Happy Father's Day Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  It Doesn't Take A Lot To Show How Much You Care
A simple card made with love with your own hands.  Sometimes I want to make a card and I don't feel like I have the time or energy to really make one that I will be proud of or that will be perfect enough for the person I am sending it to.  That's when I need to stop myself and realize that it doesn't take a lot to show someone how much I care.  My card doesn't have to be complicated.  It doesn't have to be perfect.  And, it doesn't need to take a lot of time or energy.  I can use the time and energy that I have and work with that!  I arrived home late Thursday night after a substantial work trip and we wanted to get a Father's Day card in the mail early Friday so that it could make it in time for Father's Day.  I needed to do my best given what time and energy I had and I found washi tape was a great and simple way to decorate this card in a flash!  I die cut Basic Gray cardstock with the Hello You thinlits dies.  I then stamped the "Father's Day" with Basic Gray ink and the Crazy For You stamp set.  These were both adhered to a Mint Macaron card stock panel.  Next came the Everyday Chic designer washi tape and some silver sequin stars.  Quick, simple, and made with a ton of love!!!!

Summer Fun Craft Party by Buffy Cooper

Summer Fun Craft Party! by Buffy Cooper
It’s summer! The kids are out of school and looking for something fun to do, so how about throwing a craft party? Send a cute “Summer Funday” invitation to your children’s friends, create a craft pack with basic supplies for each attendee, and let their imaginations take over. The cut whirly ladybugs are fun and simple to create, and preparation is a snap with the Big Shot and Circles Collection Framelits. The invitation uses simple marker techniques to customize photopolymer stamps. This would also make a fun Kids’ Stamp Camp or class.  Subscribe to the month of June over at Craft Project Central for full step-by-step instructions!

Paper Cloth Heart Ornament

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Think Beyond The Texture Of The Material
I love paper!  And, sometimes I am looking for something a bit more lasting and enduring.  Making paper cloth is a great way to turn your paper into a new material that you can sew and get creative with!  I had some leftover paper cloth that I had made using the Typeset Specialty Designer Series Paper and I decided to turn it into a stuffed heart ornament for an incredibly special friend!  How can you think beyond the texture of the material you are given?

Sewn Road Trip Collage

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Always Have Something With You To Create With!
My travel schedule can get a bit nuts sometimes and I can find myself away from the craft room and the over abundance of art supplies that live there.  So I now travel with a kit of random supplies...just in case the urge to create comes over me and I am in a hotel room, an airport, or some other place far far away.  Lately I've added some cotton thread to the travel craft kit and I have been enjoying sewing into watercolor paper.  This collage began when I was inspired by the sleeve on my drink from Caribou Coffee.  The quote spoke to me and I began by adhering it to the center of the watercolor paper.  Next I added some random painted papers and tapes that were in my kit.  The sewing was the last addition.  Lots of little meditative stitches in a combination of black and purple.  Sometimes I take the kit with me and it never gets open.  Other times it is the respite in my travels.  Either way, it is always with me in case the urge to create strikes!

“By the Tide” Gift Ensemble! by Regina Andari

“By the Tide” Gift Ensemble! –  Regina Andari

It’s time to welcome summer, and you’re going to need the right packaging for treats and gifts.  With this tutorial, you will make a trio of boxes, learn a quick and easy way to decorate push pop containers that won’t interfere with whatever you choose to fill them, and create a beautiful open-top box with the capacity to hold a lot of treats.  It’s so decorative that you (or whomever you give it to) will want to keep it on display.  Go to Craft Project Central and subscribe to the month of June for full step-by-step instructions!

Fabric Scrap Ornament

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Put Your Scraps To Good Use!
I don't like going over to a friend or neighbor's house empty handed.  A few weeks ago our neighbors invited us over for dinner and I didn't have much time to figure out what to bring.  So I walked into the craft room and saw some scrap pieces of fabric and ribbon staring back at me!  So I did a bit of stamping on the fabric and then walked over to the sewing machine.  A quick fabric scrap ornament, perfect for a doorknob, kitchen cabinet knob or holiday tree!  How can you put your scraps to good use?