Valentine Mini Cards & Treats by Yapha Mason

This set of mini Valentine cards and treats, created by Yapha Mason, are perfect for the children in your life, or the young at heart! It includes a cute tote bag to carry them for distributing, or for children to use at school for collecting their Valentines. It makes a great gift bag as well.  Get all the directions to create this great project by subscribing to the month of January over at Craft Project Central!

Shaker Frame One Of A Kind Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  The sole cause of man's unhappiness is that he does not know how to stay quietly in his room."  -Pascal, Pensées, 136

Papilion Potpourri Birthday Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Just When You Think You're Making Progress, Set Backs Come To Test You
I guess in the grand scheme they aren't big set backs.  I mean right now I have a girlfriend who is about to start chemo this week and another friend who fell and knocked himself out in the bathroom and needed stitches.  So who am I to complain?  And yet, I am.  I was feeling relaxed over the holidays - settling in to being at home without having to travel to and from airports and cities and hotels.  And then, somehow, the settling in turned into getting riled up :(  My computers - yes, both of them, decided to start acting up, my journal decided to go missing under the piles and stacks of papers that I have around (at least that's where I am hoping it is and not missing in some hotel room somewhere), and my body decided to act up with headaches :(  Ugh!  Just when I thought I was making some progress, these set backs came to test me...and, I have to admit, I failed the test!  I let it all get to me.  I got frustrated, pissed off, upset - you name it.  So here I sit, typing this, wondering where the peace I had found just a week ago has gone.  The good news is that I know it is possible to find it again - there is hope.  I'm determined to pass the test the next time it shows up!
Today's card was a simple birthday card for a cousin.  I used the Papilion Potpourri stamp set with Smoky Slate ink.  I brought out the dazzling diamonds glitter because, after all, what is a birthday without some bling! :)  The sentiment is from Petite Pairs.  I hope you like it :)

Love Banner Frame, Love Notes & Bonus by Sharon Burkert

Valentine’s Day is near and a perfect time to showcase the ones you love.  This Love Banner frame by Sharon Burkert is perfect to display pictures of those special people in your life.  Also included are a quick and easy holder for some little love notes and a couple of little cards to put in your holder.  There is an added little bonus project that will come in handy when you want to pretty up a gift card.  This would be a fun project to do in a class and it would make a wonderful gift.  For all of the step-by-step instructions for this adorable project, head on over to Craft Project Central and subscribe to the month of January!

A Venture Into Figure Drawing

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room: If drawing had value even when practised by those with no talent, it was, Ruskin believed, because it could teach us to see - that is, to notice rather than merely look.  In the process of re-creating with our own hands what lies before our eyes, we seem naturally to evolve from observing beauty in a loose way to possessing a deep understanding of its constituent parts and hence more secure memories of it.  -Alain de Botton in The Art of Travel
I just finished Alain de Botton's book The Art of Travel and loved it!  At the same time, and quite fortuitously, I was in the process of watching Bill Buchman's dvd entitled Art is an Attitude:  The Art of Drawing the Figure.  So it's no accident that I found myself trying to venture into drawings of the human figure and doing so without any expectation of what might occur.  Buchman's dvd includes many different exercises that focus on different ways of seeing the figure.  I have a long way to go, but I'm so glad I've begun the journey...and I'm looking forward to learning how to see :)  Have a beautiful weekend!

Branching Out With Different Media

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Branch Out!
The idea to branch out snuck up on me :)  I randomly came across some videos by a few artists and the gears started to turn.  Then I found a few dvd's by Bill Buchman and watched mesmerized as he drew with pastels and painted with watercolors!  So much inspiration!  I couldn't help myself!  So, I decided to start to play with some media that I am not used to - something different from my usual "go to" ink and paper.  And I'm having a lot of fun experimenting!  (By the way...hard pastels are very messy!!!!!).  So maybe my first lesson for 2014 is to branch out.  To try something new - something that intrigues or inspires me.  Who knows where it will lead!

Enjoy Some Good Fortune by Julie Beltramo

This fun project by Julie Beltramo is an ideal way to share a gift card (maybe for a meal at a Chinese food restaurant) and a few little treats in the Clasp Envelope Gift Box. Then add some special messages inside the fortune cookies, and complete the gift of good fortune with the Simple Stems card.
Interested in getting all of the instructions for how to make this great set?  If so, head on over to Craft Project Central and subscribe to the month of January!  Happy New Year!!!!!

Personalized Note Cards

I don't have a lesson from the craft room today.  What I do have is a wish.  A wish for you.  For a healthy, happy, peaceful, creative, prosperous and fulfilling New Year!!!!!  Wishing you all the best in 2014!!!!!!  Looking forward to sharing it with you!!!!!!
Today's note cards were a quick gift I put together for my swimming coach.  She has shared her passion for swimming with me and that passion is contagious!!!!!  I thought it would be nice to share a bit of my creative passion with her :)  The triangle punch created little flags that reminded me of the flags at the ends of the pool.  Hopefully she'll like them :)  I know I'm looking forward to spending many more laps in the pool in 2014!
(ps  Do you like the designer series paper I used?  If so, you can order it from the Occasions catalog starting on January 3rd!)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!

Tag a Bag Mini Album & Card by Laurie Zoellmer

Capture your memories with this Tag a Bag Mini Album & Card created by Laurie Zoellmer as this month's bonus project over at Craft Project Central!  This project was made using the Tag a Bag Bundle.  This mini album is perfect for adding photos from just about any occasion, birthdays, vacations, retirement, etc.  Included are ten pages you can add photos to, plus three decorated panels that tuck into the open pages.  You can journal or add more pictures to the panels.  The possibilities are endless!  Pair this darling album up with a coordinating greeting card, and it makes the perfect gift!
You can obtain all the instructions for this bonus project by subscribing to two or more months in a row at Craft Project Central; putting the Craft Project Central badge on your blog; or by referring a friend and when that friend subscribes, letting Craft Project Central know.  To learn more about this bonus project and all the other December projects at Craft Project Central, head on over to Craft Project Central!

Cork Coaster Gift Set by Angie Jones

Here’s a gorgeous set of four Drink Coasters to give as a gift with a matching note card and handmade envelope. Or simply enjoy having on hand when your crafting friends arrive for that Stamp-A-Stack afternoon.  This Cork Coaster Gift Set was created by  Angie Jones!  Want all the instructions to create a set of your very own?  Then head on over to Craft Project Central and subscribe to the month of December!

Art Journal Pages

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  It Doesn't Have To Be Clean To Create :)
Ugh!  What a mess I have in the craft room!  I know, you're not surprised! :)  It seems to happen on quite a frequent basis and sometimes I use it as an excuse to not create.  (On a side note:  I've become quite aware of the contradiction I live - I always say that I want to create and yet, I also watch myself finding all kinds of different excuses or using my time in other ways - shopping for art supplies being a big culprit.  This is a contradiction I need to examine a little more closely.  After all, if what I profess to want to do is to create, why am I avoiding it????).  Anyway, back on track...I found myself standing over my completely covered craft table today ignoring the mess and just creating right over all of the objects littering the table!  It wasn't the flattest of surfaces, but I made it work.  And I'm so glad I did!  No, it doesn't have to be clean to create :)
Today's art journal pages were ABSOLUTELY INSPIRED BY DONNA DOWNEY!!!!!  I watched her amazing Inspiration Wednesday video last week and it really stuck with me.  Thanks for the inspiration Donna!  You can check out her pages and the "how to" video on her website here!  I used some different supplies - most notably a product called Gilder's Paste by Baroque Art.  You have to use it in a well-ventilated space to deal with the initial odor, but it can make so many objects look like metal!  Very cool!  I also used some glass bead gel from Golden.  Very fun for creating extra texture in the flower centers.  Hope you enjoy!!!!  For those of you celebrating Christmas...I hope you have a very merry and wonderful holiday!!!!!!

Eastern Elegance Desk Set by Jen Arkfeld

 

Check out this Eastern Elegance Desk Set by Jen Arkfeld!  It’s almost 2014 and it's time to get organized!  In this project you will create a desk organizer and two decorated notepads to help clean up your desk area.  This is perfect to keep for yourself or give as a gift!  Want all the step-by-step instructions for constructing this project?  If so, head on over the Craft Project Central and subscribe to the month of December!  Or, if you're feeling lucky, head on over the Craft Project Central and find my project that was posted on December 21st and leave me a comment.  On December 27th I will be choosing one lucky winner to receive a free December subscription to Craft Project Central!!!!

Creating Pretty Cards - Sketch Challenge #30

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  You Can Even Fit It In During The Commercials!
If you happen to tell yourself that you don't have time to create, I challenge you to think again!  Tonight we decided to chill out and watch a movie on tv.  Usually I'm not a fan of tv movie watching since the movie is often edited for tv and is loaded with commercials.  But tonight, those commercials that I often dread actually were my friend!  During each commercial break, I went into my craft room and added one more element to this card!  It was an interesting way to create - just one thing at a time and then walking away until the next set of commercials.  There was something freeing about it - allowing myself to not know what would come next and being able to look at what was happening with fresh eyes every time I went back into the craft room.  I might have to challenge myself to do this again sometime soon!  It's nice to try a change of creating pace :)
Today's card was creating for the Creating Pretty Cards - Sketch Challenge #30 over at Craft Project Central.  Feel free to visit Craft Project Central and join the challenge!  If enough people participate there will be a chance to win a free one-month subscription to Craft Project Central!!!!  I combined Crisp Cantaloupe, Pool Party and Crumb Cake card stock with some washi tape, embossing and random stamping.  The sentiment is from Express Yourself.  I hope you like it :)

New Year's Eve Party Set by Yapha Mason

Ring in the new year with this elegant New Year’s Eve Party Set by Yapha Mason.  This fun and festive set includes a bottle tag, matching card, set of four champagne glass charms and a box to put the charms in.  To get the step-by-step instructions for creating this great project, head on over to Craft Project Central and subscribe to the month of December.  Or, if you are feeling lucky, find my project over at Craft Project Central and leave me a comment.  I will choose one lucky winner on December 27th to receive a free December subscription to Craft Project Central!!!!

More Tag/Ornament Boxes!!!!!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Discover What Quiets Your Mind
When I am on the road working I often don't have time to slow down and just think about my life, my future, my current state of being.  I'm in fast forward when I'm working.  When I get home, my speed shifts down into a slower gear...sometimes even to "park!"  And, of course, my mind starts wandering, thinking, pondering, questioning.  Sometimes where my mind goes creates stress or depression or just overwhelming distraction or disjointedness.  I am so very grateful that on my recent vacation I met an incredible woman who introduced me to the practice of Yoga Nidra.  She even guided a number of us through the meditation practice and allowed me to record the session.  It has become a source of peace for me.  When I begin to feel like I'm becoming overwhelmed or stressed or just plain unfocused, I can go and lie down and experience this guided meditation.  It helps to quiet my mind and allows me to find a place of stillness and comfort.  There are a number of CDs of Yoga Nidra that she recommended.  I have not listened to them yet, but I have purchased them.  One is Experience Yoga Nidra by Swami Janakananda.  The other is called Journey Through The Body by Amrit Desai.  I do not know if Yoga Nidra can do for you what it seems to be doing for me.  What I do know is that it is important to discover what quiets your mind and I am so grateful this practice found its way to me :)  (Another thing that found its way to me in the form of a gift is the Feel Good Hug by Origins and the Stress Relieving Hug by Origins!  These make wonderful gifts - a body wrap filled with essential oils that can be heating or cooled!  I highly recommend them!  There is a final flavor - Bedtime - that I haven't smelled yet, but I imagine it is as delicious as the other ones!).
Now on to today's projects!  The elf head design was created by Cathy Gray!  So cute!  You can find out more about Cathy and the elf head directions at Splitcoaststampers or on her blog here.  The body - specifically the arms and shoes were inspired by Marie Shaughnessy.  You can find a great elf card tutorial on her blog here!  Of course, the triangle box and the Santa were both inspired by Lisa Brown whose YouTube video I mentioned to you yesterday!  It's amazing how one box shape can inspire you to keep creating!  The adorable tag/ornament boxes can hold candy or other small surprises!  Of course you can also adapt them for any holiday/celebration!  Yes, you will be seeing these boxes again :)

Christmas Tree Ornament/Gift Tag

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Dogs Know Best :)
Scattered.  Distracted.  Bouncing from place to place.  All describe how I was acting/feeling earlier today.  Somehow Buddy could sense what I was going through (although it wasn't a huge stretch for him to see me acting like a chicken with her head cut off!) and he came over to me to nudge me and lead me toward the back door.  Yes, once again, my dog knew what was best for me - a bit of time outdoors - watching the birds and the squirrels - enjoying the sunshine on an unusually mild day.  It was exactly what my pinball-bouncing brain needed!  Yes, dogs know best :)  (Doris, I know you already know this :)
Today's Christmas tree ornament/gift tag was inspired by a video I saw on YouTube by Lisa Brown.  I loved the triangle box she created so I decided to alter the design and make a few different versions (I will be sharing another version with you tomorrow).  Inside this little box are some mini candy canes and on the back I stamped "to" and "from" so that the box can be attached to a gift as a gift tag and later hung on a tree.  The sentiment is from Petite Pairs.  I hope you like it!

New Years Memories Set

This New Year Memories Set is perfect for welcoming in the New Year! This set features an envelope mini-book, a coordinating card and a matching pen pocket!  This set would make a wonderful gift for a friend for the New Year!  You could also create the mini-book for yourself to keep track of your 2014 memories!  The mini-book inserts are a wonderful place to journal and add special photos.  I am planning on keeping track of special highlights for each month in 2014 :)
Are you interested in receiving all of the step-by-step instructions for creating this set?  If so, head on over to Craft Project Central and subscribe to the month of December.  Or, if you're feeling lucky, head on over and find the post for this project at Craft Project Central and leave me a comment.  On December 27th I will choose one lucky person who will win a free subscription to the month of December!

Home Again

I'm back :)  For those of you that follow my blog consistently, you may have noticed that my lessons from the craft room had been put on pause.  I debated whether or not to let you know I would be taking time off and decided not to.  I still feel odd publicizing the times when I will be away from the computer.  I had a series of work trips and a vacation all in a row and felt it was too much pressure to place on myself to try to get posts scheduled for my time away.  So I just kept my commitment to Craft Project Central and scheduled those posts and gave myself permission to step away for a bit.  Vacation was much-needed and I'm not sure I found the type of consistent peace I was looking for.  However, there were a few highlights to the trip that transported me to a place of peace and serenity and the photo above captures one of them.  I was in a bay where the water stretched on for miles and the water only got as deep as my waste - so I enjoyed walking out into the water and looking out on the horizon and simply breathing.  It was magical!  I also experienced yoga nidra - taught by a wonderful woman who shared her gift of guiding people through this spiritual and meditative practice.  She allowed me to record one of the sessions and I have been trying to continue the practice since my return.  I am hoping she will come out with a CD so that I can share her information with you - truly a blessing for me!
As I look forward to 2014 I know there are lessons that I need to continue to grow into - letting go; being open; creating; and quieting the terrorist that lives inside my head.  I am home again and I am looking forward to sharing my time and my growth with you.

Winter Sampler by Sharon Burkert

This winter sampler of snowflakes, snowmen and snowy hills will decorate your home all winter long.  Make one for a friend and one for you to enjoy.  You’ll want to make several of these to give away as gifts!  Also makes for a fun holiday crafting class!  This Winter Sampler was created by Sharon Burkert.  You can learn more about Sharon here!  Head on over to Craft Project Central and subscribe to the month of December to receive the step-by-step instructions for this great project!

New Photopolymer Stamp Sets!!!!!

Say it all with Stampin' Up!s latest additions to the photopolymer stamp set line!  With all the love sentiments, Countless Sayings 1 (135892; $13.95) would be wonderful for Valentine's Day or just to let someone know that you love them!  Countless Sayings 2 (135893; $13.95) is an all-occasion set that is perfect when you are searching for just the perfect sentiment!  Interested in these great new sets?  If so, shop HERE now! :)