Heat Tool and Organza

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  There's Always Something New To Learn!

Organza melts when a heat tool is applied to it....who knew?! :)  I learned this neat little trick at the SU! Leadership Convention so I, of course, had to go and buy some organza to give it a try.  Rumor has it that any fabric with synthetic fibers will shrivel up/melt.  Oh the fun I can have!  You do have to be careful though - too much heat and the fabric will burn.  I won't tell you how I learned that lesson :)  I die cut the fabric with the daisies #2 die in the Big Shot and then used a paint brush handle to hold the layers together on a heat resistant surface and the I heated it with the gun.  Hope you like it!  What new things did you learn today?????

Baby Shower Favors and Thank You

I had so much fun designing the invites, favors and thank you's for one of my customers to make for a friend's shower!  The favor was made with the Fancy Favor die and the Big Shot - how cute is this?!?!  As my friend would say, "Stinkin' cute!!!!" :)  Now is a great time to build your library of exclusive Stampin' Up! Big Shot dies - It's Sale-a-Bration!!!!!  You get a free Sale-a-Bration item for every $50 in product you purchase...and yes, I placed my crazy big order yesterday...can't wait for it to arrive!!!!  If you'd like to shop now, click HERE :)

Eyelet Border Paper Flower

I have come home from Leadership Convention and the Phoenix Regional with sooooo many ideas!  This is one I had to share with you.  It was presented by Jan McClurg and I was amazed with what she could do with paper!  Thanks Jan!  Here's how you can make these beautiful eyelet border paper flowers (I was able to do it on the first try which means it's easy peasy!!!)!!!!  Give it a try!

Step 1:  Cut a strip of whisper white card stock 11" long and 3/4" wide.  Use your eyelet border punch to punch the length of the strip of whisper white card stock.

Step 2:  Run the eyelet border strip of whisper white card stock through your crimper 4 times to soften the paper and make it pliable.

Step 3:  Punch a 1 1/2" circle and cover the circle with mono adhesive (strong white glue).  You will now begin the create your flower by gluing one end of the strip of crimped card stock to the outside rim of the circle and working your way around the circle, folding the crimped card stock as you go.  You will keep working your way toward the center of the circle.  Don't worry if you run out of crimped card stock, we'll be covering up the blank hole in the middle!

Step 4:  Punch a 3/4" circle in a color of your choice (I used barely banana) and adhere it to the center of the flower using a dimensional.  Finish embellishing as you desire and then use the flower on a card, scrapbook page or 3-D item!  Have fun!!!!

If you don't have an eyelet border punch, now is a great time to purchase one!  It's Sale-a-Bration!!!!  For every $50 in product that you purchase, you receive one free Sale-a-Bration item!!!  Click HERE to shop now!!! :)

Upsy Daisy!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  No One Can Make Your Decisions For You

Yes?  No?  Maybe?  Should I?  Shouldn't I?  I don't know about you, but these questions take up a lot of my time.  There are some areas where I am incredibly decisive and can make my mind up in a snap.  There are other areas, however, where my mind is like a see-saw!  Up, down, yes, no...I just can't make up my mind!  When it happens I sometimes reach out to someone close to me and ask them something like this, "Am I crazy if I do this?"  And, if the friend is truly a friend, what they say in response is, "It doesn't matter what I think.  This is your decision.  What would you like to do?"  Darn it!  Why can't they just make the decision for me?  Why?  Because it is my decision to make and the consequences are mine as well.  They are reminding me that no one can decide for me and no one else can take responsibility for the decisions I make (which means I can't blame anyone else if I'm not happy with the outcome of my decision).  What I need to investigate is why certain decisions come so easily and why I struggle with other decisions...but that is for another day and another lesson from the craft room :)  What decisions do you find difficult to make?  I have to admit that some of the difficult ones for me seem to be about whether or not I should purchase more crafting supplies...now why would I feel guilty about that?!

This sketch challenge card started with the sketch and the desire to combine Crushed Curry and Basic Black.  I tried to stick with the basics:  stamp, paper, ink...and threw in a touch of ribbon and dazzling diamonds.  I hope you like it!

A Good Egg

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  It's Never Too Late!

As long as we are still here, it is never too late to decide to do something, to say something, to try something, to share something.  You have this moment.  You have this time - right now.  A very dear friend asked me once, "If there was anything you could do today, what would that be?"  What an important question to ask ourselves everyday!  And, when you have your answer, go for it!  It's never too late!

I had fun making today's card.  This little chick is soooo cute :)  Just looking at him makes me smile :)  I added a few of the other images from A Good Egg and then some white gel pen and glitter.  The lace border punch gives a delicate feel to the card and, one of my favorite sets, Happy Everything, fit perfectly!  Now is a great time to invest in these adorable stamp sets since it's Sale-a-Bration!!!!  You receive a free Sale-a-Bration item for every $50 in products you purchase!  Yes, I'm going shopping! :)  If you'd like to shop too, feel free to click HERE.  It's Never Too Late when you can shop 24/7 :) (Can you tell I'm excited about this promotion???  I'm embarrassed to tell you how long my wish list is!)  Have a perfect evening!!!!!

My New Year's Commitment

This was one of the signs decorating the stage at Leadership Convention last week in Phoenix.  What an amazing reminder for me for 2010 - to love what I do and do what I love!!!!!  What are you committing to this year?????

Yikes! Crazy Love!

Tonight's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Just Go And Visit!

Today I learned that a friend is sick.  Not the kind of sick that you take 2 aspirin for and you feel better in the morning, but the kind of sick that requires surgery and making sure your will is in order and your mind keeps racing at night.  The minute I found out I knew I wanted to go over to his house and visit and I was scared.  I was scared about what I would say and how I would act.  And, I went.  What I realize now is that it doesn't matter what you say or how you act - what matters is that you go and visit.  Visiting provided an hour where he was able to laugh and forget for a few minutes the road that is stretching out before him right now.  Visiting was good medicine for both of us!

Tonight's card has an appropriate name - Crazy Love - 'cuz I've gotta admit this card is a little crazy! :)  The challenge on SCS was to combine rich razzleberry, chocolate chip, and pretty in pink...and, if you wanted, houndstooth.  I stamped a bunch of flowers over each other with chocolate chip ink onto the pretty in pink card stock and have to admit it's a bit ugly...but hearts can make even the ugliest paper or situation a bit brighter - so hearts I stamped :)  I added glitter - since glitter can also make things a bit brighter...and here's the result.  My neutrals are black and white (black is a neutral, isn't it?!) so that I could add a touch of houndstooth.  Hope you like it, but if you don't, I at least hope you enjoyed our visit :)

Baby Shower Invites

Hi!!!!!!!  I'm back from Leadership Convention and I'm all fired up!!!!!!  I had one friend over yesterday and we went to work creating these baby shower invites!  The cards were inspired by a demonstration at Leadership.  How cute are these?!  I am loving the combination of certainly celery and almost amethyst card stock together!!!!!  This little bird, from the Cheep Talk stamp set, is so versatile!  I can already see him on a Valentine's card with a little heart...I'll have to go work on that one :)  I printed the invites up on the computer since I didn't have an "invite" stamp and we decided we didn't want to hand write all those invites.  I was inspired by our "Introducing" stamp set.  We did, however, make sure to add a stamped touch to them by including the bird and an added certainly celery circle punch.  We also stamped the bird on the envelopes.  If you have an event coming up, or just want to buy a few supplies, now is a great time to shop since our biggest sale of the year is going on!  Spend $50 on product and you will receive a free Sale-a-bration item (there are stamps, punches and paper to choose from)!  Feel free to SHOP NOW if you'd like to take advantage of this amazing annual event!!!!  You can view the Sale-a-Bration brochure on the right-hand side of this post to see the amazing products we have available for free!!!!