Make It Work!

I used to watch Project Runway and sometimes it would frustrate me when Tim Gunn would tell a designer to "make it work" ....

because the designer had a vision and I could imagine the designer's frustration on wanting to execute that vision.

But "waste not, want not" and I had stamped this wonderful sentiment for another card but it was just too big for that particular layout... so a new card was born. It took me less than a minute to complete this card because I changed the focus to this wonderful sentiment for #simplestamping.

Supplies Used

• Stampin' Up! Very Vanilla Cardstock (101650)
• Stampin' Up! Calypso Coral Cardstock (122925)
• Stampin' Up! Calypso Coral Ink Pad (147101)

Countdown to Christmas

I love Christmas...the music, the movies, the smell of pine trees, the taste of eggnog...so it would come to no surprise that I'm already embracing the season.

When I saw that Stampin' Up! had an advent calendar, I was super excited because I didn't have an advent calendar but then remembered that I live alone and so if I filled it up, the daily items wouldn't be a surprise. But then I thought that my sister and nephew might enjoy the daily surprises. It could be something they do together, creating new christmas memories and traditions, opening each box together every night.

The calendar was easy to put together. Actually the hardest part was deciding where I wanted to place each square and because I'm a little OCD and didn't want any similar squares near each other, this took multiple tries (after a few attempts of placing the plain squares down, I decided it would be easier to decorate every square and then work on the layout).

I didn't purchase the coordinating stamp set because it wasn't really my style and I wasn't going to stamp any of the squares at first, but decided that the plain squares needed a little extra love. I used stamp sets already in my stash to case the designs displayed by Stampin' Up!.

I can't wait to go shopping for treats to fill the boxes this weekend!! I'll give the calendar to my sister when I see her at thanksgiving. Happy Holidays!!

Countdown to Christmas

Supplies Used

• Stampin' Up! Christmas Countdown Project Kit (150703)
• Stampin' Up! Mossy Meadow Cardstock (147003)

• Stampin' Up! Artisan Textures Stamp Set (151278)
• Stampin' Up! Early Espresso Ink Pad (147114)

• Stampin' Up! Making Christmas Bright Stamp Set (148046)
• Delicata Golden Glitz Metallic Ink Pad (150711)

• Stampin' Up! Very Versailles Stamp Set (149275)
• Stampin' Up! Fanciful Fragrance Stamp Set (149281)
• Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler Ink Pad (147083)
• Stampin' Up! Mossy Meadow Ink Pad (147111)

• Stampin' Up! Very Versailles Stamp Set (149275)
• Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler Ink Pad (147083)

Craft so you don't have to find a place to store it

A couple of weeks ago, I saw a video about using a 6" x 8" Album to store the stamp sets from the monthly Paper Pumpkin subscriptions. I remembered I had an old (barely used) album at my mom's house so I resolved to get the album and use it instead of ordering a new one. Packed with the album were some old Project Life cards and Stampin' Up! Season of Style Designer Journaling Tags. My initial idea was to actually used the cards and journaling tags to journal my year. I had started January 1, 2015 but I didn't get past January 10th.

So I brought the Album, cards and journaling tags back to my place. I quickly filled the album with the Paper Pumpkin stamp sets but I had no idea where to store the cards and journaling tags.... and then I had an idea, if I used the cards and journaling tags right away, I wouldn't have to find a place to store them.

 I got started using the journaling tags (the project life cards are still sitting on my kitchen counter). I spread the journaling tags on my craft desk and just played with the cards, rearranging them all over a few days, until I had projected layouts for all the cards. Side note: I definitely like the current Memories & More Card Packs more than the old journaling tags because the current cards are double-sided, giving me more options for designs and layouts. 15 cards later....

Supplies Used

• Stampin' Up! Season of Style Designer Journaling Tags (132808) - retired
• Stampin' Up! Whisper White Cardstock (100730)
• Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler Cardstock (119685)
• Stampin' Up! Old Olive Cardstock (100702)
• Stampin' Up! Assorted Memories & More Cards & Envelopes (149710)
• Stampin' Up! Whisper White Note Cards & Envelopes (131527)
• Stampin' Up! Crumb Cake Note Cards & Envelopes (133766) - retired
• Stampin' Up! Whisper White Medium Envelopes (107301)
• Memento Tuxedo Black Ink Pad (132708)
• Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler Ink Pad (147083)
• Stampin' Up! Crumb Cake Ink Pad (147116)
• Stampin' Up! Old Olive Ink Pad (147090)
• Stampin' Up! Regals Stampin' Write Markers (147155)
• Sponge Daubers (133773)
• Stampin' Up! Neutrals DSP Stack (138435) - retired
• Stampin' Up! Tags & Tidings Stamp (147779) - retired
• Stampin' Up! Itty Bitty Christmas Stamp (150513)
• Stampin' Up! Stitched Rectangle Dies (148551)
• Stampin' Up! Softly Falling Embossing Folder (139672)  - retired
• Stampin' Up! 1-1/8" Scallop Circle Punch (146138)
• 1-3/4" Circle Punch
• Stampin' Up! Festive Farmhouse Cotton Twine (147888) - retired
• Stampin' Up! Old Olive Linen Thread (148811) - retired
• Stampin' Up! Brights Enamel Shapes (141680) - retired
• Stampin' Up! Regals Enamel Shapes (141681) - retired
• Stampin' Up! Shimmery Crystal Effects (150892)
• Stampin' Up! Ice Stampin' Glitter (1504445)
• Clear Wink of Stella Brush (141897)

January #simplestamping Challenge

Stampin' Up! January #simplestamping Challenge

• Theme: Valentine's Day
• Supplies: stamps, ink and paper
• Bonus Material/Tool: punch

So I wanted to make a card for this challenge but I didn't want to make a stereotypical valentine's card in pink or red. I have no issue with pink and red cards, just wanted to add an extra challenge for myself.

Here was my first attempt.

Now this card didn't come out as I had imagined, so I tried again. This second card was actually closer to what I had originally envisioned.

Then I realized I had a little bit of DSP left so I decided to challenge myself further to finish up the paper. Here's what I created with the leftovers.

One Sheet Wonder Template created for these cards

Supplies Used

• Stampin' Up! Whisper White Cardstock
• Stampin' Up! Wood Textures Designer Series Paper (144177)
• Stampin' Up! Night of Navy Cardstock (100867)
• Stampin' Up! Tranquil Tide Cardstock (144246)
• Stampin' Up! Night of Navy Ink Pad (147110)
• Stampin' Up! Tranquil Tide Ink Pad (147146)
• Stampin' Up! Tailored Tag Punch (145667)
• Stampin' Up! Well Said Stamp Set (148796)
• Stampin' Up! Treat Time Stamp Set (146626)
• Stampin' Up! Meant To Be Stamp Set (148626)
• Stampin' Up! Paper Pumpkin Stamp Set - January 2019

Happy New Year and a Challenge

Happy New Year!!

Do you have any new year's resolutions? I have some and the avid crafter wouldn't be surprised to hear that most are craft related.

Craft Resolutions

1. Use all owned Stampin' Up! embossing folders at least once (both current and retired).
2. Use all owned Stampin' Up! dies at least once (both current and retired).
3. Use all owned Stampin' Up! stamps at least once (both current and retired).
4. Post for One Sheet Wonder Wednesday once a month (be on the look out for tomorrow's post, I've already started composing it so I have faith I'll actually post it this month).
5. Use facebook to actually mail out birthday cards to family and friends.
6. Participate in more Card Challenges.

Now I don't expect to accomplish all of these things in 2019 (I own a lot of stamps and it could take a while to use them all at least once), but I want to make an attempt.

Now on to the Challenge.... the beauty of a good challenge is that it gets you to think outside your usual process.  I find I like to look at the different Challenge blogs and think about them, sometimes it's a few days later when I come up with an idea...and the finished product never comes out as I envisioned.