Simple

I like simple cards. I really do. I admire complicated ones, but I can't seem to do them. I lack the patience I think. And time. And the odd time I have managed to persevere and forge through, I didn't want to give it away. And I can only save so many cards. Besides, in a year or two, I'll hate it and want to throw it out, so really, I want to give away my cards and not hoard them since eventually, I'm likely to stop liking it.

At any rate, work is crazy busy and so I'll stop with the extraneous babbling and just post a picture of a simple card.

Baby, it's Cold Outside

The last of my paper pack layouts was a double layout. Very simple and plain, but I still really like how it turned out.

I'm still sick, so I'm just going to leave it at that.

Sledding

I was so excited when I ripped open this month's paper pack. It is Winterland by Fancy Pants and it had some gorgeous and very cute paper in it. Not cutsie cute which I am so not into, but just cute.

I was talking to some friends once about the difference between cutsie cute and cute and the best difference I could come up with is that I don't like cutsie cute but I like cute. I know, that's really helpful, but it is what it is.

I ordered brads to go along with the kit and after doing three pages, I realized that I hadn't actually used the brads, so I pushed on and worked at a way to incorporate them. And then it just came together.

The bottom two strips of paper are part of one page in the kit which has a variety of border type strips on it. The curved one is actually curved and I just arranged the pictures so they would go underneath the curve and follow the line. It made me feel like we were sliding down a hill.

The mittens at the top are part of the paper and I just punched holes for the brads and then sewed with embroidery floss over the lines of strings. In the end, I actually really liked how it turned out.

So Sweet

I had my quick cards class yesterday and it's always my goal to have my paper pack club ready to go at the same time since two of the ladies who come to class also do the paper pack club.

Unfortunately, I'm sick today and I really just wanted to stay in bed all day. With three kids, however, it didn't happen. I did still want to blog though, since I'm trying to make it a habit, so this is going to be a very brief post.


Except for the picture of the layout, this is pretty much it!

Tuxedo is the New Black

I'm always on a quest for the best black ink. I have a ton of variety: Staz On, Ancient Page, Versafine, Document, Memories ...

I think I like them, but really I don't. I'm fickle or picky I guess. I like my black to be, well, black. Really, really black. Not like it has already faded just after I stamped it black.

I don't really like Staz On. And it has a funny smell which I can't decide whether I love or I hate. I didn't really like Memories either, although I have no concrete reason why.

Currently, my go to black ink is Versafine Onyx Black. It is the blackest ink I've found. But you have to heat set it which is a pain. And I find it doesn't work really great on vellum and really slick surfaces since it is so wet. For that I've been using Ancient Page: Coal Black which has been pretty good and mostly lived up to my very high expectations. Which is why I was really disappointed to find out that I can't get reinkers for it anymore. Why not, I have no idea? Has Clearsnap discontinued it? Must be since my distributor carries the whole Clearsnap line, so I can't see them saying that they aren't going to stock their most popular reinker. Regardless of the reason, I was very sad.

So the search was on to replace my well-used Coal Black inkpad.

I have had a few customers order the Memento: Tuxedo Black ink pads and I thought I'd give it a try.

I love it. It's so black and it dries right away. Even on glossy cardstock. I've decided it is my new Go To Black!

Here is a card I made for my class today. Everything is stamped in the Tuxedo Black ink and it worked so well. I love it.


Of course, in the scan, it doesn't show up as dark, but you'll just have to take my word for it that it is the blackest black!

Update: I asked my distributor about the Ancient Page ink and they said that they have stopped carrying it due to slow sales. So, while not actually discontinued, if I can't get a reinker, then it might as well be discontinued to me. I'm really glad that I found another nice black.

Peace Pears

They say it takes 21 days to establish a new habit and I'm trying to make blogging a habit. So, this is day 4, right?? I'm hoping I make it to 21.

Truthfully, I think it's less of a habit thing and more of a I ran out of time thing. Or I don't have anything to show thing. But I'm working on both of those too, so hopefully I can do well this year.

This is a card I did for my December "Quick Cards" class. I really like this pear and haven't used it in awhile, so it was fun, along with an old technique: kissing. I stamped the Pear with Distress Ink and then stamped another stamp on the Pear so I got the texture. Very quick and easy.


The Pear is from "A Stamp in the Hand" and the script is "Hero Arts." I love that script stamp and use it a lot; I really think everyone needs a background script stamp.

I hold my Quick Cards class the first Thursday afternoon of each month. People are welcome to sign up for one or as an ongoing commitment. Let me know if you are interested!

Sisters

I did a second layout for my December paper pack club using the same Basic Grey "Picadilly" paper.

It was a rather quick layout, but I like how it came together. I really like that it could easily be used for other layouts with different paper and have a totally different look.