What does your stamping spot look like? Where do you stamp? When I first started stamping I lived in an apartment. I was fortunate to have a two bedroom apartment and no roommate so my stamping supplies (which were very few at the time) resided in a plastic container not much bigger than a shoe box. This was stored in the closet of the extra bedroom and I would pull it out whenever I wanted to stamp. When my husband and I got married, we moved into a house and my stamping supplies moved into one of the two extra bedrooms but the bin where the supplies were stored got bigger. As we added to our family those extra bedrooms were not so extra anymore! My stamping space moved to the basement right next to our washer and dryer! While it felt like a bit of a demotion I did gain a more permanent space where my projects could be left out and the numerous crafting tools I’d acquired over the years. Over the years my husband has created shelves for me to store my stamp sets. When we moved into a much larger home, I got my own craft room! As the space I had expanded so did my collection of stamping storage items. We’ve been in our house for 6 years now and I am beginning to contemplate making some improvements to my craft room! Just in time for this renovation, Stampin’ Up! has come out with Storage by Stampin’ Up! This is going perfectly fit into my plan for my sleek looking craft room! It’s affordable and clean looking! You can configure the pieces to look exactly how you’d like it to look and to function in a way that works best for you! It is perfect!
Our society is full of underlying messages of what life should be like. It paints a picture of the perfect life! There are all different types of messages about perfection. One wants you to believe if you have “this” or buy “that” you will achieve your dreams or your life will be filled with success or you will feel joy like never before! The “this” or “that” all depends on what they are selling. But it is not just the marking of products that produces feelings of inferiority. It is expectations of the society in which we live. Your life is great when you make X amount of money, when you drive X type of car or live in the X neighborhood or city. We even place expectations of perfection on our children. Our lives are great if our children get into the perfect pre-school, make the travel baseball team, become a Varsity letter winner freshman year, take 4 AP classes. You name it- we can make the things of this world into a tool upon which we measure our value and worth. I feel the need to share that this side of heaven there is no one, no life, no job, no spouse, no child, no relationship that is perfect. Life isn’t about comparison to what others have or do. For me it is about my relationship with my Creator and Savior.
When we put so much pressure on ourselves and by association on our significant others, children, and friends, we throw away joy. Over the years when my children have ranked themselves up against others I have told them, “The only one you should ever compare yourself to is Jesus.” We can never measure up to Him which is why He came to us! This is something I have to tell myself over and over again. It is something we probably all need to hear. My worth is not in my abilities, otherwise I would be loosing value as I age. It is not in my successes, otherwise my failures would derail me. It is not in my relationships, that is way to much pressure to put on another human being. My worth comes only from the one who created me- like a fine piece of artwork.
You and I are not made the same. We have different talents, different preferences; we probably view situations from different perspectives and that is all just how God created us to be. This world would be so boring if there were a whole lot of little Christys running around with no one like you. We can choose to bring out the best in one another or we can choose to criticize and compete. I want to love others with the love that the Lord has shown me. I want others to feel the love that the Lord has for them because that love has the power to change lives. It has the power to heal broken hearts and broken homes. Our world has a lot of broken people walking around with deep hurts often from other broken people.
What if we build bridges? What if we choose to make a difference by letting others know that we see them? What if we truly treated others as we would like to be treated? Do your part to mend relationships. Write to a friend you haven’t talked to in a long time. Send a card to a neighbor you know is going through a difficult time. You words don’t have to be lengthy to matter. You don’t need to be eloquent of word to touch a soul. Just be present. Build connections! Let people know that you miss them. Reach out!
And when you do, share it with me here! I want to know that you’ve chosen to make a difference in someone’s life.
Time is running out to take advantage of the wonderful products that Stampin’ Up! is offering! Yet, Stampin’ Up! is keeping things hot! Sale-A-Bration Coordination is here and it’s the first time it’s ever happened. Stampin’ Up! came out with 7 coordinating products to the Sale-A-Bration offerings. Have you fallen in love with the So Hoppy Together frog? I have! Then you’ll definitely want to check out the Hop Around Framelit dies 150073 $27.00) that coordinate with it! No more fussy cutting those cute frogs!
This Framelit allows you to take any So Hoppy Together card and step it up a notch! Just imagine what I could have done with this cute box had I had the coordinating Framelit!
There are coordinating products for the Lasting Lily Sale -A-Bration stamp set, The Hello Cupcake Sale-A-Bration stamp set and the Painted Seasons Bundle in the Second Release brochure.
The Call me Cupcake Framelit dies (150072 $27.00) are great and coordinate with the Hello Cupcake Sale-A-Bration stamp set. Just think of all the cute birthday cards you can make with these Framelits and Free stamp set!
Painted Seasons Stamp Set is one of Stampin’ Up!’s Distinktive sets and it is available for free with a $100 purchase. The detail in these new types of stamps is truly spectacular! Check out the flowers on the Thank You card below.
Just image the pop your cards can have when you die cut them using the coordinating Four Seasons Framelits set.
While the frogs are so much fun, I think if I had to choose my very favorite Sale-A-Bration stamp set I would have to say it is this set: Lasting Lily – it is also one in the Distinktive line of stamps that Stampin’ Up! has come out with. The shading and detail that this type of stamp produces is hard to really appreciate from a picture. This is a very versatile stamp set; it can be used to make any type of card from sympathy to birthday.
This Lily Framelit Die (150071 $27.00) set is just what you need to take this card to another level. My card above will be so much better with die cut images!
This Story Label punch (150076 $18.00) can be used with so many different sets in all of Stampin’ Up!’s catalogs! It has a very unique look to it with the the notches at both ends.
More than Words stamp set (150069 $17.00) truly is more than words! It has a sentiment for almost every occasion!
It is a wonderful time to be a crafter! Get your stamp on!
The content in this blog is the sole responsibility of Christy Woods as a Stampin' Up!® Independent Demonstrator. The use of and content of classes, services or products offered is not endorsed by Stampin' Up!
