Journal Fun

I am doing several different soul searching activities right now. Each one takes a slightly different approach; however they are all leading me in the same direction. One of these activities is Vision Camp 2014, which was created by one of my yoga instructors. She sends a daily email with information for us to read, process, and journal about. Often there are questions; really hard questions that make you think. It has definitely pushed me outside my comfort zone, but it's so worth it!

I had ordered the Epic Day This & That Journal when they first came out so that I would have one to show my customers. I hadn't found quite the right use for it, until now.

The journal has a chipboard cover with the hexagon pattern. You can cover it with DSP, pictures, etc; but I didn't want to lose the texture so I opted to use my ink pads and a sponge to ink it up. As you can see, all of the pages are already printed with the Epic Day patterns. While the purpose for this type of journal is more scrapbooking, I opted to use it as a traditional journal. I do love that I have the option to go back later and add pictures, etc as I see fit. It has been perfect as some of our assignments have been more abstract. It is actually much easier to read in person that it appears in the picture.

Epic Day This & That Journal

Morning Post Alphabet Stamp Set

I used Melon Mambo, Rich Razzleberry, and Coastal Cabana to sponge the front. I also used those same colors for the letters and numbers. A shout out to fellow Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration DT member Kathy, who was sweet enough to stamp the 2014 and mail them to me so I could complete my journal. I'm kicking myself for not ordering the Morning Post Number set when it was available in the Holiday Catalog. At least I can still purchase it as a digital download!

Please stop back by tomorrow for marker inspiration and Wednesday, when I will have a fun punch art card that I made to celebrate Kansas Day!

SAB Hybrid Card

Do you know what happens in four days? Sale-a-bration starts! If you haven't gotten your SAB catalog yet to see all the freebies you can choose from, let me know. I've got a few here!

Just one of many perks of being a Stampin' Up! demo is that we can earn the SAB items during a pre-order period. One of the items that I chose to get was the One Big Sale-A-Bration 2014 Digital Ensemble. This means that in one item, I have access to almost all of this year's SAB items in digital format. This makes it easy to create hybrid cards like the one I am sharing with you today! A hybrid card is one that features a digital component along with traditional supplies.

I opened a new project in MDS and chose this sweet sentiment from the See Ya Later stamp set. I enlarged the image and used the coloring tool to change the stamp from black to Brilliant Blue and Real Red. Yes, Brilliant Blue is retired, but it will forever be available in MDS; and since my hubby is a KU fan, I had to use it! Once I colored it, I printed it on white cardstock on my home printer, and then cut it with the Banners Framelits.

I also cut a banner out of the Real Red Core'dinations cardstock and then ran it through the Big Shot in the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder. I gently used my sanding block on the polka dots. The stamped image in the corner is from the Perfect Pennants stamp set. In fact, you could buy the Perfect Pennants and Banners Framelits in the wood mount bundle, add a package of cardstock and then you would qualify for one SAB item.

I designed this card with my husband in mind. Partially because the greeting is very fitting for us. Also because the two cards he has ever made me have been very simple and not required much stamping. I know he could recreate a card like this for me easily. He's not into the frills so it's also a perfect card to give him as it's sweet but not too feminine.

There are more projects featuring Sale-a-bration items today at SSINK. Enjoy!

Supplies used:
   Cardstock: Naturals White, Whisper White, Brights Core'dinations (Real Red)
   Stamp set: Perfect Pennants
   Ink: Real Red
   Framelits: Banners (largest one)
   Embossing Folder: Perfect Polka Dots
   My Digital Studio
   One Big Sale-A-Bration 2014 Digital Ensemble (See Ya Later)
   Tools: Paper Trimmer, Simply Scored, Big Shot, Stampin' Scrub
   Adhesive: SNAIL

Note Cards

Much like our ever-changing lives, sometimes our projects evolve into something else other than what we had originally planned. That definitely happened for me on this project.

My initial idea was to make a postcard style note card that you could write your message on the front of. I was imagining something like this:

However, because I was on a mission to use products I hadn't used in awhile, I was not wavering on the stamp set I was using. My punched image was going to be too large to leave enough space to write. To be honest, it also looked just plain silly.

So, I altered my idea and made a full card. I shifted where the initial was placed and added some bling. In the end, I was pleased with the outcome.

Supplies used:
  Cardstock: Elegant Eggplant, Whisper White
  Designer Series Paper: I Am Me
  Stamp sets: Four Frames, ABC-123 Sketch Alphabet & Numbers
  Ink: So Saffron, Elegant Eggplant
  Embellishments: Basic Rhinestones
  Framelits: Label Collection
  Punches: Decorative Label
  Tools: Big Shot, Paper Trimmer, Simply Scored
  Adhesive: Snail, Stampin' Dimensionals

Old & New

One of my crafting goals for this year was to use products that I hadn't pulled out in awhile. I successfully did that on this card, along with adding one of my new favorite bundles.

I used to use the Top Note die quite a bit, but once my framelit collection grew, the poor die was forgotten about in the dark cabinet. I've also had the Daffodil Delight Seam Binding since it came out and I think I've only used it once; maybe twice.

I started with a standard 5-1/2" X 8-1/2" card base in Soft Suede. I scored it at 4-1/4" to fold it in half. Next, I used the Top Note die to cut a piece of the new Fresh Prints Designer Series Paper Stack. I put a piece of Sticky Strip on the back side of the DSP so that I could get the seam binding to stay in place while I was tying it. I used a glue dot to hold the knot down on the front.

For the corner piece, I cut a Daffodil Delight square with the Square Collection Framelits. If you label your framelits starting with the smallest as #1, I used the #3 square. Then, I used my Paper Trimmer to cut it in half.

The greeting is from Perfect Pennants, which can be purchased as a bundle with the Banners Framelits. Using the numbering system from above, I used the #3 Banner to cut out the greeting. I attached it with Stampin' Dimensionals so that the seam binding knot wasn't overshadowing the greeting.

Supplies used:
  Cardstock: Soft Suede, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White
  DSP: Fresh Prints Stack
  Stamp set: Perfect Pennants
  Embellishments: Daffodil Delight Seam Binding
  Dies: Top Note, Banner Framelits, Square Collection Framelits
  Tools: Big Shot, Paper Trimmer, Simply Scored
  Adhesive: Snail, Sticky Strip, Glue Dots, Stampin' Dimensionals

Ready For Sunshine

If you saw my post Saturday, you know I spent part of the weekend at a crop. This particular crop is held to raise funds for a local school; and I almost always set up a vendor booth at it. I really enjoy the women who attend and I have made some wonderful friends over the years that I've been attending.

I loaded up almost all of my current product (which took 5 trips to the car) and took it with me with the intention of creating several cards for my daily blog posts. Thank goodness for lots of table space, as I was spread out over three tables and the floor!

I'd been creating since 11:00 Saturday morning, and around 3:00 I looked at Sherry, who was at the table across from me and said, "oh my, everything I've created today, I've used yellow on!" I guess I'm ready for the winter blahs to be gone and permanent warm sunshine to be here! I had to chuckle, because each card even had a different shade of yellow on them. You'll see most of them over the next three days. I'm saving one for next Tuesday though. ;)

I was itching to try out some of my new products that I had ordered from the Occasions Catalog last week. The greeting says it all; the Happy Watercolor stamp set does make me happy! I love the watercolor paint image that you can stamp behind most of our flower images.

Happy Watercolor

Supplies use:
  Cardstock:  Very Vanilla, Night of Navy
  Designer Series Paper: Afternoon Picnic
  Stamp set: Happy Watercolor
  Ink: Night of Navy, Summer Starfruit, Early Espresso
  Embellishments: Summer Starfruit 3/8" Stitched Satin Trim, Subtles Candy Dots (Soft Sky)
  Tools: Paper Trimmer, Simply Scored, Paper Snips
  Adhesive: SNAIL, Glue Dots

2014: The Year of Journey

I've declared 2014 the "Year of Journey." No, not the band. Although, "Don't Stop Believin'" could be a good subtitle. I've already started doing a lot of soul searching this year to figure out where I want to be and how I'm going to get there. (Better late than never, right?) Some might wonder if I'm unhappy where I am. On the contrary, there have been few times I've been happier in my life than I am right now. I'd like to stay happier, so I'm on a mission to make sure it happens.

The Layout Sketch today at Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration inspired me to use My Digital Studio to make a vision board for what I currently feel is most important to me at this point in my 2014 Journey.

Layout Sketch

The lower left hand corner is me on January 19, 2014. One of my goals this year is to continue my healthy lifestyle changes, which should inevitably lead to weight loss. The four yoga poses are ones that I struggle with right now. They are going to require strength, practice, and confidence. I hope to master each of them during 2014. I do strive to inspire people; I've always been a helper and that feeds off it. "There is a certain happiness in being silly and ridiculous" has pretty much always been my life motto. Life is too short to take everything seriously. Keep it light and fun and it makes things easier. The other quotes I found on pinterest and they really spoke to me as they are all things I struggle with in one way or another. Oh, and the tatoo is one that I want to get this year.

My initial plan was to print this out and make it an inspiration board, which I still intend to do. However, as I am still working on my goals, and life is an ever-evolving journey; I have decided to create a new page each month and make a 2014 book at the end. I plan to have my husband take a picture of me each month while practicing each of the four yoga poses so I can document how far I've come at the end of the year. I'm also certain that I will find more quotes that are fitting for me as my journey continues.

With light and love, I thank you for being a part of my journey today. Please stop in at Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration and see what the other designers have created with the sketch. We'd love for you to link your creation up with us if we have inkspired you with this layout.

*All of the photos came from Pinterest, with the exception of the one of me.

Supplies used:
  My Digital Studio
   Digital Stamp Sets: Define Your Life, Schoolbook Serif Numbers
   Digital embellishments: Basic Pearls

Cropping

It's a fundraising cropping weekend! So far I've only gotten three projects done. But lots of good bonding time. Here's a sneak peek of an upcoming card & a shot of the mess I've created as I've spread across 3 tables.

update: By the time I left, I had 7 cards & my This & That Journal cover completed. Stay tuned to see them all over the next few weeks.