Some Love for StampinUp and Discussion of The Different

Given my recent Hero Arts kick (OMG, the new catalog!), I decided to post a StampinUp card today. We can't have all my SU sets feeling all sad, neglected, and sorry for themselves at Christmas.

As part of my resolution to use all my stamp images, I recently pulled out Stay Tuned, an old set of 50s television and radio images. I bought it at the same time I bought Mix and Mingle (toaster, upright mixer, blender, etc.). The only reason these two sets got added to my stash was that they were DIFFERENT. I eventually learned to wait a few months to order stamps that are just DIFFERENT to make sure I really, really wanted them and would use them. Hence all the sticky notes in my new catalog. If I still want some of them in a few months, I'll buy them. I do the same thing with the SU catalog in July.

Here's the best card I made with Stay Tuned.



It's actually a bit better IRL because the radio is embossed in clear EP, so it's shiny, like the old bakelite radios. The radio was stamped on a scrap of white and cut out. I used a craft knife to cut the antenna out first, then used CutterBee scissors for the rest. The oval is my first AMuse stamp ever (I also got the small oval). Those two stamps are SUPER for grounding images.

Back to the idea of buying stamps because they are different. When you have as many stamps as I have, you may start to feel like everything you see is old hat. "Oh, I have a flower set similar to that one.... I could substitute this leaf/cupcake/greeting/Christmas tree I already have and make a card that looks just like this one with the latest and greatest from Acme Stamps."

When this is your mentality, you're vulnerable to exploitation by The Different. Stay Tuned and Mix and Mingle are not exactly my style. They were just different from everything else I had. I find them hard to use. Now that I've used the images in Stay Tuned, I'll probably put it in the basement for 6 months, not use it, and then take it to the ebay store to sell. So sad.

Simplicity Wisdom: Sometimes, The Different is wonderful. Sometimes, The Different is just, well, different. Learn to tell the difference, and you can save yourself money, time, and energy.

And now for something different. Merry Christmas Eve! The best gift I've received all year is the gift of your support for this blog. Thank you ever so much!

Supplies
stamps: SU Stay Tuned, Amuse oval
ink: SU only orange; Palette noir; Colorbox turquoise pigment
cardstock: PTI white, SU turquoise
accessories: dimensionals, black half-beads, clear embossing powder