Spring Garden Ensemble

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Lay Down In The Grass And Look Up At The Sky :)
I'm not sure what prompted me to do it - maybe sheer exhaustion.  But when we were at the park the other night I decided to just lie down in the grass, spread my arms and legs like I was making a snow angel, and look up at the sky.  I am so glad I did :)  Yes, it encouraged the dogs in the park to come over to me to try to sniff out what I was doing.  A few even decided to sit beside me.  Buddy chose to roll over on his back and try to imitate me :)  It was absolutely perfect!  I highly recommend you give it a try :)
Today I am sharing the project I created as part of this month's design team for Craft Project Central!!!  What an honor it was to be asked to participate! :)  It’s time to dig in the dirt and enjoy the growth and abundance of Spring (and Summer)!!!!  What better way to express your appreciation than to share this Spring Gardening Ensemble with someone! This ensemble features a decoupage clay pot, a burlap seed packet holder, a small gift card and some adorable heat-embossed ladybug rocks to ornament your garden.  Any one of these projects, individually, would make for a wonderful small class or stamp camp!  If you want all the instructions on how to make this ensemble, sign up for a membership for the month of June at Craft Project Central!

By The Tide Masculine Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Life Is Now
Last weekend we watched the movie Now Is Good.  I must admit that I cried most of the way through it (and yes, I did enjoy it!).  The movie reinforced for me the importance of recognizing that Life Is Now.  If you have been following my blog (and reading the words and not just looking at the pictures), you know that I seem to have a continual struggle with keeping myself focused and avoiding distraction.  Maybe these 3 words will help me.  Maybe if I remind myself of this message I will be better able to concentrate on what is right in front of me.  I feel an art project/art journal page coming on...Life is NOW!
Today's card was created using a brayer technique that definitely makes your fingers inky...if you don't wait for things to dry :)  I used the fish from the By The Tide stamp set and the sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes.  I know it is after Father's Day, but I had submitted this card for consideration for publication so I wasn't able to post it 'til now.  It was not accepted for the magazine, but it definitely passed the very stringent guidelines I have on my blog :)  I need to film and post a video to share this fun and inky technique with you.  Hopefully next week!  Get your brayers ready!  It's going to be a lot of fun!!!!!

Art Journal Pages

Patriotic Wreath & Card by Heidi King

Today I wanted to share this red, white and blue wreath and card created by Heidi King!  This blossom patriotic wreath is a perfect addition to your decor for the summer!  Put it on your door or add it to the wall! A great gift for that 4th of July BBQ!  Change up the colors and theme and you have a beautiful wreath and matching card for any occasion any time of the year!  Makes for a fun class project too!  You can learn more about Heidi on her blog HERE.  If you want to learn how to make this wonderful wreath, head on over to Craft Project Central and sign up for a membership for the month of June!

Wetlands Birthday Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  I Create Art Because I Have To
Gotta love an inner critic that is constantly questioning why you are spending time in the craft room!  At times I let that voice pull me in...and I start to question myself about why I bother to create art if it doesn't support me or if there are so many other things I could be, need to be, doing.  I finally listened to my soul and it had the most obvious answer for my inner critic - I create art because I have to.  I realize that for me, art is like air.  If I do not breathe it in, I will no longer exist.  Art is my ritual, my grace, my sustenance, my healing, my gift to others.  I create art because I have to.
Today's card was a quick and easy to create.  I stamped the grass image from the Wetlands stamp set, multiple times, using Pistachio Pudding ink.  Next, I stamped the goose using Staz-On and then colored him in with an aqua painter and ink.  Since I was using Whisper White card stock as my base, the water soaked through the card stock a bit.  To cover that up, I adhered Crumb Cake panels to the inside of the card.  I stamped the sentiment from Wetlands with Staz-On as well.  The final touch was to poke a hole in the spine of the card using my paper piercing tool  I then threaded a piece of linen thread through the hole, wrapped it around the card twice, and tied it in a bow.  I hope you like it!  P.S. The art journal page that I will be sharing with you this week was inspired by today's lesson from the craft room!

Creating Pretty Cards - Sketch Challenge #24

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Enjoy Your Hot Mess! :)
I decided to participate in the Creating Pretty Cards - Sketch Challenge #24 over at Craft Project Central.  When I created this card I decided it was a hot mess!  At first I just didn't like it one bit!  It is quite different from my usual cleaner and simpler look.  I gotta admit though, the more I looked at it, the more it grew on me.  And, when I added the touch of washi tape, it won my heart over :)  I'm not sure if you'll like this card or not.  All I know is that I'm enjoying my hot mess! :)
I began with a Basic Black card base and added a piece of Modern Medley designer series paper.  Next, I cut a smaller strip of the designer paper and trimmed it to have a banner bottom.  It was added to the card with dimensionals.  The car from Postage Collection was stamped next onto Melon Mambo and then punched with the postage punch.  I then tore a piece of the designer paper and layered it onto the dotted designer paper.  Next came a bunch of stamping - some of the sentiment stamps from Postage Collection - stamped in black and punched out.  I actually used the decorative label punch (did you recognize it?) to punch out the word "friend."  You just have to be creative with placing card stock into your punches to create additional wonderful shapes for your layers!  A touch of washi tape and some adhesive rhinestones finished the look.  I hope you enjoy my hot mess as much as I do :)

Get Well Ensemble by Julie Wadlinger

Nobody likes getting a cold in the summer so here is a Get Well Ensemble with some Pool Party and Daffodil Delight colors for you to fancy things up a bit for your friends in need.  This beautiful project was created by Julie Wadlinger.  It makes for a fun class, club, or camp project!  You can learn more about Julie at her blog HERE.  If you like this project and the other Craft Project Central projects I've been posting during the month of June, you can subscribe to the month of June at Craft Project Central to have access to all the instructions for how to make these great projects!

Art Journal Pages

I hope you have a peaceful and creative weekend!  Please keep the people of Colorado who are being impacted by all of these fires in your thoughts and prayers.  It's been a difficult week so far for this beautiful state that I call home.

Mosaic Flip Flop Album by Christy Fulk

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  If you don't risk anything, you risk even more. - Linda Peterson
I read the May/June issue of Cloth Paper Scissors magazine and absolutely smiled when I saw the are created by Linda Peterson! You can learn more about Linda and her adorable Hazel art HERE.  Her character, Hazel, appears in her mixed media pieces - often with some wonderful words of wisdom.  Today's lesson came from a mixed media piece featuring Hazel standing on a diving board.  The words seems all the more fitting given our recent roller coaster ride of house hunting! Yes, not jumping in with both feet may actually be a bigger risk than going for it!  Thanks for the great advice Hazel :)
Today I am sharing yet another wonderful project from Craft Project Central for the month of June.  This album was created by Christy Fulk.  You can learn more about Christy on her blog HERE.  This album inluded eight 6” x 6” pages , along with eight half page flaps.  Everyone will love how the pages “flip flop” when looking through it.  The album features the new Mosaic Madness stamp set and the new Quatrefancy Specialty designer series paper.  This project would make a very fun scrapbooking class, too.  You can get instructions for this great album and for all the other June projects I've been sharing with you by subscribing to Craft Project Central for the month of June!

Gingham Garden Washi Tape Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  It's Nice To Have Friends You Can Be Smelly With!
I had a pilates class the other day and decided not to shower when I got home since it was hot outside and I knew I'd be back outside to take the dog for his evening walk.  I'm not a big fan of taking more than one shower a day since my skin gets cranky and dry.  So off we went to the park and we ended up sitting on the hill with some of Buddy's park friends.  As I was sitting there I realized that I probably smelled like Pilates...and it didn't matter!  Because these are my friends and they don't care if I smell every once in awhile :)  It's nice to have friends you can be smelly with :)
Today's card is super simple to make!  Just use some washi tape!  I tore some piece of the Gingham Garden washi tape and adhered them to the Coastal Cabana card base.  I stamped the sentiment from Label Love with Melon Mambo ink and punched it out with the Artisan Label punch.  It was added to the card with dimensionals.  Finally, I punched some small flowers using the Boho Blossoms punch and Daffodil Delight, Bermuda Bay and Melon Mambo card stock.  Rhinestone jewels added the finishing touch!  I hope you like it!

By The Tide Father's Day Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:   I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. - Henry David Thoreau
In all of our thinking and searching around a move to the mountains, the words of Henry David Thoreau have been quite inspiring.  When it boils down to it, I believe this is what is driving our desire around the move - to front only the essential facts of life.  Somehow nature becomes the canvas upon which we paint our lives and we have been craving a closer look at the canvas.
For today's card I decided to play with some of the new In Colors for Father's Day!  I stamped images from the By The Tide stamp set using Pistachio Pudding (yum!) and Coastal Cabana.  Next, I stamped the fish with Staz-On and then colored the fish using a variety of markers and blender pen.  The sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes was stamped onto Coastal Cabana card stock and then punched out using the Word Window punch.  The sentiment was adhered with 1/2 dimensionals.  I hope you like this clean and simple card :)

Cupcake Box Gift Set by Amanda Corbet & A Winner!!!!!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Taking A Leap Can Be Emotional!
For those of you following our house hunting journey, we actually took a leap and put in an offer this past week on a home in the mountains.  Don't get too excited because there was a counteroffer that we felt was too high for us.  So now things have stalled - or, I guess if you think about it legally, things have ended because both the offer and the counteroffer have expired.  I have to say that this whole process has been quite an emotional one for me.  I am learning a lot about myself and my emotions!  It was a major step for me to actually take the leap and for that I am so grateful.  I don't know where things will go now - I guess legally things are at an end, but that doesn't mean options don't continue to exist.  So we will see what happens.  For now I will just be proud for the actions I have taken and for the lessons I am learning!  Yes, taking a leap can be emotional!
Today I wanted to share the latest project available for June on Craft Project Central.  This beautiful Cupcake Box Gift Set was designed by Amanda Corbet.  You can learn more about Amanda and her lovely creation on her blog HERE.  Do you need a really bright and fun gift to celebrate someone’s birthday? Well this set has it all for you! There are instructions to create this fun pink card, gift bag, and cupcake box set that is sure to make anyone’s day!  You can receive the instructions when you subscribe to the month of June on Craft Project Central.
Thank you to Lorraine, Doris and Raquel for entering comments to win a June subscription for free to Craft Project Central!  I used random.org to choose a winner and the winner is...

Congratulations Raquel!!!!! 
raquelmason.stampinup.net said...Congrats on being chosen to be a guest designer. My hero is anybody that has a dream & achieves it. Thanks for the chance to win.
I will be reaching out to you for some information to set up your free subscription for June!!!!

Friendship Preserves Banded Brayer Background Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Drink In Positive Words

Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me... Anything can happen, child. Anything can be. 

- Shel Silverstein

For today's card I used the banded brayer technique I shared earlier in the week to create the background panel.  I used Old Olive ink on the brayer.  I stamped the sentiment from Friendship Preserves with Soft Suede and then die cut it, and a piece of Soft Suede card stock, using the Window Frames Framelits.  A piece of Very Vanilla seam binding was sponged with Soft suede ink and knotted around the card.  Brads were added to give a touch of ruggedness :)  I hope you like it and I hope you have an inspiring and creative weekend!!! Today is the last day to enter to win a free subscription to the month of June for Craft Project Central!  Please leave a comment on my blog on my post from Monday of this week for your chance to win!!!!

CREATE Sign by Monika Davis

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Life Begins At The End Of Your Comfort Zone
I am not sure who originally said this quote, but I heard it the other day and it really resonated with me.  It can be so easy to get set in your ways - to not stretch yourself beyond the place where things are "known" and comfortable.  We have been dealing with this very thought as we go about our home search and weigh the pros and cons and analyze things to death!  What keeps you from moving forward is fear and comfort - fear of the unknown, comfort in the known.  Yes, life really begins at the end of your comfort zone...are you willing to stretch beyond it?
Today I am sharing a gorgeous project by Monika Davis that is the new project that is up at Craft Paper Central!  You can learn more about the project and about Monika on her blog HERE.  This project is a wonderful way to add creative home decor to your living space!  of course, it would make a wonderful gift as well!  To get instructions for how to make this wonderful project and many more to come, subscribe to Craft Project Central for the month of June.  Or, leave a comment on my post from Monday of this week to be entered to win a FREE subscription to June!!!!  You can enter through Friday of this week!  Good luck!!!!

Banded Brayer Technique: A Video!!!!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  I can't help but wonder, what's the cost of becoming our "edited" selves instead of our authentic selves? We shouldn't share just gumdrops and butterflies, because the hearty and rocky parts are what help us find our authentic selves. - Phil Hansen
I've been feeling all kinds of hearty and rocky lately!  This whole exploration about moving, about changing my lifestyle, about making art more of a priority in my life - has had me happy, sad, depressed, anxious, excited - you name it.  Definitely not all butterflies and gumdrops (although maybe eating a whole bunch of gumdrops would help me feel better...don't tell the dentist!).  I guess there are times I edit myself on this blog - times when I am lower than I let on.  I, like many of us, am on a search for my authentic self - for a life that will allow my soul to sing more and sorrow less.  I keep wondering if what I want more is a change of place or a change of pace.  Maybe it's that I feel that a change of place could lead to a change of pace, but right now some of the "place" possibilities that we are exploring might not allow as drastic a change of pace that I might be looking for.  Oh if only you could snap your fingers and have an answer!  I guess it's like art - whether we stay or whether we go, it's not about the outcome, it's about the journey we take to decide.
Today I want to share a fun and easy technique that can help you create fun and interesting backgrounds with just some ink, a brayer, and some rubber bands!  The card I created incorporated some Naturals Trim and an image from the From My Heart stamp set.  Enjoy!

Sugar Scrub Gift Set by Julie Beltramo & Bouncing Brayer Technique: A Video!!!!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  The More You Put Yourself Into It, The More You See Yourself Smiling Back At You!
We have been a bit late in all of our planting this year.  Here in Denver, Mother's Day is usually the day you can begin planting without fear of frost.  But with all of our house hunting distraction, we didn't get around to planting or flowers until Memorial Day weekend and our tomatoes just went in this past weekend.  We haven't even gotten to the vegetable beds yet...though a small kale plant is making it's way through the dirt - a comeback from last year!  There is dirt under my nails and my eyes itch a bit, but all of the planting has been a wonderful way to put myself into my home - the place that supports me and provides me pleasure and shelter.  Michael and I enjoy transforming our yard into a secret garden every year and now, each time we walk into the yard, we see it smiling back at us - reflecting the beauty and love that we have invested in it.  The more you put yourself into it, the more you see yourself smiling back at you :)
Today I finally want to share with you the technique I used to create some of the card backgrounds that I shared with you last week.  The technique is the bouncing brayer technique - or what I like to call the "put and push" technique.  Enjoy!

 I also want to share this gorgeous project from Julie Beltramo with you!  It is a wonderful Gingham Garden Sugar Scrub Gift Set!  You can learn more about Julie and her pretty project on her blog HERE.  This is the second June project on Craft Project Central.  To get all the instructions for this project and all the other June projects, just purchase a subscription for the month of June to Craft Project Central HERE!  You could also enter to win a FREE subscription for June to Craft Project Central by visiting my post from this past Sunday and leaving a comment in the comments section.  Deadline for entry is this Friday!!!!

Order From The New Catalog, A Sale & Wanderlust Photopolymer

The New Catalog is here!!!!  Click HERE to download your electronic copy or to view the catalog on-line!

Check out these 3 great greeting stamp sets that are ON SALE - 25% OFF!!!!

Dates: May 31-June 30, 2013

Sale Price	Retail Price	Description	Item
$17.96	$23.95	Sassy Salutations Wood-Mount Stamp Set	132070
$13.46	$17.95	Sassy Salutations Clear-Mount Stamp Set	126707
$14.96	$19.95	Sweet Essentials Wood-Mount Stamp Set	132085
$11.21	$14.95	Sweet Essentials Clear-Mount Stamp Set	126457
$21.71	$28.95	Petite Pairs Wood-Mount Stamp Set	128706
$15.71	$20.95	Petite Pairs Clear-Mount Stamp Set	122497

Also, a new photopolymer stamp set is available!  It is called Wanderlust (133452 for $13.95) :)  Isn't it cute?!

Pennant Parade Birthday Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Trim Away The Dead
It's a weird lesson, but I think it will make sense if I explain it.  We have a beautiful weeping birch tree in the backyard.  By now it is likely 80 years old and every year there seem to be limbs that die.  Today we had the tree trimmers come to trim away the parts that were dead.  I'm always nervous about trimming away what is dead - afraid too much will disappear and it will no longer be recognizable.  I know this is a lesson I need to learn about myself as well - the ability to trim away that which is dead - that which is no longer serving me or my soul.  And yes, I struggle with the same fear - that I won't recognize myself if I strip away that which I have come to believe about myself.  What if we changed where we live?  What if I changed what I do?  What if we changed our approach to each day - a new routine?  Maybe the tree is there to teach me.  She looked beautiful today after that trim - green and glorious - blowing in the breeze without a care.  She even looked more full with all of that dead weight gone.  Maybe it can be the same for me.
Today's card was made using the background technique that I keep teasing you with!  I had planned to make the video today, but the chainsaw noise in the background would not have made for a great video!  So, I will film the video over the weekend and get it to you by Monday!  I die cut some letters using the Typeset Alphabet dies and Pink Pirouette card stock.  The pennants are from Pennant Parade - stamped on Pink Pirouette with Melon Mambo ink and then punched with the Petite Pennants builder punch.  I used the Little Labels Punch Pack to punch the small stamp squares of Melon Mambo card stock that I glued to the pennants.  I used the Simply Serif Mini Alphabet set to create the letters for "wish" and punched them out using the circle punch from the Itty Bitty Shapes punch pack.  The "happy birthday" greeting is from Teeny Tiny Wishes - stamped onto Pink Pirouette card stock with Melon Mambo ink and partly punched out with the Ticket Duo Builder punch.  Of course, I had to add some dazzling diamonds for some bling!  Dazzling Diamonds is still one of my all time favorite things - just added with 2-way glue...even if the glitter ends up making me, the craft room and the pets sparkly :)  I hope you have a wonderfully creative weekend!!!!!

Fine Feathers Birthday Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Let Your Mind Wander For A Day
All this thinking has made my brain hurt.  So today I decided to just let my mind wander.  No focusing on houses, moving, or the impermanence of all that is around you - let alone ourselves.  I just enjoyed the day - even my eye check up (I decided to be a little less conservative with my next pair of glasses...nothing crazy, but a bit outside the box for me).  It was nice.  Rain, thunder, sunshine, dinner with a neighbor.  A perfect day for an overtaxed mind :)
Today's card was made with some of the colors and images from yesterday's card.  I stamped the bird from Papaya Collage with Soft Suede.  The feathers from Fine Feathers were stamped in Chocolate Chip, Crumb Cake and Soft Suede and then cut out.  I created another background piece (and yes, I still need to get that video together so you can see how I created it!).  The sentiment is from Bitty Banners.  I hope you like the Pink Pirouette and Crumb Cake combination as much as I do :)

Papaya Collage Pursuit of Happiness Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  There Is So Much To Consider...Or At Least That's What I'm Telling Myself
I apologize for having disappeared for a few days.  My brain has been hurting with thinking so much.  Yes, we are still contemplating the idea of purchasing a home and moving to a more rural area.  And yes, it makes my head hurt.  Who knew so much could be connected to the thought of moving.  I won't bore you with all the details, but somehow this potential move has made me consider my hopes and dreams.  The feeling that if you don't do something at a certain point in your life, the time will pass and you will never do it.  And yet not doing it may create a path of its own - a path that might be satisfying in its own right.  The thoughts have ranged from mortgages to fire danger to snow removal to bears in the backyard!  Not to mention altitude, amazing views, new adventures and sad goodbyes.  I wonder too if I am making it all too hard for myself.  Maybe so.  Or maybe I'm just being thorough in my decision making process and trying to align my head and my heart.  Yes, there is so much to consider...or at least that's what I'm telling myself.
Today's card highlights a message that I need to remember daily - especially with my head so full of thought :)  I stamped the sentiment from Pursuit of Happiness using Crumb Cake ink on Naturals Ivory card stock.  I used the Framelits Labels collection to cut it out and then sponged the edges with Crumb Cake ink.  The bird from Papaya Collage was stamped with Sahara Sand on Naturals Ivory card stock and cut out too :)  Are you wondering how I made the panel that sits as the first layer on the card base?  I may put together a video before the week is out to show you how! :)  Next came a layer of Pink Pirouette card stock that was run through the Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder and then adhered to the layer beneath it with dimensionals.  A piece of Crochet trim was tied around these 2 layers.  The bird was added with dimensionals and the sentiment just adhered with glue.  For a final touch I added a Crumb Cake button with some linen thread tied through the holes.  I hope you like it :) (ps  Hi Doris!  I've missed having coffee with you these past few days :)