Four Ways To Be Present!

I decided to do something a little bit different this Friday!  Since this was a week about reflecting on retired stamp sets, I thought that I would not introduce a new Four Ways Friday with a stamp set today.  Instead, I want to share with you some thoughts and images about Four Ways to be present.

1.  Plant a seed, watch it grow, and enjoy the fruits of your labor!
This is the first strawberry from our strawberry plants this year!  I am able to be present when I plant in the garden.  I also stay in the moment when I go outside and look at the plants in the garden - literally standing there and watching them grow.  I am also more present when I eat one strawberry that is homegrown as opposed to picking up a carton of berries at the store and eating them.  There is something about being a part of the entire process - from planting to eating - that becomes a part of the actual moment of enjoying the sweet flavor of the fruits of your labor.

2.  Stop to notice, and maybe even smell, the flowers!
I took my camera into the backyard the other day and began taking photographs of all of the different flowers that were growing.  It was amazing to look at them up close, rather than just walking by them and seeing them as dots of color on the landscape.  Being present is about really seeing that which is around you.  To do so, we may actually have to slow down a bit.

3.  Take a nap (outdoors)!
It may seem strange to say that one way to be present is to take a nap :)  Yet, giving your body exactly what it needs in the moment is all about being present.  It is about recognizing that now is all that matters because it is all that you have.  I learn the lesson of being present every day when I watch Willow.  She is the most present being that I know! :)

4.  Create!!!!!!
When I am in the craft room actually making something I am so in the moment!  For athletes it's called "being in the zone."  I guess we artists can call it the same thing :)  Time dissolves.  The here and now is all that matters as we devote our attention and energy to exactly what we are doing.  We experience a sense of timelessness.
It is in the present where we can find our sense of peace.  It is in the present where we can connect with one another.  It is in the present where we can be ourselves and be happy.  I wish you a beautiful now.  May you continue to bring your awareness to the gift of the present :)

Wanted Get Well Soon Card - An Ode To Retired Stamp Sets

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Presence Teaches That What You Do Today Is Important, Because You Are Trading A Day Of Your Life For It.  -Dan Millman

What if we actually stopped to consider this thought during each and every day?  That what you do today is important because you are actually trading a day of your life for it.  I teach workshops on topics such as negotiation, influence, and having difficult conversations and I am so conscious that the people that are in attendance at the workshops are trading a day, and sometimes two days, of their life for the experience of being at the workshop.  I know that some of them are told they need to be there by an employer.  Others are there because they decided they had a need that they felt the class could fulfill.  I usually start the morning by saying something like, "We are here together, in this room, for a period of time.  These are minutes of your life that you are not going to get back.  It is so important to me that when you leave this room you feel as if you did some of value with those precious moments of your life.  I want to feel the same way too."  I go on to ask them what their personal goals are for our time together so that I can be sure to do my best to help them reach the learning goals they have set for themselves.  I feel very similarly to the time you are spending with me now.  Please know that I so appreciate your stopping by my blog and reading these words and looking at these pieces of art that I share with you.  It does not go unnoticed that you are choosing to trade some of the precious moments of your life to spend a little bit of time with me.  I too, am trading precious moments of my life to capture these words and images, in the hopes that they will prove to be of value for both of us.  Thank you.
Today's card is an ode to the retired stamp set Wanted.  I used Chocolate Chip ink to stamp the images and a rub on for the greeting.  I love how the eyelets and the crimped card stock add texture and interest to the card!  I hope you like it! :)

Ancient Art Birthday Card - An Ode To Retired Stamp Sets

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Be Present

I am working hard, in this very moment, to keep myself present.  As I have shared with you, I find it so easy to lose myself in thoughts of the past or thoughts of the future and not experience the present moment fully.  This happens often for me and really gets highlighted whenever I am on an airplane...which is quite often these days.  I travel quite a bit for work and find myself on planes a lot.  Over time I have developed a pretty interesting fear of flying.  Interesting because I didn't used to have it.  My sense is that the fear is more related to the thought of not making it back home more than anything else.  So, as I sit on the plane, my mind starts to travel into thoughts of the future - particularly into thoughts of fear.  Will I make it?  Will the plane fly successfully?  Do the pilots know what they heck they are doing?  Where is my life vest if I need it?  What will it feel like if we fall out of the sky?  My heart starts to pound, I clench my fists, I am anything but relaxed and I am so in my fearful thoughts of the future that I fail to realize that in that very moment I am very safe, very alive, and the plane is flying perfectly.  I am continuing to remind myself to be present.  How about you?
Today's card is another ode to a retired stamp set (kind of ironic that in a post about being present I am paying homage to something from the past ;)  This stamp set was called Ancient Art.  I used my markers to color and stamp the images.  Do I get points for using one current set, Curly Cute, to stamp the word "birthday?!" A bit of stitching on the background adds some texture.  I hope you like it!

Fly Fishing Birthday Card - An Ode To Retired Stamp Sets

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Who Ever Said A Piece Of Art Needed To Be Made In A Day?!

The artist in me has been in growth mode lately!  I have wanted to stretch beyond the making of cards and delve into all kinds of other media again.  This is something I have always done - tried new techniques, played with different supplies.  Yet now, as I sit down to create, I find myself thinking in my head that you should be able to make your art in one day!  Where the heck did that thought come from?!  What happened to the days when I would spend days, weeks, or even months, working on an art project?  Picking it up.  Putting it back down again.  Just walking by it wondering what I would do or add next.  In the habit of making cards I somehow started to believe that art is quick.  That techniques that take time are somehow not worth pursuing.  I know that this is not true - really I do.  I am just amazed at how my inner critic seems to get very loud whenever I begin or want to begin to embark on some creating that isn't a 10-minute stint in the craft room.  So this past weekend, I went in the craft room and began making some flowers.  Flowers that began as fabric and then went through ink dying, fabric stiffening - all kinds of fun that required creating time, drying time, sit and wait time...and I LOVED IT!!!!!!  Art is made in the time it takes for it to be made.  Do we have the passion and commitment to allow it the time that it needs?
Today's card continues my ode to retired stamps.  This Fly Fishing set is a wonderful set for masculine cards!  I still love it!  I combined it with the Framed Tulips embossing folder and the decorative label punch as well as an antique brad.  I used both Chocolate Chip and Soft Suede ink on the Very Vanilla card stock.  I hope you like it!

Bella's Bloom Journal

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Sometimes I'm Unsure What To Do With The Inner Conflict

It's that time of year again for Stampin' Up!  Out with the old and in with the new.  As with any business, Stampin' Up! continues to introduce new products while discontinuing others.  This time of year always creates a bit of an inner battle for me.  Why?  Well, as a demonstrator it is important to share new products with you - to show you that we continue to bring new designs and new excitement into the crafting world.  Of course, as a demonstrator, selling is also a part of it.  If I only show you things that are no longer available for purchase from me, then I will likely not sell very much.  And here is the inner conflict - there is a part of me that is just fine with folks not buying anything at all (is it okay for me to say that?!).  As a matter of fact, I love my retired stamp sets and products and the idea of putting them on a shelf and not using them or even selling them just doesn't feel right to me.  I also don't want to encourage you to feel or think that you always need the newest product.  As a matter of fact, sometimes the most fun as an artist is making do with what you have on hand.
As a demonstrator it is in my sales interest to show you what is new.  For me as an artist it is important to not always need to newest thing - the next trend.  It is important for me to use that which inspires me, no matter what it's current "status" is as a commercial product.  Sometimes I am unsure what to do with this inner conflict.  Actually - maybe I'm quite sure - it's just a matter of admitting it...so here I go!  I am going to use whatever inspires me!!!!  If it is not something you can currently buy from me, so be it.  I hope that no matter what I share with you that what it will do is inspire you to create with whatever supplies you have!!!! :)  So this week is going to be an "Ode To Retired Stamps."  I am going to share project with you that mostly use those sets that have long since retired.  They still inspire me! :)  Here is a journal I recently made with Bella's Bloom, Days Gone By, some retired designer paper and yes, one current embossing folder - Elegant Lines.  I hope you like it! :)

Four Ways Friday #51 - Broadsheet Alphabet

This week's Four Ways Friday shows you four ways to use the Broadsheet Alphabet!  I love the versatility of alphabet stamp sets and this one is no exception!

Alphabet stamp sets are perfect for making monogram notes!  Here I stamped the "M" in Elegant Eggplant onto a piece of First Edition designer series paper and then punched it out with a 1 1/2" circle punch.  The Natural Ivory panel was stamped with the flower from the Charming stamp set and then a corner knot was added with Very Vanilla satin ribbon.  This panel was layered onto an Elegant Eggplant panel with dimensionals and then adhered to a Perfect Plum card base stamped with the Wonderfully Worn background stamp using Elegant Eggplant ink.

This little 3x3 Whisper White card was quick and easy to make.  I scalloped a piece of a page out of an old book using the horizontal slot punch (retired).  I then stamped the "B" using Crumb Cake ink and adhered the paper to the card base.  The greeting from Define Your Life (I can't believe this stamp set is retiring!  I love it!!!) was stamped on the card using Jet Black Staz-On ink.  The bird from Friends 24-7 (also retiring at the end of the month) was stamped onto Naturals Ivory card stock, cut out and adhered to the card with dimensionals.  Finally, I added a button with some waxed twine and rounded two of the corners of the card.

With alphabet sets, you can spell out whatever word you want!  Here I used my markers to color the letters - half in Pacific Point and half in Pear Pizazz.  I then sewed them onto the cover of this handmade journal.  The journal was stamped using bubble wrap and dazzling diamonds was added for some bling!  The word "take" was stamped using the Calendar Alphabet & Numbers set (I told you I love alphabet sets!).  The Large Stipple Butterfly (retired) was heat embossed on vellum using black embossing powder and then colored in with markers and shimmer powder.  The journal was bound with various threads/yarns and twine.

For this final card I used the Broadsheet Alphabet in two distinct ways.  First I stamped the card base with Cherry Cobbler ink and the "X" and "O" multiple times.  The Whisper White panel was then stamped, with the help of the stamp-a-ma-jig!  The panel was adhered to the card with dimensionals and then I used crystal effects to adhere Baja Breeze glass glitter around the edges of the panel.  The word "you" was stamped onto a round tab punched piece of Baja Breeze card stock using Early Espresso ink.  Finally, I added a thin piece of Marina Mist ribbon.  The finished card size is 4x4.
I hope you've enjoyed this week's Four Ways Friday!  It's hard to believe that next week will be Four Ways Friday #52!  That's a whole year of Four Ways Fridays!  Time sure does fly!!!!!  I hope you have a wonderful and abundantly creative weekend!

Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder Wax Resist Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  "Art is a way to sidestep time and feel timeless for awhile." - Theo Ellsworth

You know the feeling.  You are in the craft room, or at whatever space you use to create, and you get so focused and absorbed in what you are doing that time no longer exists.  When you finally do happen to notice the time you are amazed by how much time has passed and how you didn't even notice.  This is one of the most enjoyable experiences for me when I create - the ability to enjoy every single moment - time does not even come into the equation.  As Theo Ellsworth says - it is a way to feel timeless for awhile.
For today's card I used the wax resist technique that I shared with you a little while ago.  You can watch a video of the technique HERE.  I stamped over the embossed resist panel with the En Francais stamp set.  I punched out a label using the decorative label punch and then stamped the greeting with my Calendar Alphabet & Numbers stamp set.  The bird was also created using emboss resist and then punched out using the 2-step bird punch.  I hope you like it! :)

Animal Stories Hello Baby Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Sometimes The Message We Intend To Send Is Not The One That Gets Received!

No, this card is not intended to tell the recipient that their baby looks like a whale!  Yet, once I completed this card that was all I could think about...I mean, what if I sent this to someone who had a new baby and, in their post-pregnancy haze, they thought I was calling their child a whale!?!  Yikes!  That would not be a good thing!  Sometimes the messages we intend to send are not the ones that get received!  I guess it's just important for us to think about not just what we are trying to say, but also how they might hear it.  This card may have to remain in my "box of experiments" - unless someone knows someone who recently had a baby and named them Whale?
I had a lot of fun creating this card (even if it may never get sent!).  I began with a small piece of Whisper White card stock and a piece of freezer paper.  I rubbed some Tempting Turquoise ink onto the freezer paper and then sprayed it with a bit of water and then a quick spritz of champagne shimmer paint mixed with alcohol.  Then I took the small piece of card stock and pressed it onto the ink mix and lifted it up!  I then waited impatiently for it to dry :)  The words were stamped using Basic Gray ink and the Calendar Alphabet & Numbers stamp set.  The die cut letters were ones I had saved from past project scraps.  I have a little hardware box where I keep all my leftover letters for just this type of occasion!  The whale from Animal Stories was stamped and cut out and a touch of dazzling diamonds was added to his spout.  I tore the bottom of the panel and then sponged the edges and mounted it to the card base with dimensionals.  Finally,  I stamped the sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes.  I hope you like it :)

Every Little Bit Happiness Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Sharing Your Love Can Be So Simple!

Who knew that love would show up in the form of a large coffee tin can?  Well, that's how it showed up for me the other day!  I had been working on recycling small tin cans and Michael mentioned that he thought it would be cool for me to alter/decorate a large tin can.  I agreed!  Only problem...no large tin can.  At least until 2 days later!  He came home from an estate sale and presented me with a large coffee tin that used to hold coffee and now just holds possibility!!!!!  Sharing your love can be so simple...as simple as bringing home an empty tin can :) (I'll have to share the completed can with you once it goes through its transformation!).
Today's card is all about sharing your love in a simple way too!  I stamped the dog and heart from the Every Little Bit stamp set and then colored them in with markers.  I then coated the heart with Crystal Effects (difficult to see in the photo) to give it some shine and added the little wag marks around the dog's tail.  The sentiment was stamped using the Word By Word background stamp (retired) and Pacific Point ink.  I hope you like it :)

Just Believe White Craft Ink & Colored Pencils Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Reflect On The Gift Of Your Life

It's amazing how suddenly life can change.  A friend of Michael's was just moved to hospice today (Sunday).  It's hard to even take in.  Just a short time ago, this friend, an amazingly talented artist, was going about his life.  He started to experience some back pain, which was not too odd for him since he had had some trouble with his back before.  Well, a few weeks later, as they tried to figure out what was causing the back pain, they realized that the back pain was just a symptom for a much more serious illness.  Our friend had contracted Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), a form of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs).  TSEs are a group of rare degenerative brain disorders characterized by tiny holes that basically give the brain a "spongy" appearance.  I am writing this and still cannot believe what I am writing.  I know that we will all die.  Yet I still find difficulty grappling with the realities of how and when each of us will pass.  I know that in our passing each of us lives on in the hearts of others.  That even when we die, we remain close to those we love.  I just reflect on this story and am reminded of the fragility of each and every moment we have - how precious the gift of our life is - how important it is to live our moments in ways that express love and our unique contribution to this gorgeous planet.  Please, reflect on the gift of your life - you are so precious and you have so much to give.
Today's card was made using a fun coloring technique.  I stamped the Just Believe floral image onto Marina Mist card stock using Whisper White Craft ink.  I then sped up the drying process with my heat tool.  I then colored over the white craft ink using colored pencils.  You can get very vibrant colors using this technique!  I then added a few tiny white dots using my white gel pen.  The greeting, from Vintage Labels (retired), was stamped with Rich Razzleberry and then punched using the small oval punch.  The card base was run through the Big Shot with the Elegant Lines embossing folder to create some fun texture.  I hope you like it!

Four Ways Friday #50 - Easy Paper Flower!

This week's Four Ways Friday is all about how to make a simple paper flower!  I'll share with you how to make the flower and then show you four ways to use your new flower! :)
Let's begin with the video for how to make the flower!  Caution - these can be addicting to make! :)

You can add these flowers to your cards and they add a lot of impact!  Here I made a quick 3"x3" card and adhered the flower using glue.  I added a greeting from Teeny Tiny Wishes using the modern label punch and also punched out a small circle from a piece of Very Vanilla card stock that I stamped using the Dot, Dot, Dot stamp.

You can also adhere these flowers to a recycled tin can!  I made these flowers out of blank pages I tore out of an old book.  I adhered them to the can using matte gel medium.  I love that the flowers and the can were both made from recycled materials :)  The greeting is a combination of stamped letters (Rough Edges Alphabet - retired) and words cut out of an old book.

What about a whole bouquet?!  Here I glued the flowers to skewers and arranged them in a small pot.  Some of the flowers were made from old book pages and the sprayed with ink mixed with water in a small spray bottle.  The other flowers were made with designer series paper (Brights Pattern Stack).  There is a styrofoam ball adhered to the bottom of the pot and the skewers were pushed into the styrofoam.   I then scrunched up thin strips of Old Olive card stock and added it to the pot.  The welcome banner was stamped using the Fabulous Phrases stamp set onto Very Vanilla card stock which I then glued onto the skewer!  What a fun little gift or home decor item!

 

This easy flower does not have to stand alone :)  The flower can act as the center of a larger flower!  Here I used the Fun Flower Bigz die to create a multi-layer flower and placed the easy flower in the center.  The banner was hand cut and stamped with a greeting from Sincere Salutations in Early Espresso ink.  The Tulip embossing folder was used to create the frame around the card base.  A few pearl jewels finish the look!

I hope you've enjoyed this week's Four Ways Friday!  May you find joy in making these easy paper flowers and may you have a wonderful and creative weekend!!!!!

Hodgepodge Happiness Note

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Keep Asking "What If?"

I find that there are times when I am afraid to experiment and take chances in the craft room.  I get so worried about how ugly my creation might turn out if I try something out of the ordinary!  It is during these times that I realize I am too focused on the outcome as opposed to the process of creating.  If we are not willing to take risks, it is difficult to grow and move our art (and our life) in new directions.  One way to keep ourselves growing in our art is to continue asking the question "What if?"  For instance, "What if I combined these two ink colors when they are still wet?," "What if I try to reheat my embossing powder and add glitter while it is all melty?", "What if I combine frost white shimmer paint with Bashful Blue ink?"
It is this last question that led to today's 3"x3" card!  I was lamenting the fact that I didn't have shimmer paint in colors other than champagne and frost white and I asked myself "What if I combined the shimmer paint with my inks?"  I took out a tiny little paint cup (you could do this on a palette or piece of freezer paper as well) and combined a bit of frost white shimmer paint with some Bashful Blue ink (about 3 drops of ink) and then stirred it with a wooden skewer.  I then painted a piece of watercolor paper with the mixture.  The result was a beautiful, shimmery piece of light blue paper that inspired this card!  I tore a small piece of text out of an old book and adhered it to the Whisper White card with glue.  I added the shimmery square on top of it.  The sentiment is from Hodgepodge Happiness, stamped with Basic Black ink and then punched out with the 3/4" circle punch.  I made the little flower from a scrap of the old book paper and adhered it to the card with glue as well.  (I will try to make a video to share these quick and easy flowers with you).  Allow yourself to keep asking, "What if?"  It may lead you to new discoveries and awesome adventures in your art and life!!!! :)

Retiring Stamps & Accessories!

It's time to Say Goodbye to retiring stamp sets and accessories in order to make room for all of the new products coming out in our new catalog in July!  Click HERE to find out what items are retiring and to shop to get your favorites before they disappear by June 30th!  A few things I'm really going to miss include our 1 1/4" striped ribbon in some yummy colors and a few of my favorite stamp sets including:  Define Your Life, Friends 24-7, and Cheep Talk.

Altered Tin Can

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Sometimes The Best Gold In The World Is Of The Feathered Variety!

I'm still dealing with this cold that has decided to visit my body for a bit.  I spent my time today in the craft room instead of on the couch - it was a nice change of scene...especially when I looked out the window of the craft room and saw this:

It's rare for us to see such colorful birds in the city.  We have our share of blue jays, but the goldfinches usually stay in the mountains.  Today this gorgeous guy decided to brighten my day - it worked!!!!  Sometimes the best gold in the world is of the feathered variety!!!!
I was reading a past issue of Somerset Studio (Jan/Feb 2006) and I came across an article about Tinnies by Lisa Kaus.  I loved how she recycled tin cans and turned them into gorgeous knick-knack holders!  I was inspired so I dug a can out of the recycling bin and got to work!  I painted the can with 2 layers of latex house paint and then sanded it to let some of the silver shine through.  I cut, scalloped and tore some old book pages and then colored them with ink and acrylic glaze.  I adhered them to the can with gel medium and then added letters cut with the Big Shot and my Alphabet Simple Letters dies.  The paper flower was made using various layers of the scallop circle punch.  I hope you like it!  I can't wait to dig more cans out of the recycling bin!!! :)  Thanks for the inspiration Lisa!

Every Little Bit Brrrthday Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Create Through The Crud!

I woke up Sunday morning and was feeling fine and then, as the day progressed, the crud started to take over :(  Ugh!  Headache, runny nose, stuffy head and achy body - yuck!  So I went to bed early and woke up feeling like I had been run over by a truck.  I stayed on the couch and watched a lot of the Law & Order marathon and then, by the afternoon, I picked myself and my tea cup up and went into the craft room.  I did a bit of cleaning and then decided to take my mind off my sickness and create!  I hadn't used the Every Little Bit stamp set in forever, so I pulled it down and all of a sudden this pun came to my mind :)  Sometimes it helps to create through the crud! :)
I used my stamp-a-ma-jig to stamp the penguin image repeatedly using jet black Staz-On ink.  I then colored the beaks and feet with my Tangerine Tango marker.  The stamp-a-ma-jig came in really handy again for the greeting!  The "happy" is from Fabulous Phrases, the "Brrr" from the Defining Alphabet, and the "thday" from Curly Cute.  I added a touch of Frost White shimmer paint for snow.  I hope you like it!!!!

Medallion & Nature Walk Gesso Background

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Don't Throw Worms

I was talking to a friend the other day about a woman she has been friends with since she was small.  That was over 30 years ago and the friendship has devolved to a place where it no longer feels supportive or nurturing.  I asked my friend what had changed and she started to recount a tale from when she was young and this friend used to throw worms at her.  This was 30 years ago and it was as real today as it ever was.  My friend had asked the girl to not throw the worms and the girl didn't listen - she thought it was funny to watch my friend scream and cower at the worms.  And here we are 30 years later and the memory is just as real and the nature of the friendship never really did change.  Back then it was about not begin supportive and causing pain to someone close.  Today it seems the same.  The benefit is that now my friend is able to see this relationship for what it is and make choices about letting go of a relationship that is harmful to her.  What is in our past has happened.  Today is the present - the gift of new choices that support and treasure who we are.  What choices can you make for yourself today?
Today's card is what I'm calling an exploration :)  I have been playing with more art supplies and figuring out how to incorporate them into my cards.  This card uses gesso, iridescent medium (champagne shimmer paint creates a similar effect), ink, stamps, smooch ink and more!  The background has many layers - stamp, then gesso, then sponge with ink, then gesso, then dry brush, then spray, then stamp - you get the picture - a bunch of playing and experimentation.  I guess in making the card I am living the life I've imagined - the life of an artist - free to explore and experiment as I try to express myself.  I have a feeling more experimentation is on the way! :)

Four Ways Friday #51 - Ribbon or Twill (and some videos!!!)

For this week's Four Ways Friday I decided to share a few ways to use your ribbons or twill!  Feel free to play with the size, color and type of ribbon that you use - these techniques are fun with any ribbon or twill!

I love using my ribbon to create the tops of bookmarks!  Here I created a "pocket" on the front of the card using unbleached waxed paper.  I stamped the bee image from Nature Walk onto the card base and then sewed the pocket onto the front of the card.  I stamped the Define Your Life "wish" definition onto the wax paper with Staz-On.  The bookmark was created using a cracked glass embossing technique.  I will try to do a video next week so you can see how it was done!  Here is a picture of the card without the bookmark in the pocket as well as a reverse side of the bookmark.

I kept things simple for this second card!  I love to add ribbon to my card fronts.

For this one, you don't even need to know how to tie your ribbon!  Instead, you can adhere the ribbon to the back of the front panel and then use a small piece of crochet thread to tie the end :)  I used a glue dot, hidden behind the crochet thread, to secure the ribbon to the front of the card.  The lion is from the Fox & Friends stamp set and the words from Fabulous Phrases.  I ran the Soft Suede panel through the Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder.

This third card was all about solving a mystery!  How do you tie a corner knot?  Seems like an easy question to answer...until you actually try doing it :)  If you have your doubts and think it should be easy, feel free to stop reading this post and go give it a try :)  Once you get too frustrated, come back, and I'll solve the riddle for you ;)  Here is a video to show you how to tie this corner knot and make this fun card with the Cheep Talk stamp set.

This last card offers a solution to a problem that I have in my craft room - a problem that you might experience too!  I have a tendency to hold onto little scraps and bits of ribbon and hadn't really found a great way to use them....until I found fusible web/iron-on adhesive!!!!!  Here is a video to show you how to use some of your twill, ribbon and fabric scraps to make this adorable nest.  Next week I'll share with you some more advanced techniques using this wonderful iron-on adhesive!

I hope you've enjoyed this week's Four Ways Friday!  Have a wonderfully creative weekend!!!!

Nature Walk Journal

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Put Your Whole Body Into It!

On our walk the other day, Buddy and I saw a huge crow standing on the top of a light post.  As we got close, the bird puffed up his entire body (he about doubled in size!) and then let out the loudest caw we had ever heard!!!!  He put his whole body into creating that amazing sound and it was impressive!!!!  I wonder how often I put that much commitment into my art?  When I am creating, do I put my whole body into it?  Or, are there times when my heart and hands are into it and my head is somewhere else?  I aspire to put my whole body into every piece that I create - to be there 100% - head, heart, body, spirit.  I long to be like that crow - so fully committed to the sound he released into the world!
I continue to make these handmade journals to carry with me so that I can record thoughts, observations, questions and lessons.  Have you tried stamping with bubble wrap?  If not, you're missing out on a lot of fun :)  I stamped the Soft Suede base with bubble wrap until I liked the look.  I then sewed the edge of the cover with my sewing machine.  The bird was stamped on a Sahara Sand panel and then colored in with Stampin' pastels.  I used my music notes wheel to add a bit of additional interest to the panel and then cut out words from an old book.  The words were sponged and then adhered to the panel.  Here is a close up of the panel:

 I then sewed around the panel and adhered it to the front cover.  I used string to bind the book and scrap paper for the pages.  I hope you like it!

Nature Walk Stamped Masking Tape Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Sometimes The Very Best Surprises Are In Your Own Backyard!

We can get trapped in a negative thought process that focuses on the "anywhere is better than here" theme...or the "nothing new and exciting ever happens here" theme.  I strongly believe that what we think is what we see - if we don't believe the place we are is wonderful, then it won't be.  If we don't believe in backyard surprises, then we will likely miss them when they do happen.  I am so glad I didn't miss the surprises in the backyard this past weekend!!!!!  I was in the craft room and looked out the window since I saw some motion out of the corner of my eye.  Look at what I saw!!!!!!

I had never seen a single Cedar Waxwing, let alone a whole group of them...let alone in our very own backyard!!!!!!  It was an amazing surprise and I couldn't stop watching them!  They stayed for the afternoon, enjoyed the water and the seeds in the nearby trees.  And then, as if they had never been here at all, they vanished!  I am so glad I made it outside to listen to them.  They have a very high-pitched song - almost cricket-like.  Sometimes the very best surprises are in your own backyard....here's another one I found that same day...Willow thinks she is a tomato plant :)

For today's card I had some extra stamped masking tape from yesterday's card and I decided to put it to good use :)  I've really been enjoying using my Calendar Alphabet & Numbers stamp set to create whatever saying/greeting/sentiment I want!  I love this Rumi quote...it seems to go with the bird theme of the day :)  I hope you like the card and the quote...and the animal watching in the backyard :)

Artistic Etchings Card & Stamped Masking Tape Video!!!!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Sometimes All You Need Is A Makeover :)

I can get captivated every once in awhile by the show What Not To Wear.  Have you seen it?  The hosts of the show work with someone to give them a total makeover - clothes, hair, makeup - it is pretty amazing to watch the recipient of the makeover transform before your eyes - not just externally, but internally as well.  You can see their confidence build with the outer transformation.  I must confess that I am not very into makeup and clothing.  There was a time when I wore a ton of makeup and then I grew out of it.  I decided that other than a touch of lipstick on special days, I didn't want to tug and pull on my face.  So you will usually find me sans face paint and in clothing that I'm sure does not make my mom very proud :)  I have my reasons - mostly craft related.  If you play in the craft room as much as I do your clothing definitely becomes a part of the creative process :)  And, okay, maybe I also like to hide in schlumpy clothes...but that's another story for another day....maybe I need to see how I can make myself over - to build my confidence and feel as good on the outside as I do on the inside and vice versa.  How 'bout you?
I decided my poor masking tape needed a makeover too!  Not that there is anything wrong with the lovely vanilla tinted tape as it is...I just thought it might want a little boost :)  So, off I went with my roll of masking tape, my Jet Black Staz-On ink and the En Francais background stamp...and the rest is history :)  Here is a video to show you how I made this card.  I hope you like it!