The Problems of Size

If you clicked on this title expecting something naughty, you’re my people. We English majors see Christ figures and phallic symbols in everything. 

But alas, the problems of size for today’s post both relate to craft supplies. Sorry to disappoint. 

I cannot be the only stamper who has bought supplies (especially online) thinking they were one size and been surprised when opening them. For instance, I bought the Spellbinders Splatter White opaque watercolor. The jar looked quite large in the photo at Simon Says, but it turned out to be a tiny little jar and only about a third full. Not sure if that’s normal, but it is what it is.

Such was also the case with this Sizzix vase and branch set of dies, only in reverse. The package made the dies look smaller, but my, was I deceived!

I really like the stone wall embossed backdrop but do wish I’d put a shelf or something to support the vase. Nevertheless, it’s a striking card, cheerful and pretty!

There’s another problem of size we stampers have…the size of our stash. Too big, and we struggle more with organization and overwhelm than productivity. Too small, and we get frustrated and feel limited when we see such lovely work on social media, blogs, ads, and Pinterest. Each stamper has a different setting for the perfect balance, but as our skills and tastes change, so must our stash. 

As the saying goes, sometimes collecting product and using product are two VERY different hobbies. 

I’ve been collecting lots of new product lately. And it’s been fun playing and experimenting. But overwhelm is setting in, and so I have put an empty bin under my table. As I use products, some aren’t making my cut and go straight into the bin. In the not-to-distant future, I should be selling some grab boxes here. 

If you are feeling frustrated and limited by your “too small” stash, perhaps you’d like to keep an eye out for my offerings. People have NEVER expressed disappointment with my grab boxes; they are excellent deals. The best deals. You’ve never seen deals like mine. Nobody is as great as I am at making deals. Grab my boxes all you want. 

Ugh. It’s laugh or cry.

Mercy, grace, peace, and love,

Susan

Sometimes Black and White Is a Good Combo; Sometimes It’s a Logical Fallacy

I’ve been working on some essays for a book, and my latest addresses the logical fallacy of black-and-white thinking, sometimes called the either-or fallacy. This flaw in logic pretends that there are only two exclusive options for thoughts or actions in a given situation. 

For instance, artificial intelligence is EITHER a sign of the coming apocalypse OR offers up only good opportunities to humanity. These polarized positions engender particularly insidious oversimplifications of a complex and messy technology. (My essay covers more political examples, but Simplicity by Lateblossom isn’t the right space for politics, generally speaking.) 

But you can find all sorts of examples of this polarization and oversimplification of complex problems in the United States. They are common as dirt and just as welcome in my house. 

For crafty concerns, however, this blog, which has been around since 2009, has based its very existence on  minimalism, an extreme that contrasts quite nicely with the maximalism of products and styles available to us. Simplicity was a response to what I saw as less and less space in the crafty community for appreciation of basics, not a “down with maximalism” rallying cry. Most of us celebrate the differences in style and encourage each other to do whatever floats our boats…even if it’s not our thing. 

You do you!

If politics ran this way instead of pushing polarization ever harder, the world would be a much better place. Less fallacious and more free. 

Happy belated Independence Day!  

Our cards today celebrate the simplicity of black and white. As color schemes and fallacies go, it’s not really a favorite*, but I saw some black-and-white cards on Pinterest and felt compelled to experiment. Both cards are very old-school: ink and paper, no fancy techniques or embellishments needed. 

First up, an Altenew poppy outline and a very old Papertrey sentiment. The background is a wood-mounted stamp from Hero Arts.

Next, we have a cling rubber stamp from Tim Holtz, sentiment from Papertrey, and background from somewhere…it’s not labeled. 

These were fun and quick to make, especially after my recent over-the-top birdhouse card, which was also fun but not at all quick.

Vive le différence!

Mercy, grace, peace, and love,

“Professor” Susan

*My favorite fallacy is ad misericordiam, the appeal to pity. As in, “Professor Susan**, my goldfish died and my car wouldn’t start and then I got the flu. Can I please have an extension for the paper that was due last week?” Can I? How about may I? In one week, I had five—yes FIVE—students in one class claim flat tires as an excuse for absences. The alleged flats occurred in different parts of Dayton and the surrounding area. I asked, thinking there might have been a box of nails dropped on I-75.

Years ago, in a single semester, I received a doctor’s note written on veterinary stationery AND four students lost their grandmothers. 

What I wanted to say: “I’m sorry for your loss. Please read your syllabus for the late work policy.”  Honestly, I’m not heartless and will always err on the side of compassion, but seriously?

**I’m not a professor (just an adjunct instructor trying now to become a full-time instructor), but when using the appeal to pity, students give me a promotion to distract from their lies. <insert eye roll here>

Adorable ‘Shrooms, and Thanks, Priya!

First off, many thanks to reader Priya! She sent a lovely package of cards for Karen’s Cards. Bless you, Priya, for sharing your awesome talent with our church!

If you’re interested in donating to Karen’s Cards, we ALWAYS need sympathy, get well, and thinking of you cards. Right now, we’re also running low on birthday cards.

These cute little mushroom dies from Poppy Stamps make me so happy. They are colored with Simon Says Pawsitively Saturated Ink and blending brushes, with white gel pen dots. The embossed panel (folder by Simon Says as well) was a left-over from another card. 

I hope you are all having a great summer and a safe Independence Day weekend. Toward the end of this month, George and I are heading to Mackinaw City, Michigan. He’s swimming across the Mackinaw Straits…about 4.25 miles. I will be either relaxing with a good book or prepping classes for the fall semester. I’ve applied for a full-time teaching job. If I don’t get that job, I’m already on schedule to teach two online classes, which will require minimal preparation. I’m adding videos to those classes, though, and that will be fun!

George and I had planned to travel to Germany, Switzerland, and northern Italy this fall, which is why I signed up for online classes in my adjunct job, but we had to cancel our trip because a family member has started treatment for pancreatic cancer. If you are the praying type, she would very much appreciate extra prayers. 

I hate cancer so much. 

Mercy, grace, peace, and love,

Susan

LBBs and Snowy Stickles

Today’s card is much busier than my usual efforts, but ohmygosh, these winter robins from Hero Arts are just sooooo cute!

To make this card, I stamped and colored the birdhouse, and then on scrap paper, I stamped and colored the birds, and diecut them. Instead of the usual robin markings, these two tweeters are LBBs…little brown birds. My uncle Herb was a biology professor at UNC-Greensboro and specialized in ornithology. Often, LBBs are hard to identify, especially if they are flitting around, as LBBs are wont to do. 

It’s nice to know that even the experts have a hard time identifying birds sometimes. 

The Stickles created a lovely, sparkly snow, and the sweater embossing folder adds warmth and texture. 

Mercy, grace, peace, and love,

Susan

Why Shading Matters

So I recently took advantage of a pretty awesome sale at Hero Arts, buying quite a few sets for steep discounts. Most of the stamps I bought are outline images for coloring because I need to make my investment in Copic markers worthwhile. This has been, well, an interesting experiment with very mixed results.

Today’s first card reflects a lazy approach to Copic coloring using very little shading (okay, basically no shading at all)…and the result is predictably flat. I even added a bit of white gel pen to try to liven it up, but meh. At least the layout works for me.

The second card is definitely more vibrant and fun although I’m just not sure about the brick-a-brac ground. The card also seems too top-heavy to make me truly happy.

The third card makes me happier! The color palette is definitely autumnal (and very appropriate for the mushrooms), and the cream card base (instead of white) helps, too. I stamped the outlines in Memento dark brown, which played nicely with the Copics. Also, the layout works better for me than the second card. 

So what did I learn here?

1. Outline stamps like these, with thick lines, are easier to color and shade than thin-lined images.

2. Shading really does make images more appealing and pleasing to the eye, but no amount of shading will compensate for a poor layout or color choice.

3. I really dislike punny sentiments.

More Copic-colored Hero cards to come. 

Why does that sound like a threat instead of a promise?

Mercy, grace, peace, and love,

Susan

Winner! Winner!

The randomly selected winner of the Copic/Hero Arts giveaway is Kay Taillon, who very kindly commented on Facebook:

Love your clean & simple cards!  Your cards have increased my joy in making cards by showing me it doesn’t have to be ornate and fussy.  Thanks for introducing me to CAS years ago!

It’s always exciting when a long-time reader wins something! Kay, please send me your snail-mail address at susanraihala at roadrunner dot com, and I’ll get your goodies out to you ASAP.

Many thanks to all of you who participated!

Another fun Hero Arts set was used to make this highly subversive card. Peace, love, and pink are not exactly what we’re hearing about in the news. But each one of us cardmakers knows that we are motivated by loving-kindness, the pure joy of creating order out of chaos (if your craft space is anything like mine!), and the desire to lift others up. 

Honestly, I don’t know enough about the situation with Iran and Israel and the U.S. to have an opinion on recent events,  and it’s unlikely either side would be moved to peace by a daisy stuck in its missile launchers. 

What I do know is that my faith requires me to leave the world a better place than it was: to visit the sick, feed the hungry, give voice to the voiceless, do all the good I can with what I have where I am, and most importantly of all, LOVE God, my neighbor, and myself. A million different acts of love and kindness won’t make the news, but they are being done every single minute by people just like you and me all over the world.   

That’s the vibe I want to resonate with. 

In the comments, please share something good you’ve done for someone or that’s been done to/for you in the last few days. 

I’ll go first. I can’t get into specifics, but several people have come to me recently in need of more than a hug. I’ve been able to hook them up with Stephen Ministers, who will walk with them through their troubles for as long as they are needed. I thank God for the people who serve as Stephen Ministers, who receive extensive training and commit to caring a level above the norm. 

What about you?

Mercy, grace, peace, and love,

Susan

I Like Birds

Have you seen the movie A Big Year? It stars Steve Martin, Owen Wilson, and Jack Black, and it follows the three characters as they compete against each other for a big year—the race to see as many birds in North America as possible. The winner gets glory in the birding community, but no fortune. I highly recommend the film!

While I’m nowhere near obsessed with birds, I do enjoy watching them on our Netview Birdfy bird feeder. The feeder has a motion-activated camera and shoots 20-second videos. (Not compensated for this mention, just a happy customer.) Occasionally the videos show our boys mowing the grass or the dogs playing or an occasional chipmunk, but mostly we get a wide rage of birds.

Today’s cards use the Simon Says Spring Birds stamps and dies. 

These stylized bird images—colored with Copics—appeal to me for so many reasons. They are cute as can be, easy to color, easy to die cut, and easy to design into CAS designs. A win-win-win-win in my book!

Several of my friends are scared of birds. Are you? 

Mercy, grace, peace, and love,

Susan