Hope.
“The very least you can do in your life is
figure out what you hope for.
And the most you can do is live inside that hope.
Not admire it from a distance, but live right in it,
under its roof.”
Barbara Kingsolver.
You need:
a tree to plant,
a window to the world,
and a fine black pen,
to write down your thoughts.
Lest you forget.
Stamp Hope boldy in black,
but make sure you also have a window,
through which you can make a scene, should the need arise…
And in a flash, there is snow.
Although it has been there all the time.
Just a scrap of torn paper
and a touch of Denim sky was all it took.
Plant a tree,
and with its tip
another three.
Use a ruler for the edges.
Dance along it with your fine black pen,
skipping and jiggling and jumping.
Then dot dot dot dot dot dot dot all along the edges.
Let your deckle-line frame help you find the folds,
then dot dot dot dot dot dot a little more.
dot dot dot underneath the tree
dot dot dot underneath the P
dot dot dot underneath the E
Something so simple.
Go on, try it! All you need is a pen!
Simply squiggle a box, and then
dot dot dot dot dot dot!
My HOPE for this year is that GOOD will prevail.
And the lucky winner of the BarbaraGray Blog Giveaway
£50 Clarity Gift Voucher is Janet Pearce xx
Thank you everybody for joining in!
with much love,
65 thoughts on “Hope.”
Hi Barb, lovely card, love the idea of the dot, dot, dot, made me giggle. Well done Janet on winning the prize. Bx
What a great card and such a lovely way to teach us, in verse. Thank you so much for that. Hope is what I really need for this new year. I must check if I have the Hope stamp. Congratulations to Janet for her wonderful win. xx Maggie
Love this, it's crisp fresh look is perfect for the New Year. xx
Dotty dotty dotty, and parts of your instructions seemed almost a poem too!. I like the idea of the frame and dotty bits xx
Morning Barbara, Love Love Love this outline and will be using it for sure if that's OK. I much prefer this kind of edge to Matting and Layeringl It looks great on the letters too.
Clever Barbara… Wonderful too! I share in your hOpe… And really believe its true xxx
Simply beautiful. What a difference a few dots make. Congratulations Janet x
Beautiful x
Love the squiggly border and dots…….thank you for the inspiration xx
Oh Barbara…. I lurrrve this!!! that dotty edging is so effective! Well thats another trick you have taught us all!!!
Well done to Janet on the win! What a fab way for you start the New Year!
xxxxxxxx
Wunderbar!
Well done Janet . Another great blog Barbara , I don't have the hope stamp but I can see this adapting very well to the joy stamp which I do have ! X
What a gorgeous effect, Barbara. Why can I never think of these things myself! Congratulations, Janet great gift for the New Year! Xx
I Lways say that! Good job wenhave Barb to think for us!
Hello Barb
I love the Dots………. Well done to Janet!
Wow love the dots such a good idea to give a different finish
Hi Barb
What a simple but effective idea/technique. I will certainly be trying this out. Love the sentiment too. Well done to Janet. Alison xxx
I'm loving the dot dot dotting! Very effective. I love the simplicity of this card. Well done Janet x
love the edging technique …….. another MUST TRY 🙂
Like this technique – it looks simply stunning. Congratulations to Janet.
Lesley
Another stunning card, so "simple" but so effective. Thanks for sharing. Janet, well done for your winning.
Laurence xx
Rereading this in detail in the morning light, I suddenly realised what I was reminded of last night. It is the girl in Mamma Mia, reading her mother's diary to try to find out who her father is, and finding that they "dot, dot, dot" … I love the way you have used your dots to highlight the simple design. Beautiful. xx Maggie
Thanks for making me smile Maggie. I hadn't twigged why the dot dot dot seemed familiar until I read your reply here! 🙂
a gorgeous card Barbara and so true – hope is an important thing! Well done to Janet!!!
Oooo so lovely and such an effective way of framing your images xx
Wow! Again! Such a simple trick with such stunning effects – I love it! My Hope is that one day I will be as good as you. Congrats to Janet – what a fab way to start the New Year. Jan xx
Wow! Again! Such a simple trick with such stunning effects – I love it! My Hope is that one day I will be as good as you. Congrats to Janet – what a fab way to start the New Year. Jan xx
Simple but sooooo good
I just love the dotty border. You gave such simply perfect ideas Barbara. Great tutorial as always. Happy new year.
Love the card ,Well done to Janet on winning xx
Love the card edges must try this one out. Nice sentiment Hope speaks volumes. Joan x
Thank you Barbara and Clarity for choosing me as the challenge winner. I am amazed and so grateful…this is such a great start to the New Year, definitely creates lots of hOpe. Thank you everyone for your comments I really appreciate them. I still can't believe that I read my name in the blog this morning. I really like the hOpe card and think I must get this stamp. Thanks again J x
Congrats and well done Janet!
Congratulations Janet!
Congratulations Janet, well done xx
Congrats, what fun to enjoy picking out new items. 2014 is going to be a crafty year for you. Way to go!
Congratulations Janet – what a great way to start 2014. Happy crafting x
Barbara please can you help me I need the mask for the hill and cloud the plastic one can you tell me where I can buy it please so I can start having ago with the rest of my item I bought the mask one but I am disable and move about with my hand do not work to well , love the picture rose email address rosemary.davis777@hotmail.co.uk
The dotty border is wonderful, gives a very classy finish and is quite easy to do. Just a little patience needed. Lovely card. Well done Janet , what a treat for the New Year. Lynne x x
Love the dotty border, so simple and yet so effective. I'm off to have a go!!! x
Another smashing card! The dots are reminding me I want to have a Zentngle moment sometime soon! Well done to Janet!
Yet another simple but beautiful card. Congratulations Janet on your wonderful prize.
Beautiful card. Looks simple but so effective and the dots really add something extra. Yet another technique to try when I have some time!
Morning Barbara, a truly beautiful Clarity card and oh I do love those dots and the effect that they give…..I may just borrow that please….Congratulations to Janet…..
I do believe with all of my heart that Good always wins in the end….and it is going to be a Good year….x
wonderful technique for the frame I will definitely be trying that one.
Lorna
Congratulations to the lucky winner
What a great idea for the frame I will be trying that technique
Jackie x
What an effective that dot edging give stunning.Happy New Year.
I love the simplicity and effectiveness of the dotty design. I hope this year to find more crafting time – hopefully more time on task will improve my creativity. Lx
Thank you Barbara for another 🙂 to make the day.
What a stunning card barbara (hope)will have to add this stamp to my collection love the edging so simple but effective .
Sheila xx
So simple the dots and so effective , love it ! And congratulations Janet
Another brilliant technique Barbara, so effective. xx
Great card, I really like the word stamps with a space for a scene. Looking forward to the shows at the weekend. XX
Sorry hit publish and I was going to add well done to Janet!
Thank you for another fab 'big 'O' stamp. I really enjoy trying to decide what to put in the 'O', then spending ages practising before I've finally worked it at out. I'm rarely satisfied with the finished article but I do enjoy the journey. Thank you again.
Barbara
What a lovely way to sent out a very cool message of Hope, I think your blogs isn't fantastic and appreciate your efforts to produce it daily. Thanks
Beautiful in so many ways, thank you for sharing xx
oh great blog Barbra. it is so simple but mighty effective. love your framer. will try and borrow it if you don't mind but doubt my dots will look as good. love the effect you created with those dots….dot dot dot……. xx
Thank you for another great idea. I've never tried using a ruler to make deckle edge so must try it out. The dots are so effective too.
Well done Janet.
Such a clever idea with the deckle frame and dotti-ness! Must have a go when I get back home to my craft room. Thanks, Susan
Happy New Year Barbara, Sorry missed your blog yesterday.
This card today looks very simple but sure I wouldn't be able to do it as I a very shaky hand and would probably end up smudging everything. Though I may have a go as you never know.
Love your blog and a little peek into your life.
Hope you had a great Christmas and New Year and wishing you all the best for 2014.
Hugs
CrafyJacq
xx
Beautiful as usual, will give this one a try 🙂 have a Wonderful 2014…..
Happy New Year Barbara and all at Clarity Stamps, fantastic card and love the edging. I am hoping for a new year filled with HOPE for a healthier one. One thing that sure helps is crafting and I have followed you for many years now, watching you intently with my youngest daughter, when you used to come to the Brighton Centre and demonstrate at the Craft Shows there. We still use the basque and angelina fibers which we bought then, oh an of course our stash has increased with many more goodies from you since then. I would ove to stand a chance of winning the £100 prize of you reaching 700 followers. My New Year Craft is to try the Gelli Plate and some Pebeo Prisme Paints – can't wait to get started 🙂
hugs
KazBee
What a brilliant way to do a frame – must give this a go. Love the verse at the beginning of today's blog too. This is a lovely stamp, and the whole image looks great. Thanks and crafty hugs xx
I am now dot crazy – just adore this idea & will be putting dots on everything !