reclaimed trash

I got a new stamp set called Chalk Talk by Stampin' Up. It has a coordinating Framelit set that I wanted to play with yesterdat. So I set about making a card based on tag. Let's just say that things didn't go well. Ever have one of those crafting days? I must have worked on this tag for three hours. First I played with the colors. Then I had trouble stamping the flower image with white embossing powder. Once I had it kind of working, I still wasn't happy with it, so I crumpled it all up threw it away. I felt pretty dejected. Not very creative. I vowed to start something new with the set tomorrow.

Tomorrow came and I decided that my crafting space was too messy to be creative in! So I set out to straighten up a bit. I put away my stamp pads. I organized my scrap bits into color families. I put all of my tools back where they belong. And I gathered up all the paper bits that had fallen on the floor to toss them into the trash. That's when I spied my tag from yesterday, all crumpled up and sad. I rescued it, pressed it out flat, and decided that it wasn't so bad after all! I kind of liked the double embossed look of the flower. Yesterday, what had frustrated me had now become a happy accident!). I even loved the distressed effect! (Behind the scenes look: I just had to google effect vs. affect to keep all of my grammar nazi friends happy). Lesson learned? Sometime when crafting and things just aren't clicking, walk away. It just might look better in the morning!

Happy stamping!

just wing it

Sometimes when I sit down to make a card, I can get wrapped up in the creative process. I might have a layout that I really want to try. I may have a stamp set that I've been meaning to work with. Or I might want to try out a new color combination. Lots of people can work like that. I usually end up spending more time frustrated and annoyed when I try to force myself into a preconceived idea of what I want to create. For me things flow best when I just wing it.

Recently, my mother-in-law passed away. I loved her dearly. She always treated me like her daughter. Not a transplant. It has been a testament to her life to see how many people have poured out love and help to my family over the past month. Prayers, and meals, and flowers, and kindness has been lavished on us all. So lately, the only creative constraint that I have put on myself is the making of "thank you" cards. It's been therapeutic thinking of the wonderful people that loved my mother-in-law as I create each card. And the only rule I have for myself when I make the cards is that I use a "thank you" stamp of some sort. Simple. Easy. I've been winging it. 

A little patterned paper, some texture from an embossing folder, a unique use of a woodgrain stamp, and voila!

Happy stamping!

Fall sponging

Around here, we are gearing up for school's first day on Friday. Only three more days to go before the girls climb onto that big yellow bus at 6:45am. Not that I'm counting down the days... But all this prepping has got me longing for fall's schedules, cooler temperatures, and crock pot meals. Fall has always been my favorite season, and with thanks in mind, here's my project for today!

Sponging is quickly becoming my go-to technique. I love how impressive a card looks with a bit of sponging. My husband thought that this piece took me hours! I didn't have the heart to tell him the truth. It came together in mere minutes. But that is part of sponging's lure for me. A big bang for minimal effort!

Happy stamping!

The background is the focal point

Yesterday I posted about a new technique I stumbled upon. I fell in serious love with, not only the process of making the paper, but the results as well! So today I was on a mission to showcase that awesome paper in a few cards.

I don't think that I have ever used a particular paper as the focal point of a project. But after discovering this fun way of playing with ink and water, I can see that I will be cranking out loads of water misted, embossed papers in the very near future! Here I kept the designs and embellishments minimal so that the gorgeous background paper could truly sing!

Sweetly sponged

I keep trying to pry myself away from sponging mountains, but I'm having a hard time. They are just so beautiful and fun to create! But today I forced myself and came up with an adorable card with no mountains in sight. Of course, there is a bit of sponging (I couldn't help myself!), but it's minimal and really helps set the scene. Butterflies and a bunny never made me so happy!