Mindfulness Parching

I am conscious that Valentine's Day is only a fortnight away, and I already have a few requests for cards so I spent the weekend making some Valentine cards using my parching skills.

I am keen to develop these skills and I find it so relaxing to do as you just loose yourself in mindfulness.  Did you notice I used the word mindfulness?  It seems to be the "buzz" word at the moment.  For example my nephew brought me a Mindfulness Colouring book for Christmas.  The front cover reads "more anti-stress art therapy for busy people".  

Intrigued to learn more about this mindfulness I have looked it up and found and I quote "It is a mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations.  With mindfulness we can work our minds and bodies, learning how to live with more appreciation and less anxiety."

It has made me think that spending my spare time crafting must mean that I practice mindfulness without realising it.  When I am being creative I enjoy a happy mindset and I find that I enjoy a happy life despite having to manage a physical disability and all that entails.

Anyway, back to the cards I have made.

Each piece of work requires finishing around the edge and it looks particularly nice if you do this by piercing the parchment. There are various tools you can use for this and they will create a different style of edging. Once you have created your pierced design you then use some tiny scissors and snip your way around by placing the points of the scissors into the tiny pierced holes that your tools have created.   This is no easy task as once you have the scissors in the pierced holes you then lower them, twist, then cut to create a "v" shape in the work.  This does requires a bit of practice and a lot of patience however I do feel I may have now mastered this.  I say this because I am getting more confident and faster at it and I am happy with the end result.

I made this centre piece a long time ago and it has been waiting for me to do something with it.  Today I had an idea and placed it on to some red card that I cut with a scallop edge die.  I then made another piece of parched work that the topper sat on.  

I wasn't sure where I was going when I started out with this card.  It is a made up of different elements from a Pergamano Grid. At the very last step I ruined my first attempt by writing the sentiment back to front.

This final card is one I have made using parchment paper that I have put in an embossing folder then coloured on the reverse before mounting it onto card.

Well I hope you enjoyed my Mindfulness Parching.

Crafty hugs from Crafty Tash x