A To Z Baby Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  A Lifetime of Possibility Is Waiting For Me!

This past weekend I was once again struck by the fact that it would take multiple lifetimes for me to try to unleash the creative possibility in everything that already exists in my craft room (and the overflow craft storage I have in the basement...and garage...oops!).  If I did not purchase another item, I could keep myself busy with what I have for as long as I live.  That's not to say that I won't want to purchase something else.  It is to say that I really don't need to.  So how long can I go with just utilizing what I have?  That is the true question.  Can I look at everything in my life and think about how I can repurpose it into a piece of art?  As I mentioned yesterday I was very inspired by Daniella Woolf and her use of her shredded journal pages in her art.  It got me thinking about old notebooks I have from my years of education.  Somehow I have never been able to throw them away - they took so much time to put together and represent so many hours of my life.  However, after seeing her video I have begun thinking about ways I might incorporate them into art pieces - this could prove to be interesting! :)  As for my craft purchases, I know that I will allow myself to buy more things.  Saying I won't is not something I am ready to do (yes, it is a bit of an addiction and a way that I "reward" myself for doing some other things in my life that don't create as much pleasure for me).  I do want those purchase decisions to be very conscious choices though.  And I want to make sure I am unleashing some of the creative potential that is waiting for me here at home!!!!
Today's card was created to accompany the sign I made for my new cousin Maxwell :)  I used the soon-to-be retired A to Z background stamp and the "baby" greeting from Tiny Tags.  I used Bashful Blue ink and added some punched brushed silver card stock stars.  The adhesive rhinestones add a touch of shine.  I hope he likes it :)

First Edition Thank You Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Watch A Video Of Someone Enjoying Their Creative Process

I spent part of the weekend watching a video by encaustic artist Daniella Woolf.  Wow!  I was totally inspired!!!!!  I can't wait to start playing with melted wax again - I just need for the weather to be a bit warmer so that I can keep the window open in the craft room to allow for proper ventilation.  Watching her enjoy her own creative process was amazing!  She just went with the flow - going wherever the projects were taking her.  One of the pieces she created was the inspiration for this card.  She used strips of journal pages which I interpreted with strips of First Edition designer series paper.  I die cut a few circles of red mesh with the Circles #2 die and the Big Shot.  I used gel medium to adhere the paper strips and the fabric.  The greeting is from Fabulous Phrases.  If you have seen a video by another artist that has inspired you, please let me know.  The two hours I shared watching Daniella were a pure pleasure!  You can click here to learn more about her and to see some of her work.  If you have the slightest interest in encaustic, I totally recommend her video - Encaustic With A Textile Sensibility!
Just a reminder - today is the last day to order from the Occasions Mini Catalog and also the last day to order from the special Summer Smooches promotion!  Click HERE if there are some items you can't live without :)

Four Ways Friday #86 - Timeless Type Sizzlits

This week's Four Ways Friday is all about using the Timeless Type sizzlits!  I was sad to see that they will be retiring soon.  I have really grown to love them - they are really versatile!

The simplest way to use your sizzlits is to simply die cut card stock or designer series paper with them.  Here I die cut the heart (gotta love that this alphabet sizzlit set comes with hearts, flowers and numbers!) from Attic Boutique designer paper.  I used my sewing machine to stitch around the perimeter of the Very Vanilla card base.  The hearts are popped up on dimensionals and the greeting is from Short & Sweet (very sad to see that this stamp set will be retiring too - it has been a great "go to" set for quick cards).

Once you die cut your letters using the Timeless Type sizzlits, you can have a lot of fun coloring the letters!  Here I sprayed the letters with ink and water and even a bit of Frost White shimmer paint!  I love how they have a bit of a tie-dye look to them.  The little flower is also a part of the set!  all of the letters were adhered down with glue.

Once I started spraying with ink, I couldn't stop!  For this card I took a piece of Whisper White card stock and then just scattered some die cut letters and numbers across the top.  I then sprayed the card stock and let it dry a bit before removing the scattered letters (which I will save for another project).  The greeting is from On Your Birthday and as soon as I know who I am sending this birthday card to, I will use a black marker to fill in the appropriate numbers :)  I decided to do a bit of stitching on this card as well.

 

Don't forget that the pieces of card stock that are left over after you remove to die cut letters can also be used as stencils!  I used these "stencils" with some silver fabric paint to create this baby sign for my new nephew :)

 I stenciled onto canvas and then added some sequins and beads with needle and thread.  The sign itself began as a piece of masonite and I added some batting on top of the masonite before stretching the canvas over it.  I hot-glued the twill tape hanger and then hot glued a piece of fabric across the back to hide all of the edges.

I hope you've enjoyed this week's Four Ways Friday!  I had a lot of fun playing with the Timeless Type sizzlits.  Don't forget, they are only available while supplies last and then will no longer be available in the new catalog.  I hope you have a beautiful, peaceful and incredibly creative weekend!!!!

On Your Birthday Tag Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  50 Minutes Can Take You To Places You've Never Been

We took a drive today to visit one of Michael's friends.  I had never been to this friend's home and Michael encouraged me to join him since he knew I would enjoy the ride and the destination.  He was right!  We drove past Boulder, Colorado and then continued heading into the mountains.  His friend lives in a beautiful canyon area - so peaceful.  We grabbed sandwiches at a grocery store on the way up and once there we sat outside and watched the clouds go by.  We were visited by chipmunks and ground squirrels as well as a variety of birds - stellar jays, woodpeckers, chickadees.  Even a few lizards crept by on the rocks.  It is amazing that just 50 minutes away from our home we could be sitting outside in a place that felt like it was a million miles away - so quiet - so peaceful - so "away."  Where could 50 minutes take you?
For today's card I decided to create a little pocket on the front of the card with my sewing machine.  I had cut the card base with one edge a bit longer than usual so that I could fold it up and sew it down (after running different parts of the front of the card through the Big Shot with a few different embossing folders).  I cut out the tag and then added the greeting from On Your Birthday.  The stars are from Every Little Bit and were filled with 2-way glue and sprinkled with dazzling diamonds.  I used my star punches to create the star embellishment on the cover.  I love these bright colors - I'm really going to miss Pear Pizzazz - it's become a big favorite!  I hope you like it!!!!

Retired Accessories List Is Here!

Click HERE to download the list of retiring accessories.  These accessories are only available while supplies last!

An Amazing Meeting!!!!!

Hi!  My name is Buddha, but folks call me "Boo."  I'm a French Bulldog and I am very docile and lovable.  Guess who I met yesterday?  Well, I went with my dad to our favorite picture framing gallery.  It's called Glen Roc Gallery and it is in Ewing, New Jersey.  When I walked in I met two women who were smiling like crazy people!  Turns out their names were Michelle and Lorraine.  Michelle's aunt owns the Glen Roc Gallery and Michelle was in town for work.  Before flying to New Jersey she decided to go out on a whim and reach out to her blogging friend Lorraine.  She knew Lorraine lived in New Jersey and, it turns out, Lorraine's home was less than an hour away from Ewing.  So, the two decided to meet for the first time at the gallery!!!!  What fun!!!!  From the looks of it they got along amazingly well!  I've seen that look before - it's the same look my dad had on his face when we first met.  That look that says "I know you.  You and I were meant to connect!"  Here's a picture of Michelle and Lorraine outside of the gallery

By the time I left the gallery, they were still smiling and Michelle was about to begin eating some amazing cookies that Lorraine had brought as a gift - and they were wrapped beautifully!  I was sad I couldn't eat some cookies with them, but I have bad allergies and can only eat certain food.  My dad promised to give me something when we got home so I was okay.  I know these two women are going to see each other again - who knows, maybe they'll get to visit together in Denver sometime!  I gotta say I loved seeing these soul sisters meet!  It was the highlight of my day!  Have fun girls!!!
xoxo!
Boo

Out On A Whim Wednesday...Coming Later Today :)

I just got home from another trip and I'm beginning to wonder if I'm going to grow wings with all of this traveling!?! :)  I'm going to go out on a whim today and see what I can find to share with you.  Check back later today to see what I came up with :)

Triple Treat Flower Cards

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you'll most certainly be right.  - Steve Jobs

I came across this quote today and it really spoke to me.  I'm not sure it needs any commentary from me at all.  It says it all, all by itself.
The Triple Treat Flower stamp will be retiring soon so I decided I needed to finally ink it up!  It's kind of sad that some of the stamps that are retiring have never seen ink in my craft room!  I used a combination of Pool Party and Wisteria Wonder ink and brought out my 5-petal flower punch and my 1/2" circle punch.  A few adhesive rhinestones added some bling to the centers.  The greeting is from Loving Thoughts in the Occasions Mini catalog.  Here is another card I created with the same sets - just with Island Indigo and Calypso Coral ink:

It is so simple to use this stamp to put together quick cards with a bold graphic punch!  I hope you like them :)

Young Vermillion Dream Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Cooing Is Such A Sweet Sound

I can hear it outside my window as I am typing this at dusk on Saturday night.  And the sound almost brings me to tears.  It means they are back.  After the winter.  As the backyard is beginning to come into bloom again.  They come back every year - the beautiful mourning doves.  I had been wondering where they were.  I had seem some in the neighborhood - quite a few blocks away and our yard remained empty - waiting.  And today they returned.  It means that Spring is definitely here.  That rebirth is happening.  Cooing is such a sweet sound...
Today's card is a quick and easy note card that I created as part of a set for my aunt.  I used the Young Vermillion stamp along with sentiments from the Loving Thoughts stamp set.  I hope you like it :)

Four Ways Friday #85 - Four Frames Stamp Set

For this week's Four Ways Friday I decided to stamp a bit with the Four Frames stamp set.

The images in the Four Frames stamp set coordinate beautifully with the decorative label punch.  For this card I just stamped one of the Four Frames images multiple times onto a scrap of Whisper White card stock using Concord Crush ink.  I then used Peach Parfait ink and the Lovely Letters Alphabet to stamp the letters in the center of the images.  I punched the images out with the decorative label punch and adhered them to a long thin card made of Wisteria Wonder card stock.  Next I punched some blossoms using the boho blossoms punch and added them to the card.  Finally I punched some leaves from the 2-step bird punch and added adhesive rhinestones to the flower centers.

 Of course, you may just choose to ink up one of the Four Frames images and stamp the image directly on a card base.  Here I stamped the image (actually I only inked up the top and bottom of the image using a Basic Gray marker) onto a Whisper White card base.  I then added some silver smooch accent ink to the image.  The greeting was from Loving Thoughts was stamped onto Very Vanilla card stock and then cut and added to the card.  As a final touch, I used my Simply Scored tool to add some embossed lines across the bottom of the card.

If you don't want a frame image at all, that's no problem!  This stamp set has an adorable bird on one of the frames.  For this card I just inked up the bird with my Early Espresso marker and, with the help of my stamp-a-ma-jig, I stamped the bird three times :)  I then stamped the sentiments from Petite Pairs.  So simple and so cute :)

You can also create beautiful, simple cards with this stamp set by using different marker colors to ink up the images.  Here I used Rose Red and Pear Pizzazz to color in the flower frame.  I stamped the frame onto a Whisper White card base and added some dazzling diamonds (hard to see in the photo) with a 2-way glue pen.  Next I stamped the greeting from Petite Pairs.  I added a piece of crochet trim around the card and finished it with a vintage trinket safety pin.
I hope you've enjoyed this week's Four Ways Friday!!!!  It is wonderful to be back in the craft room again!  When I walked into the craft room this afternoon I was overcome with the thought, "I'm home."  I hope you have a wonderfully peaceful and creative weekend!!!!!

Apothecary Art Wonderful You Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  What Does It Mean To Truly Understand Something

Last week while traveling, I sat next to a man who found me to be a willing audience.  I wasn't really determined to read or put my headphones on, so when he said hello and began to chat with me, I decided to listen.  It was apparent to me that this man and I had different views on a number of different things.  That made me curious about him, so I kept listening.  At one point our conversation (or should I say his conversation...since I did a lot more listening than speaking) turned to the topic of fracking.  If you have never heard of fracking, it is a technique by which substances such as natural gas are removed from rock formations.  This man is a supporter of fracking and went on to describe the technique and the chemicals and steps that are gone through as a part of the extraction process.  When he finished his lesson on fracking I was curious since I know there are a lot of different views on the impact that fracking has on our environment and quite a lot of debate about it.  So I asked him why some people are so against it if, in his view, it is perfectly safe and fine to do.  His response was "they just don't understand."  I found this response curious and I wonder how often we think, feel or say this - that the only reason why someone doesn't agree with us is that they just don't understand and if they just understood it like we do, then, of course, they would agree with us.  I don't believe it is that simple.  As a matter of fact, if this man really wanted to influence my views on fracking, it would have been much more influential if he had been able to present a different perspective as well as his own.  Had he been able to do that it would have demonstrated to me that he truly understood that other perspective and that taking that other perspective into consideration he still felt that it was safe.  If we can't articulate another person's view/perspective as well as or better than our own, do we truly understand the issue?  It's a question I've been pondering a lot lately...
Today's card began with a Very Vanilla card base that I spritzed with champagne shimmer paint and Soft Suede ink.  I then stamped the Apothecary Art image with Soft Suede and cut it out with the Big Shot and one of the Labels Collection Framelits.  I sponged the edges and watercolored the flowers with Rose Red ink and my Aqua Painter.  I added some gold smooch to accent the flower centers and a touch of dazzling diamonds.  The greeting from Loving Thoughts was stamped with a combination of Soft Suede and Rose Red ink.  The flower was made using the faux suede technique with some flowers I had punched with the Blossom Punch.  I then sponged the flower with Soft Suede ink and colored some of the flower edges with gold smooch.  A small piece of crochet trim was added to complete the card.  I hope you like it :)
ps  Four Ways Friday will be posted a bit later in the day tomorrow (or possibly on Saturday morning).  It has been a travel week once again so I am a bit behind :)

Out On A Whim Wednesday: Playing With Retired Stamps

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Just Because It's Retired Doesn't Mean It's Over :)

Retiring stamp sets.  I always have mixed feelings about retiring stamp sets.  As a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, it is no secret that I try to make money by attracting people to exciting and wonderful new products.  Also, as a demonstrator, I am not supposed to use retired product when I host workshops.  The logic makes sense - after all, if you are demonstrating product that people can no longer buy, how is that going to help you build a business?  I realize though, that my Stampin' Up! business is as much if not more about inspiring people to "let their art out" as it is about being a profit-generating enterprise.  Maybe something I do with a retired stamp set will motivate you to dig up some old rubber stamps you have hiding in a closet and actually ink them up or apply some acrylic paint to them and get creative!  I am also a firm advocate of trying to use what you have and resisting the all-too-easy urge to just go out and buy the next best thing - the latest and greatest new item.  So, in this spirit, I am going out on a whim today and sharing a card that a friend commissioned me to make.  He has a friend who recently received tenure at DePauw University and he wanted to send a card to congratulate her.  I asked him what else she likes and when he mentioned that she had a golden doodle dog, this retired stamp set popped into my head (at least it looks pretty close to a golden doodle...don't you think?).  The set was called Bow Wow and the dog house, dog and paw print are just a few of the adorable images in the set.  (I do have to admit to being curious what Stampin' Up! will come up with for us dog-loving stampers...Friends Fur-ever and D is for Dog are both retiring so I'm anticipating they will be offering something to fill the void!  I know, I know...I'm not supposed to get too excited about the latest and greatest :)
I stamped the dog and dog house with Staz-On and did a bit of watercoloring with ink and my aqua painter.  I added a touch of dazzling diamonds to the house and created some grass with a strip of card stock and my paper snips.  The sign was created with the Calendar & Alphabet stamp set (also retiring and another set I am curious about...will there be a small alphabet replacement set????  I use this set ALL the time!).  The greeting is from Curly Cute.  I hope you like it :) While I had the Bow Wow and Curly Cute stamp sets out I also created this cute little thank you note (it is for my wonderful neighbor who drove all the way out to the airport for me to retrieve my laptop that I left at the security check point - how sweet was that!!!!)

On Your Birthday & DSP Birthday Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Say It Simply

When it comes to making cards I often feel like I'm supposed to do something spectacular or complicated.  Somehow I've developed a thought deep in some recess of my mind that tries to tell me that simple is not enough.  As I think about things that impact me in life though, it seems that simple works.  Whether it is saying something simply or building something simple or even focusing on the simple pleasures in life - simple is definitely worth noticing!  I also find myself gravitating back to simple time and time again in my card making.  So for today, and likely for many more days to come, here is simple...
I cut a few strips of In Color designer paper and cut the ends to look like banners.  I adhered them to a rectangle of Island Indigo card stock and then added a few buttons with glue dots.  The greeting from On Your Birthday (a set that will be retiring soon) was stamped and then punched out with the decorative label punch.  The greeting was then popped up on dimensionals and the whole panel was then placed, with dimensionals, onto a Daffodil Delight card base.  It is simple...and says it all :)

Friends Fur-ever Is Retiring...

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  It Just Takes One Action To Begin Again!

With all of my travel lately, my exercise schedule has been less of a schedule and more of a haphazard occurrence.  If you follow my blog, you know that I have been working through the P90X and P90X2 dvds.  I was very disciplined when it came to P90X - a little less so with P90X2 - giving myself a day or two in between workouts.  With travel this past week, that "day or two" turned into 5 days.  It may not sound like a lot, but when you become accustomed to the feeling that exercise provides you really do miss it when you don't do it.  The emotional "high" that I get from a workout, really keeps me in a positive place - a place where I feel like I am taking care of myself and being good to myself.  So yesterday I took action!  I put that dvd into the tv and did my workout!  All of the thoughts of the past 5 days washed away as I jumped and stretched and squatted and lunged.  It really does just take one action to begin again.  Why not take that action right now?
If you are a Stampin' Up! fan, you know that the new catalog transition is a very exciting time!!!!  This year it is happening even early, since Stampin' Up! is changing the timing of the new catalog.  The new catalog will begin on June 1st this year!  In preparation for that transition, Stampin' Up! just released the retiring stamp set list yesterday.  You can download a copy by clicking HERE.  The lists for retiring accessories and Definitely Decorative items will be available April 25th.  It is always a happy and sad time for me when I see the list of retiring items.  Inevitably, some of my favorites are going away to make room for new and exciting designs.  I was sad to see the Friends Fur-ever stamp set on the list - it has really turned into one of my most favorite stamp sets!!!!  So, as an ode to the set I decided to make this little birthday card.  The birthday greeting is from On Your Birthday which is also retiring.  I created the background paper by stamping with the bottom of a tin can :)  I hope you like it :)  If you have any questions regarding retiring stamps or the catalog transition, please don't hesitate to place a question in the comments section and I will respond to your question in my blog!  To order retiring stamp sets, feel free to shop with me HERE.

Retiring Stamp Sets 2012

The list is out!!!!  Here is the list of stamp sets that will be retiring from the current catalog.  These sets will no longer available after May 31, 2012 and are currently available while supplies last.  Click HERE to order today!!!!  Click HERE to download a PDF version of the list.

Admiring The Grass...

Yes, that's how I'm feeling right now.  I just want to sit in a field and remain motionless.  I traveled again this week - an eventful trip of having a not-so-fun TSA security experience (do they really have to be that thorough when they frisk you?!) and leaving my laptop at the security checkpoint and not realizing it until I was in Houston (yes, I had a bit of a breakdown when I made that discovery).  I am very happy to say that I am safe and sound back in my home and I am typing this post on my laptop (thanks to an angel of a neighbor - she actually got into her car and drove out to the airport for me when I called her from Houston in a bit of a hysteria).  I have learned many lessons this week - the biggest one being a lesson that I posted earlier this week (the Universe has quite a funny sense of humor) - to trust my intuition.  A little voice inside my head said, "laptop" before I boarded my plane, but I chose to ignore it.  I hope I am one step closer to truly learning to listen when that voice tries to tell me something and maybe this experience is one I needed to get me closer to that trust.  Anyway, all of this is to say that I am sorry I did not post something creative yesterday and I am equally sorry that there will be no Four Ways Friday today.  I just didn't have my creative energy engaged today...hopefully it will find its way back to me over the weekend!!!!!!  A day in the craft room would definitely do me some good :)  In the meantime I will just lie here and admire the blades of grass...

Out On A Whim Wednesday: A Tale Of A Tree

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  I Am A Sensitive One

I arrived home last Thursday exhausted and spent.  My plan was to begin my Friday morning with a long walk in nature with Buddy and then to just sit in the backyard to relax and watch the garden grow - listening to the birds and squirrels as they flew and climbed on feeders and bird baths.  I always carry my cell phone with me on my walks - just in case of an emergency.  So, when my cell phone rang, I chose not to answer it.  However, once we were headed back toward home I saw that I had a message and I decided to listen to it.  It was our neighbor calling to tell me that she found out at the last minute that the tree service was coming that morning and would be cutting down the blue spruce between our homes.  This story may require a bit more background, but maybe it is just enough for me to say that I am a sensitive one when it comes to nature and animals.  Sensitive might even be a weak word for how deeply I feel for nature.  I know that the tree was close to their house and had grown into a very large tree that lived over their roof - it had been there for over 50 years.  I also know that blue spruce can be messy - dropping cones and sap into the gutters.  I also know it was a perfectly good tree - a tree that provided shade and shelter.  A tree that the squirrels loved to scurry up and the crows liked to fly to.  To say that my heart broke when I heard her message would be a bit of an understatement.  By the time I made it to our driveway, the chain saws were already in full working mode and the limbs began to drop.  I cried.  I watched for a bit - until I wasn't able to watch any more.  And I went into the house and tried not to focus on the sound of the chain saws.  I wasn't headed outside to the backyard - I was trying to stay inside - what I really needed was a small dark cave to hide inside.  By the afternoon, it was over.  This is a picture of what was left in the spot where that majestic tree had stood.  It looks so small and meaningless in this photo - oh that I had the ability to put my feeling into that photo.  Hopefully you can see the rings of this tree's life and imagine the presence that it had.  I pass by this site every time I walk down our driveway - which is often.  I know that trees have a lifespan - I'm just saddened that it was human intervention that had to interfere with the life of this tree.  And yet I am reminded once again that where there is an ending there is also a beginning.  With Spring comes new growth and new promise.  And in our yard, the peas are making their way up out of the ground in a barrel made from wood that came from a tree that may have once stood as proudly as that beautiful blue spruce...

Mirror Image Stamping With Freezer Paper - A Video!!!!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Learn To Trust Your Intuition

I was chatting with a few of the participants in one of my training classes the other day and one of the women was talking about how many strawberries her young son eats.  She usually buys a very large carton of the organic berries at one of the warehouse stores in her neighborhood and he can go through 2 cartons in a week!  That's a lot of berries!  Lately though, the store has stopped carrying organic berries and instead has been selling conventional ones.  She said she was concerned about it since her son eats so many.  She didn't know whether or not the pesticides could have a negative effect on her young son.  So, she decided to call her pediatrician and ask her advice.  The pediatrician's response was, "I have two young children and I feed them conventional berries."  So, the woman bought the berries.  During our conversation, there was a guy in the class who was listening in and he interjected that he does everything he can to buy organic or to grow his own fruits and veggies in his backyard.  He said that while his job requires him to use and trust a lot of numbers and data, he has also learned that numbers and data can be used to support almost any conclusion!  Therefore, he's decided he needs to trust his intuition more when it comes to making decisions in his life.  For him, the choice between whether to consume food that has been treated with pesticides v. food that has not is not about numbers and data - it is about intuition.  For him, pesticides and eating just don't seem to go together.  I happen to agree.  I do my best to find organic options and we do our best to grow what we can in our own backyard so we can have control over how it is grown.  In a world full of numbers, data, and research remember, you have your intuition.  You just need to trust it.
I'm not sure if you've ever run into this issue, but there are times when I just wish my stamps faced the other way!  Maybe I want to take a bird stamp and have the bird facing to the left...but unfortunately the stamp only stamps the bird facing to the right.  Well, today I decided to put my mind to trying to solve the problem and I came up with a "fix" that works for me!  I was able to stamp the wings for the heart in the above card in both directions with a bit of intuition and some help from freezer paper :)  Here is a video to show you how:

Scallop Circle Punch Cloud Background Card & Video!!!!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  To appreciate it, all we have to do is notice it. - Henry Shukman

I wonder sometimes how much beauty I actually miss in this world when I walk around with anger or stress or worry or hurry.  In order to appreciate what is around me, all I have to do is to notice it.  It seems much easier said than done.  How can I keep myself in a space where I am alert to noticing what is around me?  I seem to keep coming back to the same lesson - one that I might spend the rest of my life trying to learn.  The answer seems to be that in order to be able to notice and to appreciate the beauty around us we need to be able to stay in the present moment.  To be fully present - without distraction.  I sat in the park the other day with Buddy and let my mind clear.  I sat there and listened to my breath - sitting there in the park - tuning out what was around me.  I guess it was my own form of meditation and it seemed to keep me in the here and now.  Sometimes when I walk with Buddy I'll actually close my eyes with his leash in my hand and see how long I can let Buddy lead me without opening my eyes.  I usually don't make it far - maybe 12 steps - before I begin to worry that I might walk into a wall or a rock.  However, for those 12 steps, I am very present and very in the exact moment.  How do you practice staying in the present?  Any and all advice is welcome :)
Today's card is for a woman I have actually never met.  I learned through my friend Lorraine that Lauri recently lost her fur-friend Chansey.  There is something so special about the love of a dog - it is something that I feel blessed to experience with Buddy.  Chansey was a Westie, so the Friends Fur-ever stamp set was perfect.  I decided to create a card to send to Lauri with Chansey with his angel's wings and a sentiment that expresses how the love we feel with our animals is a love that lasts forever & always.  I hope it brings her a moment of comfort as she experiences her loss.  I felt that a cloud background would be perfect for the card, so I set out to create one using the scallop circle punch.  Here is a video to show you how I created the background:

Furry Folk Welcome Sign

I am taking a break from Four Ways Friday today.  I just got back from a trip last night and I am officially exhausted.  So today I am going to enjoy a leisurely day and hopefully a lot of time outdoors since the past 24 hours were mostly spent in airports, on airplanes, in hotels and meeting rooms.  I need some fresh air and sun!!!!! :)
I wanted to share a quick project.  This is a welcome sign that I created using a piece of masonite and some very thin cork sheeting.  I adhered the cork to the masonite and then grabbed some twigs from the backyard and adhered them as a frame and hanger using hot glue.  I stamped and embossed animals from Furry Folk, cut them out and adhered them to the sign using hot glue.  Next, I heat embossed a sheet of card stock after stamping it with the Woodgrain background stamp.  I then die cut the pieces using the Timeless Type sizzlits and the Big Shot.  I had submitted this sign to a magazine in the hopes of getting it published, but since it wasn't accepted I decided to share it with you :)  I hope you like it!  I also hope you have a wonderful weekend!  If you are celebrating Passover, Good Friday or Easter, I hope you have a beautiful holiday filled with love!!!!

Papercrafter's Library April Design Team Projects - Part 3

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  You Don't Need A Ticket To Win Your Own Lottery Every Day!

I don't know about you, but I have to confess that I got caught up in the Mega Millions lottery drawing last week.  For those of you that don't know, here in the United States there was a lottery prize that was up to $640 million!!!!  It became a huge news story and it had people lining up to buy lottery tickets all over the U.S.  And yes, although it is a very rare occasion for me to play the lottery, I made an exception.  No, we didn't win...we actually only matched 1 number.  But what I realized is that I had won my own lottery without even knowing it!  I woke up on Saturday morning and it was a gorgeous day!  The birds were singing, the dog smiling, the flowers blooming.  Yes, I was absolutely a winner...and I didn't need a ticket to win my own special lottery :)
Today I wanted to share the last two projects I created for April for Papercrafter's Library as a Design Team member.  First is this tri-fold card using the Attic Boutique designer series paper and the Rue De Fleur stamp set.  Here is a look at the inside:

After making the card I was inspired to make a small Thank You gift box.  I took out my Fancy Favor die and the Big Shot and went to work!  Here is what I came up with:

I hope you like the card and the box and I hope you wake up tomorrow and realize that, once again, you have won your own personal lottery :)

Out On A Whim Wednesday: Bok Choy Stamped Roses & Video!!!!!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  I Love Your Comments!!!!

I have to say that I don't believe today's project and video would have been created if it weren't for a comment posted to my blog last week by Lorraine!  Last Wednesday I had posted a picture of a bowl that sits in our second sink.  We use the bowl to collect vegetable peelings, coffee grounds and other "waste" that we then take outside and place in our compost bin.  I was commenting on how gorgeous the ends of the bok choy looked as they stared up at me from the compost bowl.  Lorraine's comments was "I bet you could stamp a beautiful rose out of that bok choy."  I decided to take her up on her idea and this project and video are the result!  Thank you so much Lorraine for taking the time to comment on my blog!  I know I can always count on you and Doris to leave me inspiring and motivating comments - not to mention the comments feel like great big virtual hugs...and I love it!!!! :)  Thank you!!!!
Here is a video to show you how I turned Lorraine's idea into reality!  I hope it inspires you too!!!!

Papercrafter's Library April Design Team Projects - Part 2

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Find Inspiration And Insight In The Words Of Others

I have been enjoying a wonderful book about the life of Georgia O'Keeffe entitled Portrait Of An Artist by Laurie Lisle.  I stopped in my tracks (figuratively of course...I was not walking and reading at the same time) when I came across a quote by O'Keeffe.  She was talking about all the things she did in her life, in addition to her painting - you know, the daily things like taking the dog to the vet, spending a day with a friend, doing the shopping for your home.  She then said, "The painting is like a thread that runs through all the reasons for all the other things that make one's life."  For her, her art was the thing that kept her going - kept her doing those things that she didn't really want to do, but felt she needed to do in order to be able to live the painting life that she wanted to lead.  And yes, that stopped me dead in my tracks.  Because it resonated with me - it gave me insight into my own life.  The feeling that everything I do I do to enable me to have time to create and explore the art that lives inside of me.
Today I am sharing the second project I created for Papercrafter's Library for my April Design Team projects.  Since I am so inspired by the words of other women, I decided to make a mini book out of altered CDs to capture some of those words that inspire me.  Here is the inside of the book:

What words inspire you?  How might you incorporate them into your next creation?

Papercrafter's Library April Design Team Projects - Part 1

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Sometimes You Need To Be Reminded

I went for my morning walk with Buddy the other day and when a woman passed us jogging, she said, "Good morning!  Bless you!"  It immediately put a smile on my face since it served as a reminder that I truly am blessed.  The reminders didn't stop there.  Buddy and I turned the corner and came upon a man who was holding his little dog in his arms.  The man smiled at us and said, "This is the life, isn't it?!"  Yes!  It definitely is!  To be able to walk my dog on a gorgeous morning and appreciate the crisp air and the huge blue sky.  To be able to use my two legs to walk unencumbered.  To be able to breathe freely and notice the buds on the branches and the early Spring flowers.  Yes, sometimes you need to be reminded how blessed you truly are.  This is your reminder :)
Today I am sharing my first April Design Team project that I created for Papercrafter's Library!  (Can you believe it's already April?!).  I was asked to play around with the Attic Boutique suite in the Occasions Mini catalog to create my April projects.  It's funny...I don't think I would have intuitively chosen that selection of products to purchase (I'm not sure why - they just didn't initially trigger my creative juices).  But since I was asked to create using the Suite, I decided to dive right in!  I was surprised to find that I actually grew to love the products I worked with!  The Attic Boutique paper, the Side Notes, the Rue De Fleur stamp set...I am loving them all right now :)  Funny how that can happen with a touch of creativity :)  Here I upcycled a CD to create this Home Sweet Home door hanging.  I punched through the CD with my crop-a-dile to add a whole bunch of ribbon.  The large paper doily is also the perfect size for a CD!  Who knew?!  I have a feeling I'm going to be making quite a few upcycled CD projects in the near future ;)  I hope you like it!

Summer Smooches Promotion Begins Today!

The Summer Smooches promotion begins today and runs through April 30, 2012.  Some of the products in the Summer Smooches suite will once again be available when the new 2012-2013 catalog is released.  Some of the products, like those adorable fabric brads, will only be available through April 30th.  Click HERE to order today!

125495	Bright Blossoms Wood-Mount Set	$16.95
125497	Bright Blossoms Clear-Mount Set	$12.95
125409	Summer Smooches Designer Paper	$10.95
125583	Daffodil Delight 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon	$10.95
125411	Summer Smooches  Fabric	$9.95
125589	Summer Smooches Fabric Brads*	$6.95
125626	Summer Smooches Décor Stencil*	$7.95
125606	Petite Purse Bigz L Die	$32.95
129919	Summer Smooches Photobook Template	$17.95
129601	Summer Smooches Digital Kit	$9.95

*the Summer Smooches Fabric Brads and the Decor Stencil will only be available through April 30th and will NOT be available in the new 2012-2013 catalog.

Four Ways Friday #84: Decorative Label Punch

F'or this week's Four Ways Friday I decided to play with the Decorative Label Punch!  This punch is one of my all-time favorites and it was fun to discover a few new ways to use it!  Enjoy!

I began with a traditional use for the punch.  I stamped images from Rue Des Fleur and Established Elegance onto Baja Breeze card stock using VersaMark and then heat embossed with vanilla scented embossing powder (yum!).  I then punched it out using the decorative label punch.  I also punched another label out of Naturals Ivory card stock and used it to create a layer underneath the first punch (you can see how I did this in the video below).  I used VersaMark, Crumb Cake ink and vanilla scented embossing powder to stamp the Young Vermilion bird and then cut him out.  I punched a bunch of Crumb Cake 1" circles and glued them to the Crumb Cake card base.  Next I tied a piece of Baja Breeze seam binding around the card and added the stamped pieces using dimensionals.

You can use your decorative label punch to create great brackets for your cards and scrapbook pages!  Here is a video to show you how I created the brackets with the punch!

Spring is definitely in the air here in Denver, so I decided I had to make a card with flowers!  For this card I punched out a decorative label from Pool Party card stock.  Next I cut it in half and then ran the half through the Big Shot with the Elegant Lines embossing folder.  I stamped the sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes onto the Whisper White card base and then added the "vase" with dimensionals.  Next I punched a bunch of branches/leaves using my 2-step bird punch and adhered them to the card using glue.  Finally, I punched some Melon Mambo flowers using my Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack and adhered them to the card with glue.  Adhesive pearls were added for the flower centers.

My final card was inspired by this card by fellow SU! demonstrator Lisa Young (thanks Lisa!).  I made quite a few modifications, but the idea to use the decorative label punch to make little train cars was put in my head after seeing her card!  I punched the labels from designer series paper and then cut them down to train car size :)  I added 1/2" circles with brads as the wheels.  The animals are all from Furry Folk.  It's hard to believe that Sale-a-Bration ends tomorrow!  If you haven't gotten ahold of the Outlined Occasions stamp set (the set I used for the sentiments on this card), now is your last chance!  You can get this set for free through March 31st with a $50 product purchase.  Click HERE to shop now!
I hope you've enjoyed this week's Four Ways Friday!!!!  I hope these ideas inspire you to play around with your Decorative Label punch to see what you can come up with!!!!  Wishing you a wonderfully creative and peaceful weekend!!!!

Flirtatious Designer Fabric Bookmark

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Quality Makes A Difference

Have you ever bought matches at a store?  We keep matches around the house for emergencies, to light candles, and also to mask unpleasant odors in the air (a pack of matches can always be found in the bathroom...that might be too much information to be sharing :)  Anyway, I had bought our last matches on a trip to the dollar store.  For $1 I got two large boxes of kitchen matches.  I thought that was a pretty great deal...until I started trying to light them!  They would not "catch" when I tried to light them.  Most of the time, the match would just break in half!  I thought maybe it was me - I mean I haven't spent a lot of time working on my match striking technique.  But after weeks of trying, the outcome was no different.  So, on a recent trip to another store - not of the "dollar" variety - we decided to splurge and actually paid almost $3 for two boxes of matches that were the same size as the ones we had gotten at the dollar store.  The matches, however, were a different brand.  These were by Diamond.  Well let me tell you, it was definitely not my technique!!!!!  These matches are outstanding!!!!!  The minute I strike them they light!  It doesn't even take much pressure!  And I have yet to break a match in half!!!!!  Did you ever think someone could be so happy about matches?!?!  Well, I am!  And when I think about the price, I realize that the "expensive" matches really aren't costing more because I have wasted so many of the cheap ones just trying to get them to light (not to mention my frustration!).  So this consumer has learned, yet again, that quality really does make a difference! :)
Speaking of quality, have you tried Stampin' Up!s Whisper White card stock?  If not, I strongly encourage you to give it a try!  I LOVE it...and believe me, I went through a lot of different card stock before recognizing that quality makes a huge difference in my cards and paper craft projects!  (I love our other card stock as well, but I have a particular special love for Whisper White and Very Vanilla - they are so smooth!!!)
Have you gotten your free Flirtatious designer fabric yet?????  Sale-a-bration ends on at the end of March so there are just a few more days to take advantage of getting a free item with every $50 product purchase you make!  I used my free Flirtatious designer fabric to create this fabric bookmark.  I began by stamping the greeting from Loving Thoughts using Staz-On ink onto Whisper White satin ribbon.  I machine-sewed the greeting to the front of the bookmark and then hand-sewed the buttons.  Next came the Pear Pizzazz pleated satin ribbon.  Once all the sewing was done on the front of the bookmark, I sewed the back piece of fabric to the front piece of fabric.  Next came the crop-a-dile to add some large eyelets.  Finally I added some fabric strips to the eyelet and frayed the edges of the ribbon!  I hope you like it :)

Out On A Whim Wednesday: Compost Collage

Today's Question From The Craft Room:  Where Is The Beauty Around You?

We have a double sink in the kitchen.  In the left-hand side of the sink we keep a stainless steel bowl.  Whenever we have vegetable scrapings, coffee grounds, tea bags, even used napkins, they find their way into the stainless steel bowl.  It is our compost bowl.  Every day we walk the bowl out to the backyard and place the contents into one of our compost bins.  We began composting a few years ago and now it is one of my favorite things!  To watch what would have otherwise been put in a garbage can and eventually into a landfill actually turn into rich dark earth is an amazing thing!  Every year in the Spring we use our amazingly rich compost dirt to add soil to our vegetable garden and the process begins all over again.  It really is the circle of life...right in our own backyard!
On this particular day, as I went to grab the compost bowl out of the sink, the contents struck me as being amazingly beautiful!  I had to grab my camera and take a picture of the collage that was staring up at me!  Yes, you are looking at my compost bowl - coffee grounds, the base of bok choy, water and all :)  And what I see is beauty :)  Where is the beauty around you?
If you're interested, here is a quick video of what the compost looks like after it has been left to sit over the winter months...

Blossom Punch "Love" Altered CD

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room: You Can't "Win" Unless You Are Willing To Enter
Today's project is one that I sent in to Stampin' Up! for one of the monthly contests in the Stampin' Success magazine.  I am always a bit jittery about sending my creations out there into the world to be "judged."  I have sent in submissions to this contest a number of times.  One time I received an honorable mention (and a free stamp set!) and another time, after not hearing anything, I actually saw my creation on one of the boards at the yearly convention (it was a nice surprise!).  I also have a bit of a hard time entering this contest because, unlike some of the other magazine contests where you only have to send in photos of your creations to determine if you then need to send in the actual item, for this one you need to actually send the item in to enter (and sometimes I get a bit attached to the things I create :)  So, with my reluctance and with a lot of love, I sent this creation in.  It did not win anything...other than my knowing that I tried.  I have to say that "I tried" is a reward in and of itself.  You can't "win" unless you are willing to enter.  I may not have won the recognition or the 3 stamp sets that come with winning this contest.  What I did "win" is the knowledge that I'm willing to take risks.  The knowledge that I am willing to let go, even when it's not easy.  The knowledge that I put myself out there and was willing to see what would happen.  Now if I can take those lessons into the rest of my life I know a lot of personal growth will happen!!!!!
I love altering CDs.  In the job that I do I often have CDs to store back-up presentations (just in case my computer gets stolen/damaged when I travel).  After the event, the CD is no longer of use to me...at least not for work outside of the craft room! :)  I love to cover CDs with designer series paper and embellishments to create door hangings, wall hangings, mini books...the sky is the limit!  Here I used Flirtatious designer series paper and my blossom punch to create a bouquet of flowers for both the front and back of this CD.  I used the crop-a-dile to add an eyelet at the top of the CD so that I could thread my striped ribbon through.  The paper doily adds a bit more interest to the CD.  The letters were stamped and embossed using the Lovely Letters Alphabet, Melon Mambo ink, VersaMark and clear embossing powder.

I hope you like it...and if you don't, that's okay...this piece has given me the lessons that I need :)

Top Note Bunny Box

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  A Change Is Gonna Do You Good!

It felt great to take a break from blogging last week!  And it is also good to be back :)  I haven't yet made up my mind about how I want to change my blogging habit, but I know I do want to change it and have it not feel like such a "must do."  I may move to blogging 2 to 3 times per week.  As soon as I figure out which days I'll be blogging and which days I'll be taking "off," I'll let you know :)  Of course, if you have a preference or some thoughts about what you would like to see, I would love to hear from you!  I haven't made up my mind yet and your thoughts would definitely be part of my consideration!!!!!  What would you prefer to see?  2 times a week?  3 times a week?  What days work best for you?  I would love your feedback!  Whatever we decide, I definitely know, a change is gonna do me good :)
A friend came over last week and wanted to make some Easter gift boxes for her nieces and nephews.  I didn't have anything planned in advance, but I knew she loved the top note boxes we had made for Halloween last year.  So, we jumped on the computer and googled "top note bunny" and "top note rabbit," and the ideas came pouring in!  A lot of times I like to do things from "scratch," without looking at other ideas, but this time since we had a limited amount of time to get her boxes done, we decided to look for inspiration from our fellow crafters.  And needles to say, they definitely delivered!!!!!  There are a TON of ideas out there!!!  We particularly liked the bunny that Dee had put together (thanks for the inspiration Dee!).  We made some changes to the bunny - adding pipe cleaner whiskers and a pom-pom tail as well as a greeting from Teeny Tiny Wishes.  Here is a side view of the box that we created (I'm not sure how others have made the box, but we found this to work perfectly.  You may be wondering why the inside box is black...they were leftover boxes from my Halloween Treat workshop!!!! :)

Here is the photo of what happens when you leave two bunny boxes alone in the craft room: