Hope On A Stick

Transform IV

2012-03-02T19:27:00.004-08:00

Pattern from discovered method.

Transform III

2012-03-01T21:54:00.001-08:00

... and more patterns overlain.

Transform II

2012-02-29T13:12:00.001-08:00

Multiple patterns can emerge.

Transform

2012-02-28T12:17:00.000-08:00

Find something you like and make it your own.

My version of this graphic comes from a pattern on a cute table mat listed on Her Library Adventures blog.

Enjoy natural beauty

2012-02-27T10:56:00.003-08:00

Sunrise

"I'll tell you how the sun rose,
A ribbon at a time.
The steeples swam in amethyst,
The news like squirrels ran.
The hills untied their bonnets,
The bobolinks begun.
Then I said softly to myself,
'That must have been the sun!' "
-Excerpt from a poem by Emily Dickinson

Fulfillment is sharing ...

2012-02-24T14:59:00.003-08:00

... something you love

with someone you love.

Like funny hats

Fulfillment is a right

2012-02-23T13:22:00.000-08:00

Thank you for the right to pursue happiness and work hard for what I believe in.

Fulfillment is helping

2012-02-22T23:16:00.003-08:00

Fulfillment is balance

2012-02-21T18:42:00.000-08:00

Fulfillment is solving for x

2012-02-20T12:37:00.001-08:00

Be unique, not repetitive

2012-02-17T16:51:00.000-08:00

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4592307816406286208998628034825342117067982148086513282306647

0938446095505822317253594081284811174502841027019385211055596

4462294895493038196442881097566593344612847564823378678316527

1201909145648566923460348610454326648213393607260249141273724

5870066063155881748815209209628292540917153643678925903600113

30530548820466521384146951941511609...

Love rewards

2012-02-16T09:00:00.001-08:00

the aftermath

Share your heart

2012-02-14T09:52:00.000-08:00

Hope grows

2012-02-13T09:45:00.001-08:00

If you're healthy and you know it clap your hands

2012-02-10T11:43:00.000-08:00

You know the song ... if you're happy and you know it clap your hands. -an old Latvian folk song

This is the modified version ... if you're healthy and you know it clap your hands.

Love the health level that you have now!

Change and be happy

2012-02-09T23:39:00.000-08:00

If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude. Don’t complain.
-Maya Angelou

as posted on GoodReads

One plus one makes two

2012-02-08T17:15:00.000-08:00

Help someone with their problem and become part of something greater than yourself.

2012-02-07T21:10:00.000-08:00

Share something you love

with someone you love.

Childish

2012-02-06T11:25:00.000-08:00

Have some fun!

Color!

Make a good choice

2012-02-03T19:21:00.000-08:00

Happiness is a choice.

Great article on what may be most important in life.

Life in your years

2012-02-02T13:31:00.000-08:00

And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.

-Abraham Lincoln

To stay afloat

2012-02-01T16:26:00.000-08:00

Hard times get you down?

Develop a mantra.

Mine: Just keep swimming.

Not only does it contain the "staying above water" reference that motivates me to hang on, it is also a reminder to exercise (Endorphins!) and get out (Sun!).

Feeling lucky

2012-01-30T13:00:00.001-08:00

When you feel lucky

then luck will follow you

where ever you go.

As posted on How to Feel Lucky

Change your style

2012-01-28T17:19:00.000-08:00

New graphics can always make me smile.

Another chance

2012-01-27T21:23:00.001-08:00

There is always a second option!

Portland was the place

2012-01-26T16:35:00.000-08:00

I see trees of green,

red roses too.

I see them bloom

for me and you.

And I think to myself,

what a wonderful world.

-Louis Armstrong

Love Army

2012-01-25T10:38:00.000-08:00

What this world needs is a new kind of army - the army of the kind.

-Cleveland Amory

As posted on Inspiring Words of Wisdom

Keep learning

2012-01-24T11:53:00.000-08:00

Keep learning. Keep living.

Celebrate your lemonade

2012-01-23T13:33:00.000-08:00

Make lemonade from your lemons ...

and then celebrate your lemonade!

Make peace

2012-01-20T15:54:00.000-08:00

Make peace with your past

to live happily in the present.

Join in

2012-01-19T13:05:00.001-08:00

Volunteer. It's heart smart.

Good things

2012-01-18T10:50:00.000-08:00

A very important exercise that everyone should do everyday, no matter how rough it gets ...

find something good that happened each day and be thankful for it, no matter how small or awkward ...

if you want you can write these things down and over time look back and be in awe of how much good you have in your life.

Make a friend or KIT

2012-01-17T12:47:00.000-08:00

Make new friends, but keep the old.

One is silver and the other gold.

-a Girl Scout song, by Joseph Parry

He had a dream

2012-01-16T10:25:00.000-08:00

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. -MLK Jr.

May that nation encompass the world.

Laugh louder

2012-01-13T08:56:00.000-08:00

Through humor, you can soften some of the worst blows that life delivers. And once you find laughter, no matter how painful your situation might be, you can survive it. - Bill Cosby

Quote found at Thinkexist.

Love you, love them

2012-01-12T14:42:00.000-08:00

When elephants fight, it's the grass that suffers. - African proverb

posted on Inspiring Words of Wisdom

Take time to center yourself, so that you can love your family well.

Stay on track

2012-01-11T20:12:00.000-08:00

Nice article on staying motivated. It can be a applied personally or to job/business.

Know that it is a temporary state. - Remind yourself what you're fighting for. - Believe in yourself. - Get help before you're in crisis.

Exercise buddy

2012-01-10T12:35:00.000-08:00

Exercising will improve your mood.

At the beginning of the year everyone gets into exercising. Take advantage of this and get an exercise buddy. Together you will stay motivated for longer.

Warm your soul

2012-01-09T14:46:00.000-08:00

A bowl of soup can warm your body.

Sharing the recipe can warm your soul.

Here's one that was shared with me:

Thick Hardy Lentil Soup

Get in the spirit

2012-01-08T14:48:00.000-08:00

Why wait until February? Get into the loving spirit today!

Birds of a feather

2012-01-06T10:36:00.000-08:00

Birds of a feather flock together.

Find a team to be a part of ...

even if it's just for a short while.

She's got it right

2012-01-05T17:50:00.000-08:00

I think this girl knows what she is singing about
... the sun did come out today!

Benefit Corporation status

2012-01-04T12:18:00.000-08:00

What's in a name? Apparently a bunch!

Check out the new naming of some good companies in California:

http://su.pr/2saMGV

Fear little

2012-01-03T09:35:00.000-08:00

Have courage.

Fear little. Dream big.

Motivation

2012-01-02T13:54:00.000-08:00

9 simple tips to boost your motivation

HNY!

2012-01-01T11:39:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

Resolution: Keep seeking out the good.

Awesome rain

2011-12-30T21:39:00.000-08:00

Even rain can be awesome,

if you know how to look at it.

-the Changed Perspective

video
OMSI

Shower Flowers

2011-12-28T18:04:00.000-08:00

Don't fret about the weather.

Rain brings new growth.

-Farmer's Almanac and mom

Hugs 2

2011-12-27T10:33:00.001-08:00

>------------------------------0------------------------------<
Hug someone, today.

Sad face

2011-12-26T10:28:00.000-08:00

If you are often sad,

perhaps you are expecting too much.

-grandma

Ornament 24

2011-12-23T20:00:00.000-08:00

Small Spring Tree

Scraps held together with wire and beads

Materials:
sweet threads paper pad scraps

X-Acto knife
Xyron create-a-sticker machine

small hole punch
wire

beads

Tree

2011-12-22T22:38:00.000-08:00

Ornament 23

2011-12-22T20:52:00.000-08:00

Retro Tree Portrait

Cut and paste.

Materials:
sweet threads paper pad

X-Acto knife
Scotch Quick-Dry Adhesive
needle and thread

Ornament 22

2011-12-21T22:03:00.000-08:00

Paper Angel

Cut and paste.

Materials:
sweet threads paper pad and various scraps

X-Acto knife
double-sided sticky tape
needle and thread

Ornament 21

2011-12-20T19:21:00.000-08:00

Loopy Paper Garland

Cut bags into strips, looped and stapled.

Materials:
Up-cycled Paper Source bags
scissors

stapler

Ornament 20

2011-12-19T23:20:00.000-08:00

Beaded Peace

Beaded with wire.

Materials:
beads

wire

Ornament 19

2011-12-19T21:53:00.000-08:00

Beaded Gnome

Beaded with needle and thread.

Materials:

Paper Bag Paper Source Cover paper

beads

needle and thread

Ornament 18

2011-12-17T00:38:00.000-08:00

12 Day of Christmas Tree

Cut, folded and glued.

Graphics created in Illustrator.

Materials:

Paper Bag Paper Source Cover paper

X-Acto knife
Scotch Quick-Dry Adhesive

Ornament 17

2011-12-16T20:30:00.000-08:00

Ornamental Ornament

Cut, folded and stitched.

Materials:

Paper Bag Paper Source Cover paper

X-Acto knife
needle and thread

Ornament 16

2011-12-16T13:25:00.000-08:00

Origami Ornament 2

Folded paper flower with stem, hole punched and threaded to string up.

Great folding instructions at www.origami-instructions.com

Materials:

origami folding paper

Scotch Quick-Dry Adhesive
needle and thread

Ornament 15

2011-12-15T21:45:00.000-08:00

Woven Heart

Created by cutting and weaving paper then using glue dots and embossing powder to enhance and threaded to string up.

Materials:
Paper Bag Paper Source Cover paper

X-Acto knife
JudiKins Aegean Silver embossing powder

Scotch Quick-Dry Adhesive
needle and thread

Ornament 14

2011-12-14T16:36:00.000-08:00

Up-cycled Elves

Created by cutting paper.

Materials:
2011 Paper Source Mini Accordion Calendar

X-Acto knife

Ornament 13

2011-12-13T21:59:00.000-08:00

Paper Ball

Created by cutting paper into strips then using beads and thread to hold things together (shown open).

Materials:
sweet threads paper pad - 10 patterns

X-Acto knife
beads
needle and thread

Ornament 12

2011-12-12T23:30:00.000-08:00

Tree Topper Paper Star

Created by embossing paper, cutting into 1cm strips, weaving them together then using quick-dry adhesive (the strong stuff).

Materials:

Paper Bag Paper Source Cover paper

VersaMark Watermark ink

Paper Source snowflake stamp

JudiKins Aegean Silver embossing powder

Zap! embossing gun

X-Acto knife

Scotch Quick-Dry Adhesive

adapted from: Two Girls Being Crafty glitter star

Ornament 11

2011-12-11T22:59:00.001-08:00

Paper Twist

Created by cutting partial squares then using 3M VHB tape (the strong stuff) to hold corners together and then a thread through the top.

Materials:
sweet threads paper pad - 2 patterns

X-Acto knife
double-sided sticky tape

3M VHB tape
needle and thread

Ornament 10

2011-12-10T23:32:00.001-08:00

Paper Penguin

Created by sticking cutouts of various papers together with the Xyron and then using a thread through the top. (Body created from scribbling with a black Sharpie on white paper.)

Materials:
Paper Bag Paper Source Text paper
Persimmon Paper Source Text paper

White Text paper

Black Sharpie
X-Acto knife
Xyron create-a-sticker machine
needle and thread

Ornament 09

2011-12-09T14:27:00.001-08:00

Paper Snowflake

Created from embossing on snowflake created from paper, with thread through the top.

Materials:
Paper Bag Paper Source Text paper

X-Acto knife
Zap! embossing gun

Color Box Moss Green + VersaMark Watermark ink

Judi-Kins Opaque White + Ranger Holographic embossing powder

small hole punch

needle and thread

Ornament 08

2011-12-08T23:23:00.001-08:00

Paper Loops

Created from embossing on scrap paper strips, with thread through the top.

Materials:
White Text paper scrap strips
Zap! embossing gun

Color Box Moss Green + Dragon Fly ink

Ranger Super Fine Detail Clear + Holographic embossing powder

small hole punch

needle and thread

Ornament 07

2011-12-07T20:18:00.001-08:00

Simple Paper Gift

Created from graphics on paper, cutting out the shapes and taping them together with thread through the top.

Materials:
Paper Bag Paper Source Text paper
X-Acto knife
double-sided sticky tape
needle and thread

... with a birdie surprise inside!

... and it's double-sided too!

Ornament 06

2011-12-06T13:29:00.001-08:00

Origami Ornament

Folded paper star, repeated twice, hole punched and thread knotted through loops.

Great folding instructions at Instructables.

Materials:
Paper Bag Paper Source Text paper

Persimmon Paper Source Text paper
X-Acto knife
needle and thread

bone folder

Ornament 05

2011-12-05T20:20:00.001-08:00

A bit of Paris - Paper Eiffel Tour

Ornament 04

2011-12-04T20:00:00.001-08:00

Paper Candy Cane

Created from wrapping strips of two color papers (with adhesive backing) around a wire.

Materials:
Paper Bag Paper Source Text paper
Persimmon Paper Source Text paper
X-Acto knife
Xyron create-a-sticker machine
floral stem wire

Ornament 03

2011-12-04T02:44:00.001-08:00

Paper Partridge in a Pear Tree

Created from adhering two color papers together, cutting out the shapes (inspired by a Craft Smart stamp) and stitching through the middle.

Materials:
Paper Bag Paper Source Text paper
Persimmon Paper Source Text paper
X-Acto knife
double-sided sticky tape
needle and thread

Ornament 02

2011-12-02T19:00:00.001-08:00

Paper Tree

Created from folding three circles four times and stitching through the middle.

Materials:
Paper Bag Paper Source Text paper
needle and thread

Ornament 01

2011-12-01T22:01:00.001-08:00

Paper Bell

Created by pasting together 4 bells and
stitching through the middle.

Materials:
Paper Bag Paper Source Text paper
printed graphics
double-sided sticky tape
needle and thread

The little big things

2011-12-01T14:11:00.001-08:00

Be thankful for a blue sky,

air that is clean and

the ability to take a deep breath of it.

Hope Plant II

2011-12-01T00:14:00.001-08:00

Colorized!

How to:

http://hopestick.blogspot.com/2011/11/hope-plant.html

Hope Plant

2011-11-29T21:44:00.001-08:00

How to make a Hope Plant for yourself or a friend:

Create paper squares with inspirational phrases and fortunes, cut them out, punch a hole in the upper corner and apply double-sided sticky tape to the other corner.

Here I used white paper, but you can change the color to match the season.

Roll square on itself with inspirational message inside.

Double-sided sticky tape should hold things together, but if using thicker paper switch to hot glue.

Obtain a section of wire (about a foot) that can support the rolled paper squares. Use round object (tennis ball) to bend support wire into circular base.

Bend long end of wire upward from center.

Load rolled paper onto long end of wire.

Here is a picture of the base with the rolled squares loaded.

Make a loop at the top of the bunch and trim wire.

Hang where you can reach.

Each day pull a leaf off, read it and carry it with you to bring hope all day.

Select your tools

2011-11-28T15:29:00.001-08:00

The happiest people don't have the best of everything, they just make the best of everything.

-AlysonUnAverage (post to flicker)

http://funstoo.blogspot.com/2011/04/happiest-people-dont-have-best-of.html

Holiday Spirit

2011-11-26T11:37:00.001-08:00

Get into the holiday spirit!

Simply give a hardy "Ho! Ho! Ho!" and let your belly giggle like a bowl full of Jell-o.

Thanksgiving message

2011-11-19T18:23:00.001-08:00

Google-ish

2011-11-18T00:08:00.001-08:00

Google has some neat illustrations that convey a message and make you smile.

Like this cute photo represents Louis Daguerre, the father of the permanent photo.

Joy loop

2011-11-16T12:48:00.001-08:00

Joy starts you laughing and
laughing leads to joy.

I hope you get stuck in this loop.

TED

2011-11-15T12:15:00.001-08:00

Get ideas and inspiration by listening to
those who speak it.

You can

2011-11-14T14:49:00.001-08:00

-A British public service announcement during WWII.

Your Courage, Your Cheerfulness, Your Resolution Will Bring Us Victory. -Another in this series

Favorites

2011-11-12T10:34:00.001-08:00

Pick a favorite color ... it's alright, you can change it later.

Associate a good feeling with it ... when I see "green" I will think "joy."

As you go through your day, every time you see that color let it remind you of the associated feeling.

Not seeing enough of the color that you chose? Simply pick another favorite color and try again.

Together

2011-11-11T00:54:00.001-08:00

If you want to run fast, run alone.

If you want to run far, run together.

-African proverb

(as on Inspiring Words of Wisdom blog)

123 Guide to being positive

2011-11-09T11:19:00.000-08:00

How to be positive:

First, Catch yourself ... get rid of the negative.
Second, Look for it ... seek out the positive.
Third, Ask for help ... ask for someone to reinterpret the situation.

Bike it

2011-11-08T23:49:00.000-08:00

Use your bike and feel great! -NPR