Designer Garden Window Box and Card! – May Bonus Project by Amanda Corbet

Make a lovely flower garden window box to brighten up your space with fun patterned flowers that will last! No need to water! These bright and fun blossoms will never wilt.  This Designer Garden Window Box and Card! is the Craft Project Central May Bonus Project! and was designed by Amanda Corbet.  You could gift this bunch of flowers to someone special with the matching card. Don’t need a window box? The flowers would still make a lovely bouquet in a vase for the perfect gift!
Bonus projects can be obtained by subscribing to Craft Project Central for two or more months in a row; putting the Craft Project Central badge on your blog; or by referring a friend and when the friend subscribes, letting Craft Project Central know.  Head on over to Craft Project Central for more information!

Papillon Potpourri Birthday Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Honor Your Need For That Which Soothes Your Soul
When I am on the road for work it can be easy to forget to honor my need for that which soothes my soul.  I continue to realize that if I make taking care of myself a high priority, I can find ways to honor self care while I travel.  This week some of the things that have provided comfort for me on the road include:  a visit with a friend, walking outdoors and seeing baby geese, a cup of warm soy milk, time spent drawing bits and pieces of the world around me, a warm meal that met my dietary needs.  All little ways to honor my need to soothe my soul.  What do you do to honor your need for that which soothes your soul?
Today I am sharing another card that was inspired by a card sample in the new catalog!  I love using the Idea Book & Catalog for ideas!  Sometimes I am struck by a special card design. Other times my eye is caught by a color combination I never would have thought of.  And yes, I pulled out a few retired items that I'm trying to use (as opposed to put away and have gather dust).  So glad the Papillon Potpourri stamp set didn't retire!

Happy Birthday Grunge Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  The New Causes Me To Reflect On The Old
It's that time of year - NEW CATALOG TIME!!!!  I would by lying if I said I wasn't excited.  I am excited about the freshness of new products - trying new things - playing with new images, patterns and colors.  Every time the new catalog comes around I also find myself reflecting on the old.  I know that as a Demonstrator I'm probably not supposed to say this...but before you buy new products, go back and look at what you already have.  The new animal set may make you swoon...until you realize you have an animal set from a few years back that is just as cute and is in need of some love :)  Or maybe you will decide to sell the old set in order to purchase the new set.  All I ask is that you make considered, as opposed to impulse, choices.  Sometimes it is just as fun to play with what we already have - challenging ourselves to use our supplies in new ways - as opposed to just adding more to our "stash."  That said, I will confess that I plan on making some purchases from the new catalog.  Partly due to my role as Demonstrator - I need to keep things "fresh and current."  I also do some design work that pays me in the form of Stampin' Up! product and I have been saving up those payments for new catalog time.
For today's card I brought out a retired stamp - Engraved Greetings - to make this Happy Birthday card inspired by a layout in the new catalog.  The new definitely causes me to reflect on (and use) the old!  I plan on sharing a few other "old reflections" in the coming weeks :)  And I'll likely interject some of the new too :)

Venetian Romance Gift Set by Sharon Maranich

A perfect gift for a special person.  Never forget a birthday or anniversary again!!  This Venetian Romance Gift Set by Sharon Maranich includes a Card Reminder Box that will help you keep track of all those important dates that you want to remember.  Just fill in the calendar pages with dates and drop the cards for the event behind!  When it’s time to send a card, it’s ready for you!
Get the full step-by-step instructions for this project by heading over to Craft Project Central and subscribing to the month of May!