Another Submission for Creating Pretty Cards Sketch Challenge #28

I am writing this on Thursday.  It is 70 degrees outside and the forecast for tomorrow is for a high of 42!  So, I decided I needed to make a summery card that would keep me warm through the upcoming chill :)  The layout is one that I created for the Creating Pretty Cards sketch challenge over at Craft Project Central.  Think about posting a card of your own on their site.  For every 10 cards that are posted, they will be giving away a FREE one-month subscription to a month of your choice at Craft Project Central!  And, while you're there, I would love it if you would comment on my Halloween project that was posted on October 1st!  They are running a little contest for the project that gets the most comments and I would love to win! :)  Hope you are having a lovely weekend! :)

Fall Centerpiece by Christy Faulk

It’s officially Autumn and time to put out Fall decorations!  Wouldn’t this Fall Centerpiece be wonderful to add to your suite of decorations?  Fall colors are so beautiful, and this centerpiece is full of them!  The centerpiece would look great on any dining room table, mantle, bay window, or entry table.  This project would make a fun class, too!  Christy Faulk created this beautiful centerpiece for her October project for Craft Project Central.  You can learn more about Christy on her blog HERE and you can sign up for an October membership at Craft Project Central to get full step-by-step instructions on how to create this wonderful home decor!  Don't forget you can also head on over the Craft Project Central and enter a comment on my October project - the Trick or Treat Gift Set - to enter to win a FREE October subscription to Craft Project Central.  I will choose a winner on Oct. 25!!!!  Have a wonderful weekend!!!

Today I also wanted to share the a few of the newest stamp set additions at Stampin' Up!  This first stamp set is called Bite Me and you can find out more about this adorable 10-stamp photopolymer set HERE.

This second set is a clear-mount set called Best of Christmas (134384, $14.95).  I love that the Dasher stamp is back in this collection!  Click HERE to learn more!

Witches Broom Halloween Treat

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Relax and Try Not To Be So Rigid
I am learning so much from my swim classes.  The other day I was working on my back stroke and my arms were just not doing what they needed to be doing.  I was trying so hard.  So I stopped and told my coach that I thought I was trying too hard and that it was getting in my way.  She said that I needed to relax and try not to be so rigid.  Wow!  Talk about a whole life lesson!  Relax and try not to be so rigid.  Just think about that.  Rigidity infects so many areas of my life - my work, my art...my exercise.  What would it mean to relax into something?  To release the stiffness and see what happens?  I tried it in the pool...and everything seemed to flow into place.  Next stop, the craft room!  Who knows what will happen if I allow myself to release some of my stiffness as I am creating! :)
For my upcoming Halloween Stamp-a-Stack I decided to make a witches broom halloween treat :)  I had discovered this video on YouTube by Diana Gibbs (there are quite a few videos out there on how to make these brooms) and then I saw a cute idea by Kadie Labadie to use a licorice stick instead of a lollipop!  Of course I couldn't stop there :)  I decided I needed to make some adjustments because I wanted my broom to be able to stand on its own and I also wanted to provide a bit more candy in the treat.  So, I used a small cello bag that I filled with candy corn and through some creative maneuvering and disguise, I was able to make it all work! :)  I used one of the stamps from Gorgeous Grunge to "dirty" things up and then used the witch from Halloween Hello and the sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes (I just wanted to type Teeny Tiny "Witches!" :)  I hope you like it!
P.S.  Head on over to Stampin' Up!s blog to learn about today's Thursday deal on washi tape!!!!!!!!!  

Creating Pretty Cards Challenge #28 for October!

I had the honor of making the layout for this month's Creating Pretty Cards sketch card challenge over at Craft Project Central!  This is the card I created with my layout.  Something about the combination of the Pleasant Poppies stamp and Crumb Cake card stock feels perfect for Fall!
Head on over to Craft Project Central to participate in the Creating Pretty Cards sketch card challenge.  For every ten cards that are submitted, one winner will be chosen for a FREE month subscription on Craft Project Central!  The winner(s) will get to select the month of their choice!  So if there are 15 submissions this month one winner will be randomly selected from all submissions.  If there are 40 submissions four winners will be randomly chosen from all submissions, and so on!  Craft Project Central really wants to give away some free subscriptions, so please do join the challenge!!  And, while you're there, don't forget to enter a comment on my project that was posted yesterday!  On October 25th I will choose a winner for a free October subscription from the comments!!!!!

My October Project For Craft Project Central: Trick or Treat Gift Set

Today I'm sharing a double post!  Some art journal pages that I created yesterday and my October project for Craft Project Central!  This Trick or Treat Gift Set is the perfect Halloween gift for that special little someone in your life! This set features an altered, no-sew, pillowcase trick or treat bag, a personalized trick or treat bag name tag, a trick or treat pin and a spooky gift card for giving this set as a gift!  Any one of these projects, individually, would make for a wonderful creative session for you and your spooky little friend!  You could also create any of these items in a small class or stamp camp to share with others!  I had a lot of fun using the Undefined stamp carving kit to create a pumpkin and bat stamp!  You can get all the step-by-step directions to create this gift set by subscribing to Craft Project Central for the month of October.  Or, you can head on over to Craft Project Central and leave a post on this project on that site to be entered to win a FREE subscription for the month of October!!!!!  Winners will be chosen on October 25th!!!!  Good luck!!!!!

Art Journal Pages

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  I Have A Short Fuse When I Don't Allow Myself To Decompress
I have had a full few weeks as well as visitors in the house and I realize that when I don't allow myself to decompress from all the activity my fuse becomes quite short.  I felt it the other day on a phone call.  I hadn't had my morning nature walk with Buddy and I was just out of sorts.  It's funny how I can feel the pressure building up within me in those moments - like I'm going to burst or say something I'm going to regret...or even act in ways that I'm not proud of.  When I was off the phone I came back to these pages that I had begun the day before.  Let Go Of Judgement seemed to be the best advice to give myself.  When I am tired and short-fused, I jump to that place of judgement and impatience.  The minute I glued the words down I started to feel better.  And then I took Buddy on a short walk and we sat in the park and watched the world go by.  I have a short fuse when I don't allow myself to decompress...and stepping into art and nature is the key to my decompression!

Craft Project Central September Bonus Project by Carrie Rhoades

Fall is definitely in the air here in Denver and this Thanksgiving Décor Trio, created by Carrie Rhoades, is the perfect way to celebrate Fall!  This project is the September Bonus Project at Craft Project Central.  You can learn more about Carrie on her blog HERE.
These Thanksgiving Home Décor projects are easy to make and will be a nice addition to your home this fall.  In this September Bonus tutorial you will learn how to make a woodland wreath accentuated with die cut leaves and a burlap bow to hang on your door or wall.  You will also be taken through all the steps to make this subway art piece of a traditional Thanksgiving verse and some miniature stuffed pumpkins.  You are sure to have fun making these quick and ease décor projects.  Bonus projects can be obtained by subscribing to two or more months in a row over at Craft Project Central, putting the Craft Project Central badge on your blog, or by referring a friend and letting Craft Project Central know when your friend subscribes.  Find out more about Craft Project Central and earning the September Bonus Project HERE!