Rest & Relaxation

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Unplug!

My week away was perfect.  I only logged on to a computer one time!  It was so nice to unplug and just relax.  No schedule, no meetings, no pressing appointments.  Just the sand, the sun, the waves.  I even fell in love with a hammock during the trip - the gentle breeze and sway.  Sometimes we just need to unplug from everything - the cell phones, the computers, the same old routines.  I did not read a newspaper or look at the news.  I did not wear a watch.  I barely wore shoes!  So peaceful.  Now as I return to my life at home I hope that I can maintain some of the habits I developed while away.  I also hope to maintain this sense of peace and ease...wish me luck :)

Taking A Break For The Week

Hi!!!!  Thanks for stopping by!  I have decided to take a week off from blogging for a bit of R&R :)  I hope you have a week filled with creativity, laughter and love!  May your creative muse pay you a visit every day.  May your inner critic take a hike for at least a week.  May you be kind to yourself and your creative explorations.  Take deep breaths and take notice of all the beauty that surrounds you.  Have a wonderful week!  I look forward to returning with a renewed spirit!!!!! :)

Four Ways Friday #29 - Solid Stripes

This week's Four Ways Friday uses the single stamp Solid Stripes.

For this first card I used the Solid Stripes stamp as a background element for the greeting.  I stamped the stripes at half strength using Crumb Cake ink onto Very Vanilla card stock.

 

For this second card I decided to use more of the stripes and do a tone-on-tone effect.  I stamped the stripes onto Real Red card stock using Real Red ink.  This piece formed the perfect backdrop for the butterfly and pansy.

For this thank you card I punched out a circle from scrap paper and used it to mask off a portion of the base card before stamping with the Solid Stripes stamp in River Rock ink.  I then stamped the greeting into the center and surrounded the greeting with punched flowers.

This final card is 6 inches in length.  I masked most of the card and stamped along the edge using Basic Gray ink.  I stamped repeatedly to stripe the entire edge of the card.  I hope you've enjoyed seeing a few different ways to play with the Solid Stripes stamp.  I hope you have a wonderful weekend!!!!!

Create With The Time You Do Have!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Create With The Time You Do Have!

It can be so easy to come up with every excuse in the book for why you can't create - I don't have the right supplies; I'm not talented enough; My muse has left the room...and, one of my all time favorites...I don't have time!  Well I'm here to tell you you DO have time.  In the time it has taken you to read these few sentences, you could have engaged in a creative act!  I got home tonight and I was ready for bed - tired, no motivation.  Yet I had not created today and so my day felt unfinished.  I knew I didn't want to stay up late so I went into the craft room with very low expectations.  Now I'm not saying that what I created is worthy of a second glance.  What I am saying is that I did it!  I left the excuses behind and I did what I need to do every day - engage in an act of creation - no matter what the outcome.  Creating fulfills me.  It is who I am.  Create with the time you DO have rather than focus on what it is you don't have.
Today's card is the collision of card stock, smooch ink, black satin ribbon, rhinestone jewels, Three Little Words, Season of Joy and Thank You Kindly.  It is the collision of my need to create with the limit of time before bed.  Now I can sleep....

2-Step Owl Punch Thank U Card!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Give Someone A Helping Hand

Our close friend Matt recently received an amazing helping hand from one of his longtime friends.  His friend donated one of his kidneys to him!  I am humbled by this act of unconditional love and kindness.  We each may not be in a position to help someone in this way.  Yet we are each capable of lending someone a helping hand in our own way.  For now, we have been helping Matt and his family by walking their amazing dog.  It's a small gesture on our part and they can't stop saying thank you.  For us it is such a small thing since we walk Buddy anyway - so our walk is just extended by a few extra blocks to pick up and drop off their dog.  The impact for them, however, seems to be huge and we all end up feeling great as a result.  What can you do today to give someone a helping hand?
Today's card was a thank you card to one of my friends and customers :)  I love, love, love the 2-Step Owl punch and this card was so much fun to make - I just want to keep piling these owls on top of each other!  Wouldn't 3 look cute together? :)  (ooh - I wonder if I could make an adorable growth chart just by stacking these owls one on top of the other???  That would be toooooo cute!).  The greeting is from Cute By The Inch, stamped in Peach Parfait.  Just a few little touches give the card a personal touch - the googley eyes on the top owl and the little button and crochet thread in the corner.  I hope you like it!

Cake Pops!!!!!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Sometimes The Kitchen Can Be Your Craft Room!!!!

I am not responsible if you go to Bakerella's website and decide you have to go racing into the kitchen to make cake pops!  Really, it's not my fault!  Or maybe I should just provide a warning...Warning!  If you visit Bakerella's website you will be overcome with an immediate urge to run into the kitchen and make cake pops!  Proceed at your own risk! :)  I had a ton of fun making these...well, maybe the first batch wasn't a ton of fun...they came out VERY sweet!  The recipe calls for a full container of frosting and for the 2nd batch I decided that 1/2 of a container was quite enough.  Today, recognize that your creativity is not confined to one room or one media.  You ARE creativity and your creative urge goes with you into all aspects of your life...even into the kitchen!  Enjoy! :)

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

May you have a day filled with gratitude for all that life provides.  May you take this feeling of gratitude with you into every day you are given.  May you find something to be grateful for every day.  Enjoy this very special day.  Thank you for sharing your time with me!

Updated Friends Fur-ever Belated Birthday Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Breathe New Life Into Something You've Put Away!

Today's card may look slightly familiar....I made this belated birthday card months ago...minus the dog, the ground and the balloon.  Yesterday a friend came over and wanted to purchase a belated birthday card.  The plain card was all that I had for a belated birthday, but when she saw another card that had this small dog on it she said, "Oh, the person I'm giving the card to has a dog exactly like that!"  So, a quick bit of stamping and ta-da!  We breathed new life into something that had sat for months, waiting to be discovered and loved :)  What can you breathe new life into today?????

Friends Fur-ever Sorry

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Say You're Sorry
The adventures with Buddy the dog continue...He seems to be a connoisseur of overgrown grass and there is one particular yard where he likes to stop and act like a cow and munch on the grass.  I had him on his leash and allowed him to walk up into the yard a bit (still holding onto his leash), when I heard a knocking on the window.  There stood a woman, in a robe, motioning for us to get off the yard.  I tried to make a "munching" motion with my hand - just so she didn't think he was doing his business in her yard - and we walked away.  I was embarrassed and a bit angry since Buddy wasn't doing any harm.  At the same time I realized that not everyone loves dogs like I do and it was, after all, her grass and her yard.  So then I decided that an apology might be a nice way to make things feel better.  I really didn't want to walk by her house in the mornings wondering if she was looking out the window, annoyed, every time she saw us.  So I came home and made this quick little card and put it in an envelope that said "a note for you" on the outside.  On my way to the grocery store I dropped it in her mailbox.  It was signed "Buddy & Michelle."  I don't know how she felt about the note or if it changed her feelings towards us - I hope so.  What I do know is that it made Buddy and I feel better - at least we said we were sorry.
It's no surprise that I love the Friends Fur-ever stamp set!  I combined the images with the greeting from Teeny Tiny Wishes.  I find it easiest to cut out images like the dog and bones using a hobby blade - it's much quicker than trying to maneuver scissors.  The dog dish is simple to cut out with scissors.  I hope you like it!

Owl Punch Penguin Christmas Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Be Willing To Go Under And Over Fences!

Buddy and I took our morning walk today and I decided to let him off leash when we got to one of our favorite spots at the edge of the park.  The minute he was "free" he went running along a fence that closes off a lot that is for sale.  There is a tree in the corner of the lot and he could see a squirrel at the base of the tree.  The fence was no match for Buddy - that 78 lb. dog wiggled his way under the fence and made a beeline for that tree!  The squirrel didn't sit around and wait - he skedaddled up the tree!  Then Buddy decided to go to the adjacent property and come back to me by jumping over their 3-foot fence!  It's amazing what he will do to go after what he wants!  It makes me wonder what I'm willing to do to go after what I want.  Am I willing to go under and over fences and do whatever I can to pursue my desires and dreams?  Are you?
Today's card is one of the cards we will be making at my upcoming holiday stamp-a-stack.  I LOVE the 2-way owl punch - you can make so many adorable things with it!  This penguin was so simple and I paired it with the Santa hat from the Sock Monkey Accessories stamp set and added a touch of chunky white glitter.  The greeting is from the retired Christmas Punch stamp set.  I had to add some luscious ribbon.  That penguin just makes me smile :)  I hope you like it!

Four Ways Friday #28 - Peaceful Season (Hostess)

For this week's Four Ways Friday I used the Peaceful Season hostess stamp set from the Holiday Mini Catalog.

For this first card I used a greeting from Peaceful Season along with the Dasher stamp (I LOVE Dasher!).  I stamped Dasher in Early Espresso onto Very Vanilla cs and then sponged the edges and spritzed the card stock with Soft Suede ink.  I mounted it on a layer of Early Espresso cs.  The card base is Crumb Cake cs and I added a strip of the neutrals designer paper.  The greeting is stamped in Basic Black and I finished the look with a knotted piece of hemp twine.

This small gift card was a snap to make!  I inked up the holly leaf image using Always Artichoke and Cherry Cobbler markers and stamped the image onto a Bashful Blue card base.  The greeting words are from the Fundamental Phrases stamp set.  I added a little spritz of Always Artichoke to complete this small card.

For this card I decided to have some fun with small circle punches!  I cut out a triangle from Whisper White cs and covered it with a variety of circles in Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery and Perfect Plum.  I added a touch of dazzling diamonds glitter and a few rhinestones and then sponged the edges with Old Olive ink.  The trunk is a piece of textured Soft Suede cs.  The greeting was heat embossed with white embossing powder on Chocolate chip cs.  I tore a piece of Whisper White cs to create the snowy ground and made the snow sparkle with a dash of dazzling diamonds!

Making tags is always fun and easy and now is a great time to stock up on tags for the upcoming gift-giving season!  I hand-cut the tag from Very Vanilla cs and created the hole protector by punching a 1/2" circle inside of a 3/4" circle from Bravo Burgundy cs.  I stamped the bird in Bravo Burgundy at half strength.  The floral image is from the Baroque Motifs stamp set and I stamped it at full strength and then again in Basic Gray at 1/3 strength.  The greeting (to/from) was stamped in Basic Gray.  I sponged the edges with Bravo Burgundy and a little Basic Gray and couldn't resist giving the tag a spritz with my Basic Gray marker and the color spritzer tool.  A few pearl jewels and a piece of Very Vanilla satin ribbon finish the look!  Thanks for stopping by for this week's Four Ways Friday!  I hope you have a wonderful weekend!!!!!

Lovely As A Tree Christmas Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Slow Down And Take Notice

As I post this card today, I realize that I was inspired by a number of cards that I saw while doing some of my daily blog hopping.  However, although the images and ideas stuck in my head, the places where I saw them did not and I did not write the places down.  I know I saw one card that used this Petals A Plenty embossing folder with glitter and the Lovely As A Tree stamp set and it definitely inspired this card!  If you have seen the card I'm referring to, please let me know - I'd love to name the person who inspired me to make this card!  What I do realize is that I need to slow down a bit and take notice of things - like those that inspire me.  I also want to slow down a minute, here, now, to thank you for continuing to visit my blog and for continuing to give me a reason to keep posting!  Have a beautiful day...and don't forget to slow down and take notice of what's around you :)

Remnant Birthday Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Consider Your Remnants!
Yesterday I made a card with scrap strips and this was the "remnant" that remained after punching out the strips with the decorative label punch...

After I walked by this remnant for the second or third time, it began to occur to me that it was quite bright and fun...and might make a wonderful focal point for another card!  So, I added a strip or two more and cut around the scrap copy-weight paper and then popped the whole thing up on dimensionals and stamped the greeting from Sincere Salutations in Early Espresso and...ta da!  A new card was born from the remnants!  Here is a close-up of the popped up part...

The next time you are about to throw away your remnants, give them a second look...they may just be waiting for you to notice them :)

A Great Way To Use Scrap Strips!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Find Magic In What Others May See As Waste!

I keep a small container on my craft table where I place little strips and scraps of paper.  I've been collecting them for the day when I decide to try out making handmade paper.  Needless to say they've been sitting there a long time!  So today I decided to try to do something with those small strips of paper and a bit of magic happened :)  I took a bunch of the thin strips and used a glue stick to adhere them to a scrap piece of paper (copy weight, not card stock).  I then used my decorative label punch to punch out the stripes.  Here's what the punched paper looks like...

I stamped the "birthday" from Curly Cute in Versamark and heat embossed with silver embossing powder.  The "happy" from the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set (from the Happy New Year stamp) was stamped in Tempting Turquoise onto a scrap strip of Whisper White card stock and then popped up on the label with 1/2 of a dimensional.  I added a few rhinestone jewels for some bling.  Finally, I took a couple of build-a-wheel wheels and wheeled them onto the Pretty In Pink card stock with Pretty In Pink ink.  I also stamped a few cupcakes (from Short & Sweet) and the "happy" and "birthday" on the background as well!  I hope you like it!  What magic can you make today????

Please visit for a post later today!

What a crazy week last week!  I had my posts publish automatically since I was in Houston, Atlanta and Charlotte (I came home on Wednesday night and left again Thursday morning) - what a whirlwind!  Woke up this morning to a touch of snow :)  Everything looks like it's dusted in powdered sugar :)  I'll be posting later today and all this week, so please stop back by!  It's nice to be home :)

Timeless Type Simple Thanks

I love the Timeless Type sizzlits since the letters are the perfect size for making quick and easy cards!  This thank you card used the In Color Paper Stack, some Bravo Burgundy and a strip of Peach Parfait card stock.  I embellished a bit using the trio punch set and a tiny pearl.  Hope you like it!  I'll be back next week - hope you have a fabulous weekend!!!!!

A Variation on Yesterday's Card

Here's a variation on yesterday's card.  I just changed the greeting and added a few more floral embellishments!  Hope you like it!

Clear Embossing with Elements of Style

Just a few quick posts for the next few days and, I'm sorry to say, no Four Ways Friday this week.  Lots on my plate and just wanted to make sure I got a bit of inspiration out there for you!  I clear embossed this Elegant Eggplant top note die cut with the Elements of Style stamp set.  A greeting, some small flowers from the trio punches and some pearls and rhinestones finish the look!  Check back tomorrow for a slight variation on this card!

Magnetic Bookmark Card!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Sometimes It Helps To Get The Yucky Stuff Out Of The Way!

I knew I had some work I needed to get done today and I was tempted to just avoid it and head straight into the craft room.  However, I resisted the urge and decided to buckle down and get the "yucky stuff" out of the way so that then I could enjoy the craft room with a clear head!  It worked!  Unfortunately, I can't show you what I just completed since I decided to try my hand at doing another submission...I'll let you know what happens!
What I can share with you is this fun magnetic bookmark card!  I sent this to one of my wonderful customers - she is a gem!  Making the bookmark is simple.  I took a piece of Regal Rose card stock and folded it over.  Then, I ran it through the Big Shot with the Two Tags Die...except that I placed the fold of the Regal Rose card stock just inside the outside line of the Tag die so that it did not cut the paper into 2 pieces - instead, the fold remained.  I used adhesive magnetic tape on the inside of the bookmark so that it can easily hold its place in a book.  I decorated both sides with various stamps and those great little rhinestone jewels.  To place it on the front of the card, I just stapled a small strip of Daffodil Delight card stock and hung the bookmark over the middle section.  I hope you like it!  I might just have to make a quick video to show you how it's done - although that might not be for another week or so...I've got some other yucky stuff to get out of the way! :)  Oooh - and Pam, if you're reading this....HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!! :)

Four Ways Friday #27 - Tiny Tags Stamp Set

Welcome to another Four Ways Friday!  Today I'm using the Tiny Tags stamp set!

This stamp set is oh-so-perfect to use with the Simply Adorned jewelry!  I was inspired to make this necklace for a wonderful friend and the inspiration came from my cousin Brenda.  Brenda shared the idea with me - to make a mommy necklace - and the inspiration took off from there!  I used a few of the images and words from Tiny Tags to stamp on Very Vanilla card stock.  For the large charm I also used an embossing folder.  For the small round charms I used the Calendar Alphabet & Numbers stamp set to stamp the first initials of my friend's two children.  Here is the reverse side of the large charm...

Aren't those kids gorgeous!!!!!!  You can also see that I used the heart image from Tiny Tags on the back of the round initial charms.  I made the baubles with beads and wire and some small lobster clasps that I purchased at my local craft store.  I tied on a few pieces of chantilly ribbon and early espresso ribbon.  I love that you can change these charms out and place whatever you would like inside of them!

Here is another way to use the heart image from the Tiny Tags stamp set.  I stamped the image multiple times in Cherry Cobbler ink onto Whisper White card stock and then punched them out with my 1/2" circle punch.  I adhered them to 3/4" circles of Cherry Cobbler card stock and then used dimensionals to adhere them to the card base.  Finally, I stamped the word "love" in basic black ink.

I love to create stencils with my Big Shot!  For this card I ran a piece of card stock through the Big Shot with the Scallop Rectangle clearlit.  I then adhered this as a stencil to the card base using drafting tape (unlike masking tape, drafting tape easily lifts off of the card stock without tearing anything).  I used a sponge and sponged the stencil with Crumb Cake ink.  Then I took a few of the images from the Tiny Tags set and randomly stamped them using the same Crumb Cake ink.  I then removed the stencil and added some dazzling diamonds with my 2-way glue pen.  Finally, I stamped the dotted outline and the greeting onto Very Vanilla card stock and punched it out using the jewelry tag medium punch.  A piece of twine finishes the card.

This stamp set also provides an easy way to make simple Christmas cards!  I took a 1 1/2" circle punch and punched out a piece of card stock to use as a mask.  I placed it on the card base and then stamped the leafy image from the stamp set around the circle, multiple times and in multiple layers, using Garden Green ink.  You might choose to use different colors of green to create a different look.  I stamped the word "merry" from the set in the center of the wreath in Cherry Cobbler ink using my stamp-a-ma-jig.  I then attached a small knot of real red 1/4" grosgrain ribbon for the top of the wreath.  Finally, I added some dazzling diamonds and a bit of gold stickles to give the wreath some shimmer!  I hope you've enjoyed this week's Four Ways Friday!  I hope you have a wonderful weekend!  (ps  I started my new challenge today...40 sit ups and 10 push ups in the morning!  Okay...so my sit-ups may look more like crunches right now and my push ups are on my knees, but at least I've begun!!!!!  Want to join in the fun????)