CAS-ual Fridays Challenge #72

~Second post today, please scroll down for a card inspired by Virginia, thanks~

So I've been doing lots of therapeutic mojo finding exercises lately: cleaning the craft den, taking the Kick Start Online Class, trolling for inspo on friend's blogs....so today I thought I would try taking part in a challenge.

I saw the theme at CAS-ual Fridays was to use your own blog header for inspiration and knew that was my ticket to creativity! While in the midst of my paper and ink drought lately I turned to some digital therapy and created a new blog banner. What a great idea to use it for inspiration to make a card or 2!

Some new Lawn Fawn stamps, a few Copics and a very CAS design

Since I used this Hero Arts bird from the "The Line" digital kit for my banner it made it really easy to recreate it on a card. I paired it with some older Basic Grey paper from "Out of Print". The sentiment is so perfect since it's how I sign off each of my blog posts. I just got this brilliant Simon Says Stamp  Handwritten Sentiments set in the mail yesterday. Perfect timing!

InLinkz.com

Well there you have it, I'm recovering my mojo with baby steps leaning heavily on clean and simple designs. I'm putting ink on new stamp sets, using older papers from my stash and even mixing in some digital images. If this doesn't bust my months-long creative block I may need in-patient therapy!

 Proverbs 14:30

"A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body;

jealousy is like cancer in the bones."

A reminder to be content with who I am and what I have. Share some kindness, show some love, have a thankful heart; these actions all fit into my budget!

blessings,

nancy

Inspired by Virginia

On my way around my favorite blogs yesterday I came across THIS post by Virginia. I found her paper-pieced jars to be so charming that I used them as inspiration to finally ink up a Unity stamp set that I've had for a while but haven't used as yet.

I did some paper-piecing using the Butterfly Garden paper pack from Pink Paislee that I just unearthed from the rubble that had been my studio. Since I didn't want to tax my still in recovery mojo I kept this oh-so-simple. I wanted to make a card for my in-laws, just something to remind them how much God loves them.

InLinkz.com

I also used the Pink Paislee Butterfly Garden 6x6 paper pack and Stampendous Cling Stamp "Wings of Eagles".

blessings,
nancy

I went looking for my mojo......

My creative space had gotten out of control and somewhere in the mess I lost my mojo. A major purge and clean up was needed but I had been putting it off until it looked like my mojo might be taking a permanent sabbatical. When I hadn't felt inspired to create anything for weeks I knew it was time to overhaul the studio.
I'm participating in the Online Card Class- Kick Start, organizing our products is one of the creative steps that Kristina and Jennifer are encouraging us to take.

In the process of cleaning and organizing, I decided to part with at least a third of my stamp stash. I will be grouping them and offering them for sale in the next few weeks. If you have been looking for hard to find classics you just may find them here. Stay tuned!

On to the mess.....

 I had taken over Al's desk anyway so I used it to help with the sorting process.

 Stamps to be sold...this is just a small portion

More stamps for sale

My living room needs some attention now.

Here's the closet wall transformation

 Little Tia is sleeping peacefully in the midst of the chaos.

It feels good to have this area cleaned up!

There's plenty of storage space for products that I will actually use now.

 Now I can find the new stuff and hopefully use them before they become obsolete.

 He's going to be there anyway, he might as well be part of the decor!

We have plans to build out the closet wall that includes tearing out the wall around the closet and having a full wall of storage with another counter height work area. We are also planning to add an L-shaped desk and storage where the computer desk and Al's desk are now. This is what I've asked for as a Christmas gift... fingers crossed that it will be THIS Christmas!

I do feel like my creativity will have a chance to return now that all the excess supplies and products aren't yelling at me to use them. One thing I did that took a lot time but I think will be well worth the effort: I cut down all my loose 12x12 papers to 6x6 and grouped them in ziplock bags according to color or theme. Maybe now I will use them! Since I work in 8x8 size for my scrapbook pages I left some of the solid papers 8x8.

So with this huge overhaul if you don't see some new project photos here soon I just may need to give up the crafting and hire myself out as a craft room organizer!

God's way is perfect.

All the Lord's promises prove true.

He is a shield for all who look to Him for protection.

Psalm 18:30

blessings,

nancy

Celebrating Kellie

My sweet daughter-in-love, Kellie, had a birthday this week. She is an amazing mom, she truly impresses me. Uriah is growing up with confidence and a sense of adventure because of her creativity and calm assurance. We had the opportunity to celebrate her birthday last night with dinner at our favorite Italian restaurant, Roman Cucina. Uriah was adorable, charming the other diners and us.

I made a bright and cheerful card for Kellie, using a sentiment and flower from Lawn Fawn's Sophie's Sentiments.

The paper's are from last year's Echo Park collection, Country Drive. I cut random size banner shapes and did some doodling on them and the rest of the card. I'm happy to say that it made Kellie happy.

"A man's spiritual health is exactly proportional to his love for God." ~ CS Lewis 

blessings,

nancy

As this is my 400th blog post, I thought it was time for some freshening up around here and a new banner was just the ticket. The little bird is from a Hero Arts digital set called "The Line".  The font for the main title is "My Own Topher" and the smaller font is "Socially Awkward".  I used Microsoft Publisher to design the banners and PicMonkey.com to edit them.

Scrapfest and Dewey Decimal Birthday Cards

It's been a very busy couple of weeks and now that Scrapfest 2012 is a happy memory I'm hoping to get some crafty projects completed.

I had a wonderful time meeting some phenomenal women this past weekend at Scrapfest. You've seen the pictures so I'll try not to duplicate them here. It was also a very exhausting weekend of taking hundreds of crafters through the Lawn Fawn make n takes. Oh, and there were classes to teach and assist with too! Here's a photo (courtesy of Britta) of Chari, Kelly, Mike and me hard at work in the Lawn Fawn booth. The line seemed to go on forever but each time someone new stepped up to the table I enjoyed making a new friend and sharing some awesome stamps and techniques. Everyone loved the cards, too!

Before I left for Minnesota I made some birthday cards for birthdays that were happening while I was gone.

This one is for my father in law and it posed an interesting question. What theme do you use when the recipient is celebrating a birthday 3 days after major surgery. I think this card filled the bill under the circumstances.

I love the great color and pattern in the Dewey Decimal papers. The sentiments are by Stampendous (CRN033 TLC Blessing) and Hero Arts (CL139 Birthday Messages).

I had another birthday card to make last week which I was a few days tardy in delivering to my sweet friend, Kelly Marie! So I used her Check This Out stamp set along with the Year One set to make a belated birthday card with some more Dewey Decimal paper from the 6x6 paper pack.

There's a little assist by a Belinda's borders scallop stamp too!
(I can't remember which inks I used, so sorry.)

InLinkz.com

Here's some of my favorite memories from Scrapfest:

 How fun was it to look up and see these lovely ladies at my Make n Take table!

 Ava and Lin

 Barb and Virginia

 Judy and Barb

Kathy and Sheila

On Friday morning it was wonderful to see Barb, Ava, Linda and Kathy in my class. Also in class were Lin, Judy, Virginia and Sheila. It was nerve-wracking trying to get through 4 projects in 45 minutes, I'm afraid I failed miserably but everyone was very kind and gracious.

We posed for a photo after the class. 

From left: Linda, Kathy, Sheila (in front), Judy, Lin, Barb, Ava, me and Virginia

Britta introduced me to Fried Cheese Curds and I have one word for you: YUM!

I have another birthday card to share tomorrow but until then.....

"Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you."

Ephesians 4:32

blessings,

nancy