I apologize for being a totally lame blogger lately.
Every summer I find myself stretched entirely too thin. From kids activities to fun family outings and more I seem to have a hard time fitting creativity into the mix for almost the entire month of June. *note to self* Plan ahead next year!
Inevitably there is an ebb and flow relating the creative process. There are those times where I feel ultra creative and there are not enough hours of the day to fit in all the ideas I have in my head. Then there are those times where I fall just a tiny bit out of love with scrapbooking and paper crafting and my interests lie elsewhere: sewing, cooking, reading, running the kids to and from a zillion summer activities (okay that really isn't a fun activity), etc. About every six to eight months I hit a wall and the creativity wanes. I never am sure just how long it will be at bay either. Unfortunately I am currently in the middle of one of those slumps. Fortunately not all creative processes have been shelved. I am immensely enjoying card making and stamping again. As in, I can not get enough. And that is helping with the scrapbooking side of things. For the first time in I don't know how long I sketched a couple of layout ideas the other day. I started working on one of those layouts yesterday. It felt good.
I tell you this because I think it's good to share the ups and downs of my creative process. It's not good or bad but just the natural flow of things to feel more inspired and creative at some times and less at others.
I am currently working to reconfigure a few things both in my work and on the ol' blog and to reinstate (yes, again!) Stampin' Fun Fridays and also incorporate something new into the weekly line up. I will be adding a new weekly feature called, What I'm Using this Week. In a nutshell, it will basically be a enabling type post where I share the products, techniques, blogs, etc. that are inspiring me that week. And the project(s) I share throughout the week will showcase some of those products or techniques. Each Friday's Stampin' Fun Friday will also highlight some of the products showcased that prior Monday (or this week on Tuesday). :)
Look for both of these to be posted on a regular basis. I have made some decisions regarding what I want to spend my time on and the Stampin' Fun Friday shares make me happy. I want to spend more time on the things I love and remove the stressful things from my life (or as many as I can).
I am looking forward to sharing more with my blog readers.
On with this week's What I'm Using:
Fiskars Stamp Press: If you follow Jennifer McGuire's Blog you may have seen her share a video using this stamp press and I think she even gave one away awhile back. I picked one up at her recommendation and I love it. Love it. I admit, it sat in the stamp cabinet for a good two weeks before I even tried it out. But now that I have, it's all I use. I will be showcasing this in this week's Stampin' Fun Friday video.
Graphic Background Wood Mounted Stamp by Hero Arts : I have been using this background on everything. I have created two card sets in the last week and both utilize this stamp in one way or another. Look for it in this week's upcoming Stampin' Fun Friday as well.
Tumbled Glass Tim Hotlz Distress Ink: My absolute favorite color of blue ink of any kind. I have been reaching for this over and over and over again.
Papertrey Ink Perfect Match Ribbons: Specifically the Luxe Satin and the Saddle Stitch. Gorgeous colors. Been adding a little ribbon love to everything I create. :)
Papertrey Ink Vintage Buttons: Okay, I admit it. I have a button addiction. It doesn't matter that I have more buttons than I could ever use, I see gorgeous buttons and I want more. And these are fabulous. Not a bad button in the bag. And you get a ton. Seriously good stuff.
Copic Markers: Still using them on everything. Wanting the airbrush compressor so bad. It's on my wish list. Along with an ipad and a new itouch and new everyday dishware. How come everything on my wish list is so expensive is what my husband is thinking right about now! ha.
15x18 Non Stick Craft Sheet by Ranger : This might not be the most "fun" purchase ever but this baby is a lifesaver for protecting your work surface from stamping. I do not create a stamp project without it. Ever. And clean up is a snap. Brilliant product. I couldn't stamp without it.
Fringe Scissors by Martha Stewart : Creating fringed grass was never as fast or fun. These things are a super fun to use. Love, love, love them.
Sandi Henderson Meadowsweet Collection of Fabrics: In an attempt to infuse a little color into my very neutral home I purchased a bundle of fat quarters to sew up a little table quilt for my kitchen. Awhile back I bought several pottery pieces that are all island colors (aquas, blues and greens) and the aqua pitcher on my kitchen table is filled with yellow daisies and I think it will look stunning on a bright Meadowsweet quilt.
Canon Powershot G11: My new go-to camera. Small enough to travel anywhere with me (I carry mine in my purse) yet powerful enough to shoot in RAW and the quality of the photos is fabulous.
How about a photo share taken with my new camera?
My dad was cutting wheat last week and it is always a treat to ride the combine with Grandpa. Wheat harvest is my favorite. I have some of the fondest memories riding the combine with my dad as a child. My favorite memory: one year (I was in high school) my mom had taken my brother to an allergist appointment out of town overnight and I didn't want to be alone in the house (me = major wimp) so I called dad and he said to drive out to where he was cutting. I rode with him until late late into the night. When the conditions are right to cut wheat they want to get it cut before it rains (and they can't get back into the field for several days or god forbid it hails and ruins the crop) so he was cutting late. I just remember us really talking. Just one of those things that has always stuck with me.
My other vivid memory: my brother and I riding with my dad when we were little. The cab only had one extra seat so Wes (my brother) would sit on my dad's lunch cooler right in front of me....and fall asleep. I can still to this day see him with his head on the glass, sitting on that cooler with his mouth hanging open.
And dad always had snacks in his cooler to share. You know: cookies, candy, chips. And sometimes Grandpa would give us pop when we stopped. Good times.
So glad my kids get to experience this with their grandpa.
Hope everyone is having a fabulous week. More soon...
