More Art Journal Pages

I've really been enjoying exploring the freedom of art journaling!  It gives me a place to play with my Stampin' Up! products and other art supplies.  It also feels very "low risk" since it's just a journal and I'm not sending the pages anywhere (except, of course, sharing them with you).  At times I definitely get stuck and don't know what to do.  Other times I just go with it - at times I'll even walk away and come back and add something and then walk away again.  Yes, I enjoy the freedom.  I've been reading Clutter's Last Stand to try to help me with addressing the clutter in my home...this page was inspired by that reading.  I hope you like it!  I also hope you have a beautiful and peaceful weekend.  Happy Easter and Happy Passover to those of you celebrating those holidays this weekend!!!!!!

Easter Recycled Tape Roll Box

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  What Is Your Goal?
Yesterday I mentioned my fabulous swim lesson with Jackie.  Today I want to tell you how it began.  Jackie introduced herself and I got into the pool and then she looked at me and asked, "What is your goal?"  I stared back at her like a deer in headlights!  At the same time, I realized what an amazing question that was...one that I had given little thought to when I chose to take the swimming lesson.  I began to think about it then and there and the best I could come up with was to regain comfort and confidence in the water.  I know this goal will change - hopefully quickly - as I begin to regain that comfort and confidence.  What I absolutely recognize is the power of a question - particularly the question "What is your goal?"  I, like you, know all the research around goal setting and how it helps you achieve your goals if you actually set them.  So now I want to transfer this from the swimming pool into other areas of my life.  That thinking begins today!
Today's project is a "redux" of the tape roll box that I created for Valentine's Day!  I had some tape rolls left over and decided to dress up the box in Spring colors!  I used the Brights Collection designer series paper stack along with the Storybook Friends bunny rabbit (he is too cute!).  The Easter Wishes sentiment is from a retired set - I have a difficult time purchasing holiday sets just to get a new greeting, so I tend to hold onto the retired sets for when the holidays roll around.  Here are a few close ups:

Easter Toilet Paper Roll Treat Holder

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  I LOVE My Endorphins!!!!
It's amazing what a different a day and a few endorphins can make! :)  We rejoined the gym and I was finally able to take advantage of it after all of my travels.  As part of the new membership, we were given a choice of a few free one-on-one coaching sessions.  One of the ones I chose was swimming!  Mind you, I haven't really gone swimming in a million years!  (unless you count dipping my lower body in the ocean "swimming!").  So I was scared to death!  But the coach, Jackie, was wonderful and she had me do some different drills and explained why she was asking me to try certain things.  I loved engaging my body and my brain in exercise!!!!!!  The end result?  I absolutely want to take some more swimming lessons AND I LOVE MY ENDORPHINS!!!!!  It felt so good at the end of the swimming workout and I carried that feeling with me for the rest of the day and into the morning.  When you do something good for your body, it definitely rewards you!!!!!  How can you release some endorphins today????

Today I decided to revamp my Christmas toilet paper treat roll and give it an Easter makeover!  I used the Brights and In Color designer series paper to cover the roll.  I stamped tissue paper with the floral design from Elements of Style using Wisteria Wonder ink and then cut the tissue paper to create fringe.  A bit of baker's twine was used to create the look of pom-poms at the ends of the roll.  I stamped the adorable bunny from Storybook Friends and punched it out and then added a retired greeting.  I hope you like it!  You will see another makeover tomorrow, using some of these same items...hope you stop back to visit!

Art Journal Pages

I think I will let my pages be today's lesson from the craft room :)  Creativity knows no limits.  It is only the creator that can place or remove limits! :)  How can you remove some limits you have been placing on your own creativity?????

Spring Fabric Frenzy!!!!!!

For one week only, all of our beautiful Designer Fabric is 50 percent off!

• Promotion dates: Monday, March 25-Sunday, March 31, 2013
• Discounted fabric is available on all customer, demonstrator, workshop order, and online orders
• No minimum purchase required to receive the discount
• All items are limited quantity at the discounted price; the discount will be removed once the limit is reached

• Page	Item	Description	Discount	Retail Price	Sale Price
  170	126892	Essentials Designer Fabric	50%	$      29.95	$    14.98
  171	126893	Floral District Fabric	50%	$        9.95	$      4.98
  171	126894	Comfort Café Fabric	50%	$        9.95	$      4.98
  171	125411	Summer Smooches Fabric	50%	$        9.95	$      4.98
  171	125412	Twitterpated Fabric	50%	$        9.95	$      4.98
  171	122337	Timeless Portrait Fabric	50%	$        9.95	$      4.98
  171	122336	Beau Chateau Fabric	50%	$        9.95	$      4.98
  171	124066	Spice Cake Fabric	50%	$        9.95	$      4.98
  171	122335	Flirtatious Fabric	50%	$        9.95	$      4.98
  6*	129308	Tea for Two Fabric	50%	$        9.95	$      4.98
  13*	129307	More Amore Fabric	50%	$        9.95	$      4.98

   

Need ideas for how to use our fabric?  Check out this video!

Papaya Collage Birthday Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Sometimes I Feel Like My Life Is Missing A Speed
As I am continuing to wind down and settle back into life at home, I am beginning to wonder if my life is missing a speed.  I have "fast forward" down pretty well (and I'm not entirely proud of that, mind you).  I also seem to be able to go in slow motion.  Stop is working well too.  It's the "play" button that I seem to be having a bit of an issue with.  Just allowing my life to unfold at its own pace.  Maybe sometimes my "play" is slow motion...but that can get me a bit frustrated at times - Looking around at all that I have to do and not having the energy to do it.  Hmmm - might be the result of too much fast forward...I'm still trying to figure it out.  Hopefully this time at home will provide some lessons (and some answers) for me!  What speed do you tend to operate at?

It's beginning to feel like Spring here in Denver and the birds are out in multitudes!  That's what inspired this card :)  I stamped the bird from Papaya Collage using Soft Suede ink on Whisper White card stock and cut it out with paper snips.  I then ran a piece of Crumb Cake card stock through the Big Shot with the Vine Street embossing folder.  The panel was adhered to a Naturals Ivory card base.  The bird was popped up on a double layer of dimensionals.  Next I stamped the greeting from Made For You using Chocolate Chip ink and punched it out using a 1 1/4" circle punch.  I punched a 1 1/2" circle from Chocolate Chip card stock and layered the two circles together.  A neutrals button, some natural ribbon and a bit of linen thread finish the look :)  I hope you like it!

Letter It Hello Card

 

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Sometimes My Mind Feels As Cluttered As My Space!
I know it needs to happen - lightening my load; decluttering.  I look around at the piles (yes, they are still here!) and I know how much of my mind is cluttered with worry around what I'm going to do about all my clutter!  I haven't reached the level of needing to be on the tv show "Hoarders," but in my mind you wouldn't know that.  I am preoccupied by what fills my home and what I am going to do with it.  I just started reading Clutter's Last Stand and I'm hoping it will help me address my clutter issue in an effective and meaningful way.  Sometimes all I can do is just stand and look at the little piles that get created on the kitchen table, on the coffee table, on the craft table and in my office and I just become frozen!  I've watched some of the tv shows about clearing things out and know that I can just make three piles - toss, save and donate...but somehow knowing that is not connecting with doing it!  I obviously am in my own way for some reason and maybe figuring out that reason will help unlock my stalemate.  Yes, as you can see, sometimes my mind feels as cluttered as my space! :)

Today's card was quick and easy using the Letter It stamp set and the Print Poetry designer series paper stack!  I began with a Daffodil Delight card base and added a few strips of designer series paper.  Next I stamped the letters onto Whisper White card stock using Baja Breeze ink and cut them out with my paper snips.  The letters were then added to the card with dimensionals and a piece of Raspberry Ripple stitched ribbon was wrapped and knotted around the card.  I hope you like it and I hope you have peaceful, creative, and decluttered weekend! :)  Don't forget SALE-A-BRATION ENDS TODAY!!!!!!  Stock up on your adhesives and card stock and take advantage of getting a free Sale-a-Bration item with every $50 product purchase!  Shop HERE now :)

Pretty Petites Thank You Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  To walk inside yourself and meet no one for hours - this is what you must be able to attain. - Rainer Maria Rilke in Letters To A Young Poet
If you have been reading my blog this week, you know that I am finally trying to reconnect with myself after having been away from myself and into my work for the past month or so.  I am slowly "walking inside myself" - listening to my inner voice again, getting my fingers full of paint, losing myself in the creative process.  And...I LOVE IT!!!! :)  I will continue my walk and hope to lengthen my internal journey and artistic exploration from minutes to hours :)  How 'bout you?

Sale-a-Bration is almost over (it ends tomorrow, March 22nd)!  Don't miss your chance to get this adorable Pretty Petites stamp set for FREE with any $50 product purchase!!!!!  I stamped the outline image twice and the thank you image once using Lucky Limeade ink and then punched them out using the Petite Curly Label punch.  I punched a few blossoms using the Boho Blossoms punch and then stamped a few tiny flowers using Itty Bitty Bits and punched those flowers out as well.  The flowers were pieced together with dimensionals and adhered to the tiny labels.  I then cut a small slit on the spine of the card and threaded a piece of Summer Starfruit stitched ribbon through the slit and knotted it.  The labels were then adhered to the Crumb Cake card base with small pieces of dimensionals.  I hope you like it :)

Patterned Occasions Congrats Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room: Enjoy Your Civic Duty :)
On Monday I had the responsibility of showing up for jury duty!  Yes, I was actually excited about it - the chance to play my role in the justice system.  Unfortunately, my role ended up to be just showing up and then excused after 2 1/2 hours since all of the courtrooms had enough jurors.  Oh well, at least I got close to playing my part :)  Maybe next time!
Can you tell I love the Patterned Occasions stamp set? :)  I actually wasn't sure I was going to love it, but that's what I love about Sale-a-Bration!  With a $50 product purchase you can get a free item and you can use the opportunity to try something you might not otherwise select!  I stamped the jeans using Not Quite Navy ink and cut them out.  I then stamped the ticket from the That's The Ticket stamp set using More Mustard ink and punched it out with the ticket duo punch.  I wrote the "A+" on the little ticket with permanent ink.  Finally, I stamped the greeting using Real Red ink and punched it out with the oval punch.  Here's a close up:

The background piece of Not Quite Navy card stock was run through the Big Shot with the Square Lattice embossing folder and the adhered to a More Mustard card base.  I hope you like it!  To get your Patterned Occasions stamp set for free, shop HERE and spend $50 in product!  Don't forget, Sale-a-Bration ends March 22nd!

Patterned Occasions Get Well Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  You May Encounter A Bump Or Two As You Try To Get Back To Where You Want To Be
I'm anxious to get back to a place of peace - back to my daily routines - of walks, and eating well, and time in the craft room.  Of course I also have a list of things that are trying to get in the way - jury duty, 2012 taxes, piles of paper crowding my out of my work spaces.  Yes, I may encounter a few bumps along the way as I try to get back to where I want to be.  I'm ready for the bumpy ride since I know I'm headed in the right direction!!!! :)

Don't forget, Sale-a-Bration ends March 22nd!  I love this adorable Patterned Occasions stamp set which you can get FREE with a $50 product purchase during Sale-a-Bration!!!!  For this card I stamped the elephant 3 times - twice with Basic Gray ink and a third time with Baja Breeze ink - all on Whisper White card stock.  I used my paper snips to cut out the elephants and then lined them up on an Island Indigo card base.  The middle elephant was popped up with dimensionals.  I stamped the greeting from Thoughts & Prayers and then adhered it to a piece of Certainly Celery card stock.  I then used a piece of Tangerine Tango ribbon from the Sale-a-Bration Sycamore Street Ribbon and Button Pack (also available FREE with a $50 product purchase).  I adhered it to the card with sticky strip.  Finally a bright button with faux threading (I threaded the button with a thin strip of Melon Mambo card stock) was added using a glue dot.  I hope you like it!  Shop HERE for your Sale-a-Bration items now :)

Art Journal Pages

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Reconnect With Yourself Through Art.
So many miles, so many hotels, so many airplanes, so many hours away from the craft room.  This past weekend I needed time to reconnect with myself and I found the best way to do that was to create art.  I made a few cards (which I will share with you during the week), but I didn't start to reconnect until I took out my paints, oil pastels, tissue paper and stamps and let myself go wild!  If you are feeling like you have gotten away from yourself - if you are out of touch - reconnect with yourself through art!

Papillion Potpourri

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Listen and Respond
Today I reached a point of exhaustion.  It was mid-afternoon (I am typing this on Thursday evening) and it was a gorgeous day outside.  So I decided to listen to what my body was telling me and respond.  I went outside and decided to lay down on the wooden bench in the backyard and close my eyes.  I wasn't out there very long - just long enough to get a little cat nap and listen to the birds chirp and the squirrels scamper on the wooden fence.  It was a perfect way to listen to my body and give it some much-needed rest.

Today's card was inspired by the wonderful butterfly framed art that Helen sent me earlier this week!  I decided to stamp the butterflies from the Papillion Potpourri stamp set in Island Indigo and Calypso Coral on a Very Vanilla card base.  I then stamped one of the butterflies onto Calypso Coral card stock, punched it out and popped it up on half a dimensional.  I decided this card needed to greeting - I can always add one later, or just use it as a note to say "hello."  I hope you like it and I hope you have a wonderfully relaxing and creative weekend.  Listen and respond to what your body tells you :)

Frondly Creation!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room: Next time you think you don't have materials with which to create...think again!
Today I am sharing with you a photo of an amazing gift that was handed to me during my recent trip to Thailand. I still wish I could have brought the gift home, but I feared it would not survive the trip nor US customs! So I tried to take pictures that could provide a sense of this amazing creation made from palm fronds! The next time you begin to believe you are lacking materials to create, take a look again...there are art supplies all around you!!!! at the photo and think again....there are art supplies all around you!!!!

Scroll down for today's post

Somehow today's post posted on Saturday! So if you'd like to take a look please scroll down to Saturday's post! Hope you have a great day!

Madison Avenue and Petite Pairs Birthday Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  It's Nice To Know When The Universe Is Cooperating With You!
I finally spent a little time, in between work trips, in the craft room this weekend.  It was so nice to just sit and create a bit...even if the cat decided he wanted to try to sit on everything I was creating! :) Of course, just when I started relaxing, I went to use my new phone and a message popped up that said "No SIM Card."  Ugh!  This is not what you want to see on a day where a foot of snow was predicted and you are leaving soon for another work trip!  Well, the Universe decided to cooperate with me and, while I had to leave the house to go to the store to get a new SIM card, the foot of snow didn't materialize as originally planned.  Yes, a lot of snow fell, but since the roads were warm and the snow was wet, my path to the store was safe :)  It's nice to know when the Universe is cooperating with you!
Today's card is a simple way to put the Madison Avenue Sale-a-Bration set to some good use!  I used my stamp-a-ma-jig and stamped the patterned design in Early Espresso across the bottom of a Sahara Sand card base to create 2 separate rows.  I then stamped the smaller floral image in the centers with Bravo Burgundy and used a bit of silver Dazzling Details to give the centers some sparkle!  The sentiments from Petite Pairs was stamped using Early Espresso ink.  So simple!

Patterned Occasions Birthday Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room: You can learn a lot by switching roles!
In both my work life and my art life I find that I often take on a teaching role. I learn a lot when I am teaching both from students and from figuring out how to present what I am teaching. Recently I have also had a fun time learning by switching my role from that of the teacher to that of the student! Whether participating in an art class or observing somebody else doing the work that I do, I gaining powerful insights and inspiration by being a student! Sometimes you really can learn a lot by switching roles!

For today's card I played with the patterned occasions stamp set. I love this adorable cupcake image! I decided to color the image with a number of different markers and stamped the image with the help of the stamp-a-ma-jig. I then stamped and cut out the image on a separate piece of whisper white card stock. I popped up the cut out pieces using dimensionals. Of course I had to add a touch of dazzling diamonds to my cupcake for a bit of bling! I hope you like it!

Healthy Airport Eating and Flying Pigs!

Today's lesson from the craft room: If you make a commitment you can find ways to keep it!
I travel quite a bit and I follow a pretty healthy diet. I have gotten pretty good at seeking out and finding healthy options even in hectic airports! Starbucks at Dallas Ft. Worth Airport provided my latest healthy meal - I love oatmeal for dinner😄 It just goes to show that when you make a commitment to something you can find ways to keep them! Now if I take out my travel watercolor set on the airplane, I'll be really proud of myself!!!!
Today I am sharing an adorable card that was part of a gift I received from Lorraine for Pig Day!!!!! Thanks Lorraine!!!! You can view her blog and her wonderful creativity at www.papervernissage. blogspot.com!

A Butterfly Gift From Afar!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  It's Good To Have Friends You Can Lick Your Plate With!
I confess that there have been times where I have actually licked my plate clean!  After all, how can you let chocolate sauce or a wonderful balsamic vinegar go to waste????  No, I don't do it in restaurants - just in the privacy of my own home :)  I just visited a friend and her husband - this is a friend I have known since I was small - and I smiled very big when I turned around and saw her husband licking the last remaining chocolate sauce from his plate!!!!!  Not only was it fun to see that I'm not the only one guilty of plate-licking - it was also wonderful to be in a place where you are so comfortable, you can do those things that you would normally only do when someone isn't watching you :)  It truly is wonderful to have friends you can lick your plate with!!! :)
Today I am sharing a wonderful surprise that showed up in my mailbox when I returned from my international travels!!!!!  Helen sent me this gorgeous butterfly art piece that she had created using a rainbow of Stampin' Up! colors and the beautiful wings embosslit!!!!  You can check out Helen's blog HERE!  I love all of the adhesive rhinestones she added as well!!!!  Here are a few close ups - I love that this gorgeous creation will hang in my craft room and make me smile every time I look at it!  Thanks Helen!!!!! :)

An Adventure in Marbling!!!!!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Learn Something From Someone Who Knows!
I had an AMAZING experience this past weekend!  I took a 1-day course on Marbling Magic on Paper and Fabric at the Denver Art Students League from an amazing instructor, Jo Fitsell!!!!!!!  Jo has been marbling and working with fabric for 25 years and learning from her was incredible!!!!!  You can learn more about Jo here!  Also, if you want to learn this amazing technique, she has a wonderful DVD available that was filmed by Quilting Arts!!!!  The DVD is called Marbled Fabric Surface Design and is available HERE!  Can you tell I was impressed?!?!  Jo shared quite a few samples of her work with us to demonstrate the amazing variety of pattern you can create with marbling.  Here is a piece she put together from a number of different fabrics she marbled - just gorgeous!!!!!

It was fun to just dive into the process to see what might happen!  What I loved most about the process is that you have to let go of being in control and literally, go with the flow :)  Here is one part of my workspace during the class...

And here are a few pics of some of the fabrics (the top 2 pics) and paper (the 3rd pic) I created!

At the end of the day I had produced quite a pile of fabric and paper pieces!  Now I can't wait to incorporate them into some of my artwork!!!!  Thank you Jo for a wonderful day and for helping me discover a new passion!!!!!

A Few More Travel Photos: Melbourne, Australia

How does one become a Chocolate Therapist???????
How about these yarn bombed trees! :)