Four Ways Friday #33 - 1 3/4" Scallop Circle Punch

This week's Four Ways Friday is all about the 1 3/4" scallop circle punch!  I hope this inspires you to use your punch in some fun new ways!

For this first project I made the scallop circle into a frame!  I took a piece of Baja Breeze card stock and first punched a 1 1/4" circle and then punched around that circle with my scallop circle punch to create the frame (this is also easier to do than trying to center a circle punch after you've already punched the scallop circle).  I stamped the image from Every Little Bit and punched it out with a 1 1/2" circle punch and then used pieces of dimensionals to attach the frame to the stamped image.  Crystal effects on the scallop circle give it the appearance of a frame.

You know I've been going crazy with 3-D flowers lately and today is no different!  As a matter of fact, the next three projects use the scallop circle to create different types of flowers.  I have a feeling more videos will be coming next week to show you how to make them all :)  For this card I punched the scalloped circles from Daffodil Delight card stock.  A bit of cutting of the petals is required to make the scrunched up flower.  A large brad fills in as the center of the flower.

For this small card (finished size is 3 3/4" x 3 3/4") I scrunched the scallop circle again.  However, this time I combined scrunching and crunching and mushing with a bit of water and a spritz of champagne mist shimmer paint and some pearls :)

For the last card I created flowers inspired by my 3-D paper roses.  You can use your scallop circle punch to create these wonderful flowers in different sizes.  Yes, I do believe a video will have to made and posted next week to show you how ;)  I am sorry to not post a video today, but I'm trying to let my voice rest from this cold.  Hopefully next week I'll be able to record a video without sounding like Elmer Fudd! :)  I hope you've enjoyed this week's Four Ways Friday.  I hope it inspires you to look at your familiar punches in new ways!  Have a great weekend!

3-D Paper Roses Video!!!!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Sometimes A Blessing Comes In Strange Packaging!

I'm still sick!  Can you believe it?!  I have been doing all I can to take care of myself - eating right, drinking plenty of fluids, taking it easy and getting plenty of rest...and spending a lot of time in the craft room making paper flowers :)  I guess that's the blessing in this weird package called "a cold."  If not for the cold I would probably not be eating as well, resting as much, or enjoying creating for as many hours.  So I'll enjoy the blessings and hope they serve as a reminder that once the strange packaging has been sent away, what I found inside the package can definitely remain!
Here's a video for how to make these 3-D paper roses!  I hope you enjoy making them as much as I have!  I have a feeling more videos will be on the way - showing you how to make different 3-D paper flowers with other tools you might have in your craft space.  Have fun!

3-D Flower With Rolled Fabric Center

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Keep Going!

I'm still under the weather - hopefully this cold that is inhabiting my body will leave sooner v. later.  I mean isn't 6 days long enough?!  I will say though, it has been fun spending time in the craft room and playing around with building 3-D flowers.  I've played with paper, fabric and ribbon and the more I keep going the more I like it!  I will admit that the first few flowers were a bit tedious and I was thinking to myself "there's no way I'm going to keep making these time-consuming flowers!"  However, the more I kept going, the less tedious the task and the more meditative and fun it became!  So if you find yourself dreading an activity - or if you find it a bit tedious - you may choose to keep going.  Who knows - it could turn into fun!!!!
For the first card I used the daisies #2 die to die cut the flowers.  For this second card I used the decorative accents with flowers & leaves die (a die I hadn't used in ages!).  I hope you like them...I can feel a video coming on :) (and thanks to Doris for sharing your thoughts and to Nathalie for encouraging me to get back to making videos!  I really appreciate your comments :)

Scallop Envelope Mini Book Video!!!!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Teach Something!

I shared a picture of this mini book with you as part of last week's Four Ways Friday.  Today I decided I needed to show you how to make it!  Each of us has something we can teach someone else.  What can you teach someone today?  I hope you enjoy the video and I hope you enjoy, even more, making your own!

3-D Flowers!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  It's The Act Of Creation, Not The Amount, That Counts

I have been sick for a number of days now and so I have found myself sitting in the craft room - sniffling, drinking tea, and making 3-D flowers!  It's been wonderful therapy although I must admit that at the end of a day I look around at the few flowers I have created and I have thought to myself, "Really?!  You just spent an entire day here in the craft room and all you have to show for it are five 3-D flowers?!"  I knew there had to be a lesson in that thought and as I stared at those flowers today I realized that it's not the amount or the number of items I have created that determine whether my day was spent in a meaningful way - it is the enjoyment and satisfaction I feel by bringing another creation into this world - a creation that adorns the world in a beautiful way.  Have you heard that song in the show/movie "Rent?"  It is called Seasons Of Love and the question the song tries to answer is how do you measure a year in a life?  I believe one of my measures for a year in my life is how much time I spend expressing the creativity that has been given to me as a gift and sharing that love with others.  What about you?
I've been enjoying die cutting flowers using whatever Sizzix flower dies I have.  I then spray the card stock lightly with water and begin scrunching or curling the petals around a skewer.  Then comes the smooch spritz and water and ink mixtures in spray bottles.  Of course, I never have the patience to let them dry on their own - I bring out the heat tool to help them along :)  I hope you enjoy this flower...I have a feeling you'll be seeing a few more this week :)