Four Ways Friday #30 - Silhouette Sentiments

This week's Four Ways Friday uses the Silhouette Sentiments hostess stamp set.

For this first card I stamped the flower image using 2 different colors and decorated both the central panel and the envelope.  I love how the floral image can be used to create wonderful backgrounds!

I decided to take the background idea a little further for this second card and stamped the image in 3 different colors - some lighter, some darker.  I also sponged the background with 2 different shades of green.

Heat embossing became the focus for this third card.  I still used one of the floral images to create a background, but this time I stamped it multiple times across the bottom of the Old Olive panel using VersaMark and then heat embossed with white embossing powder.  I heat embossed the envelope to match.

For this last card I decided to use this beautiful flower image and have it be the focal point of the card.  I used my markers to color the image and then stamped it onto Whisper White card stock and punched it out with a circle punch.  this card measures 3"x 6".  Thanks for stopping by for this week's Four Ways Friday!  I hope you have a wonderful weekend!!!!!

More Monsters!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  What If It All Disappeared?

I'm wondering if asking questions for my lessons is really more significant than making statements - as I realize that sometimes I don't really have answers - just more questions.  Today, as I heard from someone about a news story regarding a man committing suicide, I wonder if the suicide had anything to do with the man losing everything that he had - or at least feeling like he had lost it all.  And, I wonder, what if everything I had disappeared?  I can imagine the things being replaced.  It's more difficult for me to consider the void that is left when those you love disappear.  And what about those times when we aren't there for ourselves?  When we, in effect, disappear into a dark or sad place?  As I sit here pondering these questions, I recognize that there have been times in my life where things, people, and I have disappeared.  When I wasn't sure how I was going to make it through another minute, let alone another day.  But here I sit - having gotten through...and that makes me think that if it did all disappear, I would survive.  That somewhere I would find the strength to move forward - to continue.  It is my hope that we can all find this strength when we need it.  And, when we are having trouble finding it within ourselves, to reach out to those who can help us find the strength when we need it most.  It never does all disappear - it is just hidden from our view and we need to be willing to search deeply for the strength we all have inside.
Today's card was another opportunity to Make A Monster! :)  I added some blue google eyes and some flowers from the Eastern Bloom stamp set.  I can't look at these little monsters without smiling and I love thinking that whoever gets this little 3x3 note will smile too :)

Make A Monster!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Watch Out For The Jump You Make To Conclusions

On my trip I met a great woman - funny, happy, full of energy!  She was quite heavy and one of the other people on the trip actually commented to me about what the woman was eating for dinner...more specifically she said something like, "Why is she eating that?!"  I might have even thought the same question to myself if I had not already learned a bit about her story - and for this I am sorry.  It can be so easy to jump to conclusions as you observe those around you.  We need to recognize when we are doing it and ask ourselves what assumptions we are making.  It turns out that this amazing woman had arrived at this lovely beach location having lost 60 lbs!!!!!  It was incredibly inspiring!!!!!  She also told me about walking a 5K race and deciding that next year she wants to do the race again...except this time she wants to run the race!!!!!!  Talk about amazing energy!!!!!!  I need to remember this story every time I find myself judging someone I do not know - or even those that I do.  Rather than judge, I need to open myself up to their story - their perspective.  I may even encounter amazing inspiration that I might have missed if my judgment got in the way.
I decided to make a little love note today with the Make A Monster stamp set!  This set is so playful and it reminds me of coloring as a child.  How cool that you can build these monsters from scratch - bodies, eyes, mouth...it's all up to you!  I have a feeling another monster may get created for tomorrow...Frankenstein here I come :)

Rest & Relaxation

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Unplug!

My week away was perfect.  I only logged on to a computer one time!  It was so nice to unplug and just relax.  No schedule, no meetings, no pressing appointments.  Just the sand, the sun, the waves.  I even fell in love with a hammock during the trip - the gentle breeze and sway.  Sometimes we just need to unplug from everything - the cell phones, the computers, the same old routines.  I did not read a newspaper or look at the news.  I did not wear a watch.  I barely wore shoes!  So peaceful.  Now as I return to my life at home I hope that I can maintain some of the habits I developed while away.  I also hope to maintain this sense of peace and ease...wish me luck :)