Four Ways Friday #50 - Baker's Twine

In this week's Four Ways Friday I wanted to share with you four different ways to use Baker's Twine in your papercrafting projects!  This week's Four Ways Friday was actually inspired by a recent call for submissions for PaperCrafts Magazine.  The challenge was to use baker's twine in creative ways.  I submitted three cards that were not accepted...although they were perfect to serve as this week's examples!!!! :)

Somehow the red and white twist of the baker's twine made me think of peppermint candies and large lollipops!  That thinking was the inspiration behind this card!  I used a 1 1/4" circle punch to punch a piece of white chipboard and then coated it with glue.  I then started by adhered the twine in the center of the glue and round it around and around until I filled the whole circle.  I attached it to a real lollipop stick using glue and added a knot of Real Red grosgrain ribbon.  With the help of the stamp-a-ma-jig, I stamped the word "sweet" from Fabulous Phrases onto the Crumb Cake card stock with Crumb Cake ink.  I cut three 3" x 1 1/2" strips of card stock and scalloped the edges with the scallop border punch.  I layered them one on top of the other and adhered them to the bottom of the card.  The banner greeting was stamped with On Your Birthday and attached to the card with glue.  A button finishes the look.

Baker's twine also makes the perfect accent for packages that are begging to be tied up with string!  Here I cut a small rectangle out of Sahara Sand card stock and sponged the edges with Crumb Cake ink.  I tied the ribbon around the package and added a tag using the small jewelry tag and a greeting from Teeny Tiny Wishes.  I sponged the edge of the tag before adding it to the present.  The greeting, stamped onto the Blushing Bride card using Chocolate Chip ink, is from Define Your Life.

I know it's early for Christmas and I couldn't stop myself from making a holiday card!  The red and white color combination of the twine just made me think of Christmas!  I cut slits in the bottom of the Whisper White card stock and 1/4" intervals.  I also punched a hole toward the top of the Whisper White card stock.  I wound the twine around and around the card stock - catching it in a slit and then passing it through the top hole, until all the slits were filled.  I added some plastic jewels as ornaments.  the small star punch from Brushed Gold card stock added the perfect tree topper and the rhinestone brad added some bling!  I stamped the greeting from Teeny Tiny Wishes and adhered it to a piece of Hodgepodge hardware.  The hardware was attached to the card with a combination of dimensionals and Real Red satin ribbon.

When I see twine/string, I am often reminded of wrapping yarn around my fingers, tying it off in the middle, and then cutting all the loops to create a pom-pom.  So, what the heck, I thought I would try it with the twine and it created this fun bow!!!!  I thought the bow would look cute on the 2-way owl punch.  I added a beak and some Pumpkin Pie feet.  The sentiment is from Fundamental Phrases.
I hope you've enjoyed this week's Four Ways Friday!  Have fun playing with your baker's twine - I'm sure you can come up with a zillion ways to use it!!!!  Have a creative and wonderful weekend!!!!!

Notably Ornate Mini Journal

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Listen For Your Heart Whisper

Amidst the clamor of life - the ring tones and beeping, the buzzing and honking - there is a whisper inside of you.  If we stop long enough to listen, we will hear the faint sound of that whisper - the whisper of our dreams - our desires - our truth.  One way I try to quiet the noise inside of me and around me is to journal.  At times I will journal in the morning - trying to capture the random thoughts that race around my head.  Journaling gives them a place to land so they don't have to keep buzzing around in my head, trying to grab my attention.  Although I have not been consistent with my morning journal, I have tried to remain consistent with my evening gratitude journal.  I make it a before-bed ritual - to record at least 10 things I am grateful for - the gratitude I have found - in the day I have just lived.  I have a small red journal on my nightstand where I record these lists of gratefulness.  When I travel, I take a handmade journal with me and I record my thoughts and my gratitude list in the journal.  By taking time to stop and capture these thoughts I open myself up to hearing the whispers of my heart.
I created this journal using 1/2 a piece of Sahara Sand card stock.  I inked bubble wrap using my Whisper White craft ink pad and stamped onto the surface of the card stock.  I also stamped using Perfect Plum ink and the tip of the Crystal Effects container.  The Sahara Sand panel in the middle was run through the Big Shot with the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder and then sponged with Sahara Sand ink.  I sewed around the edge of the book with my sewing machine.  I also sewed a piece of Victoria crochet trim to the embossed panel and then sewed the panel to the front cover.  I stamped the bird from Notably Ornate onto Whisper White card stock with Perfect Plum ink and cut it out and adhered it to the card using dimensionals.  The word "Discover" is from Handbill Headlines (retired) and was stamped in black onto Sahara Sand card stock and punched out with the extra large oval punch.  The words came from an old book.  I cut them out of the book, sponged the, and adhered them to the cover.  A few rhinestone jewels add some sparkle!  The inside of the journal has pages made from scrap paper.  I used string along with decorative threads/yarns to create the binding.  I hope you like it!

Fancy Flower Extra Large Birthday Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Rainy Days Are Great Days To Color!

This past weekend we had quite a bit of rain here in Denver - gray skies, chilly air...the perfect time to head into the craft room.  It was also the perfect time to pull out the markers and bring some bright colors into an otherwise gray day!!!!!  Rainy days are definitely great days to color...as are sunny days, snowy days, perfect days :)  Coloring makes me happy :)
I punched out 3 flowers using the fancy flower extra large punch and Whisper White card stock.  I then went crazy outlining, coloring, dotting - anything that I felt would bring these flowers to life and make me smile :)  I then cut a piece of Sahara Sand card stock into the shape of a pot and ran it through the Big Shot with the Elegant Lines embossing folder.  I used a marker to add a bit of shadow to the right side of the pot and used my white gel pen to add some pot dots!  The leaves were created by cutting the petals from the 5-petal flower punch and then scoring them down the middle with a bone folder.  I also cut a few very thin strips of Old Olive card stock and curled them around an embroidery needle to create the little tendrils.  I put the pot of flowers together onto the Very Vanilla card base using dimensionals and glue.  The greeting is from Short & Sweet and was punched out using the 1 3/4" oval punch.  I hope you like it!

Wax Resist Season Of Friendship Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  "Growth Itself Contains The Germ Of Happiness" -Pearl S. Buck

When I saw this quote it really spoke to me!  We always seem to be searching for happiness.  Looking for that "thing" that will finally make us ultimately happy.  The truth we learn is that there is no "thing" that brings us happiness.  Happiness is something that we find within ourselves.  Growth is one way to ensure that the germ of happiness is always taking root inside of us.  When we stop growing or stop changing, we can get stuck in a rut and happiness feels so far away.  If we keep pushing ourselves to grow; if we keep facing the opportunities presented to us for change, we find that we are planing the seeds of happiness to continue to grow inside of us.  What are you doing today to grow?
Today's card was born out of my own growth - trying a new technique!  Yesterday's video showed how to do the technique and I couldn't stop myself from playing some more :)  I created the background using a wax resist and the Backgrounds 1 texturz plates (flourish).  I then sponged with Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, and Chocolate Chip.  The wax was removed with an iron and a piece of scrap paper and then I stamped the tree and leaves from Season of Friendship.  The quote was stamped in Early Espresso using the Calendar Alphabet & Numbers stamp set.  I hope you like it!

Card Play Episode #16 - Wax Candle Resist Video!!!!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Commit Yourself To The Work Of Your Heart!

What does it mean to commit yourself to the work of your heart?  I don't know that it means stopping whatever work you are currently doing and diving fully into the work that your heart desires.  It also does not mean ignoring the whispers of your heart.  What it does mean is becoming aware of the work your heart is guiding you towards and taking steps, each and every day, to pursue that work.  Making that commitment means that you take moments out of your current life to listen to your heart.  If sharing your creativity with others is part of the work of your heart, how can you commit to that in some way today - right now?  Sharing a handmade gift; helping someone else explore their creativity; allowing yourself time today to express your creativity - all of these are ways to fulfill your commitment to yourself.  Your heart is waiting - make the commitment!
Today's card was inspired by a video by Marie-Josée Trudel that I watched.  I had never tried doing a resist technique with wax and her video inspired me to give it a try!  (Thanks Marie-Josée!).  I was also inspired to share how I made this card with you...maybe you'll want to give it a try too :)