Mini-Collage Challenge #8

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Themes Arise When They Need To
When I sit down to create my small 2" x 2" collages each day (well, almost each day), I have no idea what will appear on the tiny piece of watercolor paper.  What I am finding is the certain themes arise as I start gluing papers.  This is one of those themes - house, home, landscape.  As I find myself traveling a lot for work, it is no surprise to me that the theme of home keeps coming to life in these mini art pieces.  Themes arise when they need to.  Your emotions will find their way into your art...if you allow them to unfold.  What themes arise in your art?

Trio of Trees Holiday Gift Display by Julie Beltramo

This sweet Trio of Trees Holiday Gift Display by Julie Beltramo comes together quickly, and uses just one package of designer series paper! Plus, with all the leftover designer series paper pieces, you’ll be able to add a bunch more custom little gift boxes – they’re fun and addicting to make! You can frame the card to make a great mantle display, or use it as it’s displayed for a special gift to give someone!  Get the full step-by-step instructions by subscribing to the month of November over at Craft Project Central!

I Carry Your Heart Art Journal Page

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room: Be Open To Surprises
I recently traveled to Doha, Qatar for work and I had all kinds of preconceived notions of what I would experience there.  I am so glad that I remained open to the experience!  It turned out to be so much different than the stories and "build up" I had been exposed to.  Once again I was reminded to be open to surprises - to allow myself to take in what I am experiencing and to not be blinded by assumptions and preconceived notions.  I am so grateful for the experience and for the reinforcement of a lesson that I need to continually be reminded of!
Today I am sharing an art journal page that I created for Paper Crafter's Library.  It was inspired by an ee cumming's poem.  Every month I create a number of art journal pages for Paper Crafter's Library.  If you are interested in accessing the full step-by-step instructional videos for these art journal pages (and the other projects I create for Paper Crafter's Library), click on the badge in the upper right-hand corner of my blog and look into subscribing to PCL!

Recycled Bottle Gifts by Regina Andari

Don't throw those Starbuck's bottles away!  These Recycled Bottle Gifts by Regina Andari are a fabulous way to repurpose the bottles!  Create three holiday gifts by recycling your drink bottles.  This tutorial will demonstrate three unique gift ideas with festive decoration, and the gifts are sure to be a perfect fit for some of the names on your list.  Get the full step-by-step instructions by heading over to Craft Project Central and subscribing to the month of November!

Mini-Collage Challenge #7

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Find Inspiration In The Colors Of The Landscape
We went for a hike about a week ago and I was struck by the yellows in the landscape.  The grasses are drying up in preparation for winter.  The verdant green of summer gave way to the kaleidoscopic burst of Fall color and now the quiet hush of Winter is coming ever so close.  I used a variety of torn washi tape pieces to create this simple landscape.  What colors are in your landscape?  How might they inspire a piece of your artwork?

Festival of Trees Votive Box & Tent Card by Laurie Zoellmer

We all need little gifts to hand out during the Holidays, right?  This Festival of Trees Votive Box & Coordinating Tent Card by Laurie Zoellmer comes to the rescue!  This votive holder is easy to assemble using the Envelope Punch Board!  It makes a great teachers gift, hostess gift or thoughtful handmade gift for anyone!  The coordinating tent-card and envelope add just the right touch!  Get the full step-by-step instructions by heading over to Craft Project Central and subscribing to the month of November!

Mini-Collage Challenge #6

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Allow Art To Help You Manage Your Emotions
I have been a bit stressed about a work trip to a place that is very different from the place where I live.  I want to be sure that I am respectful of the culture I will find myself in - that I don't do anything that might cause offense unintentionally.  The stress has been eating me up quite a bit and I finally decided to pour that feeling into this tiny 2" x 2" space.  It felt good to let it out - to try to acknowledge and manage my feelings by creating something inspired by the feelings.  Art is a wonderful place to work on acknowledging and managing your emotions.  I'm feeling better already :)

Mini-Collage Challenge #5

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Faltering Doesn't Mean You Have To Abandon The Effort
I gave myself the challenge to create one 2"x 2" mini collage every day...at least for 30 days.  And I admit I have already had a few days where I don't get to the collage early in the day, the day gets away from me, and then I don't find the energy to go and create my mini collage.  I falter.  At first I got down on myself - the usual, "Come on Michelle!  It's only 30 days and you can't even keep up with that?!?"  Then I allowed myself to accept that I am doing the best I can and just because I falter one day does not mean I have to abandon the effort.  I have even been finding that some days I may skip making a collage and other days I make more than 1!  I am going to keep moving forward with the challenge!!!
Today I am sharing the collage I made on Halloween :)  I used a combination of paint, painted tapes, washi tape and chalk marker.  I am enjoying allowing the inspiration come to me in whatever form it takes - a flower on a walk, a holiday, a question I am pondering, a feeling inside of me.  I'm curious to see where this mini-collage journey continues to take me!

Mini-Collage Challenge #4

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Let Go Or Be Dragged.  -Katie Holmes
Yes, I looked at People magazine on-line...I admit it...I am trying to kick the habit...For once though, the mindless reading actually provided some much needed insight!  There was an article about 5 words that have impacted Katie Holmes' life and those 5 words are let go or be dragged.  Letting go seems to be a theme that is running through my life (and my veins) right now.  It is a lesson I learned in the pool the other day when we were told to try to only breathe every fifth stroke instead of every third stroke.  It became harder to do the more I tried to hold onto my breath!  I started to tell myself, "Michelle, you need to be just as willing to let it go as you are to let it in."  Yes, let go or be dragged.  Oh there is so much that I allow to pull me down right now.  I need to be willing to let go...
Today I am sharing my fourth collage in my mini-collage challenge.  This one incorporates quite a few pieces of tape that I painted.  I then added some dimensional paints and a bit of Sharpie poster paint marker.  The green tape I used in the background was part of an experiment I conducted with heating acrylic paint.  I love all the texture it created!  I hope you like it...and if you don't...let go :)

Mix & Match Winter Holiday Boxes & Tags by Yapha Mason

This festive holiday packaging by Yapha Mason includes four different size square boxes along with four gift tags that can be mixed and matched. Using shades of blue and silver, there are options for both Hanukkah and Christmas, with designs that will work for either one. This project set is great for a stamp camp, a class, or just getting ready for the upcoming holiday season. It includes instructions for two square holiday cards as well.  Head on over to Craft Project Central and subscribe to the month of November for full step-by-step instructions!

Mini Collage Challenge - #3

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  You Can Create An Entire World In A Tiny Space
I have been enjoying the challenge I gave myself - to create at least one 2"x 2" mini collage every day.  When I approached the first collage I was quite uncertain about what to do.  Now that I have completed three, I am beginning to realize that you can create an entire world in a tiny space.  2"x 2" can seem so small at first glance.  Yet the more you dive into what seems to be such a limited space, the more you realize how much you can do in the expanse of 2" x 2"!  Ideas seem to be flowing to me right now - we'll see if that lasts!
For today's mini collage I turned to some painted tape that I had made.  This allowed me to skip using any other type of adhesive for my mini collage.  After tearing and adhering the bits of tape, I cut out a few pieces of the tape to create the house.  I then used some markers to add a touch of shading and a bit of outlining.  Yes, you can create an entire world in a tiny space!

Count Your Blessings Table Decor

Take time to count your blessings during the upcoming holiday season!  This set includes a blessings bank, gratitude cards to fill out and insert into the bank, place cards to gather blessings from your guests and a blessings list that your guests can fill in and take home with them.  This set can be used to adorn your holiday table or you can use the box, gratitude cards and lists as a way to remind yourself how blessed you truly are each and every day!  This is my November project for Craft Project Central.  If you want to get the full step-by-step instructions for making this entire set, head on over the Craft Project Central and subscribe to the month of November.

Mini Collage Challenge - #2

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Allow Fate To Intervene
This is the second 2"x 2" mini collage that I created.  I began by adhering bits of torn painted paper to the watercolor paper with Utrecht matte medium.  You can also use painted tape, washi tape, masking tape...and you don't have to worry about having glue or matte medium with you :)  As I continued to put the torn pieces down I began to worry about what else I would add...and while I was worrying, I turned one of my pieces of painted paper over and saw these words staring right at me!  I had done some paper painting on one side of a page from a book!  And fate brought me to these exact words at the exact right moment.  So I cut them out and added them to my mini collage with matte medium.  I love it when I am open to allowing fate to intervene!

Christmas Survival Kit by Amanda Corbet

Christmas is fast approaching and there are always those last minute cards you forget to send or gifts you need to give and you’re out of time! Oh no! Well this Christmas Survival Kit by Amanda Corbet includes five cards with envelopes, four gift bags, 10 gift tags, and 8 gift card holders as well as space to put other necessities, all tucked away in this beautiful gift shaped box. Just lift off the lid and one side falls down to show the beautiful row of drawers and two back pockets. Make this for yourself or someone special to save a little headache around Christmas. Or change up the patterns and colors to make a gift set ready for any holiday!

This Christmas Survival Kit is the October Bonus at Craft Project Central.  Bonus projects can be obtained 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 they subscribe, letting Craft Project Central know.  Head on over to Craft Project Central for more details!

Mini Collage Challenge #1

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Make It Manageable
As some of you may know from reading my blog, I sometimes find it challenging to head into the Craft Room and start creating.  The idea of picking up materials and getting started can feel overwhelming.  So I have decided to make it manageable for myself.  After all, why would anyone be intimidated by a 2"x 2" piece of watercolor paper?  So I went ahead and cut a small stack of 2" x 2" pieces of watercolor paper and I have decided to try to make at least one small 2"x 2" collage a day.  This feels doable to me.  Even if I am traveling I always have a glue stick with me and there are likely to be bits and pieces of receipts, ticket stubs, trash that I can incorporate into a mini collage.  My hope is to share this journey with you - sometimes one at a time - sometimes maybe a few at a time.  Feel free to join in the challenge with me!  Right now I will commit to 30 days...but who knows...it might turn into a year-long affair!  The nice thing about these mini collages?  You can always use them on a card front or incorporate them into other paper crafting projects.
Since I wasn't sure where to begin...even with a 2" x 2" piece of watercolor paper...I went with an easy start - the shape of a heart.  I have tons of scrap papers around the craft room that I like to paint on and this is the perfect way for me to start putting those little papers to use!  I am using Utrecht matte medium for adhering my pieces down, but I may play with adhesives a bit the more I make these mini collages.  I hope you'll enjoy this journey with me!

Creating Pretty Cards - Sketch Challenge #40

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Of all the reasons for being an artist, there is one that outweighs all others:  Art offers a path to our souls. - Nick Bantock
The path has definitely been bumpy so far for me!  Bumps, bruises, stumbles and falls.  But I keep getting back up because there is no other path I would rather be on!
Today I am sharing my submission for this month's Creating Pretty Cards - Sketch Challenge #40 over at Craft Project Central!  There are still a few days left for you to join in the challenge...and you might just win a free one-month subscription to Craft Project Central!  Come on over to Craft Project Central and play!!!!!

Autumn Wreath by Jen Arkfeld

It’s time to create something fun for your autumn home décor!  This Autumn Wreath by Jen Arkfeld screams fall with its warm colors, feathers and touches of raffia. The great thing about this design?  You can easily use other Designer Series Paper for summer, spring or winter!  It’s a versatile design.  Happy Crafting!  Get the full step-by-step instructions by heading over to Craft Project Central and subscribing to the month of October!

Fall Banner & Candle by Christy Fulk

This Fall Banner & Candle by Christy Fulk would be wonderful Fall décor for your home. The banner is made with coaster board, and the matching candle is stamped, along with other embellishments.  Make one set to keep as your own, and make another set to give as a gift. This would also make a great Fall-themed class.  Head on over to Craft Project Central and subscribe to the month of October for full step-by-step instructions!

Take Flight Art Journal Page

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Sometimes Beginning Is The Hardest Part
I walk by the craft room, peer inside, and keep walking.  I think of every excuse to not go in - I'm tired; I'm not motivated; I can't.  It's all the little gremlin voice trying to prevent me from taking the risk of creating.  And I succumb.  Often I just let the gremlin win.  Yesterday I decided to slay the gremlin and just picked up a piece of paper that had been sitting on the craft room table.  It had some ink stains and paint drips on it and I just began to add to it.  That's all it takes to slay the gremlin.  Just beginning.  Just picking up the pen, brush, stamp and putting it onto the paper.  A small move of your hand.  A small risk in the grand scheme of things.  Yes, the gremlin will be back.  But for now, I feel victorious!
Today I am sharing an art journal page I created for Paper Crafter's Library.  For a supply list and full step-by-step video instructions, head on over to Paper Crafter's Library by using the badge in the upper right-hand corner of my blog and look into becoming a member.  I create projects for Paper Crafter's Library every month and enjoy stretching my creative limits!  Come join us!

Perfect Blend Thank You Card by Doris Male

Today I am sharing the final card that Doris shared with me on our visit.  I love how she used the Alphabet rotary stamp to customize the greeting!  I hope you enjoy this inspiration as much as I did!