Good Morning Fellow Stampers -
Happy Thursday! How is everyone doing this week? I've been balancing time between my regular job and some "vacation" hours this week. I have started attacking some "clean out" projects around the house and other things that have been on the back-burner a long time. As I've been contemplating life over the past several days, I've come to the realization that I have been having trouble juggling all the balls I have in the air; and that this has been the case for awhile. Things that I love have fallen to the wayside simply due to necessity, whether that is the ability to have time to do a deep clean in certain areas of my home, or work on home improvement projects, or even just curl up with a good book and enjoy some quiet hours. Life has just become too overwhelming and I'm feeling the burn out. I'm sure many of you have experienced the same at different points in your hectic lives.
You may have noticed that I did not do an Ask Wendy Wednesday post yesterday; and that really was a last minute decision on Tuesday evening as I was working through a rather involved project I started on Monday. And through the course of yesterday I have made the decision to step back just a little bit from the "daily grind" of my Stampin' Up! business and the daily blogging and designing I've been trying to maintain, and allow a little "breather" for myself for the remainder of this Summer season. So, it is my plan for just the next month or so (don't worry -- it won't be too long ;-) ) to step away from a Wednesday and a Thursday post each week (depending on what's on my schedule and how I'm feeling), and take a much needed break. I'll still be around on Monday, Tuesday and Fridays; and maybe something else occasionally, we'll see. Otherwise, I'm going to spend some down time, concentrate on some other things in my life, and try to regroup for the upcoming Fall season. We have a new Holiday Occasions catalog on the horizon, and I want to feel refreshed and ready to jump in; because I have already seen the "sneak peaks" -- and you are going to adore what's coming!! So hang in there with me my fellow stampers. We'll continue to play; but let's take a little break together and spend some time with home, family and friends and find some "refreshment." Sound good??
I do have just a little post for you today -- because I promised this to you on the weekend! And I really did want to spend just a little more time playing with the beautiful Serene Scenery DSP. This paper is to die for, and has so many possibilities! Especially by just stamping on and using the paper itself to create beautiful, quick, and simple cards.
Today's notecard set is made using the Serene Scenery designer series paper stack, and the fabulous Whisper White and Crumb Cake notecard/envelope sets. I love these sets of 20 precut, pre-scored note cards with matching envelopes for their ease or use in whipping together a quick set of cards in no time at all. No cutting, no scoring, no fuss!!
And this set of "Photo Realistic" paper makes card designing even easier!!
This paper is so incredible -- stamp right on it and you have everything you need for a beautiful card.
Here is an absolutely stunning piece from this paper collection.
By stamping right on the paper with the beautiful Wetlands stamp set, you can easily and quickly create this gorgeous card.
You know I love my layers, so I have a background "mat" layer of Island Indigo, 3 3/8" x 4 7/8".
You can maximize your designer paper by cutting it in half at 3". Then just trim off from the top and bottom until you get it to 4 3/4" in length -- that way you can control how much you take of the "sky" or the "beach"
I picked a coordinating piece of DSP from the collection, cut a 3/8" x 4 3/4" strip and then lined it all up on the Island Indigo; wrapped a simple piece of Linen Thread (perfect for a beach card), and adhered everything together and then to the front of the card.
The sentiments are from the Tin of Cards stamp set (last year's collection). Fabulous, isn't it?? I absolutely love this design, and look how it works well with any sentiment you choose.
This incredible paper makes things even easier.
This is matted with Delightful Dijon cardstock in the same measurements.
Cut you DSP the same way, but this time, I used a piece of Gold Natural Trim in place of the Linen Thread.
And the bold beautiful sentiment stamped in Archival Basic Black is from the Layering Love stamp set.
I did a little extra stamping on the designer paper here using the Vintage Leaves stamp set and Old Olive ink, stamped off once first; just kind of laid into the bokeh look of the paper.
Don't you just love that??
REMINDER: BONUS DAYS ARE HERE!!!
For each $50 you spend July 7 - 31, you will earn a $5 coupon to redeem in August! Hurry -- time is almost up!!
Until Next Time . . .
