Today's Lesson From The Craft Room: Think Beyond The Texture Of The Material
I love paper! And, sometimes I am looking for something a bit more lasting and enduring. Making paper cloth is a great way to turn your paper into a new material that you can sew and get creative with! I had some leftover paper cloth that I had made using the Typeset Specialty Designer Series Paper and I decided to turn it into a stuffed heart ornament for an incredibly special friend! How can you think beyond the texture of the material you are given?
Today's Lesson From The Craft Room: Always Have Something With You To Create With!
My travel schedule can get a bit nuts sometimes and I can find myself away from the craft room and the over abundance of art supplies that live there. So I now travel with a kit of random supplies...just in case the urge to create comes over me and I am in a hotel room, an airport, or some other place far far away. Lately I've added some cotton thread to the travel craft kit and I have been enjoying sewing into watercolor paper. This collage began when I was inspired by the sleeve on my drink from Caribou Coffee. The quote spoke to me and I began by adhering it to the center of the watercolor paper. Next I added some random painted papers and tapes that were in my kit. The sewing was the last addition. Lots of little meditative stitches in a combination of black and purple. Sometimes I take the kit with me and it never gets open. Other times it is the respite in my travels. Either way, it is always with me in case the urge to create strikes!
It’s time to welcome summer, and you’re going to need the right packaging for treats and gifts. With this tutorial, you will make a trio of boxes, learn a quick and easy way to decorate push pop containers that won’t interfere with whatever you choose to fill them, and create a beautiful open-top box with the capacity to hold a lot of treats. It’s so decorative that you (or whomever you give it to) will want to keep it on display. Go to Craft Project Central and subscribe to the month of June for full step-by-step instructions!
Today's Lesson From The Craft Room: Put Your Scraps To Good Use!
I don't like going over to a friend or neighbor's house empty handed. A few weeks ago our neighbors invited us over for dinner and I didn't have much time to figure out what to bring. So I walked into the craft room and saw some scrap pieces of fabric and ribbon staring back at me! So I did a bit of stamping on the fabric and then walked over to the sewing machine. A quick fabric scrap ornament, perfect for a doorknob, kitchen cabinet knob or holiday tree! How can you put your scraps to good use?
Summer Camp Stationery Set! – Yapha Mason This Summer Camp Stationery Set is perfect to send to sleep away camp with your teen or tween. Featuring the Epic Alphabet Stamp Set and the bright and fun Cherry on Top Designer Series Paper Stack and matching Washi Tape, this set contains six single-sided notecards (for short notes home) and six square cards (for longer letters), as well as two pens and two pencils. It all fits nicely in the decorated plastic case to keep it safe from the elements. This would make an excellent gift as well as a class or club project. Get the full step-by-step instructions by subscribing to the month of June over at Craft Project Central!
Make this patriotic and masculine gift set, containing a thank you card, a picture frame and a mini scrap album. It is the perfect gift for a soldier, a vet, or perhaps someone who has a loved one in the military. Honor them with a hand-made gift for risking their lives for our freedom. Learn different techniques, like stenciling and heat embossing. Learn how to add a distressed look to your project. Make handmade 3-D stars and add dimensions with sponging and die-cutting. Great for a stamp camp, or as a class project. For full step-by-step instructions, head on over to Craft Project Central and subscribe to the month of June!
Today's Lesson From The Craft Room: Keep Moving Through The Process
I am amazed at how difficult it can be to begin a piece of art - whether it is an art journal page, a canvas, a mixed media creation, a card. It doesn't seem to matter. Showing up and beginning takes courage. The courage to face that inner critic that invariably joins you on the journey. I also find that I often want to abandon ship early in the creative process. I start judging and criticizing what I am doing almost as soon as I begin doing it! And, what I am continually learning, is that I need to just keep moving the process. Just keep going even when the judgement is there. Even when the criticism is there. Because if I'm not creating art, I'm not learning about creating art. It doesn't matter if I love, hate, or feel apathetic about the end result. What matters is that I am learning. I am doing. I am putting it out there and growing each time I have the courage to just create. The only true way to learn is to find the courage to create and going for it!
Today I am sharing another Art Journal Experiment. I like calling these videos "experiments" since it takes the pressure off of me a bit. It also lets you know that what you are watching is me trying to find my way with materials and techniques - so hopefully you are learning on the journey with me. Today I decided to play with wax paper, pan pastels...and a few other things! I hope you enjoy the video :)
Today's Lesson From The Craft Room: There Is Very Little Difference Between Burying And Planting
We dig up the ground. We place the seed, object, casket in the ground. We cover it again with soil. How perfect that the actions we take when we bury something are the same actions we take for planting something! Can this apply to other aspects of my life as well? That if I let something go it will actually give seed to something else? That if I grow something new, I can put something else to rest? Yes, there is very little difference between burying and planting.
Today I am sharing an art journal page that I created for Paper Crafter's Library. I used a monoprinting technique with reinkers and I had a ton of fun! If you are interested in the supply list and full step-by-step video for how I created the page, head on over to Paper Crafter's Library by clicking the badge in the upper right-hand corner of my blog and consider becoming a member!
Today's Lesson From The Craft Room: What matters is not the time it takes to make art but the art itself. -Mario Rivoli
I fall into this trap - paying attention to how much time it is taking me to get something done. The question that people often ask when they see a piece of art that was created..."How much time did that take?" I wonder why we are so focused on time - especially when it comes to making art. I wonder if we are getting in our own way when we start to view making art as punching a time clock? Does the time it takes really matter? What if we just took whatever time we had - whatever moments we might otherwise be spending in ways that do not nurture our souls - and instead take those moments and gift them to our art making? Keeping track of those moments is not required. All you need to do is make the art.
Today I am sharing an Art Journal Experiment with you. It began with the thought "What would happen if I tried to monoprint with freezer paper and gelatos?" and then it went from there. Come along on this journey with me as I explore the answer to that question and also learn how to seal the gelatos; stencil with the gelatos and blend the gelatos along the way. I hope you enjoy the journey with me!
Fry Box Gift Packaging Trio! – Christy Fulk
If you’re in need of some new packaging ideas, then these projects are for you! There are three different gift packaging ideas in this tutorial, and all three are made with the Fry Box Bigz L Die. The new Bohemian Designer Series Paper is also used. This would make a great product-based class, too. For full step-by-step instructions, head on over to Craft Project Central and subscribe to the month of June!
Today's Lesson From The Craft Room: Organizing Can Become An Excuse For Not Creating
I try to convince myself that if I just do a little bit of organizing then I will be in a better place to create. What I am realizing is that this is one of my excuses. One of the things I say or do to avoid having to face that blank piece of paper or that blank canvas. One of the excuses I have so that I don't have to come any closer to that inner critic - who, by the way, I have now named "Dr. Downer." Every time he shows up I can now think to myself, "Dr. Downer I presume?" I imagine that Dr. Downer shares an office with Dr. Doubt and that they have an assistant who answers the phone and says, "Downer & Doubt. How can we NOT help you?" Now that Dr. Downer has a name I am hoping I can tell him I am not in need of his services at this time :) Yes, organizing can be a wonderful thing...and it can also become an excuse for not creating.
Today I inked up the Blended Blooms stamp and the new Layered Letters Alphabet stamps with some Watermelon Wonder ink and went to town! I wasn't sure how I felt about this color, but after creating this card I'm feeling a lot more fond of it. Excuse the Naturals Ivory card stock - I realized after I created the card that this favorite card stock of mine is retired :( Some things we love go away and some things we never even knew we would like come into existence - ah the joys of catalog transition time! I hope you become fond of Watermelon Wonder too! Feel free to shop HERE for Watermelon Wonder you can call your very own :)
Wedding Gift Card & Scrapbook! – Sharon Burkert June and the rest of the Summer is a very popular time for weddings. This project will have you ready for all those wonderful events. You will make a gift card holder that also has pages available for the happy couple to include some pictures and memories of their special day. You will also make a pretty box to hold your gift. This would also make a lovely gift for any special occasion when you want to give more than a gift card. For full step-by-step instructions, head on over to Craft Project Central and subscribe to the month of June!
TODAY IS THE DAY! Stampin' Up!s new 2015-2016 catalog is here!!!!! Click HERE to place your order today (as long as it is after 2:00 a.m. Mountain Time on June 2nd)!!! What a fun catalog year it is going to be!!!!!!
Today I reached 3,000 subscribers on my YouTube Channel!!!! Yiiippppeeeeee! If you want to come visit me over at YouTube, click HERE! I hope you will like the channel enough to subscribe!
The new catalog and the new In-Colors are almost available to order (June 2nd!!!)! How 'bout a little sneak peek at a card I created using what may turn into my new favorite color...Mint Macaron! Good thing this color isn't scented to match its name or I would be in trouble :) I used the ink to stamp the sentiment and to sponge the doily. I also added the accompanying lace and embellishment. I have a feeling you are going to be seeing a lot more of this color in my upcoming creations!
This one stop station is perfect for the tween in your life! It is a multipurpose organization board that can hold jewelry, hair accessories, notes, photos, and much more. This project also includes a motivational note, two charming hair clips, and an interchangeable headband bow. It is a cute and convenient addition to your tween's room. It is bound to put a smile on their face! Head on over to Craft Project Central and subscribe to the month of May for full step-by-step instructions!
Today's Lesson From The Craft Room: Your Choices Will Change The World
They called me their angel. It made me realize how such small actions can have such a large impact for people. I was on a plane from Ft. Worth to Denver last week and a couple came onto the plane. The woman sat next to me. The husband a few rows back. I noticed the woman struggling a bit with her seat belt, so I reached over to help. She thanked me and said that this was her first time to the United States. She was traveling with her husband from Pakistan and had been en route for over 20 hours. She slept a bit on the flight and when we landed I was about to walk by them in the terminal and I paused to tell them that I hope they had a wonderful trip visiting Denver and Chicago. They asked me where the baggage claim was and I said I would be more than happy to escort them there. We walked slowly - talking about their trip and their experiences so far. We stopped at a washroom before walking to the baggage claim area. I told them I would not leave them until we found their friend who was meeting them there. When we found their friend I wished them a beautiful trip and they told me I was their angel. They said that traveling to a new place can be confusing and stressful and that having me guide them was such a relief. Yes, your choices - even your choice to pause when you think you are in a rush - will change the world.
Today I am sharing an art journal page I created for Paper Crafter's Library. I had saved this tea bag a long time ago and now it found its perfect place :) I have a feeling this page may be taken out of my art journal and framed - it really speaks to me and I want to be reminded of this lesson always! For a full step-by-step video on how I created this page (and lots of other pages), head on over to Paper Crafter's Library by clicking the badge in the upper right-hand corner of my blog and consider becoming a member. You'll be glad you did :)
Donut Gift Ensemble! by Carrie Rhoades When’s the last time you had a donut? Well, it’s time you had one, or a few! These donuts are just as yummy as the real thing and come without the guilt. Make these delicious projects for anyone who has a sweet tooth. The donut tutorial includes directions to make a shaker card, a donut gift box with a window, a donut mini notepad on a ring and a jumbo donut clip. These are the yummiest donuts you can make without ever taking a bite. For full step-by-step instructions, head on over to Craft Project Central and subscribe to the month of May!
