Little Parts of Me

Thanks {ippity} !!!

Just found out there was a change in the schedule and I'm featured on THIS week's {ippity} blog. It was originally planned for next week so imagine my surprise when it showed up today! The timing is perfect since I just received these samples of my most recent stamp designs.

 

If you've linked over from the {ippity} site, welcome!!! Glad to meet you!!! Leave me a note to introduce yourself and take a minute to peruse my blog and see what I'm all about. I'm psyched to be designing for {Ippity} and Unity... they are such amazing companies to be a part of! 

Enjoy your day and check back often. 

There are lots more exciting things to come!

Wordle Fun

Last night my son came home from school with a cool project for Language Arts class. It involved using Wordle.net. He had to use words that described himself to create an "art-word portrait". Had never seen it before but I have to admit, the designer in me LOVED the possibilities that this little website offered :) Below are some of my "portraits". Try it yourself and have some fun - you're worth it!!!

 

 

 

  
 
 
 

Inspiration Abounds!

Whew! Can you believe summer is OVER?? Kiddies went back to school yesterday and I am now trying to catch up on ALL the stuff I didn't get to the summer—including posting some cool new stuff to my blog.

As many of you know, I spent the month of July on a mission trip in Kenya. AMAZING!!!!! I can't even put into words all that I experienced. Instead of trying, I started creating. 

Take note {ippity} peeps! The stamp in the upper right corner of the first piece is one of my designs from the Life is the Journey set.  

 

 

I have SOOOOOO much more in my head, and in my studio!   

Stay Tuned!!!!

Until then, check out my art in some of the recent releases at Unity and {ippity}:

 
 

Artists:: J. Nielson, Cynthia Courtney, Michelle Stanell

 

Artists: Tanis Giesbrecht, Cynthia Courtney, Heather Rolin

 Artists: Joslyn Neilson, Cynthia Courtney, Heather Rolin, Brooke Smith, Dana Carlson

   

  
 

Hippity Hoppin' with Unity!!!

Hi all! It's been a pretty AWESOME day here in my little studio! Ok, so I wasn't really in the studio much today (the pool was calling!) but over at Unity they have LOTS going on and I'm proud to be a part of it!

July's Kit-of-the-Month is out and Wahoo!, it features four of my designs.

 

I am so impressed by the amazing Unity design team and the all uber-cool items they created using the kit. I've posted some below but Hip-Hop over and check out all the goodies. Or, click on the images below to see more work by these creative ladies.

 

 

 

 
I am off to Kenya on Sunday so check back in when I return. I figure that with 18 hours (UGGH!) on the plane(each way!) and three weeks of African inspiration, I'll have LOTS of new drawings to share!!!

Until then, happy creating :-)

My Fear of Flying

Ok, it's out there. I'm going to Kenya!!! Am I excited? OF COURSE!!! Am I afraid? OF COURSE!!! Although fearing the unknown is something that most of us experience at one time or another, this hits at a unique point in my life. Noah is talking about career paths - mainly West Point (can't believe how EARLY this starts?!?!), Eli will be in middle school (Lew is COMPLETELY freaking out about THAT!) and I am at a point in my career where I feel like my design needs to be "more". More what? Not sure. Might be more meaningful, more impactful, making more of a difference.

My trip to Kenya will be a chance for me to grow past the rut I have so comfortably formed. It will allow me to draw, write, experience and share the lives of people who have extraordinary stories to share. It will refresh my spirit and give me a chance to use my design for a purpose much greater than a paycheck. Fear of my boys growing up is a fear that motivates me to appreciate each day with them. To see the best in them. To help them achieve their dreams. 

Through it all we anticipate the change. The jumping-off point. The unknown. We all deal with it differently.  For me, I call it the Fear of Flying. Translate that however you wish. I translated my meaning in this layout. It reflects the chaos associated with the feelings, as well as the grounded reasons for the fear. The question is, will the fear stop me? NO WAY! 

Fear doesn't need to hold us back. It can motivate us. We just need to let go...

 

Freedom to Create

We all remember being kids—when carefree, uninhibited play was our daily mission and making mistakes was not only accepted but expected. Well, last night I realized just how much we still need that in our lives. 

Since September I've been teaching design at a local community college. Currently, the students are learning Illustrator—definitely not one of the easier programs, as most of my students can attest! My ten-year-old son was with me (gotta love the last minute, no daycare thing!) so I let him "play along". What he created, with NO KNOWLEDGE of Illustrator, wass amazing!!! He played. He experimented. He took chances. He was not trying to be perfect or worrying about be judged. He had FUN!!!

As creatives, we often forget that we got into this field because we love it, not because we wanted to get rich. Too often though, the money part gets in the way. I know, I know, we NEED the money, but at least for a day, sit back and remember what it feels like to play... I think the rewards will far outweigh what any client could pay.

Enjoy the art of my ten-year-old and enjoy your day!!

 

Behind Those Baby Blues

Somehow my scrapbooking has taken precedent over my "real" design work! Not really, but when the creative urge hits, sometimes you just need to go with it. So is the case with this page. Just loved the look on Noah's face and how his eyes just gleamed. The boy has no idea how handsome he really is - both inside and out. Hard to believe my little 2lb. miracle baby is growing up so fast <sigh>.

More to come later. Have a great day and go be CREATIVE!!!!!

 

Happy Birthday to Me!

Yes, another birthday. This morning my cousin emailed me saying, "I think you'll enjoy being 29!" I laughed and then really thought for a minute about how much my life has changed since 29. Scary how long ago that was!!! Although I was having a whole lot of fun at that point in my life, there are many things that I can now see with a more "adult perspective". (doesn't THAT sound old - YIKES!!!) I guess my point is that we all have to enjoy the moments that are given to us at the precise time they are given. No looking forward. No looking backward. Experience and enjoy the now. The moment. The present. That's my goal for 44. What's yours?

 

Valentine's Day = usual chaos

Valentine's Day has now come and gone, and yes, I'm relieved! I created a couple of sweet layouts to commemorate the day but it seems they got lost in the shuffle of my crazy life. Husband has been out of town for over two weeks (I sent him his layout via email), and sons, well, they're boys. What can I say. They looked at what I created for them and said, "Cool mom. What are we having for lunch?" Started the day by going to church, then laundry, lunch, a birthday party, home to change, off to take one son to youth group and then home and another son to lacrosse... Next thing you know it's 9:15 and no one has eaten dinner. Yup, that was my valentine - sheesh! In the end I had some time to settle in my newly-decorated bedroom (sooooo relaxing!!!!!) and prepare for tonight's class. All in all, a normal day in the Courtney house... with a little time set aside to be reminded that love is year-round, not just on February 14th.

Enjoy my little valentines and remember to tell those you love how important they are every day of the year.

 

  

10 Things {we love} About Snow

SNOWMAGEDDON!!! That's what all the weather reports are calling it. Seems that I've been posting a lot of snow layouts but I guess when you get record-setting amounts of the fluffy white stuff, that's what you do! Today the sun shined its rays upon us and the pics look a little more tolerable than those of the past few days. Everyone had smiles - even while shoveling out :) For a state that averages about 10-15" of snow PER YEAR, 45" in 5 days is DEFINITELY something to scrap about. Enjoy!