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????)

Timeless Type Monogram Notes

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Allow Your Body Time To Rest

The soreness is starting to fade a bit and I can feel myself wanting to run again.  However, all that I have read suggests taking a week off of running after completing a marathon.  I think I'm just dealing with a bit of fear right now - after all of the running I am afraid that if I stop I will not start again.  I'm afraid of the old adage, "a body at rest tends to stay at rest."  I don't want to fall back into old habits and, at the same time, I want to be sure to allow my body time to rest so that I don't injure myself.  So, to try to keep my body in motion I am starting a new challenge tomorrow - and I'm starting in a realistic way.  I'm calling it my 40/10 challenge - 40 sit ups and 10 push ups every day.  I think I can do it...and maybe I'll even be able to increase the amount after a little while - we'll see.  All I know is that I'm going to do my best to keep this body in motion!
Today's card is part of a set of 8 personalized note cards that I made for a friend for her birthday.  I used the scalloped rectangle sizzlit in the Big Shot and the Timeless Type sizzlits for the monogram.  The Friends 24-7 stamp set provided that great design on the background and on the envelope.  I also used the Wonderfully Worn background stamp to add a bit more interest...along with some sponging.  I created a faux button with card stock and the 1/2" circle punch and added a bit of twine.  I hope you like it!

I Did It!!!!!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  By Changing Yourself, You Change The World

I am home and I did it!!!!!!  (That's me with my hands up just before the start of the race).  8 months ago I decided on a goal - to run 26.2 miles on Halloween day in the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, DC.  Now, here I am, sitting in Denver (with very sore legs I might add) and I accomplished that goal!  What an amazing feeling!  To know that 8 months ago I couldn't run a block.  And to know that 2 days ago, I ran 26.2 miles and finished the race.  It really is amazing what you can do when you decide to make a change.  It's amazing that by changing yourself, you change the world.

Define Your Life - Simple Gratitude Card

This is a quick and easy card that I made to say thank you to a friend for a wonderful birthday gift :)  I began with a basic Very Vanilla card and then added some flocked paper (this is not Stampin' Up! paper - it was actually part of the gift that my friend gave me so I felt I needed to use it on her thank you card :).  I used a piece of sticky strip across the top of the flocked paper and then folded and adhered the Very Vanilla satin ribbon as I went along.  The antique brad, attached with a glue dot, adds that vintage flair.  The greeting is from Define Your Life - stamped in Early Espresso ink onto Crumb Cake card stock and then punched out with the extra large Decorative Label punch.  I sponged the edges with Early Espresso ink and then added a few floral images from the Tiny Tags stamp set (some at full strength and some at half strength).  I hope you like it!!!!!  (p.s. I arranged for this post to appear automatically before I left for the marathon...I'm hoping that by the time you read this I will have made it to the finish line and will be on my way home, back to the craft room!).

Altered CD

Four Ways Friday will return next Friday!  Today I've decided to share an altered CD with you instead - I hope you don't mind :)  I love that you can turn an old disc into something spectacular with a bit of adhesive, paper and ink!

This is one side of the CD.  I used Mod Podge to adhere the Garden Gala designer paper to the disc and then used a gold leaf marker to add a touch of gold around the edge.  The letters are from various alphabet and regular stamp sets and one word was cut out of a book :)  I hope you notice the little butterflies!  I used the butterfly embosslit with vellum card stock and then sponged them with classic ink and let them dry.  A bit of glass glitter creates their bodies :)  Did you know that your Crop-a-dile can cut through a CD like butter?!  What a great way to make this altered CD into an ornament.  Here is the reverse side:

I die cut the letters using the Timeless Type dies and added a bit of embossing with the floral image from Eastern Blooms.  Define Your Life provided the wonderful definition of "create."  I added more vellum butterflies and the wonderful basic pearls jewels!  I hope you like it!  Now go get an old CD that you would normally discard and see what you can do!  I would love to see your creations!!!!!  PS...I'm off to run the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, DC...wish me luck!!!!!! :)

Lovely As A Tree Acrylic Block Stamping

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Count On Your Preparedness!

It's hard to believe that my 8-month journey is about to reach it's pinnacle!  The Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, DC is something I have been training for for the past 8 months.  It's even harder for me to believe that 8 months ago I couldn't even run a block, let alone a mile...or 26.2!  I have now done what I can to be in shape to make it the full 26.2 miles on Sunday.  Now I just need to maintain my confidence!!!!!  If you find yourself needing something to do on Sunday, feel free to send a bit of positive energy my way! :)
I wanted to share another acrylic block stamping card with you.  For this one I used the size D acrylic block with an image from Lovely As A Tree and the greeting from the Curly Cute stamp set.  A touch of dazzling diamonds on the leaves finishes the look.  I hope you like it!

Card Play #14 - Apple Blossoms Acrylic Block Stamping Video!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Life Works In Mysterious Ways!

I had a number of things to do for work today and, I have to admit, I really wanted to spend time in the craft room!  And I guess the Universe heard my cry since one of my work calls was moved to tomorrow...so off into the craft room I went!  Life works in mysterious ways sometimes - and I love it when it's both mysterious and wonderful!!!! :)
I am loving stamping with my acrylic blocks!  It's like getting a new toy to play with!  Here's another video of a very simple and elegant card that will take you no time to make!  Enjoy!

Card Play #13 - Acrylic Block Stamping Video!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Creativity Relieves Stress!

I'm no doctor and no, I don't have any scientific research that I have collected to support this claim (although I have a feeling that data is out there)...what I do have is personal experience and I am here to tell you, creativity relieves stress!!!!!  I had a stressful call for work the other day and when I hung up the phone I immediately knew that I needed a timeout in the craft room!  And, it worked!!!!  I was able to lose myself in the process of creativity and I walked out of the craft room a changed woman!!!!!  So, when you find yourself stressed out, give yourself a creativity time out!  It's wonderful medicine!!!!

Today I wanted to share more acrylic block stamping with you.  Here's a video on how I created this card.  Enjoy!

Acrylic Block Stamping

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Shop With A Friend!

You may find this strange, but I'm really not a fan of shopping...except, of course, in craft stores!  When it comes to shopping for clothes or shoes my enthusiasm goes right out the door.  That all changed yesterday!  I went shopping with a friend and it made the whole experience fun!  I loved having someone with me who would tell me her honest opinion and also just bring me stuff to try on so I didn't have to keep getting dressed and heading out of the dressing room over and over!  If you're like me and find clothes shopping to be a drag, try heading out with a friend.  It may totally change your perspective!!!!

Did you know that you can apply ink directly to your acrylic blocks and then stamp onto card stock with them?  You get a wonderful rectangle that you can then stamp on or embellish with punched out pieces!  I began with Pink Pirouette on Whisper White card stock and stamped the acrylic block 3 times.  I used post-it notes to mask the edges and stamped the floral image in Basic Gray.  Next came the big hearts and finally the punched hearts coated with Crystal Effects.  I hope you like it!

Fifth Avenue Floral & Copics

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Color (Inside or Outside of the Lines)!

I received some Copic sketch markers for my birthday yesterday and decided I needed to give them a try!  I haven't had this much fun coloring since I was little!!!!!  I stamped this flower image from Fifth Avenue Floral multiple times onto Whisper White card stock using Staz-on Jet Black ink.  I then colored to my heart's content :)  These colors are so vibrant and fun to play with - I'm already thinking about what colors I want next :)  I am looking forward to actually learning how to use the markers and, at the same time, just taking out the markers and coloring without having a clue, was a lot of fun too!  I added a bit of dazzling diamonds to the center of the flowers using my 2-way glue pen.  The greeting is from Curly Cute, stamped with Basic Black ink.  I mounted the floral panel onto Poppy Parade card stock and then onto a Whisper White card base.  I hope you like it!  What can you color today?

YIIIIPPPPPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

I am sooooo excited!!!!!!!  I just received an amazing birthday gift!  I was just contacted by Paper Crafts Magazine and they have accepted one of my projects to be published!!!!!!  YIIIIPPPPPPEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!  And how crazy is this....this was my first attempt to be published and magic happened!  So that means you have no excuse!  If you've ever wanted to be published, don't wait for the perfect project or a time when you feel like you "deserve" to be published...just give it a shot!!!!!  You never know what might happen!!!!!!  Check out the Paper Crafts magazine website to see the most recent call for submissions!  (click on "magazine" and "reader submissions").  Go for it!!!!!