Monday, June 30, 2014

bloom with hope-seize the sketch #23

hey tracey, momma and friends old and new!

boy do i love being home for the summer!  i have spent some wonderful time in the woman cave just creating, thinking about creating, wondering what i'll create next...just being!  i should be working on my swaps for convention, however, lee ann's sketch for seize the sketch #23 caught my eye.  i have wanted to used the bloom with hope stamp set...and this is what i came up with:

 

i'm really digging the blendabilities!  i think i'm getting the hang of them, thanks to all of the great tutorials out there!  this card was pretty straight forward to make...again-gah-i had to fussy cut!...but only a little bit this time.  a little side note here-when the edges of my cutting are not perfect, i take a regular stampin' write black marker, and using the brush end, run it along the edge of the not so perfect cut to 'finish' the look.  i think this is a must to making your cutting look close to perfect!  also, this great tutorial from linda coughlin at the funkie junkie will show you how i made this great bow without wasting ribbon.

stamp sets:  bloom with hope, blooming with kindness
inks:  memento tuxedo black, crumb cake
blendabilities:  cherry cobbler, old olive, pumpkin pie
cardstock:  crumb cake, black, vanilla, cherry cobbler
embossing folder:  beautifully baroque
framelits:  labels collection
edgelits:  finishing touches
ribbon:  cherry cobbler seam binding

my dear friend laura, a stamping newbie, was here this evening getting some tips and techniques on cutting paper.  after i showed her a few other tidbits, she asked, "you're going to start up the stamping clubs, right?"  that simple question nudged me into thinking...am i ready to take a leap of faith with my stampin' up business?  i think i have been afraid to go past the hobbiest that i am because i'm afraid of failing.  i was really good at this ten years ago...and now for some reason or another, wonder if it will be different.  so i sit here tonight reminding myself that a leap of faith is a personal willingness to take a chance.  i have to trust my own strength and ability to handle whatever that leap may bring.  it may be different this time around, but maybe a better different and not a different i should be afraid of!  so i proclaim here and now, i am ready to take a chance at letting my dreams become my realities.  (whew!  that's exciting to say out loud!)  i'm excited to watch my business grow...as soon as i get back from convention, that is!

the academic author and professor at the university of south alabama, louise e. boone, wrote:  "don't fear failure so much that you refuse to try new things.  the saddest summary of life contains three descriptions:  could have, might have and should have."

thank you for stopping by...i appreciate you!

peace be with you









10 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. thank you so much, kelly! i appreciate you stopping by!

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  2. This is so beautiful and elegant! The flowers have such depth! Thanks for joining us at Seize the Sketch!

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  3. What a beautiful card Leslie. I really like the EF. I am guessing blendabilities are like copics. We only have one go around in life, don't let uncertainty stop you from doing something you want to try. At age 42 I returned to college and graduated at 49 and never in my wildest dreams did I think I could accomplish that. You won't know if you don't try. I love to share the saying "what will happen if I don't." Carry on.

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    1. thank you, babs, for your compliments and words of wisdom! you are certainly an inspiration...and i, too, will love to share the words, "what will happen if i don't". thanks again for your kindness-blessings to you!

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  4. What a gorgeous card! Love the elegance of it and the colours you used. Really nice work, Leslie! Thanks for joining us at Seize the Sketch!

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    1. thank you so much, lesley! i appreciate your kind words...thanks for taking the time to stop by!

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  5. This is just beautiful! I love the colors and the fabulous design. Perfect!

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