Inky Stamps and Bling

I love heart stamps, and last year I bought an old Simon Says Stamp set of graduated sizes of hearts in solid and outline forms. 

It’s a new favorite and so very useful. 

Cards like these give me a chance to use my many Simon Says ink pads. I find at times that dies have somewhat taken over my crafting, and as a result I bought the Simon blending brushes in all the colors to make coloring die cuts easier. 

While I certainly enjoy the variety of techniques we can do with ink, there’s something to be said for old-school stamping. With bling. Always with bling.

Mercy, grace, peace, and love,

Susan

Shimmer and Sparkle

Last year, I bought a new product to replace an old product I used up. 

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May I rant for a bit? I’m going to rant. If you prefer to keep your new year positive, skip down to below the second line. I don’t want to yuck on anyone’s yum this year. But I gotta say this. 

When companies come out with a product I love, say, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist Dazzling Diamonds, they should never, under any circumstances, discontinue it, be bought out, or go out of business. Such losses disrupt my bliss, and I need my bliss. We ALL need our bliss. And if we can’t find bliss in our crafty spaces, well, then how the heck are we supposed to find it?

Outside these sacred creative spaces, people can be mean, crazy, or act like the whole world revolves around them and their petty tragedies. Check out this video of a woman being schooled by a restauranteur: Funny Video. What the video shows us is that people get upset about the most ridiculous of things and blow them out of proportion. After all, the lady could have just informed the staff politely that she got the wrong order and the staff would have replaced the problem fries with the correct fried. Seriously! Why get so upset?

Waaaaaait a minute. 

Am I being like the lady in the video? Am I assuming the whole world of paper craft products should revolve around me and my needs?!?!? Oh no.

Oh, no.

Oh, noooooooo!

Six months ago, I realized that my bottle of Tattered Angels was basically empty, and I tried to order a replacement. None to be found at any of my regular suppliers or brick-and-mortar shops, and the Tattered Angels website didn’t work. (I’ve since learned that you can buy the old Tattered Angels products at Canvas Corp Brands, if you’re interested.)

After sitting in a fit of pique for a few weeks—but no angry emails to thetatteredangels.com defunct website—I found Imagine’s Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray in Sparkle at Marco’s Paper brick-and-mortar store. 

Bliss restored.

And the moral of the story is this: don’t get mad. Find a substitute. There’s always a substitute. And if there’s not, say a prayer for the people who lost their jobs and move on with your life because there are things way worse than losing a crafty produce. 

And the second moral is this: on occasion, you’re going to get mad, fall into a pique, feel irritated or whatever you want to call it because we can’t necessarily control what emotions bubble up from our subconscious. You may not be able to control your emotions that bubble up, but you CAN and SHOULD control your words and actions because you are a grown-a** adult. Don’t be stupid. People have video on their phones, folks, and you’re gonna be embarrassed forever if your stupid ends up on the internet and random bloggers keep linking to your stupid. Sheesh. Was it worth it?

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Added some higlights to my ancient holly 
And berries punch with a Sakura Stardust pen.

So the Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray works great as a substitute for the Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist. The new snowflake embossing folders I bought at Marco’s work great, too. 

So I made this year’s Stephen Ministry ornaments (handed out at church to remind people that the holidays aren’t always jolly for everyone) using the new spray. Worked great!

Mercy, grace, peace, and love in a season of hope,

Susan

Another Year, Yadda, Yadda

 In the past, I’ve waxed poetic on the new year, resolved to achieve all sorts of idealistic goals, chosen a word, embarked on fitness and nutrition “journeys,” yadda, yadda. 

Not this year. Nope. Expectation is the mother of disappointment, and so I’m lowering my expectations for the year. 

Lower. 

A bit lower.

Almost there.  [Said in the voice I use to tell George he’s halfway through a marathon. He usually wants to unalive me when I say that.]

Keep going lower.

Any expectations left? No? 

Good.

I’ve always been an optimist, but a few years ago, I read a book on stoicism and decided that while I came out of the womb a “glass is not just half full but refillable” optimist, I might want to temper that optimism with a spot of realism. 

So here are my “realistic” resolutions for 2026:

I will do some stuff. Some stuff will be useful, some frivolous, some fun, some not so fun, some likely rather painful, but there will be stuff done.

I will write some stuff. Some stuff I write will be useful, some frivolous, some fun, some not so fun, some likely rather painful, but there will be stuff written, even if it’s just grocery lists.

I will create some stuff, even if no one cares. 

I will love some stuff and some people. I will offer grace, peace, and a sympathetic ear because I’m wired that way. 

I will hate some people and some stuff. I will hate myself for this, but as long as students turn in AI-generated essays, I will hate. I will keep open the possibility that quitting teaching is a good thing, and I will hate myself for that, too. 

I will say yes to some stuff. There will be consequences, some good and some bad. 

I will say no to some stuff. There will be consequences, some good and some bad. 

I will do my best, even if my best isn’t the best because I’m a human. I will beat myself up, but not as badly as before because I’m learning.

I will continue to learn, unlearn, be right, be wrong, get excited, get frustrated. Because life is that way. 

I think that’s enough. Can you relate?

And now for birthday cards. Karen’s Card Shop is critically low on birthday cards and somewhat low on sympathy and get well cards. I pulled out some pretty designer paper that’s been gathering dust in a closet and made a bunch of cards. Here are a few. 

I have found that my style of cards doesn’t sell well in the shop, so I’m trying to stretch into more colored card stock and less white space. But not always. These made me rather happier than I thought they would!

Last night, we celebrated with friends as usual, only this time I won the Fruit Ninja tournament handily. The tall guy in the middle usually wins. 

Aria the friendly kitty photo-bombed us.

This morning’s mood,
despite the opening of this post.

And as for New Year’s Day, 2026, I wish you a peaceful one full of love and compassion and crafty goodness. 

Mercy, grace, peace, and love,

Susan

Wildflower Cuttings in Three Cards

A few months ago, I splurged at Simon Says because my husband had splurged on something or other, and I told him we needed to keep things fair. He agreed. 

He knows what’s good for him. 

Included in that order was Simon Says Wildflower Cuttings, which I liked because of their loose, sketchy style. My first two cards have a very similar vibe, very LateBlossomy. 

The third card takes a different approach, which I adore for its monochromatic harmony.

I have a bit of a problem. Perhaps one of you might help?

Several ladies at church are downsizing their craft supplies and have given me boxes and boxes of stamps. Most are wood-mounted rubber, rather old and not at all my style (think early 2000s cutesy). I won’t be able to mail them anywhere (so many heavy boxes!) and need to know what to do with them. I live in the Dayton, OH, area, and do not have time or energy to sort these stamps. 

I am considering taking them to Salvation Army and being done with them, but what do you think? Any other suggestions for my area? 

Thanks in advance!

Mercy, grace, peace, and love,

Susan

Flower Dies from Simon Says and Update

 Simon Says Stamp released a bunch of really pretty flower dies this year, and I confess to splurging on them. Let’s take a look at a few of them!

First up, the buttercups colored with Copic markers and placed on an embossed circle.

Second, a background made with Distress ink and water spatters highlights the Cosmos Duo dies. A bit of Stickles on the sentiment strip and flower centers adds a bit of sparkle.

The Delicate Wildflowers dies were colored with my new set of blending brushes (also from SSS). The background is embossed with a script folder.

Finally, we have the Sunrise Stem die, similarly colored with SSS inks and blending brushes, embellished with some bling and a textured embossed background. 

So much fun and all going to Karen’s Card Shop!

News Since my Last Post, If You’re Interested

Well, I did not get the full time teaching job but do have three classes this term. I’m fine with that.

My mother-in-law passed away suddenly. She was battling pancreatic cancer. I’m not fine with that. Not at all. 

I preached my sermon on care, and if you’d like to see it, check out THIS LINK. The experience was both meaningful and fun, but Pastor Joe watched and noted my southern accent came out. I’m fine with that. 

Mercy, grace, peace, and love,

Susan

Purple and Some Chit-Chat

Purple appeals to me on many levels, so it’s a mystery why I use it so rarely. This monochromatic birthday card is just darling! 

The Stickles on the bowl gives a hint of frosty shine to the card, and coloring was done with Copics.

George swam the Mackinac Bridge faster than anticipated, and he gave me a thumb’s up sign afterwards. The finisher medal is super cool: a piece of the actual bridge, acquired when bits of the bridge were replaced. 

Being his support for this event was a piece of cake after being his Iron Sherpa through a bunch of Ironman races. First off, there was no bike tire pump to carry around during the swim and no sticky, sweaty bike to retrieve from T2 (the second transition area) and roll back to the hotel. Second, while our day did start early, George finished the swim around 9:45 a.m. His last Ironman in 2016 started even earlier and ended around 9:45 p.m. 

THAT was a long day.

And here’s a random Lily picture. How this dog sleeps in these weird positions is beyond me. If I sleep even a little awkwardly, I struggle for the whole day. Dogs are much bendier than humans…especially middle-age humans. 

Mercy, grace, peace, and love,

Susan

Merry and Bright…With Some Crazy Thrown In

Our card for today is a Christmas card I made last December and never posted, which is weird because I love its aggressive minimalism. 

This cool color scheme and the expanse of white feel very authentic for me and makes me so very happy. Hopefully, its recipient will feel the same!

George and I are currently in Mackinaw City, Michigan. He’s going to swim the Mackinac Bridge tomorrow (Saturday), along with several hundred other crazy people. 

He’s crazy. But not as crazy as when he did the Ironman races. 

We’ve had a lot going on in the past two weeks. We got new carpet, which was LONG overdue, and the new lighter color has transformed our finished basement. 

Yay! The dirt-colored carpet is history, and now we need to paint the house interior so the walls and trim look as fresh as our new carpet!

Also, I will not be considered for the full-time teaching job at my college, but I WILL teach three classes this fall. I’m happy. 😃 

Mercy, grace, peace, and love,

Susan