Speaking of simplify...

Ok so my great inspiration worked for a week... but I see myself very quickly getting burned out with that, and making cards just to get it done. That's not what it's about for me. I want to keep the fun and relaxation/therapy there. So I'm scrapping that plan. (haha) It wasn't quite a complete failure though... I did make some cute things and it HAS gotten me started on Kennedy's baby book, which my goal is to have done by Christmas. So that's good. And it was a good starting point. I'm still relatively new to stamping/card making so I'm still experimenting. I do still need some kind of goal to keep the inspiration coming, so here's my Inspiration Part Deux:

Each week I will CASE a card, try a new color combo, technique and/or layout. If I'm feeling really crafty, all of the above, but if I'm lazy, tired, etc. all of the above may just be fit into one card (or possibly scrapbook page).

Sunday Simplicity

These cards were pretty simple, just using scraps of ribbon, some leftover Wild Wasabi, Whisper White, and Night of Navy cardstock. This retired set A Tree For All Seasons is one of my favorite! You don't need much more with a cute image like that! It was so simple I had to make three.

SIMPLIFY

I've decided in order to actually get my Christmas cards sent this year, I'm not going to have a "plan" that I leave until the last minute and try to mass produce. I'll just make a few different ones each week and hopefully by Thanksgiving time I'll be able to relax and enjoy the season. Hopefully.

Scraptastic Saturday

I don't have a picture to post for today, but I am working on Scrapbooking! I get to put together a baby book (first year) for my little niece Kennedy. This time of her life was quite sensitive, so I won't be posting pictures, but instead I'll post layouts and progress that I've made. I got the great idea from Julie to pre-cut lots of photo mats to make the whole process much easier. So I've been cutting mats from various soft subtles and using my cute Cuttlebug animals dies (that conveniently match her store bought book!) just to prepare for what is to come. Hopefully next week I'll have a layout or two to share.

Friday Favorite

A couple favorites today...

1- My favorite Label nesties!

2- French, (is my 2nd favorite language to speak) hence...

3- "Jacques" on Finding Nemo is my favorite character!

The card is on Whisper White (another favorite, stampin' up cardstock is SO much better than anything!) with retired Ginger Blossom paper on the front. I did actually stamp "Jacques" (from Fishy Friends, retired) on the inside of the card and cut out a little window with the nestabilities. I colored him with the pastels because I don't have the markers yet... I used Bonjour and Mon Amie stamps from the Carte Postale set. The flowers were punched with the Spring Blossom punch (another favorite that is sadly retired) in Night of Navy and random dsp. That ribbon is NOT my favorite. I bought at the $1 spot at Target. Blech. (Not on Target...it's my favorite).

Thursday Thank You

I've seen a lot of these cards around SCS so when I got the hostess set "A Little Somethin' " (now retired) I thought that cute stamp would look perfect on one of these flower pot cards!

Workshop Wednesday

I'll get a head start on Wednesday since I'll be protesting my
property taxes tomorrow...who knows how long that will take. This card was made at my friend Julie's stamp camp last Thursday. She does SUCH a great job! And she makes it look so effortless too! Here's her blog.

We used the Friends 24-7 set (which I love and wish I had!) We used the spiral punch on that first layer. On the white layer we inked the stamp with markers to get the different colors, we used the color spritzer tool to add some dimension, a dimensional to pop that 24-7 up, a ribbon and a button with some twine looped through. It really is the little details that make a card look so much better!

Click on the picture to see the details better.

Technique Tuesday

Today's technique is Wax Paper Cuttlebug Resist. If you don't have a cuttlebug (or other embossing system) you can try the plain old wax paper resist technique. SCS has two fabulous tutorials on this technique. Option 1 (with Cuttlebug) or option 2 (without Cuttlebug).

Instead of a make-up sponge I just used the stampin' spots, which made the ink a lot darker because I layered it on pretty thick. The colors I used were Certainly Celery, Almost Amethyst, & Bashful Blue but they look a LOT darker. So I decided to patch the quilt onto a bright yellow (NON-SU!) paper. I should have just cut the yellow quilt border out with my scalloped rectangle nestabilities but oh well. I used the new SU! scallop punch for the quilt as well as to cut the bottom edge of the whisper white card front and layered more yellow paper underneath. I machine stitched the pieces of the quilt and added a green ribbon with the "baby" patch to give it some detail. I'm not in love with the card, but at least I made something today right? AND that technique IS pretty awesome.

It's all about the inspiration

Obviously I've been very neglectful. Both to my blog and my "stuff" (as Dylan calls it). So I've come up with a PLAN! I see all these cute blogs with things like "make a card monday" or "wordless wednesday" and I've decided I just need a little inspiration to make something everyday. (If I use it, it justifies buying it...right?) Feel free to play along and share!

Monday Muse- I'll find something to inspire me! This could be anything really, but I'll try to stick to one of the following: A card I want to copy (CASE) or some object/picture that I think looks really cool and I could totally see on a card.

Technique Tuesday- There are so many COOL things to do to spice up a card! So I'll either try a new technique or use an old favorite.

Workshop Wednesday- Either something I made at a workshop, or a demonstrable item (a.k.a. quick and easy).

Thursday Thank You- A girl can never have enough thank you cards!!! But where to start? I'll choose a color combo or layout for inspiration.

Friday Favorite- If "what's your favorite..." was a multiple choice question I would answer D. All of the above. I'll use my current favorite stamp set, designer paper, color, tool, etc. for inspiration.

Scraptastic Saturday- I have an aversion to Scrapbooking (and pink and ribbons and bows) that I need to get over! Here's my excuse to do something about it.


and last but not least (well actually it is...)

Sunday Simplicity- sometimes less is more. Either a clean and simple card or a time-saving tip.

And there you have it! My plan for embracing (and sharing) my crafty side.