Four Ways Friday #4 - Ornament Punch

This week's Four Ways Friday focuses on the Ornament Punch.  When I first saw the punch in our Holiday Mini Catalog last year, I was concerned it would be a bit limiting.  After all, how many ornament cards was I really going to make?  Well, after pondering the punch for a bit and seeing some people use it for a fish and for a vase, I decided I had to have one! :)  If you decide the same thing, feel free to shop HERE for your punch!  The punch is still available!

This first project was one I posted earlier in the week.  When I saw an ornament punch rose created by Chera Wiest, I knew I had to make one!!!  Thanks Chera!!!!  You can find directions for how to make this great rose on Chera's blog.

For this second card, I punched out almost the entire ornament from Sage Shadow card stock.  I just did not punch a small part at the bottom.  I then used VersaMark and white embossing powder with my heat tool to put the Vintage Vogue stamped image onto the vase.  The flower stems from our new Awash With Flowers sneak peek set were stamped with Always Artichoke onto watercolor paper.  I used my aqua painter to watercolor the leaves with Certainly Celery ink.  The flowers were punched using the Boho Blossoms punch and the Trio Flower punch.  I added a few brads and a greeting from one of my all-time favorite sets, Short & Sweet.

My third card came to me after I punched out an ornament from watercolor paper.  As I turned it around and around in my hand, I decided it looked like an onion! :)  So, an onion it became...and a tomato too :)  I sponged the edges of the onion with More Mustard and created the green part by hand cutting a piece of Old Olive card stock that I had stamped with the Sanded background stamp.  The tomato leaves are a flower from the Boho Blossoms punch :)  The greeting is from the Bella's Blossoms stamp set.  I made the background look like a paper bag by crumpling a piece of Creamy Caramel card stock in my hand and then sponging over the top and the edges with Creamy Caramel ink - I think it looks pretty realistic!  Is it just me, or are you in the mood for a salad right now too?! :)

For the fourth card, I punched a load of ornaments from Summer Sun card stock and ran them all through the crimper.  I then sponged the edges with Summer Sun ink and began attaching them with Tombow Mono Multi-Adhesive to a 1 1/2" circle punch.  I punched and sponged a 1 1/2" circle for the center of the flower from Summer Sun card stock.  I also punched a 1 1/4" circle in Chocolate Chip and ran it through the Dot, Dot, Dot embossing folder to give it a little sunflower-like texture.  I sponged over the Chocolate Chip with Summer Sun ink.  The Bashful Blue background was spritzed with the spritzer tool and Bashful Blue and Chocolate Chip ink.  I also stamped the background panel with a floral image from the Vintage Vogue stamp set.  Finally, the greeting flag was stamped, sponged and attached to the flower.  I hope you like this week's Four Ways Friday!  Check back next week for more ideas for how to use the same stamp or punch in 4 different ways!  Are you feeling like you can't live without an ornament punch now?  Don't worry - I totally understand :)  Feel free to Shop HERE now :)  The item number for the ornament punch is 116794.

Setting Up For My Stamp-A-Stack

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Take A Peek Inside Someone Else's World

I don't know about you, but I love seeing pictures of how other people arrange their spaces for creative pursuits!  One of these days I may let you peek into my craft room...but for now, I wanted to give you a peek of how I set up for a Stamp-a-Stack.  I set up different "stations" for each card.  All of the card stock is pre-cut and pre-scored.  I have completed cards on small magnet boards so that people can look at the inspiration card while they are stamping.  Butcher paper on the table is a must :)  You may notice the candy in the background...stamping and sweets always seem to go together :)  I hope you like this peek into my world!  Do you have special ways you like to arrange your space for creative pursuits?  I'd love to hear what you do!

Ornament Punch Rose!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Learn How To Not Be What You Are

I know today's lesson sounds a little strange, but let me explain.  Sometimes we get so wrapped up in who we are and how we are accustomed to doing things, we don't stop to take notice of what we are missing.  If our identity is wrapped up in our profession and we work 24/7, we can lose site of the fact that life is not a dress rehearsal - that we don't have all the time in the world - that one day, we will no longer be here.  So today, think about how you might learn how not to be what you are and instead spend some time just being :)

When I saw an ornament punch rose created by Chera Wiest, I knew I had to buy the ornament punch!!!  Thanks Chera!!!!  You can find directions for how to make this great rose on Chera's blog.  I love how versatile this ornament punch is...hmmmm, maybe that will have to be my next Four Ways Friday...4 different ways to use the ornament punch :)  So this is just a teaser :)  I do want to dedicate this special rose to my friend Judi!  She is such an inspiration...and her last name is Rose :)

Friends 24-7 - Stamp-a-Stack Card #5

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  The Answer Must Come From Within

Today's lesson comes from Galloway's Book On Running.  He says these words in a section about helping someone else getting started with running.  The words apply in so many situations - not just when you are trying to support someone else to run.  Jeff Galloway goes on to say that it can be so easy to get up on the soap box when we have made a recent and powerful change in our own lives.  However, he reminds us that a person's motivation must come from within.  So how do you help someone tap into their own motivation?  You wait until they ask for your help or advice and then you listen to understand their goals.  Finally, you do what you can to support them and help them to succeed.  After all, the answer for them must come from within.

Today's card is the final card for my All Occasions Stamp-a-Stack.  The idea came from a card that I did for a prior Four Ways Friday using the Friends 24-7 stamp set.  I stamped the image in versamark and then pounced over it with chalks using sponge daubers.  I used the spritzer tool with the Close to Cocoa marker to add some "spritz," and then sponged the edges.  This makes a beautiful congratulations or anniversary card.  I hope you like it!  If you love Close to Cocoa and Cameo Coral, don't let the opportunity to stock up pass you by.  These colors will both be retiring at the end of June.  Shop HERE to stock up now!

Inspired By Nature - Stamp-a-Stack Card #4

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Stop And Listen To The Sounds Of Nature At Night

This may sound bizarre, but I love the sounds of earthworms at night!  Before last year, I never really realized that earthworms make noise at night.  However, after venturing out into the backyard garden after dark last year, I can to love the sound of the movement of the earth at night.  I also saw earthworms mating for the first time!  They twist around one another and disappear in an instant if they hear you coming near.  Pretty hysterical!  Who knew?!

This card is so much fun to make!  I used my markers to color directly on the Inspired By Nature stamp.  Then, I spritzed the stamp a couple of times with water I keep in a small spray bottle.  Then I stamped the image onto watercolor paper.  It really looks like a painting!  The image is so pretty I had a hard time covering it up, so I kept the greeting small.  I stamped the greetings on watercolor paper as well.  I hope you like it!  Some of the colors I used will be retiring at the end of June, so stock up now!  You can shop HERE any time, day or night!