love to create

The Ways to Use it Challenge on SCS was to use only designer paper. It's a challenge that is easy for me - I use dp all the time, and I have dp comin' out the wazoo!!! It occurred to me a little while ago to use my dp rather than hoard it. There's new designs coming down the pike all the time, and as with fashion, I don't want to get stuck in last years look. (Okay, how about last decade's look...) With new stuff coming that I like, I need to use what I have so I have room for the next "latest and greatest" that I LOVE!

The Occasions Mini set Bloomin' Beautiful from Stampin' Up! it more verstaile and downright fabulous than I had imagined. I agonized over my Mini purchase. I'm sure by the end, DH was ready to smack me a little - enough already! It's not internation peacekeeping! But I'm a die hard get-the-most-bang-for-my-buck kinda girl. When I finally placed my order, it was COMPLETELY different than what I started with. In a perfect world, I'd order everything in the mini without a twinge of guilt. In my real world, I have a limited budget for personal craft supplies. I know now that this set was a good gamble. It's an elegant multi-tasking set that I will keep going to, and may never tire of it.

stamps; Bloomin' Beautiful, Sanded (Stampin' Up!)
paper; Stella Ruby (Basic Grey)
ink; Basic Brown, reinkers: river rock, old olive (Stampin' Up!), old paper distress ink, reinkers: red pepper, cranberry, rust, terra cotta (Adirondak by Ranger)
accessories; chocolate chip satin ribbon (Stampin' Up!), antique copper brads (Making Memories)


Tea Bag folding has become a favourite technique of mine. I like the way these look like calla lilies. Now, this isn't the way this tea bag fold is meant to be done - it's meant to go in a circle, which is nice, but I like the calla lily look here. Another favourite technique is highlighting with a white gel pen. It's a simple thing, but the drama it adds - holy shamolies!!!

I did this without the grey paper originally, and it was a sweet card, and the calla lilies didn't quite go, but they were okay. Then, I decided I needed to add contrast between the striking white and the rest of the card. There just wasn't enough contrast. I was going to do light brown for the framing layers, but then the contrast wouldn't happen. Kraft would have been nice too. Then it occurred to me that I liked the loopy brad colour, and I should use that instead. Dilemma solved!

Now you know why I can drive my DH a little snaky with my decision making process *snort*

stamps; Baroque Motifs (Stampin' Up!), Leaves #3 Backgrounder (Cornish Heritage Farms)
paper; wild wasabi, bashful blue, afternoon tea dp (Stampin' Up!), scarlett's letter dp (Basic grey)
ink; wild wasabi, bashful blue, whisper white (Stampin' Up!)
accessories; love & happiness rub ons, blue striped ribbon, slot punch (Stampin' Up!), loopy brads (Karen Foster), 2", 1 3/8", 5/8" circle punches (EK Success), scallop circle punch (Martha Stewart), white gel pen (Sakura)