A tiny bit of advice for today...

"sunset steeple" photography by Rita Hutcheson-Cobbs

I don't normally ready Horoscopes except the day after to see if it really happened (I see you nodding your head yes...you do that too lol)...but I noticed today it read:  "You have a lot of good ideas, and now your need a plan. Whittle down your list. Pick three actionable items you can follow through on today. Action will bring you focus." ~ Decatur Daily Newspaper Thought that was a very good advice for today. =)

Hugs, Rita
www.RitaHutchesonCobbs.com

Brasterpieces with The Painted Bra Project

OMGosh...I was so excited...

first to be at this event...

second to be at Lowe Mills...wow...

The entrance was well lit with pink lights

and pink ribbons...

This beautiful quilt will be given away in May

after months of tickets are sold in honor of

the local Liz Hurley Foundation...

Many artists and businesses donated for the

door prizes and silent auction...

Oh, my teenage years are coming back to me now...

so loved KISS...

Many attendees...it was such an honor to those who

have battled breast cancer...

These delicious ladies were so cute!

I told them they should offer to have their pictures made

for $1 and then tuck the money in their bras! =)

More amazing art work...

Loving the way they displayed the painted bras...

but where is mine? I can't find it...

Elegant!!! 

The metal bra that had already reached a high bidding...

Again, amazing elegance...but where is mine?

I would so wear this whole thing!!

Loving it...but...where is mine... 

Michael's, one of my favorite stores,

was there to show their support...

((happy dance))

Anna Smith Braden was the artist that

came up with this whole idea...amazing and talented!

...but where in all these amazing creations is my painted bra??

I loved this one too!!!

We searched the whole area twice, looking everywhere but

didn't see my painted bra anywhere! I was about to go ask someone

when Jerry and I turned around and...I screamed!!!!

"THAT is MINE!!" I was so excited to see

it so elegantly featured!! WOW!!!

The smile doesn't compare to the feelings inside!

To know the testimonies and stories of all the people

that worked with this project and painted who have experienced

this disease and shared more than I did with paint and time...

it is humbling...

The food was amazing...

We had a variety and plenty to chose from as well...

I asked Rich to surprise me and did he...

I had an organic hot dog and the most

tender piece of steak that I have ever put in my mouth!

I know, not vegan...but hay...

We met so many wonderful supporters of this project...

all here united in one effort...

The bread maker certainly inspired us...

we brought home Rosemary Bread and 

our friend Suzanne got Black Olive and Chipotle Bread

Our sweet friend, Suzaane, and the bread makers...

My amazing girlfriend, an amazing chef and artist I might add, Suzanne Mills,

Anna Smith Braden, creator of The Painted Bra Project, and me...

I told Anna that I was going to tell everyone "I touched her!!!" lol...

Tshirts and posters were available to continue

the support and bring awareness of breast cancer

and The Painted Bra Project...

Liz Hurley spoke. A breast cancer survivor and

very inspirational. For those of you locally, you also

know her as one of our favored television anchors.

Adored the table decorations!

The decorations for the evening were so elegant...

Lowe Mills is amazing after dark...

How beautiful...the Lowe Mills Tower lit in Pink...

Just one more look...

Well, maybe one more...

To all those who have known breast cancer,

I made this one for you...

I love you and thank you for inspiring me in every way, every day...

To my cousin Lisa and Grandma Newton, I dedicate this art to you...

Hugs, 

Rita

www.RitaHutchesonCobbs.com

**next year, I paint my hair pink...=)

Whirl Wind of a Pinwheel Card...Loving it...

Is this not lov-a-ly!!! I thought the pinwheel was perfect for any occassion! We made this card at the Scrapping for a Cure event on Saturday. I am thinking of making my holiday cards with this layout and using the caption "Whirl Wishing you a Merry Christmas!" hmmm, well, maybe not...=) We used a photo corner punch to make the pinwheels and folded it from corner to corner in an odd way. I will have to take photographs and share with you in a how-to format...but it is really easy and cute...of course all the bling was my idea, I know, you aren't surprised lol...

Hugs, Rita
www.RitaHutchesonCobbs.com

Wrapping up Christmas with this Adorable Holiday Card...

OMGosh!! I loved making this card, the super simple fold is the half circle... into the tree!! I did it absolutely perfect the first time and then on the second try, I had to trim the top of the tree...it screamed rather loudly I might add!! We made this creation in one of our classes during Saturday's Scrapping for a Cure...a precious cause filled with 13 hours of cropping/classes/chocolate/door prizes and tons of fun and laughter...I even got some work done!!!

Hugs, Rita
www.RitaHutchesonCobbs.com

I am so in love!!! With...Mosaic Scrapbooking!!!

 Grant it, this is my first ever attempt that I know of at mosaic scrapbooking layouts but I did this one at Saturday's Scrapping for a Cure during one of the class sessions and LOVE LOVE LOVE the whole process!  I think this is something you don't straddle the fence over, either you love it or hate it...I am in love!! I have gotten so many ideas already. These photographs were extras that I had of the Newell family from the Heritage Cookbook scrapbook I have been working on for some time and I wanted to use them for this project. After finishing this, I decided, it will go in a shadowbox and framed for my home! I need to add a title and maybe some stamping in various areas to bring the whole thing together but WOW!!!

Then we made flowers for the layout! Zipper flowers! I am no longer flower challenged!!! This one even has a bug friend on the end! I loved that...I am so excited about this whole project. My friend Judy just looked at me, like get a life, sister! Not really, she is quite supportive and encouraging, always. Here layout was so much more colorful and dramatic and more beautiful! I was so inspired to make more of these pages. So if you have the materials, the starter kit, the papers and are one of those that have fallen off the fence on the "other" side from loving it...please let me know...I will gladly give them a new home and love them forever...

Hugs, Rita
www.RitaHutchesonCobbs.com

Time to...Celebrate Scrapbook Page Layout...

I have so loved these photos of my grandfather Israel Newell. When I think of him, I remember his mule and his banjo. There is a bit of humor in one of the photographs that didn't catch me until after I laid down the title. I had picked this kit in memory of celebrating a life/a memory of my grandfather, a cherish joy. However, my grandfather enjoyed drinking during a time of his life until my grandmother, a high spirited but quiet woman, Dissie, got word that he had been drinking, gathered their children and walked to where he was to bring him home. When he saw her and the kids, he never touched a bottle again. I don't know who took these photographs but Granddaddy is holding a whiskey bottle in the photograph on the right...I will smile not in mock when I look at this layout but in sweetness at the power of love, the power two people shared together and for their family and the power it had for change. Furthermore, although these photos were take many many years before I was born, those two things are in these photographs with him and I wanted to create a layout that I could add to a shadowbox and then bring other items into the shadowbox that reminded me of him as well as the vintage feel of the photographs and the paper kit I used from Close to My Heart. I took the original photographs and enlarged them to 5x7s and will place them in one large frame. I created this project while I was at Scrapping for a Cure on Saturday! Oh the fun we had...Check out my blog entry on Sunday to read more about that and to see the photos...You can come too from wherever you are...=)

Hugs,
Rita
www.RitaHutchesonCobbs.com

Altered Chalk Board Project

 Saturday, I participated in Scrapping for a Cure the group that raises money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. As part of our participation fee, we have various classes throughout the day that we can take if we wish. Well, honies, I am all about the party so you know I took ALL the classes =)...


 First we stained the sides and back of the frame and even the inside edge against the black board. The only thing I might do differently on my next project is paint the black board first with magnetic black paint so that board can be versatile used as a chalk board or a black board.

 Then the scrap paper was placed on top of the chalk board, adhered with modge podge, one of my favorite mediums.

 Then gently cut the inside of the chalk board portion out so that you can once again see the chalk board portion. Then lay the board upside down on a cutting glass or mat and cut the outside edge off as well. I extended my blade out where the handle was resting on the chalk board thus it cut much better for me.

 After the trimming was down, I took my scissors and roughed up the inside edges of the paper and then added more modge podge to the paper before removing the tape from the chalk board.

What do you think? Adorable, right? I stamped the image "time to..." from a page layout I was working on and added that myself. It just seemed to fit the project. The flower just made the whole thing pop...The ribbon hangers brought out all the rustic colors of my papers adding the shabby chic look I love...I think I will make some of these for Christmas gifts. It just makes me smile to look at it...I loved this project...

Something else that makes me smile are the memories I have of my dad...Happy Birthday, Daddy!! He would have been 85 today...I love you, Daddy...Thank you for encouraging my artistic talents...

Hugs,

Rita

www.RitaHutchesonCobbs.com

Saturday's Scrapping for Cure Crop and Classes

 OMGosh!! This is always one of my favorite events!! Rachael McGuire and her sisters always host the greatest events, but their hearts are in it because they are raising money for Cystic Fibrosis. Rachael and husband, James, have a daughter with CF and we are helping them help the CF Foundation find a cure.

However, I think WE the scrapbookers at these events are getting the most out of the events...wait till you see what is in that bag!!!


 More of my stash...I can't travel light lol. When we arrived at the event which was at Madison Square Mall in Huntsville Alabama, there were people to unload our vehicles! I have never been to an event that did that! I was like "WOW"!!! I had a lot too...My friend Judy is a veteran...she can do it in one sweep, not me. I have to take it all "just in case I might need it" you know, you have been there! =)

 These were the classes that were taught. The instructors donated their time and materials to teach the classes.I will share my creations and MY interpretations lol because mine didn't come out quite like those in the photographs, they never do. One thing is for sure, I learned some awesome techniques that I will be using over and over again, like the folding for the pinwheel on the card using a punch, the mosaic layout (OMGosh, ,I am in love with that), the ornaments will be great for our Special Ministries class, and well, you can guess who taught the mini composition notebook class...=)...

 We had tshirts that rocked...loved the black which made the purple pop...I am looking forward to the April retreat already...it is going to be such fun...

 A few of the participants/hosts chatting and getting set up...I have gotten so close to these people and there is always room for more who love to make cards or scrapbook...all coming together because we love paper and want to raise money for CF...

 Tons of coupons were in my goodie bag...I can even use them later after the event which was rockin' awesome...

 We had wonderful papers and embellishments in our goodie bag from amazing contributors. The list was very long and very appreciative as to who all donated to this event from the room to what you see here.

 Judy Hardwick, a mixed-media artist and scrapbooker working on a project for her son's new home. She is very talented and a mentor that inspires me and encourages all that she comes in contact with.

 Ah...me...pretending to work...playing and talking more...I come for the classes and to hang out more than working, but I did get several pages of the Heritage Cookbook Scrapbook done and I am very pleased with the continued work of that project. However, I do have some photos I want to work on as well. Now that I have learned the Mosaic scrapbooking technique I want to use that on my photography photos and play at some of my crops. =)

  A new friend and I waiting for a class to begin. She was so quiet and sweet. We hardly knew she was even at the crop. Her page won one of the contests of the day. A very up and coming artist.

 More of our classroom...bright lights, beautiful...we had a great space and many came in to get information about CF, what we were doing and about area crops. It would have been a great time for area demonstrators and businesses to have been there and shelled out their cards and goodie packs to possible customers and so forth...I would have done that for them for some items I so want ((hint, hint, for the future lol))

 A touching moment for all of us as we watched this video and Rachael as it played. Nobody knows how life works with a patient who has CF especially a child who has daily treatments and spending weeks in the hospital. This is a good reminder and glimpse of why we come together to do this several times a year. I so love this family!! I appreciate the hard work they do for everyone battling CF.

 I won!!! Yes, I saw this on the door prize table and immediately sent up a prayer that I would take this home and I did!! it is an original painting and the artist is from Cullman, Alabama. It will go perfectly in my house...

 

 My mess getting ready for a class. I LOVE LOVE LOVE classes and even teaching! There is so much to learn and so much to gain from others. Is it not fun to be a part of that? Oh and all these classes were part of our $40 fee which all went to CF...

 Judy trying to follow directions while I was talking and taking pictures...I am so thankful she puts up with me!!

 (((Happy Dance))) Bobbie, do you see Snoopy poncing his feet??? I may not be so flower challenged after all...but who knew it would only take a zipper to get me to make a flower!!! LOL...loving it...

 

Then the icing on the cake was when I won yet another door prize...this diva picture frame! I will put our group photo in it for sure! I had such a great Saturday and needed it very much. It was a wonderful break from all the cleaning I had been doing. Thank you, Rachael, for hosting such a wonderful opportunity and reason for all of us to come together and to Judy, for participating with me...we had a great time, did we not!!

Hugs,
Rita
www.RitaHutchesonCobbs.com