Stamp with Me!: Just Dance

Today is a rainy Monday, and unlike Karen Carpenter, I love rainy days and Mondays. Usually Monday is my "at home/catch up" day. So today I plan to do laundry, catch up on housework and other projects, stamp and cook some rice for the big dog. And while I don't like days and days and days of rain, a rainy, dreary day once in a while is fun. It's a "stay in your jammies, build a tent in the living room and read" day. I won't stay in my jammies, and probably won't build a tent (because the big dog would want to join me), but I may read if I get everything else done. I plan on staying home all day. Ah, bliss!! I can get so much done if I don't have to leave the house. No one here understands that. If they don't get out of the house at least once a day, they go stir crazy. Maybe it's a guy thing.

Speaking of reading...yesterday was my older brother's birthday - so now he's two years older than me! Really, it's only 14 months, but until September, when I tell people our ages, he's two years older. For his birthday, he got a Kindle. *sigh* One of these days...I'm just going to have to sneak it past my older son. He's a book junkie and isn't too fond of e-books. So I'm thinking I'll have to keep it hidden so I don't lose "mom of the year" points in his eyes. I want one because I can have instant "book gratification." No driving to the bookstore or waiting for a delivery. Just download and read. And it will be SO much easier to go on trips. I'll actually have room in my suitcase for clothes! Ah, well. Until I can convince myself it's a necessary purchase, I'll keep my local bookstore in business.

Here's a card I made using the Nature Walk set. I know, it was in the Occasions mini, so you can't buy it, right? But remember I use almost all current or "sneak peek" sets that you'll see in the new catalog, so ... well, I can't say any more, but that's a hint.

: Click on photo to view larger image.

Stamp sets: Nature Walk, Elements of Style; Ink: Early Espresso, Old Olive classic; Old Olive, Daffodil Delight, Blushing Bride, Early Espresso stampin' write markers; Paper: Naturals Ivory, Old Olive, Whisper White card stock; Newsprint, In Color patterns designer series paper; Other: Early Espresso/White baker's twine, metallic brads, Smooch paint - illuminating top coat, Early Espresso grosgrain ribbon, mat pack, paper piercing tool, decorative label punch, curly label punch, color spritzer tool, stampin' dimensionals

This is kind of a "use up those retiring designer paper scraps" collage background. I like the colors, but I'm not sure about the rest of it. Maybe it will grow on me.

Remember this card from the other day - with the music paper background and heart punch? I changed it and used the music notes wheel with Early Espresso ink for the background, and it looked much better. But then I had the earlier card base. So I added some butterflies and some dyed and ruffled seam binding that I had.

: Click on photo to view larger image.

Stamp set: Flight of the Butterfly; Ink: Pool Party, Old Olive, Perfect Plum, Elegant Eggplant classic; Perfect Plum, Old Olive stampin' write markers; Island Indigo, Lucky Limeade, Wisteria Wonder classic ink refills; Paper: Pool Party, Perfect Plum, Confetti Cream card stock; Newsprint designer series paper; Other: Very Vanilla seam binding, stampin' dimensionals, corner rounder punch, color spritzer tool, sponge, mini glue dots; sentiment stamp (not Stampin' Up!®. I know. *gasp!*)

I try to use all current Stampin' Up!® products on my blog, but I just had to use this sentiment. I can't dance. At all. Which is weird, because musically, my rhythm is great. But trying to get that rhythm into my feet - hopeless. Even after 5 years of ballet. So this sentiment really struck home with me! Other info about this card: don't you LOVE that seam binding? I had dyed it several weeks ago with leftover refill from a "streaky glass" project, so I used colors on the card to coordinate. With our seam binding, if you find a little thread in the center of the cut edge and pull, it ruffles up really nicely. (Tip: Make sure you either don't cut it before you start pulling, or tie a knot in the other end if it is cut, because eventually, the thread can pull out of the whole thing and you're back with flat ribbon minus one thread.)

The large butterfly is "kissed." I inked the solid butterfly stamp with Pool Party and the patterned one with Perfect Plum, kissed them together, then stamped. You can punch it with the butterfly punch, but I wanted it to be a little smaller, so I ended up cutting it out. There are actually two butterflies each; I cut them all out and layered them for a more 3-D look.

I had this card and the "do-over" card side by side on my stamp table, and you know what? The music on this paper and the music on the Music Notes wheel is the same music!! Just a little trivia for you.

I just figured out that blogging is the grown up version of building a tent in the living room. I guess I'd better get off here and get something done, though, so I'll get out of the tent for now! Have a wonderful day, and thanks for stopping in.