Hi Everyone.
Happy Saturday. It's very rare that I get to play along with Mojo Monday's challenges. Generally I only get to craft on Sunday and it's too late to enter their challenges. However, as I got to craft on Thursday and Friday, I was able to play along this week and it was a great week to play along as I love the idea of the tall and skinny sketch. Here's the sketch:
I looked at the circular image and knew that I had just the right stamp set to use – it's a brand new one called Big Day and it's one of the free Sale-A-Bration sets that you can order starting Tuesday 1/6!
As part of my pre-order I also added some of the chalkboard cardstock to my basket and love the matte feel and look of it. It works perfectly with white embossing ink and embossing powder. To get the look of a dusty chalkboard, I ran my embossing buddy over the focal image once I had finished heat setting the emossed sentiment. 🙂
For the horizontal element, I took out some of my Bermuda Bay card stock and ran it through my Big Shot with the Chevron Textured Embossing folder and placed it on my card base ensuring that the arrows pointed towards the sentiment. The Confetti Celebration DSP was just the thing that I needed for the two banners behind the sentiment. Of course, I had to finish it off with a little bit of sequin bling!
Here's my card:
I really think the sketch works well with a skinner than normal card. My card is 5 1/2" long by 3 3/4" wide. I popped the circular sentiment layer on to dimensionals just to give it a little lift from the card base.
On a personal note:
It's hard to believe that we have to go back to work on Monday. We've only been on vacation for two weeks, but it has been so relaxing that it has felt much longer than that. It was wonderful to get away and it has also been wonderful to just have fun in my craft room. I haven't actually done that since September. Yes, I've been in my craft room, but generally to make just the cards that I needed for my design team challenges and a few cards for my blog. I haven't actually had the time to just sit in there and craft for the sheer joy of it.
Taking a break from crafting over the last couple of weeks has also helped. Sometimes, we just need to get away from doing things because we have to, in order to help get us get back into doing something because we want to. If only it was the same way with housework!!!! :-) Mmm… talking about that…. housework is on the list of things to do tomorrow!
I'm guessing that some of you may have made some New Year resolutions? I did. One of those resolutions was to only buy the crafting goodies that I REALLY wanted to play with and to clear out any sets that I bought because I thought I should. I've really enjoyed playing with the few sets that I bought as part of the pre-order and it emphasized for me how important it is to really love something before buying it.
Another crafting resolution I made was to use up some of the goodies that I have – or to get rid of them. For me, the more goodies I have to look at, the more confused I become and the more guilty I feel because they are sitting looking at me and I'm not using them! Does anyone else feel like that?
I've also resolved to spend more time looking after myself this year. Working 12-14 hour days is something that I probably won't be able to change this year, unless I am one of the people affected by the upcoming cuts. Yes. More cuts!
But… one thing I can change is to better schedule my crafting time and my blogging time. Right now it can take me between 1.5 and 2 hours to make each card. Why it takes that long I have no idea.. but it does. So, to make a card for a blog post every day means that I have to spend 10-14 hours over the weekend making cards just to have enough cards to post. Then it takes me about an hour to prep the photos and do a blog post everytime I post. So, to post every day means that I spend between 17-21 hours per week getting a blog post out.
I blog because I love sharing what I have learned and hoping to inspire my readers with a sketch or color scheme. I also love being able to share a little piece of the nature that we have surrounded ourselves with. I also blog because I have met some incredible people here in cyberland and, between us, we have donated THOUSANDS of cards to worthy charities over the last few years.
Many people who blog regularly do it because they have a business and their business is selling crafting goodies to us all and the effort they expend putting out a blog post and creating projects is part of their business model and I totally get it. But I don't blog because it's my business – I blog because of the reasons I have already described :-) I also like to try to create a place where my blog readers feel connected to other readers of my blog. I like to try to create a place where people are not bombarded with "buy from me" and "special offers"… but to try to create a place where my blog readers can take a few minutes out of their day with a cup of coffee/tea and – hopefully – be a little inspired.
So, why am I telling you all this? Does it mean that I am stopping blogging? No. definitely not. I just tell you this to let you know why I blog and to ask your forgiveness when there are times that I cannot blog everyday. I do try to blog 4-5 times per week and am generally good about that unless something happens (like an impromtu trip!). I will continue to do that and will continue to try to share with you the sights from our window.
I appreciate all of my blog readers and I especially appreciate those of you who have been with me for several years, who comment or send me emails and those of you who have participated in the card drives for charities. YOU are the reason that I continue to do this as often as I do – and YOU are the reason why I will continue to blog this year. THANK YOU!
I'll be back tomorrow with my Paper Players card where we will have the first designs from our new new design team members and guest designers … and the return of our fabulous Anne-Marie who has been on a crafting hiatus! In the meantime, warm hugs and prayers for those of you who need a little lift tonight.
Hugs
Jaydee
Card recipe – all ingredients Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted:
- Card stock: Bermuda Bay. Chalkboard
- Inks: White and white embossing powder
- DSP: Confetti Celebration
- Tools: Big Shot – Chevrons embossing folder
- Accessories: sequins – from stash
9 Responses
I really enjoyed reading your blog today. I have been following you for more than 3 years and the reason I do is that you are not trying to sell me something. Your cards are inspirational to me. I use Stampin’ Up products and enjoy seeing how you use the products. Also I love reading about your life by the wetlands, birds, animals, travels, decorating your home and your cats. Do hope you are not one of your companies layoffs. Take care and the best to your and hubby for wonderful 2015.
Love the card!
Have been thinking about similar things in the past couple of weeks!
Best wishes for a comfortable transition into your work week!
I always look forward to reading your blog. It comes late at night and I am a night owl, so I look for it almost every night. I like your style. Your work is unique. I also love the pictures of your wetland and the birds and animals who gather there, as well as the cats who are official members of your household. I also have been following you about 3 years so I have gradually come to know a little bit about you and I like what I find out. I think I buy stamps partly because I admire what I see others do with them and sometimes I think I’d be happy just looking at blogs, never stamping. For sure I’d get a lot more stamping done if I didn’t spend so much time looking at the beautiful or clever art others make. Keep blogging when you can and have a good 2015.
JayDee, What a wonderful blog post today. I do so enjoy seeing your blog in my email every morning (or most mornings). I appreciate your willingness to share your love of stamping with me. I also enjoy seeing what is in your yard and how you decorate your home. Thanks for sharing yourself with me. Hugs and Giggles to you and have a great day.
Dear Jay Dee,
I think Pam said it all best for me! I appreciate what you do on your blog — your cards, photos, stories, caring for others, and the fact that you do not try to sell us products. I have been a Stampin’ Up stamper since 1996 and you can imagine how much “stuff” I have. It’s too hard to purge, but this is the year I will do so. I have been rediscovering old stamps and having fun. I love to keep up with your wildlife because I have much of the same here, and I so love your home. I am in awe of you and Lou and your travels. Thanks for continuing what you do! Nancy B
I love reading your blog when it is available and I really do appreciate your honesty. I don’t know how you do as much as you do. I too love your style and seeing what you create. If you are only able to post once a week or once a month, I would still follow your blog. And again, it is just not the cards you post but also the pictures. I love seeing all that surrounds your wonderful home and property. So, know that we love you and appreciate all that you do. It is best if you take care of yourself and organize your time to what suits you and your needs. Blessings in the new year and I wish good health and happiness to both you and Lou.
Thank you for this post today. I will take your posts anytime you post. You are always so informative and your cards are a thing of beauty. I enjoy your outside posts and the beauty of your home and decorations. The best to you and Lou in the new year. I am still waiting for a photo of your outside Christmas tree in the snow! You do have it don’t you?!
Ditto on Pam’s note today. I look forward to your daily, weekly or whenever your write. I also want to reiterate that I love your cards, your home, the wetlands, and your cats!
It really relaxes me to read what you write and please, be sure to take care of yourself and husband Lou. Hope your company’s cutbacks don’t affect you.
Thanks again for a great blog.
Thank you for another wonderful post Jaydee! I am relieved that you are not stopping (I worried for a moment) as you have created a wonderful place here in cyberland; a place where your readers can find inspiration both from you (the Queen of CAS) and from each other. I still think often of your early readers who are no longer with us and how when I opened your newest post it felt as if we were all gathered around a table enjoying tea and laughter. I don’t often get a chance to comment these days (long days at work, planning my DD’s wedding, a puppy and adjusting to a mostly empty nest takes a lot of energy)but, I do get to enjoy your posts. Please know that the time you spend creating and writing for us is not wasted–you mean a lot to a lot of people.
Love and Hugs to you, Lou and the purr babies.