Life in Progression...

Progressive Artworks...lately I have been 'feeling' like creating more 'expressive' pieces rather than an image of something.  They are a bit more 'Expressional Abstracts' or what I'd also like to  say are 'Spiritual Expressions' as I like to paint these layers while I am praising the Lord!  :)  These are some current pieces that I am working on...these are going to have alot of layers...can't really say how many but at this point this one has about 7 so far...this is on a 16" x 20" Canvas.

This piece is more mixed media since I have a layer of decoupaged fancy napkins on it.

This one has about 7 layers as well and is on a 11" X 14" canvas.

I'm also working on some 'mini' artworks...some ATC/ACEO's

on 2.5x3.5 watercolor paper...these are also artworks in progress...

 Well I 'm so happy that I finally can create my own original art again...it's definately a reflection of my own life in progression!  God Bless & Cre8tvlyYrs, Gina

*10 Days of Freebies!!*

Sample created with Cozy Love Birds

Today is the 1st of 10 Days of Freebies!

The Owlzaga's

Just go over to my FB page here:  Cre8tvlyYrs Designz by Gina Arzaga  from today until the 10th of October I will be posting freebies that I created to coordinate with my 10 new digital stamps I have available over at my Whimsy Stamps store!!

Scaredy Cat

So I thought I'd share a few of my samples I created using my Digital Stamps!  I also have new artwork to share and some tutorials and such that I'll be posting about on my YouTube channel soon!  Don't forget to check back soon for that and to get my freebies don't forget to go to my FB page link above!!

God bless and Cre8tvlyYrs!  Gina

Moving towards my Dreams and Goals...a few Announcements!

Here is a Cre8n I made using my 'Autumn Rose' Digital Stamp

Hello all my Family and Friends that are stopping by here!!  I am so excited to share what I've been up to since my last post...well I'm so happy with a few announcements!  First of all, this last Saturday we Baptized our daughter.  It was a small but sweet celebration after and it turned out nicely.  Second announcement...my digital stamp store will open at Whimsy Stamps tomorrow...October 1st!!  I am soo excited!!  Final announcement:  For the next 10 days I will be offering some Freebies that coordinate with my Digi stamps...so come back for those!!  :)

So happy because after the Baptism festivities were over I was able to focus on my digital stamps artwork and was able to get a total of 10 digital stamps done!  Above is a sample I created using my 1st digi stamp "Autumn Rose" and I've been busy creating more samples which I'll be creating some tutorial for on my YouTube channel soon!  Again, this is just one more baby step towards my goals and if it's God's will it will be!  So I will continue to be Cre8tvlyYrs, Gina

Redirection...go in Faith...

Hello Everyone!  Well here is my entry to the Lilla Rogers Global Talent Search that I made a big hoopla in the last post.  I didn't get chosen to the next round but you know what?  I'm fine with that...I am a woman of Faith...and I believe that when there is a 'no' it's really a redirection...I am now working on other projects and still believe there is a future for me in pursuing my dreams.  As for this painting...I know it's not my best work and I really liked the way it came out but it's probably not what I would have chosen to paint on my own!  So I looked at it as more of a really over priced workshop that I won't be joining next year...not that I'm being a sore loser or anything...but I just realized that I can't rely on others to make something I want happen for me!  I need to continue to keep my Faith on God...that he will lead me on the right path...to where he wants me to go!

Sooo, which leads me to...I am soo excited to share that I will be guest designing for 'Whimsy Stamps' for the rest of the year...if it's meant for me to be there...I may continue on!  I will be starting on as a 'Digital Stamp Designer' and I am so excited about this as I have always wanted to design my own stamp line!  I have decided to also add some of my digital kits to my etsy shop as soon as I'm done finishing up my first 10 sets of digi stamps and I 'tweek' some of my favorite digi kits!!  So I am already 'redirected'...and I will go on...in FAITH!  Cre8tvlyYrs, Gina :)

On Being Brave

Soo...it's the night before they are going to announce the top 50 contestants for Lilla Roger's Global Talent Search that will be moving on to the next round...and I am a little bit anxious...not a lot though but a little.  That in itself is surprising...I struggled with the 1st rounds challenge but only because I couldn't make up my mind in which direction I wanted to go with my project.  As I was struggling, even before I seen any of the other 998 contestants nor had any clue of any big contenders I began to wonder:  "What was I thinking when I signed up for this?"  I do know that had any clue of how many sign ups I may have not even tried.  But I'm glad that I did...even after signing up I told myself that it wouldn't matter if I am chosen or not (I would be very thrilled if I was...just saying) but to me the act of actually signing up was a statement that I was making to the world that I believe in myself enough to try!!

This experience is really a big step of bravery for me...I often would wish I would try then doubt myself...not my talent but myself...you see I have ADD/ADHD and I tend to get distracted or my super power that I like to call "SUPER FOCUS" (when I can zip out awesome artwork in a single all-nighter!!)  This way of being is what you can call a blessing mixed with a curse only because it has brought my both joy and also many heartaches (after missing deadlines of opportunities that have come my way).  Being that I am now 45 years old and finally a mommy I have decided to stop wasting my life...to stop the self doubt and "Just Bloom".

When I was working on my project, I realized that I needed to stop trying to do too much and think of it as if it was commissioned work to make it more of what they where asking for in the assignment but with my style of painting resonating throughout.  We are not allowed to post our piece until the announcements are made of the Top 50 but I would like to share what I word and saying I used:  Faith ~ Believing in more than what the eyes can see.  This is soo true to my spirit...it is what I have learned firsthand to be true...the Lord has brought me through so much bad and to so much good...I will continue to walk in my Faith...

My husband and I went through a very tough 2 year process to get our little girl and the fact that we accomplished this...that I myself survived the worst of what I never thought I'd experience this last year...well I realized that I am stronger than I thought, smarter than I knew, and capable of more than I could even imagine...all because I am not alone in this journey...no matter what I go through...the good and the bad...my Lord, my Father God, and Holy Spirit are there to lead, comfort and provide ways for me to achieve much more than I could even fathom...so with all that in mind I will keep moving forward with bravery because I know that I am being led by my Lord and if I am not chosen it is the Lord's way of saying 'not this way' but if I am than there is the chance that it may be this way...either way...I only want to go the the Lord has planned for me to go!

My Leap of Faith Experience...

So yeah, my 1st assignment for the Global Talent Search is due this coming Monday but I only really have today and tomorrow to really devote time to my project...so I'm only posting a short but sweet post of my progress and experience with this.


First off, when I got the assignment I had some ideas in mind but I also spent some time researching the subject and then I did a few rough sketches.  Then I hit a mental block...I wasn't 'feeling' the look of my sketches, then I decided to just start on my background of my canvas...it's almost done (my layering process for the background) and as it was drying at first I began to question myself as I couldn't get myself to draw what was whispering in my head...it just wasn't very clear yet...I  had no idea where to even continue and I started wondering what was I thinking when I signed up!!


So then I started doing some other research for a few things...they weren't really related to my project but as I was listening to some information on YouTube all of a sudden I picked up my pencil and exactly what I wanted to portray for my project came out! So now I better get back to work...I know there is a lot of talented artists that have joined this contest...but I figure it doesn't hurt to try.  If God wants my artwork to be shared with the world then it will!  God bless!!

Taking A Step Of Faith...Baby Steps...and Why I Do What I Do...

As I am typing these words...I'm still trying to find the best way to express what I need to say here...I guess as a way to leave a testimony of where I am right now and if it helps even one person than I have done what I was sent here to do...at this time in my life I have been struggling with my perspective about this world...and my life...I know I am a wife, mother, daughter, sister, auntie, Godmother (nina) and friend (to what seems like very few these days for that matter), I know I am a woman of God, Follower of Christ (Christian), and an Artist (mixed-media).


So with all that in mind...I still struggle...I struggle with how I am feeling about all the ugliness and horrible things going on in this world...before there seemed to be more good than bad and that made life more bearable...but these days, it seems that more and more bad is happening...so this is where I struggle...which is why I believe I've been unable to do what I really love to do...my artwork...I've been keeping myself busy with being creative...I have to do that...it's the only thing keeping me from getting too overwhelmed but I haven't been able to create my own original work for months. 


In fact just a few weeks ago I was talking with my mom (who also happens to be my BFF) about how I can't seem to do my own original art these days...not even doodling or sketching...she brought up a good point...that maybe that part of me is dormant, you know asleep due to all the stress and challenges that my husband and I had endured this last year (getting our little girl and finalizing her adoption to the water damage in our home and on to other personal challenges)...well that thought really intrigued me...it totally made sense.  Then my husband also mentioned to me to start with baby steps...which I have been trying out...but I guess I'm still struggling because I feel like how can I do my artwork knowing of all the crazy and ugly things happening in this world?


Then the Lord...in all his goodness reminded me of why I have been created to be an artist...why he made me this way...to do what I do...and why I need to continue to do it...the birds do not stop singing...they keep flying...they never doubt in what they do...and the little presence of them in my yard alone brings me much joy...they bring a smile to my face and healing...he wants me to not stop what he has designed for me to do...I may not be able to stop the horrors happening in the world but I can keep praying for the world...and I can keep being the creative person I am meant to be...if what I do touches only one...then I've done what I was meant to do.


Soooo after this long process of what has to be one of the longest times for me to self reflect of what it is I am meant to do in this world (in addition to being a wife, mommy, daughter, sister, auntie, and friend) I am meant to be an artist and it is important...I will keep this thought in my heart in each type of art or craft project I create...to bring a little piece of my joyfulness out into the world...to share it so that I can make others feel joy too!


As a way to accept this 'revelation' I have done something I don't think I could have done before...I am taking a step of Faith (which really feels more like a leap) and I have entered an art contest...well it's more like a talent search.  Just days after realizing that I need to do something...move in a new direction...after praying for years but more so recently to the Lord about what is it exactly that I need to do with my art?  I was somehow led to find this contest...Lila Rogers' Global Talent Search ~ now when I seen all the talent from last year, it really intimidated me...then I decided that I need to just 'go for it' to let myself "Just Bloom"! because even if I don't win...at least I am doing something different, I am moving in a different direction...I am believing in myself enough to do this!!


Thanks for letting me share...God bless!  Cre8tvlyYrs, Gina