I still have some of the wrapping paper and cut up advertisement, and I used it for some new encouragement cards. Aren’t these sentiments great??
I did two coats of the white embossing powder to get complete coverage.
Supplies: Stamps – Essentials by Ellen, Simon Says Stamp, paper – Lilly Pulitzer, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Stampin’ Up! Basic Black, Night of Navy, Pacific Point, inks – VersaFine Onyx Black, VersaMark, dies – Lawn Fawn (stitched rectangle), My Favorite Things (pierced rectangles), embossing powders – Ranger Super Fine Detail white, Stampendous detail clear.
My creative mojo has been mostly absent for the past year. Pandemic concerns. Elder care and assistance.
But crafting has been my art therapy, my happy place for 18 years.
Was I bored with my crafting?
Was I overwhelmed with the crafting industry “buy this now” monthly release push? That answer has been YES for a while. (Yes, I know my being overwhelmed is MY problem, not a problem with the industry!) Sensory overload for me.
Was it time to move on?
So, I have been struggling along, making the bare minimum of cards for family.
I finished making my New Years cards in mid January (because I bailed on making Christmas cards, but I had purchased holiday postage stamps – have to send something!), and here come Valentine’s Day cards…
But my mojo peeked out from under the couch next to my craft table and asked me…
I am enjoying crafting. I have ideas. I STILL LOVE COLOR.
Alas, I have discovered that my card basket is very picked over (thanks to Offspring3 and my cousins! Love you! ❤ ). Lots of categories that need to be refilled.
Paint chips were begging to be stamped upon. So, two cards to help refill the basket.
Supplies: Stamps – Clearly Besotted, Essentials by Ellen, My Favorite Things, paper – Behr paint chips (Home Depot), Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Stampin’ Up! Basic Black, Rich Razzleberry, ink – VersaMark, dies – Essentials by Ellen (hello), Simon Says Stamp (sentiment strip), embossing powders – Gina K Designs Fine Detail Silver, Stampin’ Up! Classy Copper
I struggled with the background for this card – everything seemed to compete with the sunglasses. In the end, I embossed the Lawn Fawn Sunray Backdrop cover plate onto light blue cardstock.
Supplies: Stamp – My Favorite Things, paper – Curious Metallic Shadow, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Reverse Confetti From Cupid, Stampin’ Up! Bashful Blue (retired), Real Red, ink – VersaMark, dies – Lawn Fawn (sunray backdrop), My Favorite Things (glasses), Simon Says Stamp (sentiment strip), embossing powder – Ranger Super Fine Detail white.
Really, I only need punny Valentine cards! The cornier the better!
(And to my Chemistry savvy friends – I am aware that the image is NOT the proper diagram for an ion – I hope you will forgive me. The closest I could get with my stamps!)
Supplies: Stamps – My Favorite Things, paper – Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Reverse Confetti From Cupid, Stampin’ Up! Basic Gray, inks – Copic R29, VersaFine Onyx Black, dies – Simon Says Stamp (banner strip), Spellbinders (circles).
I made a few holiday money holder cards this year, all the same design, just variation in the color scheme. I used the We R Memory Keepers envelope punch board to make envelopes out of holiday scrapbook paper. The cards are not being mailed, but presented in person. I apologize for no photo of the envelope – the light was fading and I was rushing.
The finished size is 3 1/2 x 7 1/2 inches.
Supplies: Stamps – A Muse Artstamps, Simon Says Stamp, paper – Curious Metallics Blueprint, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Stampin’ Up! Tempting Turquoise (retired), ink – VersaMark, die – My Favorite Things, embossing powder – Stampin’ Up! Sterling Silver.
This is the card I made for my parents to mail this year.
Are my cards done? Not even started! My annual calendar is printed & assembled – so I am ahead there.
Supplies: Stamps – A Muse Art Stamps, My Favorite Things, paper – My Favorite Things Field Day, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, PopTone Sour Apple, Stampin’ Up! Real Red, inks – Copic 100, B0000, C1, G03, R29, YG23, VersaFine Onyx Black, dies – Simon Says Stamp (banner strip), Spellbinders (square), embossing folder – Provo Craft, embossing powder – Filigree Fine Art Powder clear.