Step Away For A Moment

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Sometimes You Need to Step Away and Take a Break

I've been working on my next video today and I have to say that I have reached my limit just now...it's time to take a break, step away, and come back again when I'm not frustrated.  I'm just so anxious to get the next video posted!!!!  Hopefully it will be by tonight...it just depends how long of a break I need to adjust my frustrato-meter :)  Hope you are all having a wonderful day!!!!!

Halloween Treat Container

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Take Baby Steps

I sometimes wish I had a teleporter that could "beam me" from here to there in a nanosecond!  Then I realize that teleporting would take away the journey - the slow growth that happens by taking baby steps - one at a time - allowing things to happen as they will.  So tonight I will go to bed reminding myself that by taking baby steps I will move forward in my own time - and that's just perfect! :)

Aren't these treat containers cute????  My cousin made a bunch of them as a thank you for a charity event and I couldn't resist the urge to give it a try!  Inside I put a mini candy bar - it fit perfectly!  You will need designer paper or thin card stock, sticky strip and a crimper.  You can embellish any way you like (I like the look of the eyelet, elastic cord and punched tag).  Hope you like them! :)

Giving Thanks Stamp-a-Stack 2

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Cleaning...Even A Little...Clears Space In Your Mind

I have been feeling really scattered lately.  I'm not sure why.  I have some theories...jetlag, fear of the future, a long to-do list, utter exhaustion.  It could be any of the above or none of them.  What I do know is that I decided to sweep the hard wood floors and that little bit of cleaning cleared space in my mind and calmed me down.  Believe me, I'm not Betty Crocker and I don't wake up in the morning joyous for the opportunity to clean.  And yet, I still get a huge sense of relief and clarity when the space around me is a bit cleaner and a bit less covered in cat hair, dog hair, Michelle hair, and tiny pieces of card stock :)  What little bit of your surroundings could you clean?

These are the final 2 cards for this week's Giving Thanks Stamp-a-Stack.  It seems I have to create 10 cards to be able to choose 5 that I like!  I am quite pleased with this set and hope those who attend will like them too!  I'm considering doing a "by mail" option for the stamp-a-stack.  If this is something you might be interested in, please leave a comment below or email me.  I would love to hear your thoughts/ideas!

Giving Thanks Stamp-a-Stack

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Laugh Until You Almost Pee :)

Sorry for the crudeness of today's lesson - I just couldn't capture the nature of my laughter today without using the explicit reference :)  Today I used oovoo for the first time.  It is a free video chatting application that you can get at www.oovoo.com.  I have to say it was a riot!  I spoke to one of my friends and we discovered that the little downward arrow on top of the video chat image allows you to apply all different types of effects to the video of you speaking.  If you have a chance, I highly recommend you do a video chat with one of your friends and choose the "pinch" effect and see how hard you can laugh!!!!  I dare you to laugh until you almost pee :)  It was the highlight of my day and I truly believe laughter is the best medicine!

Today's cards are for my Giving Thanks Stamp-a-Stack this week.  I used fall colors, inspired by the changing leaves outside and the briskness in the air!  The card on the right (the tree) was inspired by a card by Andrea Walford, another SU demonstrator (thanks Andrea!)  I used a few different stamp sets (Season of Friendship, Upsy Daisy, and One of a Kind) and some brads.  The left hand card is faux stitched and uses The More the Merrier and Thank You Kindly sets.  Hope you like them!  Now go and do some laughing :)

Greetings Earthling

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  There Is A Feeling Of Calm That Comes With Focus

I am sooooo happy to be back in the craft room after my trip to London!  The flights home were long and filled with creative anticipation :)  Today I took Buddy on his morning walk and I was once again struck by my Zen dog :)  He has the ability to sit at the base of a tree, motionless, and watch and wait for the squirrels.  It is such an intense and pure focus.  Sometimes I will walk across the park and sit under a tree and look back at the place where he remains sitting, motionless.  I wish for moments of such intense focus and calm - and those moments are the ones that seem to come in the craft room.  I think that is why I crave spending time in that special room.  Although it can look like chaos, I know that when I am in the act of creating, I am in touch with a feeling of calm and focus that is unlike any other.  Where do you find your focus and your calm?

This card is one of the cards we will be making during my upcoming Giving Thanks Stamp-a-Stack.  These robots are so cute (from SU's Greetings Earthling stamp set)!  The robot was stamped with Staz-On and colored in with markers.  Crystal Effects was applied over the entire robot to give him that special shine.  The designer paper is from the Holiday Lounge collection (I love the futuristic/modern look of this holiday paper!).  Hope you like it!  I plan on being back in the craft room tomorrow and will be sharing more of the stamp-a-stack cards!