Four Ways Friday #51 - Ribbon or Twill (and some videos!!!)

For this week's Four Ways Friday I decided to share a few ways to use your ribbons or twill!  Feel free to play with the size, color and type of ribbon that you use - these techniques are fun with any ribbon or twill!

I love using my ribbon to create the tops of bookmarks!  Here I created a "pocket" on the front of the card using unbleached waxed paper.  I stamped the bee image from Nature Walk onto the card base and then sewed the pocket onto the front of the card.  I stamped the Define Your Life "wish" definition onto the wax paper with Staz-On.  The bookmark was created using a cracked glass embossing technique.  I will try to do a video next week so you can see how it was done!  Here is a picture of the card without the bookmark in the pocket as well as a reverse side of the bookmark.

I kept things simple for this second card!  I love to add ribbon to my card fronts.

For this one, you don't even need to know how to tie your ribbon!  Instead, you can adhere the ribbon to the back of the front panel and then use a small piece of crochet thread to tie the end :)  I used a glue dot, hidden behind the crochet thread, to secure the ribbon to the front of the card.  The lion is from the Fox & Friends stamp set and the words from Fabulous Phrases.  I ran the Soft Suede panel through the Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder.

This third card was all about solving a mystery!  How do you tie a corner knot?  Seems like an easy question to answer...until you actually try doing it :)  If you have your doubts and think it should be easy, feel free to stop reading this post and go give it a try :)  Once you get too frustrated, come back, and I'll solve the riddle for you ;)  Here is a video to show you how to tie this corner knot and make this fun card with the Cheep Talk stamp set.

This last card offers a solution to a problem that I have in my craft room - a problem that you might experience too!  I have a tendency to hold onto little scraps and bits of ribbon and hadn't really found a great way to use them....until I found fusible web/iron-on adhesive!!!!!  Here is a video to show you how to use some of your twill, ribbon and fabric scraps to make this adorable nest.  Next week I'll share with you some more advanced techniques using this wonderful iron-on adhesive!

I hope you've enjoyed this week's Four Ways Friday!  Have a wonderfully creative weekend!!!!

Nature Walk Journal

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Put Your Whole Body Into It!

On our walk the other day, Buddy and I saw a huge crow standing on the top of a light post.  As we got close, the bird puffed up his entire body (he about doubled in size!) and then let out the loudest caw we had ever heard!!!!  He put his whole body into creating that amazing sound and it was impressive!!!!  I wonder how often I put that much commitment into my art?  When I am creating, do I put my whole body into it?  Or, are there times when my heart and hands are into it and my head is somewhere else?  I aspire to put my whole body into every piece that I create - to be there 100% - head, heart, body, spirit.  I long to be like that crow - so fully committed to the sound he released into the world!
I continue to make these handmade journals to carry with me so that I can record thoughts, observations, questions and lessons.  Have you tried stamping with bubble wrap?  If not, you're missing out on a lot of fun :)  I stamped the Soft Suede base with bubble wrap until I liked the look.  I then sewed the edge of the cover with my sewing machine.  The bird was stamped on a Sahara Sand panel and then colored in with Stampin' pastels.  I used my music notes wheel to add a bit of additional interest to the panel and then cut out words from an old book.  The words were sponged and then adhered to the panel.  Here is a close up of the panel:

 I then sewed around the panel and adhered it to the front cover.  I used string to bind the book and scrap paper for the pages.  I hope you like it!

Nature Walk Stamped Masking Tape Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Sometimes The Very Best Surprises Are In Your Own Backyard!

We can get trapped in a negative thought process that focuses on the "anywhere is better than here" theme...or the "nothing new and exciting ever happens here" theme.  I strongly believe that what we think is what we see - if we don't believe the place we are is wonderful, then it won't be.  If we don't believe in backyard surprises, then we will likely miss them when they do happen.  I am so glad I didn't miss the surprises in the backyard this past weekend!!!!!  I was in the craft room and looked out the window since I saw some motion out of the corner of my eye.  Look at what I saw!!!!!!

I had never seen a single Cedar Waxwing, let alone a whole group of them...let alone in our very own backyard!!!!!!  It was an amazing surprise and I couldn't stop watching them!  They stayed for the afternoon, enjoyed the water and the seeds in the nearby trees.  And then, as if they had never been here at all, they vanished!  I am so glad I made it outside to listen to them.  They have a very high-pitched song - almost cricket-like.  Sometimes the very best surprises are in your own backyard....here's another one I found that same day...Willow thinks she is a tomato plant :)

For today's card I had some extra stamped masking tape from yesterday's card and I decided to put it to good use :)  I've really been enjoying using my Calendar Alphabet & Numbers stamp set to create whatever saying/greeting/sentiment I want!  I love this Rumi quote...it seems to go with the bird theme of the day :)  I hope you like the card and the quote...and the animal watching in the backyard :)

Artistic Etchings Card & Stamped Masking Tape Video!!!!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Sometimes All You Need Is A Makeover :)

I can get captivated every once in awhile by the show What Not To Wear.  Have you seen it?  The hosts of the show work with someone to give them a total makeover - clothes, hair, makeup - it is pretty amazing to watch the recipient of the makeover transform before your eyes - not just externally, but internally as well.  You can see their confidence build with the outer transformation.  I must confess that I am not very into makeup and clothing.  There was a time when I wore a ton of makeup and then I grew out of it.  I decided that other than a touch of lipstick on special days, I didn't want to tug and pull on my face.  So you will usually find me sans face paint and in clothing that I'm sure does not make my mom very proud :)  I have my reasons - mostly craft related.  If you play in the craft room as much as I do your clothing definitely becomes a part of the creative process :)  And, okay, maybe I also like to hide in schlumpy clothes...but that's another story for another day....maybe I need to see how I can make myself over - to build my confidence and feel as good on the outside as I do on the inside and vice versa.  How 'bout you?
I decided my poor masking tape needed a makeover too!  Not that there is anything wrong with the lovely vanilla tinted tape as it is...I just thought it might want a little boost :)  So, off I went with my roll of masking tape, my Jet Black Staz-On ink and the En Francais background stamp...and the rest is history :)  Here is a video to show you how I made this card.  I hope you like it!

Embossing Folder Candle Wax Resist Video!!!!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  There Is So Much Going On Under The Surface That We Cannot See!

It's that time of year here again!  The warmer weather is arriving and with it, the promise of a new garden filled with healthy, homegrown vegetables!  We finally planted all our seeds this past week and the rain decided to show up and help the little seeds out!  I love walking outside and staring at the fresh dirt wondering when I will begin to see the tiny seedlings break through!  I know there is so much going on under the ground that I cannot see!  The same is true for the people around us and for ourselves.  What we often see and focus on is the surface.  Sometimes we fail to recognize that for them and for us there is so much going on under the surface that we cannot see.  Next time you find yourself ready to release your anger on them or ready to react, step back and wonder to yourself what might be going on for them, under the surface.  Just like you, they are deeper than what we see.  Shifting your perspective  might help you release the need to react as strongly and may change the way you relate to the person in front of you.
Today's card uses the wax candle resist technique from last week.  This time, however, I chose to use an embossing folder instead of the texturz plate to show you another way to achieve this beautiful effect.  Here is a video to show you how!  Enjoy!