I Like You More Than Chocolate!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  I Still Have A Lot To Learn :)

When I was in my teens and twenties I thought life was pretty rough.  I kept thinking that when I got "older" - whatever "older" meant to me then - that somehow I would have all the answers.  I figured by the time you were "old" that you wouldn't worry anymore about silly things and that you would spend your time thinking very deep and meaningful thoughts.  Well, I don't know about you, but now that I'm "older" I still have a lot to learn!  I don't have all the answers...at all!  I also worry about silly things and I keep wondering if there is ever an age, or a time, when those silly things will stop bothering me.  If you happen to know the answer to that question, please let me know :)  I hope I continue to learn many lessons on this journey called life! :)

Today's card was made for the Pals Paper Arts Challenge.  The inspiration was a yummy looking piece of chocolate on a red background :)  I used the chocolate stamp and the word "chocolate" from the Things I Love stamp set.  I stamped the chocolate in a few different browns and then covered them with Crystal Effects to make them look yummy enough to eat!  The greeting (other than the word "chocolate") came from the Love Bandits stamp set (such a CUTE set!).  Don't you just love our new epoxy brads!  So adorable!!!!  The real red card stock layer was run through our new polka dot embossing folder.  Hope you like it...and hope you like me more than chocolate...but if you don't, believe me, I understand :)

Cheep Talk - Clean and Simple

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Change and Transition Are Two Different Things

In his book, Transitions, William Bridges talks about the difference between Change and Transitions.  Change is the actual event - for example, getting injured or learning you have an illness.  Change happens in an instant.  Transitions, on the other hand, take time.  Transition means letting go of how things were and coming to terms with how things are now.  For each of us and for each event, we go through our transitions in different ways and in different amounts of time.  Sometimes, it seems, we feel we are supposed to be able to just "adjust" immediately.  Today, give yourself permission to go through your transitions in your own way.  It's not a race.  It is your way of coping with the changes that life constantly brings.

Today's card for the Clean and Simple challenge on SCS came together very quickly.  The only "rule" was that we had to use the color teal.  I seem to be in love with this little bird from the Cheep Talk stamp set...partly because he makes me think of Spring! :)  I stamped the bird in teal and then adhered him to a layer of certainly celery and popped him up on a few more layers with dimensionals.  The greeting was stamped and then hand-cut into a little flag.  (Now is a great time to purchase this adorable stamp set because it's Sale-A-Bration!!!!  Purchase $50 in product and receive a free Sale-A-Bration item!  Click HERE to shop now!)  Hope you have a beautiful day!

Loads Of Love

I had to post this card today!  My friend Meg came over yesterday and made this adorable card for her son's birthday!  I love how she paper-pieced the road - too cute!!!!

Heat Tool and Organza

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  There's Always Something New To Learn!

Organza melts when a heat tool is applied to it....who knew?! :)  I learned this neat little trick at the SU! Leadership Convention so I, of course, had to go and buy some organza to give it a try.  Rumor has it that any fabric with synthetic fibers will shrivel up/melt.  Oh the fun I can have!  You do have to be careful though - too much heat and the fabric will burn.  I won't tell you how I learned that lesson :)  I die cut the fabric with the daisies #2 die in the Big Shot and then used a paint brush handle to hold the layers together on a heat resistant surface and the I heated it with the gun.  Hope you like it!  What new things did you learn today?????

Baby Shower Favors and Thank You

I had so much fun designing the invites, favors and thank you's for one of my customers to make for a friend's shower!  The favor was made with the Fancy Favor die and the Big Shot - how cute is this?!?!  As my friend would say, "Stinkin' cute!!!!" :)  Now is a great time to build your library of exclusive Stampin' Up! Big Shot dies - It's Sale-a-Bration!!!!!  You get a free Sale-a-Bration item for every $50 in product you purchase...and yes, I placed my crazy big order yesterday...can't wait for it to arrive!!!!  If you'd like to shop now, click HERE :)

Eyelet Border Paper Flower

I have come home from Leadership Convention and the Phoenix Regional with sooooo many ideas!  This is one I had to share with you.  It was presented by Jan McClurg and I was amazed with what she could do with paper!  Thanks Jan!  Here's how you can make these beautiful eyelet border paper flowers (I was able to do it on the first try which means it's easy peasy!!!)!!!!  Give it a try!

Step 1:  Cut a strip of whisper white card stock 11" long and 3/4" wide.  Use your eyelet border punch to punch the length of the strip of whisper white card stock.

Step 2:  Run the eyelet border strip of whisper white card stock through your crimper 4 times to soften the paper and make it pliable.

Step 3:  Punch a 1 1/2" circle and cover the circle with mono adhesive (strong white glue).  You will now begin the create your flower by gluing one end of the strip of crimped card stock to the outside rim of the circle and working your way around the circle, folding the crimped card stock as you go.  You will keep working your way toward the center of the circle.  Don't worry if you run out of crimped card stock, we'll be covering up the blank hole in the middle!

Step 4:  Punch a 3/4" circle in a color of your choice (I used barely banana) and adhere it to the center of the flower using a dimensional.  Finish embellishing as you desire and then use the flower on a card, scrapbook page or 3-D item!  Have fun!!!!

If you don't have an eyelet border punch, now is a great time to purchase one!  It's Sale-a-Bration!!!!  For every $50 in product that you purchase, you receive one free Sale-a-Bration item!!!  Click HERE to shop now!!! :)

Upsy Daisy!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  No One Can Make Your Decisions For You

Yes?  No?  Maybe?  Should I?  Shouldn't I?  I don't know about you, but these questions take up a lot of my time.  There are some areas where I am incredibly decisive and can make my mind up in a snap.  There are other areas, however, where my mind is like a see-saw!  Up, down, yes, no...I just can't make up my mind!  When it happens I sometimes reach out to someone close to me and ask them something like this, "Am I crazy if I do this?"  And, if the friend is truly a friend, what they say in response is, "It doesn't matter what I think.  This is your decision.  What would you like to do?"  Darn it!  Why can't they just make the decision for me?  Why?  Because it is my decision to make and the consequences are mine as well.  They are reminding me that no one can decide for me and no one else can take responsibility for the decisions I make (which means I can't blame anyone else if I'm not happy with the outcome of my decision).  What I need to investigate is why certain decisions come so easily and why I struggle with other decisions...but that is for another day and another lesson from the craft room :)  What decisions do you find difficult to make?  I have to admit that some of the difficult ones for me seem to be about whether or not I should purchase more crafting supplies...now why would I feel guilty about that?!

This sketch challenge card started with the sketch and the desire to combine Crushed Curry and Basic Black.  I tried to stick with the basics:  stamp, paper, ink...and threw in a touch of ribbon and dazzling diamonds.  I hope you like it!

A Good Egg

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  It's Never Too Late!

As long as we are still here, it is never too late to decide to do something, to say something, to try something, to share something.  You have this moment.  You have this time - right now.  A very dear friend asked me once, "If there was anything you could do today, what would that be?"  What an important question to ask ourselves everyday!  And, when you have your answer, go for it!  It's never too late!

I had fun making today's card.  This little chick is soooo cute :)  Just looking at him makes me smile :)  I added a few of the other images from A Good Egg and then some white gel pen and glitter.  The lace border punch gives a delicate feel to the card and, one of my favorite sets, Happy Everything, fit perfectly!  Now is a great time to invest in these adorable stamp sets since it's Sale-a-Bration!!!!  You receive a free Sale-a-Bration item for every $50 in products you purchase!  Yes, I'm going shopping! :)  If you'd like to shop too, feel free to click HERE.  It's Never Too Late when you can shop 24/7 :) (Can you tell I'm excited about this promotion???  I'm embarrassed to tell you how long my wish list is!)  Have a perfect evening!!!!!

My New Year's Commitment

This was one of the signs decorating the stage at Leadership Convention last week in Phoenix.  What an amazing reminder for me for 2010 - to love what I do and do what I love!!!!!  What are you committing to this year?????

Yikes! Crazy Love!

Tonight's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Just Go And Visit!

Today I learned that a friend is sick.  Not the kind of sick that you take 2 aspirin for and you feel better in the morning, but the kind of sick that requires surgery and making sure your will is in order and your mind keeps racing at night.  The minute I found out I knew I wanted to go over to his house and visit and I was scared.  I was scared about what I would say and how I would act.  And, I went.  What I realize now is that it doesn't matter what you say or how you act - what matters is that you go and visit.  Visiting provided an hour where he was able to laugh and forget for a few minutes the road that is stretching out before him right now.  Visiting was good medicine for both of us!

Tonight's card has an appropriate name - Crazy Love - 'cuz I've gotta admit this card is a little crazy! :)  The challenge on SCS was to combine rich razzleberry, chocolate chip, and pretty in pink...and, if you wanted, houndstooth.  I stamped a bunch of flowers over each other with chocolate chip ink onto the pretty in pink card stock and have to admit it's a bit ugly...but hearts can make even the ugliest paper or situation a bit brighter - so hearts I stamped :)  I added glitter - since glitter can also make things a bit brighter...and here's the result.  My neutrals are black and white (black is a neutral, isn't it?!) so that I could add a touch of houndstooth.  Hope you like it, but if you don't, I at least hope you enjoyed our visit :)

Baby Shower Invites

Hi!!!!!!!  I'm back from Leadership Convention and I'm all fired up!!!!!!  I had one friend over yesterday and we went to work creating these baby shower invites!  The cards were inspired by a demonstration at Leadership.  How cute are these?!  I am loving the combination of certainly celery and almost amethyst card stock together!!!!!  This little bird, from the Cheep Talk stamp set, is so versatile!  I can already see him on a Valentine's card with a little heart...I'll have to go work on that one :)  I printed the invites up on the computer since I didn't have an "invite" stamp and we decided we didn't want to hand write all those invites.  I was inspired by our "Introducing" stamp set.  We did, however, make sure to add a stamped touch to them by including the bird and an added certainly celery circle punch.  We also stamped the bird on the envelopes.  If you have an event coming up, or just want to buy a few supplies, now is a great time to shop since our biggest sale of the year is going on!  Spend $50 on product and you will receive a free Sale-a-bration item (there are stamps, punches and paper to choose from)!  Feel free to SHOP NOW if you'd like to take advantage of this amazing annual event!!!!  You can view the Sale-a-Bration brochure on the right-hand side of this post to see the amazing products we have available for free!!!!

Swamped With Swaps!

What day is it???  Who am I???  I have had my head down all day trying to finish making my swaps for Leadership Convention this week in Phoenix!  I am finally able to say....I'M DONE!!!!  In hindsight I wish I would have started earlier and made more, but I have 61 to take with me and that should be just fine! :)  I leave in the morning and I'm hoping for a trip filled with inspiration and motivation!!!!  I have decided not to bring my computer with me (for a bit of relaxation), so I'm not sure if I will be posting at all while I'm gone (of course, knowing me, I may try to find a computer at the hotel to sneak on-line :)  I hope you have a wonderful rest of your week!  Stay warm and I look forward to sharing all kinds of exciting inspiration when I get back!!!!!  Happy creating!!!!!

Sale-A-Bration Is Here!!!!!

It's our biggest sale of the year and a great time to get tons of free stuff!!!!!  Spend $50 and choose from the items and stamp sets in the Sale-A-Bration catalog!  This is when I do all my shopping :)  Click HERE to shop now!!!!

Sale-a-Brate Tomorrow!!!!!

Tomorrow is an exciting Stampin' Up! day since the sales period for the new Occasions Mini Catalog and our Sale-a-Bration event begins!!!!  Sale-A-Bration is our biggest promotion of the year!  You receive a free gift for every $50 you spend!  NEW THIS YEAR!!  In addition to the limited edition Sale-A-Bration stamp sets, Designer Paper and the new Scallop Trim Punch, you now have the option to choose your free gift from over 75 of our current stamps sets in the Stampin' Up! Idea Book and Catalog (check out p.11 of the Sale-A-Bration catalog for a list of these stamp sets).  Sale-a-Bration begins tomorrow.  Check out the links in the right-hand column of my blog to view the catalogs!  Click HERE to place your order!

i love YOU!!!

I know it's a bit forward of me to be so outspoken with the title of this card, but it is really true - I do love YOU!  I thank you for inspiring me, for encouraging me, for leaving your comments and visiting me!  Thanks for your love too :)

This card is for multiple challenges on SCS.  I pieced together 1/2" x 1/2" squares of designer paper to make my version of a quilt, and then I used a few different heart punches to punch out the mini heart quilts.  Some got popped up and others just glued down.  The top greeting is from part of the big stamp in the Things I Love stamp set and I stamped the "you!" from the Contempo alphabet set using the stamp-a-ma-jig - the exclamation point is just the "i" upside down :)  Hope you like it!!!!

Clean and Simple Valentine - Define Your Life

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Simplify

Whenever I set out to do a clean and simple card I am reminded of how important simplifying can be.  It seems that "clutter" is something I do well - I clutter my mind, my craft room...okay, not just the craft room, the house too!  I can clutter my words and my thoughts, as well as my cards.  I like this definition of simple:  plain, basic, or uncomplicated in form, nature, or design; without much decoration or ornamentation.  I would like to try to bring more simplicity into my life, into my words and into my actions.  May today be a simple day for you :)

The thought for this card for today's clean and simple challenge on SCS - a Valentine's card, came to me during my walk with Buddy.  I used a heart punch to punch through some acetate in order to make a heart stencil.  I then sponged pixie pink, pretty in pink, and pale plum to make the 3 hearts.  I used the stamp-a-ma-jig to align the xoxo stamp from Define Your Life.  So simple, and yet so clear in its message.  I hope you like it!

Paper Quilled Sheep

Tonight's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Sometimes Things Just Flow!

Do you ever have those moments where things just flow?  Tonight was one of those nights.  I decided to stop by SCS before heading to bed and saw the great featured stamper challenge.  I quickly went to Ardod's gallery and saw this card http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/1427133?&cat=500&ppuser=198978 and I knew what I had to do!

The challenge requires you to change at least 2 things about the card.  I had a little sheep that I had quilled ages ago and I knew this would be the perfect card!  I changed the color scheme, added a ribbon, a different quilled subject, and a greeting.  Thanks for the inspiration!  I hope you like it!  Sometimes things just flow! :)

A Few Clean And Simple (CAS) Cards

I was playing around in the craft room tonight and decided to make a few clean and simple (CAS) cards.  These cards are so simple to make and I love using the Pocket Silhouettes stamp set.  Now if I can just get my craft room Clean and Simple!  That would be amazing!!!! :)

Here is another one...

and one more....

Bella's Bloom - Inspiration Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  If you are not going to be better tomorrow than you were today, then what need have you for tomorrow?

Today's lesson  is a challenge that is almost 200 hundred years old.  About 200 years ago, Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav offered this challenge to his followers.  It is a challenge that is important for us to make of ourselves everyday.  How can you make today even better than yesterday?  How can you demonstrate that you have a need for another tomorrow so that you can make the world an even better place?  I challenge you! :)

Today's card took patience :)  The inspiration challenge on SCS was to find inspiration in the Etsy shop of Design Spirit Studio.  I was inspired by this piece of jewelry http://ny-image1.etsy.com//il_fullxfull.63565841.jpg and immediately knew that Crystal Effects were in order :)  It's waiting for the crystal effects to dry that can take patience :)  I stamped the image a few times in Timber Brown Staz-on - I have found that if I used crystal effects over classic ink, it sometimes runs a bit.  It's hard to see, but there are 2 score lines toward the bottom of the card.  Hope you like it!

Punch Horse Card

My niece LOVES horses, so for her birthday I made this punch horse card :)  I followed the punch horse tutorial provided by Angie Juda (thanks Angie!) and improvised a bit since I didn't have the punches that she used to make the hair and ears.  I used the Boho Blossoms punch instead and it worked out just fine.  I figured I would use the crimper to make a horse stall door - my hope is that this horse looks like he's looking out of his stall.  The Happy Everything stamp set is making me happy these days!  It seems to have a great greeting for so many occasions!!!!  Hope you like it!!!!!