Inspiration, Downtime, and Creating
Right now I am guessing that most of you are enjoying summer and the warm temps that come with July. As I type this I am I am sitting at my desk at the cottage wearing warm fluffy socks and a sweatshirt. The thermometer says 60 degrees and it is cloudy, misting, and breezy. I have my window open because I love to hear the music and birds. It is in my downtime that I find the most inspiration and frankly time to create! Unfortunately, I don’t have much room here to spread out. I was poking around in a box of supplies I keep in a tub under my bed for a frame I could use for a picture of my husband and me taken at our 4th of July neighborhood picnic. I found one I had stamped several years ago! (All of these sets are now enjoying a well deserved retirement.) I love it! However, I created a mess in the process.
I decorated this frame back when my boys were the age in the photo. They are now 17 and 15! I love that Stampin’ Up! gives me so many ways to be creative. This was one of my favorite sets back then. A current set that reminds me of summer is the adorable Glamper Greetings set on page 62 of the 2017 Annual Catalog. This set has 32 images that can be used throughout the year, not just summer!
The picture on the left was taken this year at the Beech Street 4th of July picnic. Even though the stamps I used to decorate the frame are enjoying their much deserved retirement, it still speaks to me. I particularly like the airy feel of the flowers. There are two brand new sets in the 2017 Annual Stampin’ Up! Catalog that I LOVE! The Daisy Delight stamp set on page 127 which is available in a bundle with a punch. This bundle which is a 10% discount on the products was so popular that the daisy punch is now on back order. I’m sure it will be available again soon! The other new set that I’m adore is Oh So Eclectic on page 133. This set is also available in a bundle. The bundle (also on page 133) includes the stamp set and Eclectic Layers Thinlits die. There are three other coordinating products to the Oh So Eclectic stamp set: Naturally Eclectic Designer Series Paper, Naturally Eclectic Cardstock Pack, and Naturally Eclectic Card Overlays.
This is the view from my workspace in the cottage (you can tell it is not very large). This was taken while it was very neat after I had cleaned up my crafting and began this post!
This is my very messy bed with the contents of the under bed storage box spread all over it.
I made several cards yesterday and was inspired from a number of places. The one I am showing you here was inspired by a card that is in the new 2017 Stampin’ Up! Catalog! I fell in love with the colors and feel of this card. Since I am in Michigan (away from most of my supplies) I had to modify the card and use what I had on hand. The one in the catalog is a stepped up card to the one I created that we will be doing at an upcoming stamp camp.
This card was my first try. I wasn’t as happy with it.
This is my final version with the exception of ribbon that I will add on top of the Soft Sky card stock. I ordered the ribbon but it hasn’t arrived yet. I will post a new pic once I get it.
I used Happy Celebrations stamp set (p.34 of the 2017 Stampin’ Up! annual catalog.
I also used the coordinating embossing folder Celebrations Duo (p.211).
