"Essence"

Collage. What's not to love about a gathering of goodies tossed in with bits of wisdom and a smattering of acrylic paint? I simply adored the time spent with my proper little polymer clay lady and her whimsical glitter slippers. I believe she may have sisters and cousins yet to make their appearance on canvas.

This piece was inspired by Julie Haymaker Thompson, a mixed-media artist and teacher whose work was featured in the January issue of Somerset Studio. Check her out - I love her amazing artwork!

Happy Crafting!

House Warming

Several friends and family members have made the home-ownership plunge this spring. This card fit the bill for some of them. Since some of them know each other, I had to make different cards. I'll post those later (I hope). I used CTMH "Sweet Home" paper and CTMH "Around the Block" stamp set.

Happy Crafting!

More Clear Cards "Baby"

This is missing something, but I'm not sure what? Any ideas?

Happy Crafting

Joy Forever

The most used and one of the best-loved stamp sets I own is CTMH "Joy Forever". It was inexpensive (under $15) and yet the simple design of the flower makes it perfect so many applications. The paper is CTMH "Sweet Home"



Happy Crafting!

Veranda and Clear Cards

I like the new clear cards from CTMH because the cards are so unique. Sometimes it feels as if everything I make is just a remake of some earlier card. Notice the flowers stamped with Stazon (timber brown) on the corners of the cards?



The card below was cloned about a dozen times. One of the joys of aging (and having aging friends) is the increased need for "sympathy", "get well", and "thinking of you" cards. Cards of this nature have unique requirements. Not only must they convey a hopefulness that happier times are around the corner as well as a thoughtful message that speaks of our genuine concern for them, but they must do so in an understated manner so as not to communicate that their distress is yet another opportunity to showcase our paper crafting skills. Hence, simple and thoughtful are in order.

The card below uses the "Bulls eye" from Close To My Heart's Wishes card making program. Sometimes at the monthly crops someone will want me to help them design a card. A busy crop isn't the best environment to spark my creativity (I need to be alone to create). So, my daughter suggested I just put out samples using the book. Then, it will be easy to direct people to the book for directions.



Thanks for stopping by and Happy Crafting!

More Valentine's Day Goodies

Red paper is a retired CTMH product.



From the retired "More to Adore" CTMH collection: I made and sold several of these. With this tutorial, the nugget boxes are a breeze. Super fun to make!


Happy Crafting!

Valentine Treat Box and Challenge Update

No, I am not late with the Valentine blog offerings. I'm early.

There's no time like now to make cards and gifts for Valentine's Day 2011. Right now the guilt of not creating something special for each of your friends is still fresh in your mind. Can you imagine how you will feel when you welcome Valentine's 2011, smug in the knowledge that you've secured a stash of thoughtful handmade gifts?




These little boxes are ideal make-and-store gifts. After decorating them, just store them flat. Wrapped in tissue and hidden away in a covered box, they are ready for you to give when the time is right.

Materials: All materials were from a rather large stash accumulated over several years. Thankfully, the stash is decreasing!

Challenge Update:
Eight days ago I challenged myself to "enjoy what I already have." The intention was to address a situation in which I had stuff stacked on top of stuff, and my favorite past time was adding new stuff to the stuff that was already stuffed in the cupboards. Clearly, it was time to address the issue.

These gable boxes are a prime example. There are approximately 30 of them on my shelves. Thirty. How absurd. And yet, none of my friends ever receive thoughtful gifts from me. I have no time for thoughtfulness. Accumulating and storing stuff takes all my time.

This week I've had more time to engage in those activities that feel like "quality" to me. More time with friends, more time creating, more time reading, exercising, and being.

Saturday was tough - that's the day specifically set aside for going places and buying things. Happily, advance planning eased the challenged. I issued an invitation and spent the day with people who matter to me. People instead of things: Awesome.

Happy Crafting!

Your Money or Your Life?

Remember the popular book by that name a few years ago? Recently I was perusing their website when this phrase slapped me: "what’s actually going on when we are overbusy, overspending, overeating – and overwhelmed – and how we can get back to “enough” when it’s all too much…"

I ruminated on that phrase as I shelled out $280 for an overpriced fruit juice guaranteed to cure all. It lurked in the back of my mind as I spent $125 for a set of Copic markers that complemented the several dozen markers I already own. I pondered it standing in line at the supermarket - the few "essentials" I picked up totaled $139 and some change. Of course, there's nothing wrong with any of those expenditures, but none of them bought me what I really wanted.

I wanted health. Most reasonable people know that health is purchased at a cost of exercise, good nutrition, adequate sleep, and a handful of medical screenings for early detection. Most reasonable people know that a daily dose of juice won't replace any of those other things.

I wanted to express creativity. For me, creativity ranges from "making cute stuff" to communicating an inner emotion using everyday items in unusual ways (that kind of "art" is never blog-worthy when I do it, but its fun for me anyway) Granted, a certain number of tools are required for crafting projects, but I have cupboards stuffed with enough supplies for a millennium-long outpouring of creative expression.

I wanted to fill my refrigerator with a selection of goodies to satisfy any appetite. For goodness sakes, two fat adults shouldn't be spending either money or time satisfying their food cravings. What was I thinking?

Obviously, I wasn't thinking. I was reacting. So, I have a plan to stop the over-consumption that is robbing me of time and peace-of-mind. I'm going on a 28 day "Enjoy What I Already Own" challenge. As part of the challenge, I'm not buying anything except the most basic materials needed for a quality life. Clearly, the phrase "quality life" lends itself to interpretation. My plan is to buy nothing from any store, except a grocery store.

At the grocery store my plan is to only buy the absolute essentials necessary to make meals using food in my freezer or cupboard. I'm certainly not giving up butter, wine, or toilet paper, but since I have a few cases of each of those things, my shopping list should be quite minimal. No clothes, books, magazines, hair gadgets, art supplies, cleaning supplies, etc. I already have enough of everything and I want to enjoy what I own.

I hypothesize that if I don't spend a single second shopping online, in stores, in magazines etc., then I will find the time I need to enjoy a better quality of life. That's my challenge, and I'm totally jazzed about it.

Vintage Valentine and More to Adore

In keeping with my New Year's Challenge (similar to a resolution, but without the pressure,) no new products were purchased for this year's Valentine's projects. If I hope to actually use up the stash of paper I've been hoarding, I will probably have to give Valentines to total strangers.

I normally give exactly three each year. One to my husband and one to each of my two children. To accomplish my goal of giving 3 Valentines per year, I've purchased 8 sets of stamps, 11 individual stamps, 7 punches, 2 embossing folders and an assortment of stickers. Many of these products have never been used.

I'm a tidy hoarder, so I will never attract Oprah's attention; however,I do believe using up the stash and resisting the urge to add to it pushes me to the healthier end of the spectrum.



These cards were made with:
CTMH Vintage Valentine and Butterfly kiss
CTMH More to Adore paper packet and Chocolate ribbon
Martha Stewart border punch, Marvy punches, Spellbinders, and Sizzlets

Happy Crafting!

In the Pink: Purse and Cards

Hmmm. Apparently my photography skills haven't improved much through the months. Oh well, a good opportunity to use our imaginations. Can you imagine this purse as black faux aligator? The template is another of Becky Robert's delightful creations. Check out her blog: Inking Idaho - her templates are wonderful!

Christmas Card Workshop

A Christmas card workshop has suddenly precipitated out of my recent Jingle obsession. The cost of the workshop is $10 (free with a $50 order placed on the day of the workshop) We will be using an assortment of stamps and techniques.

Just a quick reminder: November is STAMPAGANZA month (buy two stamps get one free) Yes, it is a stamp lovers extravaganza. PLUS if you order $50 worth of stamping and scrapping goodies, you will get the November stamp of the month for $11.48. In other words, you can get a lot of Jingle for your jangle. Haaaa haaa haaa aaa haaaa.

When: November 7th 1:00 - 4:00 p.m

Cost: $10 (free with $50 order placed the day of the workshop)

Email me (tlkaiser-1@msn.com) to register.

See the calendar for more information.

Happy Crafting

CTMH Jingle: The Creation Continues

This paper has certainly captured my imagination. The above card was inspired by Paper Cupcakes. It required quite a bit of "stuff" to make. The tag and holly leaves are Cricut, the embossing is Cuttlebug (of course) candy cane- Sizzix. The edge punch is Fiskars, paper is CTMH Jingle, the snow flake is CTMH Dimensional Elements - Flurry; stamp - CTMH Say it in Style.

I know I've seen a card similar to this somewhere - but I can't find it anywhere. So, if it looks like something you've made, send me an email and I'll give you credit. This one was really simple.

I know what you're thinking: "who has time to embroider their Christmas cards?" Honestly, it took less than three minutes and the embroidery floss from CTMH matched EXACTLY. Besides, when your friends and loved ones see that you've embroidered on the cards, they will think you're a rock star and they will forever consider you the Crafting Queen. (Martha Stewart, move over)

Happy Crafting!

CTMH Jingle

I wasn't sure I was going to love this paper, but I've fallen to it's charms. A few years ago I was caught up in the disturbing trend toward pink Christmas cards. I churned out snowmen clad in pink caps and scarves set against pink plaid backgrounds by the dozen. They were tied with hemp to balance their"pinkness" and stamped with a sentiment wishing the recipient "toasty toes and a frosty nose" or something along those ridiculous lines. I thought they were delightful and I was endlessly impressed with myself, even though they'd been shamelessly copied from an idea book.

That experience purged my creative soul of the need for pink. Until now. I spent many unproductive hours staring at the packet waiting for the muse. Finally, a card happened. Then another. I believe pinkish Christmas cards may be in my future. In this case, the pink is balanced with other colors like tulip and juniper. I think I love this paper.

Above is the tri-fold shutter card opened and closed. I might replace these photos with better ones tomorrow. I think I need better photo editing software.

My sister made this one. Thank you, Kathy!

I think the card above is my favorite. I made the poinsettia by trimming down a CTMH white flower and dying it in tulip ink.

Pocket card - I don't know if I like it.

Happy Crafting!

Twitterpated Thank You

I never have enough thank you notes, so I got on a roll and made several of them using Twitterpated. The blue table cloth doesn't show them to their best advantage, but sometimes that's the compromise - get it done with the readily available tools (like a blue sheet/tablecloth) or wait another week and have a better setting.

The stamp set is CTMH Thoughtful Seasons. If I'm ever stranded on a desert island and can only save one stamp from the ship before it goes down, I will try to save Thoughtful Season. It's the best all-purpose stamp set CTMH sells. It includes sentiments and images for all occasions (most occasions) I'll try and salvage some markers, scissors, adhesive, and a paper packet from that sinking ship, and use my isolation to accomplish some of my paper crafting goals. Wouldn't be lovely to arrange a good stranding?

Happy Crafting!