Life Gets In The Way

It is my heart's desire is to be on a craft design team. I've crafted for years and have often been told, "You should totally sell that!" But that's not me. I can create until the cows come home, but hit the pavement and promote my stuff? Let's just say I'm still stuck in the barn.

So I started this blog, designed the logo, edited the template code (I'm a web designer by trade) and became active in social media forums to learn the ropes... but what I haven't done is craft anything. I've been so busy online, I've lost sight of my passion. I create. It's my stress-reliever. It grounds me. But I haven't created anything (other than this blog and my online presence) in weeks.

True, life in general has been quite busy lately. Three kids, Halloween, Dad away two outta three weeks away for work, a trip to NYC... no wonder I haven't found the time to create. But excuses no more! Tonight's the night. Tonight, the children will be in by 8:30. I will be seated at my craft desk by 8:32 and I will craft.

Maybe if I put it out there for others to see, I'll really do it. What do you think?

Playing with Fall '08 Stampin' Up! Order

I love the new Stampin' Up! blue and green tones. I've been looking for this chartruese shade and was thrilled to see it featured as an In Color called Kiwi Kiss.

When I received my order, I dove right in and came up with this. Materials*:

Whisper White notecard

Urban Garden decorative paper

Brown cardstock

Hidden Garden rub-on

Chipboard circle inked with white craft ink

Everyday Flexible Sayings in Chocolate stamped on Whisper White, distressed

Kiwi Kiss ribbon

* All materials, except for the brown cardstock and white craft ink, are from Stampin' Up!

The Making Memories Button Stickers Made Me Do It

I found a package of faux buttons by Making Memories at Target and I knew I had to have them. I didn't know I'd become obsessed!

As acrylic stickers, they add a layer of dimension to my cards and the colors (pale blue, chartreuse green, ecru and black) are so classy. The line is called "5th Avenue."

Here are the results of my binge...

On the left, I used Stampin' Up! chipboard petals covered in Anna Griffin paper and distressed with SU ink and daubers. Raffia is threaded through the "button" holes. The leaf is also SU chipboard, inked in craft ink and stamped with "unique" from SU's Everyday Flexible Phrases. The bottom ribbon is actually two strips of black and white ribbon sandwiching a strip of crimped black cardstock.

This simple card to the right includes a MM button sticker in chartreuse with raffia tied through, a black cardstock scalloped circle and a squiggle drawn by hand. The "friend" stamp is from SU's Noteworthy set. The card base is an SU Very Vanilla notecard... the whole thing is sweet as can be.

Below are more scalloped circles behind buttons to create flower shapes... can you tell I just purchased the SU scallop punch?

Simple Card Sets

Here are some of my card sets... I enjoy making them as gifts with the recipient in mind but also just making them to try new papers/stamps/accessories/etc.!