Four Ways Friday #60 - All In The Family

This week's Four Ways Friday is all about All In The Family!  This adorable stamp set lends itself well to cards, scrapbook pages, frames and tags.  Here are four ways to use it:

Just stamping and coloring these adorable kids is a ton of fun!  Here I stamped the bodies, arms, and heads using basic black ink on a Whisper White card base.  I then colored each of the kids in using markers.  A touch of dazzling diamonds adds a bit of sparkle.  The greeting is from Friends 24-7 and I stamped it with basic black ink and positioned it using the stamp-a-ma-jig.  Notice that you can easily color over lines, like the hair, to add additional color to these images.

For this second card I decided to make a family thank you card.  The images were stamped using a variety of ink colors and colored in using markers.  I combined the All In The Family set with the letters from the Broadsheet Alphabet stamp set.  This same idea could easily be used for an adorable scrapbook page or picture frame.  I sponged the card stock with Not Quite Navy ink and then spritzed the card stock with the Soft Suede marker using the color spritzer tool.  The edges were distressed with my fingernail.  I crunched the panel and then mounted it to a Soft Suede card base that had been spritzed with Soft Suede ink.  Finally, I took Very Vanilla seam binding and made a "bow" and then tied a piece of twine around the center before attaching it to the card with a glue dot.

The images in the All In The Family stamp set can create adorable backgrounds!  Here I stamped the dog multiple times using Always Artichoke ink on an Always Artichoke card base.  I then stamped the dog on a piece of Ivory Naturals card stock and cut it out.  A Confetti panel was cut and then a smaller Soft Suede panel was run through the paper crimper before attaching it to the Confetti panel with glue.  The dog was attached to the panel using a dimensional and then I covered the dog with Crystal Effects.  The greetings are from a combination of On Your Birthday and Friends Fur-ever.  They were cut out and added to the panel with glue and then the entire panel was attached to the card with dimensionals.

Don't forget that you can use the heads and legs without the bodies and you can use the clothes on their own too!  For this card I began by stamping the head and the arms, as well as the clothes, using basic black ink.  I then added color using markers and a bit of dazzling diamonds and cut out all of the images.  Next, I stamped the legs onto the Whisper White card base.  I cut a piece of white cotton batting to act as a towel and attached it to the card using glue.  The arms were added with glue and the head with a dimensional.  Next I made tiny wire hangers using wire, round nose pliers and wire snips.  I then "hung" the clothes on the hangers using glue and added a brad (after I cut off the prongs) using glue.  The clothes were then added to the card using either glue dots, glue or dimensionals.  Finally, I added the words using the Calendar Alphabet & Numbers stamp set (and a black marker for the dots and the exclamation mark).  I love how you can use alphabet stamp sets to create any sentiment you want!
I hope you've enjoyed this week's Four Ways Friday!  I hope these cards will inspire you to pull out this oldie but goodie stamp set and get creative this weekend!  Have a wonderfully creative and peaceful weekend and, if you live in the United States, enjoy the Labor Day weekend!

Trio Punch Flower Gift Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  I Still Like To Be Validated
There is a bookstore not far from where I live.  There is a parking garage where the store is located and, if you take your parking ticket in the store with you, they will validate the parking for you so you can park for free.  When I was there awhile back and walked up to the register and asked to be validated, the person at the register said, "You are a beautiful human being!" and then stamped my parking ticket!  Talk about validation!!!!!  Although I have tried to convince myself that other people's opinions don't matter at all, I realize that I'm a bit full of it!  It still feels good to be validated - here on the blog - or when I receive evaluations after I've conducted a training session (something that I do quite frequently as part of my work life).  I guess Maslow was right when he said that as human beings we all have a need for recognition - to be acknowledged for our contribution.  It truly does feel good!  Thank you to those of you that leave comments for me (Lorraine and Doris I really appreciate your words - they make me feel AWESOME!!!).  I really appreciate your validation!!!!!
Today's card was one that I put together quickly to leave on Michael's pillow before heading out on my last work trip.  I took a 3" x 6" piece of River Rock card stock and folded it in half.  I then adhered a little rectangle of Whisper White card stock with glue.  The greeting from Teeny Tiny Wishes was stamped in Basic Black ink with the help of the stamp-a-ma-jig.  I then punched three little flowers using the flower punch from the trio punch out of Basic Black card stock.  I adhered them to the card and then placed a self-adhesive rhinestone jewel in the center of each flower!  I hope you like it

Check out the new HOLIDAY MINI CATALOG!!!  You can click on the picture in the upper right-hand corner of my blog to see inside the catalog for our new products & ideas!  Enjoy!!!!

Every Little Bit Hello Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Do We All Feel Inside Like We Are A Fake And That Someone Is Going To Figure That Out?

I had dinner with a beautiful friend tonight and somewhere along the way in our conversation we began to talk about how there are times in our lives when we feel like we are fakes and that someone is going to discover our masquerade and realize that we are just us after all.  I was actually relieved to hear that I'm not the only one who walks around this planet concerned that somehow I will be found out - that people will realize I really don't know what I'm talking about - that underneath it all I am still that little geek who went through my younger years feeling pretty small and irrelevant and somehow a part of that has stuck with me.  So rather than wait to see if you figure out that I'm just a fake and that underneath it all I am a sensitive little girl with a squishy underbelly wanting to be loved, let me just tell you - I am.  I cry when I am sad.  I hurt when I see others hurting (or when I watch Hallmark commercials!).  I want to protect those that I love and the underdogs.  I pick up worms that find their way into puddles in the rain and sidewalks in the sun.  I have curly hair most days and straighten my hair when I travel for work - it is part of the "costume" I wear.  I get tired after conducting training courses and rejuvenate best by being in a quiet space or watching the birds in the backyard - away from electronic devices and mechanical noise.  I worry about my stomach (more affectionately known as my "pooch") and find it easy to criticize myself when I look in the mirror.  I get scared that when I am conducting a training session everyone will just stand up and walk out on me.  So there you have it.  Now that you know, you can decide whether to visit with me again.  I hope you will :)
Today's card was simple - just like me :)  I punched a hole into the front of the Rich Razzleberry card stock using the 1 1/2" circle punch.  I then punched a hole in a piece of River Rock card stock and then punched again with the scallop circle punch to make the "frame" for the hole.  I adhered it with glue.  Next I stamped the "hello" from Pennant Parade using the stamp-a-ma-jig and basic black ink.  The cat from Every Little Bit was stamped onto a piece of Whisper White card stock, punched out with the 1 3/4" circle punch, adhered to the inside of the card, and then colored in with markers.  Finally, I covered the cat with Crystal Effects for a bit of shine.  I hope you like it!!!!

Circle Circus Birthday Greetings

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Surround Yourself With Supportive Voices

When we decide to make changes in our lives - to pursue that which we feel is best for us - we need to surround ourselves with those voices that are supportive of us, as opposed to those that will try to throw up obstacles or fears.  Sometimes we can't find a friend or relative who can be that support.  Don't you worry!  There are plenty of supportive voices out there - you just need to find them!  You can find those voices in books, from on-line friends, from songs - if you look for the supportive voices you will find them and they will speak to your heart.  And don't forget, you are your own best support system!!!! :)
Today's card began with stamping the image from Circle Circus onto the River Rock card base using VersaMark ink.  I then crumpled a piece of Early Espresso card stock, tore a couple of the edges, and sewed it to the card with my sewing machine and gold metallic thread.  I punched a decorative label out of Naturals Ivory card stock and stamped the same background image using River Rock ink at 1/2 strength.  I sponged the edges with Early Espresso ink.  I then adhered the greeting from On Your Birthday which I stamped in Early Espresso onto Naturals Ivory card stock, punched out with the modern label punch and then sponged with Early Espresso ink.  Next I adhered a very small piece of seam binding ribbon and added an antique brad on top of it.  This entire piece was then adhered to the card front using dimensionals.  I hope you like it!

Circle Circus Thinking Of You Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Learn What Centers You

This past weekend I seemed to be totally out of whack.  I had somehow gotten myself into a funk and felt like I was totally out of sorts.  Physically I felt exhausted and mentally my internal voice was filled with all kinds of negative yuckiness (that's a technical term :)  I realized I was very much off center and had to figure out what would center me.  I turned to a few of the things that I can rely on to bring me back to a state of calm - walking Buddy, stamping in the craft room, sitting outside and watching the birds.  I know that any and all of these activities have the power to help me find myself again.  Do you know what centers you?  Keep that list in your journal or in the forefront of your mind.  If you don't know what centers you, consider when you feel the most calm.  Where are you?  Who is around you?  What are you doing or not doing?  If you know what centers you, you have the power to bring yourself back to a safe space when your life tries to turn you upside down.
Today's card was all about simplicity.  I stamped the image from Circle Circus in a variety of ink colors:  Perfect Plum, Early Espresso, Rich Razzleberry, and River Rock.  I then added a touch of dazzling diamonds to the circles.  The greeting from Sincere Salutations was stamped with Basic Black ink using the stamp-a-ma-jig.  I hope you like it!

Look Where I Was Today!!!!

The USA Pro Cycling Challenge was happening in Denver today!  It was the final stage of the race - Stage 6.  The stage began in Golden, Colorado and came right into Denver!  We biked down to watch the action first hand and we found a perfect spot on a corner that was part of a lap that the racers rode 6 times!!!!!  This was the last pass around and Levi Leipheimer, the ultimate winner of the overall race, came by and I snapped this lucky picture!!!!  Yeah Levi!!!!!  It was amazing to watch these racers - they truly ride like a swarm of bees!  So close together and moving as one!  I hope they come back next year!!!!