BEADS OF COURAGE and A CAUSE

I Am the Diva, CZT

Weekly Challenge # 171

"Beads of Courage"

   First of all, I have to say, that this challenge has been the most heartfelt challenge I have experienced with the Diva's Challenges. It has united us all in a deeper way than just Zentangle. Courage!!!! Courage is one key factor that we all have within to keep us going. And when you have a whole support group on the side lines rooting you on, ...............Courage grows!!!! I have already read most of the posts on Laura's linky machine for this week, as I have been trying to finish my tile. My heart feels the pain and yet the outstanding courageousness that each person has shared on their post. So my tile not only goes out to my niece, Katie, but I want to share it with everyone, both child and parents, and loved ones, that sometimes feel courage won't last. It will!! We are all rooting you on, on the sidelines!!! With courage comes unity, trust, hope, faith, charity, love and understanding! Beautiful emotions that sometimes can only be shared through pain and suffering. My prayers, love and ((((HUGS)))) to all that have opened themselves to sharing their story!!!

   As most of you know, I have a 21 year old niece that has been diagnosed with an incurable brain cancer. (I do believe in miracles though.) Anyway, with brain tumors and cancer, a lot of times the person also has to fight the battle of seizures. My niece has been faced with seizures and the unfortunate disabilities that have entered her life because of them. 

   Striving to be courageous in every way, she has had to put her college education on hold, she is unable to have the freedom of driving and living a freer life as any 21 year old should. Having to hold back on independence has been the most challenging for her at her age. 

   As we, her family, are all here to help her, there is very little we can physically do. Except cheer her on, on the side lines and pray!!!! A big part of dealing with her illness, for me, has been to Zentangle. I shared that with my contribution to the CBS Morning Show, effort for Zentangle. Zentangle is therapy and it helps deal with hurtles in life! Anyway, thanks to Maria and Rick, it has opened the door to a new therapy that speaks to so many of us. 

   Here is my Zia, for 'Beads of Courage'! 

I chose this Zia, to represent the beads on a Rosary. I know I have added an extra decade to it but I know Katie has earned far more beads than this. 

The tangles used on some of the beads are '120 Ribbonz',  and hugz IN kizzez , both in honor of Katie. 

   Prayer and Katie, were my inspiration for this Zia!! The gray represents 'grey matters' ribbon for brain cancer, and the lavender is the color that represents support for seizures. 

   I have asked Katie for permission to write about her journey and with her courage, she is more than happy for me to share it with people. She says it will help bring more awareness to the insight of brain cancer and to learn more about it. She had a picture of her brain on her cell phone as the screen saver. When I saw it I said, "Oh my goodness your brain is so beautiful!!"  And then the more I looked at it I started seeing that it could be used as a string for Zentangle. Of course, with her permission, she let me do so! I told her and I tell anyone else with any kind of illness, "Your brain is beautiful Katie, it's the cancer that is ugly!!" So don't ever stop loving you and your body because of the ugly diseases that are out there!! You are beautiful and you are courageous!!!!

click on any image to enlarge

My niece really likes the Lotus flower, so I chose that over the area where her tumor and cancer are. Positive thoughts and prayer for healing!! I do want to share big "THANKS" to Barbara Geer, for helping bring awareness and prayer to The awareness of brain cancer in support of my niece!!

Me and Katie at the 5K run for Brain Cancer Awareness

Katie, sporting her new wig! Amazing how it looks like her real hair!! 

   I know this has been an extremely long post, but thanks to Laura, it has been an opening to let all of us share a little personal pain and courageousness with one another. And to be supportive of one another also!!  I urge all of you to please visit Laura and her family, at her blog and read about their ongoing courage to fight Moebius Syndrome. And please take time to read all the other's posts and their journey with courage! We can all learn how to be more understanding and aware of every cause, by sharing our pains! We all, in many ways have earned "Beads of Courage!"

We must always count our blessings!

:0)

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TANGLEATION NATION, RAIN and INCHIE, JOLLY-BOAT

I Am the Diva CZT
Weekly Challenge #168
Tangleation Nation: Rain

   I went ahead and did a Zia for this challenge. Since May is the month for Brain Cancer Awareness, I wanted to spread the word. If you go to my post Gray Matters, you can read more about the awareness of brain cancer, and my reason to promote it. 

The symbol in the center is the logo for the American Brain Tumor Association. 

   I used the Zenspirations Tangle Design, by Joanne Fink, as my inspiration for Rain. She is amazing and has so many neat and different ideas to add to any Zentangle. 

Enjoy your week! I know many of you have had rain, but here in sunny CA we could use rain like crazy!!!! So here's to Rain, with or without it!!

:0)
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Every Inchie Monday

Weekly Challenge

'Jolly-Boat'

   I had know idea what a Jolly-Boat was, so I had to Google it and look at the images. I found

this image of the Cutty Sark's jolly boat!  There was my inspiration! And here is my jolly boat Inchie!

I drew on the Inchie and used water color pencils to add the color. There is actually 3 layers to this Inchie.

The boat and waves were cut from an umbrella punch tool and the ores I hand cut.

   Remember to go to Every Inchie Monday , and check out all the other entries and maybe join in on the fun!! Have a great week!!

:0)

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DUOTANGLE; WELL/PUNZEL and INCHIE 'JET'

I Am the DIVA, CZT

Weekly Challenge #167

Well/Punzel

   Now, I have never used Punzel, so as soon as I saw the challenge for this week, I cringed!!! Yeeeks!    But as I started out it wasn't so bad. Then adding color and shading I quite liked it and figured it out! And I love 'Well', I just forget to use it in any of my tiles! So thanks Laura, as always, for breaking us out of our comforts!!

   Once I got into coloring Punzel, I forgot that I had wanted to do it in gray, for Brain Cancer Awareness Month is May! My string was a ribbon and then some added lines. 

   I am so proud of myself, because my last 4 challenges, I have really just let the Zentangle method take over and not let myself try and foresee the outcome of my tile. And it is amazing how the end results feel that much more gratifying. Rick and Maria, founders of Zentangle, had a fantastic post on their blog about Imperfections in Art! ( I tend to be one of those that tries to perfect everything I do) I so agree with what they had to say, so I'm gonna try even harder to reflect on that before I start any art work! Thank you Rick and Maria for reminding us of that!

Click on images to enlarge. As you can see I over drew my lines on Punzel,.....but it was my first go at this tangle so I need to learn and keep practicing!!

   I can't wait to see what all the other Tanglers will have come up with for this challenge!!

For all of you visiting, have a wonderful week!!! 

Every Inchie Monday

Weekly Challenge

'Jet'

   Well, with temperatures rising to 100 degrees, and then some, this week, I have been doing a lot more hand watering for all my plants. So when I saw the word 'jet' for this weeks word, it made me think of the nozzle on the hose that I use to water. There are so many different sprays to choose from, but I dare use 'jet' on my flowers!!! The would get torn to pieces. 'Shower' is usually the one I use. Then there is 'mist' or even 'flood'. I think a couple more too. 

   I really enjoy 3D work, so I'm going to try to do more of that with my challenges, if it permits. I love drawing too, but I need to have some variety.

The hose is made of a rubber band, and the water nozzle is a tulip punch tool. The water is a sparkly thread that I have. I used water color pencils, given to me by a dear friend of mine (Love you Jenn!!), for the background.

IT'S TIME TO ZENT'EGG'LE

ZENT'EGG'LE

your Easter eggs this year!!!

   Hello Everyone, and Happy Holy week!!! I just wanted to do a little 'Egg'stra post on Zentangled Easter Eggs! You can go to my post on March 28, 2014, When, I believe, I posted my first Zent'egg'led, Easter Egg. I use a real egg, only because I have been doing artwork on eggs for 15 years now, and I have a lot of blown out eggs saved up! But being that I have started the awesome art of Zentangle, this is my first year Zent'egg'ling an egg.

   I just want to share some helpful hints that worked for me.

   If you look in this photo, the colored Recollections markers, worked great on the natural egg. (Now I have not yet tried them on plastic eggs.) But one of the BEST finds I have come across, is the 'PERMANENT LePEN' !!! I will never go without owning one of these awesome pens! The secret to these pens is that they are alcohol based. Therefor they dry 'lickity split'!!! No need to wait for drying time! I have tried them on so many slick surfaces, and each time, it works! Plus it does not rub off!   (I found it was a hidden secret, for people who personalize Christmas ornaments, in the shopping mall. They never wanted to tell me what kind of pen they were using. So I was on a hunt. And a very nice sales clerk at JoAnnes' Fabrics let me try some pens out without purchasing them first. And,.... Wah La, I found the secret treasure!!!!) I'm sorry, but some things "ARE" worth letting out of the bag! I believe in sharing the good news!! 

   So again, if you go to my past post, you will see one example. Then I decided it would be a great contribution to send one to the CBS Sunday Morning, Zentangle effort. Linda Cobb and Linda Halvorsen, are the two CZTs that are organizing this great effort. Trying to get CBS to run an excerpt on Zentangle and the founders, Rick and Maria! I think it is awesome!! I hope it works! (Entries were supposed to be in by April 1st, but I see that more people are still sending them in,.....Like me! ) If you go to Zentangle Blog, you can see sooooo many beautiful and creative entries that fellow Tanglers have sent in! It's not too late to enter yours too!!! 

   So here is my entry. Including a Zent'Egg'le!!

click to enlarge

My story is about using Zentangle to bring awareness to a 'CAUSE'! You can see by going to the header of my blog and click on  Ripple Effect. Also, if you go to labels marked 'Brain Cancer Awareness', you will see more Zentangle for a 'CAUSE'!

click on any photo to enlarge

For the very bright yellow, I had used a water color brush pen. I don't have the package anymore, otherwise I would share the brand.

  

I hope you enjoyed the little bit of info. I hope that it helps! 

So go on an 'Egg'stravaganza, and 

Zent'Egg'le 

your Easter Eggs this year!! 

If I have a chance, I want to do more Zent'Egg'les, and if I do, I will add them to this post!

:0) 

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NEW OFFICIAL TANGLE, RIXTY and INCHIE,'HEAD'

I Am the Diva, CZT

Weekly Challenge  #163

'Rixty'

   First of all, I want to have a "Shout Out" to Rick Roberts, cofounder of Zentangle "HAPPY, HAPPY, BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!!" He was celebrating his 60th birthday and while in good company, he discovered this new tangle, Rixty! I really enjoyed it and see that there are soooooo many possibilities. Thanks Rick for sharing your birthday present with us!! :0)  (go to highlighted Zentangle for step out for Rixty)   Now getting to the challenge, being in the theme of Holy Week, I thought it appropriate to  use Rixty in a prayerful matter! I made "Jesus' Crown of Thorns"! 

(click to enlarge) Here's my 'Rixty' ,...Crown of Thorns.

   And then, because I like Rixty so much, I did another one! Still in theme of 'Brain Cancer Awareness.'  Katie keep the 'HOPE'!!

Yellow and gray was inspired by by a fellow tangler. I'm sorry but I cannot remember whose blog I saw it on last week, but it was beautiful and I commented on it too. Thank you for the inspiration!!

   Actually, this 'HOPE' is what Christ so lovingly gave us when he gave His life!!! Have a beautiful Easter!!!!

  Every Inchie Monday

Weekly Challenge

'Head'

   So, when I looked at this week's word, so many things popped into my,............HEAD!!! (funny thing) Anyway, I thought of heads and tails, on a coin. I thought of Mount Rushmore, (but those are mainly faces). I thought of the mannequin heads I had to practice on for cosmetology. Those all kept spinning around in my......... 'HEAD'!! But the one that stuck out the most  was this,..........

   I know, I know,.......kinda gross and yes very male gender, but that's what I kept thinking of! Having had guy friends, brothers and now husband, I have heard this comment way too many times, 'NOT' to think of it. Here in America, men say, "I gotta go use the head" or "the John."! Anyway, I haven't yet had a chance to look at anybody's entries yet. It's just been a way took busy week. But I hope to take a look and leave comments. 

Have a very Blessed Easter!!!

See ya' next week!!

:0) 

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GO TEAM, "MOTIVATED MUGGLES"

Please show your support!
Go to
American Brain Tumor Association
Please, make a donation to team Motivated Muggles, or just in general, and lets help get closer to helping find a cure and support families that are living with brain cancer!!!!
Zentangle and Brain Cancer Awarenes
I thought I would do a tangle using my niece's Brain Cancer Awareness group name. 

   The ABTA is putting on a walkathon April 12, to raise money for research for brain cancer.

   My niece, Katie, has just finished her 3rd week of chemo and radiation and is now beautifully bald!!! Through all of this, she somehow, always exudes a smile that reaches ear to ear and to whomever is around!!! 

   Katie you are unbelievably amazing!!!! Two of her Aunts are leading this rally of people to help find a cure! There are about 90 people right now that are ready to walk for Katie. And an amazing amount of money has been raised too. Check out Motivated Muggles, and if you care to make a donation,  every little bit helps!!!!!! 

Katie's favorite color is orange, and the name Motivated Muggles was inspired by Harry Potter. One of Katie's favorite movies. These are our walkathon T-Shirts!

"GO TEAM 'MOTIVATED MUGGLES'!!"

STRING THEORY, INITIALS

I Am the DIVA CZT

Weekly Challenge #162

String Theory, Initials

   It's so nice to have a little time to think nowadays! My parents 50th Anniversary was a success! I believe everyone but about 5 people showed up!! That means there were 220 guests there to celebrate!! It definitely was a celebratory event!!

   On with the challenge!!! My initials when I sign them are........

APC   Here's my Initial String.

  I thought this was a really fun Challenge this week! Very free!

Tangles used: Kinetic,Sanibelle, Diva Dance, Por Fin, and '120 Ribbonz'

   Along with doing my initials, I thought I would do a tangle using my niece's Brain Cancer Awareness group name. 

   The ABTA is putting on a walkathon April 12, to raise money for research for brain cancer.

   My niece, Katie, has just finished her 3rd week of chemo and radiation and is now beautifully bald!!! Through all of this, she somehow, always exudes a smile that reaches ear to ear and to whomever is around!!! 

   Katie you are unbelievably amazing!!!! Two of her Aunts are leading this rally of people to help find a cure! There are about 90 people right now that are ready to walk for Katie. And an amazing amount of money has been raised too. Check out Motivated Muggles, and if you care to make a donation,  every little bit helps!!!!!! 

Katie's favorite color is orange, and the name Motivated Muggles was inspired by Harry Potter. One of Katie's favorite movies. These are our walkathon T-Shirts!

"GO TEAM 'MOTIVATED MUGGLES'!!"

Have a lovely, 'Springy' week!!!

:0)

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DUOTANGLE; DIVA DANCE+CRESCENT MOON, and INCHIE; ENGRAVE

I Am the Diva, CZT

Weekly Challenge #158

Duotangle: 

Diva Dance + Crescent Moon

   Let me see you Diva Dance underneath the Crescent Moon!!! Here at Call it What You Quill, I'm still supporting brain cancer awareness and what better way, than to throw in some dance moves, under the perfect lighting, to show that 'gray matters'!!

   What a fun challenge!! Thanks Laura!! You always stretch our imagination! I would never, on my own use just these two tangles together, but you bring us to the challenge!!! That's what I love about your challenges! They kinda force us to go places we may never go on our own. You're constantly stretching our imagination!!! (That would be a cool name for a tangle! I might have to put some brain work together!!)

Have an awesome week!

And as always, thanks for dropping by and sharing your thoughts!

Okay, I have to admit, I had so much fun with this challenge, that I wanted to have a little more fun! After seeing so many other entries that added color, I just had to play a little more!!! Fun, fun, fun!!!

Share some Zen, 

in this Tangled world!!

Go to the Diva's blog and join in on the fun!!

 :0) 

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Every Inchie Monday

Weekly Challenge

'Engrave'

   This week's challenge was inspired by my marriage! My husband and I met, when I was 34 and he was 36. So it was a pretty big deal that neither of us had been married before or had children (especially in this day and age). Anyway, we felt that the long wait to find each other was so worth it. So we had messages 'Engraved' on our rings.  

His reads

"Patience Reward",

and mine reads

"Enduring Love."

So either way you read it, mine first or his, it has the same meaning! Patience Reward brought us Enduring Love!!! Enduring Love is our Patience Reward!!

   (By the way, if anyone ever comes across, a size 12 platinum and gold, men's ring, that has engraved, 'Patience Reward' on it, let me know! My husband LOST his ring 2 years ago!!! Grrrrrrr!!)

And that's no joke!

Hope your week is a 'Fab' one!!

Don't forget to stop by Every Inchie Monday and check out 

all the other 'Engraved' ideas!!

:0) 

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120 RIBBONZ

'120  Ribbonz'

   This is a new tangle that I created, inspired by my niece, and her battle with brain cancer! The title of this is to let people know that their are 120 different types of brain cancer. And the color of brain cancer awareness is gray! Please use this tangle and help promote Brain Cancer Awareness, and/or any other cancer! Let's spread the word! Let's show our compassion!!!

Again, let's show support to our loved ones and/or anyone out there that is battling cancer!

Tangle '120 Ribbonz' and show we care!!
Start that 'Ripple Effect'!

My new tangle: "120 Ribbonz"

Click to enlarge The outer border is a variation of '120 Ribbonz'

 :0) 

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GRAY MATTERS

With my permission (Annette Carlo), any artwork can be used for Brain Cancer Awareness.

Brain Cancer Awareness

   I told my niece I wanted to do an Awareness post on my blog. I asked her if it was ok to tell her story but not use her name. Just say I know someone dear to me who was diagnosed with brain cancer. Well, she told me to use her name and her story to help encourage people to become more aware of brain cancer.  

   I first have to say, I have started, and restarted this post and I still don't know if it's the way I want to write it. So here I am trying again. (It is a difficult thing to express and write about.)

   Back in December of last year, (2013), my 21 year old niece had a seizure, which she had never had one before. Having that, it led to testing. With the testing, the doctors found out she had a brain tumor.  Thank God, she had a successful surgery in removing the tumor. The biopsy was done and unfortunately the results came back malignant. They got the whole tumor, but with the type of cancer that the tumor was, it had already gone into her brain cells. A lot of brain cancers are hard to diagnose because they do not show up in blood testing, as far as white blood cell count goes. Unlike many other cancer detecting tests. (I really need to do more awareness myself, so I don't know if this is true for all brain cancers.) They diagnosed her cancer as Anaplasta Astrocytoma- Grade 3. Since, she has had two more seizures because of where her tumor was. (Again, I believe, not all patients who suffer from brain tumors/cancer, have seizures.) She will begin her chemotherapy and radiation treatments soon. That will begin a whole new journey for her and the family. She is surrounded with love, from family and friends. She is a strong and brave soul!  We all have Faith and Hope that she will win this fight of cancer! "Katie you are AMAZING!!!!  

   The reason I put so much detail into her story, is because I had NO 'REAL' idea about any kind of cancers, especially brain cancer and the effects that it has on the person and their families. So much support is needed for the person going through it and the family members. So it has moved me to want to help people know the 'REALNESS' of it.

   I had know idea. But did you know that there are 120 different brain cancers, alone? The American Brain Tumor Association, is constantly trying to raise money to try and find ways to treat and hopefully be able to test for brain tumors, before a tragic symptom appears. I have only read part of the information on brain tumors, as it is overwhelming, but I want to learn more. It is also amazing how much more empathy I feel for sufferers and their families that have to go through something like this. I never knew! Please, I encourage you to go to the site and read and maybe help donate to a cause that could save someone's life!!! Did you also know that the gray ribbon is the symbol for brain cancer, diabetes and asthma? Reason being for the motto, "Gray Matters!" That I thought was very clever!

   Since I express better through vocals and art, I am going to use this post as a venue to share my awareness contributions.

   Feel free to use any of the Brain Cancer Awareness artwork as long as I approve it and it is not used for individual means of making money. Other than for raising money for The American Brain Tumor Association.
   As I learn more I will share it with you! In the meantime I do want to share my inspirations and hope that it will create Ripple Effect, to bring awareness and more compassion and understanding to any and everybody that is going through any kind of disease.

Zentangle and Brain Cancer

   Back in September I started learning about a whole new art form called Zentangle. Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas are the creators of this technique and their motto is "Anything is possible, one stroke at a time." ( It's basically, doodling, but coming from a whole new angle and technique. So that anybody could create art. Even someone who has no artistic talent at all. "one stroke at a time.") And then Sandy Steen Bartholomew from BEEZ in the Belfry, illustrator and author of many books, took it to another level. She has a book called, "Yoga for the Brain" and also a phone app called, "Tangle Library". Well, the reason I bring any of this to your attention, is that my niece is a doodler. One of her college classes is Yoga. So she showed me a journal that she is keeping and she titled it Brain Yoga! Not even knowing yet, about Zentangle or the  "Yoga for the Brain", book even existed. I bought her a few books and introduced Zentangle to her. She has found that it helps relax her mind and is a form of therapy for her. This is her first Zia (Zentangle- Inspired Art). I think she did a fabulous job! And it wasn't quite finished yet at this point.

Katie's first ZIA (Zentangl-Inspired Art)  She's a natural!!!

   I guess I am also promoting Zentangle here, also! But I figure, it can be a part of the Ripple Effect, in that, it could find therapy for someone else out there reading this post. Again, this is going to be my way of expressing and promoting Brain Cancer Awareness! Through Zentangle and Zias!!!

Let's see if it inspires you to bring

Awareness to Brain Cancer!!

Remember, it all starts with one stones throw,

and creates a 'Ripple Effect!"

:0)

Prayer and Hugs

Heal!

CURVY GRIDLOCK, INCHIE 'DARK', and TWINCHIE, 'STARS'

I Am the Diva,CZT

Weekly Challenge #156

Show me your Curves,........ in a Gridlock sorta way!!

   I had to laugh when I saw what our challenge was that Laura gave us. Last week I made a comment how grid patterns are my most difficult to do! Well, look what she gave us....! Too funny!!( I think it was Laura's way of giving me my 'Time Out', since I messed up on the Linky Machine, two weeks in a row.  Yeeeeeeksss!!!) I really was sorry!!! I'm just kidding!!! I know she didn't do this because of me. Anyways, I rather had a good time doing this grid because Laura did say to use curvy lines. Which helped me be a little more creative. *wink Thanks Laura!!! :0)

   Now I just briefly added on last weeks challenge a new tile and mentioned that I would be adding a gray ribbon on my tiles from now on. (The reason being I had to ask my niece if it was ok to do this). My niece was diagnosed with Brain Cancer back in December. It has been a real eye opener to how to deal with cancer, only because I have never had someone so close to me be diagnosed with any kind of cancer. I have been pondering how to bring this into my blog without creating a whole lot of,..........well, I guess you might say, drama. But I feel like I need to help bring awareness to brain cancer, to help her. It will be the last time I will be writing about it on my challenge posts. So you will see gray ribbons included, somewhere, in my tiles from now on. I will have a whole separate page for Brain Cancer Awareness under my heading The Ripple Effect.(I am still putting that together.) I will be adding to it frequently. Please take time to read and inform yourself and hopefully others, of this horrible illness. 

   I just have to say, "I pray for all and any of you and your families that have ever had to go through anything like this. It's painful and hard to grasp!! So my heartfelt empathy go out to you!!! God Bless you with Peace and Understanding and yet Strength and Love to carry you on!!! XO'S"

   ( I also didn't want to turn the weekly challenge into a mourning and sad event every week! I have to say this week is one of the first weeks that my mind and body are feeling balanced and peaceful. I never really give much detail about my personal life but this has been hard to pretend it's not there, even with tangling and blogging. So bare with me for unloading.) Hugs!

Tangles used: Girdy, HugzIN kizzez, Carp3, Puff, Emingle, and Echoism. Click on images to enlarge.

Tangles used: Chard, Cubine, Florz, Flying Geese, Gingham, Telis, Navaho, and 4 Corners

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Every Inchie Monday

Weekly Challenge 

'Dark'

Or as I describe it as 

"the dark side"

I guess you can even say, "the Darth side,........." (hahaha)

Have an awesome week!!!

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Twinchie Challenge Blog
Weekly Challenge
'Stars'

   I missed last week, but I'm hoping to catch up! Anyway, our American flag is what came to mind. And I have to say, I cheated a little. I quilled a bunch of different patriotic mini cards, back in 2002. (the year was on the back) And I remembered I still had some , so I thought I would apply it to this weeks challenge! I just love minis.

It's always fun doing Twinchies! Anybody want to join in on the fun??
Have an awesome week!!!

:0)
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