Variations on Heather's theme

Heather at http://stampwithheather.typepad.com inspired my latest frenzy. Her tutorial on making gift card holders inspired me to vary her theme in lots of ways. It was really easy to follow (eventually I was able to fold the card holder without having the video playing right in front of me every time), and I just loved the personal touches. Her phone rang, she acknowledged a flaw in her paper, but came right back and finished.

My friends have loved these and wanted more! So today, the day after Thanksgiving, I am in my craft room, heater at my feet, drinking yet another cup of coffee (Caffe Verona, I love you), cutting and pasting and gluing and punching and coming up with alternative sources to double-sided paper.

I made a sample out of regular card stock and labeled exactly where each surface appears, then felt free to use regular paper on those quadrants.

So here's my offering, with a nod to Heather,  Pinterest, and Youtube, the best instruction manual around.

Out the window

Oh, for Pete's sake.  I just erased a post and created an empty one. Maybe it was a sign that I need to edit my thoughts, because I was rather wordy.

Condensed version: I had the opportunities to see the work of Karyn Debrasky (www.karyndebrasky.com and on Facebook at Karyn Debrasky Design, LLC), a mixed media artist. Awesome and inspiring.

A lot of the materials she used look a lot like the materials I have in my studio. I had said to my daughter Mara that sometimes I felt sad that my cards probably soon ended up in someone's trash.  She asked me to create something for her that would end up framed, on her wall.

Well, seeing the work of Karyn Debrasky helped me say yes in my spirit to a new direction. Sometimes when you say "yes" to a new thing, a door opens and in walks creativity or at least the willingness to really explore a new territory.

So I say yes to Mara's request, with enthusiasm and hope!

Some assembly required

Glad to be indoors today, out of the heat and into the cool comfort of my basement studio. Just had a visit from my daughter Hannah (check out her poetry blog at thestorialist.com), who gave me a flash tutorial on basic Twitter (last logon was 133 days ago). I showed her the ladybug card, which she loved. Making those insects was an investment of time, for sure. And such close work that I was thinking longingly of a magnifying glass for crafts as a future birthday or holiday gift for myself.

However, I really do love making embellishments from different punched-out shapes, even at the expense of my neck and eyes.  I found an old catalogue describing how to make ice cream treats, and after experimenting with sizes and paper and color, came up with my first attempt. Obviously, some assembly required.

Wedding (light blue)

I so love wedding cards. All sparkly, ribbony, pearly, and lacy.

Summer sweetness

Summer is not even officially here, but it is so oppressively hot that the only thing that could entice me out of my air-conditioned home was a trip to JoAnn's where everything was half-price with an additional 10% off everything. I have been consuming so much watermelon (it is crack to me) that of course I had to try my hand at some design with my new huge circle punches. What round fruit will I crave next?

Father's Day

Clean and Simple Love

I happen to have been blessed by knowing the unconditional love of my father. No matter how many times I messed up, made disastrous errors in judgment, and spewed words which I so desperately wish I could take back (no "delete" button, no "system restore"), he simply was unable to see me as anything but his beautiful, precious, and perfect child. And the same applied to everyone else in his life, too. Certainly he was a vehicle for God's, or the Universe's, grace, totally undeserved by the recipient.  Remembering you on Father's Day, Daddy. Save me a seat. 

New wedding card

I used a border punch to make paper lace, added a Sizzix sprig, and a satin flower from the fabric department at JoAnn's. I had fun playing with texture, and I was able to use the flower from my collection of things I had no idea how I was going to use!

Simplicity

I had just begun to see myself as an artist with my own style and creative leanings, when bam! along comes Pinterest and I am overwhelmed with the beauty and creativity displayed there. I am in awe of some of the original designs, and can't help but be not just inspired but creatively changed in some way: opened up, vision restored and improved. As if I've had cataract surgery and I see better than ever. Or have gotten new bifocals.  Or glasses for the first time.

Today's images were created yesterday, and posted for what they're worth. More once I've become more familiar with the ins and outs of the 4S (my first smart phone in the hands of an old dummy). I did manage to take pictures of some of the Valentine's Day cards. Let's see what clicking or touching or whatever adds to my photo collection!

The sun is peeking out from time to time today. Spirits are lifting at our house.