A Change In Schedule For February

Hello!  Thanks for stopping by!!!!  I just wanted to let you know that for the month of February things are a bit hectic for me.  As a result, I have decided to just post a few times each week.  Most posts will just be pictures of projects I have made - without my usual lessons from the craft room.  I would love it if some of you might be willing to add some lessons that you are learning from your creating in the comments sections of the posts!  I will look forward to hearing your thoughts!!!!!  Thanks for understanding and I hope you enjoy the posts! :)

Silver Glimmer Heart Mini Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room: The Simplest Things Can Be The Most Enjoyable :)
Our new kitty, Loki, has been teaching me a lot over the past few weeks.  He is obviously here to continually remind me that the simplest things can be the most enjoyable :)  Whether it is an empty Stampin' Up! box, a crinkled piece of packing paper, or a string with a knot tied at the end, Loki can have hours and hours of fun!!!!!  What are some of the simplest things that you find most enjoyable????
Today's card is a mini Valentine's card :)  I began with a 6"x3" piece of Very Vanilla card stock and scored it in half.  I then ran a strip of Core'dinations Primrose Petals card stock through the Big Shot with the honeycomb embossing folder and sanded the top with my sanding block.  I punched a heart from silver glimmer paper using the Full Heart punch.  I then stamped the ticket from the That's The Ticket stamp set using Primrose Petals ink on Crumb Cake card stock and punched it out with the Ticket Duo punch.  The heart and ticket were then layered onto the card with dimensionals.  I hope you like it!

Out On A Whim Wednesday: Fun In A Box!

For today's Out On A Whim Wednesday I wanted to share a video that I posted over the weekend on YouTube.  The lesson I learned from this video was to find joy and laughter in the simple things :)  Enjoy!!!!

p.s.  In case you're wondering, the critter in the box is our new kitty, Loki :)

Sweet Treat Cups Valentine's Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Ask A Question And You May Just Find An Answer!
I have had my sweet treat cups sitting around the craft room for awhile and they were starting to gather dust.  I was doing a Valentine's stamping event this past weekend and I knew that one of my friends who would be attending had recently purchased some sweet treat cups as well.  So, I asked myself a question, "How might I use the sweet treat cups for Valentine's Day?"  I hadn't bought any of the accompanying stamp sets, so I just had the cups and my 1 3/4" circle punch.  The more I looked at the cup, the more I pondered...and finally the thought hit me!  It looks like the letter "O!"  Once I had made that discovery, the rest seemed easy!  I knew would create the word "love" and my Typeset Alphabet Bigz dies were just the right size!  So, I die cut the letters from Cherry Cobbler card stock and began figuring out how to fit everything onto a standard card.  This was the result!  Sometimes if you stop to ask a question, you may just find an answer!

Glass-Etched Votive Holders

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Enjoy Watching The Magic When Someone Else Creates!
I had a few women over for a Valentine's Stamp-A-Stack this past weekend.  It was a bit more than just stamping on cards.  One of the projects was actually a glass-etched votive holder.  It was AMAZING to watch the women as each of them decided how they wanted to decorate their votives.  Some chose to mask areas with clear contact paper that had been punched with the large heart punch.  Others decided to just use the Versamarker and write their own messages (which were then temporarily heat embossed so that the areas would be masked to the etching cream).  Some chose to combine punches and words.  What I loved the most was after the etching cream had sat on the glass and needed to be washed off.  One by one the women would go over to the sink to wash off the cream and each one of them would say something like, "I don't think it worked."  The wonderful magic of etching cream is that when you are washing it off, the water makes it look like nothing has happened to the glass.  But once you begin to dry the glass, the etching appears.  I loved watching the magic sparkle come alive in the eyes of these women as they began to see their creation come to life once it was dry!  Yes, I strongly recommend watching the magic that happens when someone else creates - it will definitely inspire you!!!!!
Today I'm sharing two different etched votives with you.  The first was made by Anna B.  She used a Versamarker to draw the symbol onto the glass.  We then heat embossed it with black embossing powder (I like to use black so you can see what you have drawn and decide if you want to proceed or if you want to wipe it all of and start over).  She then used painter's tape to mask off the diamond shape and applied etching cream over the masked off area (including over the black embossed symbol).  Once the etching cream sat for the required time, she washed off the cream and used a tool to scratch off the embossing powder.  We used flameless candles inside the votives.  Here is a picture of the votive without the light:

This second votive was made by Jeanne.

She punched a heart out of a square of clear contact paper and applied the "negative" of the punch to the votive and burnished the edges down.  Next she used the Versamarker to write "I love Chad" and then heat embossed with black embossing powder.  She then brushed on the etching cream within the heart shape and over the embossing.  After she let the cream sit, she washed off the cream and the words came out perfectly!  I love how you can add the personal touch of your own handwriting to glass using a Versamarker - such a special gift!

Papaya Collage and Broadsheet Alphabet Love Card

Today's Question From The Craft Room:  "However afraid we are of change, the question that we must ultimately answer is this:  What's the greater risk?  Letting go of what people think or letting go of how I feel, what I believe, and who I am?" - Brene Brown in The Gifts of Imperfection
I have been enjoying reading a few books by Brene Brown lately and laughed and cried when I watched her recorded Ted talks.  I am embedding both of her talks here...I thought you might enjoy them!


Today's card began with a Crumb Cake card base :)  Really, it did!  I kept stamping on that Crumb Cake card base until I felt I had a very ugly card!  Then, rather than start all over, I decided to tear apart the card front and use it as a panel on a Pool Party card base.  It's amazing how if you are willing to keep working through the creative process you might actually come up with something that makes you smile :)  I used Island Indigo, Pool Party, Calypso Coral, Wisteria Wonder, Lucky Limeade, Crumb Cake and Soft Suede ink along with images from Papaya Collage and Broadsheet Alphabet.  A piece of Pool Party baker's twine finished the card.  I hope you like it! :)  Wishing you a wonderfully creative and love-filled weekend!!!!!

Art Journal Pages #4

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Sufficiency isn't an amount at all.  It is an experience, a context we generate, a declaration, a knowing that there is enough, and that we are enough.  Sufficiency resides inside of each of us, and we can call it forward.  It is a consciousness, an attention, an intentional choosing of the way we think about our circumstances. - Lynne Twist in The Soul of Money
Today and moving forward, I am working on my experience of sufficiency.

For today's post I decided to share art journal pages that I completed earlier this week.  I thought it was a good way to show you how you can incorporate your Stampin' Up! products into more than greeting cards :)  Can you figure out which products I used????  I used both current and retired stamps for the words and the background images (see the butterflies?).  I also incorporated some embossed tissue paper tape that I had made (check out the video here) - which required embossing powder, Versamark, and a heat tool!  See what other avenues you can explore with your Stampin' Up! products!  Here are a few more pics of the pages:

Out On A Whim Wednesday: Wire Bulletin Board

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Upcycle :)
There are times when old (and ugly) frames can be found in our home.  Michael is an antique dealer so at times he may purchase something that comes in a frame, but it is what is on the inside of the frame that he is interested in.  So, the frames will make their way out to the garbage or recycle bin...unless I intervene :)  I had it in my mind that I wanted to try to make a bulletin board using wire, so I snatched a recent "doomed" picture frame and brought it into the craft room.  I began by lightly sanding the frame (it was a dark brown) and the painted the frame with gesso.  I had originally planned to use additional paint, but once the gesso dried, I loved the distressed look!  So, I just gave certain areas another light sand and decided to leave the gesso layer alone!  Next, I began hammering little nails into the back of the frame - all along the long sides - with the nails being about 2 inches apart.  I then took some wire (I'm not exactly sure what the gauge of the wire was, but it was not too thin and it was quite flexible) and I would the wire around one of the nails and then worked my way down the frame - wrapping on a nail and then crossing to the opposite side of the frame to wrap another nail - until I found my way to the bottom of the frame.  I then worked my way back up since I had skipped some nails along the way.  Since the frame already had a wire for hanging on the back, I decided to just leave that.

Of course, if you didn't want the hanging wire to show you could remove it and just add a sawtooth hanger at the top of the frame.  I used clothespins to hang items from the wires, but you can use wire hangers, mini clips, or even altered paper clips for hanging too!  I might have to decorate those clothespins...they are crying out for some color :)  What can you upcycle today????

Circle Circus & Floral District DSP Get Well Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room: If You Really Want To Hear You Have To Stop And Listen
There is one particular point in our morning walk where Buddy's pace begins to slow and finally he comes to an absolute stand still.  It is a place where we often see bunny rabbits (a favorite of his).  His innate hunting ability tells him that in order to find the rabbits he needs to come to a complete stop - stand motionless - and watch and listen.  Only then will he be able to find them.  Oh how my dog teaches me so much!  The same is true for our inner knowing.  We can't hear our inner wisdom if we are busying ourselves or distracting ourselves (yes, time on the couch in front of the tv is distraction and does not qualify as coming to a complete hault and sitting motionless).  We must come to a complete stop and be absolutely still and listen.  Only then will we be able to hear what we need to know.
Today's card is for my aunt who has been under the weather with a cold.  I began with a More Mustard card base and added a strip of Floral District designer series paper.  Next I stamped one of the images from Circle Circus with Primrose Petals ink.  I stamped the image multiple times and used a variety of circle and scallop circle punches to punch out the image so that I could then layer it with dimensionals.  Next I added a button with a bit of thread to the top of the image with a glue dot.  Finally, I stamped the sentiment from Thoughts & Prayers using Primrose Petals ink on Very Vanilla card stock.  I cut it out to look like a banner and added it to the card with dimensionals.  I hope you like it :)

SALE-A-BRATION is HERE!!!!! (starting at 2:01 a.m. Mountain Time on January 22nd!)

Sale-A-Bration is an annual party with loads of free products!!!!  Spend $50 (not including tax and shipping) and choose one free Sale-A-Bration product for FREE!!!!  You receive one FREE Sale-A-Bration product for each $50 you spend (not including tax and shipping)!  It's a great time of year to stock up on your favorites/consumables or purchase some items off your wish list or the wish list of someone you love! :)  Click HERE to place your order now!!!!!  SALE-A-BRATION runs from January 22nd thru March 22nd.

SALE-A-BRATION IS HERE...SOON!!!! :)

Just a reminder that Sale-a-bration starts tomorrow (January 22nd) and the Stampin Up! ordering system will be down between midnight and 2am Mountain Time.  So, if you are awake beginning at 2:01 a.m. Mountain Time tonight you can go ahead and place your Sale-a-bration order HERE! :)

Sale-A-Bration is an annual party with loads of free products!!!!  Spend $50 (not including tax and shipping) and choose one free Sale-A-Bration product for FREE!!!!  You receive one FREE Sale-A-Bration product for each $50 you spend (not including tax and shipping)!  It's a great time of year to stock up on your favorites/consumables or purchase some items off your wish list or the wish list of someone you love! :)

Broadsheet Alphabet Thanks Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Don't ask what the world needs.  Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it.  Because what the world needs is people who have come alive. - Howard Thurman

I will let today's quote from theologian Howard Thurman stand on its own as today's lesson :)
Today's card was inspired by the desire to place a graphic greeting on the bottom of the card.  With the help of my stamp-a-ma-jig, I stamped the Broadsheet Alphabet letters in Early Espresso ink on the bottom of the Crumb Cake card base.  A strip of In-Color pattern stack paper and a length of Early Espresso 1/8" taffeta ribbon finishes the look :)  I hope you like it!

Pleasant Posies Watercolored Get Well Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Each piece you complete is an act of faith in the process and value of creativity... -Bonni Goldberg
Instead of judging whether I am pleased with the outcomes of my creative process, I would like to take Bonni Goldberg's approach.  To see each piece I complete (and even those that are in process) as an act of faith.  What a wonderful way to reflect on each and every day that you create something - to be able to say at night, before you go to sleep, "Today I engaged in an act of faith."  Yes, this is my new creative mantra!
Today's card was a fun way to play with my Aqua Painter and Watercolor Wonder Crayons!  I stamped the Pleasant Posies image onto watercolor paper with Jet Black Staz-On ink.  I then used colors from the Brights Collection of crayons and my aqua painter to paint the flowers.  I allowed each color to dry prior to applying the next so that my colors would turn to mud :)  I even added a dash of dazzling diamonds to the flower centers for some sparkle.  The greeting is from Teeny Tiny Wishes.  I hope you have an incredibly weekend and I hope you engage in many acts of faith :)

From My Heart Chevron Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  But the artist persists because he has the will to create, and this is the magic power which can transform and transfigure and transpose and which will ultimately be transmitted to others.  -Anais Nin
I think about the role that art plays in my life.  Not just my own art, but the art of others.  Whether it is a photograph, a card, a song, a painting, sculpture or poem, I recognize how much art surrounds me and how it impacts me.  Not to mention the art of nature that surrounds us!  I cannot imagine a world without the amazing power of art.  I love that Anais Nin calls the artist's power magic :)  I never thought of myself as a magician!  We can make things reappear in new ways.  We can wave the magic wand of our creativity and reveal something that is astounding!  Through our slight of hand we can change how we and others see things.  I wonder if I should start wearing a black cape and top hat into the craft room?!  Who knows what I might be able to conjure! :)
Today's card began with a Wild Wasabi base that was stamped with one of the images from Tiny Tags with Early Espresso ink at half strength.  I then added three panels of Coredinations card stock that I had run through the Big Shot with the Chevron embossing folder and sanded.  Next came a Wild Wasabi Labels Framelit die cut - also stamped and sponged.  I then grabbed a stamp from the From My Heart stamp set and stamped it twice - once with Early Espresso and then with Wild Wasabi so I could cut out the Wild Wasabi word and add it to the Early Espresso stamped image.  I cut around the entire image and sponged the edges.  As a final touch I stamped the word "friends" from Tiny Tags and punched it out with the jewelry tag punch and added it to the card with linen thread.  I hope you like it :)

Out On A Whim Wednesday: Art Journal Entry #3

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  At some point in the process of creation the creative product - whether painting, poem, or scientific theory - takes on a life of its own and transmits its own needs to its creator.  It stands apart from him and summons material from his subconscious.  The creator, then, must know when to cease directing his work and when to allow it to direct him.  He must know, in short, when his work is likely to be wiser than he."  -George Kneller
This is what I love about this art journaling process.  It brings me to the point where the pages take on a life of their own and start communicating with me.  The pages direct me what to do next and I simply let go and let them lead...

Sunflower Watercolor Crayon Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Creativity is our species' natural response to the challenges of human experience. - Adriana Diaz
I am learning more and more that creativity is like air to me.  When I am not expressing myself creatively, I feel as if I am lacking oxygen - that I am being choked - I am unable to breathe.  When I am creating, I am on a mountain top - breathing cool, fresh, crisp air.  Filling my lungs.  The air traveling to every cell in my body.  Yes, creativity is definitely a breath of fresh air :)
Today's card was made by coloring the Sunflower background stamp using Watercolor Wonder crayons (Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Tangerine Tango) and then spraying the stamp with water before stamping the image onto watercolor paper.  The greeting is from Petite Pairs and was stamped with More Mustard ink.  A knot of Summer Starfruit stitched ribbon finishes off the card.  I hope you like it! :

Established Elegance Masculine Birthday Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  "There is space for everyone's gifts to flower.  There is more than enough room for all of us." -Marianne Williamson
I have begun reading Marianne Williamson's book The Law of Divine Compensation.  Whenever I read one of her book I feel like someone is giving me a giant hug and telling me everything is okay :)  Her message is truly inspiring and uplifting.  This particular quote came from a paragraph that I would love to share with you today:
Each of us has a unique part to play in the healing of the world.  Each of us is assigned by G-d a function that only we can fill.  At the level of our divine function, none of us are in competition with each other, for the universe has an infinite number of pieces of pie.  My piece doesn't take away from yours, and yours doesn't take away from mine.  There is space for everyone's gifts to flower.  There is more than enough room for all of us.
May each of the gifts we bring flower and may we all play our parts in healing the world.  Amen.

Today's card began with some playing :)  I ran a piece of Early Espresso Core'dinations card stock through the Big Shot with the chevron embossing folder and then used the new Stampin' Sanding System to sand the card stock...and used the new Dust Buddy to take all the sanding dust away!  I then adhered the panel to a Sahara Sand card base.  Next I stamped the typewriter from Established Elegance using Early Espresso ink on Very Vanilla card stock.  The piece was layered onto another piece of Early Espresso card stock.  Next came the sentiment from Just For You - also stamped with Early Espresso.  I added a Neutrals button with some faux threading (using a thin strip of card stock) to finish off the card.  I hope you like it! 

Announcing My Paper Pumpkin!!!!!

Sweep away the mundane-your creativity carriage awaits!

I'm Paper Pumpkin . . .
I come to your door each month (a fully decked-out creativity carriage). I'll help you to escape your life with some paper fun.
I come in a sweet box, but you'll really love what you find on the inside:
All the stamps, ink, paper, and accessories to create pinable projects. Create stuff like cards, journals, décor, and more!
Paper Pumpkin by Stampin' Up! is a new monthly kit program that anyone (even you) can enjoy!

Get Started

It's so easy to get started. Simply sign up for the program starting Monday, January 14 by visiting www.mypaperpumpkin.com and click Get it. Every month a new, surprise project kit arrives at your doorstep. Just think of the anticipation of creating a fun project to pin, showoff, and share with your friends and family-every month!
Of course, you'll want to know more. So here's the nitty gritty:

• Each month we send you a unique, surprise kit with a project-cards, journals, décor, and more! (We've even color-coordinated, measured, and cut everything for you!)
• Each kit includes stamps, ink, paper, and accessories-everything but adhesive.
• Each kit gives you and your customer a 30-minute creativity escape.
• We will ship your Paper Pumpkin on or around the 15th of the month.  
• You need to sign up for a kit by the 10th of the month to get that month's kit. If you sign up on the 11th of the month, your first kit will come the next month. (Let's say you sign up on May 10th, we'll send your kit around May 15th. If you sign up on May 11th, we'll send your first kit around June 15th.)
• A Paper Pumpkin membership is $19.95 per month (and shipping is included!).  
• There's no commitment, you can cancel your monthly Paper Pumpkin at anytime. You can also skip a month if you want.
• Starting in early March, we'll offer a Try-It kit if you'd like to try Paper Pumpkin for one month.

Here's How You Order

Sign up for your monthly Paper Pumpkin starting Monday, January 14 by visiting www.mypaperpumpkin.com and click Get it.  Please indicate that I am your Demonstrator when ordering My Paper Pumpkin :)
Starting in early March, you can try Paper Pumpkin for one month by visiting our online store.

A Free Gift in Your Very First Kit

The Welcome Kit is the very first Paper Pumpkin you will receive in your first month of membership. The Welcome Kit includes a free gift-a clear acrylic block!

Stampin' Sanding System and Dust Buddy Card & Video!!!!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  For me, and for many of us, our first waking thought of the day is "I didn't get enough sleep."  The next one is "I don't have enough time."  Whether true or not, that thought of not enough occurs to us automatically before we even think to question or examine it.  We spend most of the hours and the days of our lives hearing, explaining, complaining, or worrying about what we don't have enough of...Before we even sit up in bed, before our feet touch the floor, we're already inadequate, already behind, already losing, already lacking something.  And by the time we go to bed at night, our minds are racing with a litany of what we didn't get, or didn't get done, that day.  We go to sleep burdened by those thoughts and wake up to that reverie of lack...This internal condition of scarcity, this mind-set of scarcity, lives at the very heart of our jealousies, our greed, our prejudice, and our arguments with life... -  Lynne Twist in The Soul of Money.
Lynne Twist refers to scarcity as "the great lie."  How much truth have you been giving this lie?  I know I have given it some truth and I am ready to expose it for what it truly is!  How 'bout you????
Today I wanted to share a video to introduce you to the Stampin' Sanding System and the Dust Buddy.  I thought a fun card would be a great way to show you these two tools in action!  Enjoy and have a beautiful weekend!

Just Believe Watercolor Wonder Crayon Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  How quickly your thinking changes helps determine how quickly your mortal circumstances change. - Marianne Williamson
Ahhh the wonderful mind and ego.  It is amazing how much of our life is determined by our thoughts.  This is a lesson that I continue to encounter - day in and day out - in my life.  I don't know if I would call it a New Year's resolution or more of a resolution about my life - not tied to any date on the calendar.  The commitment to myself to be aware of how my thinking impacts how I experience my life and my commitment to ask the Universe for help when I need it.  Help so that when my thinking about a situation is creating a negative experience in my life that I have the ability to quickly change how I am thinking about the situation to more positively impact my life.  I keep encountering situations to put this into practice and for that, believe it or not, I am grateful.  I have seen firsthand how when I change my thinking, miracles can happen - empathy and understanding can happen - a lightness in my soul and my step can happen.  Yes, I pray that my thinking be changed so that I can be the best that I can be.  I wish the same for you :)
Today's card was made with a technique I enjoy a lot.  I used the floral image from Just Believe and colored directly on the stamp with Watercolor Wonder crayons.  I then spritzed the stamp with water I keep in a small spray bottle.  I then stamped the image onto watercolor paper and lifted the image to see what happened :)  The piece was left to dry and then adhered to card stock.  The sentiment from Petite Pairs was stamped with Rich Razzleberry and punched out with a circle punch.  I hope you like it :)

Out On A Whim Wednesday: Inspiration Journal Entry #2

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Drying Time Gives You A Different Perspective
As I have launched my inspiration journal journey, I find that I begin a page without knowing what it will become.  I sometimes start with an idea.  Other times I just start with a color.  But since I am working with paint and plaster and other materials that I don't usually use in card making, I am also finding that I need to allow for drying time (unless I want to create a page of mud...now there's an idea for another day!).  When I go to step away to allow for the drying I often feel stuck or unsure as to what my next step will be.  But then, when I come back - once the drying is done - I often have a new perspective - an idea - for what to do next.  The drying time gives me a different perspective and an ability to move forward.  Now the question is how can I incorporate "drying time" into other aspects of my life?  The time to step away for a bit and come back with new eyes...
Today's post is my second inspiration journal entry (I created the page at the end of December).  I'm hoping to do about a page a week - unless inspiration strikes sooner or later :)  I don't think I will describe the process of creating the page (since I would need to capture the process in a video if I wanted to have a chance of remembering all of the different steps! - Maybe one day I'll make this into a video series).  For now I am just going to let my creativity run wild in these pages and share the results with you :)  Enjoy :)