Stamping With Padded Envelopes!!!!

Today's Lesson From The Place Where I Create (since I can't decide what to call the place...Craft Room...Art Studio...for now it shall be known as the place where I create :) :  Don't throw away those padded envelopes!!!! :)
I was trying to clean up a bit in my craft room (aka place where I create) today and I was about to recycle a padded envelope.  Mind you, I have recycled many padded envelopes in my time and somehow today was different.  I saw that padded envelope with different eyes.  I guess the thought may have crossed my mind before - to try to stamp with the bubble wrap side of the envelope.  But I killed the thought since I always knew that the bumpy side of the bubble wrap was the one adhered to the envelope walls.  This time I didn't kill the thought.  Instead I just said, "let's give it a shot!"  And guess what?!?!  You get the same circle texture as if you were stamping with the bumpy side.  The added bonus?  You have the backing paper or plastic from the envelope so that you can stamp pretty evenly!  These are a few pictures of pieces I have cut from the padded envelopes and some of the stamping I've done.  Enjoy!

Tap, Tap, Tap Screen Card & Journal by Laurie Zoellmer

I love small journals and this Tap, Tap, Tap Screen Card & Journal by Laurie Zoellmer is no exception!  This fun screen card can be altered to any occasion you like!  Screen cards are easy to assemble and are definitely a “wow card”.  The coordinating Journal is a perfect gift addition!  Get the full step-by-step instructions to this fun set by heading over to Craft Project Central and subscribing to the month of September!

Alcohol Inks & Transparencies: A Video!!!!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Once You Start, You Will Go Places You Never Imagined!
Art teaches me over and over that once you start you will go places you never imagined.  I had the desire to play with alcohol inks and transparencies and the idea that came to mind was to just drip the ink onto the transparency.  But once I started dripping, new ideas came to mind!  My lesson?  Just begin!  You will go places you never imagined!!!!
Today I'm sharing a video of three techniques using alcohol inks and transparencies.  You can use these panels on your cards, scrapbooking pages or in your mixed media projects!  Have fun!

Butterfly Mobile & Card by Monika Davis

Soooo sweet!!!!!!  What a beautiful Butterfly Mobile & Card created by Monika Davis.  Make this sweet butterfly mobile to decorate your craft room or give it away as a special present to a sweet friend who likes butterflies.  It’s easy to change the theme and make this mobile for a baby shower or as a wedding decoration. Great for a stamp camp or as a class project.  For full step-by-step instructions head on over to Craft Project Central and subscribe to the month of September.

Bloom and Grow Art Journal Page

Today's Lesson From The Art Studio:  The inner critic wants you to stay in the same place, repeating the same thing over and over again like donuts being pumped out of a machine.  No changes, no growth:  in a word, safe.  But safe is not what will ultimately be satisfying.  Don't ever be afraid of who you really are or of what you want to express.  Great artists were built by being strong in their convictions that they were right in pursuing their dreams.  - William Kluba in Where Does Art Come From?
I created this art journal page for Paper Crafter's Library.  I allowed myself to not be safe - to try something new and to see what would happen.  This is the process of blooming and growing.  To go beyond what is familiar and comfortable.  To venture into the unknown.  Here are a few close ups:

For full step-by-step videos demonstrating how I created the page, you can head on over to Paper Crafter's Library by clicking on the badge in the upper right-hand side of my blog and signing up to become a member of Paper Crafter's Library!