HEART ON MY SLEEVE, LUMP IN MY THROAT

The project posted today is really just to give you something to look at, but this post is actually one of my "ramblings".  I used two of Stampin' Up!'s new punches to create the owls and scalloped border, and I also used brand new "Elegant Soiree" designer paper on the owls.  Like I said, this post is really about a random thought--a "rambling."  Yesterday, without going into detail, my family had a very scary medical situation.  On my way to the hospital (almost two hours away), worried and a bundle of anxiety, it occurred to me that I don't really know how to "act" in a situation like that.  Even at the hospital, I kept wondering when my "instinct" would kick in and just know what to do, say, think, feel, etc.  I think I was having a real grown-up moment, probably the second one I've ever had.  I can tell you for certain that I prefer my normal, everyday, uneventful life!  Anyway, while in the car, a song came on the radio, and the DJ mentioned that she'd played a Ryan Star song once before and really liked his new one.  As the song started, I thought it was odd that that particular radio station would play a song about praying and giving your worries to God, but it was also JUST the song that I needed to hear at that moment.  The irony is that I wasn't even hearing the actual lyrics of the song, yet I got "the message" that I needed.  What I was  hearing was, "Pray, just pray; take the worry off your shoulders and put it on me," but the actual lyrics are, "Breathe, just breathe; take the world off your shoulders and put it on me."  So, I have added the song to my Playlist (at the bottom of the blog).  If you haven't heard it before, scroll down and select it.  Sometimes we really need to hear "let go of the fear" and "don't hold it inside."   Maybe you'll hear the words that you need to hear, too.  ;-)

DIE-CUT TULIP EASEL CARD

I have been so busy in the stamp room today, moving things around and trying to straighten up the place.  I found this easel card that I actually started around the first of July.  I had all of the pieces cut, but I had not assembled or embellished the card.  Since I didn't want to spend too much time on this side-tracked venture, I kept it simple and used Stampin' Up!'s "Beautiful Butterflies" die, "Elegant Lines" embossing folder, ribbon, and rhinestone jewels.  FYI . . . this picture does NOT do justice to the GORGEOUS rhinestones!  They have so much sparkle that I'm tempted to stick a couple of them to my ears!  Ha!  I have to give a shout-out to Brigit Mann since she was the one who designed and shared the Cricut cut file for this fun card. 

VIDEO FROM STAMPIN' UP! HEADQUARTERS

While you're here, be sure to check out the little video on the right entitled, "Stampin' Up! Likes Demonstrators."  It's really cute and was filmed at Stampin' Up!'s headquarters in Utah.  One thing that I can say about the company is that they do, indeed, care about (and listen to) Demonstrators.  It's REALLY  a great company, and I have enjoyed my 6+ years of association with them!  Before watching the video, be sure to scroll to the bottom of my blog to stop the music.  If you'd like to become a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator, I'll be glad to tell you how!

STEPPIN' UP THE LOVE

It seems like a while since I've stamped for pleasure, and this was a perfect card to get me back into my stampin' groove because everything came together in a snap!  Gotta love that!  The funny thing is that I just used items that were here on my desk, including the card stock!  Stampin' Up! products used to create this step card include:  Word Play, Upsy Daisy, and Vintage Vogue stamp sets, Bashful Blue, Crumb Cake, and Early Espresso card stock, 1/8" Early Espresso ribbon, Early Espresso ink, tag punches, Heart to Heart punch, and Stampin' Dimensionals.

SIMPLY ADORNED CARD BOX

My friend, Laura, sent me a swap this week that had a really cute folded flower on it, so I "stepped it up" by using Stampin' Up!'s 2-3/8" Scallop Circle punch to create a larger flower.  Doesn't it make a great decoration for a card box?  I'm working on projects for a stamp-a-stack and, since all of the cards will be 4.25" square, I think a box to hold them, similar to this one, will be perfect!  Other Stampin' Up! products used on this project include the Chocolate Chip jumbo brad, Very Vanilla satin ribbon, and Scallop Edge border punch.

VINTAGE NEWSPRINT CARD

I've had a lot on my mind lately and haven't been able to challenge myself to create any "over the top" or time-consuming projects, so this is yet another "easy" card.  I like that it doesn't have a quickly-thrown-together look, though.  I used Stampin' Up!'s Regal Rose, Very Vanilla, and Pink Pirouette card stock on this card, as well as "Newsprint" designer paper, which I distressed and sponged with ink.  I began by using the Scallop Oval Frame die, which cuts two pieces--the scallop oval and the solid oval center, which I embossed with the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder.  Both pieces, as well as the card and designer paper, were sponged with Early Espresso ink.  The Little Leaves die cut and rosebud were ready to pick up and use, and then I tied that luscious Pretty in Pink satin ribbon around the front to complete the card.  To make the rosebud, I spiral-cut (with scissors) a 2-3/8" punched scallop circle and then wrapped the cut layers around a bamboo skewer.  The last step was to sponge ink onto the edges of the rosebud.  I dropped (literally) a flat-back pearl into the center of flower.  My intention was to put some Tombow Multi Purpose adhesive in the center of the flower to hold the pearl, but the pearl got lodged inside the flower pretty good. 

A LITTLE PICK-UP

As I mentioned recently, I have a couple of new Cricut cartridges and can't resist using them.  I made this card for my daddy because he hasn't been feeling well this week, but he received this card today and loved it!  It's quite simplistic in design, but that's one of the things I enjoy about using the "Just Because Cards" cartridge . . . it makes creating cards quick, easy, and fun!  Chad said the raffia didn't look "manly," even though I avoided tying a bow. 

COOL DAISIES

Is this a neat, clean card or what?  I love this color combo . . . Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue, and Marina Mist.  Stampin' Up! products used to create this card include Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, Swirly decorative strip die, scallop circle punches, buttons (retired), "Tiny Tags" stamp set, jewelry tag punch, and linen thread.  This card was inspired by one that I saw recently created by Leeann Greff, and I could hardly wait to create one of my own. 

BEE HAPPY

I bought a new Cricut cartridge ("Live Simply"), and this is my first completed project using images from the cartridge, which is one of the "Lite" series exclusive to Walmart stores.  Even though these cartridges don't have a lot of creative features, they are super easy to use and "smartly" designed for layering.  Since I cut the images a bit large for my card (duh!), I had to use my noggin to decide how to place them on the card without totally covering either of them; hence, the overall card design with the punched semi-circle and a front that's more narrow than the back by approximately 1".  Inside the card, the ladybug is resting on a leaf.  Soooo cute!  I will write a little note to my grandmother and then drop this card in the mailbox.  I hope she likes it!

SHABBY CHIC SYMPATHY CREATION

Today I needed a sympathy card for a family member whose 42-y/o husband passed away unexpectedly on Saturday.  Although I always tell myself that I should keep sympathy cards on hand, I'm beginning to realize something about myself . . . I don't want to dig in a box to find a card that I made for a sad time in someone's life.  Nope!  I want to sit down and create something especially for that someone special who is grieving.  It seems like the very least that I can do, and I just feel a great sense of "giving" (of myself) when I'm done.  For this card, I used a brand new Stampin' Up! stamp set ("Just Believe") that I haven't used before, and this card was actually a quickie!  I love the layers, the subtle stamped images, the two ribbons, and the card's overall shabby style.  I'm so glad that I got this set!  It has some very pretty images in it, and I love the "Some things have to be believed to be seen" sentiment, even though I didn't use it for this card.  The Stampin' Up! colors that I used are Marina Mist, Soft Suede, and Very Vanilla.  The sympathy sentiment is from "Teeny Tiny Wishes."