Spring Garden Ensemble

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Lay Down In The Grass And Look Up At The Sky :)
I'm not sure what prompted me to do it - maybe sheer exhaustion.  But when we were at the park the other night I decided to just lie down in the grass, spread my arms and legs like I was making a snow angel, and look up at the sky.  I am so glad I did :)  Yes, it encouraged the dogs in the park to come over to me to try to sniff out what I was doing.  A few even decided to sit beside me.  Buddy chose to roll over on his back and try to imitate me :)  It was absolutely perfect!  I highly recommend you give it a try :)
Today I am sharing the project I created as part of this month's design team for Craft Project Central!!!  What an honor it was to be asked to participate! :)  It’s time to dig in the dirt and enjoy the growth and abundance of Spring (and Summer)!!!!  What better way to express your appreciation than to share this Spring Gardening Ensemble with someone! This ensemble features a decoupage clay pot, a burlap seed packet holder, a small gift card and some adorable heat-embossed ladybug rocks to ornament your garden.  Any one of these projects, individually, would make for a wonderful small class or stamp camp!  If you want all the instructions on how to make this ensemble, sign up for a membership for the month of June at Craft Project Central!

By The Tide Masculine Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Life Is Now
Last weekend we watched the movie Now Is Good.  I must admit that I cried most of the way through it (and yes, I did enjoy it!).  The movie reinforced for me the importance of recognizing that Life Is Now.  If you have been following my blog (and reading the words and not just looking at the pictures), you know that I seem to have a continual struggle with keeping myself focused and avoiding distraction.  Maybe these 3 words will help me.  Maybe if I remind myself of this message I will be better able to concentrate on what is right in front of me.  I feel an art project/art journal page coming on...Life is NOW!
Today's card was created using a brayer technique that definitely makes your fingers inky...if you don't wait for things to dry :)  I used the fish from the By The Tide stamp set and the sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes.  I know it is after Father's Day, but I had submitted this card for consideration for publication so I wasn't able to post it 'til now.  It was not accepted for the magazine, but it definitely passed the very stringent guidelines I have on my blog :)  I need to film and post a video to share this fun and inky technique with you.  Hopefully next week!  Get your brayers ready!  It's going to be a lot of fun!!!!!

Art Journal Pages

Patriotic Wreath & Card by Heidi King

Today I wanted to share this red, white and blue wreath and card created by Heidi King!  This blossom patriotic wreath is a perfect addition to your decor for the summer!  Put it on your door or add it to the wall! A great gift for that 4th of July BBQ!  Change up the colors and theme and you have a beautiful wreath and matching card for any occasion any time of the year!  Makes for a fun class project too!  You can learn more about Heidi on her blog HERE.  If you want to learn how to make this wonderful wreath, head on over to Craft Project Central and sign up for a membership for the month of June!

Wetlands Birthday Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  I Create Art Because I Have To
Gotta love an inner critic that is constantly questioning why you are spending time in the craft room!  At times I let that voice pull me in...and I start to question myself about why I bother to create art if it doesn't support me or if there are so many other things I could be, need to be, doing.  I finally listened to my soul and it had the most obvious answer for my inner critic - I create art because I have to.  I realize that for me, art is like air.  If I do not breathe it in, I will no longer exist.  Art is my ritual, my grace, my sustenance, my healing, my gift to others.  I create art because I have to.
Today's card was a quick and easy to create.  I stamped the grass image from the Wetlands stamp set, multiple times, using Pistachio Pudding ink.  Next, I stamped the goose using Staz-On and then colored him in with an aqua painter and ink.  Since I was using Whisper White card stock as my base, the water soaked through the card stock a bit.  To cover that up, I adhered Crumb Cake panels to the inside of the card.  I stamped the sentiment from Wetlands with Staz-On as well.  The final touch was to poke a hole in the spine of the card using my paper piercing tool  I then threaded a piece of linen thread through the hole, wrapped it around the card twice, and tied it in a bow.  I hope you like it!  P.S. The art journal page that I will be sharing with you this week was inspired by today's lesson from the craft room!

Creating Pretty Cards - Sketch Challenge #24

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Enjoy Your Hot Mess! :)
I decided to participate in the Creating Pretty Cards - Sketch Challenge #24 over at Craft Project Central.  When I created this card I decided it was a hot mess!  At first I just didn't like it one bit!  It is quite different from my usual cleaner and simpler look.  I gotta admit though, the more I looked at it, the more it grew on me.  And, when I added the touch of washi tape, it won my heart over :)  I'm not sure if you'll like this card or not.  All I know is that I'm enjoying my hot mess! :)
I began with a Basic Black card base and added a piece of Modern Medley designer series paper.  Next, I cut a smaller strip of the designer paper and trimmed it to have a banner bottom.  It was added to the card with dimensionals.  The car from Postage Collection was stamped next onto Melon Mambo and then punched with the postage punch.  I then tore a piece of the designer paper and layered it onto the dotted designer paper.  Next came a bunch of stamping - some of the sentiment stamps from Postage Collection - stamped in black and punched out.  I actually used the decorative label punch (did you recognize it?) to punch out the word "friend."  You just have to be creative with placing card stock into your punches to create additional wonderful shapes for your layers!  A touch of washi tape and some adhesive rhinestones finished the look.  I hope you enjoy my hot mess as much as I do :)

Get Well Ensemble by Julie Wadlinger

Nobody likes getting a cold in the summer so here is a Get Well Ensemble with some Pool Party and Daffodil Delight colors for you to fancy things up a bit for your friends in need.  This beautiful project was created by Julie Wadlinger.  It makes for a fun class, club, or camp project!  You can learn more about Julie at her blog HERE.  If you like this project and the other Craft Project Central projects I've been posting during the month of June, you can subscribe to the month of June at Craft Project Central to have access to all the instructions for how to make these great projects!