Gratitude

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Express Your Appreciation!

You may have stopped by today to see this week's Four Ways Friday...unfortunately, I only had time to make One Way Friday :)  And since you stopped I did want to express my appreciation and say thank you for your visit.  Knowing that you are coming by inspires me to keep creating.  Knowing that someone out there takes the time to visit my blog makes me feel connected to you even though we have likely never met.  I appreciate you and the time you are willing to share with me.  Please stop by again next week when Four Ways Friday will return or anytime - I'd love to see you again!

Today's card was inspired by a scrapbook page made by Jennifer McGuire.  I used the tree from Forest Friends and created a mask on scratch paper and then stamped the image multiple times using the mask to cover the trees as I went.  The ground and sky were also created with masks.  The greeting is from an all-time favorite stamp set - Define Your Life.  I hope you like it and again, thank you for stopping by!  I hope to see you again soon!

Manhattan Flowers Watercoloring

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Stretch Your Body

We put our body through a lot - whether we are working, exercising, or just sitting.  Our body deserves our utmost care and kindness.  When was the last time you stretched and focused on caring for your muscles?  I know I do not do it often enough and lately, my body has been telling me it is tired of being neglected.  Today I commit to taking better care of my body.  Today, I will stretch and appreciate my muscles.

For today's card I pulled out the Manhattan Flowers stamp set.  I used Versamark and Rose Red ink to stamp the large flower on watercolor paper and then embossed with clear embossing powder.  I used my aqua painter and some ink to water color the flower and then added some frost white shimmer paint for a little shimmer.  The background was created by stamping the large flower many times with Rose Red ink onto the Rose Red card stock base.  I used the Friendly Words wheel to stamp the Whisper White strip.  I hope you like it!

Batty For You Halloween Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Don't Stop!

Today's card was definitely a lesson in not stopping!  Everything I did seemed to take me one step further away from a card I would even be willing to photograph, let alone post!  However, I ignored my inner critics (and even a few outer ones) and kept going!  I didn't stop - I just kept adding and changing and coloring and glittering...and here is the result!  It's a bit crazy and, I'm happy to have learned a lesson making it :)  I hope you like it...and, if not, I at least hope it encourages you to keep going :)

2-Step Bird Punch & Elements of Style Love Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Find Some Fresh Tomatoes To Eat!

Okay - maybe today's lesson didn't come from the craft room...well, it almost did since I look out the craft room window and can see the tomatoes in the garden!  For the past few years we have enjoyed growing vegetables and seem to get a huge delight out of eating homegrown tomatoes.  If you haven't grown your own, try to seek out some from a neighbor or local farmer's market.  However, I should warn you, you will never want to eat a store-bought tomato again!

Today's card took a vintage turn :)  I used Confetti card stock and stamped the floral image from Elements of Style with Crumb Cake ink.  I also stamped the flourish image from the same stamp set and the heart image from the Tiny Tags stamp set on the card stock - the flourish in Crumb Cake and the heart in Soft Suede at half strength.  I dipped a brush in a mixture of champagne shimmer paint and alcohol and painted a few of the flowers to give them some shimmer (it is difficult to see in the photo).  The bird was punched out of Very Vanilla card stock and then stamped in Soft Suede with the A to Z stamp.  The wing was stamped with the floral image from Elements of Style.  Both pieces were sponged with Soft Suede ink.  The tag was sponged with some Soft Suede and then stamped with an image from the Tiny Tags set and a greeting from Short & Sweet.  The Kraft taffeta ribbon was adhered to the card using sticky strip.  Don't forget, you can make your white taffeta ribbon any color with a little ink and water!  I hope you like it!  Now go eat some tomatoes...or, you can shop here now - both are equally yummy :)

Scissor Cut Hummingbird Card & Card Play Video!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Put Together A Puzzle!

I can't even tell you when the last time was that I put together a puzzle.  However, when I was visiting family a few weeks ago, there was a puzzle set up on the coffee table and I was drawn to it!  Trying to place pieces into the puzzle brought the same type of focus and relaxation I feel when I'm in the craft room.  So, of course, when I got home, I ran out to purchase a few puzzles at target.  I chose a few National Audubon society puzzles - one of which was a hummingbird that inspired this card!  When was the last time you played with a puzzle?  It might be fun to try again!

Today's scissor cut card was also inspired by a videoby Melanie Schulenberg (thanks Melanie!).  I've put together a video to show you how I made it.  I hope you like it!