.  For my grandchildren who made my life light up when each entered the world, and made me feel young (and old) again.  For in-laws that are connected to us, and add another dimension and way of looking at different things.  For my parents, and grandparents, who shaped to be the person I am today, and I will see again in the future.

I thankful for the health I do have.

I am thankful that when I fell at my sister’s last week, I didn’t truly hurt myself.  To make things funnier, my second sister fell within about 30 seconds of my falling, and scrapped her elbow and knee.  I am thankful, as she is, that she did not fall into the bonfire, although she came very close.

I am thankful I have a mighty little Honda that has been paid for now for 16 years and is still running!

I am thankful I have a roof over my head even though I still pay for it monthly.

I am thankful I am retired, and don’t have to worry about the politics and stresses I felt while working.

I am thankful for the gifts the Lord has bestowed upon me, and that I still enjoy doing.

I am thankful for the food that nourishes my body.

And I know I am thankful that I have so many blessings in my life, I can’t even list them all.

What are you thankful for during this holiday week?

Focusing on my blessings makes me realize how blessed I am, and I hope you feel that way, too.  Take a minute to mentally list your own blessings!

Now, onto my own FREE offerings for today.  Just right click and save to your own computer.  Put a copy of my card in the folders you build, and you’ll always know where you got the graphics.  And, of course, it’s there for you to SHARE! SHARE! SHARE!

Just right click and save to your computer.  All graphics are made by me!

Today’s graphics are: Top lead-in picture above:  I am Blessed Owl, little owl, little flower, big flower, pink strip, patterned strip, paper, I am Blessed Base for a card, second base for a card, another base for another card with a flower on it, a Meow Postcard.

Okay!  That’s it for today’s graphics.  Use them with some pre-made cards and envelopes, and your cards will just take a minute to get together. (I hate to see Halloween end….).

Remember to grab my card!

I’d appreciate any and all comments.  Please take a moment to leave one below.  And thanks!

Cj @ Grannies Print Shop.blogspot.com designs are to help grandparents and grown children reach out to those they love.  Closing the miles equal smiles (on their faces and in their hearts).  Make a connection again by sending a physical card so others will feel the joy of receiving REAL MAIL. Don’t let letter-writing and card-sending wither and die.  Keep it alive with the help of these graphics!  Enjoy!!!

You can also find me on Instagram at cj.hampton.  Thanks.

COOKIES ARE ENABLED PER BLOGSPOT; CONTINUE ONLY IF YOU ARE WILLING TO ACCEPT COOKIES!