Frustration, Fluster-Busters and Little Successes!

Yesterday was just one of those days. I had grand ideas floating around in my head and they looked oh-so-good. Then I tried to create them. And they looked oh-so-ehhh...

But I mean, that's fine. I know about frustration, and I actually embrace it these days. It's part of the creative process. You have to experience frustration at some point in order to have a breakthrough, you just HAVE TO.  But everyone deals with it differently.

Here are my go-to Fluster-Busters:

1. Keep doing what I'm doing (because sooner or later I learn something, either what to do or what not to do)
2. Do something else to give my mind a break. Go for a walk, do some yardwork, etc.
3. Eat. This has its own number because eating really is not giving your mind a break. It just causes a whole set of problems: what do I want to eat? leftovers? cook something? hey, didn't the Pioneer Woman have a recipe for a yummy chocolate something or other??

I actually ended up going to sleep. I guess that should've been #4.

Today was a better day, as I finished the 2nd crown from Tejae's tutorial. That was my first little success. Like I mentioned before, following a tutorial or project can be helpful when you're stuck in a rut. It actually gives my mind a break, temporarily (until lots of ideas and versions come flooding in).

Then I wanted to post a pic of the crowns, but I had taken the lazyman's way out and took pics of them on the kitchen counter. So what did I do? Played around with Photoshop (obviously not the lazyman's way to do things). This is the result, my second little success:

I tried to have fun without making it too cheesy. What do you think? I'm still quite chuffed with myself...that's me in the corner, queen of my own little world...

Do you have any fluster-busters to share? Any little or BIG successes? No? Then leave me your favorite recipe (or a link to it)! :)

An Enchanting Crown

Recently I felt stuck in a rut. Not inspired, not excited about anything.

Then I tried out a new CraftArtEdu.com tutorial, "Enchanting Crowns," from my friend, Tejae Floyde. Talk about a lot of fun!

Jeweled Crown by Jainnie Jenkins - tutorial by Tejae Floyde

What excited me was that I would be able to pull out my stash of paints and go to town. I enjoy mixed media pieces and I liked being able to add crystals and layer on all these metallic paints.  Tejae discusses how the options and variations are endless. In fact, I have lots of ideas brewing now!

Tutorials are a fun diversion when you don't feel inspired. Whether it's a technique or a project, you're bound to learn something new. Here's to more creative exploration and possibilities!

Have you used tutorials? Do you like online tutorials? Videos? Let me know. :)

Flower pendants and rings

Hello everyone!

It's been awhile, hasn't it? I hope you are all enjoying your summer. We have been having such warm weather here in Colorado with very little rain. I've been trying to keep my flowers alive and from becoming deer snacks! Even with "deer resistant" plants, like the garden store guy told me, "The problem is the deer don't read too good." Hah. I should've known!

Just wanted to share some pendants and rings I've made recently.  All deer resistant. :) Most will be listed on my Etsy site in the next couple days.