A Day Of Rest

I got home very late Wednesday night/Thursday morning from my latest work trip and I ended up spending most of Thursday is a bit of a daze.  Rather than push myself to try to whip something up for Four Ways Friday, I decided to give myself a rest day to recuperate.  I took Buddy for a walk and then spent most of the morning and afternoon reading a young adult novel that my cousin had recommended (Grave Mercy).  It was the perfect way to spend the day and I am already feeling better.  I also had a visit from UPS...which means I finally broke down and placed a Stampin' Up! order and got a few new things to share with you beginning next week :)  I thought I would quickly put the Typeset Alphabet dies to work with the Big Shot to honor today's rest day :)  I hope you have a restful, beautiful and creative weekend and I will be back next week with some new, fun things to share!!!!!

Throwback Thursday: Handbill Headlines Bookmark Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Go Solo

Go for a ride.  Take a class.  Attend a conference.  Take in a movie.  Try a new restaurant.  Show up at an event.  Sometimes I find myself thinking that I don't want to do something or go somewhere unless someone else can go with me.  When I get up the courage and decide not to wait until someone can join me, I am always happy with the results!  I know "always" sounds extreme.  Yet I haven't found a time when I haven't fully enjoyed the experience.  Whether it is walking around an art museum on my own.  Taking an encaustic class.  Venturing out on a bike ride.  There is something very empowering and exciting about going solo.
For today's Throwback Thursday card I decided to mix the old with the new :)  I began with the Reason To Smile stamp set and stamped the floral image over and over onto a piece of Whisper White card stock.  I cut a strip and sewed the ends to a piece of Pacific Point card stock, making a band.  I used the Two Tags die on the Big Shot with some Gumball Green card stock to make the bookmark.  I stamped the bookmark with the same floral image at 1/2 strength and the sentiments from Handbill Headlines (with Gumball Green ink).  Next came the butterfly from Kindness Matters and a bit of Dazzling Diamonds.  This would be a fun card to give some one with a journal before they go off on a trip or a new adventure in life!  I love that they can take the bookmark with them!  I hope you like it!

Out On A Whim Wednesday: Doodle Fabric

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  When Was The Last Time You Let Someone Spray You With A Hose?
The Tour de France has one again inspired me to get on my bike and ride!  I always get fired up to ride when I watch these athletes do amazing rides.  Of course, it has been hotter than heck here in Colorado so that has been making riding a bit challenging.  The other day I decided to push myself and by the time I was headed home I was experiencing chills from a bit of overheating.  As I pulled into my driveway, I was beat.  And there, on front of me, was paradise!  My neighbors were outside doing some yard work and one of them was standing on a ladder rinsing off part of the roof.  I got off my bike and got his attention and asked if he would mind pointing the hose in my direction :)  It was AWESOME!!!!!  I remember running through the sprinkler as a kid, but somehow, as an adult, the rooftop watering was even better! :)  When was the last time you let someone spray you with a hose?  Maybe it's time!!!!!
Has the photo made you dizzy yet?! :)  I recently purchased the book Sew Wild by Alisa Burke and I have been totally inspired to try to make my own fabric designs!!!!  This is my first larger piece (I started out making two smaller test pieces).  It's been an interesting journey.  I started out with the small scrap paper you can see on the bottom of the photo.  I sketched out the design there and then decided to create a bigger version.  Along the way I changed the design too - adding some scallops and dots.  It is taking me awhile to complete the fabric piece - which has also been a wonderful exercise for me.  I am so used to completing things quickly that it is quite hysterical to listen as my inner critic pipes up when I am moving at the pace required to complete a piece like this.  I'm learning to just smile at the inner critic when it says things like, "Why are you doing this?  What's the point?  What are you going to do with it anyway?  Look at how long it is taking you!!!!"  Well inner critic, Rome never would have been built if the Romans listened to you :)  Neither would so many beautiful pieces of artwork have come into this world...unless the artists chose to put you on mute and move forward anyway.  I am making that same choice!  Onward and upward!!!!! :)

Reason To Smile Just For You Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Don't Let The 1% Determine How You Feel About The 99%

If you watched the Tour de France this year, you may have seen the one stage where a whole group of riders got flat tires.  It was quickly discovered that someone had thrown carpet tacks onto the surface of the road in an effort to sabotage the race.  I was immediately furious!  These athletes are putting their all into this sport and are traveling at rates of speed that I can only dream of.  Just the thought that someone would place tacks in the path of the cyclists and risk hurting the riders was enough to start to get me down on humanity.  A brief televised interview of Bradley Wiggins at the conclusion of Stage 15 of the Tour set my head straight.  He told the interviewer something like this, "99% of the people love the sport and are out here for the right reasons."  Yes Bradley, you are so right!  When I hear about the hurtful actions of one person I need to remember that that one person does not represent the whole.  While their stories may overwhelm us - along with the amount of coverage the story gets - we need to remember that they are an exception rather than a norm.  As the saying goes, "don't let the turkeys get you down."
Today's card came together very quickly using the Reason to Smile stamp set!  I stamped the flower image in three different in colors (Raspberry Ripple, Primrose Petals and Summer Starfruit) and then added some dazzling diamonds to the centers.  The greeting is from Just Believe and it was punched out with the modern label punch.  So quick and so pretty!  If you like the Reason To Smile stamp set, you have until the end of the month to purchase this set for only $5 with a $50 product purchase.  Find out more in the upper right hand corner of my blog! :)

Stamped Labels Collection Framelit Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Wake Up Early

It's been quite hot here in Colorado lately and I find that if I wait too long to take Buddy on his walk in the morning it is just too hot for the two of us to last very long.  I really enjoy taking Buddy on long walks in the morning - over an hour - and I get saddened when we have to cut our walk short as a result of the heat of the day.  If I manage to get up early - before the sun starts to warm the pavement - I find that Buddy is more than willing to give up some snooze time to head out early on his walk!  If you're not accustomed to waking up early (whatever "early" might mean for you), it might be worth giving it a try one day to see if you like it.  Early in the morning there are fewer cars and people out; more critters and birds flying and running around; a certain calm to the air.  I am grateful I have Buddy and our walks to motivate me to see the world at a time that I might otherwise choose to sleep through.  It's a beautiful start to my day :)
Today's card began with a piece of Whisper White card stock that I die cut using a Labels Collection framelit.  Next I stamped multiple words and images using Melon Mambo and Basic Gray ink.  The words and images are from Mixed Bunch, Kindness Matters, Loving Thoughts, Just Believe and Fabulous Phrases.  I added a bit of organza ribbon and some adhesive rhinestones.  The panel was then adhered to a Crumb Cake panel that I had run through the Big Shot with the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder.  Finally, I adhered both layers to a Melon Mambo card base.  I hope you like it :)