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“A kind word is like a spring day” FREE spring printables

April 23, 2018 by VintageMama Leave a Comment

A kind word is like a spring day MAIN IMAGE

As I await the arrival of the perfect spring day, I decided to create a couple of pretty spring printables to share with you. We’ve been gradually updating our home, one room at a time, painting and replacing some of the carpeting and floor covering. We still have a ways to go, but we’ve actually made great progress. I’ve always been quite content with the “old” stuff that we have had around for many years, but the truth is, most of it is getting pretty thread-bare and tattered. Even some of the pictures and other wall hangings that I’ve had for many years, are really looking quite shabby. Which I suppose is OK if you are going for the “shabby chic” look, but lately I’ve been feeling like I need a change to something less “vintage” looking and perhaps a bit more of the current trend in “minimalism.”

I’ve always been a bit of a “minimalist” in that I’m not a hoarder and I don’t like a lot of stuff sitting around, but I’ve always found the vintage touch quite endearing. I still do in many ways, but for some reason, I just want to pass along some of the older (but still really pretty!) stuff and try something new. As we’re able. So the way we do this whole home update project is one step at a time. So for instance, we painted the master bathroom (after the flood last autumn that completely destroyed the new flooring we had just put down), and completely replaced the sub-floor and put down new flooring (for a second time). Since that was a rather HUGE expense that we weren’t planning on, we held off doing anything else for a while.

Just the past few weeks I felt like I could begin to replace some of the towels and washcloths in that bathroom . . . . so I bought two bath towels, two hand towels, and two washcloths. Then, the following week I was able to buy two more of each. One week I bought a new shower curtain. One baby step at a time! It won’t be long and all those faded, old, tattered bath towels will be gone – well, they will be out in the garage to be used when we start our next paint project.

Another thing that had to be replaced (sooner than originally anticipated) was the light fixture over the kitchen island. The one that was there was old and looked rather 70s-ish, but there was nothing wrong with it (I thought) and it was OK. Not at the top of my list of things to replace very soon. Until my husband discovered that some of the electrical stuff inside the base was falling apart. Whatever that means. So he declared that “This light has to go! It could start a fire!” So down came the light over the island in the kitchen and there we were without a light for couple of weeks until we had the money to buy a new one.

Well, that day came, and we went to Home Depot to buy a new light fixture, but that didn’t turn out so great. Fashion Diva and Home Decorating Expert, Oldest Daughter, was determined that we should get the most expensive, fanciest, and most audacious light fixture in the store. Which mama didn’t like (at all!) and daddy refused to spend that much money on a light fixture, so we ended up with one that we all liked (kind of). We brought it home but it was too long from top to bottom and would hang down way too low over the island once installed. So, another two weeks without a light over the kitchen island.

This past weekend we had time and enough money to look for a different light fixture, and this time it was just mama and daddy shopping. Oh my heart! It was a rather pleasant experience, actually, when I wasn’t walking around Home Depot just about on my last nerve from all of the chatter about this one and than one, and we have to have this amazing one, and that one looks stupid, and all of the annoying things that teenagers say because they have no clue what they are talking about. We found one that coordinates with the first one we purchased but it fits in that particular location much better – and so we put the first one in the entry way which we had also painted last summer and had planned on replacing the light fixture out there eventually anyway. It fits perfectly, and so now we have two new light fixtures. It only took two months to figure that out!

In the meantime, I am reminded of how important it is for all of us to use our words to encourage one another. To be kind is not an expensive or difficult thing to do. But it makes such a big difference in the lives of everyone around us, and actually it makes the world a better place. So, when I thought I was on my last nerve with the Home Decorating Expert with the endless commentary on why we needed the MOST expensive and elaborate light fixture in the whole world (well, not the whole world but at least in that whole, entire Home Depot store!), I simply decided to walk down another aisle and look at something else for a while. I dodged that opportunity to speak words that would perhaps break a heart or at least make one clueless teenager a bit ticked off for a minute or two. Instead, I chose to focus on something else until I could come up with words that would explain the situation, firmly and yet kindly, and eventually we were able to accomplish the goal of buying a light fixture. In the end, we bought two light fixtures, but now we all like them both, and I am grateful that I didn’t speak unkind words.

Here’s my motto about how we use our words, which I have impressed upon my girls (and I hope they remember this long after I’m gone): “Just because something pops into your brain does not mean it needs to fall out of your mouth!” First, be kind. That’s just a good way to live life. First, be kind. That is all. So to help us all remember to use our words to encourage and bless others, I’ve put together these printables that I am going to print out and frame for our house. A few new wall hangings to replace those shabby, old “vintage” ones that are heading to the local thrift shop. Maybe you could use a bit of springtime encouragement in your home too. Here you go!

If you would like to print out any of these designs, they are FREE for you to use on your personal blog or website, or to print out for your art journal or other creative project. Please link back here to Vintage Mama’s Cottage if you use them on your blog or website. Please do not copy and sell my designs, but you are free to use them for any personal projects. Just right click on the image and “save as” to your computer. That’s all you have to do, and then use them wherever you want. Have fun!

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Easy Cooking – Casseroles and Crock-Pots + HM #180

April 19, 2018 by VintageMama 5 Comments

HM 180 Crock Pot Recipes Collage

Since we decided to try spaghetti squash, it just seems that we’re starting to be a bit more adventurous in our cooking, as well as looking for easy cooking recipes, so this was a perfect topic for this week’s Home Matters Linky Party #180! Our old crock pot is really, really old. Like really, really, really OLD, so I might need to invest in a new one if we’re going to be experimenting with all these great new crock pot recipes I found. With warm weather coming (soon, I hope!) it might be a good thing to be able to pop something in the crock pot early in the morning and then I won’t have to think about FOOD again for a few hours. I was actually looking for a few things besides just supper dishes, so I found a couple of breakfast ideas as well as a super chocolatey dessert recipe. Might save that one for some special occasion, but all the other ones look like meals that my family would like. So here’s what I found . . . . #Casseroles #CrockPots #HomeMattersParty

The weather is warming up and that means we are getting busier outside and in need of some easy cooking ideas. We've gathered some of our favorite casserole and crock-pot recipes just for you. Plus, link up at Home Matters with recipes, DIY, crafts, decor.

Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Pasta

 

The weather is warming up and that means we are getting busier outside and in need of some easy cooking ideas. We've gathered some of our favorite casserole and crock-pot recipes just for you. Plus, link up at Home Matters with recipes, DIY, crafts, decor.

Slow-Cooker Blueberry Oatmeal

 

The weather is warming up and that means we are getting busier outside and in need of some easy cooking ideas. We've gathered some of our favorite casserole and crock-pot recipes just for you. Plus, link up at Home Matters with recipes, DIY, crafts, decor.

Slow Cooker Spinach Artichoke Dip

 

The weather is warming up and that means we are getting busier outside and in need of some easy cooking ideas. We've gathered some of our favorite casserole and crock-pot recipes just for you. Plus, link up at Home Matters with recipes, DIY, crafts, decor.

Crock Pot Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Soup

https://www.delish.com/cooking/g3849/best-slow-cooker-recipes/?slide=17

Crock Pot Reese’s Cake

 

The weather is warming up and that means we are getting busier outside and in need of some easy cooking ideas. We've gathered some of our favorite casserole and crock-pot recipes just for you. Plus, link up at Home Matters with recipes, DIY, crafts, decor.

Crock Pot Mac and Cheese

 

 

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Air Fryer Shrimp & Vegetables from Kristy @ Mommy Hates Cooking

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Pineapple Orange Pops from Jen @ Cincy Shopper

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DIY Farmhouse Style Tiered Tray from Heather @ Centsible Chateau

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Container Herb Garden on the Porch from Penny @ Penny’s Vintage Home

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Mason Jar Flower Vase Pillow from Bev @ Flamingo Toes

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Warmer weather, busy days outside? We've got some easy cooking ideas. Check out our favorite casserole and crock-pot recipes. Plus, link up at Home Matters with recipes, DIY, crafts, decor. #Casseroles #CrockPots #HomeMattersParty Click To Tweet

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Filed Under: Blog Hops, Blog Linky Parties, blogging, Christian women, Christian women bloggers, Christian women online, Creative inspiration, Home Matters, Home Matters Linky Party, Linky Parties, Linky Party, women bloggers Tagged With: 50+ bloggers, blog hops, blogging, Christian women, Christian women bloggers, Christian women online, creative inspiration, crock pot recipes, easy cooking recipes, family, Home Matters, Home Matters Linky Party, linky parties, linky party, mommy bloggers, Vintage Mama's Cottage, women bloggers

May 2018 FREE Printable Calendar

April 19, 2018 by VintageMama 2 Comments

Here’s your FREE May 2018 printable calendar from Vintage Mama’s Cottage!

May 2018 Calendar COMPLETE

I’ve been planning to get my monthly calendar created early for a few months now so that we could all be ready right at the beginning of each month . . . . so if you use our cute printable calendars on your blog or website, or if you print it out and use it at home, it will be ready to go when you start your new month. Unfortunately that hasn’t happened recently because – well, LIFE. You know what that’s like. You plan all kinds of projects or tasks and have every intention of getting them accomplished by the designated deadline, and then something happens that is completely out of your control, and suddenly you’ve got a bunch of things piled up on your To Do list. At least that’s what happens to MY To Do list!

This time, however, I am ready! I have next month’s calendar created and I think it is so adorable! I have printed it out on card stock and I’m creating a page in my art journal with it. I love the color combination of yellow, purple, and green so my whole journal page layout is in those same colors. I’ll show you when it is finished! In the meantime, I’m off to some other projects that need to be tackled so I can cross them off my To Do list. What about you? How’s YOUR To Do list looking these days? Here’s the May 2018 calendar for you . . . .

We’ve been having so much fun creating a calendar for each month to include in every issue of RUBY magazine! All of our calendars are designed and created for RUBY magazine and community right here at Vintage Mama’s Cottage. Each one is different, completely original, and created using a variety of background images and different fonts, to offer you a fun, creative calendar page for your daytimer, art journal, or to use on your blog, website, or other social media pages.

The May 2018 calendar features a watercolor image of a yellow bike with pretty purple blooms cascading out from the baskets on the front and back of the bike. Kind of reminds me of childhood summer days when we would ride our bikes for hours on end, exploring the neighborhood, and taking us on adventures far beyond our backyard. Did you have a childhood like that? We would love to hear your memories of summer days! Be sure to leave us a comment and tell us all about it!

Have fun with the May 2018 FREE printable calendar from Vintage Mama’s Cottage!

 

May 2018 Calendar COMPLETE

Here’s the code you can put on your blog or website for the linked image to the May 2018 FREE printable calendar:

<center><a href=” http://vintagemamascottage.com/2018/04/19/may-2018-free-printable-calendar/ ” rel=”nofollow&quot;target=&quot;_blank&quot;”><img class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-19162″ src=” http://vintagemamascottage.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/May-2018-Calendar-COMPLETE-e1524161089484.jpg ” alt=”MAYCalendar2018″ width=”250″ height=”322″ /></a><center>

Filed Under: art journals, blogging, Christian women, Christian women bloggers, Christian women online, Craft blogs, Creative inspiration, FREE Calendars, FREE printables, Vintage Mama's Cottage Tagged With: 50+ bloggers, art bloggers, art journals, blogging, Christian women, Christian women bloggers, Christian women online, craft bloggers, creative inspiration, creativity, DIY blog, FREE printable calendar, May 2018 calendar, May 2018 FREE printable calendar, May 2018 printable calendar, mommy bloggers, Vintage Mama's Cottage, women bloggers

What’s for Dinner? Spaghetti Squash!

April 19, 2018 by VintageMama 6 Comments

Image via Shape.com

“Who ever heard of spaghetti squash?” I asked, astounded. That’s not really a thing, is it? At the time I was talking to a friend about carbs and different things that could be used to replace some of the carb-heavy foods that is in most Americans’ diets. In an effort to gradually replace some foods that might not be so great for my family with alternatives, I was just curious. When she told me about spaghetti squash, I really didn’t give it much thought. After all, we actually like regular ol’ squash . . . you know, the kind that you bake in the oven with lots of butter and brown sugar in the autumn and winter months . . . . but spaghetti squash really didn’t sound all that appealing to me.  So I kind of forgot about it. For a long time.

Then, the other day, my girls and I were talking about making some substitutions in our regular grocery purchases, including trying almond milk to limit dairy intake, and trying a recipe for baked zucchini chips (which didn’t turn out so great the first time, but we’re going to give it another go because we LOVE zucchini!). One of my girls (guess who???) suddenly announced, “Let’s try spaghetti squash!” Hmmmm . . . .where have I heard that before?

Well, I’m up for a new adventure and challenge, even in the area of cooking occasionally, so when I went to the grocery store I bought one spaghetti squash. ONE. Just in case. But then, I was thinking, “I don’t have any idea what I should actually do with this thing so that we can try to eat it.” So it sat on the kitchen counter for two days, while I kept hoping that the genius daughter who suggested that we try spaghetti squash would help me figure out how to cook it. No such luck. Too many other important things to do (I get that!), so Mama decided to figure it out on her own.

There’s ONE spaghetti squash currently cooking in the oven. Still don’t know what I’m going to do with it once it is cooked, so I decided to look up some ideas of different ways to serve spaghetti squash. And WOW was I surprised at how many different recipes I found! Apparently you can do just about anything with spaghetti squash that you can do with pasta spaghetti noodles. Here are a few of the recipes that I found . . . . I’ll let you know how ours turns out tonight and we’ll decide whether we like it or not.

The hardest part so far was cutting the silly thing open! It’s as hard (almost) as a rock, and I couldn’t quite figure out how to cut the squash without slicing off my hand in the process. Eventually I stuck the huge chopping knife into the side and once I had it lodged firmly in the squash, I picked it up and whacked it down on the cutting board. I opened up alright! That’s probably not the best way to do it, but since this was an experiment, I felt rather successful. I’ll figure out the cutting part next time. If there is a next time!

How to Cook Spaghetti Squash

 

Pesto Parmesan Spaghetti Squash from Shape.com

 

Spaghetti Squash with Tomatoes, Spinach + Garlic from Purely Elizabeth

 

Spaghetti Squash . . . Spaghetti from Trusty Chucks

 

Four Cheese Garlic Spaghetti Squash from Recipes BNB

 

Spaghetti Squash Chicken Parmesan from Shape.com

Well, there you have a few new (to me) ideas of what to do with spaghetti squash. Our ONE spaghetti squash is baking in the oven right now, and I can begin to detect a roasted, yummy squash smell coming from the kitchen as I try to finish writing this blog post. We might just go with regular plain ol’ tomato spaghetti sauce on top tonight, just to see. We’re not exactly adventurous or very brave when it comes to trying new foods, so I’ll be sure to report back on how it turned out.

If you ever read my blog, you know that cooking is just about at the bottom of my list of favorite things to do . . . I’d be happy eating a peanut butter sandwich for supper pretty much every night (that way I don’t have a messy kitchen to clean up!) . . . . but I’m doing my best to feed my family and not lose my mind. I’ll let you know if spaghetti squash is going to help me with that task. I hope you can join us for this week’s Favorite Things Blog Hop and Linky Party. That is actually one of the things that I really do love to do each week, and I would love to connect with YOU at this week’s party. Hope to see you there!

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Please join us for this week’s

Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop and Linky Party

Thursday Favorite Thing blog link party

 

Katherine-Katherines Corner

Nina-Vintage Mamas Cottage

Marilyn-Marilyns Treats

Bev-Eclectic Red Barn

Angelina- Petite Haus

Theresa Begin – Shoestring Elegance

An InLinkz Link-up


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Fresh air and sunshine: Springtime DIY Projects for your Home

April 17, 2018 by VintageMama 4 Comments

Well, since it is STILL cold around here this week, I STILL can’t get outside and clean up the flower beds or rake up the broken branches and brittle brown leaves that blew into our yard over the winter. Yesterday it was raining, snowing, and windy, but today at least the sun is kind of shining, peeking out between the clouds. It’s not nearly as dreary and gloomy as it has been, but it is STILL really cold. So I decided to make a few plans for bringing a bit of springtime inside if I can’t go outside quite yet!

We have a couple more rooms to paint this spring, and we want to replace the flooring in the dining room and the girls’ bedrooms, but we’ve made enough progress on our home update this past year that I’m finally feeling like I can start adding some of the final touches with seasonal decor and family photos. Since I’m SO ready for spring to arrive (well, it has actually “arrived” but it sure doesn’t feel like it!), I thought it might make me feel better if I create a bit of my own fresh air and sunshine with a few DIY spring home decor projects. Here are a few that I found as I was searching for a few new ideas to keep me creatively and domestically busy while I’m waiting to get outside in my gardens.

Colorful Colander Planters from Country Living 

I’ve seen these colorful colanders and thought about how cute they are and how I could use them in our kitchen . . . . but this is even better! I’m not thinking I would use them as hanging planters, but I want to set a few potted plants outside our kitchen door and this would be a perfect way to display them. I could even use old colanders that I could pick up at the thrift store and spray paint them. Just too cute! Now I’m really getting inspired to get outside as soon as the weather warms up a bit!

 

Screen Pantry Door from Country Living

We painted our pantry closet this past autumn, along with lots of other painting projects we had to do after our laundry room flooded in October, and even though we also painted the louvered doors (so the really do look much better than they did!) they are still rather wobbly on the tracks at the top so I was thinking of replacing them soon. I don’t know how much it would cost to buy a couple of these charming screen porch doors, but it really would look great on our freshly painted pantry cupboard!

 

Spring Book Bundles from Pinterest

With all of the old books we have around here I’m sure I could come up with a few book bundles, tied up with ribbon and lace, to bring a bit of springtime joy to our home. I’ve also seen old books that have been painted and stacked and tied up with ribbons. They are really quite elegant and quaint, and add a touch of charm to a room. Guess I better find the really old ones that will probably never be read again and start painting the covers! The rest, the ones that we might actually read again someday, could still be stacked and wrapped and embellished.

 

Green Umbrella Door Decor from Pinterest

While trying to think “outside the box” (or perhaps “outside the wreath”) when coming up with fun, creative ideas for our front door, I came across this idea. I’ve seen all kinds of things used for seasonal door decor including rain boots, a green garden hose wrapped in a circle and tied with ribbon, a bushel basket of faux apples, and a few other interesting objects. This green polka dot umbrella with the white and yellow daisies, all wrapped up with a bright yellow ribbon is quite cheerful, don’t you think?

 

Garden Bench and Pillow from Pinterest

Just inside our door off the deck is our entry way. We have a closet that we have removed the doors and painted the inside so it is bright and cheerful. There’s a bench in there now (which actually is much prettier, in my opinion, than this one!) so all I would need to do is swap out the pillows for this type of summery theme, add a few vintage books, flower pots, and rusty old wash tub or colander, and voila! I’ve recreated this adorable little corner of coziness in our home!

 

Rusty Watering Can Door Decor from Pinterest

Here’s one more idea for creating springtime charm and nostalgia on our front door. A rusty old watering can filled with beautiful colorful blooms and foliage and then embellished with a lovely blue bow makes a delightful door decor. I think I’ll go looking for an old watering can at the local antique shop that is just down the road from our house and see what I can find. A few silk flowers and greens from Hobby Lobby, wrap it all up with a pretty bow and I’ll be all set with a sweet spring welcome on our door.

 

Stacked Herb Garden from Pinterest

I had an herb garden for many years when we lived in Michigan. We had plenty of room in our back yard for a raised garden where I could devote a couple of boxes just to my herbs. I even won the blue ribbon at the local 4H fair a few years with my entry in the herb collection category. Of course, that was because I was the only person, at that time, who actually grew herbs in the garden, so I was the only entry in that category! Still, I loved the way the herb garden looked and smelled, even if I didn’t always know exactly what to do with the various plants. Here’s an idea for creating a small, container herb garden . . . which is what I think I’ll be doing with most of my growing things this summer. Container gardening is much less work and easier to take care of than a great big garden that I used to plant. So when I came across this idea, I decided to add it to my collection today. It gives me hope that it really will eventually warm up and I can get outside.

Until then, I’ll work on inside projects and keep planning and dreaming of a beautiful spring day, filled with fresh air and sunshine, when I’ll be able to work on some of those outside projects, too. What are you doing this spring? Do you like to do spring cleaning and decorate your home and garden with fresh new decor? I would love to hear your ideas of how you bring springtime into your life. Hope to hear from you soon!

Filed Under: blogging, Christian women, Christian women bloggers, Christian women online, Craft blogs, Creative inspiration, DIY Home Decor, gardening, Home Decor on a Budget, spring DIY, Vintage Mama's Cottage, women bloggers Tagged With: 50+ bloggers, art bloggers, blogging, Christian women bloggers, Christian women online, craft bloggers, creative inspiration, creativity, DIY blog, DIY Home Decor on a Budget, Vintage Mama's Cottage, women bloggers

Earth Day – Ways to Celebrate! + HM #179

April 12, 2018 by VintageMama 5 Comments

Get ready for Earth Day! Check out our roundup, we've got some great ideas for celebrating our beautiful earth. Plus, link up at Home Matters with recipes, DIY, crafts, decor.

 

This time of year I’m always ready to celebrate Earth Day . . . . which means for me that I can’t wait to get out into our yard and garden and take care of our little corner of the Earth! This morning the crocus leaves were poking out from the ground and the bright yellow and purple blossoms were opening in the sunshine. Daffodil leaves were standing up tall but the blossoms haven’t come out yet. I also noticed that several of my ground cover / perennials were beginning to pop up with beautiful spring green foliage peeking out from the leftover autumn leaves that need to be cleaned up this weekend. So for this week’s Home Matters Linky Party #179 I thought it would be fun to find ideas for container gardening since I’m more inclined to limit my gardening responsibilities to those that I actually might be able to keep up with through the summer months.  #EarthDay #HomeMattersParty

Here are a few ideas that I discovered while searching for “container gardening” as well as the fun idea of a “pocket garden.” Looks like that’s another gardening technique that might work for our family! Check out the fun container garden ideas that I found and maybe you’ll be inspired, too, to celebrate Earth Day and all summer long with a beautiful (if small and compact) garden of your own.

Get ready for Earth Day! Check out our roundup, we've got some great ideas for celebrating our beautiful earth. Plus, link up at Home Matters with recipes, DIY, crafts, decor.

Flowers and Vegetables growing together in a pretty painted basin from Cleveland.com

 

Get ready for Earth Day! Check out our roundup, we've got some great ideas for celebrating our beautiful earth. Plus, link up at Home Matters with recipes, DIY, crafts, decor.

Flowers and grasses planted in repurposed trash cans and buckets from HGTV

Get ready for Earth Day! Check out our roundup, we've got some great ideas for celebrating our beautiful earth. Plus, link up at Home Matters with recipes, DIY, crafts, decor.

Pretty Painted Wheelbarrow filled with summer blossoms from Duck-Walk.com

 

Get ready for Earth Day! Check out our roundup, we've got some great ideas for celebrating our beautiful earth. Plus, link up at Home Matters with recipes, DIY, crafts, decor.

The Kitchen Sink Planter, complete with dishes, from Whilehome.com

 

Get ready for Earth Day! Check out our roundup, we've got some great ideas for celebrating our beautiful earth. Plus, link up at Home Matters with recipes, DIY, crafts, decor.

Vintage Tin Can Planters from CalendarGarden.com

Get ready for Earth Day! Check out our roundup, we've got some great ideas for celebrating our beautiful earth. Plus, link up at Home Matters with recipes, DIY, crafts, decor.

Repurposed / painted tin can planters from Homebut.com

 

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Welcome to the weekly Home Matters Linky Party. A great place to come, share your blog posts, and make new friends.

Brand Logo HMLP 2015 ©

Come join the fun and link your blog posts at the Home Matters Linky Party. Find inspiration, recipes, decor, crafts, organize, home, garden, repurpose, upcycle -- Door Opens Friday EST.

We would love to have you visit our blogs and follow us on social media!

Hosts

Lorelai @ Life With Lorelai — Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Kristen @ The Road to Domestication — Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Co-hosts

Sahana @ Vikalpah — Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Nicole @ Mom Always Finds Out — Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Emily @ Domestic Deadline — Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Donna @ Modern On Monticello — Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Nina @ Vintage Mama’s Cottage — Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Ashley @ Sweetpea Lifestyle — Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Jenny @ Cookies, Coffee and Crafts — Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

 

Check out more posts from the Hosts and Co-Hosts on our
NEW Pinterest Board, All Things Home Matters!
And, please do follow…

Follow All Things Home Matters Board on Pinterest.

 

HMLP - This Week's Features 2015 ©

Each week, we like to feature some of the awesome posts shared at last week’s party. We hope you will be inspired by these creative and talented bloggers who share their best recipes, DIY projects, crafts, home decor, organization ideas, and more. Enjoy!

Come join the fun and link your blog posts at the Home Matters Linky Party. Find inspiration, recipes, decor, crafts, organize, home, garden, repurpose, upcycle -- Door Opens Friday EST.

Check out this week’s features below.

 

7 Spring Essential Oil Diffuser Blends from Shannon @ Home Made Lovely

PIN here.


How to Create A Laundry Schedule That Works from Carrie @ Curly Crafty Mom

PIN here.


Spring Decorating with Balsam Hill from Jamie @ So Much Better with Age

PIN here.


How to Make Your Own Farmhouse Sign from Lisa @ Fresh Vintage by Lisa

PIN here.


Toasted Coconut Cheesecake Tart Recipe from Lydi @ Lydi Out Loud

PIN here.

 

Thank you to all who linked up at last week’s party. We look forward to seeing what you will be sharing with us this week!

Remember that every feature is shared on all Host’s and Co-Host’s blogs, as well as on the Home Matters Linky Party Pinterest Board! Don’t forget to follow…

Follow Home Matters Linky Party Board on Pinterest.

If you were featured this week, Please Grab our Featured Button to display proudly on your blog post, featured page, or sidebar! Share the joy…

Featured at Home Matters Linky Party

Are you ready to Party?

Brand Logo HMLP 2015 ©

The linky party starts when Friday begins and closes when Monday ends, EST.

We at Home Matters love meeting new people and discovering new blogs. Help us grow this party by sharing a link on your post or grabbing our party button for your sidebar or party page.

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Stop by and VISIT as many OTHER BLOGGERS as you can. Leave them a message, and share their talents on social media.

Be sure to Please USE our Registered Hashtag…

HMLP - Hashtag 2015 ©

 

Home Matters Linky Party Guidelines:

We are thrilled that you came by to link up today! Here are a few rules that hosts and co-hosts of the Home Matters Party follow, and we ask that you follow them, as well.

  1. Please link up no more than THREE posts each week–try to make sure that they are new links that you have not shared here previously. (Exception: Holiday/Seasonal specific posts may be shared once per year.)
  1. Please take some time to poke around and visit some of the other links.
  1. Please take some time to check out your hosts and co-hosts on social media.
  1. We appreciate the variety of blogs on the www; however, the Home Matters Party is for links on matters of the HOME. Please link accordingly.
  1. We ask that you do not add other Linky Parties, Blog Hops, or Giveaways–unless you begin the party with a new project, recipe or post.
  1. On the same note, please do not add links of an extremist, political or strong controversial nature. (The hosts and co-hosts read each and every blog post linked and will contact you directly if you have linked something that does not fit into the realm of the party.)

With your help, we can continue to grow the Home Matters Party! Thank you!

Get ready for Earth Day! Check out our roundup, we've got some great ideas for celebrating our beautiful earth. Plus, link up at Home Matters with recipes, DIY, crafts, decor. #EarthDay #HomeMattersParty Click To Tweet

Link Up!

By joining the Home Matters Linky Party you are giving permission for all hosts and co-hosts to use and share any part of your post, including pictures, for party promotion, as featured posts, in party photo collages, on blogs, and across social media, etc. All credits will be given to the original source. Also, you will receive a weekly email reminder regarding the new week’s Home Matters Linky Party.

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Thank you for joining in the fun and excitement at the Home Matters Linky Party. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do. We look forward to chatting with you in the comments.

 

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Filed Under: Blog Hops, Blog Linky Parties, Christian women, Christian women bloggers, Christian women online, Craft blogs, Creative inspiration, gardening, Home Matters, Home Matters Linky Party, Linky Parties, Linky Party, spring, spring DIY, Vintage Mama's Cottage, women bloggers Tagged With: 50+ bloggers, blog hops, blogging, Christian women, Christian women bloggers, Christian women online, craft bloggers, creative inspiration, creativity, DIY blog, DIY Home Decor on a Budget, gardening, Home Matters, Home Matters Linky Party, linky parties, linky party, mommy bloggers, Vintage Mama's Cottage, women bloggers

Is it spring yet?

April 12, 2018 by VintageMama 4 Comments

Maybe if I extend an official invitation, spring will arrive. Eventually. Here in northern Indiana, we’re still shivering in our boots most days. The other day one of my girls had a tennis match and the other one had a track meet. I was trying to bounce between the tennis courts on one side of town and the high school track so I could watch both of them, at least for a little while. Fortunately for me, I was in the car most of the time since I was driving and then waiting for a while and driving again. But for the girls, it was pretty frosty out there! They both took warm, fuzzy blankets with them so they could wrap up when they weren’t participating, and they both had jackets (and I think gloves and hats, but what does a mama know about all that stuff???). But I could tell they were still shivering in that blustery, cold wind.

Then yesterday, the sun popped out and the wind died down for a while, and it was actually warm. For a while. I opened the door to our deck and a sudden gust of wind shipped a bunch of old, dried up, dead leaves into the house. I can’t wait to get outside and finish cleaning up all of the leaves, twigs, branches, and other debris that blew into our yard after we cleaned up everything in the fall. That brief moment of warm-ish breeze gave me hope that spring will arrive. Eventually.

While I’m waiting for spring this year, I’ve been a bit distracted from my creative projects since starting my new, part-time, work-at-home job, teaching English as a second language to children in China. It’s been a bit of a learning curve to understand the technology and how the teaching platforms work, making sure that my internet connection is stable and fast enough to work online in a one-on-one teaching environment. Now that I feel more comfortable with the whole process of teaching students via an online classroom, I’m beginning to find that I have more time to begin planning my next DIY, home improvement, sewing, refashioning, art journal projects. It really works great for me to have several projects “in process,” as my brain just works better when I can be planning different things.

I’m hopeful that my pretty wreath will encourage spring to appear very soon! If necessary, I just might make a couple more (since they are really fun and easy to make!) and pop them into my Etsy shop. That reminds me . . . I need to update my shop soon with some of the other creations that I’ve come up with over the winter. You can make your own “Hello Spring” wreath with the FREE tutorial HERE.

This new endeavor has really kept me pretty focused since the beginning of the year, so I’m really looking forward to turning my attention to those other projects. Of course, creating my online classroom was a creative project all on its own! I had to figure out how to make a “classroom” backdrop to create an educational / interesting setting for my students. I’m thinking they really wouldn’t care if they could see my little classroom / office that is set up in a corner of our freshly updated living room – but the company requires all teachers to have a “classroom” set-up. So here’s what I did . . . .

Our living room is quite large, so it works out great for me to have my computer and all the teaching supplies that I need all set up behind the love seat that faces the fireplace. We put my two file cabinets behind the love seat with a shelf across the tops to make a sturdy platform for all of my stuff. Then, I bought two tri-fold bulletin boards from Walmart and set them on top of the shelf. Since the love seat is behind the boards, there is a sturdy backing for my back drop so it doesn’t fall over. Then I decorated the boards with cute, fun stuff! I added some props, stuffed animals, books, and a white board for various activities with my students.

Now that I have myself organized for teaching, I’m off to my next creative adventure! In the meantime, while I’m waiting for spring to arrive, I wanted to share this spring wreath project, just in case you want to see if you can encourage spring to arrive at your house, too. Here are a few pictures of my Hello Spring wreath – be sure to visit again soon for the complete tutorial for making your very own Hello Spring wreath. Today, I hope you will join us for the Favorite Things Blog Hop and Linky Party. I’ll do my best to visit some of you this week. It’s been challenging to get around to very many of our weekly participants in the linky party, but I’m hopeful that I will have time for a visit with you very soon!

********************************************************

Please join us for this week’s

Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop and Linky Party

Thursday Favorite Thing blog link party

 

Katherine-Katherines Corner

Nina-Vintage Mamas Cottage

Marilyn-Marilyns Treats

Bev-Eclectic Red Barn

Angelina- Petite Haus

Theresa Begin – Shoestring Elegance

An InLinkz Link-up


Filed Under: Blog Hops, Blog Linky Parties, blogging, Christian women, Christian women bloggers, Christian women online, Craft blogs, Craft Tutorials, Creative inspiration, DIY Home Decor, DIY Tutorials, Katherines Corner, Linky Parties, Linky Party, spring, spring craft project, spring DIY, spring DIY tutorial, Vintage Mama's Cottage Tagged With: 50+ bloggers, art bloggers, blog hops, blogging, Christian women, Christian women bloggers, Christian women online, craft bloggers, creative inspiration, creativity, DIY wreath, Katherine's Corner, linky parties, linky party, mommy bloggers, spring, Thursday Blog Hop, Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop, Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop and Linky Party, Thursday Linky Party, Vintage Mama's Cottage, women bloggers

If you think you’re not an artist – let me tell you a secret!

April 10, 2018 by VintageMama 3 Comments

In a world full of experts and professionals, it can feel overwhelming and intimidating to venture out into a new area and learn a new skill. We often believe that some people are just “born” artists, and that only a few people in the world will have the opportunity to express themselves artistically and creatively. Well, I’m pretty sure that there really ARE people who are better at some things than others, and that there ARE people who have more training, experience, and credentials in the area of the arts. That’s like saying that there are people in the world who have more education than another person . . . it’s TRUE!

But that doesn’t mean that YOU can’t have the gift of discovering creativity in your life. And that’s where the whole process of art journaling comes into play. You see, in creating and art journal, there really are no rules to follow, or expectations to be met. You aren’t going to get a grade on your art journal, and no one ever even needs to see your creations. Unless you want to share them with us, that is!

According to Tangie Baxter in her blog post, “What is art journaling?” she defines it this way:  “Simply put, Art Journaling is a visual diary–it’s record keeping combined with creativity! It’s a place to record your thoughts, memories, and emotions through images, art and words. The number one rule about Art Journaling is that…there are NO rules.” That’s what I LOVE about art journaling! As a fiber artist, I recognize that I’m not great at drawing or painting, but I can figure out how to put pretty designs and shapes together on a page, and I can even use stitching on some of my art pages. I also have a pretty good collection of vintage buttons, lace, ribbons, and old papers and other stuff that I use on my art journal pages.

Maybe you don’t feel like you can do any of those things, so you decide that you simply aren’t an artist after all. But wait! If you ever loved to get out your crayons and coloring book when you were a kid . . . or if you had fun cutting and gluing pieces of paper together . . . or if you played with paper dolls . . . . or if you ever found yourself sticking Band-aids or tape or stickers on the side of the refrigerator when you were five years old . . . then YOU can make an art journal! Besides the fact that you CAN make an art journal, you NEED to take time to reflect on your life, on your day, on your vision for your future, on the joys and sorrows of your past. That’s because God made us all in His image, and HE is the Creator!

Tangie Baxter puts it this way:  “We believe that everyone has a reservoir of creative energy just waiting for permission to be used! True, you may not be selling your artwork at a gallery anytime soon, but that is NOT what art journaling is all about! This is purely for you to explore more about yourself and the world around you. It is learning to enjoy the process of creativity and not being fixed on the end results. I’ll let you in on a little secret, I have awesome superpowers and I can prove that you are an artist right here and now. Do you know how to write? Writing is simply practicing artistic shapes over and over and over again until you had them memorized. See? You are an artist! Creativity is a muscle that needs to be flexed and used to grow and flourish to its full potential. I know that deep down inside you there is an artist just waiting to come out and play, won’t you let her out?”

The other good thing about art journaling is that you don’t need any special supplies. If you have a composition book and a pencil, you can start! And then when you decide to get a bit more adventurous, you can fold a few pieces of notebook paper or copy paper the size you want, staple them together, and start doodling. Another idea is to make your own book out of any ol’ cardboard pieces you have laying around. You can punch holes in one side, add some pages (maybe from your folded up pieces of paper) with holes punched in the side, and then bind them all together with apiece of ribbon or string. Then start adding stuff!

Here are some pictures of the “stuff” that I glue into my art journals . . . . I like to make little envelopes, pockets, and even tiny booklets that fit nicely into my pockets and envelopes. You can cut tags out of lightweight cardboard, or scrapbook paper (I use mostly leftover scraps of paper for my tags), or 3 X 5 index cards. Then, decorate them with drawings, doodles, words, or really anything at all. I have so much fun embellishing my tags and little booklets with scraps of pretty paper, ribbons, lace, buttons, or even ripped up paper scraps. You can add words that are meaningful to you, or quotes, or your own words, poetry, stories, or sayings.

(if you want to start with a monthly calendar page, you can find free printable calendars right here at Vintage Mama’s Cottage!)

In her article, “A beginner’s guide to art journaling” on her blog, EsKaa Makes, Selina reminds us that: “You don’t do it for the result, but for the process. Experimenting with colours, materials, images, words to express yourself, without the pressure that I often feel, to deliver a certain outcome. There are no rules, it’s total freedom of creativity. It feels so liberating!”

So here is one more word of encouragement for YOU to give it a try! I know you are busy. I know you don’t think you are interested. I know that you might even think it is a waste of time when you have so many other more important things to do. I know that. But I promise you, if you just give it a try, I’ll be right here to cheer you on. In the meantime, I’m working on a blog post to introduce you to one of my favorite artists who didn’t think she was an artist either . . . . and then she decided to try out a few ideas that she had whirling around in her head. She didn’t have any money to buy fancy art supplies, so she used what she had on hand. You will love her and you will love her whimsical art work. I’ll tell you more about her tomorrow! Come on, get started on your own creative journey of art journaling. You can’t do it wrong!

(Creative inspiration from Tangie Baxter)

Filed Under: art journals, Christian women, Christian women bloggers, Christian women online, Craft blogs, Craft Tutorials, Creative inspiration, Journals, Vintage Mama's Cottage, women bloggers Tagged With: 50+ bloggers, art bloggers, art journals, Christian women, Christian women bloggers, craft bloggers, creative inspiration, creativity, DIY blog, Vintage Mama's Cottage, women bloggers

Stress Awareness Management Ideas + HM #178

April 5, 2018 by VintageMama 5 Comments

April is National Stress Awareness Month. Stress is everywhere, so we've gathered some ideas to help you be aware, manage, and beat your stress. Plus, link up at Home Matters with recipes, DIY, crafts, decor.

As a follow-up to yesterday’s post about taking time to be creative, this week’s Home Matters Party #178 is focused on stress awareness / management. There is a great deal of evidence that doing something creative is a great way to improve your outlook on life and minimize stress. Of course, if you feel rushed and stressed just thinking about trying to fit one more thing into your already too busy day, well, that might not be so helpful. So that’s not how this works! #StressAwareness #HomeMattersParty

It’s more about learning to slow down a bit, take time to breathe, and do something that inspires you. That might be playing the piano, painting a picture, writing a poem, cooking your favorite recipe, knitting a sweater or crocheting an afghan . . . . or setting aside 10 or 15 minutes to doodle and draw in an art journal. Here are a few ideas for art journaling (along with my own current art journal project) that might inspire you.

It really is true that letting yourself have just a little bit of time as often as possible just to do something fun is good for you! I hope you will consider trying your hand at art journaling. It is really super simple (or as elaborate as YOU want to make it!), and can be done in a plain ol’ composition notebook, or a blank book, or you can even make your own journal. You can paint, or draw, or sketch, or doodle, or cut / glue / layer different papers and other “junk,” and you can write your own thoughts or quotes by other people or anything at all. And the best part . . . if you make a mistake, you can just paint over it or glue another piece of pretty paper over the top of it and start all over! NO STRESS just fun creativity.

So think about it . . . “just breathe” and start doodling or drawing, cutting and pasting, writing or stamping, painting or sketching or whatever you want to do. I promise you, it will help minimize the stress of everyday life. You are worth it! Give yourself time to play and discover your own thoughts, ideas, and dreams and go ahead and document your journey. I hope you can join us this week for the #HomeMattersParty . . . it’s a lot of fun!

Nina Signature

 

All art journal page images via Pinterest

April is National Stress Awareness Month. Stress is everywhere, so we've gathered some ideas to help you be aware, manage, and beat your stress. Plus, link up at Home Matters with recipes, DIY, crafts, decor.

 

April is National Stress Awareness Month. Stress is everywhere, so we've gathered some ideas to help you be aware, manage, and beat your stress. Plus, link up at Home Matters with recipes, DIY, crafts, decor.

 

April is National Stress Awareness Month. Stress is everywhere, so we've gathered some ideas to help you be aware, manage, and beat your stress. Plus, link up at Home Matters with recipes, DIY, crafts, decor.

 

April is National Stress Awareness Month. Stress is everywhere, so we've gathered some ideas to help you be aware, manage, and beat your stress. Plus, link up at Home Matters with recipes, DIY, crafts, decor.

 

April is National Stress Awareness Month. Stress is everywhere, so we've gathered some ideas to help you be aware, manage, and beat your stress. Plus, link up at Home Matters with recipes, DIY, crafts, decor.

 

April is National Stress Awareness Month. Stress is everywhere, so we've gathered some ideas to help you be aware, manage, and beat your stress. Plus, link up at Home Matters with recipes, DIY, crafts, decor.

 

 

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Welcome to the weekly Home Matters Linky Party. A great place to come, share your blog posts, and make new friends.

Brand Logo HMLP 2015 ©

Come join the fun and link your blog posts at the Home Matters Linky Party. Find inspiration, recipes, decor, crafts, organize, home, garden, repurpose, upcycle -- Door Opens Friday EST.

We would love to have you visit our blogs and follow us on social media!

Hosts

Lorelai @ Life With Lorelai — Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Kristen @ The Road to Domestication — Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Co-hosts

Sahana @ Vikalpah — Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Nicole @ Mom Always Finds Out — Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Emily @ Domestic Deadline — Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Donna @ Modern On Monticello — Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Nina @ Vintage Mama’s Cottage — Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Ashley @ Sweetpea Lifestyle — Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Jenny @ Cookies, Coffee and Crafts — Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

 

Check out more posts from the Hosts and Co-Hosts on our

NEW Pinterest Board, All Things Home Matters!

And, please do follow…

Follow All Things Home Matters Board on Pinterest.

 

HMLP - This Week's Features 2015 ©

Each week, we like to feature some of the awesome posts shared at last week’s party. We hope you will be inspired by these creative and talented bloggers who share their best recipes, DIY projects, crafts, home decor, organization ideas, and more. Enjoy!

Come join the fun and link your blog posts at the Home Matters Linky Party. Find inspiration, recipes, decor, crafts, organize, home, garden, repurpose, upcycle -- Door Opens Friday EST.

Check out this week’s features below.

 

How To Make Your Own Perfume from Kristy @ Life-N-Reflection

PIN here.


Thai Cucumber Salad from Kim @ Cravings of a Lunatic

 

PIN here.


Succulent Tin Can Gift from Ashley @ Simply Designing

 

PIN here.


Garden Hose Wreath from The Contessa @ Tumbleweed Contessa

 

PIN here.


How To Plank A Wall – DIY Shiplap from Sarah @ Making Joy & Pretty Things

 

PIN here.

 

Thank you to all who linked up at last week’s party. We look forward to seeing what you will be sharing with us this week!

 

Remember that every feature is shared on all Host’s and Co-Host’s blogs, as well as on the Home Matters Linky Party Pinterest Board! Don’t forget to follow…

Follow Home Matters Linky Party Board on Pinterest.

If you were featured this week, Please Grab our Featured Button to display proudly on your blog post, featured page, or sidebar! Share the joy…

Featured at Home Matters Linky Party

Are you ready to Party?

Brand Logo HMLP 2015 ©

The linky party starts when Friday begins and closes when Monday ends, EST.

We at Home Matters love meeting new people and discovering new blogs. Help us grow this party by sharing a link on your post or grabbing our party button for your sidebar or party page.

Home Matters Linky Party - Grab Button

Stop by and VISIT as many OTHER BLOGGERS as you can. Leave them a message, and share their talents on social media.

Be sure to Please USE our Registered Hashtag…

HMLP - Hashtag 2015 ©

 

Home Matters Linky Party Guidelines:

We are thrilled that you came by to link up today! Here are a few rules that hosts and co-hosts of the Home Matters Party follow, and we ask that you follow them, as well.

  1. Please link up no more than THREE posts each week–try to make sure that they are new links that you have not shared here previously. (Exception: Holiday/Seasonal specific posts may be shared once per year.)
  1. Please take some time to poke around and visit some of the other links.
  1. Please take some time to check out your hosts and co-hosts on social media.
  1. We appreciate the variety of blogs on the www; however, the Home Matters Party is for links on matters of the HOME. Please link accordingly.
  1. We ask that you do not add other Linky Parties, Blog Hops, or Giveaways–unless you begin the party with a new project, recipe or post.
  1. On the same note, please do not add links of an extremist, political or strong controversial nature. (The hosts and co-hosts read each and every blog post linked and will contact you directly if you have linked something that does not fit into the realm of the party.)

With your help, we can continue to grow the Home Matters Party! Thank you!

Home Matters helps you beat the stress with some great ideas for national Stress Awareness Month. Plus, link up at Home Matters with recipes, DIY, crafts, decor. #StressAwareness #HomeMattersParty Click To Tweet

Link Up!

By joining the Home Matters Linky Party you are giving permission for all hosts and co-hosts to use and share any part of your post, including pictures, for party promotion, as featured posts, in party photo collages, on blogs, and across social media, etc. All credits will be given to the original source. Also, you will receive a weekly email reminder regarding the new week’s Home Matters Linky Party.

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Thank you for joining in the fun and excitement at the Home Matters Linky Party. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do. We look forward to chatting with you in the comments.

 

Don’t have a blog, but want to Remember to Party With Us each week?

Forgot to leave your email while linking up your post?

You can still sign up for our Email Party Reminders. Click below for a form…

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Filed Under: art journals, Blog Hops, Blog Linky Parties, blogging, Christian women, Christian women bloggers, Christian women online, Craft blogs, Creative inspiration, Home Matters, Home Matters Linky Party, Journals, Linky Parties, Linky Party, Vintage Mama's Cottage Tagged With: 50+ bloggers, art bloggers, blog hops, blogging, Christian women, Christian women bloggers, Christian women online, craft bloggers, creative inspiration, creativity, DIY blog, Home Matters, Home Matters Linky Party, linky parties, linky party, women bloggers

Take Time to be Creative

April 5, 2018 by VintageMama 2 Comments

Take time to be creative

I’ve been reading a lot of articles recently about the benefits of creativity. Of course, not everyone THINKS that they are creative, and lots of people aren’t even the least bit interested in pursuing creative endeavors. Painting, drawing, singing, dancing, writing, sewing, quilting, writing music, playing an instrument, sculpting statues, designing clothing or graphic art, writing poetry . . . and anything else you can think of . . . often seems to be the realm of only certain people. Surely accountants, bankers, investment and real estate brokers, insurance or car sales people frequently seem uninterested in spending time “making stuff.”

But not always. Sometimes the people who make a living doing “left brain” types of work, also discover that doing something creative once in a while is good for their soul. And it also has been shown to lower blood pressure, reduce stress, and relieve anxiety. That’s why there has been a recent resurgence in the simple activity of coloring. Especially for adults. We all loved to color pictures when we were kids. Probably even the math whiz in the 6th grade secretly loved to color pictures. Even if the pictures he /she liked to color the best were filled with robots, cars, or stars and planets and space ships.

So as I’ve been learning about the spiritual, mental, and physical benefits of creativity, I decided to follow-up on my art journal posts (which I am working on and making great progress!) with a bit of additional inspiration to encourage everyone who visits Vintage Mama’s Cottage to take time to be creative. There are so many different ways to discover your own style of creativity, but in the end it really doesn’t matter WHAT you create, and it really doesn’t even matter if it turns out the way you want it to, or if your creation is super simple and easy to do like . . . coloring! Just do it, for the benefits and blessings of slowing down and relaxing long enough to breathe. Even if it is only for 10 or 15 minutes, it will help you de-stress. Really!

According to Verily, “creative activities are literally therapy for your mind. Whether it’s writing, baking, gardening, sewing, or playing music, a creative outlet can really improve your mental clarity. And if Martha Stewart isn’t your spirit animal, hobbies such as reading and listening to music count, too.

The beauty of creating is that it doesn’t have to be elaborate or groundbreaking. It can be just about whatever you want, as long as it’s unrelated to work inside or outside the home. Here are five ways that creativity can be the key to better mental and emotional health” (5 Proven Ways Creativity is Good for Your Health). Some of the many ways that creativity is good for your mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health include:

  •  It relieves stress
  • It increases and renews brain function
  • It can help prevent Alzheimer’s
  • It improves mood
  • It cultivates your social life

And the spiritual implications of discovering your own creativity are significant as well. According to Alisha Gratehouse of Flourish in her book, “A Life that Flourishes,” there is scriptural inspiration for our creativity:

“You are the crowning design of the Ultimate Artist. In fact, the Bible calls you God’s masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10 NLT). And this word “masterpiece” is the Greek word poiema, which carries the idea of something that is artfully created.

Not only were you artfully created, but when you were formed you were also given specific desires, talents, abilities, gifts, and passions to help you fulfill God’s purpose for your life.

Furthermore, as a Christian, you have the Creator living on the inside of you! So, if you want to cultivate your soul and fulfill your God-given purpose, then it is important that you take time to explore those creative passions.”

You are so much more creative than you think you are!”

She offers ten additional benefits of creativity:

  •  Joy
  • Self-expression
  • Fulfillment
  • Authenticity
  • Sense of balance
  • Resourcefulness
  • Stress relief
  • Improved health
  • Continued growth
  • Connection with other women

So it really doesn’t matter if you “feel” creative or not . . . God the Creator made you in His image. So you are, by your very nature, creative. Let’s take this journey together and see what we discover about our own creativity, no matter how you choose to express yourself. To get you started, here is a coloring page that you can print out and start being creative! I hope you can join us this week for the Favorite Things Blog Hop and Linky Party. That’s definitely one way to discover a TON of creative inspiration and ideas. Hope to see you there!

Sun and Moon Coloring PageFor more FREE coloring pages, please visit everfreecoloring.com  

Nina Signature

 

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Please join us for this week’s

Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop and Linky Party

Thursday Favorite Thing blog link party

 

Katherine-Katherines Corner

Nina-Vintage Mamas Cottage

Marilyn-Marilyns Treats

Bev-Eclectic Red Barn

Angelina- Petite Haus

Theresa Begin – Shoestring Elegance

An InLinkz Link-up


Filed Under: art journals, Blog Hops, Blog Linky Parties, blogging, Christian women, Christian women bloggers, Christian women online, Creative inspiration, FREE printables, Katherines Corner, Linky Parties, Linky Party, Vintage Mama's Cottage, women bloggers Tagged With: 50+ bloggers, art bloggers, blog hops, blogging, Christian women bloggers, Christian women online, craft bloggers, creative inspiration, creativity, Katherine's Corner, linky parties, linky party, mommy bloggers, Thursday Blog Hop, Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop, Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop and Linky Party, Thursday Linky Party, Vintage Mama's Cottage, women bloggers

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