Today's Lesson From The Craft Room: When Life Gives You Lemonade, Don't Make Sour Lemons

Yes, strange lesson, I know. It seems we usually hear the reverse - when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. However, I find myself needing the reverse advice. I find myself getting into very depressed moods when it comes time to travel. And today, as I prepare to embark on a 2-week work trip, I am trying my best to keep upbeat and positive about the experience and not turn it into sour lemons. The thoughts of leaving home, leaving my family, leaving the garden and craft room behind all seem to pull at my heart strings. And yet, I need to remember, that what I am about to experience is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and for this I need to be grateful and excited! Where am I headed? I leave tonight for Amsterdam and will take a train to a smaller town in the Netherlands to work for a few days. Then, I will leave Amsterdam and travel to Beijing to work for another few day (although I will have the entire weekend to do some exploring) and then I will head to Osaka and Kobe, Japan - also to work and then end the trip in Osaka with a family that my family knows there. They have invited me to stay with them for the weekend and the notebooks above are the gifts I will be bringing with me to give to them.

So, I will focus on the lemonade that life has given me and will do my best to not let my feelings of sadness cloud the amazing opportunity that this trip represents. An opportunity to discover new places, meet new people and literally travel around the world. I will do my best to keep my blog running during this time - most likely with photos of art, craft and sites from where I find myself. And I will look forward to my return to the craft room! Happy Memorial Day Weekend! May we all recognize how blessed we truly are.

Today's Lesson From The Hotel Room...Still Too Far Away From The Craft Room: Identify What You Know To Be True About Yourself

I feel like I've been having a bit of an identity crisis lately. I seem to have forgotten who I am and what I stand for. I have once again gotten lost in the sea of Gold Medallion and 1K status. I seem to be defining myself as a Starwood Preferred Guest and a Hilton Honors VIP. Oh how lost I have become. And I know that finding my way back to who I am is about beginning to identify, once again, what I know to be true about myself. Some of what I know to be true is what this card pictures - that I love my dog; that I love to be outside, and that I do not like heels (even if the girl on the card appears to be walking her dog in them!). I am on a quest to find my way back home - my way back to the person I seem to have lost on my journey into the corporate world these past 2 years. I know that the woman I am - the woman I want to free again - is waiting for me to find her. And I will - one truth at a time.

Today's Lesson From A Hotel Room...Much Too Far Away From The Craft Room: You Never Know Where Wisdom Will Come From

I was on my way to Dubuque, Iowa with a stop in Chicago's O'Hare Airport. I stopped in a small store - I think it was called Ciba Express - to try to pick up something to eat. I went with a cheese sandwich, some waldorf salad and an Honest Ade Orange and Mango drink (I usually go with water, but this called to me...). I used to drink Honest Tea whenever I stopped at Whole Foods and I loved that they always had a quote or saying printed on the inside of the lid. When I removed the plastic lid from my Honest Ade I was disappointed to find no message in the lid. So I began to drink (it's pretty good if you want to try it) and as the level of liquid went down in the bottle, I saw a message starting to appear on the inside of the label - I could see it through the clear plastic of the bottle. And there, looking right at me was the following quote from Gandhi: "Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are all in harmony." You never know where wisdom will come from!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room: It's All A Matter Of Perspective

It happens so often that I now laugh about it. I mention my next work trip to someone who asks me what I do and they say "Wow! That's really exciting! You get to go to some wonderful places!" I have to laugh because I realize that from the outside looking in, it does sound exciting - heading off to Kuala Lumpur and places like Barcelona, Amsterdam, Osaka, London...and yet, as I live the experience it is often exhausting and I also frequently see nothing of the location I am at except for the inside of a hotel, an office building and an airport. So "exciting" is not really the word I would use to describe it. Exciting for me is spending a day in the craft room!!!! But I realize, it is all a matter of perspective. My grandmother used to say "One person's hangnail is another person's amputation." I'm finally understanding what that means. That what seems devastating to one person, seems to be just a bit of a "glitch" to another. It really is a matter of perspective.

I hope I can take some of the energy and excitement from the person who looks at my travel and concludes it is a wonderful adventure and try to make it a bit of an adventure for myself. After all, I am the one living it and the more I continue to think "there's no place like home" when I head out the door on my next trip, the more difficult it becomes to get on those planes and enjoy whatever I might experience on the trip.

This card was made using the black magic technique with a twist of white - I learned the technique on Karen Barber's blog at www.karenbarberstamps.blogspot.com (Thanks Karen!). It's a lot of fun to stamp with white craft ink and then color the stamped images with color pencils. The white gel pen is a great finishing touch - it makes everything pop! Give it a try - you might become addicted :)

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room: Squirrels Like Lettuce!

OK - call me naive. I figured that since we feed the birds (and therefore the squirrels) nuts, nuts and more nuts in the morning that they would leave the lettuce plants alone...WRONG! I got back from the dog walk this morning to find that while the radish plants are just starting to grow, the lettuce is shrinking! The squirrels have figured out that salad is a great appetizer before the nuts. So it looks like part of the weekend will be spent building a cage/walled fortress/moat to keep the squirrels off the lettuce...wish me luck!

This card for today's Inspiration Challenge was inspired by the pompom pillow on the chair in this room http://www.countryliving.com/homes/m...-makeover-0109. This card was simple, but I love how fun it is...I have a feeling this is a card that will not work well with an envelope :) (fyi, the finished size is 3.5"x3.5") Hope you like it!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room: Transitions Always Begin With Endings

I have been reading the book "Transitions" by William Bridges - what a wonderful book for anyone who is going through transitions in their life. The book discusses how every transition begins with an ending - In order to have a new beginning, you first need to let go of where you currently are - you have to first begin with an ending. I realize that endings are not very easy for me - I'm not the kind of person who just let's go and moves fearlessly into the future...except when I create! I can easily let go of the vision I had for a card and let it create itself. I hope that the ease with which I can navigate endings in the craft room will help me more successfully allow for endings in my life so that I can move forward into new beginnings!

This card began with creating an embossed square border by cutting out a 4"x4" square and temporarily adhering it to the front of this 5"x5" card. I then used my embossing stylus to emboss around the square and then removed the 4"x4" square from the center. The "waves" and "sky" were torn by hand and the starfish came from the sea :) Hope you like it!

(ps. sorry to have disappeared for a few days, I had a work trip to Boston and got home last night - it's good to be back in the craft room...at least for a little while until my next work trips...wait 'til you hear where I'm headed next...a camera is definitely coming along with me!)

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room: All You Have Is All You Need

It seems so easy to get into a mindset that focuses on all that you lack - on all that you still want - on everything that, if you had it, could make your life better. Sometimes what we really need to do is take a step back and recognize that all we have is really all that we need. As I planted the garden with Michael on Sunday morning and felt the dirt in my hands, I realized that all I have is really all I need - a warm place to sleep, food to fill my tummy, surrounded by the people and creatures that I love and who love me. What a wonderful place to be :)

I made this card set awhile back but I don't think I ever posted it. The 4 cards fit inside the card holder. The holder is just a piece of 8.5x11 card stock that is scored and folded. This makes a simple gift for so many occasions! The stamp set I used is Embrace Life by Stampin' UP! I think I might have snuck in a greeting set too - short & sweet. Hope you like it!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room: Learn Something New Every Day!

Today's card technique (brayered roses) came from Patty Bennett. I saw her video and had to give it a try! They are even more pretty in person! You need the textured impressions manhattan flower die and the big shot. I ran glossy white card stock through the die and then brayered the roses with rose red and summer sun. Finally I cut out the roses. This was a new technique and a lot of fun! I encourage you to learn something new every day! You'll be amazed at the results!!!! If you want to check out Patty's video go to http://pattystamps.com/pattys_stamping_spot/2009/04/brayered-roses-technique-and-video.html. Enjoy!

Playing around in the craft room this evening :) I used the "negative" cut out from the decorative accents die to sponge the basic gray background on the sky blue card stock. I am still loving my Pocket Silhouettes stamp set - especially when you add a little bling (dazzling diamonds glitter)! Hope you like it!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room: Make Friends With Something That Scares You!

Who knew that May 19th was Circus Day?!? Who comes up with these "official" days anyway? Well, when I saw it was Circus Day I immediately thought "clown!" I have to admit...I have a strong dislike for clowns. They scare me! I don't know why I dislike them. I can't remember any close encounters of the frightening kind with any clowns when I was little. But somehow, someway, I developed a strong clown aversion. So today I decided to try to make friends with something that scares me and I created this punch art clown. And believe me, he doesn't have a mean bone in his punch art body :) Sometimes you just have to stare fear in the face :)

His hair was made with a square scallop punch (I cut the square in half). His bow is 2 hearts with a circle in the middle. His hat is a combination of the key tag punch and a small oval punch. I brightened his nose with crystal effects. I think everything else is self-explanatory. Let me know if you have any questions :) Hope you like him...and I hope he doesn't scare you :)

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room: Too Much Of A Good Thing Is Sometimes A Good Thing!

Yes, it's daisies again! I seem to be in love with this Big Shot die! Or maybe I'm just in love with the fact that it's Spring and everything is blooming. Maybe feeling cheerful is something I can't get enough of right now. Maybe too much of a good thing is a good thing right now :) There are just some things that fit into the good thing category right now and I just can't get enough - daisies, sunshine, love, time with the people and animals I care about, creating, laughter, breezes, breathing...I know the saying goes "everything in moderation"...but for today I'm all about excess!!! :)

This card was a lot of fun to make. I used the clear circle die in my big shot to make the circle card. The daisies were made with the daisies die in the Big Shot. I embossed the sentiment with white embossing powder. I hope you like it!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room: Everything Happens In Its Own Time

This is a difficult time of year for me. You would think the joy would overtake the sadness - everything is in bloom - the sky is bright blue. And yet, as it gets closer to May 9th, the anniversary of my father's death, I find myself getting a bit melancholy. One of Michael's friends is also in the hospital right now - everyone is waiting to see what will happen - to see if he will rally or if now is his time. I realize that everything happens in its own right time - whether it is life or death or a creation we are making. We try to manipulate when and how things happen, but ultimately, everything finds its own right time - a time that is perfect and right.

This card had its own right time too. Had I not walked by the Cheerios box this morning I would not have been captivated by the bright yellow, red and black on the box and this card would not have come into being today (or maybe any other day).

So today recognize that all is well. All is happening in its own right time. We can sit back and take a deep breath and exhale....

Mother's Day is almost here. A special day to celebrate the women who birthed us and raised us. It also marks the time when we can begin planting in the garden here in Denver without fear of a deep freeze! Yeah! I made this card this morning for my mom. I love the combination of baja breeze and kiwi kiss. Hope you like it!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room: You Never Know Where Something Has Been

This lesson sounds like something my mom used to tell me when I would pick something up off the ground and want to keep it! But I digress...Have you seen the movie The Red Violin? It is a wonderful movie about an antique violin. The movie traces the story of the violin - where it has been over time, who has "owned the violin" - a peek into the past of an inanimate object. So often in life, however, we do not know where something has been, and instead, we base our judgments on what we see - we make assumptions without knowing the history behind what we see...

So let me share a secret...the background on this card was another card! It was my first attempt at today's challenge. An attempt that got me frustrated - I almost posted it with a lesson about "loving ugly!" But then my creative process got the best of me and I tore the card up (you probably can't even see the inspired by nature flower stamp with the white dots all over it and the sponged blue circle with the sponged coral background...). The torn pieces got put back together to be the back of a garden green card...which I then decided didn't look good, but would work better as a background piece on a ballet blue card. And so, what you see in front of you is a finished product that I am quite proud of...and part of my pride is the history behind what you see. The other part of my pride is that I stuck with it and didn't let the "ugly" get me down :)

OK, so I had to play again! After I did the last card, I couldn't get the image of snake skin out of my mind, so I decided to make a punch snake :)

I did the embossed wax paper resist technique and then brayered with green inks. After I brayered, I ran the sheet back through the Big Shot with the texturz plate again. The snake has a tag punch head and a round tab punch body. Hope you like him. He likessssssssss you :)

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room: Say Thank You And Go In A Different Direction

I've had a few days off in a row and I find that when I start to slow down, my internal voice starts to speed up! I have to say that at times my internal voice really doesn't have anything nice to say - it's like I have my own little internal bully :( Good thing I also have an internal voice that also loves to nurture and that voice is teaching me to say "thank you" to the bully and then head in another direction - a place where I remind myself that I am a beautiful, creative being :) So if you find your internal critic is being a bully...say "thanks, but I'm not headed in your direction!"

It was fun to try the embossed wax paper resist technique on SCS today! It was like magic! I used a texturz plate and brayered with real red ink. The cupcake was made with a series of punches and a bunch of stickles :) Enjoy!

The sky in the park tonight was purple and gray. I had never seen a purple sky before. It was awe inspiring and prompted me to create this card.

This set is sooo cute (Voila by Stampin' Up!) - love it! I thought the image was perfect for a small notebook to use as a grocery list. I broke out the bind-it-all and the stamp set and...voila!

Playing and cleaning in the craft room today! The images for this card are from the Kindred Spirits and Organic Outlines stamp sets by Stampin' Up! The colors are summer sun, old olive and pumpkin pie. Enjoy!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room: Let It Come To You

I had a dream about making a scallop edged card...how funny that today's featured stamper on SCS had a wonderful scallop card in her gallery to inspire me!

It's funny how some things just come to you when you need them. Today's gallery card gave me the extra little nudge I needed to sit down and make my own scallop card. I took a 10"x5" piece of whisper white card stock, scored it and folded it in half and then used my scallop circle die to make the card. If you line up the fold line just beneath the edge of the scallop circle on the die (inside the scallop circle), the die will not cut through the folded edge and you will have a scallop card! Today's color combination also "just came to me." I was looking at my mess of a craft table and there, in the center, were the new rolls of ribbon that I just got from SU! The tangerine tango ribbon was on top of the baja breeze ribbon and I thought "what a pretty combo!" Sometimes you have to just sit back and let things come to you :)

This evening I began playing with some new toys, including the exclusive SU! Beautiful Butterflies Die for the Big Shot. I die cut the butterflies and then ran them through the Big Shot again in embossing folders. Thought I would share the result of my play time with you :)

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room: It May Not Be What You Had Hoped, But It Can Be An Experience You Will Never Forget!

Prom. It is one of those events that seems to have "magic" written all over it...at least that's what we're supposed to believe. I'm sorry to say that my high school prom was not quite the fantasy that I had imagined. The night before the prom I still had no dress, no date and not a pair of shoes to be seen. I won't go into the details, but by the next day my dad had found me a date, the dress had arrived and the shoes were on my feet :) No, it was not the fantasy prom night I might have imagined, and I never did see the guy who took me again...but the night represented a time when my dad tried to make his little girl happy; where my white eyelet dress made me feel like a princess; and where I learned that an event is just an event - the event isn't the magic - it's the people and what you make of it.

The inspiration challenge on SCS today was to find a Faviana dress that inspired you (www.faviana.com). The dress I chose is the one that I have now placed in my inspiration journal that you see in the photo. I loved the color combo of brushed gold, really rust, and more mustard - not a combo I would have put together without the help of the dress :) I gold embossed the images (Kindred Spirit stamp set and Thank You Kindly stamp set - both by Stampin' Up!) and the bookplate die cut. The ribbon was "pleated" by laying down a piece of sticky strip and then slowly "pleating" the ribbon, little by little. Hope you like it!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room: Find Ways To Warm Your Heart

Today is a drizzly, cold and cloudy day here in Colorado. A perfect day to stay indoors and find ways to warm your heart. Creating, sharing kind words, warming soup on the stove...I love days like this that seem to slow us down and remind us of the comfort a little warmth can bring. So today, find ways to warm your heart and the hearts of others :)

This card was inspired by a color combination I saw in a home decor magazine (the top photo shows the original picture - a Calvin Klein furniture collection that I have now saved in my inspiration journal). I stamped the flowers for the border and cut out a few and popped them up on dimensionals. I added a bit of "bling" with some glue and dazzling diamonds. The butterfly was stamped and colored in with a blender pen and a bit of going gray ink and finished with a sprinkle of dazzling diamonds. The butterfly and flowers are from the "god's beauty" hostess set from SU! and the greeting is from the "echoes of kindness" hostess set from SU! Enjoy!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room: To Thine Own Self Be Kind

Today's lesson comes from the greeting on this card. How appropriate that this is the card I made when I ended work today and began my 4 days off from the hustle and bustle of work and my crazy travel schedule. Ahhhhhhh. It can be so easy to not be kind to ourselves - to run ourselves ragged; to eat on the go; to take care of others without recognizing that in order to take care of them we need to take great care of ourselves. So today, remember to be kind to yourself - take a moment for you - to replenish, renew, regenerate. Treat your body well. Tell yourself how beautiful you are. Do something that makes YOU smile. Today, and every day, is your day to be kind to you.

This card uses the Botanical Blooms Sale-a-bration set. You may notice a small black square stamped image in the background...hello dollar store package of pencils!!!! I bought the pencils and used an Xacto knife to cut the erasers into all different types of shapes (squares, diamonds, half-moons) - it's a cheap and fun way to make a lot of cute stamps! I distressed the edges of the card stock with a distressing tool. The top 2 layers are popped up on dimensionals. Hope you like it!

ps sorry I did not post yesterday - I had a day-trip to San Francisco that kept me out of the craft room...but now I'm back!!!! :)

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room: You Don't Have To Wait For A Special Occasion

When I saw today's color challenge it immediately made me think of Christmas. It seems that anytime I see red and green together Christmas comes to mind. Then I realized that we don't have to wait for Christmas to use color combinations like red and green. The lesson expanded for me as I thought about how often we wait for a special day to do certain things - take certain actions; say certain things. Why wait? Today, give thanks even though it is not Thanksgiving; share the gift of your love with friends and family even though it is not a holiday; cook a festive meal, play a fun game, spend time reflecting - today is as much a holiday as any day - you don't need to wait for a special occasion.

I covered the Batch of Blooms chipboard with whisper white cardstock and used real red ink to cover the chipboard hearts. The black cardstock was run through the Big Shot with the distressed Texturz plate.

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room: Give Yourself The Time You Need

I just returned from a trip that took me through the Mexico City Airport. It was quite the scene, due to the swine flu...so many of us were wearing blue respiratory masks. Underneath that mask I was full of stress and worry. So today - after arriving home at 10:30 last night and having worked the whole weekend I decided to give myself the time I needed to rest, relax and slowly create this card. Somehow rolling the marbles in a dish with a few drops of reinker and then letting the marbles roll across the very vanilla paper (which was temporarily attached to the inside of a box lid) was quite mesmerizing! What a great technique to give yourself the time you need to slow down and recharge! (I'm also planning on taking Friday and Monday off...craft room, here I come!!!!)

The bird is from the On Board So Tweet by SU! I covered it with gesso and then sponged ink on top. The pink part of the bird was embossed with clear embossing powder. Hope you like it!

Today's Lesson From Far Away From The Craft Room: Smile, Even If No One Can See

so you might be wondering why a mummy card at the end of April...let me not leave you in suspense. I am sitting here in the airport in Mexico City, wearing a bright blue respiratory mask (maybe you have been hearing all of the news about the swine flu that is causing all kinds of issues here in Mexico and starting to spread around the world)...so, wearing this mask makes me feel a bit like the mummy in the card - you can see my eyes, but not much else. It is amazing how important our health and safety are to us as human beings. Three days ago, someone coughing or sneezing really did not mean that much to me. Now I hear every cough and every sneeze and begin wanting to get as far away from those sounds as possible!!!!

I have two choices right now - to panic and make myself all worried and crazy....or, to smile and help myself stay in a positive place. My decision is to smile...even if no one can see my smile underneath this crazy blue mask....at least I know it's there :)

fyi, the mummy card is not an original design - i am trying to find the source where i found the instructions - i should have made a note back when i did this in 2008! i will keep looking and when i find it, i will share the source for the instructions and the design with you!

Today's Lesson From...yes, you guessed it...Too Far Away From The Craft Room: Take A Cold Shower...

yes, i'm on the road again - this time in Poza Rica, Mexico. It is a small town about 30 minutes by plane from Mexico City. The people are so nice and the vegetation is so beautiful here - very green and lots of flowers. Hopefully tomorrow I will get to do a small bit of siteseeting after getting done with work in the afternoon. I got up this morning to take a shower and put the lever to "hot"...well actually to "caliente." I waited a little bit for the water to heat up - it got luke warm and that was it. I realized that my Americanized view of "hot" is not the same as "hot" here in a warm, humid climate. So in the shower I jumped...quite to the shock of my tired body! I have to say though, that once I got over the shock...well, I didn't really get over the shock...but after I soaped and showered as fast as I ever had and got out of the shower, the experience left me feeling quite invigorated, awake and excited to greet the day! Maybe sometimes taking a cold shower - or experimenting a bit with what we are most comfortable - is a great idea. It could leave us feeling more awake, invigorated and excited to greet the day! :)

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room: Think about the message they might receive, not just the one you intend to send

I realized today that in my tired state (too much business travel over the last few weeks) the emails I have been sending to my colleagues have been a bit shorter and have included fewer smiley faces than my norm. I'm glad I recognized it because it made me realize that while my reason for sending shorter and less smiley emails is because I'm tired, the folks receiving them might be thinking that I'm angry or frustrated or upset with them. So today I made sure to check in with the people I've been emailing to let them know that I recognize my emails have been a bit different this week and to explain why. It's a good practice I need to remind myself of - that sometimes the messages we are sending may be received in a very different way than we intend.

I had fun stamping this big flower with many of the images from the Cheep Talk stamp set (so cute!!!). I sponged the edges of the flower with rose red. The rose red strip in the background was run through the Big Shot with the daisies texturz plate (hard to see the texture in the photo). I added a "pinch" of paper piercing and a "dash" of ribbon :)

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room: Wait 5 Minutes...

It's been awhile since I've dine an SC challenge so today I decided to give the gesso resist technique challenge a try!

It seems that lately I'm learning that if I just wait 5 minutes things can change. Especially if I'm angry or sad or frustrated...most of those emotions that I really don't enjoy feeling for extended periods of time...if I just wait 5 minutes I'm usually amazed at how things improve, how my mind starts to focus on all that I am grateful for. This project reminded me of that...since to let that gesso dry, you really need to wait 5 minutes :)

I applied gesso to a page from an old dictionary. I stamped the butterflies in versamark and embossed with clear embossing powder. I then sponged with lots of different colors - they all blended together quite beautifully - reminds me of a Monet painting. I used white embossing powder on vellum for the wings of the center butterfly. I hope you enjoy it...and if you're feeling blue, or frustrated or just out of sorts, wait 5 minutes...you may be surprised at how things change!

hmmm, seems i'm taking today's lesson from the craft room to heart - the importance of balance...i'm finally trying to play as much as i've been working lately - just to even myself out :)

this card was made using the cracked glass technique (see card below for instructions). i used the Cheap Talk stamp set by Stampin' Up! (it is soooo cute!). The outer flower and two of the inner flowers were dies for the Big Shot and the inner circle and scalloped circle are punches. Hope you like it!

another lesson from the craft room today... run with your inspiration!

I'm having fun in the craft room today so I thought I would share another card with you. Today I'm feeling like I just need to run with my inspiration and keep creating! :) This card was made using the cracked glass technique. In case that is not familiar to you, you stamp on a piece of cardstock (in this case the cardstock frame that I die cut with the Big Shot). Then you smoosh (that's a technical term...at least it is now!) Versamark ink all over the stamped cardstock and coat it with glassy glaze enamel embossing powder. Then you heat until the embossing powder melts. Repeat the smoosh, emboss and heat steps two more times (for a total of 3 times). The embossing will look thick and glassy. Next, put your embossed piece of cardstock in the freezer to let it chill. Once cold, remove the cardstock from the freezer and you will be able to bend the cardstock and the enamel will crack! It's quite fun and it looks really cool (no pun intended :)! All of the flower images are from the Eastern Blooms stamp set and the message (inspire) is from one of my favorite sets, Define Your Life. (all stamp sets by Stampin' Up!) Enjoy!!!!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room: Balance

rest, play, work...it seems I find myself a bit out of whack a bit too often. As Spring arrives and everything starts blooming and growing I once again realize that the seasons have so much to teach us. A time to bloom, a time to rest...so today I encourage you (and me) to ask ourselves if we are living the right balance between work, rest and play. If not, today is a great day to begin to rebalance ourselves.

This color combination has just become a favorite - chocolate chip and taken with teal. The stamp set is Fall Flair from SU! - i imagine any type of lined flower image will do. I just stamped it in taken with teal a few times and chocolate chip a few times and then used a second stamp in the set to add a bit more detail. The greeting and the white flowers were made using my big shot. The letters are from the billboard letters decorative strip die and the flowers from the SU! exclusive birds and blooms sizzlits. Enjoy!

the snow is melting and i can imagine butterflies taking flight...

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room: Cherish...

I have come to believe that there really are no coincidences in life and today reaffirms that for me. Yesterday I made this card. I wasn't sure what moved me to create a card that said "cherish." When I created it it looked to me like a card you might give to a couple on their wedding day. And yet, when I went to take photos of the card a strange thing happened. I took photos and then came to my computer and the photos were nowhere to be found on the compact flash card from my camera. So off I went again to take another set of photos and once again I could not load them - it was as if they had never been taken.

This morning I decided to try again and I was more successful. Somehow, overnight, the camera decided that taking photos of this card was now okay and now I know why...

My phone rang this morning at 8:09 a.m. I was asleep in my room so I waited until I was showered and dressed and in the kitchen to find out who called. I figured if it was really important then whoever called would have tried on the home phone after not reaching me on my cell. It turned out it was my mom and she was calling to let me know that my Aunt Esther had passed away overnight. Aunt Esther was 95 years old and one of the most amazing women I have ever known. And this is why today was the day my card that says "cherish" decided to let me take its picture. To remind me today that we all need to cherish those we love - when they are with us and when they are gone. I will carry Aunt Esther with me, in my heart - I will cherish her - all the days of my life. And I offer you this card to remind you to cherish those in your life who are important to you - whether they are sitting beside you or have gone to their resting place. We all have so much to cherish...

I'M HOME!!!!! :) After 28 hours of travel and getting to relive Thursday (crossing over the international date line is quite a crazy experience), I am soooo happy to say that I am home. And yes, I will be headed into the craft room shortly...and I am sure to learn a lesson in there :)

the view outside my hotel window in kuala lumpur...and i'm on the 28th floor! This is the Petronas Tower - you might recognize it from a movie with Catherine Zeta Jones and Sean Connery :)

Today's Lesson From As Far Away As I Have Ever Been From The Craft Room: Take It In...

Here I am in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia...so bizarre to be here. In some ways it feels like being in New York...except that my body can't seem to decide what time it is :) Right now it is 7:32 a.m. on Wednesday in Denver and 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday in Kuala Lumpur. When the morning comes it will be night in Denver and I will be on my way back home...yeah! Usually when I travel I do not have time or energy to take in the sights and sounds of where I am. Since I traveled so far this time I decided I could not leave here without having taken in a little bit of the local flavor so I asked my body to work with me and go on two outtings. One was to a shop and dinner last night with a group of people from my training. Tonight was dinner out at a local restaurant. I'm really glad I left the hotel and saw something. The bottom photo is of a batik shirt that I am bringing home to Michael (shhh) and the top photo was my "bed" from Los Angeles to Hong Kong...for all 15 hours of that flight! I am anticipating a similar bed, for a similar length of time for that part of the trip home. I have to say I am sooooo grateful to be able to fly business class on these international trips - it makes it a lot easier on my body :)

I can't wait to get back to the craft room and create! I miss it sooooo much!!!!! Ooh - I'll have to load another photo for you - I can see the Petronas Tower out my window - you might recognize it from the movie with Catherine Zeta Jones and Sean Connery - where they are bank robbers...the building is one and the same :) If you find yourself somewhere new - whether it's around the block or around the world, don't forget to take it in!!!! :)

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room: Open Your Wings and Fly...

I made this card a number of years ago - before I even knew what Stampin' Up! was. Back in the day when I felt simplicity and a clear message was all a card needed and I wasn't concerned with techniques and embellishments and the latest doo-dad. This card is still as powerful to me today as it was when I created it. It is no wonder I have kept it...the message is one I need and love to hear.

It's funny that this is the card that drew me in today. For tomorrow I will be flying once again - this time to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I am trying to look at it as an adventure rather than a burden. I have to say it is difficult to leave home again after having just arrived. With Spring in the air and my beautiful family surrounding me, the last thing I want to do is leave. However, leave I will, and on my trip I will continue to ponder what it means to open my wings and fly...If I could fly anywhere in my life, where would I go? If my wings could be any color or size or shape, what would they look like? I feel that change is coming in my life...I feel as if I am in the cocoon and soon I will be breaking through that shell and emerging into a new life...the unknown...a place I am supposed to be. Maybe you are emerging too - into a new place in your life - or back to an old place where you felt comfortable and at peace. So together we will open our wings and fly...

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room: Live With Passion!

Everyday I am challenged to remember to live my life with passion. It can be easy to allow ourselves to get into a rut and feel everything but passion in what we do. When we find ourselves in that place we need to ask ourselves, "What do I need to do to bring passion back into my day to day life?" When I see the word "passion" I think "joy," "wonder," "excitement." For some of us passion can be found by taking the time to create something. For others it might mean feeling the earth in our hands as we plant something in the garden. For others, a bungee jump might be in order. Life is too short to remain in a place where we live with stress, anger, sadness, or boredom. Look for it - your passion is waiting for you!!!!

Today's photo is of a small sign I created using a Sizzix frame die with my Big Shot. I also used the adorable Stampin' Up! Birds & Blooms Sizzlit - I LOVE that bird!!!! These signs are a great way to post reminders all over your house - in your kitchen, closet, bedroom, laundry room - it's amazing how powerful words can be when you see them and read them every day!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room: You Are Precious And Unique!

Taking the leap of faith required when you want to change your life can be quite challenging. I spoke with a friend today about a change she is wanting to make - the desire to quit her job and go in a new direction - and yet actually doing it is proving to be more challenging than she thought. I can definitely relate! Sometimes I feel like our leaps of faith would be easier for us if we were surrounded by people who tell us how precious and unique we are and encourage us to follow our heart wherever it may take us. Instead it feels at times like we are surrounded by naysayers and negativity. Something that can make us step back from the edge and hesitate to leap.

So today, I will tell you: You are precious and unique. Whatever decisions you make for yourself, I will support you because you know what is best for you and what I want is your happiness.

ps...(this is my second paper flower....the addiction has begun :)

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room: Follow Your Course Wherever It May Take You

I am finally home...ahhhhhhhhh. There's nothing like the feel of your own sheets, the smell of your own towel, the growth that has appeared so delicately in the yard. It is a blessing to be here.

I have a story of incredible synchronicity to share, although it seems like the story could fill its own book. My first business trip to a hotel that was behind a store that had an awning with a message that said "Create Something Every Day." I made multiple trips to that same hotel and could never get closer to the store than peering in through the windows at night since I worked during the hours it was open. Yesterday I made it through the doors in a strange (or maybe not strange at all) twist of fate - or appearance of synchronicity. I was at an event with my cousin and she wanted to go to her favorite store. I put the address in my gps and told her I would meet her there. And where did that gps lead me...right to the store with the awning! Here I was, months later, in the same place and finally able to know it for the very first time!
I walked inside and met a woman by the flower kits. She overheard my cousin and I talking about how our time spent creating is time that is invaluable to us. The woman shared that she is currently in law school - in her second year - and making paper flowers has become her sacred space in the midst of the pressure and challenge of school. So, how could I resist. I bought a paper flower kit and put together my first paper poppy to share with you :)

What started out as a routine drive, turned into a message from the universe that I am headed in the right direction as I pursue my creative dreams. So follow your course, you never know where it might take you!

If you like the poppy and would like to learn how to make one yourself, you can find a flower kit at www.paper-source.com. Of course, I am not responsible for any addictions you develop as a result of giving it a try :)

This Morning's Lesson From Much Too Far Away From The Craft Room: Be Kind To Your Body

It is 5:08 a.m. Denver time, 7:08 a.m. Boston time, 12:08 p.m. London time...and my poor body is quite confused! I went to sleep at 7 p.m. thursday evening and slept for 11 hours! I awoke with a cold and then developed a headache a bit later in the morning...and I pushed - I went to lunch with colleagues, to dinner at a friend's house and then back to the hotel to see family members. I finally went to bed last night at midnight and was WIDE AWAKE by 5:30 a.m. There is only so much my body will tolerate from me before it says "If you are not going to take care of me, then I am going to get involved and start taking care of myself!" I have to say that for this, I am grateful - when my body says "No!" and tells me that it has had "Enough!" I wish it was easier for me to say "no" and "enough" - that I would have already learned the lesson to be kind to my body and follow its rhythms and needs. So today, I will do my best - to rest when I feel tired, to eat when I feel hungry, to be still when my energy is low.

This is a simple card from my archives. I used the scalloped edge punch and some stickles to make everything glittery. Sometimes it is the simple cards that really make me smile. Subtle touches, clean lines. I hope you like it! Today, simply be kind to your body. I know I will :)

Today's Lesson From Much Too Far Away From The Craft Room: Take Care Of You!!!

I am finally back in the United States, but still not back in the craft room. I flew in from London and am absolutely exhausted. My trip finally caught up with me - as these trips always seem to do. My throat starting bothering me last night and my voice is fading a bit today. By now you would think I would have taken my own lesson to heart - that we each need to take care of ourselves. Somehow I don't care for myself as well as I could and my body reacts and let's me know that it's not happy. So tonight I am finally going to turn off this computer and go to bed (and will hope to sleep for at least 10 hours!). Hopefully if I start taking care of myself now my body will recognize that I am finally ready to listen. My hope is that next time I will be open to listening when the sounds of being tired start to whisper quietly to me. So, don't forget, take care of you - after all, you are the only you you've got! :)

Today's Lesson From Much Too Far Away From The Craft Room: Wake Up And Smile!

Today I am starting my day with a big smile! It is not because I'm about to work all day. It is because I have awoken to another day. And, I have to admit, because I fly closer to home tomorrow - the return journey will begin...although there will be one more stop along the way. No matter what your reason, today, wake up and smile! It will set the entire mood for your day!

This card set is another set that I made for a friend to give as a gift. In the upper right-hand corner you will see the "folder" that holds all of the cards and then all of the other cards and matching envelopes fit neatly inside. I love the color combination of black, pink and white - it's fun and elegant at the same time! Enjoy....and don't forget to wake up and smile :)

Today's Lesson From Much Too Far Away From The Craft Room: There Is So Much To Learn!

As I travel and meet people from all around the world, I am once again amazed by how much there is to learn from one another! On the weekend I was having a discussion with a man from France about the expression "you're welcome" and how this did not seem to make logical sense to him since "welcome" means "hello." I had never even considered this! Today a group of women were talking about German culture and the value that the German culture has traditionally placed on women being at home to raise the children and how school is only in the morning for children. I also learned how incredibly expensive child care is in Germany because traditionally, this was not a service that was used a lot so there were few babysitters and they are quite expensive. I realize that I would never have heard about any of this if I wasn't curious and if I never left my own home. I am grateful for the opportunity to learn about how life is seen and lived by people from different places than my own. If you get a chance to talk with someone from another culture or another place, I encourage you to talk to them about their view of life and the world and to share your own. There is so much to learn from one another!

I made this simple card awhile back. I used a number of different thank you stamps and stamped them on whisper white card stock. I also stamped them on sahara sand and then tore the edge and added a ribbon. The greeting was made with oval punches. Thanks for looking!

Today's Lesson From Much Too Far Away From The Craft Room: Take A Walk In Nature

Today was a long day and an enjoyable one. I woke to the sound of birds singing...quite loudly...and since I don't have a clock in my room I had no idea what time it was. I knew it was morning of some kind :) Work went well and after the workshop I decided to take a walk around the property. There is a path that winds around a golf course - it was empty and a bit cloudy and chilly outside and it felt incredibly invigorating! The highlight were quite a number of bunny rabbits chasing each other wildly around the golf course! I had never seen such a thing! They didn't like seeing me, but I thoroughly enjoyed watching them!!!! It seems like no matter what is going on in my day, taking the time to take a walk in nature really grounds me. It opens my mind and my lungs and makes me take in what is truly beautiful...I highly recommend it!

This card set was made a few months ago. All of the leaves and flowers and birds make me think about being outdoors. The upper right-hand corner is the card holder for the set. The other cards fit neatly into the holder and it makes a wonderful gift! When I get home I will try to take some inside photos of this type of holder so you can see how it's made. Enjoy...and go take a walk in nature :)