"Remember This" 2014 Mixed Media Canvas by Regina Andari

Check out this “Remember This” 2014 Mixed Media Canvas by Regina Andari!  I am loving the colors!   Some people jot New Year’s resolutions on a piece of paper, but this project demonstrates a creative way to keep specific goals in sight.  Although this project features the designer’s resolutions of being happy, creating the kind of life that she wants, and remembering kind gestures toward others, it will be easy to customize your canvas to reflect your goals and resolutions.  This tutorial also features a coordinating card and envelope.  To get all the instructions for how to make this wonderful project, head on over to Craft Project Central and subscribe to the month of February!!!!

Journal Away Your Fear #2

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Sometimes You Have To Tear It Down To Build It Back Up!
Taking two steps back to move one step forward would definitely summarize this page!  I kept layering and layering - paint, stamping, glaze...and I was still not happy with what I was seeing.  But this series is about journaling away your fear...so I decided to do some alcohol spraying to remove some of the acrylic paint (a technique I learned by watching artist Jane Davies at work in this video).  I sprayed the alcohol...waited a bit...and then began scraping away with an old hotel key card.  And that's when the paper kind of ripped!  I was actually hoping to get down to the white surface of the page...but I was quite thinking I would get there by ripping through the top layer!  I pushed the fear aside and decide I would assist the tearing.  And I liked what happened!  So, I did it again - a number of times - all over the page!  Tearing it down.  Then building back up.  Yes, sometimes you have to push aside the fear and tear things down.  Then you can build them back up again!  (I'm sitting here smiling once again - realizing how true this lesson is for so many different parts of my life!)!  Join me in journaling away your fear!!!!  Put something on a page.  Tear it up.  Then build something from it!  I hope you have a wonderful, creative and fear-facing weekend!!!!! :)

Tags 4 You Valentine's Day Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Set An Intention
I woke up this morning and decided I needed to finish creating the rest of the projects for my upcoming Stamp-a-Stack this weekend.  And here I am, at the end of the day (it's night time on Wednesday as I am typing this) and I did it!  I finished creating the cards and treat holders and I cut all the card stock and organized the supplies.  I am once again impressed by the power of intention.  So many times I don't set my intention - and I find myself lost in my minutes - flittering here and there through mindless and meaningless activities - not being purposeful.  I don't believe I have to be actively doing something of substance every minute of every day.  I am a strong believer in just being.  What I am not happy with is when I'm in the limbo - when my doing has no intention or when I am not allowing myself to just be.  So I am working on setting my intention - whether it is toward what I spend my time doing or just allowing myself to be.
Today's card began with the thought of putting wings on a heart and grew from there.  I used a scallop circle as a mask to do some sponging with Marina Mist to create the sky.  The retired Sanded background stamp adds some grit to the background.  I hope you like it!

Toilet Paper Roll Valentine Treat Container

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room: Lessons You Are Learning In Other Areas Of Your Life Can Be Lessons You Need To Learn In The Craft Room
It all started when I began to compare myself.  I did the first 80m (4 lengths in the indoor pool) without an issue.  Then I did the second 80m.  Then the third.  And I started to feel myself getting a little tired.  It was during the fourth try that I did 40m and tired myself out and decided to stop...as the rest of the swimmers in the class kept going.  And that's when it started - the comparison.  It's amazing how quickly I let it take over - like a driver who overtakes you in the fast lane.  I started to succumb and then I began to fight a little.  I ignored what everyone else was doing, caught my breath and then hopped back into the exercise when I was ready.  The demons came back a bit later in the class too.  I actually negative self-talked myself close to tears a few times.  But I didn't cry - or if I did, the tears lost themselves in the pool water.  I could look at this all in a whole different way.  As my coach reminded me, I went further and faster than I had before.  I dove into the pool after having only done that one time before in the outdoor pool.  I did one length with only taking one breath!  A lot of accomplishment today - now that I can look back at it since the gremlins are asleep.  In the locker room my coach passed by and reminded me that I need to let the gremlins go.  I need to release comparisons and remember that I have just started.  Focus on what I am doing and go at my own pace.  Sound familiar when it comes to making art?  It can be easy to the let the gremlins sabotage you.  To spend time on every blog, website, pinterest board and begin to compare yourself to others.  To get into that space where you become paralyzed and don't want to open up to your creative muse.  My coach has it right - we need to let it go.  We need to kiss those gremlins goodbye.  We need to recognize we are just starting and go at our own pace.  This journey is yours.
Today's project is a an upcycled treat holder!  Don't throw away those toilet paper rolls!  Turn them into wonderful sweets for your sweetheart instead!  Just cover the roll with Fresh Prints Designer Series paper stack paper and hot glue/sticky strip the bottom of the roll together.  Add some decoration and some sweets and you are good to go!

Numbered Cards Set & Holder by Yapha Mason

Yapha Mason has done it again with this beautiful Numbered Cards Set with Holder!  These super cute cards can be used as birthday cards, invitations, or thank you notes. Put the same number on each card, or change it up! Includes a handy card holder as well as lined envelopes.  To get all the step-by-step instructions for this project and other wonderful projects, head on over to Craft Project Central and subscribe to the month of February!