A Year of Kindness - Challenge Week 17

So last week, true to my word, I "planted" twenty five trees via The Canopy Project.  I still plan to do some planting around here, but as it turns out, it is a bit early yet for the kind of flowers I'm looking for. Spring was late in coming and we are still in the process of having everything just starting to bloom and bud here - which is making my sinuses most unhappy, but I'm loving the sunshine and the colors and the inspiration! I hope you were all inspired to plant!

I was also inspired to create in the past week. Krystal Hartley and Melissa Bennett came out with a new collab kit called Garden Angel:
I used the kit to create a layout celebrating Spring:

She also had a new collab kit with Ju Kneipp called Letters to My Mother:
I used this kit for an art journal style layout to complete the Week One assignment in Brene Brown's "Gift of Imperfections" Part Two class. Of course the class is currently in the break between weeks three and four. Yes, I am gloriously behind in EVERY class I'm taking. And just trying to keep my head above water right now.

The creative bug has hit me hard this Spring. I am feeling so inspired and seeing so many things that I want to be a part of - that I want to play along with. Only I'm having a difficult  impossible time keeping up and feeling terribly like I'm suffering from adult onset A.D.D. at the moment.

What has me in such a tizzy? The Documented Life project for one. This project has me so stinking excited that even though it is nearly May and even though I'm behind on everything else, I've gone ahead and ordered myself a 2014 Moleskine Planner/Journal. So what if I've already missed the first 1/3 of the book?! So what that I'm joining the project late and am already technically sixteen weeks behind everyone else?! I've been shopping at Michaels. And in my stash. I've made some monthly tabs. I'm ready to hit the ground running when the planner finally arrives! I can't wait!

Another one is a Facebook Group that I came across via some other facebook groups...isn't that the way it always happens?  It's called Art Abandonment and the purpose behind the group is to make art to give away. To spread kindness and make someone's day through the unexpected and generous gift of a piece of your art. Members of the group "abandon" their art in public places - waiting rooms of doctor's offices, grocery stores, art stores, public park benches - there are definitely creative ideas about where to leave art! They abandon everything from jewelry to hand painted eggs to mixed media canvases to bookmarks to postcards - pretty much if you can make it they are abandoning it!

Which brings me to the challenge for this week - make something to give away! Whether you give it to a friend, family member, or abandon it in a public park doesn't matter to me. I'm challenging myself to do an anonymous public park style abandonment. Anyone care to join me? Just spread a little of your MADE BY ME love around! If you want some ideas check out The Rock Fairy's blog. Or drop by the Art Abandonment Page. There is no shortage of clever ideas and inspiration. I've been thinking about this ever since I ran across it. I think I'll paint some rocks to leave along the walking trail by the creek. I've been meaning to do it for a long time. Maybe this challenge is the push I need to get brave and just do it. What about you? What art will you make to abandon? Just one simple piece. Nothing big or expensive or time-consuming. Just a little something to bring a smile to a stranger's face.