Four Ways Friday #97 - Paper Piercing Tool

For this week's Four Ways Friday, I decided to do something a little different! :)  I have created four different videos to show you four different ways you can use your Paper Piercing Tool on your cards and paper crafting projects!  Enjoy! :)




I hope you have a beautiful, creative and love-filled weekend!!!!

Discontinued Designer Fabric For 99 Cents!

The following discontinued Designer Fabrics from the 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog are now available for just 99 cents!!!!!  This offer is for a limited time and only while supplies last!  Click HERE to order now!

• 121716 Deck the Halls Designer Fabric $0.99 
• 121715 Candy Cane Christmas Designer Fabric $0.99 
• 121817 Springtime Vintage Designer Fabric $0.99 
• 121818 Sweet Stitches Designer Fabric $0.99

Throwback Thursday: Pedaling Past Birthday Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room: There has never been another person like you since time began, so there is nothing and no one to compare or compete with.  -Louise L. Hay

Every once in awhile, when I am struggling to come up with a lesson for the day, I turn to a bookshelf and grab a book and open the book up and begin reading until something catches my attention.  Today I pulled the book Meditations To Heal Your Life by Louise L. Hay off of the shelf and I found this lesson on comparisons.  Oh Louise, you definitely knew how to speak to me today! :)  She goes on to say, "Comparing myself with other people makes me feel either superior or inferior, never acceptable exactly as I am.  What a waste of time and energy.  We are all unique, wonderful beings, each different and special.  I go within and connect with the unique expression of eternal Oneness that I am and we all are."  If that's not the perfect lesson for the day, I don't know what is! :)
Today's card was a card I needed to put together quickly to accompany a bottle of wine for a friend's birthday!  I used Gumball Green card stock and began by stamping the bike and sentiment from Pedaling Past in Gumball Green.  Next I used my paper piercing tool and the Essentials piercing template to create the "road."  Finally, I stamped the greeting from Curly Cute (yes, that's still a current stamp set!).  Quick and easy masculine birthday card complete! :)

Out On A Whim Wednesday: Paper Sculpted Clouds Video!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Some Mornings Are Magical!!!!

I had a rough night last night - Buddy was up every 2 hours with an upset tummy :(  I felt so badly for him.  We didn't get our usual restful night of sleep, but he was very ready to go for his morning walk when the sun finally came up!  I wasn't sure how far he would want to walk, but he seemed to be absolutely fine going on his usual morning rabbit hunt :)  And this morning was magical!  We found some bunnies to watch...and then we saw a hawk fly out of a bush...and then a hummingbird came whizzing by and started visiting nearby flowers!  We hadn't seen a hummingbird in over a year!!!!  It was such a beautiful way to start the day and hopefully shows promise for where the day is headed :)  Hopefully Buddy's tummy will mend and the magic will continue throughout the day :)  Hope your mornings are magical too!!!!!
I stuck with Stampin' Up! stamping today with the adorable No Peeking stamp set - it is sooo cute!!!!  I did go out on a whim a bit (after all, it is Out On A Whim Wednesday) and decided to do some paper sculpting for the card.  Here is a video to show you how I made the card and the puffy white clouds :)  Enjoy!

Elements Of Style Thank You

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  I Need To Stop Looking To The Comments & Views For Affirmation That I Exist

I post a new post or a new video and I find myself checking the post or the video for the number of views or for comments.  As if to let myself know that if someone looks at my words or my creations that somehow I really do exist.  Giving this power to comments and views has a very dangerous side - because sometimes (much more frequently than not), there are no comments and it can make me feel down.  Why do I let it?  When I go surfing around on the internet, it is rare that I leave comments anywhere - that in no way means that I wasn't touched, inspired, energized by what I saw or read.  I have just visited, as if robed in an invisibility cloak, and didn't leave a sign that I was there.  So I will continue to post, hoping that you are out there - hoping that in some way I am connecting with you, inspiring you, touching you.  Thank you so much for stopping by even if you are wearing your cloak of invisibility :)
Today's card was soooo simple to make and is quite elegant!  I began with a Sahara Sand card base and stamped the Elements of Style floral image in Primrose Petals ink.  Next I punched out a decorative label punch from Naturals Ivory card stock and then did a bit of paper piercing using my piercing tool, piercing mat, and Essentials paper piercing pack (LOVING the piercing pack - you'll be seeing me using this product A LOT!).  I stamped the sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes with Primrose Petals and used the small oval punch to punch it out.  I sponged the edges and popped it up on dimensionals.  Next came a small piece of Crumb Cake seam binding with a vintage trinket pin.  The final touch was a spritz using the spritzer tool and a Crumb Cake marker.  I hope you like it :)

Faux Stitched Birthday Card: A Video!!!!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  I Need To Take Responsibility

I am enjoying a bit of a break from work travel and, of course, was hoping to be uber-productive during this respite.  What I am finding, though, is that I can be just as scatter-brained during the down time as when I am traveling.  It was easy to "blame" the busy schedule for my inability to stay focused on one thing for a long period of time.  To "blame" the hectic pace for my feeling scattered and detached.  However, as I sit here during the "down time" I realize I need to take responsibility for how I have been feeling.  It is not the schedule or the travel - it is whatever is going on inside my head.  And, until I tame that beast, I imagine I will continue to feel distracted, scattered and unfocused.  So how does one tame the beast of bouncing ball rattling around in my thoughts?  Hmmm...good question....I'll let you know if I figure it out and I continue my quest during my time at home...
Today I am sharing a video with you on how to create wonderful faux stitching for your cards!  I am in love with this great Festival of Prints Designer Series Paper Stack!!!!  It has oodles of patterns that you can use for all different occasions!!!!  Enjoy!