Pleasant Posies Watercolored Get Well Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Each piece you complete is an act of faith in the process and value of creativity... -Bonni Goldberg
Instead of judging whether I am pleased with the outcomes of my creative process, I would like to take Bonni Goldberg's approach.  To see each piece I complete (and even those that are in process) as an act of faith.  What a wonderful way to reflect on each and every day that you create something - to be able to say at night, before you go to sleep, "Today I engaged in an act of faith."  Yes, this is my new creative mantra!
Today's card was a fun way to play with my Aqua Painter and Watercolor Wonder Crayons!  I stamped the Pleasant Posies image onto watercolor paper with Jet Black Staz-On ink.  I then used colors from the Brights Collection of crayons and my aqua painter to paint the flowers.  I allowed each color to dry prior to applying the next so that my colors would turn to mud :)  I even added a dash of dazzling diamonds to the flower centers for some sparkle.  The greeting is from Teeny Tiny Wishes.  I hope you have an incredibly weekend and I hope you engage in many acts of faith :)

From My Heart Chevron Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  But the artist persists because he has the will to create, and this is the magic power which can transform and transfigure and transpose and which will ultimately be transmitted to others.  -Anais Nin
I think about the role that art plays in my life.  Not just my own art, but the art of others.  Whether it is a photograph, a card, a song, a painting, sculpture or poem, I recognize how much art surrounds me and how it impacts me.  Not to mention the art of nature that surrounds us!  I cannot imagine a world without the amazing power of art.  I love that Anais Nin calls the artist's power magic :)  I never thought of myself as a magician!  We can make things reappear in new ways.  We can wave the magic wand of our creativity and reveal something that is astounding!  Through our slight of hand we can change how we and others see things.  I wonder if I should start wearing a black cape and top hat into the craft room?!  Who knows what I might be able to conjure! :)
Today's card began with a Wild Wasabi base that was stamped with one of the images from Tiny Tags with Early Espresso ink at half strength.  I then added three panels of Coredinations card stock that I had run through the Big Shot with the Chevron embossing folder and sanded.  Next came a Wild Wasabi Labels Framelit die cut - also stamped and sponged.  I then grabbed a stamp from the From My Heart stamp set and stamped it twice - once with Early Espresso and then with Wild Wasabi so I could cut out the Wild Wasabi word and add it to the Early Espresso stamped image.  I cut around the entire image and sponged the edges.  As a final touch I stamped the word "friends" from Tiny Tags and punched it out with the jewelry tag punch and added it to the card with linen thread.  I hope you like it :)

Out On A Whim Wednesday: Art Journal Entry #3

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  At some point in the process of creation the creative product - whether painting, poem, or scientific theory - takes on a life of its own and transmits its own needs to its creator.  It stands apart from him and summons material from his subconscious.  The creator, then, must know when to cease directing his work and when to allow it to direct him.  He must know, in short, when his work is likely to be wiser than he."  -George Kneller
This is what I love about this art journaling process.  It brings me to the point where the pages take on a life of their own and start communicating with me.  The pages direct me what to do next and I simply let go and let them lead...

Sunflower Watercolor Crayon Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Creativity is our species' natural response to the challenges of human experience. - Adriana Diaz
I am learning more and more that creativity is like air to me.  When I am not expressing myself creatively, I feel as if I am lacking oxygen - that I am being choked - I am unable to breathe.  When I am creating, I am on a mountain top - breathing cool, fresh, crisp air.  Filling my lungs.  The air traveling to every cell in my body.  Yes, creativity is definitely a breath of fresh air :)
Today's card was made by coloring the Sunflower background stamp using Watercolor Wonder crayons (Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Tangerine Tango) and then spraying the stamp with water before stamping the image onto watercolor paper.  The greeting is from Petite Pairs and was stamped with More Mustard ink.  A knot of Summer Starfruit stitched ribbon finishes off the card.  I hope you like it! :

Established Elegance Masculine Birthday Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  "There is space for everyone's gifts to flower.  There is more than enough room for all of us." -Marianne Williamson
I have begun reading Marianne Williamson's book The Law of Divine Compensation.  Whenever I read one of her book I feel like someone is giving me a giant hug and telling me everything is okay :)  Her message is truly inspiring and uplifting.  This particular quote came from a paragraph that I would love to share with you today:
Each of us has a unique part to play in the healing of the world.  Each of us is assigned by G-d a function that only we can fill.  At the level of our divine function, none of us are in competition with each other, for the universe has an infinite number of pieces of pie.  My piece doesn't take away from yours, and yours doesn't take away from mine.  There is space for everyone's gifts to flower.  There is more than enough room for all of us.
May each of the gifts we bring flower and may we all play our parts in healing the world.  Amen.

Today's card began with some playing :)  I ran a piece of Early Espresso Core'dinations card stock through the Big Shot with the chevron embossing folder and then used the new Stampin' Sanding System to sand the card stock...and used the new Dust Buddy to take all the sanding dust away!  I then adhered the panel to a Sahara Sand card base.  Next I stamped the typewriter from Established Elegance using Early Espresso ink on Very Vanilla card stock.  The piece was layered onto another piece of Early Espresso card stock.  Next came the sentiment from Just For You - also stamped with Early Espresso.  I added a Neutrals button with some faux threading (using a thin strip of card stock) to finish off the card.  I hope you like it!