Friday, June 28, 2013

Typeset Alphabet Congrats Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Admit When You Are Out Of Gas
I arrived home last night after midnight.  Another late flight, another difficult night of sleep due to time zone changes and cramped legs from travel.  I have been on the road every week this month and I am absolutely pooped!  So I am admitting it - I am out of gas (figuratively speaking).  I wanted to make sure to share some creativity with you today though :)  It seems I always have a bit of gas left in the tank to do that!  This is a card that I made for my cousin.  Please let me know if you have questions about any of the tools/supplies that I used for the card...I have to say that I am a bit too pooped to write down all of the instructions...but check out that cool washi tape!!!!  Love it!!!! :)  I hope you have a restful and creative weekend!  I am planning on doing the same ;)

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Birthday Basics Party Pack by Anjii Rempel

Do you love hosting parties?  Like to make your own customized decorations, invitations, favors and thank you cards?  Then here is a great project for you!  This project, by Anjii Remepel, includes a banner with cute clay balloons, mine-cupcake decor, invitations and thank you cards and favors for your goodie bags!!  You can get all the instructions for making this great party pack by subscribing to the month of June at Craft Project Central!
Also there is still time to submit a card for the Creating Pretty Cards Sketch Challenge!  If Craft Project Central has at least 10 submissions a name will be drawn on Friday for a free subscription!!  Click here and then scroll down to the Creating Pretty Cards Sketch Challenge post to submit a card!

Pennant Parade Birthday Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Creativity Takes Courage - Henri Matisse
Each time you create you are taking a risk.  You are taking the bull by the horns and announcing to yourself that you are willing to try - you are willing to make an attempt at making external that which is living inside of you.  You are admitting that you have something to say - something to share.  Yes, creativity takes courage and you, my friend, are courageous!!!!!
Today's card was also created using the bouncing brayer technique.  I just bounced my brayer with Midnight Muse ink, up and down along the piece of card stock until I had a look I liked.  I then stamped a pennant from Pennant Parade multiple times using Midnight Muse and Crushed Curry ink at full and half strength.  I punched out the pennants and then used my paper snips to cut some of them down.  I adhered the toothpicks to the card with glue and then attached the pennants with a combination of glue and dimensionals.  I also removed the prongs from some brads and added them to the pennant tops with glue dots.  The stitched satin ribbon was knotted once and then adhered to the card with some sticky strip (I hid the ends around the back of the card panel).  The sentiment was punched out and added to two larger circles and then placed on the card with dimensionals.  I hope you like it!

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

From My Heart Friendship Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room: Get Your Hair Wet!
Have you ever not done something because you didn't want to get your hair wet?  I may have been guilty of this a time or two - not wanting to go for a swim because it might mess my hair.  Not wanting to go for a walk in the rain because my hair might frizz.  Not venturing into heat and humidity because I might come back looking like I had put my finger in an electric socket.  I used to think about it a bit, but when I lived in Oregon that all seemed to change.  There was often a mist/drizzle that accompanied the days during my time in Oregon and it was during those years that I seemed to become more comfortable in my skin.  I actually stopped wearing make up and worried less about my hair - it was a time of peeling back and feeling free.  I am happy to report that I have carried those lessons with me...sometimes forgetting them for brief periods...but mostly remembering that I need to jump in and not worry about getting my hair wet!
Today's card is a simple example of how to create interest with a background.  I used the bouncing brayer technique to create the background and then just stamped over it with early espresso ink and the stamp from From My Heart.  a piece of natural trim tied in a knot adds a textural touch.  I hope you like it!

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Magnetic Memo Board by Jen Arkfeld

Today I am sharing this wonderful Magnetic Memo Board created by Jen Arkfeld!  You can learn more about Jen HERE at her blog!  This project is a creative way to organize your messages and notes all in one handy location – and it’s cute too! It includes a magnetic memo board, leaf magnets, a removable notepad, and a pen that coordinates too.  This would be a great gift to give!  If you want all of the instructions on how to create this wonderful board and all the accessories, sign up for a membership to the month of June at Craft Project Central!  Enjoy!

Monday, June 24, 2013

Wetlands Birthday Card #2

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Don't Underestimate The Importance Of Rhythm
The changing of the seasons.  The rising and falling of the sun.  The waxing and waning of the moon.  All of these are rhythms that we come to depend upon.  I have been going through a bit of a crazy travel schedule and it is making me aware of how important rhythm is for me.  I recognize that when I hit turbulence the rhythm of my heart changes.  When I try to fall asleep in a strange bed in a hotel, the rhythm of my breath changes.  When I walk through airports and office buildings, the rhythm of my steps change.  The collective effect is that I feel out of tune.  When I am home, there is a rhythm to my life that allows me to breathe fully and deeply; to walk in step with my inner drummer; to gently drift into dreams.  What are the rhythms of your life?  Recognize their importance.
Today's card was another take on a clean and simple card using the Wetlands stamp set.  Something about the color combination of Smoky Slate and Soft Sky is very soothing to me.  I stamped the image and the sentiment using Staz-On ink and adhered the panel to a Basic Black panel.  I then wrapped some embroidery floss around the card and knotted it, before adhering the panel with dimensionals.  I hope you like it!