A Random Act Of Kindness!!!!

Wow!  I had a surprise in my mail box today!!!!  Look at this gorgeous card that Judi sent me!  She is so talented and I feel so special to have received one of her creations!!!!  Thanks Judi!!!!  You can see more of Judi's beautiful work on her blog.  She has some blog candy that she is giving away this month, so be sure to pay her a visit!

Faux Designer Series Paper - Tart & Tangy

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Pass Along A Last Minute Invitation

Last night I cooked a big meal.  We realized, that if we didn't have company, we would be eating the same recipe for a week!  So, although it was already dinner time, we decided to give Michael's sister a call and invite her over for dinner.  I have to admit that I felt a bit guilty calling her so late to pass along the invite, but I ignored the guilt and called anyway.  I had to leave a message, but 30 minutes later she called back and said she and her boyfriend would be over!  I was so glad I had passed along the invitation - even though it was at the last minute.  We had a great time sitting and chatting.  So next time you want to pass along a last minute invite and are feeling a little guilty about it - swallow your pride and make the call - you'll be so glad you did!

Today's SCS challenge was to find inspiration from the Warm Biscuit Bedding Company.  I chose this fabric as my inspiration!  I stamped the background in barely banana with the Sanded background stamp and then used my markers to color the cherry stamp from tart & tangy and randomly stamped it all over the card stock.  The garden green card stock was punched with the eyelet border punch and then run through the crimper about 5 times to give it a lace feel.  I hope you like it!

A Thoughtful Day

Today's Lesson From My Home:  Find Your Moments Of Heaven Here On Earth

I went for my morning "wog" with Buddy this morning.  Our route takes us by a park near our house.  There is one corner of the park that sits up on a hill and from that vantage point you can see the snow-covered mountains in the distance.  As part of our morning ritual, we have begun to stop at that corner of the park and sit on the bench there and stare at the mountains in silence.  Today, I sat on the bench and Buddy sat down right in front of me (well, actually, right on my left foot) with his back pressing against my calf.  In that moment I felt I was experiencing a piece of Heaven here on earth.  Just thinking about it now makes me take in a deep breath...and exhale.  I want to be mindful of these moments, and try to look for them in my daily life.  Today I'm choosing to not head into the craft room.  Instead, I am heading back into the kitchen where my creating is about nourishing myself and my family tonight for dinner...baklava and vegetarian moussaka...the house smells divine!  Have a beautiful night!

Video: Dyed Sand Technique

Here is another technique I came up with...my creative mind has been very active these past few weeks! :)  Thought you'd enjoy this quick and easy technique that has a great WOW effect!  Enjoy!

Sneak Peek - Sweet Scoops!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room: Support Someone Else's Art!

My friend Mario Rivoli is an incredible artist! He has been creating since he was 5 years old!  He is an amazing assemblage artist and I am always wowed by his creations! We went to lunch the other day, and when we picked him up at his house we were given a tour of some of his latest creations. I fell in love with this amazing beaded flower arrangement - just gorgeous.

So...I bought it!!!!! It felt so good to support someone else's creative spirit by purchasing their work. There are a lot of ways we can support someone else's art - by our purchases, our comments, our encouragement. Who can you support today?

Today's challenge on SCS was to incorporate something new. One of my new things is obvious - the new Sweet Scoops stamp set that will be out in the summer mini catalog! Isn't it yummy?! :) I also tried a new technique that came to me in yet another dream!!!! I was dreaming about sand, and, as I was waking up, my creative mind thought, "Hey, I wonder if you can dye white sand with classic ink?" Well, the answer is an absolute YES! It also dries right away so you can get instant gratification! I may put together a quick video today to demo the technique. I adhered the sand to the card using heat and stick powder. I hope you like it!

Sale-A-Bration Birthday

Just wanted to share this quick card that we made at a workshop this week.  We used the Happy Moments set from the Sale-A-Bration catalog.  The presents were stamped with Staz-On and then colored in using ink pads and an aqua painter.  Of course we had to add some dazzling diamonds :)  I got this Happy Moments stamp set for free since it is still Sale-A-Bration!!!!  Sale-A-Bration runs to the end of this month!  Don't miss this great opportunity to earn free, exclusive stamps, paper or punches when you make a $50 product purchase!  What are you waiting for?  Shop now! :)

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Follow Your Waking Dreams

Have you ever paid attention to what your internal voice is telling you upon awakening?  I listened very carefully yesterday morning when, upon awakening, I had a waking dream about heat embossing on fabric!  I had never thought of it before, and since I just started sewing last week, somehow the thought of embossing combined with the act of sewing in the middle of the night and I woke with the idea!!!  I love heat embossing on paper, so why not fabric?!  Listen to your waking dreams - you never know where they might take you!

Today's card uses my heat embossed fabric technique!  Scroll down to the next post to watch the how-to video.  I used the Charming stamp set and white craft  ink with gold embossing powder on my black fabric.  Before embossing the fabric, I ran it through the Big Shot with the Flower Folds die.  The flower was made with 4 of the smallest flowers cut from the die.  I also ran the black card stock through the Big Shot with the Finnial Press embossing folder.  I heat embossed the greeting in black on the brushed gold card stock.  I hope you like it!

Video: Heat Embossed Fabric

I woke up with a new technique in mind - heat embossed fabric!!!  Here's a video to show you how!  Let me know if you have any questions!  Enjoy!



Here is a package that I decorated with a combination heat embossed fabric and paper flower.  The possibilities are endless with this technique!

Judi's Blog Candy!

Judi is giving away more blog candy on March 25th!  Yeah!!!  Check out all the cool stuff she is giving away!

 Go check out her blog if you'd like to enter to win!

Quilted Furry Purse

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Take On A Challenge!

Late in the afternoon yesterday I decided it was time to head back to the sewing machine.  I knew I could have started small - maybe a pillow cover or something simple for sewing project #2...but what fun would that be!  Instead I chose to challenge myself!  I had seen the rag quilted purse that Angie Juda had made and I had even watched her video on how to make it (before I learned how to sew) and I was so inspired I thought - What the heck!  I am soooooo proud of myself I am going to burst!  I have to admit that choosing to use a bulky furry fabric was probably not the best choice for a first purse, but it didn't stop me :)  I can't wait to use my purse today!  How can you challenge yourself today?

Decor Elements Auto!

This Afternoon's Lesson From Outside The Craft Room:  Why Create Small When You Can Create Big!

I am the kind of person who believes a car is meant to get you from here to there.  I have had my car since 1998 and I intend to have it until it won't have me anymore :)  My car and I have been through a lot!  She was stolen twice (can you believe it?!), but both times she found me again.  Since the repairs from when she was last stolen, the clear coat has begun to peel away.  I guess the body shop can never do as good of a job as the manufacturer.  I have thought about repainting the car, but I've been told that the car is worth less than the paint job would be...so, I figured, why not make her beautiful in some other way!  Today I ventured outside with my Ginormous Flowers decor elements and began working on her makeover :)  This is what I've done so far - it is already making me smile :)  I'm debating whether or not to cover her entirely, or to just focus on her problem areas.  I figured I would stop for the afternoon and take another look at her tomorrow, once I've stepped away for a bit.  Why create small when you can create big! :)  I hope you like her!

Featured Stamper Inspiration

Today's Featured Stamper on SCS was Vera Schoeters.  What a lot of inspiration her stamping provides!  I chose this card for my inspiration.  I used the ideas of the Warhol technique and the square shapes and went from there!  I hope you like it!  Thanks for the inspiration Vera and congratulations!

Stamp Free Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Sometimes You've Gotta Just Get Through It

I don't know what was up with me yesterday.  I was in quite the cranky mood.  I can always use my default PMS excuse, but I think I was just experiencing a case of the blahs.  Nothing seemed to cheer me up - not a trip to our friend's store to visit the new puppy, not a trip to the fabric store to buy some supplies, not even horchata (have you tried this delicious rice, cinnamon and vanilla drink?  It's awesome!!!).  Sometimes you've just gotta get through it and recognize that at some point, like everything else, change will come.  I am here to attest to that!  Today is a new day and my crankiness has gone - yeah!  I've made it through!

Today's card has no stamping!  Blasphemy! :)  I used the Sending Love specialty designer series paper.  This stuff is gorgeous!  One side of each sheet has glitter on it!  Love it!  I also used the Big Shot to emboss the black panel with the finnial press embossing folder.  I used my daisies #2 die to die cut the black flower.  The pink flower was punched using the scallop circle punch.  Finally, I made the brad using our build-a-brads!  I love these too since you can use your 3/4" circle punch to punch out a piece of designer paper and then build your own brad to match your card!  The finishing touch was a piece of our luscious 5/8" black satin ribbon.  I hope you like it!  If you want to order any of the supplies used in today's card, stop by my on-line shopping site - open 24/7!

Faux Designer Series Paper

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Wog A Little

I used to run...well, maybe you could call it jogging.  I actually ran a marathon for my 30th birthday.  Now, it seems, walking has been challenging enough!  However, this morning, I decided to "wog" - that's my word for a walk/jog.  I have to say, it felt GREAT!  The dog liked it too!  He looked at me as if to say, "Wow!  You're really picking up the pace this morning!"  Why not try a little wog in place of your walk.  It may be just the pick-me-up you need!

Today's challenge on SCS was to find inspiration at the Ginko Papers website.  This card was inspired by a great little mod pear mini bag.  I used my stamp-a-ma-jig and the pear from the Cheep Talk set to create some faux designer paper (measuring 2" x 5 1/2") that I attached to the inside edge of the card.  I used the sanded background stamp to give the so saffron card stock a little interest.  I layered a bunch of panels and popped them up on dimensionals.  I hope you like it!

Free Standing Pop-Up Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room: Remember What Happiness Is All About

In today's world of consumerism it can be hard to remember what happiness really is. Sometimes we feel that the next new home, or car, or craft supply will bring us happiness. But, alas, it is not the "thing" that brings us happiness. As Gandhi put it so perfectly, "Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony." It sounds so simple, and yet it takes a lifetime of practice!

The challenge on SCS was to make a free standing pop-up card.  You can learn how to make this card by watching this great video!  I decided to use Ghandi's quote for today's card. I am not going to mail this one. Instead I will keep it on my desk as a constant reminder! I hope you like it!

My First Quilted Flower!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  When You Want To Learn Something, The Perfect Teacher Will Appear!

I am sooooo excited!!!!  Yesterday, my friend Pam came over and gave me my first real lesson on my sewing machine!!!!  About a year ago I had tried the machine for the first time by following the instruction manual - I was able to pleat a piece of paper and then I put the cover back on the machine and hadn't tried it since.  I had been wanting to learn for awhile, but hadn't made much effort to find a teacher...and lo and behold, my teacher found me!  Pam was amazingly patient - she walked me through how to maintain the machine, how to thread the machine, how to thread a bobbin (I think that's what you call it) and then how to sew a straight line.  By the end of our lesson yesterday I had sewed around the first 2 layers of this flower!!!!  Today I went back to the machine and finished it off!

The flower was so easy to make...and I can say that since that was my first sewing project!  You do have to have some patience though - since the petals are curved.  Angie Juda has a great video explaining how to make the actual flowers using your Big Shot machine and a few dies.  I followed those directions for a bit and then went another direction.  I decided to put a corduroy button brad in the center.  I also did something different on the back.  At Leadership we were able to watch a demostration by Jill Olsen and she told us how she places a piece of felt on the back of her flowers so that she can use them for multiple purposes - slide them on barrettes or headbands, put a hair clip through them.  She even puts a safety pin on the front of her apron and then uses the hair clip, through the felt piece, to temporarily attach the flowers to her apron!  What a great idea!  So, I sewed a piece of black felt on the back like this:

I hope you like my first flower...although I'm sure no one can love it as much as I do :)  Let me know if you have any questions!

Lucky Leprechaun!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Take A Minute To Pause And Sit

My dog is the best meditator I have ever seen.  He can sit in the park and stare off into the distance for hours!  It is the epitomy of Zen!  Today I took a cue from him and decided to sit down on the park bench during our morning walk.  From that vantage point I could see the tops of the snow covered mountains.  We sat for awhile, Buddy and I, and just breathed in the scenery.  It brought me calm and peace and a wonderful way to start my day.

These "strips" are for the women at the bank.  I've decided to try to do a new "strip" for them each month so that they can wrap them around the candy dishes that sit on their desks.  This little leprechaun is a mix of a number of punch leprechauns that I discovered while searching the net.  If you haven't checked out Ellen Kemper's blog, you need to do so - she is a master with punch art...and quite funny too! :)  Part of my inspiration came from her adorable leprechaun!  Thanks Ellen!

Acetate Effects #4

Tonight's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Fall In Love With A Puppy!

Our friends adopted a new puppy from the shelter on Sunday and today we met her for the first time...What can I say?  I'm in love! :)  There's something about puppies that just puts a smile on my face and a whole lot of love in my heart!  Puppy therapy is the best!

Tonight's card is for tomorrow's sketch challenge on SCS - it was posted early so I got to play before heading off to bed!  It uses my new Acetate Effects technique!  (You can see the video HERE).  I stamped the butterfly image on a whisper white panel and adhered it behind the acetate.  I crimped all of the background panels.  I hope you like it!

Acetate Effects #3

I am having a lot of fun with this new technique, acetate effects, that I created today!  Here is the card I made from one of the panels that you will see in the Acetate Effects video!  You can watch the video on my blog or on my YouTube channel!  Hope you like it!

Video: Acetate Effects

Here's my new video on Acetate Effects!  Let me know what you think!  I would love to see what you create using this technique!  Have fun!

Acetate Effects #2

Here's another card using my Acetate Effects technique!  The acetate effects is on top of the pocket silhouette image.  Hope you like it!

New Technique - Acetate Effects

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room: Dream It...Then Do It!

I woke up this morning having had a series of dreams. I won't bore you with the ones about dropping grapefruits and dog walking (yes, bizarre), but the one that was very vivid was putting together some supplies in the craft room that I hadn't ever put together before.  So, when it came to making today's color challenge card on SCS, I decided to try my new technique!  It's not something I have seen anywhere else - although in the craft world I have a feeling someone has done it before - but it involves a combination of ink, crystal effects, acetate and lots of mushing! Next time you have a dream worth pursuing, don't just dream it, do it!

I am really enjoying the light and texture created by this new technique I dreamed of! I can already see more experimenting going on in the craft room...and maybe a video on its way! I hope you like it!!!!

Faux Nesties/Die Cuts

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Habits Are Die Hard!

All of those old Bruce Willis Die Hard movies were fun to watch and part of the fun was that no matter what came at Bruce he kept on going!  I'm in the process of trying to change some habits - habits that I feel aren't assisting me in my creative journey.  One of the things I'm trying to change is how I start my day.  Rather than jump on line and look at the devastation that has taken place in the world over night, I am trying to sit down and write in my journal.  I will get going pretty well for a few days and then, oops, there comes that old habit again!  Today I triumphed - my journal came first...we'll hope for the best tomorrow!

Today's card is for 2 challenges on SCS; the clean and simple challenge - to make a square card, and the new technique challenge - to make faux nesties.  I used my modern label punch to create the "nesties" feel.  I cut out squares of card stock and then placed the punch half-way into the square and punched all 4 sides.  I also used the end of the punch to punch the corners of the confetti card stock.  I hope you like it!

stamps: Elements of Style (coming soon in the Summer mini catalog)
card stock:  Bravo Burgundy, Confetti
ink:  bravo burgundy
accessories:  modern label punch, 1 1/4" and 1 1/2" circle punches, dimensionals

Versamark and Soot

Tonight I decided to try something new!  I had been wanting to try stamping with glossy paper and soot from a candle...and here are the results!  I was pretty pleased since it was my first time...not sure what I was more pleased with...the fact that I like how the card came out, or the fact that I managed to not light anything on fire while I was trying this technique!!!!  I think a video may be in order...as soon as I get all this black soot off my fingers and the craft table!

Four Square Birthday

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Don't Be So Straight!

I had a stamp-a-stack at my house today and one of the cards that we were doing was this one (although we were making it in blue instead of chocolate chip):

 

 The larger photo is what one of the 12-year-old attendees created when she stamped the dot, dot, dot stamp and saw that it was a bit crooked.  I LOVE what she did!!!!  I immediately took a picture and recognized that allowing yourself to not be so straight can yield beautiful results!  (I'm not suggesting we all be a little crooked...just not so straight :)  I hope you like it!

Quilled Flamingo

Today's Lesson From My Make-Shift Craft Room (aka my mom's couch):  Listen To The Sounds Of The Wind And The Rain

It was windy and rainy last night and the windows were cracked open.  I am always awed by the power and majesty of Mother Nature.  From the inside, the sounds were comforting - at times invigorating.  From the outside, I image it was a bit nerve wracking!  Listening to the sounds of nature seems to create a rhythm within me.  It's like my heart starts beating in tune with nature - much like my fingers will start tapping to the beat of music.  Sometimes we need a bit of nature to get ourselves back in tune.

Today's flamingo was a tiny bit more challenging than yesterday's frog :)  I will keep working on my quilling skills...they seem to still be in their infancy :)  At least I've got room to grow :)  Hopefully this little guy will also find his way onto a card...any thoughts on what the sentiment should be????

Quilled Frog

Today's Lesson From A Make-Shift Craft Room:  Grow Where You're Planted

I'm visiting my mom right now and, as always, I seem to whither a bit when I am away from my craft room and the tools for creativity are not at my beck and call.  So, I did what any creative person would do, I went to find some tools to create!!!!  A quick trip to the craft store landed me a Klutz book entitled Twirled Paper that came complete with a book and the tools necessary to make some quilled animals!  yeah!  Sometimes you just need to grow where you're planted...even if you'll be transplanted again soon :)

This little quilled frog came together quite quickly - even though I hadn't quilled for awhile.  Once he finds his way back to the craft room, you and I both know he's going to end up on a card!  I hope you like him :)  Now wherever you are....go and grow! :)

Quick and Simple

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Use The Time That You Have

I didn't think I'd have time to do a card this morning, but I decided rather than fret about the time that I didn't have I should use the time that I did have...which was about 5 minutes!

So here is my 5 minute card!  Popped the heart up on a dimensional - that was the most technical part :)  I hope you like it!

Featured Stamper JovialJudi

The featured stamper on SCS today was my wonderful friend Judi!!!!!  Yeah!!!!!  We were to find inspiration in her amazing work.  I chose this card for my inspiration!  Feel free to check out Judi's amazing talent on her blog - I know you'll be glad you did!

Round Tab Punch Purse

The idea for this card came from a swap I received at least a year ago from Betty Saccocia (thanks Betty!).  I used the sneak peek set, Elements of Style, for stamping the background.  The purse is 1/2 of the round tab punch, which I then coated in tombo mono multi adhesive and chunky silver glitter.  The handle was made from the small oval and oval punches.  I hope you like it!  This one is going to my cousin for her birthday on March 1st!

Monogrammed Stationery

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Create Something For Someone You Love!

I'll be visiting my mom soon and decided I didn't want to go empty-handed.  I've made her a few gifts and this monogrammed stationery is one of them.  It is a wonderful feeling to be able to make something for someone you love!  These cards were quick and easy.  I stamped the "E" from the Lovely Letters stamp set in Always Artichoke.  The Always Artichoke card stock was run through the Big Shot in the Finnial Press embossing folder.  I hope you like it...and I hope my mom does too!

Video: Styrofoam Frosting

Learn how to make this great, economical "frosting" for your cards and paper crafting projects!  Let me know if you have any questions!  Thanks to Holly Young for this wonderful idea!  You can visit her blog here!

Paper Piecing - Lark Inspiration

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Make It Up As You Go Along

I made spinach lasagna for dinner last night.  It's not like me to go "off recipe," but I thought a little spinach might be nice...and maybe some extra cheese...ooh, and throw some additional sauce on top just for the heck of it!  I was very pleased when it came out of the oven and turned out great!  Sometimes we need to make it up as we go along.  Sometimes we will love the result, sometimes we won't, but at least we'll have fun doing it!

Today's inspiration came from this tea towel from Lark.  I paper pieced the tree and then used white embossing powder for the leaves, stars and the grass.  Those adorable owls are from the Love Bandits set - I colored the stamp with a ballet blue marker so that I could hand draw the eyes so they could be looking at each other :)  I hope you like it!

Eyelet Paper Lace

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Sometimes What You Don't Want, Is Exactly What You Need!

I woke up to snow this morning.  I was comfy in the house and was having those cranky "I don't want to go outside and walk the dog in the cold" kind of thoughts.  So I dawdled as much as possible until I finally put on my boots, hat, coat, gloves, ski pants...all the appropriate layers, and out we went.  As the walk went on, I began to feel calm, peaceful...dare I say, "joyous?!"  This walk was just what I needed to start my day off on the right foot (no pun intended) :)  Sometimes what you don't want, is exactly what you need!

Today's limited supply challenge on SCS was to use ribbon and borders.  I broke out the eyelet border punch and punched a piece of very vanilla card stock and then ran that through the crimper about 1 million times...okay, maybe not a million, but a bunch :)  I used a piece of cottage wall designer paper and then cut a small slit on the spine of the card so that I could thread through my satin ribbon.  I hope you like it!

stamps:  Sincere Salutations
card stock:  Very Vanilla, Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry, Cottage Wall designer series paper
ink:  rich razzleberry
accessories:  eyelet border punch, crimper, very vanilla satin 5/8" ribbon

Clean and Simple Congratulations

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Things Happen In Their Own Time

In my post on Tuesday I mentioned that I had a heavy heart.  One of the reasons was a high school friend was losing his father yesterday (although I still believe that you can't really lose someone once you have found them - they will always be in your heart).  His family had made the difficult decision to remove their dad from his ventilator.  The amazing thing, however, is that their dad decided not to wait for them!  They had scheduled the removal of the ventilator at 1:30 p.m., but at 10 a.m. they received a call that their dad wasn't waiting for them.  The family arrived at the hospital between 10:30 and 10:50 and at 10:55 a.m. my friend's father passed.  Things happen in their own time - and sometimes it is quite clear the blessing that brings.

Today's card came together super fast!  The challenge on SCS was to use the color orange.  I used this design for a birthday card and thought it would make a cute congrats card too!  I stamped the dotted background in half-strength pumpkin pie.  The greeting was stamped in full strength pumpkin pie and then I stamped it a second time with ballet blue so that I could cut out the star and pop it up on dimensionals.  Hope you like it!

stamps:  Dot, Dot, Dot; Four Square
card stock:  Whisper White, Apricot Appeal, Ballet Blue
ink:  pumpkin pie, ballet blue
accessories:  1 1/4" square punch, dimensionals

Sneak Peek - Elements Of Style

Tonight's Lesson From The Craft Room:  There Will Be Peace

My heart is heavy this evening.  Tomorrow my brother will say goodbye to his first fur friend, Murphy.  I know it will be a difficult day and a difficult journey from sadness to peace.  A high school friend will also be at a hospital as his father is taken off of a ventilator - I cannot imagine the difficulty the day will bring.  And yet, in all of this, I know that peace will come.  It may be days, weeks, or years, but at some point I am confident there will be peace.

Tonight's card was made for the sketch challenge on SCS and I've included a sneak peek set, Elements of Style, that was given to us at Leadership this year.  It will come out in the May mini catalog!  I felt the sentiment fit perfectly into my life right now.  I stamped one of the background images on the largest layer of very vanilla card stock.  A few of the other images in the set found their way onto the smaller very vanilla panels.  I ran the smaller black panel through the Big Shot with the Finnial Press embossing folder.  I hope you like it and I hope you are at peace.

Paper Pieced Birthday Card

I am playing around in the craft room today - making my final card preparations for this week's stamp-a-stack.  This is a paper-pieced card that will be including in the stamp-a-stack.  So simple and fun to make!  The frosting is my new secret :)  I'll have to make a video to show you how it's done!

Bitty Birthday and Faux Designer Paper

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  It's OK To Not Know

Lately I've been contemplating some of the "big" questions - Why am I here?  What is my purpose?  I keep thinking that a lightening bolt will strike and I'll have all the answers.  As I walked Buddy this morning, my head spinning with the question of why I am here, I realized that it's okay to not have all the answers.  What's important is that I keep asking the question and that I keep searching for the purpose I am here to fulfill.  I hope your journey is going well!

I was very excited by today's color challenge on SCS - pale plum, perfect plum, soft suede and neutrals of your choice - what a great mix of colors that I would never, in a million years, have put together!  I created some "faux" designer paper by stamping the itty bitty background and then the circle on some whisper white card stock.  The cake was stamped on whisper white with black staz-on and then colored in with markers.  I added a bit of glitz on the frosting and also tiny dots of glitz on the "faux" paper.  I hope you like it!

stamps:  Bitty Birthday, Circle Circus, Short & Sweet, Itty Bitty Backgrounds
card stock:  Whisper White, Soft Suede, Pale Plum, Perfect Plum
ink:  black staz-on, perfect plum, pale plum, soft suede, yoyo yellow
accessories:  tag punch, large tag punch, dazzling diamonds, white organza ribbon, scallop border punch

Two-Step Bird Punch Birthday Card

Today's card is a copy I made of a swap I received from Kay Smith at Leadership (Thanks Kay!!!).  I thought this card was just gorgeous and I know my Stamp-A-Stack participants are going to love it!  I just changed a few tiny things (changed the greeting and subtracted a large oval punch).  I hope you like it as much as I do!

Beyond Description!

Tonight's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Some Things Are Beyond Description!

I know you won't believe me, but this card started out with the thought of spring for this week's Clean and Simple challenge on SCS and a blank very vanilla piece of card stock!  Then I added some score lines and a mask over the center of the card and picked up a flower from the Fifth Avenue Floral stamp set.  I stamped the flower in pastel colors - blue, pink, yellow...really, I mean it!  If you look closely enough you may actually be able to detect those flowers :)  And then my body seemed to take over and all heck broke loose in the craft room!  There were sponges, ink pads and stamp sets flying!  I crossed color family boundaries and went through at least 5 stamp sets...so much for clean and simple!  But I figure the design itself is clean and simple - only stamps, paper and ink...is that okay? :)  Some things are just beyond description - I really wish I could tell you how this card came about...all I know is that I went a little nuts and somehow this popped out!  I hope you like it :)

Chickadee Two-Step Bird Punch

I fell in love with this little chickadee that Ann Fitzgerald created with the two-step bird punch!  She even has directions for how to make it on her blog here!  Thanks Ann!  I followed Ann's instructions and added some scoring and a greeting to the very vanilla card.  Hope you like it!

Clean and Simple Masculine Birthday

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Find Your Bliss!

It snowed last night.  Buddy was sooooo excited to go outside!  We went for a beautiful, peaceful walk and then stopped in the park and sat in the snow and watched the neighborhood children sled down the hill.  Well, Buddy watched the children and I watched Buddy.  I could tell this was his perfect place - a beautiful dog lying in the snow watching the distance.  He found his bliss.  I find my bliss when I am in the craft room creating - it's that perfect place - a perfect sense of "rightness."  What's your bliss?  If you're not sure, keep searching - you will definitely know when you find it!

Today's card came together very quickly - it actually came into my mind when I woke up this morning.  I stamped the dot, dot, dot stamp as a background in chocolate chip (I stamped off the chocolate chip once on a piece of scrap paper before stamping onto the card).  The Four Square birthday greeting is also stamped in chocolate chip.  I punched it out with a 1 1/4" square punch and adhered it to a 2"x2" square of chocolate chip card stock.  I popped up the greeting/chocolate chip squares on dimensionals and adhered it to the card.  So simple, yet it packs a graphic punch!  I hope you like it!

stamps:  Four Square, Dot, Dot, Dot
card stock:  Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip
ink:  chocolate chip
accessories:  1 1/4" square punch, dimensionals

Featured Stamper Inspiration

The featured stamper in tonight's featured stamper challenge on SCS was HamiltonGal and I chose this card as my inspiration.  For the challenge we are required to change at least 2 things about the card.  I changed the greeting, ribbon color, type of bow, butterfly color and embellishments. This card was so simple to make - I fell in love with the inspiration piece the minute I saw it! This 2-layer faux bow is really easy to make and it mails easily too. You can check out the video for how to make a single-layer faux bow on an earlier post in my blog or on my YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/mwecksler.  I hope you like the card!  Thanks HamiltonGal!

stamps:  Well Scripted
card stock:  Very Vanilla, Basic Black
ink:  basic black
accessories: beautiful wings embosslit, big shot, scor-it board, 5/8" black satin ribbon, metal gems

Bitty Box Valentine

We have friends coming over for dinner tonight to share Valentine's Day with us.  I thought it would be sweet to prepare a treat for each one of them and the Bitty Box die was the perfect solution!  You can make this little box with just half a sheet of standard 8 1/2 x 11 paper - something that I love about this die since so many of them use odd sizes of paper.  I added a 2x2 square of Sweet Pea designer paper and a few punches (scallop circle, 1 1/4" and 1" circle punches).  The ribbon is our yummy Pretty In Pink satin ribbon.  The cute owl is from the Love Bandits stamp set - I'm in love with this little guy :)  Now I just need to decide what to fill the boxes with...candy hearts, pink M&M's...The bigger challenge will be to not eat what I end up putting inside of them :)  Happy Valentine's Day to you and the ones you love!!!  (P.S.  This box was inspired by a swap I received from Chi Nguyen at Leadership - thanks Chi!!!)

Houses In A Grid

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Say "Hello!"

I walk Buddy every day and I am now making a conscious effort to greet everyone that we pass.  It can be so easy to keep my head down, watch my feet, and just walk by.  What if our "hello" made someone's day?  What if our "hello" was the only sense of connection that person felt all day?  What if our "hello" made us smile inside?  I find that saying "hello" to the people (and furry friends) that I pass, puts a smile on my face.  It also lets someone else know that you acknowledge them.  Hello! :)

Today's inspiration challenge was to find inspiration in the work of Geninne D. Zlatkis.  What a talented woman!  This was my inspiration piece .  I used the Little Shapes set to create the background squares and then stamped the images from Good Neighbors.  I attached a piece of linen thread to the center square by piercing 2 holes and running the thread through.  I hope you like it! :)

stamps:  Good Neighbors (Sale-A-Bration set), Tiny Tags, Little Shapes (retired)
card stock:  Whisper White
ink:  basic black, pumpkin pie, summer sun, creamy caramel, ruby red, cameo coral, so saffron, old olive, garden green, really rust, not quite navy
accessories: linen thread, tiny tag punch

Negative/Positive

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Appreciate The Struggle

I sure had a hard time in the craft room today.  Nothing was coming easily and nothing looked right.  But I kept going...I know there is something to take away from today's struggle - that I need to appreciate it and recognize it is part of the creative process and that I will get through it and have another easy time soon!  Sometimes you just need to appreciate the struggle and recognize it is only temporary.  As my mother has told me, "This too shall pass."

Today's challenge on SCS was to be inspired by the presidents.  Anything from cherry trees to dollars :)  This card was brought about by the thought of change and the idea that each new president believes that they will make a difference - that change will come.  I thought that using the negative/positive image would reflect this theme of change.  I hope you like it!  The flowers were just circle punched pieces of whisper white card stock that I snipped and then "fluffed!"  So easy to make and they add quite a bit of dimension to a card.

So Sweet!

I woke up this morning to a message from my friend, fellow blogger and amazing crafter, Judi!  She had passed along a blog award to me (you can see the cupcake in the left-hand column)!!!!  This is my first blog award ever!  Thank you Judi!!!!!  You can stop by Judi's blog HERE.  I am to list 10 of my favorite things and then share this award with 2 other people.  Here are my favorite things...it's hard to just list 10!

1.  Sharing my life with Michael
2.  Sharing my life with my amazing four-legged family members!
3.  Waking up to such sweet surprises as this morning
4.  Being given the gift of a new day
5.  Have such precious and amazing friends
6.  The opportunity and gift of creativity
7.  Balsamic vinegar from O&C...along with other favorite foods
8.  Watching the birds, squirrels and fox in the backyard
9.  The beauty of nature
10.  The sound of silence

I'll be back later today to let you know who I'm passing the award on to!  Hope you have a sweet day!

Stenciling With Folk Flowers

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Have Fun With Something New!

I had my Folk Flowers stencils still in their packaging - it's been over a month!  So today I decided to open them up for today's SCS challenge - to use an odd number of things.  It was a lot of fun trying something new :)  What "something new" did you try today????

I used my daubers to sponge the stencil with both pretty in pink and soft suede ink.  I spritzed some soft suede with the spritzer tool and then sponged the edge of the very vanilla card stock with soft suede.  I sponged my 1 (odd number) pretty in pink corduroy button with a little soft suede too (seems like nothing is safe from sponging today!).  I adhered the 3 (odd number) pearls.  Finally I stamped my vintage label frame - I actually inked it up with pretty in pink and then used my soft suede sponge dauber to dab a little soft suede so that I would get a variegated look.  I punched it out with the large oval punch and yes, you guessed it, sponged the edges!  Hope you like it!

Rub-Ons and Accessories - A Quick Card!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Sometimes Your Energy Will Find You!

I had an exhausting day yesterday.  I woke up early in a hotel and then proceeded to do 5 iterations of a 90-minute training program, then went to the airport, boarded a plane and flew home.  I'm tired just recounting the day!  Today I had planned to go to the gym and I must admit it was on my "last places I want to go today" list when I woke up!  However, I got in the car and drove myself there and somehow, once I started working out, my energy found me.  I have no idea where that energy came from, but I left the gym after an hour and I felt great (although I seem to be ready to fall asleep now and it's the middle of the afternoon)!  Sometimes you just never know when your energy will find you!

Today's card came together quickly - and no ink or stamping!  I pulled out the rub-ons, the designer paper, the hodgepodge hardware and the pretties kit!  I was the accessory queen :)  Hope you like it!

Companion

Today's Lesson From Far Away From The Craft Room:  Sometimes It Is Nice To Have A Companion

I left Denver and flew to San Diego today for work.  I have to admit it was nice to leave the snow and come to the palm trees :)  So far though, the highlight of my trip was my dining companion this afternoon :)  I stopped at a small Greek cafe to grab some lunch.  The weather was so nice out that I decided to sit outside and this little guy decided that I looked lonely :)  He made himself my dining companion and I have to say we really connected :)  Sometimes it's just nice to have a companion!  It was also great to watch how many people stopped to laugh and smile at the odd couple we were :)  Looking forward to being back in the craft room on Wednesday morning!  Happy creating until then!

Wow!!! I'm So Excited!!!!

I was just about to go to bed and checked my email and WOW!!!!  I just found out that I was one of the winners of the challenge on Shelli's blog!!!  Yippppeeeeeeee!!!!!!  You can check out all the contest winners here!  What amazing news to end my wonderful day!!!!!!  Thank you!!!! :)

Tri-Shutter Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Try A New Technique!

This weekend I've done a bit of exploring.  On Friday night I tried a new chocolate cake technique - baking a mug of chocolate cake in the microwave!  It was crazy and yummy :)  (Here's the link if you want to give it a try)!  I also decided to try a new technique in the craft room: the Tri-Shutter card...here's the result!  This card was a ton of fun to create and really not that complicated at all.  I found the directions at SCS, got out my supplies and went to town!  What do you think?  Here is a picture of the card when it is closed...

I think I need to head back into the craft room to make a second one!  I may even have to put together a video so you can see how easy this card is to make!  Is there a new technique you have tried that you'd like to share?  Please leave me a note in the comments - I'd love to hear about it!

stamps:  Cheep Talk, Happy Everything, Whimsical Words
card stock:  Whisper White, Melon Mambo, Dusty Durango, Crushed Curry, Welcome Neighbor dsp
ink:  Dusty Durango, Melon Mambo, Crushed Curry
accessories: xacto blade, scallop circle punch, 1 1/2", 1 1/4", 1", 1/2" circle punches, dazzling diamonds