Challenging Myself

One of the things I find as a stamper is that it's easy to get into a routine by using the tried and true. You know, the same colors, same layout, same stamp set. It's an easy thing to do because we are comfy, like in our fuzzy slippers, and know that we can always create something lovely when we use the familiar things.

The problem with this is that if we do this for too long, we can lose our mojo or inspiration to try new things. I know this is the case with me. It's especially hard for me to use colors and/or stamp sets that aren't my favorites. So, last night when my daughter wanted to stamp with me a while, I decided to use up some of the random pieces sitting around the studio for once.

This card started with the Certainly Celery piece that had been run through the Big Shot last week with my Polka Dot Texturz Plate. (love those things!) Then I went into my scrap files - I keep all my cardstock that is less than a whole sheet in hanging folders in plastic file bins in my abyss, I mean the supply closet. The files are sorted by color family and I keep two colors in each file. I used my Round Tab Punch to make color tabs for each file so all I have to do is match up the scrap with the tabs to file a piece. Pretty organized, eh? Even for me!

I looked for a blue, one that I hadn't used in a while and located a half sheet of Ballet Blue that was perfect for my card base. When I put the two pieces together, I felt they needed another green so I pulled out a 1/4 sheet of Garden Green and trimmed it down my a 1/4" on two sides so it would layer with a 1/8" border.

Then I saw the Whisper White top note piece that had been a mistake at Big Shots Club last week, so I knew I could use that for my stamping. But - what stamps to use?!! I forced myself to use something that is definitely outside of my box and pulled out the Echoes of Kindness stamp set. It's FREE rubbah from the Hostess Level 2 selections, but it hasn't seen ink since I got it. Reaching for my Stampin' Write Markers in Ballet Blue, Certainly Celery and Garden Green, I colored right on the stamp and created my multicolored images that way. This piece was then sponged around with Ballet Blue Ink which I also used on the Certainly Celery texturized piece to bring out the polka dots.

I positioned and mounted all these pieces with SNAIL Adhesive the trimmed off the right side with my Paper Snips. That gorgeous ribbon is the new White Organdy ribbon in the new Idea Book and it's the first time I used it as well! Not the last, by golly - that stuff is knockout! (By the way, I have Ribbon Shares being announced in the next few days, so be sure to check back for the info!)

The greeting is stamped in Ballet Blue on Whisper White which was sponged in Certainly Celery. Mounted on to Garden Green cardstock, I used the Corner Rounder on both pieces to finish it off. This piece was then popped up on Stampin' Dimensionals and put in place on the card. I have to honestly say that I began with no plan and now have this lovely card that just makes me smile. It's like a breath of spring air. I hope you like it too and have enjoyed reading about the roundabout process I used in creating it.

Tomorrow's Friday and that means Blogger's Challenge and boy, do I have a cool project to show you! But you'll just have to come back! :)

Have a great evening and go hug the ones you love!

~~Robin