Four Ways Friday #56 - Loads Of Love!

Today's Four Ways Friday uses an oldie, but goodie...the Loads of Love stamp set!  I decided to try to use the set simply vs. using the images with loads of layers or embellishments.  I hope you like this simple Four Ways :)

For this first card, I simply stamped the truck onto a Whisper White card base using Jet Black Staz-On.  I then stamped the greeting from Short & Sweet, using Rose Red ink and the stamp-a-ma-jig to keep things lined up!  The next step was the stamp the heart image onto a scrap of Whisper White card stock with Staz-On and then cut it out.  I colored in the hearts using Rose Red, Pink Pirouette and Pretty In Pink markers.  I also stamped the heart images and cut out one heart and colored it with Rose Red marker.  Lastly, I added dazzling diamonds and some crystal effects to the hearts and then adhered them to the truck using glue.

The floral image inspired me to make a flower pot!  Here I stamped the floral image with Jet Black Staz-On on a scrap of Whisper White card stock.  I then colored in the flowers and leaves with markers and added some dazzling diamonds with 2-way glue to give them a bit of sparkle!  I used More Mustard card stock to paper piece a flower pot and adhered it together with glue.  A rectangle of Soft Suede card stock was cut out and the edges sponged with Soft Suede ink.  I then used the paper piercing tool to paper pierce the edges of the rectangle.  The greeting from Teeny Tiny Wishes was stamped with Staz-On using the stamp-a-ma-jig.  The flower pot was the adhered to the panel using dimensionals.  The panel was then adhered to a Whisper White card base and finally a piece of Pretty In Pink taffeta ribbon was knotted around the card.

Card number three is all about stamping on designer series paper.  Here I stamped the truck image onto a piece of retired designer series paper and then cut the image out, removing the window with a hobby blade.  I also stamped the image onto a piece of Whisper White card stock and a piece of Brushed Silver card stock and cut those both out as well (well, actually, I just cut out the brushed silver bumper and hubcaps :)  I then glued all of the pieces down onto the Whisper White card stock truck.  The words "enjoy" and "the" came fro a stamp in the Sweet Season stamp set.  They were stamped onto scraps of Whisper White card stock and cut out.  The letters for "ride" are from the Calendar Alphabet & Numbers stamp set.  They were stamped with Old Olive ink and then punched out with the circle punch from the punch trio set.  I then used my 1/2" circle punch to punch out pieces of Melon Mambo card stock.  The circles were adhered together and then adhered to the card using glue.

The final card also required stamping onto designer series paper (Brights Pattern Stack - Old Olive).  I cut out the part of the truck that I wanted to be striped.  I then stamped the truck onto a Very Vanilla card base using Staz-On.  The designer paper was adhered to the card base with glue.  I used colored pencil to fill in the bumpers, tires and hubcaps.  The woman from Loads of Love Accessories was stamped and colored in using markers.  I then used the stamp-a-ma-jig to line up the greeting and stamped it using Staz-On.  Finally, I stamped the floral image multiple times onto Whisper White card stock, cut them out and colored them with markers.  A dash of Old Olive super nova glitter was added prior to adhered the flowers to the card base.
I hope you've enjoyed this week's Four Ways Friday!  It was fun to use an old favorite and try to keep the cards simple!  I hope you have a wonderfully creative weekend with a bit of relaxation as well!

On Your Birthday Cupcake Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Why is "no" such a difficult word for me?

I seem to struggle with the ability to say "no."  Why is that?  What is my fear?  Disappointing someone?  And what if I do?  In the craft room I have a habit of not saying no - allowing myself to say "yes" to whatever inspiration comes along and I love the freedom of saying "yes" when I create.  However, when I'm not in the craft room - when I am out in the wide wide world, sometimes "yes" can create roadblocks and obstacles to living the life I aspire to live.  So I'm going to give "no" some more practice - allowing myself to set boundaries - all in the interest of ensuring I am taking care of myself and my creative spirit.
Today's card is a simple one - a one stamp wonder :)  I stamped the greeting from On Your Birthday using Staz-on Jet Black ink and the stamp-a-ma-jig.  I then used the paper piercing tool to create a line of holes beside the greeting.  The cupcake was created using a portion of a punched scallop circle.  I coated it with glue and then sprinkled on some faux frosting made from styrofoam (you can see the video for how to make the frosting HERE).  The cupcake wrapper is just a piece of daffodil delight card stock that I cut out and ran through the crimping tool.  The candle was paper pieced and I added a dash of dazzling diamonds to the candle.  The cupcake was then adhered to the Whisper White card base using dimensionals.  I hope you like it! :)

Fabulous Phrases Celebrate Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  It's Instinct!

It's not often that I will walk with Buddy off leash since I am always concerned that he will see a squirrel or fox and take off running after it - paying no never-mind to any traffic that might be in the way.  Although we don't live in a terribly busy neighborhood, there are enough cars to give me pause.  Sometimes though, if it's super early in the morning and a day when people are sleeping in, I will remove the leash and give him the freedom to walk without restraint.  He normally is an incredibly well-trained listener...but there are some things that seem to interfere with his ability to focus on my voice...and one of those things caught his attention on his most recent off-leash time.  There, just feet in front of him, was a bunny rabbit and it was just too much for him to resist.  So although I was giving him the command to stay, he just couldn't help himself and off he went after that bunny!  The bunny's instinct kicked in too and he went bounding away from Buddy!  The bunny was faster than Buddy and was able to slip through a fence by some trees so Buddy came back to me - although he did keep looking around to see if the bunny might venture out again even as I gave him the "bad dog" talk :)  Yes, I put Buddy back on his leash - not willing to risk the possibility that another bunny would cross his path!  Buddy's reaction to those bunnies is instinct and I realize that my reaction to creating is just the same - there is nothing that can stop me!  No matter what the possible barrier - time, place, finances - I will find a way to follow my instinct and create!  It is who I am and I will always honor that part of me :)
Today's card was a clean-up of my craft table!  I adhered scraps of dictionary pages and a scrap of paper fabric using glue and a bit of machine stitching.  I distressed the edges of the Sahara Sand panel with my fingernail and then sponged the edges with Rich Razzleberry ink.  I then used the spritzer tool to spritz some Rich Razzleberry ink on the panel.  The greeting from Fabulous Phrases was stamped with Rich Razzleberry and then punched out with the decorative label punch.  I then sponged and cut the label and adhered it to the card with glue.  I then used the scallop circle punch to punch a piece of Rich Razzleberry card stock.  I broke down the fibers using my bone folder and separated the card stock once it started to curl.  The two layers of scallop circle were adhered to one another with glue and attached to the card.  I then took a subtles designer button and threaded it with a piece of white crochet thread that I had sponged with Rich Razzleberry ink and adhered it to the center of the flower with mini glue dots.  I hope you like it!

Fifth Avenue Floral Birthday Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself, then be crowded on a velvet cushion. -Henry David Thoreau

I smiled when I read this Thoreau quote :)  I imagined myself sitting on a pumpkin in the backyard, watching the birds and the bees zipping around.  So much contentment.  No velvet cushion or crowd of people could come close to providing the sense of comfort I feel when I am in nature.  The same could be true of the feeling of absolute belonging I feel when I sit in the craft room, surrounded by random odds, ends, bits and pieces all bursting with potential - to be transformed through the act of creation.  I love that I don't have to turn my back on nature to be in the craft room - my window looks right out into the garden, inspiring me every time I look up and take notice.  I breathe deeply in this room and in the backyard.  I also love that I can connect with you, here, without needing to travel through crowds and congestion.  Sitting on a pumpkin works just fine for me :)
Today's card began with a piece of Tempting Turquoise card stock.  I stamped the floral image from Fifth Avenue floral using Tempting Turquoise ink onto the card base.  I then stamped the same image onto Whisper White card stock using Jet Black Staz-On ink and cut it out.  Next, I stamped the image multiple times onto a piece of white tissue paper using the Staz-On.  I then cut and tore the images out and glued them on top of the Whisper White cut out - creating multiple layers.  A dab of Crystal Effects was placed in the center of the flower and some random beads were sprinkled on.  I adhered the flower to the card base with glue after using the stamp-a-ma-jig to stamp the greeting from On Your Birthday using basic black ink.  I hope you like it!

Baroque Motifs Thank You Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Sometimes My Creative "Mojo" Likes To Play Hide And Seek!

Do you ever have those days when you try to create and nothing seems to come out well?  I had one of those afternoons on Sunday.  I'm not sure what it was - me, the heat, maybe a misalignment of the planets.  Whatever it was, I just couldn't get my mojo to come out and play!  Rather, whatever I created seemed to be in need of a lot of help!  Some days are just like that.  I did, for a moment, think, "What if my creative mojo doesn't return?!"  But then I reassured myself that it will be back - maybe tomorrow, or the next day...but it will be back.  In the meantime, I will keep creating...just to entice it out of hiding :)
This card is so simple to make and looks really elegant in person!  I stamped this card at my friend Meg's house when we got together a few weeks ago.  We stamped the image from Baroque Motifs in Sahara Sand on Whisper White card stock.  The "family" greeting is from a retired stamp set and the "thank you" is from Tiny Tags.  We used the jewelry tag punch to punch out the "thank you" and then attached it to a knot of Whisper White satin ribbon with a piece of twine.  The card front was then attached to a black card base and we added some adhesive rhinestones for a bit of bling!  I hope you like it!

Four Ways Friday #55 - With All My Heart

This week's Four Ways Friday uses the With All My Heart stamp set.  This is one of those stamp sets that seems to sit on the shelf for me, so I figured it was about time to pull it down and see what I could whip up!

I began simply.  Here I used Night Of Navy ink and stamped it at full and half strength onto Whisper White card stock.  I then punched out the images using the 1 1/4" circle punch.  The circles were then adhered to the 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" card base using dimensionals.  Finally, some rhinestones were added to the centers of the circles.

I was sneaky with this card!  Can you see what I did?  I took a piece of Regal Rose card stock and randomly stamped the larger floral image from the stamp set over and over again, overlapping, using Melon Mambo ink.  I then used my heart punch to punch out the stamped card stock (pretty tricky, huh?!) :)  The small 3 x 3 card was run through the Big Shot with the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder.  The greeting was stamped in Rich Razzleberry and then cut out as a banner.  The Daffodil Delight circle and the heart were adhered with dimensionals and the banner with glue.

I don't know about you, but I can get stuck in color ruts - using the same old favorites again and again.  To get myself out of that rut, I closed my eyes and reached into my card stock scrap box and pulled out two colors:  Old Olive and Tempting Turquoise.  You've gotta love the gift of chance!  I stamped the Old Olive panel with the larger image in Tempting Turquoise ink.  Then I stamped the smaller images onto Whisper White using Tempting Turquoise and Old Olive and cut the larger ones out and punched out the small ones.  The 3/8" twill ribbon was stamped with Tempting Turquoise ink as well.  I then used my Boho Blossoms punch to punch some flowers in Tempting Turquoise and Old Olive as well.  The flowers were added to the card with dimensionals and glue.  The final touch was a dash of dazzling diamonds on the background.

I love using images to create backgrounds and this small image was great for that purpose!  I stamped the image at 1/3 strength using Cherry Cobbler and Early Espresso on Sahara Sand card stock.  I then spritzed the card with the color spritzer tool and my Early Espresso marker and sponged all of the edges with Early Espresso.  I did a touch of machine stitching around the edges with gold metallic thread.  I then stamped the larger floral image at 1/3 strength on a scrap of Sahara Sand card stock.  I spritzed it as well.  I then stamped the "friend" stamp after coloring it with both the Cherry Cobbler and Early Espresso markers.  The piece was punched out with the decorative label punch and then sponged with Early Espresso ink.  I layered this piece on top of a piece of Early Espresso card stock that I had torn and then sewn to the card.  On top of that was a piece of Cherry Cobbler seam binding that I gathered using sticky strip before placing the label on top with dimensionals.  Finally, I added an antique brad with glue dots, after cutting off the prongs with my Craft & Rubber scissors.
I hope you've enjoyed this week's Four Ways Friday and I hope it inspires you to dust off a stamp set that you have a tendency not to use!  I hope you have a peaceful and wonderfully creative weekend!!!!

Vintage Vogue & Curly Cute Congrats Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Scale Back

Wow - talk about a lesson I need to keep relearning!  It can be so easy to add to the piles of stuff - craft stuff, house stuff, pet stuff.  The same can be true with cards.  I can get into a space where I feel like I need to keep adding and adding and adding - layers, embellishments, interest, bling...the list is endless.  So sometimes it is great to just scale back - in life and in your art.  To look at what you can do more simply.  This card is a result of that thought (although you might notice a few rhinestones and a bit of dazzling diamonds...I couldn't help myself!).
I stamped the Vintage Vogue floral line stamp in Chocolate Chip ink onto Naturals Ivory card stock using the stamp-a-ma-jig.  I then used the stamp-a-ma-jig again to center the greeting from Curly Cute over the floral line image. The single flower came next.  I then added just a touch of sparkle with a few rhinestones and a dash of dazzling diamonds.  I know I will continue on my quest to scale back...hopefully this card gets me one step closer!

Fifth Avenue Floral Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Study Something Up Close
We compost and, as a result, we often have little plants that sprout up in the garden that we didn't intentionally plant.  Somehow, in some miraculous way, the seeds from the different things we compost will survive the winter and some will take hold in the soil and grow.  We have been anxiously watching a green stalk grow up in the strawberry bed and had been wondering what in the heck it was!  Sometimes, we will satisfy our curiosity by not disturbing these renegade plants.  Rather, we will wait patiently to see what they are.  Well, look what popped open the other day in our strawberry bed...

What an amazing surprise!!!!!  We think it is some type of sunflower - just not the huge variety...and we have no earthly idea where the seed came from!  It's possible it was from a composted bouquet of flowers at some time during the winter.  It has been an adventure studying it up close - from the time it was just a green sprout in the ground.  It is changing every day - and we are changing each day with it!
Today's card is perfect for this flower - since it will live for awhile in our backyard and then, when it dies, it will find it's way back into the compost pile.  While, this flower will only live once (although we hope some of his seeds will find their way back into the garden next season, he has definitely done living right! :)  The card was made using the Fifth Avenue Floral stamp set.  I stamped the flower using Jet Black Staz-On onto Naturals Ivory card stock.  I then colored in the sections with two different colors of colored pencil.  I then glittered the lighter pink sections using dazzling diamonds.  The darker sections were enhanced with Crystal Effects.  I hope you like it :)

Artistic Etchings & With All My Heart Journal

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  You Don't Have To Reinvent The Wheel

Every time I sit down at the craft table I see the blank card, canvas, project staring back at me.  Sometimes I feel the pressure to be brilliant, brand new, inventive - to create something somehow that has never been done before.  What I am finding, is that sometimes it's nice to reinvent what you have already made - to build upon it or change it - to make it into something new.  This journal was my way of not reinventing the wheel.  I looked at a journal I had made in the past - one that I really liked from a design standpoint - and I decided to remake one using a similar layout, but different stamps and colors.
For this journal I used the Artistic Etchings stamp set for the design elements and the sentiment from With All Your Heart.  I used a combination of Bravo Burgundy and Soft Suede ink and card stock, with some striped Early Espresso ribbon thrown in.  I also did some sewing with metallic gold thread.  Here is how things look on the inside:

I added some beads and a few self-adhesive rhinestones for a bit of bling...and then I mailed the journal off to a very special person :)  Remember, you don't have to reinvent the wheel.  Using pieces that you've created as a launching point for a new project may take you in the exact right direction!

Eraser Stamping Birthday Card & Video!!!!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Go For A Bike Ride!!!!

Did you watch the Tour de France????  Had you asked me that question about 6 years ago I would likely have responded, "The what?!?!"  That all changed about 6 years ago when I happened upon the channel that was broadcasting the bike race and I got hooked!  I'm not sure what it was that drew me in - maybe how the group of bikers (the peloton) moved together like a swarm of bees.  Or maybe it was just all that lycra?  Either way, it captivated me and I have watched every year since!  It is almost impossible to watch the stages of the Tour de France without getting totally motivated to get on a bike and ride!  No, you don't have to go out and buy all the fancy gear or the $12,000 Trek Madone bike (can you imagine?!).  Just dust off whatever bike is leaning up against the wall in your garage and take it for a spin!  It made me feel like a kid again, minus the banana seat and the tassels hanging from the handlebars :)  I am looking forward to taking more journeys on my bike and feeling the wind in my face!  How 'bout you?
Today's card was inspired by the need to make a quick birthday card.  I looked through my stamps and the tree stamp from Season of Friendship called out to me...as did a pencil eraser :)  Pencil erasers are a great addition to your stamp collection!  Here is a video to show you how I made this card - Enjoy!!!

Four Ways Friday #54 - Notably Ornate

This week's Four Ways Friday focuses on using the Notably Ornate stamp set.  I've decided to post the cards from the most simple to the most complex so you can see how you can use this set to build layers and add interest to your cards!

I love images that look beautiful when stamped repeatedly on a card and this bird image is one!  Here I just stamped the bird image multiple times, in full and half strength, onto Whisper White card stock with Marina Mist ink.  The greeting was then stamped using Early Espresso ink.  So simple and so peaceful :)

This second card required stamping and a small bit of cutting.  Here I stamped the parts of the oval image that I wanted by inking those parts of the stamp using a Bravo Burgundy marker.  I centered the image on the Very Vanilla card stock using the stamp-a-ma-jig.  I then stamped the "M" from the Lovely Letters Alphabet onto a scrap piece of Very Vanilla card stock using Bravo Burgundy ink and cut it out with a hobby blade.  The monogram was then popped up on the card using pieces of dimensionals.  Finally I added a self-adhesive rhinestone for some bling.

For this third card I added a few more elements/layers.  Here I began by stamping the ornate line image onto the card base using black ink.  I then used some sticky strip to add the Very Vanilla seam binding ribbon to the left edge.  It is easy to ruffle the ribbon when you use the sticky strip!  I tied the bottom of the ribbon with a small piece of thread.  I then inked up the part of the oval image that I wanted using my black marker and stamped it onto Naturals Ivory card stock.  Using the stamp-a-ma-jig, I then centered the greeting from Just Believe in the center of the oval and stamped using black ink.  The oval was punched out using the extra large oval punch and a tiny rhinestone was added for some sparkle!  This oval was then mounted with dimensionals onto a piece of black card stock that was punched out using the decorative label punch.  This was then added to the card front using glue.

For this final card I added even more layering!  The Pink Pirouette card base was run through the Big Shot with the Framed Tulips embossing folder.  I then die cut a piece of Confetti card stock using the Top Note die.  The ornate lined image was stamped on the Top Note die cut using Early Espresso ink.  The edges were the sponged, also using Early Espresso ink.  Next I stamped the bird, using Early Espresso ink, onto Confetti card stock and cut the bird out with scissors.  The bird was then added to the card using dimensionals.  The oval image was stamped onto a piece of Confetti card stock and punched out with the extra large oval punch.  The edges of the oval were sponged with Early Espresso ink.  The greeting from Teeny Tiny Wishes was stamped in Early Espresso onto Confetti card stock and then punched out with the Modern Label punch.  The edges were sponged and small self-adhesive pearls were added before adhered the greeting to the oval with dimensionals.  A piece of Early Edition designer paper was punched out using the Decorative Label punch and then I sponged the entire piece with Early Espresso ink.  This was added to the card using glue and then the oval was added on top of this piece, also using glue.  Finally, although it is difficult to see in the photo, I added dazzling diamonds to some of the flourishes to give the card some sparkle!
I hope you've enjoyed this week's Four Ways Friday!  I do appreciate your stopping by!  I hope you have a fabulous and very creative weekend!!!!!

Artistic Etchings Catalog Inspiration Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Improvise!

improvise |ˈimprəˌvīz| -  verb [ trans. ] • produce or make (something) from whatever is available.

Today's card is about being able to improvise!  My friend Meg invited me over to do some stamping and to specifically stamp some thank you cards.  She really liked the inspiration card on p.76 of the 2010 Idea Book & Catalog that used the Chic Boutique stamp set.  Neither of us, however, had the Chic Boutique set so we decided to improvise with what we did have!  Sometimes you just have to improvise!
To make this version of the card we combined the flourish stamp from the retired Bliss (SAB) stamp set along with the Eiffel Tower from the Artistic Etchings stamp set.  The greeting was from another retired set called Carte Postale.  The flourish was stamped in Sahara Sand on Whisper White card stock and then cut out.  The Eiffel Tower was stamped using Chocolate Chip, as was the greeting.  We also used Pacific Point textured card stock and designer paper.  We hope you like our improvisation :)

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  My Dreams Are Trying To Tell Me Something...I Just Wish I Could Figure Out What!

There are some people who have the pleasure of having few or no nightmares.  I, unfortunately, am not one of them :(  There are a few recurring themes in my nightmares and the other day one showed up that had me waking up totally stressed out!  The short version is that I was being chased and trying my best to run away and hide and call for help all at the same time.  So now I'm wondering what it is that is chasing me and what is it that I am running from?  Maybe the fear of committing myself fully to a creative life?  Maybe I'm just trying to fit exercise into my sleep on those days where I don't fit it into my waking hours?  Next time the dream/nightmare shows up...and I anticipate it will...I need to stop running and turn around in my nightmare and ask the person why they are chasing me - maybe then I will have my answer.  I will keep you posted!  Hopefully I'll get some good hours of sleep in the meantime!  I wish for restful sleep for you as well :)
Today's card is another simple card that you can make in a matter of minutes.  I stamped the hummingbird from Elements Of Style using Marina Mist and then cut it out (that's the most time-intensive part of this card).  Then I took a strip of First Edition Specialty designer series paper and adhered it to the Whisper White card base using glue.  The "thank you" is from Teeny Tiny Wishes and was stamped in black with the help of the stamp-a-ma-jig.  The bird was then popped up on the card using dimensionals.  I hope you like it!

Artistic Etchings Simply Stamping Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Patience Really Can Be A Choice!

I won't give you all the details - let's just say that I was just trying to reach customer service at a company and ended up being on hold, listening to that lovely "make my mind numb" music for enough time to have birthed a child!  Okay, maybe not that long...but it sure felt like it.  There were a few moments where I was ready to hang up.  A few moments where I was ready to shout profanities at the first human voice I would hear.  And a few moments where I teetered on the edge and chose to just relax and do some computer work while the muzak played in my ear.  I'm glad I chose not to react and rather to sit back and enjoy patience.  I didn't get worked up - I did get some computer work done - and, in the end, I believe my issue will be resolved to my satisfaction (they need to do some work on their end and get back to me tomorrow).  So yes, patience can really be a choice - if you breathe long enough to realize the choice is yours for the taking! :)
Today's card is all about simply stamping...ooh - and a little dazzling diamonds!  You really can make a quick and easy card that packs a punch!  I paired the crown image from Artistic Etchings with the greeting from Bring On The Cake.  Both were stamped with Jet Black Staz-On with a little help from the stamp-a-ma-jig on Whisper White card stock.  I added a touch of dazzling diamonds with a 2-way glue pen.  Can't wait to give this card to someone for their birthday!!!!!  Hope you like it!

Tie-Dye Friends 24-7 Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Watch And Learn

Every once in awhile I'll happen upon a video that inspires me to try a new technique!  That happened on Sunday when I came across this video by a woman named Rachel on YouTube.  She calls the technique the Bandanna Technique due to the use of black stamped images, application of vibrant colors, and the addition of a white gel pen.  To complete this card I used the following stamp sets:  Friends 24-7, En Francais, and Solid Stripes.  I'm not sure I'm 100% pleased with the outcome.  At the same time, I really enjoyed trying something new and getting my fingers inky :)  I may have to practice again!  Watch Rachel's video to learn how to put a card like this together....you might just learn something new and be inspired to give it a try!  Thanks Rachel! :)

A Bit Of A Break

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Take Time Out To Take A Dip!

Look at the unexpected visitor that appeared outside my craft room window the other day!!!!  I'm sure I was the only one that was excited to see this Cooper's hawk - I think the small birds in the yard went to hide!  He started out on the edge of the birdbath, drank a bit of water, and then he decided it was time to walk in and take a bit of a dip!  I've decided to take a bit of a dip myself - to take a time out and dip into my thoughts and allow myself a week to not have any responsibility for posting to this blog.  That's not to say that I definitely will not post (see how hard it is for me to take a time out!?!) - I am just giving myself permission to not show up here for a week if that is what I choose.  I hope that you too will take a time out from visiting the blog for a week and spend those precious moments dipping into your heart or mind or soul and seeing what awaits you!  Enjoy your time out and I look forward to meeting with you again soon....next week...or possibly sooner :)  Enjoy!

Four Ways Friday #53 - Elements Of Style

This week's Four Ways Friday focuses on the gorgeous Elements Of Style stamp set!

Line images lend themselves really well to watercolor painting.  Here I stamped the floral image onto watercolor paper using Jet Black Staz-On ink.  I then used my aqua painter and made a palette using the lids of my Rose Red, Pretty In Pink, Certainly Celery, and Wild Wasabi classic ink pads.  I watercolored the flowers and then added a dash of dazzling diamonds with my 2-way glue pen.  I stamped the greeting from Sincere Salutations using Staz-On as well and then mounted the panel onto a Wild Wasabi card base using glue.

 

Designer paper makes an excellent base for stamping too!  Here I took a piece from the Brights Pattern Stack and stamped the floral image using Chocolate Chip ink.  I then stamped the greeting using the same ink.  Next I stamped the bird onto a small piece of the same designer paper and then cut it out and popped it up on the card front using dimensionals.  The entire panel was then adhered to a Rose Red card base.

I love to create background papers using stamps and ink and this set is great for doing that!  I began with a piece of Sahara Sand card stock and then stamped the curvy line stamp (I'm not sure what to call it!) using Crumb Cake ink.  Then I stamped parts of it again using Chocolate Chip ink.  I added a few adhesive pearls and then sprayed the panel with a mixture of water and Chocolate Chip ink that I keep in a mini spray bottle.  I then distressed the edges of the panel using my fingernail (you can use a distressing tool too).  A piece of Very Vanilla seam binding was tied around the panel and knotted.  I stamped the greeting onto a piece of Naturals Ivory card stock using Chocolate Chip ink and then punched it out with a 1" circle punch.  I distressed the edges with my fingernail and then sponged the edges with Chocolate Chip ink.  I popped the circle up on the panel using dimensionals.  The bird was stamped using Marina Mist onto Very Vanilla card stock, cut out, and then adhered to the panel with dimensionals.  I ran the Sahara Sand card base through the Big Shot with the Framed Tulips embossing folder.  The panel was then adhered to the card base using dimensionals.

This final card is quick and simple!  I began with a Very Vanilla card base and stamped the curvy line image using Sahara Sand and the stamp-a-ma-jig to make a diagonal pattern across the card.  I then added a bit of dazzling diamonds for some sparkle!  The greeting was stamped using Sahara Sand ink on Very Vanilla card stock and punched out with a 1" circle punch.  I added a few adhesive pearls and then popped the circle up on the card with dimensionals.
I hope you've enjoyed this week's Four Ways Friday!  Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you have a weekend filled with love, laughter, and creativity!!!!!!

One Stamp Wonder Thank You Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Just Try It - You May Surprise Yourself!

I remember when my dad got his first computer and I decided I needed to give it a try.  I had no idea what I was doing, but somewhere I saw the command "init" in the book that came with the computer and I decided that would be a fun one to try.  As I just said, I had no idea what I was doing so I entered that command and hit "enter."  Well, what I did without intending to was initialize the disk that was in the drive - ie I wiped out everything that was on it.  Oops!  I didn't make anyone happy that day, but what I did do was get over my fear of computers.  I figured that as long as I didn't enter "init" there really wasn't anything I could do that could get me into big trouble!  It can be very rewarding to approach life in the craft room this same way - to realize that there really isn't a ton of damage you can cause and that if you just give things a try you may just surprise yourself!  Today, without any prior experience with free-motion embroidery, I decided to give it a shot.  No, I didn't create a masterpiece, but I did surprise myself!  I actually started to see what it was like to treat your needle like a writing instrument and began to enjoy the process (even if the product needs a lot more practice!).  So go ahead, whatever it is you've been longing to do in the craft room, just try it!   You may surprise yourself!
I decided to share a One Stamp Wonder card with you today.  The only true stamp I used was from the Thank You Kindly stamp set.  The other areas were created by masking and sponging; inking the edge of an expired gift card and running it across the card stock; and inking up a pencil eraser and using it as a circle stamp.  I did add a touch of sewing on the machine to add some texture, but it really isn't necessary when making this card.  Just the simple designs are enough.  I hope you like it!

Spanish Happy Birthday Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Watch A G-Rated Movie!

Call me silly, but I love a G-rated movie every once in awhile :)  We can get so inundated by sex, violence and horror that it can feel good to kick back and watch something easy.  Okay, I admit it - I watched Ramona and Beezus and I enjoyed it :)  Actually, I loved the message of Beverly Cleary's wonderful character Ramona.  She is a girl with an amazing imagination and she knows who she is, quirks and all.  Oh to be as wise as this 9-year old artist of life!
Today's card was a quick birthday card for a Spanish-speaking friend.  I spelled out the happy birthday sentiment using the Calendar Alphabet & Numbers stamp set plus a marker to add the punctuation.  I used the eyelet border punch to create some interest on the bottom and backed it with Old Olive card stock.  I added a flower I made with my scallop circle punch flower technique.  The leaves are retired Sweet Pea felt embellishments.  I hope you like it! :)

Die Cut Fabric Flowers Collage

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Get A Haircut :)

I am not big on getting haircuts.  I'm not sure why.  Maybe a part of it is feeling like I don't really have a hair "style" and that my hair can just grow and still work for me.  My hair is actually naturally curly and when I am at home I have a tendency to just throw it up in a bun and not worry about it (I am definitely not a walking fashion statement when I am at home and spending time in the craft room!).  When I travel for work my routine is to straighten my hair.  It's almost a part of the "costume" that I put on for my work.  When I'm home I'm in the most comfy clothes I can find (and clothes that I can get paint or ink on and not worry about it).  When I am away and working I put on the "professional" costume - and it feels like my hair needs to change to go with the "mask" of "professional me."  It is also a lot easier to deal with straight hair when I'm on the road since I can straighten it once and then go a few days without washing it and still have it look just fine.  Anyway, I finally reached the point of feeling like I had too many split ends and was just "over" my hair so I finally made my yearly haircut appointment...although I hazard to say it had been quite a bit over a year since my last one...you can imagine the split ends!  Today I am sitting here with shoulder-length curly hair and it feels sooooo good!  The spring is back in my hair and my step :)  Sometimes all it takes is a little haircut to feel refreshed and energized!  Hopefully I won't have to put my costume back on too soon :)
Today's collage is another fabric flower play piece :)  I took fabric, die cut it with the Big Shot, and then "dyed" it using all different colors of ink mixed with water and applied with small spray bottles.  I then combined the fabric flowers with paper flowers, some real twigs and some hand-cut and sewn designer paper leaves.  This collage makes me smile when I look at it :)  I hope you like it! :)

More Of My Collage Journey

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Sometimes I Need To Take A Break From Technology

When I find myself obsessively checking email or cnn.com, the local news or facebook, I KNOW that it is time to take a break from technology.  I get caught in these cycles of mindlessly going through a routine of checking a certain number of sites and I am literally numb while doing it.  It's just habitual and I don't walk away feeling like I've grown or used my time wisely.  So today (Monday), I am taking a technology break.  I am writing this post and the post for Tuesday on Sunday evening as I listen to the far off popping sounds from the 4th of July fireworks in the neighborhood.  Sometimes I just need to take a break from technology and try to find my center again.
Today's collage is a part of my continued journey with creating art that is not in the form of cards.  Here I combined old dictionary pages, paint, gesso, stencils, ribbon, die cut fabric, glitter, found objects.  If you look closely, you can probably identify the Stampin' Up! products (I am still in love with those adorable Sweet Pea felt embellishments :)  I hope my time off from cards is not disturbing for you if you tend to stop by here for card samples.  My hope is that these collages will provide you inspiration - whether that inspiration is how to translate an idea to a card or whether the collage makes you take out a canvas or a wooden board and give collage a try! :)  I hope you are inspired in some way and remember, the beauty is in the process :)

Work In Progress

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  I, Like My Art, Am A Work In Progress!

Four Ways Friday will be back next week.  This week I've been trying to bust through the limits I have set for myself and my art.  Consequently, I have been spending time making art other than cards.  What I am learning through this experience is that I continue to be a work in progress - just like my art making! :)  I am learning to be patient with myself as I play with new and different materials; as I work with new and different shapes and sizes; as I work with a different rhythm and flow.  I have been enjoying the journey - it has taken me out of my comfort zone and into the unknown.  I am not a finished work of art and neither is this piece I am sharing with you today - we both have a long way to go! :)
Today's collage-in-the-making was inspired, once again, by my favorite place on earth - the backyard!  We have blue jays that come to visit almost every day.  They have trained us very well!  When they arrive in the afternoon, they announce their arrival with loud cawing and then wait for us to respond by going outside and bringing them peanuts and seed :)  I love that this gorgeous bird has been able to domesticate us! :)  I began with a primed canvas and added flexible modeling paste using sequin waste as a stencil.  I then added gesso and strips of paper to the background.  Next came some embossed foil that I ran through the Big Shot with the Petals-A-Plenty embossing folder.  I then painted the foil with gesso and sanded it and then snipped it into little strips and added it to the canvas using gel medium.  Next came the addition of the stick.  The flowers were made quite awhile back - I guess they knew better why I was making them!  The minute I looked around the craft room and saw them I knew they were meant to be on this canvas!  The flowers were made with die cut metal and bottle caps colored with alcohol ink.  They were attached to the canvas with gel medium.  The bird began as a laser printed picture of a blue jay.  I cut it out and then covered it with tissue paper and then a coating of gesso.  Next I used acrylic glaze to turn it blue and followed that with some charcoal pencil and black pan pastel to add details and dimension.  He was adhered to a plastic piece and then adhered to the canvas.  I am not sure what I will do next...in my own life or with respect to this piece! :)  It is the unknown that is actually welcoming me - inviting me to play!  I'll share the finished piece with you once it unfolds!  Have a beautiful, creative, fulfilling weekend!!!!!!  (p.s.  Don't forget!  You can start ordering from the new Stampin' Up! catalog today!!!!!  Yeah!!!!!)

'What's Left' Collage Inspired By Charlotte Lyons

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Be Present With What Is Unfolding.  - Merle Rosen

This piece was inspired by an article I read in a free ebook I downloaded from Cloth Paper Scissors.  The article was entitled "What's Left" Collages and featured collages by Charlotte Lyons.  The article was enough to send me running into the craft room to play!  This collage, like the others I am sharing with you this week, was not done in one sitting.  Rather, it has grown over the course of a number of days - sitting within sight on the craft table - and slowly built...little by little...until it reached a point where I felt it had unfolded.  Being present with what is unfolding can feel challenging at times.  Our inner critic pipes up and tries to discourage us.  Our own internal messages around time and productivity can strangle our creative freedom.  Allowing ourselves to leap these tall "buildings" - these obstacles that try to block our creative way - in a single bound is our way to be our own superhero!  Why not try being present with something as it unfolds - you may be surprised at your own super powers!!!! :)
This collage began with an 8"x10" canvas board and grew from there.  I added fluid acrylics, gesso, stenciling, fabric, and all kinds of bits and pieces that were hiding in the craft room!  Bottle caps, die cut letters, rub ons, keys, buttons, fortunes, tiny playing cards, cardboard, beads, designer paper, book pages, ribbon, string - oodles and oodles of fun!  I have a feeling I will be playing around with more of these collages in the future.  I love the challenge of being present and watching what unfolds!  Hope you like it!

Mourning Dove Mixed Media Collage

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Keep Going!  You Can Always Paint Over It!

I am continuing my breaking of limits by working on collage and setting aside cards and most of my Stampin' Up! products for the week.  One of my favorite times of spring is when the mourning doves return to our backyard.  They have been coming back each year.  Sometimes they are fewer in number, sometimes greater.  I love their beautiful cooing sound and the sound made by the beating of their wings as they less-than-gracefully propel themselves into the air :)  This collage was all about honoring these gorgeous birds.
Would you believe this collage started out as a blue-painted canvas?!  Hard to believe, I know.  Yes, I decided I didn't like the color so instead of starting over I just kept on going - kept painting over layers - again and again until something seemed to emerge that I liked.  This is a lesson I continue to learn about art making.  The ability to keep going when the inner critic starts getting loud and obnoxious.  Just keep going!  You can always paint over it!!!!!
What did I use to make this collage?  A better question might be, "What didn't I use?!"  Let's see:  canvas, modeling paste, parchment paper, bird photo, sewing machine, parchment paper (which nothing will stick to!), feathers from walks and the backyard, sticks, beads, clock parts, burlap, paint, marker, charcoal, more paint, painted tissues, gel medium (matte), bubble wrap, sanded styrofoam colored with ink....I think that covers it....although I reserve the right to add more to the list at a later date!  How long did this collage take me?  Hard to say - I had to allow different stages of modeling paste and paint to dry.  I left the canvas on the craft table as I worked on it so that I could keep walking by it and continue to add to it as I was inspired to do so.  I guess it came together over the course of 3 or 4 days.  It's been really enjoyable busting out of my self-proclaimed limitations and now I'm just going to keep going!!!!!

Collaged Mirror

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Let Your Art Go Beyond The Limits You Have Set For It!

One of the struggles that I face as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator is the sense that I need to always be creating cards with the latest and greatest products we sell.  I realize that this is a limit that I have put on myself and I am ready to go beyond this limit!!!!!  So today I am sharing with you a project that uses very few current Stampin' Up! products and a whole lot of other miscellaneous craft and art supplies that I had in the craft room.  What a freeing experience!!!!!!!!  I am contemplating spending the rest of the week focusing on creating art that goes beyond the limits I have set for myself.  This may mean that I won't always be posting finished art pieces for you, since creating beyond my limits means allowing for art projects that don't happen in 10-30 minutes - they may take days or weeks...or, gasp!, even months! :)  What limits can you go beyond in your own art work????
So, what Stampin' Up! products did I use?  You can probably find the Staz-On ink used with the Calendar Alphabet & Numbers stamp set on fabric.  You can also see some old retired SU! sets hidden in there as well (look at the dresses on the angels).  Ooh - do you see the Baroque Motifs stamp?  And then there were all kinds of other art/craft supplies:  chipboard, bottle caps, rhinestones, fabric sprayed with SU! inks, alcohol inks, beads, Crystal Effects, paint, old book pages, a mirror and yes, some SU! card stock.  This mirror is by the back door of the house so that I can see it every time I head outside - a reminder to live in this very moment.  Maybe I need to make a second mirror to remind myself to continue to go beyond the limits I have set for myself in my art making! :)

Broadsheet Alphabet Bookmark

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Pay Attention To Your Natural Rhythm

I have been traveling quite a bit for work in these past few months and I find that when I travel my "pace" seems to be "full speed ahead!"  I am the one who is almost race-walking through the airport once I arrive at home, believing that moving a bit faster will get me home a bit faster...and every second counts when it comes to being home!  I have been home for just over a week now and my body is finally returning to what I believe is my natural rhythm.  When I am at home long enough to decompress I find that the rhythm I enjoy is one of slow contemplation - the ability to sit in the backyard and weed the garden slowly.  Walking the dog at a pace that is recognizable as slow and steady - not hurry and get it done.  I feel so much more at peace when I am attune to my natural rhythm.  I wonder how I can bring this peace to my pace when I travel.  I know it begins with my inner dialogue.  I wonder what I can whisper to myself that will remind me to just "be?"  To let myself flow at my own right pace.  To be respectful of my body and its rhythm.  What is your natural rhythm?  How do you encourage yourself to respect your own pace?

Today's project was one of a number of quick bookmarks that a friend came over to make for a family reunion she was going to over Father's Day.  We used card stock (in this case a combination of brushed silver, whisper white, early espresso and sage shadow- retired).  The white was run through the Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder.  The letters were stamped using the Broadsheet Alphabet and Chocolate Chip ink.  The ribbon was sewn on with the sewing machine.  I hope you like it!

Four Ways Friday #52 - Pennant Parade SNEAK PEEK!

Wow!  It's amazing to think that I have been doing Four Ways Friday for 52 weeks!!!!  That's a big milestone for me!  I hope you've enjoyed Four Ways Friday as much as I have :)  This week's Four Ways is all about the new Pennant Parade stamp set!  I had a ton of fun coming up with ideas for how to use this adorable new set!

The idea for this first card came to me in the shower!  I seem to get ideas when I am totally relaxed - either on my morning walks or in the shower :)  I used one of the pennant stamps to create the "arms" of this star.  I stamped them with Riding Hood Red and Night Of Navy ink and cut them out and then scored them down the middle.  They were adhered to the card with glue.  I made the paper rosette by cutting strips of designer paper 3/4" x 6" each and then scoring them each 1/4" and then gluing the ends together before using hot glue to form the rosette circle.  I adhered the rosette to the card with pop-up glue dots.  A rhinestone brad finishes the center.  The small star stamp from the Pennant Parade set was perfect for this card!  I die cut the "4" using my Simple Numbers dies and the Big Shot.  The July is from the Full Calendar stamp set and the "happy" from Fabulous Phrases.  Finally, I sponged the edges of the Natural Ivory card base with Night of Navy ink.

This second card uses the pennants in a much more "traditional" way.  I stamped the pennant onto Pink Pirouette card stock with Basic Black ink and cut them out (I don't have the pennant punch yet, but I have a feeling I'll be ordering it!).  I then stamped the letters from the Calendar Alphabet & Numbers set in Chocolate Chip ink onto Baja Breeze card stock and punched them out with the 1/2" circle punch.  They were popped up using dimensionals.  The "hello" was stamped in Chocolate Chip and the card stock was cut to make a mini banner.  I adhered the crochet thread to the Natural Ivory card base and then adhered the pennants.  The bunny from Forest Friends was stamped using Chocolate Chip as well and then I used my sewing machine to stitch around the edges of this simple card.

Don't forget that you can cut up the triangle shape of the pennants to make other shapes!  Here I turned a pennant into the bottom of a cupcake and used the scallop circle punch to create the top of the cupcake.  I frosted the cupcake with faux frosting made of styrofoam (you can see my video on how to make this faux frosting HERE).  The background was stamped in Regal Rose using the A to Z stamp.  The "wish big" from the Pennant Parade set was stamped using Tempting Turquoise.

Of course, I couldn't waste the little piece I cut off of the pennant!  I decided it looked like an ice cream cone!  I created the scoop of ice cream using the scallop oval punch and the 3/4" circle punch.  I added sprinkles (tiny "waste" from my small hole punch) and covered them with crystal effects.  The greeting on the decorative label is a combination of two stamps from the Fabulous Phrases stamp set stamped with Melon Mambo.
I hope you've enjoyed this Sneak Peek at this adorable new Pennant Parade stamp set!  Thank you so much for stopping by and celebrating my 52nd Four Ways Friday with me! :)  I hope you have a wonderful and creative weekend!!!!!

Upsy Daisy 3x3 Stenciled Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Be Inspired By The Color That Surrounds You!

I went to the Denver Botanic Gardens today and was awe-struck by how gorgeous nature is!  The colors and textures, the types and varieties - just stunning.  I came home and all I wanted to do was try to replicate the bursts of color that I saw in the gardens.  Here is one scene that inspired me:

I used Melon Mambo, Pear Pizazz, Rich Razzleberry and Old Olive to try to capture some of the color.  I sprayed the Pear Pizazz with mixtures of water and ink and frost white shimmer paint.  I sewed the panel to give it the texture of vines.  I sprayed the vintage stencil using Elegant Eggplant ink mixed with water.  The greeting was created using the ornament punch (I cut the top off of the ornament) and used the greeting from Upsy Daisy stamped with Rich Razzleberry.  I sponged the edges, added some rhinestones and popped it up on the card with dimensionals.  I hope you like it!  Here is another picture from the Gardens - maybe it will inspire you!  Isn't nature AMAZING?!?!

Artistic Etchings Altered CD

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  How About Signing Up For An Art Class?

I took what I consider to be a big step today.  I signed up for a 3-hour workshop on book binding!  I am really excited about it!  Somehow I had myself convinced that I could teach myself all I needed to know by reading books, watching videos, and experimenting.  I guess if that was my only option it would suffice.  However, what I realize I'm missing is the human interaction and the ability to have a teacher with me, watching me along the way, helping me in the moment.  I can't even remember when the last time was that I signed up for a workshop/class.  Now it is something I am committing to.  I'll let you know how it goes!  If it goes well, you will likely see some hand bound books in the not-too-distant future :)  What have you been yearning to learn?  Can you take one small step in that direction?  It might just be doing a search for classes in your area or asking artists in your life if they have taken a class on that subject.  Moving in the direction of your goal will take you closer to it! :)
Today's project is an altered CD.  I actually collect quite a few CDs in my work life.  I do a lot of training and I always have a disk with the presentation on it - just in case something crazy happens with the version on my laptop computer!  After the training concludes, the CD is no longer needed.  So, rather than throw it away, I save it and then give it a makeover! :)  Here I used designer paper with gel medium to cover the entire CD.  I embellished it with some paper flowers I made using my scallop circle punch.  (You can see a video of how to make these flowers HERE).  I heat embossed the Eiffel Tower image from Artistic Etchings using black embossing powder and then mounted it on black card stock and cut it out.  I added a bit of Melon Mambo pom-pom trim.  The letters are a combination of alphabet sets - one current one being the Calendar Alphabet & Numbers stamp set.  I used my crop-o-dile to create a hole at the top of the CD and then added a large eyelet and striped ribbon for hanging.  I hope you like it! :)

O Canada Scrap Rubber and Punch Art Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Use Your Rubber Scraps!!!!!

If you have ever bought Stampin' Up! stamps, you know that they are die cut from a larger sheet of rubber.  They used to not be die cut and you would have to cut them out yourself.  Now the process is a lot simpler - the hard work is done for you :)  There is still left over "scrap" rubber from these die cut sets and I have a habit of saving the scraps.  Why?  Well, do you see the maple leaf image on this card????  I created it using a piece of scrap rubber, a sketch of a maple leaf, my craft & rubber scissors, and a wood block from the craft store!  What can you make from your scraps????

This card won an Honorable Mention in Stampin' Up!s July contest!  I was so excited!!!!!  It is featured on the demonstrator portion of the Stampin' Up! website in the on-line extras for the Stampin' Success magazine.  The theme of the contest was Land That I Love and I made both a U.S. card and a Canada card to submit for the contest.  When I thought about making this card an image of the mounted police immediately came into my head!  Must have been those cartoons I watched as a child :)  I decided there had to be a way to make the Canadian Mountie using punches.  Here is a close up:

I used the round tab punch for his shirt and the ornament punch for his pants :)  His hat is a portion from a modern label punch....his nose is too!  His arms were made from an oval punch.  He was a ton of fun to make!  The background of the Crumb Cake card was stamped with the Wood Grain background stamp.  The letters are from the Timeless Type alphabet run through the Big Shot and then coated with Crystal Effects.  I made the maple leaf from a piece of scrap rubber and then stamped it onto Whisper White card stock, cut it out, and popped it up with dimensionals.  I hope you like it!!!!

America The Beautiful Broadsheet Alphabet Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  It Is Amazing What Can Happen From A Passing Glance!

There are times when you just need to step away from you art.  You get to a place where you are unsure what your next move is.  You hesitate because you just don't know what to do.  It is at these times that I allow myself to walk away and do something else or I turn to another piece of art that I am working on.  I keep the original piece nearby so that I can keep glancing at it.  Sometimes I'll walk out of the craft room and every time I walk by the doorway I will give the art piece a passing glance.  It is these brief glances that keep my subconscious in "create mode."  Then, at a moment when I least expect it, it seems an idea will pop into my head for what the next step is!  Sometimes you just need to step away and then keep glancing.  It is amazing what can happen from a passing glance!
I had submitted this card for a Stampin' Up! contest focusing on the Land That I Love.  It didn't win...although it was a real winner to me :)  Tomorrow I will share the other card I submitted for which I received an Honorable Mention and won a free stamp set!  Yeah!!!!!!  I had a ton of fun making this card and it seems very appropriate as we near the 4th of July.  I masked off the Night Of Navy section and inked it up.  I then used the direct to paper method to create the flag stripes with my Real Red ink pad.  The stars are from the Extreme Elements stamp set and were heat embossed with white embossing powder.  The letters are from the Broadsheet Alphabet stamp set and they were stamped in alternating colors, cut out and then embellished with champagne glass glitter.  I added some twine and a tiny library clip as well :)  I hope you like it!

Happy Father's Day!!!!!

Happy Father's Day to all of the fathers out there!!!!  May your day be sweet and filled with love!!!!!!