love to create

Well, so much for doing the challenges last week. So much for posting for the last week. But, there's a reason for it! My dad came over and asked me to clear out my craft room. He brought in 2"x4", insulation and drywall. Then, my back closet, the only undeveloped place in our house, had walls within 2 days. Last Saturday, my dad took me to get flooring. By Tuesday, the floor was down and the walls were taped, mudded, sanded and primed. By Thursday, shelves were finished and I was loading my fabric stash and stuff into that finished space. Last night my first order from the new catty arrived. I couldn't do a thing with it!!! My dad glued a transition strip onto the concrete between my nice, new laminate and the rest of the basement flooring. Then, he closed my door and set wedges under the door so the transition strip would get a good bond. I'm go very grateful to my dad and my husband for doing all this for me.

When my stuff was hauled out of my room, I was in the middle of doing this card. Oh GOSH!!!! All the parts were still there once my room was put back together. I chose to case a card from the new Fall Sampler SU! has published. I love the colours and layout. I didn't have all the supplies used in the original card, so I made due with what was on hand.
stamps; dreams du jour (SU!)
paper; textured chocolate chip, bella rose dp (SU!)
ink; walnut stain (distress inks by ranger), riding hood red, kiwi kiss ink pad and reinkers (SU!)
accessories; green sheer ribbon (making memories), circle and scallop circle nestabilities, rub ons (basic grey), dew drops (the robin's nest)

I was working on these cards simultaneously. I really like the colours and layout, as I said. I am trying to be less of a pleaser, so I force the thought, 'what would I do if I could do anything...' through my head. I am so prone to feeling constrained by trying to create for what I think specific groups of people will like that I forget that I am my own first audience! I need to like what I do first, and others will follow.

I sat looking at the card I wanted to case on the back of the sampler and I thought I could reproduce it without stamping. It's close...

paper; french silk (bazzill), stella ruby (basic grey)
accessories; silk flowers (bazzill), button (SU!), green sheer ribbon (making memories), rub on (basic grey), rhinestones (Q&Co.), hemp twine (Walmart)


My new stuff came last night. It felt like Christmas, truly!!! I ordered the SU! Big Shot, albeit grudgingly. I'm glad I did because I've used cb for a very long time and I can say from experience, I like the Big Shot better. I'm stunned. My DD tried it too and all she could say was, 'oh wow!' I did a lot of grumbling and wailing and gnashing of teeth, and all I can say is - sorry!

So I sat on my couch, stewing that I had all this fun new stuff on my living room floor and what a good thing all the stamps are die cut because I couldn't get into my room to get my rubber scissors. And this card popped into my head. And I sat because I couldn't do anything about it until this afternoon. My dad came over early this afternoon and declared the transition strip good and stuck, so I could go about my business. I OWE THAT MAN DINNER!!!!

I used the Bella Toile background stamp for this. It's so lovely and elegant and eveythime I tried to add to it, it looked over done. Sharon's philosophy of Stamp Simply rubbed off for this one! Thank you, Ms no-time-to-stamp!!!! I went to town with my white gel pen on the blue layer, and the stardust pen for the white layer to highlight the toile. Happy day! I think it's done like dinner, even though I look at it and start to think it needs a sentiment. Nah!

stamps; bella toile (SU!)
paper; baja breeze, whisper white (SU!)
ink; baja breeze, soft sky (SU!)
accessories; filigree brads, white taffeta ribbon, silver elastic cord , Big Shot, Top note Bigz die (SU!), goldenberry dew drops (the robin's nest)