Never Forget the Arts, Ever.

This is more than pretty letters on a chalkboard to me. I carries a powerful message that has become, what I consider to be, my life's motto.  I decided to create this on my studios chalk wall so I could see it everyday and serve as a reminder of why I'm here and why I started this journey in the first place.

You see I was actually told to forget a career in the arts. Well, the actual words were, "If you ever expect to make a living you simply can't be an artist." 😢 Oh sigh. Did you feel the cringe? That happened 30 years ago and I can still feel it. I did however learn something very powerful from this whole experience. And that my friends is, You can't change who you are meant to be. I am and was always meant to be an ARTIST.

So, if you're being persuaded against following your dreams, no matter what they are, listen to that voice deep inside and stick it out.  Persevere. Stay strong and never let anyone steal your sunshine!

Thankfully, I never forgot the arts. My pencil went quiet for a while but I never, ever forgot who I was. I don't cast blame on anyone but instead choose to see this as a blessing. Had I gone to college for the arts who knows if I would have stuck with it. The struggle has made me who I am today, while also helping me realize how badly I wanted my dream.

So go out and ...

Chase that ✨dream✨ and make it yours! Know you will work hard but also know it will be a worthwhile venture.

Pretty Customized Mac Folders

I have been prettying up my desktop in preparation for February and realized that all you beautiful people out there probably would love to do the same. BTW I'll have a FREE wallpaper for download in the next couple of days. I'll announce when it's available on Instagram and Facebook so if you haven't already, hop in and follow along so you don't miss it!

So with the new year upon us I decided to spice up the folder icons I keep on my desktop just to help them stand out a little more and make them pretty of course.  I love that they are very easy to spot in finder among the standard blue folders which is quite nice.  In addition to the color change I also wanted to add pretty labels to the folders so they call out what's stored inside. This project is super easy, makes finding folders visually easier and adds pizaz to your desktop!

Here goes!

I used Photoshop, but any editing software will work and a Wacom Tablet for illustrating the folder labels.

Start

Select the Folder you wish to modify by clicking it once to highlight it.

Right Click on the Folder to bring up the Folder Options Menu and choose Get Info.

The below Get Info Menu will open.

Highlight, by clicking once, the tiny Folder Icon in the top upper left of the Get Info Menu and copy it by pressing Command C or ⌘ C on your keyboard.

Open a new Photoshop file. Since you have stored a copy of the Folder to your clipboard with the ⌘ C command Photoshop should preset the size of the new files canvas to accommodate your copied image. Below is what you should see. Select OK.

Paste the Folder Icon into the new Photoshop file by selecting Command V or ⌘ V on your keyboard. You should now see the below Folder icon. If not, you missed something so retrace your steps and try it again.

Once you have the Folder placed into to Photoshop you can then start playing with colors and adding illustrations! To keep things straight. Name the layer with the Folder on it "Folder" and create a new layer and name it "Color Layer". I turned off the Backgound layer but you don't have too. Highlight the Color Layer.

Leave the Blend Modes set to Normal for both Folder and Color Layer.

With the Folder Layer highlighted hold down Command or ⌘ key on your keyboard and left click the Brush Icon within the Folder Layer this will select only the Folder Icon and you will see what is called marching ants around the Folder. This is how we choose what areas will be affected with the color changes. Below is what your selection will look like.

Now select the Color Layer and choose Solid Color from the Adjustment Layer Menu.

The Color Menu will appear and just choose the color you wish. Once you have decided on your color select OK and then drop the Opacity to around 70% so you can see the folder details. If those aren't important to you then no worries. You've now changed your folder color.

Now take it up a notch and create an extra layer and play with adding illustrations, lettering or whatever your heart desires.

The final step is to Select All and Copy Merged from the Edit Menu unless you want to merge all Layers into one and just copy that one layer. Highlight the small Folder Icon that was in the Folders > Get Info Menu and Command V or ⌘ V on your keyboard. You should now see your new Folder Icon! You can now close that menu and move on to the folder you wish to change!

Of course there are multiple ways to do anything and Photoshop is no exception. And who says you even have to use Photoshop. Work in what you are most comfy in. (For me it's Pajamas and Photoshop for the Win!) :) And if you're new to Photoshop this may seem like a loooooooong process but trust me once you do this a couple of times you'll quickly get the hang of it.

Enjoy decorating your desktop and don't forget to check out the Shop for unique Love inspired art prints, stickers and more! Perfect for Valentines Day!

Pink Ombre Heart Shaped Pancakes

Making heart shaped pancakes is actually easier than you may think! And adding the pink coloring is super easy as well.

All You Need Is

♥ Pan
♥ Heart Shaped Cookie Cutter (I use a large Wilton Heart Cookie Cutter)
♥ 2 T Portion Scoop
♥ Pancake Mix
♥ Red Food Coloring or Beat Juice
♥ Coconut Oil

Grease your large metal heart cookie cutter with butter or coconut oil.

Simply mix up your pancake mix (Gluten Free or regular) and add a drop of coloring and stir. You only want to use one drop so you achieve a light pink. 

Place greased heart cookie cutter in a heated pan and use the portion scoop to distribute pancake mix inside of the cutter. Smooth to the edges of the cookie cutter to cover the entire area. Allow to cook until bubbles appear in the pancake and flip with a spatula. Normally I remove the heart cutter then flip he pancake. If you greased it well enough it will slide right off.  Allow opposite side to cook and remove from pan.

Add additional drops of coloring to darken the pancake mix for a darker pancake color. Continue until all mix is used. Stack and serve with fresh raspberries, strawberries and maple syrup!

Easy to make. Easy to Wow!

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Propagating Succulents

I love succulents. They remind me of my grandma because she always had them growing around her home. They are the perfect plant to grow in dish gardens in your home and on patio areas. They have a multitude of varieties and colors and add interest where ever they live.
But...They can be pricey.

Let's face it. These little pretties aren't cheap and a small set usually runs around $3. Therefore,when making a succulent dish garden it can become expensive to get a nice variety and enough to fill a dish. So I decided to try propagation! And I found it's pretty easy to do!

First you just need to collect some leaves from your succulents. You can do so by gently wiggling them back and forth until you hear a little snap.

After you have collected the ones you wish to propagate allow the ends to dry. This can take a couple of days all the way up to a week.. Once the ends are dry place them in a dish of soil in filtered light. I keep mine on my desk where they get nice filtered light through my sheers and I can enjoy them while I work.

Spritz the ends with water to keep them moist but don't over water or they'll rot. Think of the leaf as food for the baby that will grow at the tip. The baby will root into the dirt and will continue to grow with the large leaf dwindling away after time. Be careful not to pull the leaf off to soon as it could damage your baby plant. 

Below is what your babies will look like once they appear at the leaf end.

Allow the babies to grow and transplant to a larger pot when they have matured a bit.

Easy - Smart - Inexpensive - Succulents

Good luck and happy propagating!

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And please, don't mess with the garden! Ha!