Sense Of Time...Crazy Background!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Get A Little Crazy With Your Stamping Supplies!

Getting a little crazy with your stamping supplies is FUN....and, you may even like the outcome!  This background is a great example.  I began with a piece of Cherry Cobbler card stock and decided to open my Concord Crush ink pad and do some direct to paper while dragging and curving the ink pad.  Then came the Sense of Time stamp set - the gears and the clock (there is a stamped clock under the Very Vanilla clock).  Then came the crumple, crumple, mush, mush of the card stock and all of the crinkle lines were calling out to me..."Please!  Put some Champagne Shimmer Mist paint on us!"  So, I obliged - a bit on a sponge and then rubbed across the card stock lightly to catch the peaks of the crumbled creases.  Then came the stamped clock and greeting onto Very Vanilla card stock...and, of course, some sponging.  Finally, that gorgeous antique brads...yes, I'm going to have to order more since I'm using them like crazy!!!!!  The color combination came from the new color coach - I never would have put these colors together (Baja Breeze, So Saffron and Cherry Cobbler) and I really like how they look together!  I hope you like it!  Now go into your craft space and get crazy with your stamping supplies...or, you can shop HERE now for those amazing antique brads :)

Glass Glitter and Antique Brads!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Today Is The Perfect Day To Use A Supply That You Love!

I have to admit that when I received this glass glitter and these amazing antique brads, my first instinct was to stash them away and save...okay, maybe a better word is "hoard"...them!  I realize, however, that when I do that, the stashed items often never see the light of day!  So today seemed like a perfect day to use a few supplies that I am crazy about!  I stamped a piece of Crumb Cake card stock with a few of the images from Friends 24-7 in Crumb Cake ink (can you see the faint flower image in the background?).  I then had to spritz with some Chocolate Chip ink...yes, I'm crazy about my spritzer tool too...even if it does require a little muscle :)  The tag was made by running a piece of Sahara Sand card stock through the Big Shot with one of the Lots of Tags sizzlits.  I stamped a bit with the Crumb Cake ink and then added a bit of Early Espresso ribbon with a thin piece of Sticky Strip.  Finally - the finishing touches - Glass Glitter added with Tombo Mono Multi Glue and that amazing Antique Brad!  A bit of hemp twine and a strip of scalloped Early Espresso card stock complete the look!  I hope you like it!  Now go use a supply that you love!!!!! :)

Greetings, Earthling with Fox & Friends...Forever!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Friends Find You :)

I haven't "chosen" my friends.  Friends have found me over the years - sometimes out of difficult circumstances; sometimes through kind or funny words; sometimes just because we were in the same place at the same time and said "hello."  I truly believe that the people we are meant to meet will find us - we just need to be sure we are open to seeing them when they arrive!

Today's card was inspired by a Crate and Barrel catalog I received that had an insert for their line for children called The Land of Nod.  You can see part of the insert in the foreground of the photo - I loved the green streaked with pink :)  This motley crew seemed like the perfect set of friends :)  I started with a piece of Pear Pizzazz card stock and then used my Melon Mambo ink pad, direct to paper, to create the streaks.  The "friends" were all stamped with Versamark and embossed with black embossing powder.  The greetings are from the Friends 24-7 stamp set - stamped in Early Espresso.  I made the 24-7 tag by punching out the greeting with my 3/4" circle punch and then putting a small eyelet through with my crop-a-dile.  A bit of white crochet thread finishes the look.  I hope you like it! :)

Four Ways Friday #24 - Always

Thanks for stopping by for this week's Four Ways Friday!  This week I'm using the Always stamp set.

This first card uses the small stamps in the Always stamp set.  I stamped them in various colors (Old Olive, Tangerine Tango, Pacific Point, and Rich Razzleberry) and punched them out using my 1/2" circle punch.  They are all popped up on dimensionals onto a crumpled up piece of Rich Razzleberry cards stock.  I ran a piece of Tangerine Tango through the Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder.  The greeting is from the hostess set Afterthoughts.  I colored the stamp using Rich Razzleberry and Pacific Point markers and punched it out using the extra-large decorative label punch.  (Finished card size is 4 1/4" x 4 1/4").

For this second card, I focused on using the heart image from the stamp set.  I stamped it in Cherry Cobbler ink onto Very Vanilla card stock.  A few rhinestone gems and some dazzling diamonds give the heart some sparkle.  I stamped the branch image in Soft Suede ink onto Very Vanilla card stock and punched it out with the heart to heart punch.  A small heart of Pear Pizzazz was also added and I coated this small heart with Crystal Effects.  I sponged and spritzed to give the panel some added interest.  The greeting was stamped in Basic Black and then again in Cherry Cobbler so that I could cut out the word "everything" and pop it up on dimensionals.  A tiny library clip, a bit of linen thread and some 1/4" Old Olive grosgrain ribbon add some more interest.  The background card was stamped with the heart image at 1/3 strength using Crumb Cake ink.

I love the look of monochrome cards!  For this simple card, I stamped the branch image at 1/3 strength onto Crumb Cake card stock using Early Espresso ink.  I also sponged and spritzed (I can't seem to stop myself!).  The bird was stamped with full-strength Early Espresso ink.  The greeting used the letters "VERY" from the "EVERYTHING" stamp - I just used my Early Espresso marker to color the letters that I wanted.  The "thankful" is from the Thankful for You stamp set (retired).  I punched the piece using the Designer Label punch and sponged the edges with Early Espresso and Basic Black.  Don't you just love that antique brad?!  I added it with a piece of Early Espresso card stock that I punched using the Modern Label punch.

This last 3x3 card began with the Very Vintage wheel rolled in Marina Mist ink onto Marina Mist card stock.  The bird was stamped in VersaMark and then embossed with silver embossing powder.  The greeting was stamped with Marina Mist ink onto Very Vanilla card stock and punched out with the Modern Label punch.  A corduroy button and some rhinestone jewels finish the look!  Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope to see you again next week for another Four Ways Friday!!!!!

Four Ways Friday coming a bit later on Friday :)

Thanks for stopping by!  I just got home from a trip and I'm pooped!  I thought I would have energy to complete this week's Four Ways Friday tonight, but my body is telling me it's time for sleep :)  So, I will be back a bit later on Friday to post Four Ways Friday - please stop back by! :)

Music Notes Wheel Mini Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Live For Today

Today's card was made from my feeling of living in "the funk."  I have decided that one way to try to combat the funk (yes, I view it as the enemy that needs to be slain!) is to live for today - live in the moment - and do what I can from moment to moment to bring myself closer to where I want to be.  I don't have to tackle everything all at once.  I can chip away, little by little, at the marble that is my life and eventually I will expose the sculpture that is patiently waiting to appear.

This Music Notes wheel is such a simple way to create a gorgeous background.  I wish you could see this card in person - it is so sparkly since I sprayed it with a mixture of alcohol and champagne shimmer mist paint.  The greeting is one part of a stamp in the Sense of Time stamp set.  The image with the greeting is from the Artistic Etchings stamp set - stamped in Basic Black at 1/2 strength.  I am loving these Antique Brads.  I cut the prongs off of this brad and attached it to the card using a mini glue dot.  I hope you like it!

Lots of Tags Love Note

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Sometimes You've Gotta Let The Funk Happen...

There are times when the mess in my craft room becomes overwhelming.  And then that feeling of being overwhelmed seems to creep into other aspects of my life and I get to a point where I feel so overwhelmed that inaction seems the only option.  I call these times - "the funk!"  I seem to be finding myself in one right now - feeling like I want to clean up and clean out the closets, the craft room, my office, the garage, the laundry room...you get the picture!  It becomes all or nothing and I seem to choose nothing because all feels like a gargantuan undertaking.  So here I sit in my funk - wanting so much to take some action - yet feeling paralyzed.  Do you have any advice for how to move forward?  I find that going into the craft room - no matter how messy - gives me a moment of solace as I scrape aside everything to uncover a tiny piece of table where creating can happen.  Yet I do dream of an uncluttered space and hope that it will come soon!  Sometimes I guess you've just gotta let the funk happen...and hope it leads to action.  I'm waiting :)

I like to make little love notes to leave around the house when I travel.  For this one I took out some fun new supplies - the Lots of Tags sizzlits and the new glass glitter (isn't it gorgeous?!).  I die cut the tag and then stamped the Bella Toile background stamp onto the Very Vanilla tag at 1/2 strength with Cherry Cobbler ink.  The edges were sponged with Early Espresso and the greeting stamped with both Early Espresso and Cherry Cobbler with the Fundamental Phrases stamp set.  The Cherry Cobbler card stock was run through the Big Shot with the Petals-a-Plenty embossing folder.  I added a touch of Early Espresso ribbon and some basic pearls.  I hope you like it!

Extreme Elements Halloween

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Notice When Your Prayers Have Been Answered

I realize that it is very easy for me to pray to the Universe for help or healing.  When a friend's dog went missing the other day, I asked the Universe to keep him safe and to bring him home.  It's fair to say that a day doesn't pass without my looking up into the sky and asking for something.  What I sometimes fail to do, though, is to stop and take notice when my prayers have been answered.  Today I paused and realized the dog was home safely and that a friend was able to come home after being away for far too long.  I need to be as open to giving thanks for the answered prayers as I am to continuing to ask for assistance.  I need to notice when miracles are occurring...and I know they are occurring every day - if I will just stop to take notice.  Maybe I would notice more if I could quiet all of my asking for a moment and look and listen at all that has been answered.

Today's card is a variation of a card I did a little while ago.  I decided to change the color palette a bit and also changed the greeting.  I love how easy it is to make a great background using the Extreme Elements stamp set!  I have a feeling you'll be seeing a lot more of this set in the weeks to come :)

Owl Punch Bitty Bat Box!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Sometimes You Can Go Farther Than You Think!

Wow!  What a day I had on Sunday!  First a 20-mile run!  Then a Halloween Stamp-a-Stack!  Then dinner out with friends!  Bedtime anyone?! :)  Had you asked me Saturday if I would have made it through Sunday in one piece, you would have found me very doubtful!  I wasn't feeling great and was considering skipping my run.  I was also prepping like a wild woman for the stamp-a-stack!  And now, here I sit, after making it through and I am truly amazed.  Sometimes you really can go farther than you think!  You just need to make the decision to begin!

This was one of the projects for the Halloween stamp-a-stack!  Isn't he adorable?!  The bat was made with the 2-step owl punch and 2 ovals that were punched on one side with the 1" circle punch.  The numbers are from the Timeless Type alphabet and the month from the Full Calendar stamp set.  I hope you like it....he is filled with candy after all :)

Four Ways Friday #23 - Texturz Plates (Harlequin)

Hi!  Welcome to this week's Four Ways Friday!  Today I'm focusing on the Harlequin Texturz Plate (part of the Backgrounds 1 set of Texturz Plates).

For this first 3x3 card, I applied Rose Red ink directly to the texturz plate using my ink pad.  I then sprayed the plate with water and placed a piece of watercolor paper on top.  I ran the plate and paper through the Big Shot (with the silicone rubber pad and impressions pad) and this is the result!  It's difficult to see the embossed and debossed areas in the photo - this card has lots of texture!

This 3x3 card using the texturz plate in a very traditional way.  I just ran Sahara Sand card stock through the Big Shot with the plate.  When you use lighter colored card stock, it is very easy to see the great embossed effect the texturz plate gives you.  (For a deeper impression, you can add a layer of scrap card stock - sometimes referred to as a "shim" on top of the impressions plate when you run your "sandwich" through the Big Shot).

This card also used the texturz plate in a traditional way.  However, instead of using card stock, I ran vellum through the Big Shot with the texturz plate.  I love the look the plate gives the vellum!

You can have a lot of fun creating your own textured designer paper with the texturz plates!  I began by stamping multiple images from the Circle Circus stamp set onto a piece of Pumpkin Pie card stock.  I then ran the card stock through the Big Shot with the Harlequin texturz plate.  Once the piece was embossed, I took my More Mustard ink pad and dragged it across the textured card stock.  If you don't push too hard, the ink pad will only ink the raised portion of the harlequin design and give you this great look!
I hope you've enjoyed this week's Four Ways Friday!  Thanks for stopping by!  Have a wonderful and creative weekend!

Finally Friday Will Be Here Later Today!

Finally Friday is still sleeping...well, maybe it's me that's still sleeping and not Finally Friday :)  Either way, Finally Friday and I will be back a bit later today.  Please stop back by :)  Thanks for visiting!

Die Cutting Your Fun Foam - Simple Alphabet

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Capture Those Waking Thoughts!

As I begin to come back into awareness in the morning, my mind seems to flood with all kinds of thoughts and ideas.  If I don't take note of them - either by repeating them in my mind or writing them down on a piece of paper - I can lose them.  So I do my best to try to capture the thoughts and create them if they are art related.  What thoughts float through your mind when you are awakening?  How can you make some of those thoughts realities - especially those that encourage you to create?

Today's idea, of die cutting felt and fun foam, came to me in these waking thoughts.  I tried out the fun foam first :)  I used the Simple Alphabet dies in the Big Shot to cut out the letters and the cute flower and then adhered them to the Whisper White card stock using Tombo Mono Multi Adhesive (that is sticky stuff!).  The finished card size is 3" x 3" and I love all of that dimension!  So simple with high impact! :)  I hope you like it!

Timeless Type Love Card!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Some Things Influence Us In Interesting Ways!

Yes - it's obvious...I was typing way too much today and all of that typing followed me into the craft room!  I had no idea when I walked into the sanctuary of the craft room that my mind would still be thinking email addresses and websites!  And no, I have no idea if this is an actual email address (and please don't try it to find out - I don't want to make anyone mad or have us directing spam in someone's direction...or back in your direction! :)  Some things really can influence us in interesting ways!

This card was so simple to put together!  I love that you can spell anything with the Timeless Type Sizzlits and your Big Shot!  It took me a long time to buy this sizzlit set and I am so glad that I did!  I added an adorable retired brad from last Valentine's day.  I also used my 3/4" circle punch to create the scallops down the side of the card.  The finished card size is 4 3/4" x 4 3/4."  I hope you like it! :)

Cute by The Inch Thank U

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Helping A Friend Can Make You Forget Your Own Worries For Awhile!

Monday was a yucky migraine day :(  I went for a run and it was hot and my head decided to complain in the form of a migraine headache :(  As I type this I am feeling better and hoping to feel 100% soon!  When my headache began I received a call from a close friend who is trying to figure out making changes in her life.  As I put my energy toward listening to her and trying to help her, I forgot about my head for awhile.  I thanked her for calling me since it helped me connect with her and disconnect from my aching head!  It's nice when helping a friend can make you forget your own worries for awhile!

Today's card was so simple!  I stamped the image from Cute By The Inch in Basic Black ink onto multiple colors of card stock and then punched them out using a 1" square punch.  I popped up all the squares with dimensionals and used dazzling diamonds to highlight the "U" in the middle.  I hope you like it!

Greetings, Earthling! Birthday Card!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Even After You Stop Drinking It, The Process Of That Wine Hasn't Stopped

This sentence, spoken by my friend Dr. David Sanders, really struck me today.  I know it is out of context and, yet, I am hopeful, it will strike you too.  The thought that once we consume something it is not "gone."  It stays with us - alive - in some way - like the wine we have tasted.  It stays with you - in your body; in the experience.  Oh how true of so many things in life.  That even though you click to the next website; begin the next book; move on to the next art project - none of these experiences are "done."  Rather, they become a part of you and continue to live and influence you, and others, in so many (sometimes unconscious) ways.  As I consider this, I realize that some things I "put into" my body, may not be things I want to have continue living inside of me and influencing me.  I feel this way, a lot, about news.  I have a terrible habit of clicking on websites that broadcast news, only to click away feeling down about something I read.  That negative energy then lives within me.  And for as much as I can tell - it doesn't seem to be doing me any good.  As you consider the choices you make - even with things as simple as visiting a website - recognize that whatever you encounter will continue to live inside of you.  Maybe this realization will impact our choices on what we decide to allow in :)

We had dinner with friends tonight to celebrate a dear friend's birthday.  For some reason aliens came to mind :)  Probably because this friend is out of this world! :)  I used the greeting from the Afterthoughts hostess set (I'm loving these stamps!) and the alien from Greetings, Earthling!  It's hard to tell in the photo, but this little guy is covered in dazzling diamonds! :)  I only had about 5 minutes to make the card (poor planning on my part!) and yet, even in 5 minutes, it's amazing what you can make!  I hope you like it! :)

Four Ways Friday #22 - On The Green

Welcome to another Four Ways Friday!  Today I'm sharing four different ways to use the a la carte stamp, On the Green.

For this first project I decided to make a wine tag.  I stamped the image in Crumb Cake onto Crumb Cake card stock that I hand cut into a tag shape.  The image was then stamped in Versamark onto a piece of Soft Suede card stock and heat embossed with black embossing powder.  The greeting, from the Afterthoughts hostess set, was stamped in basic black ink onto Very Vanilla card stock.  Then I spritzed everything with some black ink and sponged the edges with black and early espresso ink.  The hemp twine and an extra large grommet finish the look!

I heat embossed again for this second project - this time using white embossing powder on designer paper - it's a great way to make the stamped image pop!  I then layered the designer paper onto Early Espresso card stock and a piece of Old Olive that I ran through the Big Shot with the square lattice embossing folder.  The chocolate chip button with a sliver of Old Olive paper in the holes completes the card!

Get out your stamp-a-ma-jig for this card!  Here, I repeatedly inked and stamped just the golfer image using Old Olive ink on Old Olive card stock.  I then sponged and spritzed with Old Olive ink as well.  I repeatedly stamped the image in Crumb Cake ink on the Soft Suede card stock to give the background some interest.  A few strips of designer paper (neutrals stack) were added for addition texture and color.  The greeting, from the Afterthoughts hostess set, was stamped in Early Espresso onto Very Vanilla card stock and the edges were sponged.  I am in love with these new antique brads - they really add a lot to your cards!

For this final card, I decided to get colorful :)  I used my markers to color the image (Wild Wasabi, Not Quite Navy and Elegant Eggplant).  This is such a fun way to create a knockout image!  I used a bit of glitter on the designer paper and made a golf ball using my 1/2" circle punch and running the punched out circle through the Big Shot with the square lattice embossing folder.  I hope you like it!  Thanks for stopping by for this week's Four Ways Friday!  I hope to see you next week! :)

Because I Care - Sympathy Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Put Your Love Into It

My friend's mother passed away unexpectedly last week.  I sit here and wish I was next to her - able to reach over and give her a hug.  The best way I can think to do that from too far away, is to send her a card.  I had some sympathy cards, already made...yet I wanted to make a special one - one that I could put my love into for her.  One that would be made thinking of her - and her mom.  For some reason these colors came to mind.  I have never had the pleasure of meeting her mother - however, my friend is a light - fun, full of energy, an infectious smile.  Her mother must have been an amazingly bright light as well to have raised such an incredibly special daughter.  So bright and happy colors were required!  I hope my friend feels the love I poured into this card for her - I'll be surprised if this much love can fit into an envelope!

Cute By The Inch!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Sometimes You Need To Turn Down The RPM's!

I was thinking today about the old record player I used to have.  Sometimes I found it very funny to put on a 45 and either turn up the speed to make it sound like Alvin and the Chipmunks or turn down the speed to maaaaakkkkkkkkkeeeeeeee iiiiiiiittttttttttt ssssssssssooooooouuuuuuuuunnnnnnnnnddddddd lllllllliiiiiiikkkkkkkkeeeeeeeee ttttttttthhhhhhhhhhiiiiiiiissssssssss!  I have to say that today is definitely a day where I needed to turn down my RPM's!  As I listened to my body this morning, I realized it was telling me that the pace was just too quick and it was time to slow down.  So, I am staying in the house, turning down the RPM's and trying to act as snail-like as possible :)  I didn't have a lot of energy to put into this card, but hopefully it will inspire you in some way...when was the last time you paper pierced or used Crystal Effects?  How about coloring only a portion of a stamp and stamping it multiple times?  Maybe today would be a great day to turn down your RPM's and try something new in the craft room :)  Enjoy!

Amsterdam Inspiration

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Look Up!

It's easy to walk around with your head down - eyes glued to the floor or pavement.  I would never have seen this gorgeous site if I hadn't looked up!  I was in the Flower Market in Amsterdam and this was the roof of one of the flower shops!  How gorgeous is that!!!!  So, look up - you never know what might be waiting for you!

Today I leave you with this photo as inspiration :)  I hope that the colors or subject matter will inspire you to create something wonderful!  I decided not to share a card or paper project so that your mind would be clear - free of all suggestion....other than this photo.  Have fun!!!!  If you would like to leave a link to your creation in the comments section, I would love to see what you create!

DIY Designer Paper Halloween Card & Card Play Video!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Be Proud Of Your Achievements!

I am soooo excited!  I ran 18 miles this weekend!!!!!  I am really proud of my progress!!!!!  I have to admit those last couple of miles were rough...and, I made it!!!!!  I am still in awe at what you can do if you put your mind to it.  Still hard to believe that back on March 6th I hadn't even run a foot, let alone a mile...let alone 18 miles!  I have to admit that I find it difficult to shout my achievements - I find myself instead saying things like..."yeah, but I'm slow" or "it takes me a long time" - almost apologizing for my achievement.  But as I sit here now, I realize how proud I am and I'm not going to apologize!  I did it!!!! Yeah me!!!!! :)

Today's card was inspired by Kristina Werner's Finally Friday video last week.  The color palette of black and kraft/crumb cake, with a dash of white, is what inspired me (thanks Kristina!).  Here's a video to show you how to make some DIY designer paper and this adorable spooky card:!  I hope you like it!