More Art Journal Pages

I've really been enjoying exploring the freedom of art journaling!  It gives me a place to play with my Stampin' Up! products and other art supplies.  It also feels very "low risk" since it's just a journal and I'm not sending the pages anywhere (except, of course, sharing them with you).  At times I definitely get stuck and don't know what to do.  Other times I just go with it - at times I'll even walk away and come back and add something and then walk away again.  Yes, I enjoy the freedom.  I've been reading Clutter's Last Stand to try to help me with addressing the clutter in my home...this page was inspired by that reading.  I hope you like it!  I also hope you have a beautiful and peaceful weekend.  Happy Easter and Happy Passover to those of you celebrating those holidays this weekend!!!!!!

Easter Recycled Tape Roll Box

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  What Is Your Goal?
Yesterday I mentioned my fabulous swim lesson with Jackie.  Today I want to tell you how it began.  Jackie introduced herself and I got into the pool and then she looked at me and asked, "What is your goal?"  I stared back at her like a deer in headlights!  At the same time, I realized what an amazing question that was...one that I had given little thought to when I chose to take the swimming lesson.  I began to think about it then and there and the best I could come up with was to regain comfort and confidence in the water.  I know this goal will change - hopefully quickly - as I begin to regain that comfort and confidence.  What I absolutely recognize is the power of a question - particularly the question "What is your goal?"  I, like you, know all the research around goal setting and how it helps you achieve your goals if you actually set them.  So now I want to transfer this from the swimming pool into other areas of my life.  That thinking begins today!
Today's project is a "redux" of the tape roll box that I created for Valentine's Day!  I had some tape rolls left over and decided to dress up the box in Spring colors!  I used the Brights Collection designer series paper stack along with the Storybook Friends bunny rabbit (he is too cute!).  The Easter Wishes sentiment is from a retired set - I have a difficult time purchasing holiday sets just to get a new greeting, so I tend to hold onto the retired sets for when the holidays roll around.  Here are a few close ups:

Easter Toilet Paper Roll Treat Holder

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  I LOVE My Endorphins!!!!
It's amazing what a different a day and a few endorphins can make! :)  We rejoined the gym and I was finally able to take advantage of it after all of my travels.  As part of the new membership, we were given a choice of a few free one-on-one coaching sessions.  One of the ones I chose was swimming!  Mind you, I haven't really gone swimming in a million years!  (unless you count dipping my lower body in the ocean "swimming!").  So I was scared to death!  But the coach, Jackie, was wonderful and she had me do some different drills and explained why she was asking me to try certain things.  I loved engaging my body and my brain in exercise!!!!!!  The end result?  I absolutely want to take some more swimming lessons AND I LOVE MY ENDORPHINS!!!!!  It felt so good at the end of the swimming workout and I carried that feeling with me for the rest of the day and into the morning.  When you do something good for your body, it definitely rewards you!!!!!  How can you release some endorphins today????

Today I decided to revamp my Christmas toilet paper treat roll and give it an Easter makeover!  I used the Brights and In Color designer series paper to cover the roll.  I stamped tissue paper with the floral design from Elements of Style using Wisteria Wonder ink and then cut the tissue paper to create fringe.  A bit of baker's twine was used to create the look of pom-poms at the ends of the roll.  I stamped the adorable bunny from Storybook Friends and punched it out and then added a retired greeting.  I hope you like it!  You will see another makeover tomorrow, using some of these same items...hope you stop back to visit!

Art Journal Pages

I think I will let my pages be today's lesson from the craft room :)  Creativity knows no limits.  It is only the creator that can place or remove limits! :)  How can you remove some limits you have been placing on your own creativity?????

Spring Fabric Frenzy!!!!!!

For one week only, all of our beautiful Designer Fabric is 50 percent off!

• Promotion dates: Monday, March 25-Sunday, March 31, 2013
• Discounted fabric is available on all customer, demonstrator, workshop order, and online orders
• No minimum purchase required to receive the discount
• All items are limited quantity at the discounted price; the discount will be removed once the limit is reached

• Page	Item	Description	Discount	Retail Price	Sale Price
  170	126892	Essentials Designer Fabric	50%	$      29.95	$    14.98
  171	126893	Floral District Fabric	50%	$        9.95	$      4.98
  171	126894	Comfort Café Fabric	50%	$        9.95	$      4.98
  171	125411	Summer Smooches Fabric	50%	$        9.95	$      4.98
  171	125412	Twitterpated Fabric	50%	$        9.95	$      4.98
  171	122337	Timeless Portrait Fabric	50%	$        9.95	$      4.98
  171	122336	Beau Chateau Fabric	50%	$        9.95	$      4.98
  171	124066	Spice Cake Fabric	50%	$        9.95	$      4.98
  171	122335	Flirtatious Fabric	50%	$        9.95	$      4.98
  6*	129308	Tea for Two Fabric	50%	$        9.95	$      4.98
  13*	129307	More Amore Fabric	50%	$        9.95	$      4.98

   

Need ideas for how to use our fabric?  Check out this video!

Papaya Collage Birthday Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Sometimes I Feel Like My Life Is Missing A Speed
As I am continuing to wind down and settle back into life at home, I am beginning to wonder if my life is missing a speed.  I have "fast forward" down pretty well (and I'm not entirely proud of that, mind you).  I also seem to be able to go in slow motion.  Stop is working well too.  It's the "play" button that I seem to be having a bit of an issue with.  Just allowing my life to unfold at its own pace.  Maybe sometimes my "play" is slow motion...but that can get me a bit frustrated at times - Looking around at all that I have to do and not having the energy to do it.  Hmmm - might be the result of too much fast forward...I'm still trying to figure it out.  Hopefully this time at home will provide some lessons (and some answers) for me!  What speed do you tend to operate at?

It's beginning to feel like Spring here in Denver and the birds are out in multitudes!  That's what inspired this card :)  I stamped the bird from Papaya Collage using Soft Suede ink on Whisper White card stock and cut it out with paper snips.  I then ran a piece of Crumb Cake card stock through the Big Shot with the Vine Street embossing folder.  The panel was adhered to a Naturals Ivory card base.  The bird was popped up on a double layer of dimensionals.  Next I stamped the greeting from Made For You using Chocolate Chip ink and punched it out using a 1 1/4" circle punch.  I punched a 1 1/2" circle from Chocolate Chip card stock and layered the two circles together.  A neutrals button, some natural ribbon and a bit of linen thread finish the look :)  I hope you like it!