Four Ways Friday #66 - Reinkers!

Hello everyone!  Thanks for stopping by on my birthday! :)  It's exciting to have had the experience of another year of life and to have shared some of this past year with you!  I really appreciate your stopping by and I hope you gain something, anything, from sharing your moments with me!
In this week's Four Ways Friday I would like to share four ways for you to use your classic reinkers!  And yes, I am typing this with inky fingers :)  That's kind of hard to avoid when you start playing with your reinkers ;)

Let's begin with a quick and easy way to use your reinker - as a writing utensil!  Here I took a piece of Whisper White card stock and my Blushing Bride reinker and I just drew lines and squiggles vertically on the card stock.  When you draw with your reinkers in this way, the lines actually become a bit raised from the card stock - it's a cool textural look!  I then adhered some adhesive pearls and added some additional pearl dimension by making small dots along the lines with a non-SU! product.  The greeting is from Teeny Tiny Wishes and I layered a number of punches to pop up the greeting.  The whole panel was then adhered to a Whisper White card base with dimensionals.

For this second card I played with one of my favorite self-created techniques.  If you have watched my videos, you have seen me create this ink blot background.  I placed Tangerine Tango and Basic Black reinker onto a piece of freezer paper and then folded the freezer paper in half and squished the ink around.  I then opened up the freezer paper and laid a piece of Whisper White card stock over the ink and pressed down.  It creates a great ink blot transfer onto the cardstock!  Next I let it dry and then sponged the edges of the piece and adhered it to a Whisper White card base with glue.  The ghosts were made using the 2-step owl punch and I punched the eyes and mouths with my crop-a-dile and backed each ghost with a small piece of Basic Black card stock to highlight the eyes and mouths.  I sponged the edges with Basic Black ink.  The banner was sponged with Tangerine Tango ink and then the letters from the Calendar Alphabet & Numbers stamp set were stamped with Basic Black in.  The banner and the ghosts were adhered with a combination of glue and dimensionals.

I love creating ink mists with my reinkers!  I just place a few drops of reinker in a small spray bottle with water, shake it up, and spray away!  Here I began with a piece of Whisper White card stock.  I then punched out some circles from scrap paper and placed the randomly over the card stock to act as masks.  I sprayed various colors of ink, removed the first set of circles and added another set, and then sprayed more colors of ink until I was happy with the result.  I used the heat tool to dry things a bit (since I'm not the best at being patient for card stock to dry!).  I then added the scallop-punched Tempting Turquoise card stock and the greeting from Teeny Tiny Wishes.  The animals from Fox and Friends were stamped, cut out, and adhered to the card with dimensionals.  The button adds a final touch.

If you're not afraid of cleaning up a little ink, this last reinker technique is a lot of fun.  I placed some water and Rich Razzleberry reinker in a little spray bottle and then sprayed one side of the Finnial Press embossing folder.  I then placed a piece of Whisper White card stock down on the ink sprayed side of the folder and ran it through the Big Shot.  I helped the drying process with the heat tool and then built the card.  The greeting is from Sincere Salutations which was punched out.  I then used a smaller circle as a mask and did some stamping with a floral image from Tiny Tags to create a border around the greeting.
I hope you've enjoyed this week's Four Ways Friday!  I wish you a wonderful and creative weekend!!!!!  Thank you for sharing my birthday with me! :)

Sprayed Ink Background

Today's Question From The Craft Room:  How Do You Measure Your Creative Progress?

Today's question is one that has captured my attention lately.  Somewhere in my life I began to believe that progress requires completion of tasks and the faster you can complete tasks, the more successful you are.  Where the heck did this belief come from and why have I given it so much weight in my life?!  I truly believe it is a bunch of bunk!  I have been brainwashed!!!!!  True progress only requires that you are living in the present moment - in the now - with your full attention.  This is my new measure for my creative progress.  If it happens to result in a "completed" project that I can share with you, so be it.  If, on the other hand, it results in something that is still in a state of creation - then I can share that with you too.  Either way it is all a part of my creativity - my expressing myself - and maybe you will find some inspiration - a seed - to inspire you to live in your own creative moments - your "creative now."
Today, my living in the moment resulted in this card.  And actually, it wasn't just today - the heart on this card actually began a few days ago when I took a few pieces of wood scraps and glued them together to make a heart and then painted them and rusted them and painted them again and applied some wax metallic finish.  It was the heart that then inspired the card.  A card whose background began with a piece of Whisper White card stock that got sprayed and sprayed with mixtures of water and ink that I placed in little spray bottles.  I then ran the bottom part of the panel through the Big Shot with the Finnial Press embossing folder and stamped the top of the panel with the En Francais background stamp and Pear Pizzazz ink.  Next came a bunch of sponging and the Certainly Celery ribbon.  I stamped the greeting from Short & Sweet onto watercolor paper with Tempting Turquoise ink and punched it out with the decorative label punch.  Next I stamped a bit with an image from Tiny Tags and sponged the edges of the tag before adding it to the embossed panel.  I hope you like it!

Pocket Silhouettes Best Wishes Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  If You Do The Work, You Will See Your Progress!

If you have been reading my blog, you know that I have been doing the P90X workout videos.  I've been very proud of my resolve to actually do the workouts - I have been sticking with it and I continue to "push play" on the DVD player on my laptop - doing each video, one by one - putting in the work.  I am now almost done with week 3 and it is actually fun to think back to the first week and recognize how far I've come.  There were some exercises I really struggled with that I can now do - I'm not saying they are effortless yet - but I can do them and do them proudly!  There was a part of me that was a tiny bit discouraged since my body seemed to be staying the same to me - I was wanting some instant gratification.  Well today, after almost 3 weeks of daily workouts - I had some gratification!  I did the abdominal exercise workout for the 9th time in 3 weeks today and I actually saw some muscles in my stomach area that I had NEVER seen before!  Who knew they even existed in there?! :)  It felt AWESOME to see something like that appear from all of my hard work!  It reminds me, yet again, that if you do the work, you will see your progress!  The same is true with your creating!  If you take the time and do the work of expressing your creativity, you will progress with your art and with your ability to express yourself in your own best and unique way!
For today's card I went back to a clean and simple look with one of my favorite stamp sets.  I started with a Whisper White card base.  I then die cut a piece of Brushed Silver card stock using the clearlits scallop rectangle die.  Next I cut a rectangle from Whisper White card stock.  I stamped the right hand side using a floral image from Pocket Silhouettes using Sahara Sand ink.  I then added a touch of dazzling diamonds to the flowers using a 2-way glue pen.  Have I mentioned lately that dazzling diamonds is my FAVORITE glitter in the world?!!!!!  It is so fine and sparkly and add such an amazing pop to cards in such an easy way!  I stamped the greeting from Short & Sweet using Basic Black ink and then mounted the rectangle to the scallop rectangle using dimensionals.  The piece was then attached to the card base using glue.  The final touch was to add three adhesive rhinestones.  I hope you like it!

Watercolor Paper Embossed Background

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  I Get In My Own Way

It's easy to place the blame in so many different places.  To say that the reason we don't create is because we are too busy, or have to cook dinner, or have to work, or have to ______ (fill in the blank).  Well, today I realized another huge reason - the reason I don't create is because of me.  Today (I'm writing this on Monday) I had a day that was wide open.  I had one conference call that I needed to be on and then my list of responsibilities was pretty empty.  So today was the perfect day for me to sit and create.  I did some creating - I worked on painting layers of paint on wooden and chipboard pieces to use on my can projects.  And then I found myself getting up from the craft table and wandering around - checking email, looking at my blog to see if anyone else had looked at it, walking into the kitchen to grab yet another snack.  You name it, I was finding ways to distract myself and here I had a whole day open to my creativity.  So now the big question is why?  Why am I getting in my own way?  Am I afraid to spend a whole day creating?  Am I afraid I'm going to like it too much and not want to do anything else?  Or am I afraid that it won't be all that I believe it can be - that the ideas will not flow or the results won't be what I want?  Maybe it's a combination of both.  The bottom line is I am responsible for my time and what I do with it.  I can get in my way or I can get out of my way and create - the choice is mine.
I got out of my way a bit to create this card.  I began with a piece of watercolor paper and used the direct to paper technique to apply a layer of Certainly Celery ink and then a layer of Tempting Turquoise ink right over it.  Then I ran the piece through the Big Shot with the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder.  I then did direct to paper again with River Rock ink to bring out the textured pattern.  Next I used my finger to rub Champagne Shimmer Mist paint over the raised areas of the design - this card has great shimmer in person!  The piece was then adhered to a piece of Whisper White card stock and then adhered to the River Rock card base using glue.  I die cut two butterflies using the Beautiful Wings embosslit and Crumb Cake card stock.  I sponged them with River Rock ink and then applied some Champagne Shimmer paint using my finger.  I then punched a piece of River Rock card stock with the decorative label punch and stamped the piece with the birthday greeting from Sincere Salutations using Early Espresso ink.  The edges were then sponged with River Rock ink.  I then applied three pearls and dabbed them lightly with the paint as well.  The butterflies were attached to the label using glue and the label was attached to the card using dimensionals.  I hope you like it!

Busy, Busy, Busy!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Rust Takes Time!

I hope you had a wonderful weekend!  I disappeared on Friday - sorry about that - I just couldn't get my act together to get my posting done in time.  But this is a new week...so we'll see what happens :)  What I have already begun to learn this week is that rust takes time!  I have found a new product (non-Stampin' Up!) that really intrigues me!  I had to run out and buy it and give it a try!  I got together a few cans and began my journey toward rust.  First I used black gesso to coat the cans (I should have used some sandpaper to scratch up the surface a bit before adding the gesso - I'll make a note for next time!).

Of course I had to show some patience and allow the time for that to dry.  Next came two coats of the  base for the rusting process - and allowing the coats to dry in between.

And then came the rusting solution!

 I've got one coat on now...and I can add another coat in another 24 hours...this really is a true test of my patience ;)  Of course, it is also a test of your patience since I can't share a finished product with you until the can is ready to decorate and stamp! :)  I guess that means we're both learning...rust takes time!
Ooh - look!  I woke up this morning and put another coat of the rusting solution on the surface and here is what the cans look like now:

Glad I've been patient - I really LOVE how these are turning out!  Hopefully I'll be able to share more progress with you tomorrow :)

Crimped Background Thanksgiving Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Keep Going!

I've really been enjoying the P90X program!  Well, maybe "enjoying" is a strong word - it is a really tough workout!  Every time I finish a workout though, I feel really good about what I've just accomplished - it's a great feeling.  As you likely know by now, I travel a bit for work and it can be tricky to keep going with a regular workout or eating schedule.  But I'm doing it!  I have brought the dvd's with me on the road and since so little equipment is needed for the workouts, it's working for me so far.  It makes me realize, yet again, that when you are really committed to something you can keep going, even in the face of potential obstacles or roadblocks.  This lesson is true with our creativity as well - if you are really committed to expressing the creativity that lives inside of you, you will find the time to make it happen!  Just keep going!!!!!
Today's card began with my crimper and a piece of Soft Suede card stock.  I crimped the paper and then used the direct to paper technique to apply Whisper White craft ink.  I used the heat tool to speed up the drying process.  I then wrapped a piece of Victoria crochet trim around the piece and knotted it.  The panel was then attached to a Soft Suede card base with dimensionals.  I took a small cello bag (I think that's what they are called - it's the bakery type bag that you would put a cookie in - it's make of a wax paper) and ran it through the Big Shot with the Petals A Plenty embossing folder.  I then tore a piece of the bag and adhered it to the crimped layer using glue.  Next I stamped the leaf image from Lovely As A Tree with Early Espresso ink and colored it in with Stampin' Pastels.  I then cut it out and adhered it to the card using dimensionals.  The final piece was to add the greeting that was stamped from Teeny Tiny Wishes and punched out with the Modern Label punch.  I sponged the edges of the greeting, added a few adhesive pearls, and then adhered it to the card using dimensionals.  I hope you like it!Victoria crochet trim.

Nature Walk & Fabulous Phrases Muslin Bookmark

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  You Don't Have To Know What You Are Doing!

As I was making this bookmark - particularly when it came time for sewing on the beads, I kept thinking to myself, "I have no idea what I'm doing!  I really don't know how to hand-sew, let alone sew on beads!"  My next thought, however, kept me going..."Who cares!  Just keep sewing and see what happens!"  And I did.  I'm not sure where I came to believe that unless I knew how to do something I shouldn't even bother trying - after all, how am I going to learn anything if I don't just try?  I know that there are some activities that might benefit from a little learning at the outset - I don't think I'd jump into the cockpit of an airplane and just give it a whirl if I didn't have a bit of a clue as to what I needed to do :)  However, most of the things I encounter in the craft room don't have the potential to crash and burn! :)  So just do it!  You don't have to know what you are doing!!!!!
Today's inspiration was my laundry :)  I'm serious!  I took my one-millionth dryer sheet out of the dryer and thought to myself, "there's gotta be something I can do with this as opposed to just throwing it away!"  I had also recently looked at the cover of the Jul/Aug/Sept 2011 issue of Somerset Life which featured Pillows & Pouches by Becky Shander that incorporated dryer sheets!  Off to the craft room I went!!!!  I began by die cutting a dryer sheet and a piece of muslin with the clear Circle die.  I then machine sewed them together using gold metallic thread.  I left an opening so that I could put in some small pieces of lace and some Confetti card stock stamped with words from the Fabulous Phrases stamp set.  I stamped the words using Marina Mist ink and sponged the edges before added them to the pouch.  I then finished machine sewing the pouch closed.  Next I stamped the bird from Nature Walk using Basic Black ink onto Sahara Sand card stock.  I cut him out and then covered him with versamark and clear embossing powder and heat embossed.  I did this step about 3 times.  I then, with a bit of pushing, sewed him onto the circle with the gold metallic thread (I should have used another foot on my sewing machine - it didn't like the thickness of the bird).  I made small cuts around the edge of the circle just to fray the edge a bit.  Next I tore a piece of muslin and then sewed a piece of Marina Mist seam binding to it using gold metallic thread.  I added a bit more stitching on the edges for embellishment and then sewed the circle to the bookmark in two places.  Finally, I got out a needle with the gold metallic thread and did some hand-sewing for the gold beads.  I hope you like it!  Remember, you don't have to know what you're doing :)

Large Scale Creativity!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Take Your Creativity On A Large-Scale Experience!

I decided to share my latest large-scale creative experience with you today!  We have decided to paint the outside of our house - we figure it's cheaper than buying a new one :)  We want to give ourselves a bit of a home makeover - something fresh and cheerful.  So back and forth to the paint store we go...making our house into a bit of a color quilt with all of the sample colors!  This picture is after our latest paint color choices - we have already painted over a few of the "nope - can't live with a house that color!" colors :)  Today we started playing around with a few browner undertones, however I'm finding myself drawn to some of the yellow colors - something I would have found surprising had you asked me if I thought we would end up going in a yellow direction.  We are wanting to create an adobe-style look - maybe even with a bright blue or purple door!  It's fun...and a little frightening - to take your creativity on a large-scale experience!  Unlike a card or small canvas, which I can put aside if I decide it just didn't work - the house is a whole different story!  I'm hoping we'll find the color that speaks to our hearts and avoid the effort of having to repaint something that doesn't work!  Wish us luck!!!!!  I'll be sure to share our final choice and the "after" photos...although painting is going to take us a bit of time so you'll have to be patient ;)  How can you take your creativity on a large-scale experience?????  p.s. - that large window to the left of the ladder is the window to the craft room :)

Flower Folds and Paper Flowers Altered Tin Can

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Mozart did not compose, he copied.  He copied what was already written on his soul. - Marc Chagall

When I read this quote it really spoke to me; how art is so much about getting in touch with what is written on your soul.  On days that I struggle to create I feel it is because my soul is buried under so many layers of day-to-day trivialities - thoughts, fears, overloaded with external stimulus.  It is at these times that I need to become still - to allow space and time for quiet to settle in and for my soul to be visible again.  How do you get it touch with what is written on your soul?  If I just begin to create - to sit down in the craft room and just begin - no matter what is going on in my day - I often find that my soul will start to dig through the grit of everyday life and begin to breathe - begin to share with me what is written within.
Today's altered can began with some leftover paint on a brush :)  We are starting to play around with new paint colors for the exterior of our home and of course I couldn't let any of that paint on the brush go to waste!  So I ran inside and grabbed a can that I had sitting in the craft room and painted it with a base layer of the paint.  Once that dried I sponged on a few other colors - metallic acrylic paints.  After this second coat was dry I did a bit of sanding to give the can a distressed look and reveal some of the silver metal.  I then punched 2 holes in the can using my crop-a-dile (I love that it can punch through metal!!!!).  I thread wire through the holes and wrapped it to create the handle.  Next I made the "dreams" tag using the Loads of Tags sizzlit and the stamp from Fabulous Phrases and Cajun Craze ink.  I attached the tag to the can with wire after sponging it with metallic acrylic paint and Cajun Craze ink.  Next came the hot glue gun!  I used it to attach a variety of fabric and paper flowers that I had saved from projects over the past few months.  The base flowers were made using the Flower Folds die and some scrap fabric.  One of the flower centers was made using the Vintage Springtime fabric.  The other two flowers were made from card stock and designer paper.  A few adhesive pearls were added to complete the altered can.  I hope you like it :)  I think these cans are adorable as holders for special little house gifts - maybe a small plant or a bunch of fresh herbs from your garden! :)

Four Ways Friday #65 - Bigz Clear Large Scallop Square

Thanks for your patience in waiting for this week's Four Ways Friday!  This week's Four Ways Friday is all about the Large Scallop Square die!  I had a lot of fun coming up with four different ways to put this die to great use!

I began by making a card :)  But it's the only one you'll see for this Four Ways Friday!  I cut a piece of vellum and ran it through the Big Shot with the scallop square die and then ran it through the Big Shot again with the Elegant Bouquet embossing folder.  I adhered the panel to a 5"x5" Soft Suede card using glue in the corners.  I then added the adhesive pearls to the corners to cover the glue.  I stamped the greeting from Upsy Daisy using Soft Suede ink onto Very Vanilla card stock and punched it out with the 1 3/4" circle punch.  I punched a piece of Soft Suede using the large scallop circle punch and then layered the greeting on top using glue.  I added a few adhesive pearls and a knot of Victoria trim.  Finally I attached the greeting to the card using dimensionals.

This second project is so easy to make and soooo cute :)  I just ran a piece of cork through the Big Shot with the square scallop die to make this small cork board!  Next I took some standard push pins and added some flowers that were punched using the Boho Blossoms punch.  I punched holes in the center of the flowers using the crop-a-dile and stretched them a bit to fit them over the push pins.  I reinforced the 3 layers of flowers using glue and then tied a small bow using crochet thread.  Finally I added a few adhesive rhinestones for bling!

The scallop square die lends itself really well to being a box top!  For this project I die cut two of the squares from Perfect Plum card stock.  I sprayed the top piece with some Champagne Shimmer Mist paint mixed with alcohol and also with a bit of Basic Black (using my spritzer tool) and Elegant Eggplant (mixed with water in a small spray bottle).  I sponged the edges of the top and bottom squares using Basic Black ink.  Next I created the scrunchy flower by punching five scallop squares from Basic Black card stock, spraying them with water, and scrunching them.  Once they were dry I piled them one on top of the other and used the paper piercing tool to punch through the flowers and the top square and attached a rhinestone brad.  The cat was stamped from the Batty For You stamp set and punched out and mounted on a Pumpkin Pie circle.  The label is from the Lots of Tags sizzlits and was die cut from Very Vanilla card stock and then stamped with images from Baroque Motifs using Perfect Plum and Basic Black ink.  I then stamped the greeting from Teeny Tiny Wishes using Basic Black ink onto watercolor paper and cut it out to make the banner.  The banner was adhered to the tag using dimensionals.  I then sponged a piece of watercolor paper using Pumpkin Pie ink and stamped the "boo" from Tiny Tags and punched it out with a 1" circle punch.  I added an adhesive rhinestone and pierced a tiny hole before attaching the tag to the larger tag with crochet thread.  Finally, I decorated the top with a couple of pieces of ribbon adhered with sticky strip and the embellished with a small Pumpkin Pie button.  Here is a close up of the top:

I created a template to make the box itself (I'll try to film a video next week so you can see how I did it!  Here is a view of the side of the box...I can't wait to fill it with candy!!!!

For this last project I turned to fabric!!!!  Don't forget that your Bigz dies can easily cut through fabric!  I used the Deck The Halls designer fabric and cut two squares (you can cut through quite a few layers easily with this die).  I then took the top square and embellished it with a layer of unbleached muslin, a piece of Very Vanilla satin ribbon, a large button and a small muslin piece that I stamped with the Calendar Alphabet & Numbers stamp set and some Staz-On ink.  I then sewed the squares together using my sewing machine and some gold metallic thread.  I left a small opening so I could stuff this mini pillow with fiber fill and then hand-sewed the opening closed with the same gold metallic thread.  Finally, I cut each of the scallops with a scissor to give the edges a bit of a rough finish.
I hope you've enjoyed this week's Four Ways Friday!  I thank you again for your patience - these projects took me a bit longer than my standard cards and, I feel, were well worth the effort!  I hope you have a beautiful and creative weekend!!!!!!

Four Ways Friday Coming A Bit Later Today!

Hi!  Thanks for stopping by!  I am running a little late with posting Four Ways Friday today.  I will be posting the projects later today - please check back in a little while!  Thanks!!!!

DTP Dry Emboss Sanded Technique Dasher Merry Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  How Can You Take It Up A Notch?

When I create I often ask myself, "How can I take it up a notch?"  This card was a result of that question!  I began by using the technique I shared with you on Monday - the Direct To Paper (DTP) Dry Emboss Sanded Technique (maybe I should call it the DTPDES technique instead?  It would be easier to type :)  I took a piece of Naturals Ivory card stock and covered it with Garden Green ink using the DTP technique.  I then ran the piece through the Big Shot with the Petals A Plenty embossing folder.  Next, I sanded the heck out of the raised portions using my sanding block.  Now here comes the "taking it up a notch!"  I used my sponge and Rose Red ink to sponge the raised portions that I had just sanded.  This allowed me to create this dual-color effect for this technique!  Yeah! :)  I then adhered the panel to a 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" Rose Red card base.  Dasher was then stamped onto a piece of Naturals Ivory card stock using Rose Red ink.  I punched it out using the square scallop punch and then stamped the sentiment from Tiny Tags repeatedly using Garden Green ink.  I also sponged the edges with the Garden Green ink.  I attached the square to the card front using dimensionals.  Finally, I knotted a small piece of gold elastic through the Rose Red button and attached it to the square using mini glue dots.  I hope you like it!  I wonder how I can take it up one more notch???  Any ideas??? :)

DTP Dry Emboss Sanded Technique On Your Birthday Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Jot It Down!

I don't know about you, but I have random thoughts that come to me during my waking and sleeping hours.  And, even though they are my thoughts and you would think I would remember them, I know that if I don't jot my ideas down they risk being lost forever.  So I try my best to have a small notebook handy - in my purse, beside my bed - so that when these thoughts and ideas come to me, I can catch them, like bubbles floating in the air - so that I can refer to them later and bring the ideas into reality.  The idea for this background (the video of which I shared with you yesterday) was one such thought and I'm so glad I captured it!  Remember to jot it down - you never know when you'll decide to act on it!
Today's card began with a piece of Naturals Ivory card stock and a Not Quite Navy ink pad.  I did the direct to paper (DTP) technique and covered the card stock with the ink.  I then ran the small piece through the Big Shot with the Square Lattice embossing folder.  Next I took my sanding block and sanded the heck out of the card stock - removing the raised layer of ink.  I then adhered the panel to a Naturals Ivory card base with glue.  Next I stamped the hand from On Your Birthday using Early Espresso ink on Naturals Ivory card stock and punched it out using the decorative label punch.  I then sponged the edges with Early Espresso ink.  I used the same punch to punch a half punch of designer series paper and adhered the paper to the edge of the embossed panel.  The sentiment was then adhered using dimensionals and a small clip was added to the corner.  Finally, I knotted a small piece of Early Espresso ribbon to the corner.  I hope you like it! :)

Direct To Paper Dry Emboss Sanded Technique Card & Video!!!!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Keep Track Of Your Progress - It Can Really Motivate You!!!!

Whether you are growing, day by day, in your creative endeavors or making progress on other goals in your life, keeping track of that progress can be a real motivator!!!!  I know that when I look back on my early paper crafting pictures and projects I am amazed by how far I have come and the amount of creative energy I have released into the Universe!!!  With my latest exercise endeavor - the P90X videos - I have been equally amazed by my progress so far!  I know it has only been 6 workouts, but in that time I did 3 of the ab workouts.  In just those 3 times I went from not being able to do the first ab exercise AT ALL to being able to do 20 reps of that particular exercise!!!!!  It makes me realize that although my start may be slow, I can make progress and move forward!  Keep track of your progress - no matter how small - it can really motivate you!!!!!
Today's card employs a technique that popped into my head on one of my morning walks!  I really love how it turned out!  Since Stampin' Up! does not make white-core card stock, I decided to add color to a light color card stock and then sand away the color to get a similar effect.  Here is a video to show you how I created the card!  I hope you like it!

Just Hanging Out

Buddy and I have decided to relax and take a day off :)  It was a busy weekend and my body is exhausted.  My P90X update is that I have done 5 workouts so far (I missed a day since I was not feeling well one day last week).  I also took a 2-hour bike ride as well as a hike over the past few days and my body is a bit sore (which is a little bit of an understatement!).  I am feeling good though - like I am doing something great for my body (even if it doesn't appreciate it quite yet).  So, today is a day off - a rest day - and I plan to be back tomorrow with renewed energy :)  Hope you have a wonderful day!!!!!

Four Ways Friday #64 - Flower Burst Embosslit

This week's Four Ways Friday is all about using the Flower Burst embosslit in four different ways!  You'll have to pardon the overuse of brown colors in this Four Ways Friday - for some reason I was all about the brown this week!

For this first card I just took a piece of designer paper (Neutrals Pattern Stack) and ran it through the Big Shot with the Flower Burst embosslit.  Then I took a sanding block and sanded the raised side of the flower - this allowed the white core of the paper to come through.  I added a touch of gold and silver smooch ink to the center of the flower.  I attached a piece of 5/8" grosgrain ribbon across the card by making a small slit along the seam of the card, running the ribbon through, and tying it in a knot.  The flower was adhered with glue dots.  I stamped the greeting from Sincere Salutations with Early Espresso ink and the help of the stamp-a-ma-jig.  So simple!

Vellum is a lot of fun to emboss since the texture turns quite opaque!  Here I ran three different pieces of vellum through the Big Shot with the embosslit.  I then tied a piece of Chantilly lace ribbon around the card and knotted it.  Next I adhered the vellum flowers using glue.

 I then took a small vintage tag and stamped the floral image and greeting from Tiny Tags using Early Espresso ink.  I removed the string from the vintage tag and covered the hole with an adhesive rhinestone and then tied the string around the center of the ribbon knot and knotted it as well.  I also trimmed the length of the string.  Finally, I adhered some adhesive pearls to the center of the flowers.

Finally, a card that isn't brown! (although I'm not done with that brown yet!).  For this small 3" x 3" card I embossed a piece of watercolor paper in the sizzlit.  I then sprayed the flower with a combination of inks and champagne shimmer mist paint mixed alcohol.   Being the impatient person that I am, I dried the flower using my heat tool and then sponged the flower with both Early Espresso and Melon Mambo ink.  The Rich Razzleberry card stock base was then layered with a small square of watercolor paper that was stamped with a few words from Fabulous Phrases in Rich Razzleberry ink.  I tied a piece of dotted Rich Razzleberry ribbon around the card and knotted it and then added a small piece of Cajun Craze card stock that I had punched with the scallop edge punch.  The flower was finally added to the card using dimensionals.

Don't forget that your embosslits will work with a few materials other than card stock!  Here I ran transparency/window sheet through the Big Shot with the embosslit.  I then "painted" the back side of the flowers with gold smooch ink and let it dry.  I punched a number of flowers using the Boho Blossoms punch and brushed gold card stock.  I adhered the flowers to the Early Espresso (yes, I know, it's brown :) card base using a variety of adhesives - glue dots, glue and dimensionals - after adding some adhesive rhinestones, pearls and a few brads.  Finally, I stamped a piece of Confetti card stock with the greeting from Sincere Salutations and punched it out using the decorative label punch (one of my favorites!).
I hope you've enjoyed this week's Four Ways Friday!  I wish you a peaceful, rewarding and creative weekend!!!!

Sense of Time and Elements of Style Gift Card

 

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  You Gotta Do What You Can With What You've Got

I had a really rough night :(  For some reason I had these terrible pains in my tummy that kept me up for over 3 hours.  I still haven't figured out the cause (maybe it was that first P90X workout?!?) :)  As I write this (Wednesday afternoon), I am feeling a bit better, but still not 100%.  But I had a lot to do today, so I  had to put my head down and go to it!  Sometimes you gotta do what you can with what you've got.  That goes for today's card too.  I took what I had - a few leftover pieces - an embossed clock from the retired set Sense of Time; a small piece of card stock sitting on my craft table (finished card size 4 1/4" x 3"); and a stamp from Sense of Time.  I put it all together and here's what I came up with!  I know it won't fit in a standard envelope, but it would make an adorable card for a gift (maybe even a bottle of wine or a house plant?).  I like the idea of going over the edge of the card and not being limited by the rectangular shape of the card front...I'll have to play with that idea a bit more.  I hope you like it...I did what I could with what I had :)  For those of you that are celebrating the Jewish New Year - I wish you a healthy, happy, prosperous and creative new year!!!!!

On Your Birthday Torn Scrap Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Oh To Be Like The Snail!

We usually think of snails when we think of going slow.  But the other day, when I took Buddy for his morning walk, I thought of the snail in a different way.  I saw the sun dance off of the trail that a snail had left behind.  It was glittering in the sun - sparkling and shining after the snail had long gone.  I envy the snail its trail.  Oh to be like the snail - to leave a glittering impression long after you have gone.  To leave something behind that catches someone's eye or heart or soul.  To still be there when you are no longer around.  I need to think of that snail as I go through my days - challenging myself to leave something wonderful behind.  Making a lasting impression.
Today's card is a wonderful way to use up designer paper and card stock scraps!  I tore bits of scraps from Soft Suede, Brushed Gold and Early Espresso card stock as well as a piece of the Neutrals Designer Paper stack.  I then sewed the pieces together on my sewing machine using gold metallic thread.  You can just as easily adhere the pieces together with glue.  I then stamped the greeting from On Your Birthday with Early Espresso ink and the help of the stamp-a-ma-jig.  The paper panel was then adhered to the card front using dimensionals.  Finally, I stamped an additional greeting from On Your Birthday to the inside of the card that says "wishing you the happiest birthday yet!"  I hope you like it :)

Change Is In The Air!

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

No, your not seeing things.  That's not a card in the photo.  That's my first attempt at making my own veggie burger :)  I have been making a few changes in my life lately and this burger is a part of it.  For many years I have been a vegetarian - eating eggs and cheese, but staying away from anything with a face or a mom.  Well, my cholesterol levels have never made me happy and I began to worry that I was headed toward needing some type of medication at some point in my future.  It seems that high cholesterol runs in my family and I decided it was time to do something healthy about it.  So, I bought a copy of Dr. Esselstyn's book, Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease and read it.  Wow!  I was incredibly impacted by the book and immediately decided that it was the program for me.  So, for about a month now, I have adopted a vegan diet with no vegetable oil.  It was hard to give up my olive oil - I was quite the addict.  However, now that I am a month into it, I find that I really don't miss it!  I am excited to continue to eat well and treat my body with respect.  I will go back to the doctor in about 2 months to get blood work done again and that will be the true test - to see what the levels are.  I will definitely keep you posted!  I also began another change today - I did my first P90X workout!  A girlfriend had purchased the exercise program and found that she didn't use it, so she lent it to me.  Well, it sat gathering dust for a few months and I finally decided the time was right.  I may be sore tomorrow, but I got through workout number 1 and I am ready to attack workout #2.  Yes, I do believe, a change is gonna do me good!  As the seasons change, what changes can you make for the better in your own life?

 Ooh - had to share this photo with you too.  I made this cake Sunday night and it was AMAZING!  Moist, lemony!  Hard to believe there was no shortening in it!  The cake recipe and the veggie burger recipe are both from the Esselstyn book.  So far, so yummy :)  Sorry there is no card today - just wanted to share all the change I'm going through and figured changing up my post for the day fit with the theme :)  I plan to be back tomorrow with more creative inspiration!!!! :)

Four Ways Friday #63 - Just Believe

Sorry that I am so late posting this week's Four Ways Friday!  I had a hectic week and needed a few days to regroup :)  But here it is - at last!  Four Ways Friday is all about the Just Believe stamp set this week.

This stamp set is one of those sets that is complete all by itself!  It has greetings and images that combine beautifully!  Here I simply stamped the leaf background onto a piece of Whisper White card stock with Pear Pizzazz ink.  I then stamped the greeting right over the image using Basic Black ink (and the stamp-a-ma-jig to make sure it was straight).  I adhered the panel to a piece of Basic Black card stock and then attached it to the Whisper White card base using dimensionals.  So simple!

For this second card I just took things up one notch by adding a touch of embossing.  I ran the Very Vanilla card base through the Big Shot with the Embossed Tulips embossing folder.  I then stamped the focal image using Bravo Burgundy ink.  The greeting was then stamped using Early Espresso ink with the help of the stamp-a-ma-jig to keep everything straight :)  You could easily add a touch of dazzling diamonds to this card to give it a bit of sparkle!

Stamping and cutting are the focus of this card.  I stamped the frame image using Basic Black ink on Very Vanilla card stock and cut it out.  I then stamped the greeting onto another scrap of Very Vanilla card stock and punched it out with the modern label punch.  I punched a designer label out of Basic Black card stock and then started to layer the pieces on a Crumb Cake card base.  First the Basic Black decorative label punch was attached with glue.  Then a small piece of striped ribbon was adhered with glue.  Next I attached the cut out image using dimensionals.  Finally, the modern label was added using a combination of glue and dimensionals.  A few adhesive rhinestone jewels were added for a bit of bling :)

Punches and stamping are a great combination for this stamp set!  Here I began by stamping the large grassy image, using Pear Pizzazz ink, on a Very Vanilla card base.  Next I stamped the greeting onto a scrap of Very Vanilla card stock using Basic Black ink and punched it out with a 1 3/4" circle punch.  I then punched a 2 3/4" scallop circle from Rich Razzleberry and layered the punched greeting on top of it using glue.  A small flower button was added to this flower using a mini glue dot.  Next I stamped the round floral image onto Very Vanilla card stock using both Melon Mambo and Pear Pizzazz ink.  I then punched the images out with the 1 1/4" circle punch.  I layered them onto 1 1/2" circles punched from Rich Razzleberry and Pear Pizzazz card stock.  I also punched scalloped circles out of Basic Black and Regal Rose card stock.  These smaller flowers were layered with a combination of glue and dimensionals and adhered to the card base.
I hope this week's Four Ways Friday inspires you to play with the Just Believe stamp set!  Or maybe the ideas here will trigger some creativity with another stamp set!  Either way, I hope you take something away that you can put to use in your own creations!  Have a beautiful rest of your Sunday!  I wish you a wonderfully creative week ahead!!!!!