Happy New Beginnings!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Every Minute Of Every Day You Can Decide To Start Anew!

Happy New Year!!!!  2010 is here and, I imagine, for a lot of us there is pressure - pressure to fulfill whatever New Year's resolutions we have made.  Pressure to make this year better than ever.  It's amazing the power we give to the first day of the year, when, in reality, every day is the start of a new day - every day can be the start of our year - any moment of any day can be our new beginning.  What if we gave each moment of our life the power it deserves?  What if we recognized that it's never too late or too soon to begin again.

I was like the Tasmanian Devil in my craft room, trying to create this card for the challenge on SCS today!  Quite the challenge to whip up a card in 15 mins.  I have to confess that my 15 minutes did not include drying time for the stickles - I took a photo of the card while it was still wet :)  I paper pieced the cupcake by using half of a scallop circle from the scallop circle punch and then cutting a square and using my scissors to taper it a bit.  I then ran the tapered square through the crimper.  Hope you like it!!!!

Season of Friendship - Raised Border

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  All You Have Is All You Need

Today's lesson is one that comes out of the craft room quite a bit :)  Yesterday we spent time thinking about renovation work we could do on our home.  We talked about different ideas and different costs and I came to the realization that renovating wouldn't "fix" things.  We really have all that we need - we just need to clean and organize.  So we began pulling things out of the kitchen cabinets and filling boxes of items that will be donated.  We already feel better!  One day we may do some renovation, but for now we are going to take better care of the space we have - after all, we have all that we need :)

Today's card was for the Ways To Use It challenge on SCS - the challenge was to make a card inspired by the concept of time.  The card isn't quite what I pictured, but I figured it's part of my process and will hopefully lead to other cards that build on the ideas I used here :)  I'm going with a PMA (positive mental attitude) today! :)  I added a bunch of stitch marks in Old Olive and white gel pen.  The theme of time made me think about the seasons.

Here's how I made the raised border.  First, I cut a square of thin chipboard to the size of the raised border I wanted.  Then I temporarily adhered the square to the back side of the cover of the card.

Then I rubbed the front of the card with was paper to make my embossing stylus slide more smoothly.

I followed the edge of the square (which is underneath the front of the card) with my embossing stylus.

Finally I removed the chipboard from the back side of the front of the card and drew on my faux white stitching.  Hope you like this quick and easy technique for embossing!

Define Your Life - Always

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  You Can Do It!!!!

So the door on one of the kitchen cupboards has been hanging precariously for months.  Yes, months!  I kept hoping that a magic fairy (or Michael) would fix it in the middle of the night and I would wake up one morning and it would be fixed!  Well, today the magic fairy came...she just happened to be me :)  I guess Michael had taken a look at it awhile ago and was stumped by the hinge and how it worked, so he was waiting for some inspiration.  Rather than wait any longer, I got out the screwdrivers - 3 of them, mind you - and went to work.  I am very happy to report that I did have to go into the craft room for a bit of clay so that I could hold the screw onto the end of the screwdriver while trying to screw it into place! :)  Michael even tested out my handiwork and was quite impressed with the result!  Yeah!!!!!  It's amazing how happy a properly working cupboard door can make you :)  So the next time you are waiting around for the magic fairy, thinking you can't do something on your own, think again!  YOU can do it!!!! :)

This card was for today's sketch challenge and SCS and it came together quickly - although I must admit, it came together backwards :)  I was originally thinking about using 2 different patters of paper and then decided I liked it best with this one pattern...and realized that I cut my paper diagonally the wrong way - at least according to the sketch challenge - oops!  So, I hope you will forgive me - you can imagine the diagonal line going the other way...after all, I was able to fix the kitchen cupboard today and that's gotta give me some points to use against other goofs :)  I think this will make a very sweet Valentine's Day card.  Hope you like it!

Greetings Earthling, Clean and Simple

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  You Are How You Act, Not Just How You Believe

I began reading the book "Have A Little Faith" by Mitch Albom yesterday.  I'm loving it so far!  Today's lesson is a quote from the book (p. 44) and it really struck me as something to always keep in mind.  It's easy to have faith and to believe.  It also seems that it can be challenging to continue to make sure that our actions line up with our faith and our beliefs.  In the coming year I hope that I will continue to make progress in assuring that my actions are in line with my faith and my beliefs - I wish the same for you :)

Today's card came together quickly for the color challenge on SCS - the challenge was to combine neutrals of your choice with dusty durango, barely banana and basic gray.  Something about this color combo made me think "retro" and "robots!"  It's hard to tell, but I popped the barely banana layer up on the basic gray.  Hope you like it :)

Van Gogh Technique

Wow!!!!  I haven't had this much fun coloring since I was a kid with one of my Altair Designs coloring books!  (do you remember those???)  I've named this card "Van Goghing, Goghing, Gone" since I got so involved in all of this coloring I was gone! :)  This card was made for the New Technique challenge on SCS today.  The challenge was to use the Van Gogh technique (start by coloring your image in as usual and then get crazy with the markers by making faux brush strokes in darker colors).  What fun!  I stamped the flowers from Fifth Avenue Floral and then did some drawing and paper piecing for the vase and the leaves.  I added some sponged whisper white at the bottom as a table.  Hope you like it!

Wonderful Woodcuts - Birthday Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  It's OK To Be Lost Between What We Want And What We Need

I admit it - I've developed an addiction to HGTV!  Not the crafting shows, but all of the house shows...Property Virgins, House Hunters, Bang For The Buck, House Hunters...yes, all of them!  At first I found it incredibly fun and entertaining...and now I have to admit that although I am still addicted, my addiction is sprinkled with a bit of sadness.  I continue to be amazed by how much space 2 people need...or should I say "want."  Here in the States we seem to live by the mantra that "bigger is better."  We want bigger rooms, more space, more stuff, more, more, more.  I'm guilty too (something I am all to keenly aware of as I've been working through cleaning out all the "stuff" in the craft room!).  So now I am a bit lost - between what I want and what I really need.  Do we really "need" bigger bathrooms, bigger bedrooms, media rooms, wine cellars, spa tubs and coffered ceilings?  And if we don't "need" them, is it okay to want them?  Where is the line when our wants are just too excessive and we need to stop?  How do we encourage ourselves to remember that all that we have is really all that we need - or at least prevent ourselves from continuing to have the "more" mentality?  Yes, I'm lost - somewhere between want and need - hopefully I'll find my way home :)

This is a simple card that I put together for Michael's dad - it's his birthday this week!  The image is from a retired SU! set, Wonderful Woodcuts.  I stamped the image two times with Jet Black Staz-On onto watercolor paper and then used my Aqua Painters and ink to color in the main image.  I cut out the main image and popped it up onto the second image for some dimension.  I also used a bit of Crystal Effects to make the water glossy.  Hope you like it!

Canada Journal/Scrapbook (Inside)

...just wanted to show you the inside cover of the Canada scrapbook/journal I made for my friend (see post below).  I made a stencil of a maple leaf from the Canadian flag and sponged whisper white ink to create the leaves.  Added a few punched snowflakes and, since she's headed to Ottawa, I had to include that too :)  This is a pocket page - there are a total of 6 pockets in the journal.  The rest of the journal is blank for her to fill in with her thoughts, photos and musings :)

Canada Journal/Scrapbook

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Enjoy Good Food and Good Fun With Friends!

We had a group of friends over for dinner tonight.  It's become a tradition - our Sunday night dinners.  We cook and people come and relax and enjoy a home-cooked meal.  Everyone brings something along - a bottle of wine, some chips & dip, a bit of fudge.  I always know there will be a lot of laughter :)  One of our Sunday night friends is headed to Canada to be with her boyfriend for a few months - we're going to miss her.  He is one lucky guy (and he better not forget it!) :)  This is a small gift I made for her to take on her journey - a place she can capture her thoughts and store some photos/memories.  There are pages and some pockets inside.  I am still in love with my bind-it-all!  I love the ability to create books like this that can survive a trip without falling apart at the binding!  Hope you like it!

Clutter...Away!!!!

This is the hallway outside the craft room...full of clutter!  I've been working on the craft room for days and these boxes and piles have been living in the hallway for a week now!  Hopefully I'll make some more progress today - I'm ready to have the hallway back!  You can see the sun shining through on the floor halfway down the hall - that's the doorway to the craft room on the right there...when I'm done I'll take a photo so you can see my clean, organized space!!!!

Season of Friendship - Inspiration Challenge

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Stop Trying To Be Clever And Allow Yourself To Just Be

I know that sometimes when I go to post a card or a lesson from the craft room, I wonder what you all will think.  Will it be good enough?  Will it be clever enough?  Will you think I have talent?  And yes, I do care what you think.  Sometimes, though, caring what others think gets in my way - I freeze - I can't think of the next lesson from the craft room or I'm afraid to post my card - especially if it's experimental.  What I continue to learn is that I really need to stop "trying" and just allow myself to be.  I won't always be clever or gifted or talented - but what I will be, is me :)

Today's card was inspired by this painting http://www.poshtots.com/Decor/Wall-Art-by-Theme/Popular-Artwork-for-Girls/Silhouetted-Bird-on-Blue-Hand-Painted-Canvas/23/1446/1344/17881/PoshProductDetail.aspx.  I made the bird using punches (I cheated a bit on the legs since I took the scissors out after I punched from the word window punch).  I sponged the bird with chocolate chip and popped him up on dimensionals to give him some dimension.  The tree, flowers, leaves and greeting were all heat embossed.  Hope you like it!

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Be Still

On my walk with Buddy this morning I was so aware of how peaceful and quiet it was in the neighborhood.  This is one thing I am so grateful for on Christmas - the neighborhood seems to slow down.  There are very few cars on the road.  You can almost hear the silence of the mountains :)  I wonder how we can create this feeling more often in our lives - those moments when we can just be still and breathe...

Today's limited supply challenge on SCS was to make a card from wrapping that was on a gift you received from the holidays.  I love the recycle theme!  This card was made from the silver wrapping and burgundy tissue paper that were a part of a gift I received last night.  I seem to be addicted to my Daisies die, so I used it again to make these layered flowers.  I hope you like it!

Medallion Wishes 2

I decided to make a 2nd version of the Medallion Wishes card.  This is for a friend's birthday - she LOVES purple!  I used the same supplies as the first card and then stepped things up with a little dazzling diamonds, liquid pearls and the stamp-a-ma-jig to piece together the greeting.  Hope you like it!  Happy holidays!!!!

Medallion Wishes

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Some Days Are Play Days!

We woke up to a ton of snow this morning - a winter wonderland!  Buddy was so excited for his walk!  We went to a favorite park and saw Abby, a Golden Retriever, we met yesterday.  Yesterday Buddy wasn't interested in playing with Abby, but today was a whole different story!  They ran after one another - bounding around in the snow!  It was adorable!!!!  Some days are just play days!  Today is one of them :)  Hope you have a fun play day today!

Today's card has so much dimension in person - it was hard to capture in the photo.  I used the Medallion background stamp for this background challenge.  I stamped the image on the card and used the spritzer tool to age things a bit.  I then stamped the image over and over on a piece of kraft cs and ran that through the Big Shot with the Daisy #2 die.  I layered 6 daisies on top of each other and used a build-a-brad for the middle.  The daisies are popped up on dimensionals.  I used the curly label die and punch for the greeting and popped that up too!  Hope you like it!!!!

Faux Suede

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Nest
 
noun:  a person's snug or secluded retreat or shelter.  verb:  use or build a nest.

It's snowing here in Colorado today and my desire to nest is as strong as ever.  I have been on a week-long cleaning journey in the craft room - trying to create my nest - that place that feels secluded - the place that can be my creative shelter.  It sounds quite romantic, doesn't it?  I have to admit that most of my nest is storage for all my nesting material :)  But getting it organized and put away in a way that makes me feel comforted, rather than crazed, is an important priority for me right now.  How is your nesting instinct?  What makes you feel comforted and calm?

Today's sketch challenge called out to me for simplicity.  I went with a monotone look and pulled out the hole punch to make random holes as decorative accents.  I used the bone folder to break down the fibers in both the circle and one of the rectangular pieces.  When you break the paper fibers down enough, you can peel the paper layers apart to reveal a faux suede look.  I added the large grommet to the faux suede flower and topped everything off with one of my favorite stamps of all time!  Hope you like it!

Valentine's Card #1

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  It Doesn't Have To Feel Like Groundhog Day!

I admit to having gotten into a bit of a routine - wake up, shower, check the computer, walk the dog...seems I could do it in my sleep - and sometimes it does feel like I'm sleeping - or like it's Groundhog Day (very funny movie by the way)!  It doesn't have to be like that though.  Sometimes all it takes is switching things up a bit - head out to run some errands at a time when you don't normally go.  Switch chores with someone else in the house just to try something new.  Or maybe even give yourself a day off :)  Enjoy!

Today's card is for the clean and simple and color challenges on SCS - simple to make.  The only added step was to apply crystal effects to the hearts.  Hope you like it!

House of Peace

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Consider Living More For Today Than For Some Day

I had to smile when today's challenge was about building a house...granted it is a birdhouse, but it makes me think of all the house cleaning I've been doing lately.  Oh to be a bird with such a little space to keep clean :)  I've been spending most of my time cleaning in the craft room and I realize that I save a lot of things for "some day."  For instance, I'd better save this big plastic bottle because "some day" it may come in handy for a project.  Oh, and this cardboard packing material, and those beat up plastic containers, and don't forget those wrappers from those candies...and so on, and so on, and so on...until eventually I am surrounded by piles of things for "some day" and unable to live comfortably in a clean space today.  So I've been purging a lot - trying to live more for today than for some day.  It has been an emotional purging for me since I seem to have a hard time letting go.  I have to admit though - every time I remove things from the craft room and deposit them in the trash I feel a bit lighter and a bit more at peace :)   So today's birdhouse is my house of peace - this is hopefully what I will end up with when I finish my purging - a peaceful, clean space where I can cozy up and create :)  Wish me luck!

The roof of the birdhouse was cut from silver tooling foil and then scalloped and embossed.  I used a sewing pin to attach the die cut bird and ribbon.  The flowers were punched and then embellished with silver liquid pearls.  Hope you like it and I hope you enjoy today!

Handmade Stencils

Just in case you wanted to see what my handmade circle stencils look like - here they are :)  I used these to create today's inspirational tree card :)

Inspired Tree

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Sometimes A Little Insanity Can Be A Good Thing!

What a fun challenge!  This was my inspiration http://www.fabulousstationery.com/mini-joie-brown/.  I have to confess to a bit of insanity in making this card.  I punched some circle templates out of transparency film - a bunch of circles in different sizes - that was the start of the insanity :)  Then I sponged all the different color inks using all the different sized circle templates - that was the middle of the insanity :)  Then I cut out the whole tree and popped it up on dimensionals - that was the end of my insanity :)  The bird and the greeting were embossed with white embossing powder.  Hope you like it!  Sometimes a little insanity can be a good thing :)

Silver Embossed Christmas

Just wanted to share this quick and easy card!  The stamp is from the Season of Joy SU! stamp set and I stamped it with VersaMark ink and heat embossed with silver embossing powder.  Hope you like it!  Happy Holidays!!!!!

Stamped CD Case Calendar

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  A Clean Space Can Clear Your Mind

Pre-New Year's Resolution #1 - get the office and craft room clean!  Right now Michael is in the lead - he cleaned his office today and it is amazing how soothing it is to walk into that space right now!  Before it was a whole lot of clutter - now it is a whole lot of open space and clean - ahhhhhh.  If that doesn't motivate me, I don't know what will!  The feeling of calm and quiet that enters my mind when I enter his office is definitely something I want to experience in the craft room!  Pre-New Year's Resolution #1, here I come!!!!

This calendar idea was inspired by kwerner.  I saw the idea for creating a printed calendar and went from there!  I created the calendar template using Pages on the Mac and then I stamped each month individually.  This version is for my aunt who is a fanatic for white and blue!  The calendar "stand" is a CD case that is folded back on itself (I hope that makes sense - you open the CD case and then you keep pushing...even if you think you're going to break it...and it makes this great little stand that you can slide your calendar pages in each month).  The calendar pages are 4 3/4"x 4 3/4".  I may just have to turn this project into a class!  Hope you like it!  Off I go to tackle that resolution!!!!! :)