Furry Folk Welcome Sign

I am taking a break from Four Ways Friday today.  I just got back from a trip last night and I am officially exhausted.  So today I am going to enjoy a leisurely day and hopefully a lot of time outdoors since the past 24 hours were mostly spent in airports, on airplanes, in hotels and meeting rooms.  I need some fresh air and sun!!!!! :)
I wanted to share a quick project.  This is a welcome sign that I created using a piece of masonite and some very thin cork sheeting.  I adhered the cork to the masonite and then grabbed some twigs from the backyard and adhered them as a frame and hanger using hot glue.  I stamped and embossed animals from Furry Folk, cut them out and adhered them to the sign using hot glue.  Next, I heat embossed a sheet of card stock after stamping it with the Woodgrain background stamp.  I then die cut the pieces using the Timeless Type sizzlits and the Big Shot.  I had submitted this sign to a magazine in the hopes of getting it published, but since it wasn't accepted I decided to share it with you :)  I hope you like it!  I also hope you have a wonderful weekend!  If you are celebrating Passover, Good Friday or Easter, I hope you have a beautiful holiday filled with love!!!!

Papercrafter's Library April Design Team Projects - Part 3

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  You Don't Need A Ticket To Win Your Own Lottery Every Day!

I don't know about you, but I have to confess that I got caught up in the Mega Millions lottery drawing last week.  For those of you that don't know, here in the United States there was a lottery prize that was up to $640 million!!!!  It became a huge news story and it had people lining up to buy lottery tickets all over the U.S.  And yes, although it is a very rare occasion for me to play the lottery, I made an exception.  No, we didn't win...we actually only matched 1 number.  But what I realized is that I had won my own lottery without even knowing it!  I woke up on Saturday morning and it was a gorgeous day!  The birds were singing, the dog smiling, the flowers blooming.  Yes, I was absolutely a winner...and I didn't need a ticket to win my own special lottery :)
Today I wanted to share the last two projects I created for April for Papercrafter's Library as a Design Team member.  First is this tri-fold card using the Attic Boutique designer series paper and the Rue De Fleur stamp set.  Here is a look at the inside:

After making the card I was inspired to make a small Thank You gift box.  I took out my Fancy Favor die and the Big Shot and went to work!  Here is what I came up with:

I hope you like the card and the box and I hope you wake up tomorrow and realize that, once again, you have won your own personal lottery :)

Out On A Whim Wednesday: Bok Choy Stamped Roses & Video!!!!!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  I Love Your Comments!!!!

I have to say that I don't believe today's project and video would have been created if it weren't for a comment posted to my blog last week by Lorraine!  Last Wednesday I had posted a picture of a bowl that sits in our second sink.  We use the bowl to collect vegetable peelings, coffee grounds and other "waste" that we then take outside and place in our compost bin.  I was commenting on how gorgeous the ends of the bok choy looked as they stared up at me from the compost bowl.  Lorraine's comments was "I bet you could stamp a beautiful rose out of that bok choy."  I decided to take her up on her idea and this project and video are the result!  Thank you so much Lorraine for taking the time to comment on my blog!  I know I can always count on you and Doris to leave me inspiring and motivating comments - not to mention the comments feel like great big virtual hugs...and I love it!!!! :)  Thank you!!!!
Here is a video to show you how I turned Lorraine's idea into reality!  I hope it inspires you too!!!!

Papercrafter's Library April Design Team Projects - Part 2

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Find Inspiration And Insight In The Words Of Others

I have been enjoying a wonderful book about the life of Georgia O'Keeffe entitled Portrait Of An Artist by Laurie Lisle.  I stopped in my tracks (figuratively of course...I was not walking and reading at the same time) when I came across a quote by O'Keeffe.  She was talking about all the things she did in her life, in addition to her painting - you know, the daily things like taking the dog to the vet, spending a day with a friend, doing the shopping for your home.  She then said, "The painting is like a thread that runs through all the reasons for all the other things that make one's life."  For her, her art was the thing that kept her going - kept her doing those things that she didn't really want to do, but felt she needed to do in order to be able to live the painting life that she wanted to lead.  And yes, that stopped me dead in my tracks.  Because it resonated with me - it gave me insight into my own life.  The feeling that everything I do I do to enable me to have time to create and explore the art that lives inside of me.
Today I am sharing the second project I created for Papercrafter's Library for my April Design Team projects.  Since I am so inspired by the words of other women, I decided to make a mini book out of altered CDs to capture some of those words that inspire me.  Here is the inside of the book:

What words inspire you?  How might you incorporate them into your next creation?

Papercrafter's Library April Design Team Projects - Part 1

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Sometimes You Need To Be Reminded

I went for my morning walk with Buddy the other day and when a woman passed us jogging, she said, "Good morning!  Bless you!"  It immediately put a smile on my face since it served as a reminder that I truly am blessed.  The reminders didn't stop there.  Buddy and I turned the corner and came upon a man who was holding his little dog in his arms.  The man smiled at us and said, "This is the life, isn't it?!"  Yes!  It definitely is!  To be able to walk my dog on a gorgeous morning and appreciate the crisp air and the huge blue sky.  To be able to use my two legs to walk unencumbered.  To be able to breathe freely and notice the buds on the branches and the early Spring flowers.  Yes, sometimes you need to be reminded how blessed you truly are.  This is your reminder :)
Today I am sharing my first April Design Team project that I created for Papercrafter's Library!  (Can you believe it's already April?!).  I was asked to play around with the Attic Boutique suite in the Occasions Mini catalog to create my April projects.  It's funny...I don't think I would have intuitively chosen that selection of products to purchase (I'm not sure why - they just didn't initially trigger my creative juices).  But since I was asked to create using the Suite, I decided to dive right in!  I was surprised to find that I actually grew to love the products I worked with!  The Attic Boutique paper, the Side Notes, the Rue De Fleur stamp set...I am loving them all right now :)  Funny how that can happen with a touch of creativity :)  Here I upcycled a CD to create this Home Sweet Home door hanging.  I punched through the CD with my crop-a-dile to add a whole bunch of ribbon.  The large paper doily is also the perfect size for a CD!  Who knew?!  I have a feeling I'm going to be making quite a few upcycled CD projects in the near future ;)  I hope you like it!

Summer Smooches Promotion Begins Today!

The Summer Smooches promotion begins today and runs through April 30, 2012.  Some of the products in the Summer Smooches suite will once again be available when the new 2012-2013 catalog is released.  Some of the products, like those adorable fabric brads, will only be available through April 30th.  Click HERE to order today!

125495	Bright Blossoms Wood-Mount Set	$16.95
125497	Bright Blossoms Clear-Mount Set	$12.95
125409	Summer Smooches Designer Paper	$10.95
125583	Daffodil Delight 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon	$10.95
125411	Summer Smooches  Fabric	$9.95
125589	Summer Smooches Fabric Brads*	$6.95
125626	Summer Smooches Décor Stencil*	$7.95
125606	Petite Purse Bigz L Die	$32.95
129919	Summer Smooches Photobook Template	$17.95
129601	Summer Smooches Digital Kit	$9.95

*the Summer Smooches Fabric Brads and the Decor Stencil will only be available through April 30th and will NOT be available in the new 2012-2013 catalog.