Altered Journal

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  The Tension Doesn't Help You Progress
I have been enjoying swimming lately.  I have taken some private lessons and now I participate in a group swim session when I am in town.  This week while I was swimming my coach offered me a piece of advice, "Relax your hands.  You can move through the water just as effectively if you just relax."  I hadn't even realized how tightly I was cupping my hands as I swam, pulling through the water.  When I relaxed my hands I became aware of how much of that tension hadn't stopped with my hands.  Holding my hands so tightly had caused me to tense my shoulders and my arms.  It felt so freeing to just let it all relax.  Such a simple piece of advice with such a huge impact.  The same is true with our art.  Our tension of not knowing how to start or what to make or whether or not it will be good enough can hold us back.  Relax the tension and allow yourself to progress.
I seem to be developing a habit of stopping in a store called Mosaic at the Denver Airport when I travel for work.  The habit is to purchase some type of creative book - my gift to myself for going on the road :)  On my last trip I purchased the book Creative Awakenings by Sheri Gaynor.  I'm not through the entire book yet, but I was intrigued by a project she shares at the beginning of the book - a Book of Dreams journal.  What I was most intrigued by were the instructions for how to alter the spiral bound book.  Lucky for me I often come across free spiral-bound notebooks that are presented to participants at conferences.  Books that would otherwise be thrown away if there are more books than participants.  How fortuitous that on the same trip that I bought the book, I was also able to pick up a blank journal!  Or maybe not fortuitous at all...just the Universe working its magic :)  So I decided to try altering the journal and here is the result!  I'm quite pleased with it for my first try - a mix of painting, alcohol inks, metal embossing, trial and error and fun :)  Now the only question is what will I fill it with????

We Have A Winner!

Thank you to Doris and Cindy for leaving comments on my project over at Craft Project Central!  Doris, you are the winner for the free subscription to the month of September!  Congratulations!!!!  I will be reaching out to you directly to provide more information on how to claim your prize!  Cindy, feel free to head on over the Craft Project Central and join in the Sketch Challenge for this month for another chance to win.  You can also visit my blog again next month for a chance to win a free subscription to the month of October!  Thanks for participating!!!!!

Best of Halloween Treats by Regina Andari

Soon it will be time to create treats for those special little goblins in your life and, surely, one of these will suffice.  You might just need a festive card or a small test tube, but the decked out bag or box in this ensemble will hold plenty of goodies!  You’ll love the fact that any or all of these festive packages will leave you with plenty of time to select the perfect treats to put in them!  These adorable treats were created by Regina Andari.  You can find out more about Regina on her blog HERE!  To get full instructions for these great treats, head on over to Craft Project Central and subscribe to the month of September! 

Mixed Media Stitched Square

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  At Least I Try

Today I am sharing a mixed media stitched square that I created for a reader challenge in Cloth Paper Scissors magazine.  It is the second thing I've submitted to the magazine and I'm still trying to one day see one of my pieces of art in the magazine.  I'm not sure why I have set getting published in that magazine as a goal, but somewhere along the line I thought it would be kind of cool since I've been reading the magazine for years.  When the finalists for this challenge were posted on Monday, I was disappointed that my name was not on the list.  It is disappointing when you put your heart and soul into a piece of art and it doesn't get the recognition that you would like.  I imagine this is a tiny insight into what some amazing artists have experienced - not being able to really reach or communicate to others what you are trying to express.  Yes, just a very small taste of that experience.  And, I could let it get me down...BUT I'M NOT GOING TO! :)  I figure I can reach out and share it with all of you (or one of you...depending on who ends up reading this post :)  And, I can at least take comfort in knowing that at least I try.  At least I am trying to express what is inside of me and put it out there in the hopes that it will touch someone else.

This project began with a photo of a dahlia that was growing in our backyard this year.  I then took the photo and created a hand-cut stencil from it.  I used photosensitive paints and sun printed the muslin fabric.  Next, I used the same stencil as a template to cut dictionary definitions that focused on the idea of growth.  The pieces were adhered to the fabric and then I machine stitched, hand stitched, beaded and added pencil lines before adding backing fabric and sewed it all together.  I put a lot of love into it and I hope you can feel that :)  I hope in some way this piece helps you grow as it did me.

L'Chayim Bar Mitzvah Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  I Need A Community
The group at the park.  Our neighbors.  My friends that I've met from far and wide on the internet.  What I realize is that I need a community - the ability to feel a part of something greater than myself.  I do enjoy my alone time - probably more than the average person.  I seem to be most at home in the quiet, surrounded by nature and the amazing creatures that are sharing their lives with me.  And yet, even in the midst of my greatest peace, I recognize the need to connect with others.  As Colorado deals with the incredible flooding that has befallen the state in the past week, I am also amazed at the power of community - the ability of people to work together to get through whatever they encounter.  Yes, I need a community.
Today's card was in response to a request to make a Bar Mitzvah card.  I turned to a great stand-by retired stamp set, L'Chayim, to create the card.  The torah image was stamped onto Pacific Point card stock with VersaMark and then heat embossed using silver embossing powder.  The sentiment was stamped using Pacific Point ink onto Whisper White card stock.  The card was created by layering Pacific Point, Smoky Slate and Whisper White.  Did you notice the Square Lattice embossing folder that I used to emboss the background piece of Pacific Point card stock?  I love the added texture! :)  I hope you like it! :)

Halloween Party Ensemble by Amanda Corbet

This spooky Halloween Party Ensemble was created by Amanda Corbet.  You can find out more about Amanda on her blog HERE!  Get ready for a spooky Halloween party with this fun set! Complete with invitation, food labels for your treats table, party favor bag, luminary, and a decorated jar full of treats. You will be all set to surprise and scare your guests! Also, you’ll learn fun new ways to use the Card Base Pop’n Cuts die to make these projects!  To get full instructions for this fun project, head on over to Craft Project Central and subscribe to the month of September!  Or, you still have time to head on over the Craft Project Central and comment on my Book Worm Set Project from earlier this month to be entered for a chance to win a free subscription to the month of September!

We Are OK

Thanks to those of you who have reached out to ask if we are doing okay with all of the flooding in Colorado.  We are doing fine, although there are many people here who aren't as fortunate. Please send your thoughts and prayers their way!  Buddy has been quite soggy for the past few days!

Patchwork Denim Bookmark

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Sometimes In The Process Of Cleaning You Find Yourself Creating!
I admit that my favorite activity in the craft room is not cleaning.  I am, however, learning to rethink this since I am finding that cleaning often leads me to creating.  That was the case with this bookmark.  You may remember the hot pads that I shared with you last week?  Well, there were quite a few scraps of denim fabric scattered around the craft room and I finally decided it was time to clean them up.  So I got down on the floor (yes, that is where the scraps were - I had set up my fabric cutting station in one little area on the floor) and I started to pile up the scraps.  Well, as I was piling them I began to notice how pretty they all seemed to look together.  Then I came across some errant threads that had been pulled from the edge of one of the denim pieces.  I balled up the thread and wondered, "Can I use fusible web to adhere this clump together and then adhere it to another piece of fabric?"  All it took was the one question and those scraps looking so pretty together and the cleaning stopped and the creating began!  Here is the result - actually the result was two-fold.  The bookmark is now being used in the latest novel I am reading and the scraps are off the floor due to the creative session :)  Sometimes in the process of cleaning you find yourself creating!  I hope you have a wonderfully creative weekend!  For those of you celebrating the holiday of Yom Kippur, I wish you a safe and easy fast!  May you be inscribed and sealed in the Book of Life for a wonderful New Year!

Give Thanks Wreath by Lauri Ingram

Fall is in the air and this Give Thanks Wreath created by Lauri Ingram is a wonderful way to bring in the season!  You can learn more about Lauri on her blog HERE!  This wreath is fun to make, uses re-cycled materials and can be customized to any color scheme!  Highlighting the wonderful Sweater Weather Designer Series Paper, it is a mix of naturals, subtle and bright colors, perfect for the autumn season.  Want all the instructions for how to make this great project?  If so, head on over to Craft Project Central and subscribe to the month of September!  Or, to win a FREE subscription to the month of September, you can head on over to Craft Project Central and post a comment on my project for the month - the Book Worm Set.  Comments can be made through September 18th and I will choose the winner on September 19th!

Signs Inspired By Lisa Engelbrecht

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Everyday Is A Good Day For A Walk
I was walking with Buddy the other morning and we passed by a gentleman carrying a ladder in a driveway.  We said good morning and he replied, "Great day for a walk, isn't it?!"  We responded that it was and as we kept walking I began to think about how every day is really a good day for a walk!  Each and every day brings it's own light, it's own temperature, it's own scent, it's own discoveries.  Hopefully I will remember this on those days when it is below zero and the snow is coming down in blankets!  At least I have a little while to prepare myself :)  Yes, everyday is a good day for a walk!
Today I wanted to share a few signs with you.  A project by Lisa Engelbrecht in the book Art Saves inspired me to create these signs.  Playing with paint, ink, colored pencils and wire was a lot of fun!  One of these signs went to my niece when I surprised her on her birthday :)  The other one was made for a friend who is dealing with rectal cancer.  She is doing amazingly well and is almost through her chemotherapy.  Please send loving and healing thoughts her way!

Creating Pretty Cards - Sketch Challenge #27

Fall is creeping into the air here...cooler mornings, a few leaves beginning to get hints of color.  So, I decided it was time to make a Halloween card :)  This card is for the Creating Pretty Cards - Sketch Challenge #27 over at Craft Project Central.  For every ten cards submitted to the challenge, Craft Project Central, will pick one winner of a free month subscription on Craft Project Central!  The winner(s) will get to select the month of their choice! So take a chance, head on over to Craft Project Central to participate in this month's challenge!
I used the Halloween Hello and Tags 4 You stamp sets to create the card.  Some Witches' Brew washi tape and the honeycomb embossing folder add some interest.  I hope you like it!

Too Kind Card Box and Post-It Note Holder by Laurie Zoellmer

This soft and sweet Too Kind Card Box and Post it Note Holder was created by Laurie Zoellmer for Craft Project Central!  You can learn more about Laurie at her blog www.stampingnut.blogspot.com! 
This darling card box will easily hold 4-6 cards and envelopes.   The card box and coordinating Post it Note Holder make a beautiful set for any desk.  Make several sets to give as gifts this coming holiday season!  This project is also a fun class or camp project!  You can find out all the details by becoming a subscriber to the month of September over at Craft Project Central!

Satellite Coral Reef at Denver Art Museum!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  The hands and eyes can serve as guides to developing the human mind. - The Institute For Figuring
Earlier this week I went to visit the Denver Art Museum!  As usual, I was overwhelmed by the creativity and visual stimulation!  I can visit a museum for about 2-3 hours before I feel like I need to walk away and come back another time because I am "full up!"  One thing I saw that really intrigued me was a satellite Crochet Coral Reef made my artists and visitors to the Denver Art Museum!  The Crochet Coral Reef (CCR) is a project by the Institute For Figuring, a non-profit Los Angeles based organization that pioneers creative new methods for engaging the public about scientific and environmental issues by putting people and communities at the core.  The CCR is one of the largest participatory science + art projects in the world!!!!  Thought you would enjoy a few pictures of some of what I saw while viewing the satellite reef!  Incredible!!!!!  It's amazing what the hands and eyes can do to develop the human mind!!!!  I hope you have a phenomenal weekend!  Happy New Year/Shana Tova to those of you celebrating the Jewish New Year!

Happy New Year! Shana Tova!!!!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  "To us art is an adventure into an unknown world, which can be explored only by those willing to take the risks."  - Mark Rothko and Adolph Gottlieb
To those of you celebrating the Jewish New Year, I wish you a healthy, happy, peaceful, prosperous and creative New Year!!!!  To create my Jewish New Year greetings for this year I decided to take a risk and have an adventure into an unknown world!  Instead of making cards I decided to make postcards.  I began with the idea of carving a stamp with the Hebrew words meaning Happy New Year!  I had some stamp carving materials and tools on-hand and for those of you wanting to explore carving your own stamps, Stampin' Up! has a great new kit called "Undefined" that comes with everything you need!!!!  Here is the stamp I created:

Next I cut watercolor paper to postcard size and stamped each one with the stamp and Jet Black Staz-On ink.  I then took out some liquid watercolors and began to have a ton of fun!  After the pieces dried I added some metallic pen, colored pencil and glimmer sprays.  I sprayed each one with fixative to give the postcards a bit of protection for any moisture they may encounter on their way to their final destinations!  Here are pictures of the rest of the postcards I made!  I hope you like them!

Teacher Appreciation Flowers and Frame by Buffy Cooper

This beautiful Teacher Appreciation Flowers and Frame was created by Buffy Cooper for Craft Project Central for the month of September.  You can find out more about Buffy on her blog HERE!
With this project you can send flowers to a teacher that will last all year!  Create an adorable vase and floral bouquet with a coordinating frame for a class photo, and let those teachers know how much you appreciate them!  Find out all the details and instructions for this project by becoming a subscriber to the month of September at Craft Project Central!

Hot Pad Redux :)

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  If At First You Don't Succeed...Try, Try, Again!
Yesterday I shared my first hot pad attempt and a few of the many lessons I learned in the doing of it.  Today I am sharing attempt #2!  I used hand-dyed fabric again and this time I used two layers of batting and sewed around all of the corners!  You can teach an old dog new tricks!!!! :)  I played a bit with my free-motion stitching - definitely a work in progress!  I am, however, much happier with the result!  Yes, if at first you don't succeed...try, try, again!!!!!

Hand Dyed Fabric Hot Pad

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  There Is So Much To Be Learned By Doing
It started with trying to cut a 7"x7" square of my fabric.  Somehow it kept coming out wrong...and then I realized that I was lining things up on my cutting board at the 1" mark and not at the 0" mark!  Lesson learned!  I also should have cut the batting smaller than the full square so that the edges didn't get so bulky.  Or maybe I should have put 2 layers of batting on the inside before sewing the pieces together - that would have made it thicker.  Oh, and when it comes to having to turn something inside out after sewing it?  It might be best not to do your turning at a corner, but rather to finish all the corners and leave the space to turn the piece inside out along a straight edge.  This was my first hand dyed and machine/hand sewn hot pad.  It was intended as a gift for a friend's birthday dinner.  I didn't want to go empty handed and the usual bottle of wine didn't seem personal enough.  So instead I gave some love and creativity a try.  And I learned.  I learned so much that I decided I needed to give it another shot.  I did.  I will share the result with you tomorrow :)  Hopefully she will benefit from my love, creativity, and lessons learned :)  There really is so much to be learned by doing.

Witches Brew Halloween Home Decor by Julie Beltramo

It's September and that means it's time for a new month full of projects at Craft Project Central!  Today I am sharing this Witches Brew Halloween Home Decor created by Julie Beltramo.  You can learn more about Julie and her project here!  This trio of canvases makes for a fun and festive wall hanging for the upcoming Halloween happenings! It’s a great project to make for your own Halloween décor.  But don’t forget to make a second one, along with the coordinating card, and give it as a gift!  You can get full instructions for this project and the other September Craft Project Central projects I will be sharing this month by subscribing as a member for the month of September!  Click here to learn more!

Altered Sweet Tin Project for Paper Crafter's Library

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Take The Ordinary And Make It Extraordinary!
Today's project started out as an empty can of water chestnuts :)  I created this project, along with videos and written instructions for Paper Crafter's Library and wanted to share it with all of you!  It's easy to go from trash to treasure with a little imagination and a bit of work!  Some Modern Medley designer series paper, a few clay roses, a bit of crochet trim and a touch of stamping took this poor ordinary empty can out of the recycle bin and onto the coffee table.  I can imagine filling it with little sweet treats :)  If you want access to the full instructions and videos, check out becoming a member of Paper Crafter's Library where you will have access to tons of Paper crafting techniques and tutorials!  I hope you have an amazingly creative and peaceful weekend!  Try taking the ordinary and make it extraordinary!!!!!

Embossed Clay Wedding Cake Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Don't wait.  It may be days, weeks, or even months before you can set aside a long block of uninterrupted time for creativity, so don't put off your art-making waiting for one.  - Jenny Doh interviewing Karen Michel in the book Art Saves
This is one of those lessons I really need to pay attention to.  I frequently tell myself that I could be much more creative if I only had a week, a month or a year free and clear to create art.  All this does is discourage me from taking the moments that I do have and putting them to good art-making use!!!!  So now I am working on using what I have - whether it is 5 minutes, a few hours or a few days!  I am becoming more comfortable with "works in progress" - willing to start a project, walk away, and then continue to come back to it.  The Wabi-Sabi Workshop book that I am still enjoying has helped a lot because quite a few of the techniques involve glazing liquid.  If you don't allow enough drying time and try to march ahead to the next layer, you end up with mud!  So I am learning patience and putting my 5 minutes of art-making time to good use!
Today's card was inspired by some pieces of Simply Pressed clay that I embossed.  They were sitting on my craft table and all of a sudden they looked like wedding cake to me!  It is so easy to cut dried pieces/sheets of Simply Pressed clay so I just turned the pieces over, drew a shape in pencil on the back of the clay pieces and cut the pieces out with my paper snips!  So simple!  Making the cake was a lot of fun!  Adding some molded clay flowers and leaves made the cake even more elegant.  Hmmm, I better end this post, I'm staring to salivate!!!!! :)  The cake stand was paper-pieced with hand cut and altered punched brushed silver card stock.  The sentiment is from Petite Pairs.  I hope you like it!

Embossing Clay Easter Card

No, you're not seeing things.  Those are Easter eggs!  I know, I know, Easter is months away.  But I couldn't help myself!  I was playing around with embossing Simply Pressed clay and the idea of creating decorated Easter eggs just couldn't be avoided.  I figured I would share the card with you now because maybe it will inspire you to start your Easter cards early or to take the idea and run with it!  Maybe you'll make embossed candy corn or jack-o-lanterns (hmmm, why didn't I think of that sooner?).  Anyway, I hope you enjoy the card even if it is "off-season" :)  Maybe today's lesson is to do whatever it is you want to do, even if other's might think it's "off-season!"  Hmmm...maybe I'll wear white shoes in December.... :)

Stamped Simply Pressed Clay Thank U Tag

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Sometimes It Takes A Bold Step
Getting on a plane.  With all of my work travel, getting on a plane is often the last thing I want to do.  And, there are times, when it takes a bold step to do what you feel you need to do.  I have a friend who has been dealing with an illness for almost the past year.  It took her awhile to share her news with me and I am so grateful she finally felt comfortable to confide in me and allow me to add my prayers and positive energy toward helping her feel better!  The minute she told me, I told her I would be getting on a plane to come and see her beautiful face!  It's funny how the last thing you want to do becomes the exact thing you want to do when the situation changes!  I am really looking forward to spending time with her and being a part of her healing journey.  Sometimes it takes a bold step!
Today's tag incorporates a stamped Simply Pressed clay embellishment that I created using an image from the Pennant Parade stamp set.  I started with a piece of Soft Sky card stock and cut it into a tag shape.  The little bee from Postage Collection was stamped multiple times with Basic Black ink.  I sponged the edges with Soft Suede ink.  Next I adhered a piece of Basic Black card stock before adding a touch of ribbon and the clay embellishment.  I hope you like it :)

Stamped Simply Pressed Clay Fish Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Reach Out And Let Someone Know You Appreciate Them
I am happy to report that my willpower seems to be working and I haven't checked CNN, People or the local news since I last wrote that I was going to do my best to stop wasting precious moments with senseless surfing :)  In case you are worried that I have my head in the sand, it seems that any piece of news I need to know is brought to me in some other way.  It's been wonderful triumphing over this addiction and one of the nicest benefits is that the time I was spending senselessly surfing is now being put to much better use.  Yes, I have been using some of those moments to create and I have been using some of the moments to appreciate what I experience.  I wrote Serena Barton an email after being so inspired by her book Wabi-Sabi Workshop.  I wrote the corporate offices of Salata to let them know how much I appreciated the amazing service provided to me by their employee Nicholas in their Ft. Worth location (and I let Nicholas know I was going to send the note).  I emailed my swimming coach to let her know how much I appreciate all she puts into our lessons and how motivated I am as a result.  And, I have sat in the park with Buddy - not in a rush to do anything else - and we have just appreciate our time together and the activity of the squirrels in the park :)  One lesson I am learning as I try to beat this addiction is the power of reaching out and letting someone know you appreciate them.  The energy you get back when you take the time to do this is incredible!  I highly recommend it! :)  Psst...for those of you reading this...I appreciate you!!!!  Thank you so much for your comments and your support!!!! :)
Today's card resulting from my experimenting with stamping into Simply Pressed Clay.  I've been playing around with stamping, coloring and combining to create embellishments for my cards.  This fish was stamped, the background colored and then I added a cut out stamped fish face (yes, those are grid lines that you are seeing - I just cut up an image that I stamped off onto grid paper).  The fish face was then glued to the clay embellishment.  I'll be sharing a few more of my experiment results with you this week and if you want to be able to watch videos on the techniques I'm sharing this week (Stamping Simply Pressed Clay, Embossing Simply Pressed Clay, Coloring Simply Pressed Clay, and a few others), head on over to Paper Crafter's Library and look into subscribing!  I am a Designer/Educator for them and continue to add videos, projects and step-by-step directions to their amazing papercrafting library!

Reinker Glaze Art Journal Page Inspired by Serena Barton

On one of my recent trips through the Denver airport, I stopped in a shop on concourse B called Mosaic.  The shop carries art created by many different artists - jewelry, pottery, glass - and they also have a section in the back with books.  Since I had time before my flight, I started looking through the books and came upon one called Wabi-sabi Art Workshop by Serena Barton.  I was immediately attracted to the title since the Wabi-sabi philosophy was something I had recently been investigating.  It didn't take long to decide that I was going to purchase the book and take it with me on my trip!  I am still only half-way through the book and I am bursting with inspiration and motivation!!!!!!  In the book, Serena presents a wonderful technique of combining glazing fluid with reinkers to create beautiful landscapes.  As soon as I got home this week, I decided to give it a try in my art journal!  It started out slow, but I followed her step-by-step instructions and improvised a bit and this was the result!  I am sooooooo happy with how it turned out and I can't wait to begin work on a canvas or panel that I can hang in the house!  Thank you Serena for the amazing inspiration!  You can check out Serena's blog HERE!  And for those of you fortunate enough to be going to Art and Soul in Portland in September, I wish I could join you!  Serena will be teaching a few classes that I would LOVE to take!!!!!  And maybe one day I will because after all...if you put your mind to it, anything is possible!!!!!  Have a wonderful and creative weekend!

By The Tide Mini Notecard

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Sometimes It Takes Extreme Measures!
I have to confess that part of what has driven the lack of daily posting has been my travel schedule of late.  I'm hoping to get back on a regular posting schedule - I just couldn't make it happen yesterday!  We'll see if I can finish out this week strong and get back to normal by next week! :)  Anyway, I was on the plane and wondering about what, other than my travel, was getting in my way of creating every day and guess what reared its ugly head again?  The darn internet!!!!!  Yes, I have fallen victim once again to the senseless compulsive checking of sites like CNN, local news, People - what has happened to me????  The iPhone has not helped since all it takes is the tapping of a few buttons and I'm at it again!  So on the plane (without the distraction of technology), I began to consider what measures I might take to rescue myself from this time-sucking habit!  I came up with an extreme measure that actually got me excited...Parental Controls!  Maybe I could block these sites on my desktop, my laptop and my iPhone!!!!  That would be AWESOME!  Then, I wouldn't be able to visit and, in the event of an emergency I could access the news by inputting the parental control code.  I was laughing at myself for how ridiculous this extreme measure sounded.  At the same time, it seemed like it would work for me.  So, when I arrived home, I went to work to find out how I could do it (since I had never set up parental controls before).  Well, it's not so easy...because your "child" has to have a separate account without administrator access and, if I followed instructions other than the parental control option, it looked like it would be much too complex to try to access the sites if I ever needed to.  So much for extreme measures!  So now I am back to the most powerful weapon I have...willpower!!!!!!!  I have made it through almost one full day as I am typing this and yes, I am proud!  I'll take it one day at a time and hopefully I can break the senseless habit and get back to what matters - creating art!!!!!!
Today's mini-card was a ton of fun to make and it definitely went through its awkward stage!  I started out with Marina Mist ink and an aqua painter and painted some ink onto the card base.  Then I stamped the script stamp from By The Tide with Marina Mist ink and yes, I stamped it before the other ink was dry, so the ink dissolved and ran....but it looks beachy to me!  Next came Soft Suede ink and the coral stamp and then restamping the same stamp using Tangerine Tango.  Some Crystal Effects was added to the bottom of the card so that I could adhere some play sand.  Once that was dry, I used the aqua painter with some Crumb Cake ink to add a bit of color to the sand.  The shell was stamped on Sahara Sand card stock with Wisteria Wonder ink.  I used the blender pen with a few different colors of ink to add a bit of dimension to the shell and then added a touch of Crystal Effects around the upper edges.  The anchor stamp was the final touch - stamped and punched and then adhered to the front of the card.  I hope you like it!

Gorgeous Grunge Love Mini Card

Just a quick post today with a quick idea!  I love to put together quick little mini cards that I can leave around the house when I travel!  This one was quick and easy with the Itty Bitty Banners and Gorgeous Grunge stamp sets!  I used Smoky Slate card stock and ink and added a touch of washi tape as well!  What quick little mini cards can you create????

Canvas Creations Bookmark

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Follow Your Path Of Questions
I have had the Canvas Creations canvas sheet sitting in my craft room for...well....forever!  So, I decided to take it out of the package and create something.  I wasn't sure what I was going to do, but I started by painting the canvas with gesso.  As I was doing that, I noticed the Honeycomb embossing folder on my craft table and I immediately began to question whether you could emboss the canvas.  Well, I decided to follow my path of questions and this bookmark was the result!  Other questions that arose during the creation process were, "Can I use adhesive sheets to adhere the canvas to another piece of canvas?" and "Can I watercolor on the canvas?" I am happy I followed my path of questions and now I have more questions I need to pursue! :)  I may have to buy another canvas creations sheet! :)

New Photopolymer Stamp Set: Another Thank You

We have another new photopolymer stamp set called Another Thank You!!!!  Yeah!!!!  Another Thank You (item 133454, $13.95) is an exclusive, versatile set for any occasion that calls for a thank you.  Check it out!

In Need Of A Little Break...

Just wanted to let you know that I'll be taking a little bit of a break for the rest of the week.  Lots on my plate right now and I figured I should take a little bit of the pressure off :)  Hope you have a wonderful, creative, and peaceful week :)

Gingham Garden Happy Birthday Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  We All Have A Need To Be Seen
I went swimming yesterday.  I am still learning - working on my strokes - getting back to feeling comfortable in the water.  There was one other man in the pool - swimming in the lane next to me.  At one point I was resting at the end of the pool and he asked if he could give me a little bit of advice on my stroke.  My first reaction was to say, "Thanks, but no thanks" since I am currently taking lessons from an instructor and already have a lot floating in my head when I swim (there's a lot to think about!).  But instead, I paused and the man continued, "I taught the Red Cross swimming program for over 50 years."  I told him that I was taking lessons and that I would also like to hear what he had to say.  He shared his advice and I said thank you and the next time I was at the end of the pool he told me that those last few strokes looked better :)  I'm not sure I really did anything different - maybe I did - what I do know is that I allowed him to be seen.  This man who was unknown to me when I got in the pool was able to define himself as someone who had something to contribute - someone who had accomplished a lot with the Red Cross in his years.  What I did was allow him to have his dignity and I could then choose to do what I wanted to with the advice he shared  We all have a need to be seen.  How can you recognize someone today?
Today's card was quick and easy with the Gingham Garden designer washi tape.  I stamped the pedestal portion of the cake image from Make A Cake with Pacific Point ink.  Next, I tore strips of washi tape and layered them one on top of the other to form the layers of the cake.  The butterflies from Make A Cake were then stamped using Daffodil Delight.  Next, with the help of the stamp-a-ma-jig, I stamped the sentiment from Express Yourself on top of the sentiment from Bring On The Cake using Melon Mambo and Wild Wasabi respectively.  The final touch was to add Dazzling Details on the layers of the cake for some bling!  I hope you like it!