Four Ways Friday #20 - Round Tab Punch and Poppin' Pastels Video

Welcome to another Four Ways Friday!  Today I decided to play with punches and show you four ways to use the Round Tab Punch.

This first card uses the round tab punch in a very traditional way.  I punched a piece of Crumb Cake card stock using the round tab punch and then stamped the "happy halloween" greeting from the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set in Chocolate Chip ink.  The tab was then adhered to the back of the Pumpkin Pie layer on this card.

Did you know that the round tab punch makes a great nose?! :)  This box was inspired by a video by Amy Manhart (Thanks Amy!).  You can view Amy's video HERE.  I made the box with some slight differences, including color changes.  You can also find some other wonderful Halloween characters online that use the round tab punch for a nose as well.  I've seen a witch, Frankenstein, and a few others.  What fun!

I used the poppin' pastels technique with the Medallion stamp to make this simple card.  I have created a video to show you how.  Here's the video:

You never know what you'll come up with when you spend time playing with your punches! :)  I created this gumball machine after a friend showed me a gumball machine birthday invitation she had received.  I thought...hmmm...gumball machine...I bet I can make one using punches!  Here is the finished result!  It is difficult to see, but I punched a piece of window sheet/transparency so that the gumball machine globe looks like glass.

There are so many things you can do with your round tab punch.  You might enjoying watching this video by a woman named Catherine (I'm sorry I don't know her last name).  Talk about a lot of ways to use a single punch!  She does an amazing job of showing all the different things this wonderful punch can do!  Thanks Catherine!  And thank YOU for joining me for another Four Ways Friday!  Have a wonderful weekend!

Witches Feet Top Note Halloween Treat Holder

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Try Out Your Local Farmer's Market - There's Still Time!

I've been trying to eat local and eat organic more and more frequently.  If you truly are what you eat, then I want to be as healthy as possible...with some chocolate thrown in :)  We have a local farmer's market here every Wednesday and Saturday this time of year.  It's fun to watch the different varieties of peaches that come in every week - each has their perfect peak time.  Do you have a local farmer's market?  Have you tried out consumer supported agriculture and bought a share of a farm's harvest?  Maybe you've taken things to the very local level and have planted your own fruits and veggies in your own backyard or harvested the apples from a neighbor's tree (I did this the other day and made 2 yummy apple cakes!).  To see if there is a CSA farm near you, you can always visit www.localharvest.org.  As the bumper sticker says - Think Globally, Act Locally :)

Today's treat holder is a ton of fun to make and will be one of the items we make at my upcoming Halloween stamp-a-stack!  I found this adorable version by Marie Shaugnessy here and decided to make my own with some revisions.  (Thanks for the inspiration Marie!).  I used the Top Note die in the Big Shot with Old Olive and Basic Black card stock.  A little crystal effects on the gold buckles and the Real Red stripes on the stockings add a fun shine.  The greeting is from Holiday Best (retired hostess set).  I may just have to do a video on putting one of these adorable treat bags together! :)  I hope you like it!

Punch Jack-O-Lantern Halloween Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Try A Massage :)

Massage seems to be one of those things that people either love or hate.  I definitely fall on the love side when it is done well!  When I used to live in Atlanta I was very consistent in getting massages - it was a great way to respect all the wonderful work my body does for me on a daily basis.  Unfortunately, I did not keep up the habit when I moved to Denver.  However, now I have found a great massage therapist and I am committed to treating my body with the respect that it deserves.  Traveling, running, stress all take their toll on my muscles and it feels wonderful to spend some time focusing on releasing those toxins.  If you haven't ever had a massage or haven't treated yourself to one in awhile, now might be a great time to give your body the respect it deserves.  If you can't afford a massage by a massage therapist, find a friend or loved one you can swap massages with - your body will thank you for it!

Today's card was inspired by a video that Amy Manhart put together on how to make a pumpkin using the small oval punch, the ornament punch and the round tab punch.  You can check out Amy's blog and the video here.  (Thanks Amy!).  I decided to make the pumpkin into a jack-o-lantern so I added eyes using the small star punch and a mouth using the oval punch.  This will be one of the cards for my upcoming Halloween stamp-a-stack!  Can't believe September is here!

Here's another photo from my Amsterdam trip.  Amsterdam is filled with canals throughout the city and there are houseboats on the canals.  What a neat way to live!  I had to take a picture of this houseboat - I loved the color and loved that they created a lawn on the roof of the houseboat!  The bicycle in the forefront of the picture is also so typical for Amsterdam.  Everyone rides bikes there!  By the central train station there was a bicycle parking structure that was 3 stories tall!  What a great, environmentally friendly way to travel!

Sense Of Time Wall Hanging

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Get Conscious About How You View Time

On my trip to Amsterdam, I became keenly aware of the difference between how I view time at home and how time was viewed in Amsterdam.  Granted, that on my trip, I did not have my usual morning chores or constantly "plugged in" computer.  However, I was very aware of time, particularly when it came to meals.  In my experience, when I go to a restaurant in the States, it seems that "quick" is the mantra.  How quickly can we get seated.  How quickly is there a person to wait on us.  How quickly do we get served.  How quickly can they get us the check.  It's as if the eating portion of the visit is just a necessity and something not really worth our expense of time.

In Amsterdam, the experience was entirely different.  Whether a restaurant was crowded or full, it was as if we were given the space of time.  Time to sit and contemplate the menu.  Time to just chat prior to looking at the menu.  Time to relax and ease into the ritual of eating prior to any food being served.  Time to digest and relax after eating - no hurry to get us out the door or throw the bill at us.  In fact, not a meal went by where we were given a check prior to asking for it.  The message that sent to me was something like "you are welcome to relax and enjoy here for as long as you like.  When you are ready, you just let us know."  I'm sure it helps that the staff in restaurants is paid differently than here - tipping is not the norm in Amsterdam so restaurant staff do not rely on tips to make their wage sufficient.  So there is no sense that the restaurant wants to turn the tables quickly.  However, it seemed to go so far beyond that - just a different meaning given to time and a different appreciation of it.  It is definitely time for me to examine how I view time.  If I firmly believe in the quote above, which I believe I do, how can I encourage and support an unhurried sense of time in my life?

Home Again :)

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Solid Ground Feels Good :)

I'm happy to report that I am safely back from Amsterdam :)  (you may not have even realized I was gone since I scheduled posts for while I was away - ahh the amazing internet!).  What a wonderful trip - a combination of work and play - an exploration of another place.  I have to admit that after spending so many hours in the air, solid ground is a welcome change!  This picture is from the Flower Market in Amsterdam - I hope the colors transport you!  There is so much to process from the trip - a visit to the Van Gogh museum and the Anne Frank house.  Walking through the Red Light district.  Eating in restaurants - all of which were in no hurry to hand you a check and show you the door - just a different approach to time and pace.  And so few cars - everyone on foot or on bicycle - a large city and yet so quiet since the sound of pedaling and feet are so much softer than engines and horns.  I will try to share a few more photos, as well as stamping, with you this week.  It's, as always, good to be home :)

Gratitude

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Express Your Appreciation!

You may have stopped by today to see this week's Four Ways Friday...unfortunately, I only had time to make One Way Friday :)  And since you stopped I did want to express my appreciation and say thank you for your visit.  Knowing that you are coming by inspires me to keep creating.  Knowing that someone out there takes the time to visit my blog makes me feel connected to you even though we have likely never met.  I appreciate you and the time you are willing to share with me.  Please stop by again next week when Four Ways Friday will return or anytime - I'd love to see you again!

Today's card was inspired by a scrapbook page made by Jennifer McGuire.  I used the tree from Forest Friends and created a mask on scratch paper and then stamped the image multiple times using the mask to cover the trees as I went.  The ground and sky were also created with masks.  The greeting is from an all-time favorite stamp set - Define Your Life.  I hope you like it and again, thank you for stopping by!  I hope to see you again soon!

Manhattan Flowers Watercoloring

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Stretch Your Body

We put our body through a lot - whether we are working, exercising, or just sitting.  Our body deserves our utmost care and kindness.  When was the last time you stretched and focused on caring for your muscles?  I know I do not do it often enough and lately, my body has been telling me it is tired of being neglected.  Today I commit to taking better care of my body.  Today, I will stretch and appreciate my muscles.

For today's card I pulled out the Manhattan Flowers stamp set.  I used Versamark and Rose Red ink to stamp the large flower on watercolor paper and then embossed with clear embossing powder.  I used my aqua painter and some ink to water color the flower and then added some frost white shimmer paint for a little shimmer.  The background was created by stamping the large flower many times with Rose Red ink onto the Rose Red card stock base.  I used the Friendly Words wheel to stamp the Whisper White strip.  I hope you like it!

Batty For You Halloween Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Don't Stop!

Today's card was definitely a lesson in not stopping!  Everything I did seemed to take me one step further away from a card I would even be willing to photograph, let alone post!  However, I ignored my inner critics (and even a few outer ones) and kept going!  I didn't stop - I just kept adding and changing and coloring and glittering...and here is the result!  It's a bit crazy and, I'm happy to have learned a lesson making it :)  I hope you like it...and, if not, I at least hope it encourages you to keep going :)

2-Step Bird Punch & Elements of Style Love Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Find Some Fresh Tomatoes To Eat!

Okay - maybe today's lesson didn't come from the craft room...well, it almost did since I look out the craft room window and can see the tomatoes in the garden!  For the past few years we have enjoyed growing vegetables and seem to get a huge delight out of eating homegrown tomatoes.  If you haven't grown your own, try to seek out some from a neighbor or local farmer's market.  However, I should warn you, you will never want to eat a store-bought tomato again!

Today's card took a vintage turn :)  I used Confetti card stock and stamped the floral image from Elements of Style with Crumb Cake ink.  I also stamped the flourish image from the same stamp set and the heart image from the Tiny Tags stamp set on the card stock - the flourish in Crumb Cake and the heart in Soft Suede at half strength.  I dipped a brush in a mixture of champagne shimmer paint and alcohol and painted a few of the flowers to give them some shimmer (it is difficult to see in the photo).  The bird was punched out of Very Vanilla card stock and then stamped in Soft Suede with the A to Z stamp.  The wing was stamped with the floral image from Elements of Style.  Both pieces were sponged with Soft Suede ink.  The tag was sponged with some Soft Suede and then stamped with an image from the Tiny Tags set and a greeting from Short & Sweet.  The Kraft taffeta ribbon was adhered to the card using sticky strip.  Don't forget, you can make your white taffeta ribbon any color with a little ink and water!  I hope you like it!  Now go eat some tomatoes...or, you can shop here now - both are equally yummy :)

Scissor Cut Hummingbird Card & Card Play Video!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Put Together A Puzzle!

I can't even tell you when the last time was that I put together a puzzle.  However, when I was visiting family a few weeks ago, there was a puzzle set up on the coffee table and I was drawn to it!  Trying to place pieces into the puzzle brought the same type of focus and relaxation I feel when I'm in the craft room.  So, of course, when I got home, I ran out to purchase a few puzzles at target.  I chose a few National Audubon society puzzles - one of which was a hummingbird that inspired this card!  When was the last time you played with a puzzle?  It might be fun to try again!

Today's scissor cut card was also inspired by a videoby Melanie Schulenberg (thanks Melanie!).  I've put together a video to show you how I made it.  I hope you like it!

Four Ways Friday #19 - Animal Stories Stamp Set

Welcome to another Four Ways Friday!  Today's Four Ways Friday focuses on the Animal Stories stamp set - soooo cute!

For this first card, I stamped the whale with Going Gray (retired) ink and cut the image out.  I added a bit of dazzling diamonds to his spout.  The waves were created with torn Marina Mist card stock adhered to Bashful Blue.  The whale was popped up in between the waves.  The crests of the waves were given a bit of dazzling diamonds sparkle.  The greeting was stamped in Night Of Navy from the Sincere Salutations stamp set.

This adorable tag began with a tag from the Two Tags die that I ran through the Big Shot with Pretty In Pink card stock.  A piece of Whisper White card stock was stamped with the A to Z stamp in Versamark and then I used the poppin' pastels technique to bring the letters into view.  I used Chocolate Chip and Pretty In Pink chalk with my sponge daubers.  The edges were sponged with Chocolate Chip ink.  The adorable elephant was stamped with Chocolate Chip ink and cut out with a hobby knife.  The greeting is from the Elements of Style stamp set and seemed to fit perfectly for this tag!  The scalloped oval punch in Pretty In Pink creates a wonderful background for the greeting.  I used a piece of sticky strip to adhere the Pretty In Pink taffeta ribbon to the tag and finished the ribbon off with a rhinestone brad.

This little 3x3 Marina Mist card is the perfect gift card.  I used the reverse masking technique and cut a circle template and then stamped the Dot, Dot, Dot stamp in Marina Mist inside the circular mask.  I removed the mask and stamped the greeting from the Sincere Salutations stamp set in Night of Navy.  The cute little owl was stamped with More Mustard and then punched out using the 1 1/4" circle punch and then layered on a 1 1/2" circle of More Mustard card stock.  A dash of dazzling diamonds and a button with linen thread finish the look.

For this last card I decided to stamp on acetate with white Staz-On ink.  The acetate was actually from the packaging from a man's razor - what a bonus!  I adhered 2 pieces of designer paper onto the card to create a fun background.  I then punched a piece of Tempting Turquoise with the round label punch and added the word "baby" from the Tiny Tags stamp set.  The label was adhered to the acetate using snail.  I then placed the buttons onto the acetate using mini glue dots.  Finally, I used dimensionals - hidden underneath the round tab and the lower right-hand corner button, to pop the acetate up onto the Rose Red card.  I hope you are inspired by these four ways to use the Animal Stories stamp set.  If you would love to own the stamp set, or any of the other products I've highlighted here, feel free to shop HERE now!

Friends Fur-ever Balloon Birthday!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Focus On What You Can Do, Rather Than What You Can't

I have to admit to being a bit punky the past few days.  My left knee started bothering me - not from running, but from sitting on planes and traveling and carrying a backpack with a laptop in it...my body is not happy!  So I have not been able to run and it's been driving me crazy since I have been so focused on my marathon goal and I have a very specific running schedule that I've been following.  Today I decided to stop focusing on what I can't do and instead got on the recumbent bike at the gym and rode.  It didn't pound my knee at all and at least I got some exercise.  I've been icing and taking anti-inflammatories...hopefully I'll be back on the pavement soon!  In the meantime, I'll keep focusing on what I can do and let my body heal!

For today's card I pulled out the Friends Fur-ever set again!  I LOVE this stamp set!!!!!  It is way too cute!  I also pulled out one of my favorite greeting sets that is now retired, Happy Everything.  How can you not like a stamp set called Happy Everything?!  The striped background was created using a reinker technique on glossy card stock...might have to film a video to show you how later this week!  The balloons are super simple to make - just a 1" circle punch and some white gel pen.  I jazzed them up with a bit of twisted wire that I adhered with Tombo mono multi-adhesive.  I hope you like it!  If you can't live another moment without this adorable Friends Forever stamp set and need to adopt these wonderful dog stamps, please feel free to shop HERE now!

Extreme Elements & Bird Punch Halloween Card!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Check Your Assumptions

I heard an interesting story the other day - the kind of story that really makes you stop and consider your own actions.  A woman in her 20's had driven her grandmother to a grocery store.  She dropped her grandmother off in front of the store and went to park in a handicap parking space - her grandmother had a handicap tag due to her frail condition.  While her grandmother was shopping in the store, the granddaughter told her grandmother that she would run out to the car and return her grandmother's rented videos to a store in the same shopping center to save her grandmother the additional trip.  Out she ran to the car, grabbed the videos, returned them to the store and then went back into the grocery store to finish helping her grandmother with the shopping.  When they got back out to the car, there was a note slipped under the windshield wiper.  To hear her describe it, the note was the nastiest, meanest note the granddaughter had ever seen.  The note berated her for being young and able-bodied and taking up a handicap space in a parking lot and accused her of being a liar and inconsiderate!  The person who wrote that note made assumptions based on the limited information in front of them - a young woman running to a video store.  I wonder how the note-writer would feel if they were reading this post right now...The next time you are tempted to jump to a conclusion, take a pause and check your assumptions - there might be something important that you're missing.

Today's card is an early Halloween card!  Can you believe it's already mid-August?!  I used the Extreme Elements stamp set and Perfect Plum and Elegant Eggplant ink to create the background.  The "spooky" banner was created using the points from the large star punch with the Rough Type stamp set.  I dyed the linen thread black by running it across my black ink pad.  The "boo" is from the Tiny Tags stamp set.  I punched the 2-Step Bird out of Basic Black card stock and used my scissors to create feathers on the wing.  The bow and some dazzling diamonds finishes the look.  I hope you like it!

Artistic Etchings Birthday Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Try A Variation On A Theme

It can be easy to get stuck in the same old rut.  The same routine.  The same clothes.  The same entree on the menu at the same restaurant.  Why not try a variation on a theme?  Maybe pair a funky new top with those favorite pants.  Try a new side dish with that favorite entree.  Throw a new ingredient into that favorite recipe.  You may discover that variety truly is the spice of life!

Today I tried a variation on a theme of a card I shared with you back on August 9th.  I switched up the greeting and turned it into a birthday card.  I also took a mini card and made it into a standard size card and added some Soft Suede ink to the background of the Sahara Sand card with the spritzer tool.  It's a subtle variation...maybe next I'll try to do something bold!  If you can't live without Artistic Etchings, feel free to shop HERE now!  I would love to be of service to you!

Scallop Sunflower Mini Card - Card Play Video!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Stop and Share!

This weekend seemed to be a weekend filled with sharing - a neighbor sharing the apples from his apple tree; sharing tomatoes from our garden; sharing time in the park with friends and four-legged loved ones.  I forget sometimes how good it feels to share and to have someone share with me.  What can you share today?

I decided to share a video with you today!  You may have seen this card in my last Four Ways Friday and I thought it would be fun to share with you how I made it!  I hope you like the video!

Four Ways Friday #18 - Pocket Silhouettes Stamp Set

Hi Everyone!  Thanks for your patience with Four Ways Friday!  I appreciate your stopping back by to see this week's Four Ways Friday using the Pocket Silhouettes stamp set.  This set has been around for a bit and I haven't tired of it at all!

Each of the cards I will be sharing with you is 3x3 in size.  For this card, I punched out a circle and used it as a mask as I stamped the image from Pocket Silhouettes in a circular pattern in Garden Green.  I then punched a circle from Tempting Turquoise and a scallop circle from More Mustard.  I used my scissors to cut petals into the More Mustard to create a flower and sponged the edges with More Mustard ink to give it some dimension.  The center was created by punching a circle out of Soft Suede and then using my piercing tool to make a bunch of holes in the circle.  I then sponged with Soft Suede ink.  The greeting is from Pocket Silhouettes as well, stamped onto Soft Suede with Soft Suede ink and then punched with the Modern Label punch.  A bit of linen thread finishes the look.

For this second 3x3 card, I also used a mask...but this time a reverse mask.  I punched a circle out of a piece of thin chipboard and then used that as a stencil.  I used a post-it note to create an additional mask so that I could sponge both the Bashful Blue sky and then turn the mask around and sponge the Garden Green grass.  The stamp-a-ma-jig was used to help me position the Pocket Silhouettes leaf image and then stamped in Basic Black.  The greeting is from Teeny Tiny Wishes.  I couldn't resist the urge to add a bit of dazzling diamonds to the leaves :)

For this card I decided to go formal.  I stamped the image from Pocket Silhouettes using Versamark ink and then heat embossed with Iridescent Ice embossing powder on a small piece of Whisper White card stock.  Three of the edges were rounded and then a hole was punched in the bottom right-hand corner using my crop-a-dile so that I could thread a piece of Crumb Cake taffeta ribbon through the hold and knot it.  The piece was then put on the base card using dimensionals.  The greeting is from Tiny Tags and was stamped in Soft Suede and then punched out using a 3/4" circle punch.  The edges of the circle were sponged with Soft Suede ink and applied to the layer using a dimensional.

I created this adorable little holder to hold the 3 cards and mini envelopes (it can accommodate 4 cards, but since it's Four Ways Friday and I already had 4 samples to show you, I decided not to go overboard :)  I used the Scallops #2 die in the Big Shot to create the background  Rose Red "flower" and used the Circles #2 die for the Whisper White circle.  I used a mask again to sponge the circle and added some glitter to the stamped flowers.  The greeting is from Tiny Tags.  I sponged the Crumb Cake folder with Crumb Cake ink and used Crumb Cake taffeta ribbon as my closure.  Here is the inside of the folder:

I hope you like it!  Let me know if you have any questions.  A video demonstrating how to make a few of the cards and the card holder may be on the way at the beginning of the week!  Have a great weekend!

Four Ways Friday on Saturday...

Hi!  Thanks for stopping by!  I am happy to say that I am home and exhausted!  My hope is that by tomorrow I will feel awake, alert, alive and enthusiastic and will get Four Ways Friday posted a day late.  Thanks so much for your patience!  Please stop back by for a visit :)

Four Ways Friday Coming Soon!

Today's Lesson While Wishing I Was In The Craft Room:  Some Things Don't Happen According To The Time Frame You Imagine

Alarm clocks going off at 4 a.m. in the hotel room next door to you...and off again...and again...every 15 minutes until Security can come and do something about it.  Meeting rooms that are freezing no matter how many calls you make to get the temperature adjusted.  Skies that open up and dump tons of rain that results in closed airports and canceled flights.  These are the events that were not happening according to my time frame over the last few days.  And so, like a domino effect, Four Ways Friday will not be here in the time frame I imagined.  I wonder if there is some reason behind all of this.  Some purpose or maybe a lesson I am supposed to learn.  I do realize that when I am tired I have a short fuse.  That I allow myself to get all worked up and that after awhile I calm back down.  Maybe part of the lesson is learning to not let it get me so worked up.  To allow myself to flow through the fact that some things in life...many things actually, won't happen according to the time frame that I imagine and instead will happen and unfold in exactly the right time.  Yes, today I am learning a lesson...I hope to be back in the craft room at the exact perfect time to bring you Four Ways Friday...and I'm secretly hoping it will be some time on Friday!!!! :)

Pocket Silhouettes Sympathy Card & Card Play Video!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Sometimes The Impossible Is Exactly What We Need!

When was the last time you called something "impossible?"  Sometimes this word comes up when we think about taking time off or changing our work situation or just slowing down and changing our pace.  When this word comes up for you, it's a great sign that maybe you've hit upon something significant for yourself!  What are those things that you consider impossible and why?  Sometimes I tell myself it is impossible to be a full-time artist...and yet, when I start to examine that belief I begin to notice that there are tons of full-time artists out there who seem to be living that life just fine!  Maybe the issue isn't that it's impossible at all.  Maybe the real issue is my own belief in myself.  This is where I need to begin my journey into the impossible...and watch it turn into the possible!  How about you?

Today's card is a simple and peaceful sympathy card.  We learned this week that a family in our hometown lost their father.  He was 86 years old and lived a full and amazing life.  It seemed important to pause and make a handmade card to send to them.  Here is a video if you want to check out how the card was made.  I hope you like it and, most importantly, I hope it brings the family a moment of comfort.

Extreme Elements Ink Blot Technique & Card Play Video!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Clean Off Your Desk :)

Ok, maybe today's lesson is more for me than it is for you...at least you would know that if you could see my desk and my craft room right now!  What a mess!  I guess the good news is that the mess means that I've been busy and productive...although now the mess is getting in the way of my productivity!  So, it's time to set aside some time to clean things up a bit so that I can actually see the desktop :)  What do you need to clean today?

Today's card was a ton of fun to make!  I was thinking about monotype printing - something that I have recently gotten interested in - and I decided that I could play around with freezer paper and my reinkers to create a great ink blot background!  Here's a video to show you how I did it!  I hope you like it!

Lazuli Bunting 2-Step Bird Punch - Little Bird Note & Card Play Video!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Challenge Your Excuses!

It is so easy to come up with a list of excuses for why you can't do something.  I don't have time.  I don't have the energy.  What would people think?  Today I challenge you to challenge your excuses!  You have time - you just need to determine how you want to use it.  You have the energy if you make a commitment and start taking steps - any size steps - in the direction of your goal.  We can't control what other people think.  All we can control is what we think and today, I think I can!!!!!!!!  Now go for it!!!!

The Lazuli Bunting is cousin to the Lark Bunting, the state bird of Colorado.  Here in Denver I must admit that I have only ever seen a Lazuli Bunting once - I think they like the mountains more than the city :)  I guess I don't blame them :)  I decided to try to create a colorful Lazuli Bunting using my 2-Step Bird extra-large punch.  Here's a video to show you how I did it!  The finished card size is 3 1/2" x 3 1/2".  I hope you like it!

Artistic Etchings - Amour Love Note & Card Play Video!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  "Mantras you shouldn't say:  I don't know; I'm not ready; I can't do it."

Today's lesson came from the tea bag in my tea this weekend :)  I had a cup of Yogi tea for restless sleep and I had to smile when I saw the message on the tea tag!  Our self-talk can uplift us and it has the power to send us into a serious state of the doldrums.  Whenever I find my self-talk has turned to negative messages, I head on over to Louise Hay's website.  If you click on "Daily Affirmation" on her site, you can instill some positive energy into your self-talk every day of the week!  Make your mantra:  I do know!  I am ready!  I can do it!!!!!

Today's card was made with the Artistic Etchings stamp set.  I am loving this set!!!!  Check out my video to see how I made this 4x4 Amour love note!  I hope you like it!

Four Ways Friday #17 - Bella Toile Background Stamp

This week's Four Ways Friday focuses on different ways to use the Bella Toile background stamp!

For this first card, I stamped the Bella Toile stamp onto Whisper White cs using a combination of Versamark ink and Basic Black ink.  If you ink up your stamp with Versamark first and then ink over it with your classic ink pad and then stamp, the ink will stay wet enough to use embossing powder.  I used clear embossing powder and heat embossed the image and then used sponges with Soft Suede and Basic Black ink to color the background.  A piece of torn Basic Black cs was added and the greeting from Sincere Salutations was punched out with the Extra Large Oval punch and the edges were sponged with Soft Suede ink.  This yummy Basic Black 1 1/4" striped grosgrain ribbon was tied around the layer and then the entire layer was adhered to a Soft Suede card base.

For the second card I stamped the Bella Toile onto Very Vanilla cs using Basic Black ink.  I then took my 1" circle punch and punched out 8 circles.  The circles were adhered to a piece of Basic Black cs.  It's hard to see it in the photo, but the central image is very "thick."  I actually punched out six 1 1/2" circles using my punch and then glued them one on top of the other to create a think central embellishment.  The top layer was stamped with the word "love" from the Things I Love stamp set and then the entire "stack" was adhered to a 1 3/4" Basic Black circle.  I used the Big Shot and the Naturally Serif decorative strip die for the letters in the word "you."  Finally, I added some dazzling diamonds to the Bella Toile circles using my 2-way glue pen.

I used the Poppin' Pastels technique for this third card - I couldn't seem to get a great picture of it.  I stamped the image in Versamark onto Whisper White cs and then pounced over the image with Certainly Celery and Perfect Plum chalks using my sponge daubers.  This technique is a lot of fun!  I sponged the edges with Perfect Plum ink and then used the color spritzer and my Perfect Plum and Certainly Celery markers to add a bit of "spatter."  The center piece of Elegant Eggplant cs was stamped with the Bella Toile stamp as well, using Elegant Eggplant ink.  The modern label punch was sponged and then adhered to the panel using antique brads.  The greeting, from the Always stamp set was stamped and punched out with a circle punch.  I then used my crop-a-dile to adhere the eyelet so that I could attach the greeting to the card using linen thread.  Finally, I used sticky strip to attach the Certainly Celery satin ribbon to the card in a ruffle fashion and finished it off with a button.

This background stamp was calling out to be cut down!  I stamped the Bella Toile stamp onto a piece of Whisper White cs using the combination of Versamark and Basic Black ink and then heat embossed with clear embossing powder.  I then cut out this portion of the image and began coloring it in using different colors of markers.  Finally, I added a bit of glitz with my 2-way glue pen and dazzling diamonds.  The greeting is from the Because I Care hostess set and was stamped in Elegant Eggplant onto Whisper White cs.  I used my spiral punch on the edge of the Elegant Eggplant panel and finished the greeting panel with a piece of knotted Pretty In Pink taffeta ribbon.
I hope you've enjoyed this week's Four Ways Friday!  If there is a product or stamp set that you would like to see featured in a future Four Ways Friday please let me know.  I'll do my best to respond to your requests!  If you can't stand going another minute without owning the Bella Toile stamp, you are always welcome to shop HERE now :)

Simple 3x3 Thank You & Card Play Video - Episode #1

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Some Things Are Just Right!

Buddy and I used to pass a man on our morning walks.  The man usually had headphones on and he always had his black standard poodle along for the walk.  About a year ago, we saw the man walking alone and realized that his dog had passed away.  For months we have passed the man - we try to say hello sometimes, but he always has his headphones on so he doesn't hear us.  Today our walk was extra special because there was the man, no headphones, with a very young black standard poodle puppy with him!  We said "hello!" and he said "hi" back!  I wish I would have said to him "that's a very good look for you!"  A man and his new puppy - some things are just right!

Today's card was inspired by a pad of paper on my desk at the hotel I stayed at earlier this week.  I used the Dot, Dot, Dot background stamp on Very Vanilla cs and stamped with Baja Breeze ink at 1/2 strength.  You may notice I had used the extra large oval punch to create a mask so that part of the card stock did not get stamped.  I kept the mask on and then stamped a portion of a stamp from Baroque Motifs in full strength Baja Breeze on the same card stock.  Then the mask was removed and I used my stamp-a-ma-jig to stamp the greeting from Sincere Salutations in Early Espresso ink.  I adhered this piece to a piece of Early Espresso cs.  Then I took a piece of Whisper White taffeta ribbon and sprayed it first with a mixture of Baja Breeze ink refill and water that I keep in a small spray bottle.  Then I sprayed it with my mister of Champagne shimmer paint and alcohol.  I used my heat tool to dry it since I didn't want to wait :)  The ribbon was knotted around the card stock and then the layer was adhered to the Baja Breeze card using dimensionals.  The finished size of the card is 3x3.  I hope you like it!  Here's a video to show you how I made it, step-by-step!

Manhattan Flowers Embossing Folder - Sympathy Cards

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Be Kind To Your Body
In the September 2010 issue of Vegetarian Times, editor Elizabeth Turner shares The Dirty Dozen.  This is a list of the 12 fruits and vegetables most likely to be contaminated with pesticides.  The list may surprise you:  celery, peaches, strawberries, apples, blueberries, nectarines, bell peppers, spinach, cherries, kale/collard greens, potatoes and grapes (imported).  Be kind to your body.  If at all possible try to find the 100% organic version of these fruits and veggies to reduce your exposure to pesticides.  After all, if we truly are what we eat, I'd prefer being 100% natural :)

These are two takes on a sympathy card using the Manhattan Flowers embossing folder, the Define Your Life stamp set and the letter "M" from the Lovely Letter Alphabet.  Natural images seem so fitting to me for sympathy cards since life and death are all a part of the natural cycle.  For the monogrammed card, I stamped the "M" at half strength and used my stamp-a-ma-jig to stamp the greeting in full-strength right over it.  This is a great way to get multiple shades from the same ink pad - in this case, Soft Suede.  I hope you like them!

In A Word Sympathy Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Begin Whatever Calls To You!

Today's lesson comes from the book Living Juicy by SARK.  If you don't know SARK and you are an artist, you need to check her out!  She is such an inspirational spirit!  There are some books that find their way to my bookshelf and sit there and then seem to find their way back into my life when I need them.  SARK's books definitely fall into this category.  I always feel uplifted and inspired when I read her encouraging words.  What is calling to you?  What is your inner voice tempting you to try?  Don't get in the way...go for it!!!!

A friend's mother passed away the other day and I felt it was time to make a few sympathy cards to have on hand for these moments difficult moments.  This card came together quickly.  I put the Very Vanilla panel through the Big Shot with the Manhattan Flowers embossing folder.  I rounded 3 of the edges and left one square.  The greeting is from the In A Word stamp set and was stamped in Early Espresso onto Very Vanilla cs and punched out using my 1 1/4" circle punch.  A separate 1 1/2" circle was punched out of Early Espresso as a layer for the greeting and the greeting was popped up on dimensionals as was the entire embossed panel.  A knot of Very Vanilla satin ribbon finishes the look.  I hope you like it.  Now, go and begin whatever calls to you - you are still here and there is no time like the present!!!!!

Friends Fur-ever Birthday!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  It's Amazing What You Can Do When You Set Your Mind To It!

For those of you that have been following my blog, you know that in March I decided to start running.  I couldn't run for more than a few minutes (if that) without wearing myself out.  Well, I want to give you an update...yesterday I went for a 16-mile run!!!!!  You read that right - 16 miles!!!!  I am sooooo proud of myself!  I am following Jeff Galloway's running program.  He advocates a run/walk approach so I run for 5 minutes and then walk for 1 minute...and I did that for about 3 hours, bright and early, before the day turned hot.  I still can't believe it!  It truly is amazing what you can do when you set your mind to it.  All you need to do is decide to begin!  Now I have my goal out in front of me - Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C. in October - watch out world, here I come!!!!!

I am still addicted to the Friends Fur-ever stamp set!  It is just too cute!  This is a birthday card for Michael's mom.  I stamped the dog and the presents in Basic Black onto Whisper White cs and cut them out with a hobby blade.  I then stamped the cart onto Crumb Cake cs with Basic Black ink and also cut it out.  The tire was colored with a Basic Gray marker and I added a cute little silver bead for the tire center.  The presents were colored with markers and then glitzed with 2-way glue and dazzling diamonds...as was the dog's color.  The ground was made by cutting curves into a piece of Certainly Celery cs and then sponging a bit on the edge and the cs in general with Certainly Celery ink.  The greeting came from Happy Everything - one of my favorite, although retired, stamp sets.  I hope you like it!  If you have to have the Friends Fur-ever stamp set, feel free to shop HERE now :)

Four Ways Friday #16 - Greetings, Earthling!

Thanks so much for your patience and stopping by to see this week's Four Ways Friday on Saturday :)  This week's Four Ways Friday focuses on the adorable Greetings, Earthling! stamp set.

Creating a scene is a great way to put your stamped images into context!  For this first card I used my Coluzzle (retired) to cut out a "planet" half circle out of Sahara Sand card stock.  I then took a scrap piece of paper and punched random holes in it using my 1/2" circle punch and the 2 punches on my crop-a-dile to create a stencil for the craters for my planet.  I sponged with both Sahara Sand ink and Basic Gray ink and then added a bit of Soft Suede ink with a sponge to give my planted a craterly look :)  The two aliens were stamped with Basic Black ink - one onto Daffodil Delight and the other onto Whisper White card stock.  I covered the yellow alien with 2-way glue and added dazzling diamonds.  I used markers to color his features.  I also used markers to color the pink alien and also added some dazzling diamonds to his tummy.  Both aliens were cut out using a hobby blade and both were popped up on dimensionals.  I ran into the kitchen to grab a toothpick for the sign and made a small banner with a strip of Whisper White card stock.  The greeting is from Tiny Tags.

For this second card I used a great technique for your greeting stamps.  If you stamp them repeatedly, you can make a great background!  By using my stamp-a-ma-jig, I repeatedly stamped the greeting using Basic Black ink on Whisper White card stock.  I then used Rose Red ink and a sponge to color over the entire piece of card stock and to add a bit more Rose Red color to the edges.  This piece was adhered onto a Whisper White card base.  The alien was stamped in Basic Black ink onto Whisper White card stock and cut out with a hobby blade.  I then used 2-way glue and dazzling diamonds to make him sparkle!  I colored his mouth with a Pink Pirouette marker and then popped him up on dimensionals in the center of the card.

Repetition isn't just for words!  Here I used my stamp-a-ma-jig to repeat the alien image in a line across the front of the card.  A quick tip - when I am stamping in this way, I always begin my stamping in the middle of my card and work my way out to the sides so that the card appears even.  I stamped an extra alien on a scrap piece of Whisper White card stock, cut him out with a hobby blade and colored him with markers.  I popped him up on dimensionals on top of one of the stamped images.  Finally, I used my stamp-a-ma-jig to position the greeting from Upsy Daisies on the bottom of the card.  I love using my stamp-a-ma-jig since I was able to stamp the greeting twice - directly on top of itself - to make it look really crisp.

Random repetition can also be used for backgrounds!  Here I took two of the images from the set and randomly stamped them in Tempting Turquoise ink on Bashful Blue card stock.  This served as the backdrop for the rest of the card.  The alien image was stamped twice in Basic Black ink onto Whisper White card stock.  I stamped him twice so I could cut out his head and pop it up on dimensionals (that sounds a bit odd, doesn't it?!).  I colored the alien with markers and used Crystal Effects to highlight his shirt.  I used Pacific Pointe and Tangerine Tango card stock to create the center layer.  I scalloped the edge of the Tangerine Tango piece with my scalloped edge punch.  Ooh - I forgot to mention that I used a Basic Black marker to stamp the alien - that way I was able to not ink up his alien gun and instead left his hand empty.  I then used my stamp-a-ma-jig and the balloon string stamp from the Friends Fur-ever stamp set to make it look like he was holding a balloon all along!  The balloon was made my punching a circle using my 1" circle punch and then using my white gel pen to create some reflection marks.  I popped the balloon up on dimensionals and then covered it with Crystal Effects.  I always save my Crystal Effects until last so that I can leave the card alone and let it dry.  The greeting is a combination of the word "earthling" from the Greetings, Earthling stamp set and the "happy birthday" from the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set.  I used markers to stamp the greetings and then cut them out and adhered them to the card with glue.  Finally, I attached a piece of 1/8" Marina Mist ribbon.
If you like the Greetings, Earthling! stamp set as much as I do, but don't have it yet, feel free to shop HERE now!  Thanks for stopping by!  Have a wonderful weekend!

4 Ways Friday Coming On Saturday!

I wanted to leave a quick note to let you know that due to a hectic schedule this week, 4 Ways Friday will be posted on Saturday.  Thanks for your patience!  I hope you'll come back to visit on Saturday!  Have a beautiful day!!!!!!

Enjoying Creation

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Take Time To Create And Time To Enjoy Creation!

I thought I would share a photo with you today.  This was the view outside my room yesterday.  I was at the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, Colorado - no craft room in sight.  However, what was in sight was the amazing beauty of creation!  I hope you enjoy the peace of this scene.  I hope to be back in the craft room tomorrow - later in the day.  I hope you'll come back for a visit!  In the meantime, don't forget to take some time to enjoy creation :)

Animal Stories & Inspired By Nature

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  We Each Need Different Things To Grow

We have a vegetable bed in our backyard that we had been warned against building.  "There's too much shade and not enough sun."  "Your vegetables won't do well there."  These were some of the concerns we heard.  Being the new gardeners we were, we built the bed anyway...and...it has turned out to be a wonderfully productive lettuce bed!  What may not be the perfect place for some things or some people, is the exact perfect place for others.  There might be some vegetables that won't do well in that bed.  Lettuce, however, loves it.  We each need different things to grow.  What makes you grow best?  I know that balance, nature, creativity, and a whole lot of love seem to be just the soil I need to grow well :)  How 'bout you?

Today's card uses a few stamp sets - Animal Stories for the animals; Upsy Daisies for the greeting; Inspired By Nature for the grass.  I stamped the animals in More Mustard and Basic Gray and cut them out with my hobby blade (you may notice a bit of dazzling diamonds on the elephant's spots :).  The grass was stamped using VersaMark on Pacific Pointe card stock.  I crumpled the piece of Sahara Sand card stock and then sponged over the crease lines with Sahara Sand ink.  The edges of the Soft Suede panel were also sponged with Soft Suede ink.  The greeting was stamped after coloring the stamp with Pacific Pointe and Old Olive markers.  Don't you just love the new 1/8" taffeta ribbon?!  I love that it can fit through the button holes :)  I hope you like it!

Stamped Gesso Background Video!

Today I wanted to share with you how I made the stamped gesso background for this card.  Enjoy the video!

Four Ways Friday #15 - Favorite Things Stamp Set

This week's Four Ways Friday focuses on the Favorite Things stamp set.

For this first card I stamped the "few of my favorite things" stamp onto Whisper White card stock with black ink.  I adhered it to Riding Hood Red card stock.  Riding Hood Red also serves as the base for this card.  I used the Spiral Border punch on a piece of Wild Wasabi card stock and added it as a layer on top of a piece of So Saffron card stock.   I stamped the journal block from the Favorite Things set onto the So Saffron card stock in So Saffron ink.  I stamped the letters "y," "o," and "u" from the Rough Type stamp set in Basic Black onto Crumb Cake (formerly Kraft) card stock and then punched the letters out with my 1/2" circle punch.  The letters were then popped up on dimensionals.  The arrow was punched using the This Way punch (retired) from Soft Suede and then popped up on dimensionals.  I coated the letters and the arrow with Crystal Effects (still one of my most favorite products!).  A piece of linen thread and a So Saffron button finish the look.

For this second card, I stamped the "For Today" stamp from the Favorite Things set onto Whisper White card stock in Rich Razzleberry.  I used an Always Artichoke marker to check the boxes and to hand write the world "always."  I adhered this to a piece of Rich Razzleberry card stock and used dimensionals to adhere it to the Whisper White card stock base.  A piece of Kraft taffeta ribbon was attached to the card using sticky strip - this enabled me to fold the ribbon back on itself in order to create the ruffle.  A button was threaded with linen thread and attached to the ribbon using a mini glue dot.  The "i love" was taken from a stamp in the Things I Love stamp set and stamped onto the card using Always Artichoke ink from a marker.  The letters for the word "you" were made using the Simple Letters alphabet in the Big Shot with Always Artichoke card stock.  Of course, I had to coat the letters with Crystal Effects :)  The hearts were added using the Heart to Heart punch with Rich Razzleberry card stock.

This set lends itself really well for use in scrapbooking!  Here I created a small 6x6 scrapbook page that is just waiting for the perfect picture!  The greeting was stamped in Rich Razzleberry onto Whisper White card stock and then mounted onto layers of Rich Razzleberry and Old Olive card stock.  A piece of Rich Razzleberry card stock was run through the Big Shot with the Scallop square die and then adhered behind a piece of Tangerine Tango card stock to create the frame for the photo.  A loop of striped Old Olive ribbon was added before adhering the element to the page.  Finally, the modern label stamp was stamped onto Whisper White using Tempting Turqoise ink, punched out using the Modern Label punch, and then adhered to the page using small silver brads.  The page itself is a piece of textured Tempting Turquoise card stock.

For this final project, I decided to make a small book where I can record a few of my favorite things!  I stamped the journal block image multiple times onto both So Saffron card stock and Wild Wasabi card stock.  I used Rich Razzleberry ink on the So Saffron card stock and Wild Wasabi ink on the Wild Wasabi card stock.  I cut the journal blocks out by hand and then punched arrows using the My Way punch out of Rose Red card stock.  You can't see the arrows in these photos - however, I did adhere an arrow to each of the pages in the upper left-hand corner - exactly over the arrow image that is a part of the stamp.  The front and back cover were cut from Rose Red card stock.  The front cover was sprayed with a mixture of shimmer paint and alcohol (this is a great and economical way to create your own Smooch Spritz - it lasts a long time!).  I then adhered a piece of striped Old Olive ribbon.  The "favorite things" stamp was colored using Rose Red and Wild Wasabi markers and then stamped onto Whisper White card stock and adhered to layers of Wild Wasabi and So Saffron card stock.  This piece was then adhered to the front of the book using dimensionals.  A button with a piece of linen thread was added using a mini glue dot.  The corners of the covers were rounded and then the crop-a-dile was used to punch a hole through the covers and the inside pages.  A 1" ring was placed through the holes to attach the book together and pieces of Rose Red and Whisper White 1/4" grosgrain ribbon were tied around the ring to complete the look.  If you don't have your Favorite Things stamp set yet, please feel free to shop HERE now!  See you next week for another Four Ways Friday - thanks for stopping by!