creativity exercises = creativity explosion

You've heard me talk about it over & over....the NEED for my Creativity Exercises. daily.

Yes. I do them every day. 

Faithfully. 

WHy? So my creative muscle will be strong, fit & ready to think outside the box- be innovative!

Well- yesterday I had one of THE most amazing experiences during the process.

You see, I've been having some ideas lately....the past few months. (actually the very first time I thought of it was last Spring! but, I tucked it away.)

Some crazy, WILD ideas. 

The kind that at first you think: "What am I THINKING?"

They've been....marinating. percolating. guiding me....step by step.

Then I went to Snap- the Conference & I heard some things that got my wheels turning even faster. I was reminded of a few ideas & promptings that I'd had...& I could FEEL that the timing was right.

I met some amazing people that really *sparked* those ideas. Again...marinating. percolating. guiding step by step in this process.

I came home on a cReative high & talked it over with my agent/husband: Jeff. I love him, because he's learned to not think I'm crazy...just let me brainstorm & be my sounding board! LOL! Well...the idea was there, the wheels were in motion, but we there were a lot of 'Hows' & 'What ifs' & frankly...FEAR! I was actually getting scared of the ideas that were coming!

But, again...marinating. percolating. guiding step by step.

Part of this process that's been guiding me was when I shared my Creative Process during my Creativity Week -inspiration. perspiration. innovation. creation. 

I've been really thinking a lot about this particular process & knew that with these 4 Creativity concepts along with my daily 100 Creativity Exercises all of the 'Hows' & 'What ifs' & Fear would work out.

So, yesterday Jeff got this idea & as we were talking about it, IT CAME! All of the questions, all of the 'Hows' & 'What ifs' came like a FLOOD of creative inspiration. It was so fast & furious I couldn't breathe! The fear is still there...cuz again...I'm skeered. But, it's so out of the box- fun- exciting...

the planning stage has begun.

And all of the daily creativity exercises primed my creative muscle to be ready for that inspiration when it hit! The concept itself is a huge undertaking & it is going to take a lot of perspiration, but I think it will be well worth it!

oh yea...& in the middle of this process, I have been designing a new collection for Summer that is making me sooo excited. The creative juices have been over-flowing! Hoping it will all be ready & finished by next week...just in time to kick off Summer!

eeeee! Soo excited! I LOVE being uplifted & inspired....stay tuned!

Follow Your Heart Feature: Layle Koncar

I wanted to share the amazing work of my dear friend, Layle Koncar.  She is the May Guest Designer over at My Mind's Eye blog this month & she killed it! LOVE her work...always have. And, when I saw her work with my line: Follow Your Heart, I about died...it made me giddy!

SHe used many of the new products from MME, but when I saw this layout she did with my 'Be Amazing' collection, my heart skipped a beat. I LOVE how she created the little honeycomb pop-ups!

I mean, really? she's just brill!  Aaannnd....Here's a card she created with the 'Be Happy' collection. um...yea. THIS makes me happpy!

She says: 

What is your favorite MME line and why?  Hands down, it's Follow Your Heart - both Be Happy and Be Amazing.  I've been friends with Rhonna for many years and I just LOVE her style - it's so her!  I'm not much of a digi girl, so I was so excited when she began designing paper products again.

Rhonna and My Minds Eye are THE perfect match.  I love the papers in the Follow Your Heart lines - so easy to work with and FUN!

no, I didn't pay her to say that! LOL...she's so rad, no? Thanks Layle & MME...such a great way to uplift & inspire!

cReative team Tuesday- Gift Wrap & Baby Announcement

I hope everyone had a very Happy Mother's Day! I know I did! And, I used lots of Rhonna Designs (last minute of course) in creating little jars full of chocolate. I topped them off with little fringed flower/paper prize ribbons using the Prize Winning Mom kit! They were a hit!

And, I always LOVE seeing what my Creative Team creates with Rhonna Designs...look at what Jamie did for Mother's Day!

Jamie went to town on her Mother's Day gift wrapping...after all: "Presentation is everything"....& Jamie is full of inspiration. Go check out her blog to see the amazing details HERE.

And.... a HUGE congrats to our Creative Team Member: Rosemary! See how she announced the gender of her lil baby! I love it! **note: the bow is from my hand drawn collection with House of 3- no longer available**

I'm working on some fun creative projects today...after seeing what my Creative Team did, I just can't help but want to do my 100 Creativity Exercises...Love it! Happy Tuesday!

Quote-a-rama Guest on Design Editor

Today I'm a guest-quote-a-rama girl over at Design Editor! I had fun creating this with a bunch of my art found on Rhonna Designs:

She Lived Word Art

Prize Winning Mom

Spring Circus Printable Card Kit

Chevron Tool Kit 

Mini Seals Kit

I love Catherine's site...so inspiring as a designer....I love her Quote-a-rama series, & she's got so many other fab series on her site!

Font Friday

Scrapbooking

& I love her home tour! 

Thanks for uplifting & inspiring us, Catherine!

Mother's Day Week: Prize Winning Women

I hope all of you sip & savor every moment of this weekend. Whether you are celebrating your own Motherhood, or others'....savor those Prize Winning Moms in your life!  

I savor each project my Creative Team sends in & today I wanted to share what Nancy & Rosemary created!

Look at these brilliant & creative Mother's Day Cards/ Paper Ribbon Corsages that Nancy made with the new Rhonna Designs kit!

She said they a card-turned-corsage. I just love that! Such a clever & fabulous idea! Thanks Nancy! 

And, Rosemary is simply amazing...check out these gorgeous Mother's Day cards she made out of various Rhonna Designs kits. Rosemary is so great...she created her own little Printable with my art to create a super simple card! LOVE how she incorporated the Chevron Tool kit with the Prize Winning Mom Printables along with touches of Spring Circus flowers and the Mini Seals brushes...*you can even see how she used the Chevron Tool  kit Tag brush to say 'Mom Card'....she's amazing, isn't she?

Any woman is lucky to get this gorgeous card! I love how my Creative Team has shared ideas on how to celebrate Motherhood....and Womanhood. Ya know? We are so blessed to be woman!!!

Womanhood really is amazing! I believe each of us has a purpose & mission here. Again...my favorite quote by Marianne Williamson:

"Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our greatest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, fabulous, gorgeous, talented? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. You're playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that's within us. It's not just in some of us. It's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we automatically give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fears, our presence automatically liberates others."

I have mentioned it before, but I'm sooo thankful to be a part of the Moms Best Network...a whole site devoted to celebrating & empowering women! They have officially launched their site so be sure to sign up for their newsletter so you can keep up with what they are doing to empower women!

After all, as women, "....{when} we let our own light shine, we automatically give other people permission to do the same."

Let's share that light. 

Let's uplift and inspire everyone we come into contact!

Let's *sparkle*....

Happy Mother's Day to ALL women! 

You. 

Are. 

Amazing!

Mother's Day Week: Creative Gift Giving

Today is all about creative gift giving.  Whether it's a mini book, scrapbook, photo album/frame, or any kind of 'memoir' for your mothers....you can create lovely hybrid gifts with Rhonna Designs! LOOK at this fabulous pillow Susan created with the Spring Circus kits! I'm seriously LOVING how creative she is!

 My Creative Team is amazing! I love each of them & love how they uplift & inspire me & you in their own special way!  Thanks, Susan!

and....As much as I wanted to create gifts for these posts...alas, life got in the way, so I'm sharing some of my past creations....that I STILL love!

I am still in love with this Mother's Day book I created 6 years ago when I was a Garden Girl over at Two Peas in a Bucket!  A 6x12 book created out of cut up manilla file folders & a bunch of my *vintage* papers, ribbons, rub-ons & stamps when I was with Autumn Leaves. *wink* looooong ago!

And, this 'creative gift giving' carousel I did back in 2009 for House of 3.  I still love it. & I still have one more carousel...hmm...might need to break it out & create 'Rhonna Designs' style! I think it would be perfect with the NEW Prize Winning Mom kit! Don't you?

Mother's Day Week: Hybrid Mother's Day Cards

Today we'll focus on Mother's Day cards.  If you've got a long distance special women, you'll want a card for sure! OR, how about a beautiful handmade card to accompany your thoughtful gift?  Creative Team member, Jamie Pate created this gorgeous hybrid Mother's Day card with Rhonna Designs kits! I LOVE it!

Jamie's got the supplies & steps on her blog...go check it out!

I mean, really? sequins, glitter, ribbon, doilies AND the printed out delish combo of Rhonna Designs kits! She's brill!

There are so many fabulous kits on Rhonna Designs to create cards...You can use any of the Printables & adapt them. I LOVE the recent Spring Circus Printable Cards...they are so whimsical with a vintage flair!

Simply print, cut, create!  I love the blank cards, you can slip a photo in there, or write your sentiments in there. How about your children drawing a picture in there for their grandma? So cute!

And, I can totally see one of these fab Silhouettes in the NEW kit: Prize Winning Mom! Love all of the sayings here, too!

How about a creative approach to the kits? This kit: A Year To Follow Your Heart has a bunch of 6x8 pages in the kit that would make GORGEOUS cards! 

& of course...all of the cute little journaling cards in that kit...that would be darling as a coupon book!

But, if you are still unsure about Rhonna Designs & printing out...here's a fab FREE gift for you: my 2012 Mother's Day card. **for personal use only- no redistributing** 

LOVE them all...I'd love to see YOUR Mother's Day cards created with Rhonna Designs...share, ok?

Happy Creating!