Gorgeous Grunge Card Set by Amanda Corbet

Amanda has done it again!  Have you been wondering how you can use the Gorgeous Grunge stamp set? Not sure what exactly to do with it? Well then this project is for you! This fun grungy box includes five different card designs and five envelopes all using the Gorgeous Grunge and Chalk Talk stamp sets! It’s time to put your Gorgeous Grunge stamp set to use to make this bright and fun cards and box set!  Learn more about Amanda and her amazing creations on her blog HERE.  You can get full step-by-step instructions for this great set by heading over to Craft Project Central and subscribing to the month of September!

Bleached Pleasant Poppies Thank You Card

 

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  I Need A Ritual To Let Me Know I Am Entering My Creative Zone

Scatter here.  Scatter there.  Scatter scatter everywhere.  This seems to be the state of my mind so often and I would like to put some of the responsibility on the computer and other electronic devices.  We can dart around from page to page; message to message; picture to picture - so quickly - skip, skip, skip...move, move, move.  And it seems the more often we do it, the more our mind becomes accustomed to operating in this "blip" mode.  Because of this, I am extra grateful for the gift of art making.  It makes me slow down and focus - get lost in the colors, shapes, textures and process.  And yet, sometimes I find myself blipping in and out of the craft room - distracted by thoughts or noises or activity in another room.  What I would like to create is a ritual to let me know that I am entering my creative zone.  A ritual that will signal to my brain that it is time to focus on color, shape, texture and process - time to get lost in the moment.  I'm not sure yet what that ritual will be - maybe a sign that I read to myself - a sign that hangs on the doorway to my craft space - maybe a commitment that I voice as I enter the space.  Or it could be a certain piece of music.  Or maybe a scent.  I guess my mind will "blip around" for now - trying to figure out what my ritual might be.  Do you have any special rituals you use?  If so, I would love to hear what works for you....maybe I could adopt it too!

Today's card was the result of having fun with bleach and a paintbrush!  I stamped and heat embossed the Pleasant Poppies image and then painted with bleach to take the color away from the Blushing Bride card stock.  The sentiment is from Postage Collection.  I hope you like it!

Accordion Memory Keeper Gift Set by Gayle Smith

This project is a perfect gift for a friend or loved one. It consists of an Accordion Memory Keeper,  that you can personalize with messages and/or add photos, four thank you note cards, and a one - of - a - kind flower pen.  This beautiful set was created by Gayle Smith.  You can learn more about Gayle on her blog HERE.  Head on over to Craft Project Central and subscribe to the month of September to get step-by-step instructions for how to make this gorgeous set

Happy 50th Birthday Card!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Remember, You Can Always Close The Door
This past weekend I had a friend come to visit from London (yippeee!)!  I had a very long list of things I wanted to get done before she arrived, not the least of which was to try to get my office and craft room looking a bit more presentable.  And, it was causing me quite a bit of stress as the time was ticking away and the rooms weren't looking any better because I was also trying to get videos filmed and work done.  Finally, on Friday, at my dentist appointment, the receptionist and I were chatting and I mentioned my stress.  Her response?  Remember, you can always just close the door!  What a relief!  She was right.  It's not that I gave up on the idea of straightening.  I just put it all into perspective - recognizing that yes, I could close the door and we wouldn't have to look at the piles of paper and scattered art supplies.  I also remembered that my friend wasn't coming to see neat and tidy offices!  She was coming to be with us.  And that is the most important thing of all! :)  Remember, you can always close the door and enjoy the neat, clean and uncluttered door :)
Today I am sharing the card I made for my brother for his 50th birthday!!!!!!  It is such a significant milestone for so many people and it has particular meaning for us since my father passed away just one month shy of his 50th birthday.  It's hard to imagine that my brother is now older than my dad had the opportunity of being.  I am so blessed to have shared this time with my brother and I am hoping for many more beautiful years to come!  The card began with a Midnight Muse card base.  I stamped Soft Sky at full and half strength onto Whisper White card stock using a stamp from Gorgeous Grunge.  The edges were then sponged with Midnight Muse.  Next I took the numbers from ABC-123 Sketch Alphabet & Numbers and stamped them on the background with Midnight Muse ink.  A 2 1/2" circle was punched and then stamped with the Gorgeous Grunge stamp as well.  I then mounted the circle onto a piece of Midnight Muse card stock that was die cut with the framelits Window Frames Collection.  I added some brads in the corners with a paper piercing tool.  Finally, I adhered the numbers that were die cut using the Typeset Alphabet Bigz dies.  I hope you like it!

Summer Silhouettes Thank You Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  It Can Be Right In Front Of You And You Don't Even See It!
Buddy and I tend to travel some of the same routes on our morning walks.  Mind you, Buddy has been with us for over 10 years, so that's a lot of traveling the same streets and sidewalks over the years.  This morning, though, we were at a corner we are often at and I noticed the amazing way that the rust was patterned on the side of a telephone pole.  Just incredible!  And, inspiring!  I took a quick photo to inspire a card or art project in the future and then I just wondered over the thought that we pass that pole all the time and yet I had never truly SEEN it!  I know this must happen in every aspect of my life - filtering out that which is right in front of me - missing what could be incredible and inspiring.  So today I am opening my eyes and my awareness a little wider - wondering what is right there in front of me that I may not be seeing.
Today's card began with playing around with the new decorative blades for the Stampin' Trimmer rotary addition.  I cut some Rich Razzleberry card stock with the tiny wave blade and then decided I needed to make the pieces into a card!  So, I adhered the pieces to a Whisper White card base and then began stamping a flower from Summer Silhouettes all over the card using Rich Razzleberry ink at full and half strength.  The card started to look like a hot mess to me, but I kept going, ignoring my inner critic...and I'm glad I did!  Next came a punched white circle and a white heat embossed sentiment from Petite Pairs that I punched out with the Bracket Label Punch.  A few adhesive rhinestones and some organza ribbon added a touch of elegance.  I hope you like it!

Harvest Party Decor by Jen Arkfeld

Jen Arkfeld loves decorating her home with Fall Décor!  She loves all of the rich, warm colors.  This month she created some simple, new ways to jazz up her home, and yours, for a Harvest Party.  A festive banner can hang from your mantel or window; refresh your cake stands with some die cut leaves; create gratitude and treat jars, and give those pumpkins a facelift with glitter. You’ll be ready in no time to celebrate the Harvest Season.  To learn more about Jen, check out her blog HERE.  To get all the instructions for this wonderful project, subscribe to the month of September over at Craft Project Central!