Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Birthday Buttons and Guilt

Let's start with the good news. I adore this birthday buttons card. It uses Memento Pear Tart ink, which is just about my favorite new thing ever. If I had favorites. Which I don't. But still.



This card uses PTI's Turning a New Leaf, PTI's buttons, PTI's white cardstock, and PTI's Paper Tray sentiment set. The white embroidery thread in the buttons, the Memento ink, the corner rounder, and the glue dots that hold the buttons to the card are not from PTI. But that's not my fault. I love PTI. And this monochromatic card makes me happy. Very happy. I sure hope it makes you happy, too.

Someone was asking about visual triangles. The buttons are arranged in a visual triangle. If you connect them with lines, they form a triangle, right? That gives the whole design a sense of balance and harmony. I did that on purpose. GO ME!

Now for the bad news. I'm feeling so very strapped for time right now. My commenting on other people's blogs and in the gallery at SCS has slipped to next to nothing. In the last two days, I've read about 180 blog posts that had backed up in my Google reader. Needless to say, very few got comments. I am consumed with guilt over this. Epic guilt. So many of you leave such nice comments on my blogs and in my gallery, and I'm not returning the favor. It isn't that I don't love you, or your art, or that I'm not looking. It's just that life is really, really busy right now.

For all of you who visit Simplicity and don't comment (there are HUNDREDS of you every single day *giggle*), I want you to know I understand. Truly. The fact that you came at all means a lot to me.

For those who do comment...you bless me in so many ways you'll never know and that I can't even articulate without requesting that you all take insulin first. My articulation would be that sappy and sugary and sweet. Just know that you're the reason I post pretty much every single day. You keep me going when things are tough.

Now, I'm off to stamp something to share with you tomorrow. Because right now, I got nothin'. But I sketched several ideas from other blogs yesterday that I just have to try....

Have a lovely, creative day!

35 comments:

  1. I've ordered this stamp set from PTI...feels like it is taking such a long time to get to me in Australia...and I ordered it purely because I LOVE what you do with it!!!

    Thank you for posting every day, I love that you do...and I love that you post in my evening, I always get little Simplicity inspiration just before I go to bed :)

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  2. I feel your pain.....I have been so busy and have had no time for much the last few weeks....I feel a bit of withdrawal or is it just tiredness??
    hugs....

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  3. For what it's worth - I would much rather be greeted by one of your posts in my reader in the morning than see a comment on my blog!

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  4. I am one of the guilty ones that comes to your blog each day and and am amazed at your work! I am sorry that I do not comment as much as I should but please know that I enjoy all of your designs.

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  5. Take that guilt off your back and toss it away! You're dealing with "stuff" daily and still bringing us inspiration,humor,and delightful reading (except for maybe the butterfly "gaseous emmisions" HA! Don't worry, be happy.

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  6. This is lovely, Susan! Your blog is a highlight of my mornings! I have to dash off somewhere early (for me!) this morning--but not before I checked your blog for my dose of beauty!

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  7. Hey - NO GUILT!!! this blogging stuff is supposed to be fun!! do what you need to do to make it that way!! we just want you to keep posting cards every day!! Yeah!! and I do love this card and it's button visual triangle!!!

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  8. Thanks for this clean and lovely card idea, and also the mind jog to think in triangles for balance! Blessings on you and your dear men today!

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  9. Seems to me that a hobby (card making, blogging etc) should be fun and not add stress to your day. You are very dedicated and post wonderful, wonderful cards (and I know you have other blogs, too!). Anyway, don't let yourself feel too guilty - I hope you find a good balance, so that you'll keep wanting to inspire us wannabe's! PS - I'm on the 3rd round of a wedding shower card - I couldn't even CASE one well enough to make me happy- as I was working, I was thinking to myself " I bet this never happens to Late Blossom", but maybe it does?

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  10. Don't beat yourself up - none of us have the time we'd like to comment on ALL of the inspiring things we see in "blogland". As long as you have a handle on the important things in life all the rest of it is lagniappe, right? BTW - this card is yet another example of how you seem to effortlessly make one-layer cards!

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  11. Love, love, LOVE this one! PTI is one of my favorite stamp places. Thanks for helping me start each morning with a smile.

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  12. Of course, Ardyth, I get stuck on cards all the time. Sometimes they come together easily (as this one did) and other times they absolutely DO NOT come together at all! Y'all only get to see the ones I'm willing to show to the world, LOL!

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  13. UT! OH! Spring has sprung with the multitude of chores that seem to piggy-back when Summer in a household with little kids is approaching.

    So if you take days away from the Blog now and then, we'll surely understand and survive it. Having found you in the first place is enough to keep me busy for days on end, just practicing what I've learned from you.

    I cherish your time and wish I lived close enough to pay it back by doing some chores like demoulding the bedroom set for you. I'm much better at demolishing than I am at creating.

    Today's card is another BEST, by the way. Just yesterday I ordered Through the Trees, and then I went to The Kitchen Sink and got lured by Pear Tart ink because I wanted a prettier color for Turning a Leaf. How's that for coincidence.

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  14. Please know that even if I do not leave a comment you are an inspiration to me daily. And I'm positive you are an inspiration to many out there. Your work is beautiful.

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  15. Love the simplicity of your card. It's perfect!

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  16. Susan, stamping and card making is a retreat for us - no guilt allowed!! I rather see your cards than a comment on my blog from you (though of course a comment from you makes my day - I admit!). And if you take a day or two off so be it! Hugs to you my friend!!
    Oh, I almost forgot - I love this card!! I love those rounded corners that I always seem to forget to do!!

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  17. I've been feeling guilty about not commenting on your blog!

    Circle of guilt!

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  18. Hey Susan, I echo the other gals. You have to let go of the guilt on not commenting. We all have time constraints that go up and down. I haven't been able to comment consistently for over a year now! It took a long while for me to be OK with the comments I am able to do.

    Life just happens. And, honestly, people browse blogs, leave comments and move on. Chances are most don't notice you don't return a comment now and again.

    Breath in and out. Big hugs to you!

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  19. Dear sweet, funny Susan. If you will absolve me of the guilt I feel, I will absolve you of yours. ;-) I adore reading your blog & love to comment whenever I can. For the past couple of weeks, I, too, have been dealing with real-life stressors. I've only been blogging for a short while but am already addicted. I felt enormous guilt for letting 3 weeks pass without posting an update on my blog. I tried to keep up with reading others' blogs & squeaked in a few comments here & there. Susan, you still posted 40 updates in March! (I posted 2.) And, as always, the cards were beautiful and your posts were fun to read. Feel better yet? Hope so. :-D

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  20. you shouldn't feel guilty about anything - your cards are great(many of them are in my inspirations file including the one you did today). i don't do half of what you do and i don't have anyone but me to take care of(probably because i'm old enuf to be your mother!) anyway - keep up the good work and i'll look forward to tomorrow's card. b

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  21. yes, susan, my friend.
    this card making and card sharing and blogging is supposed to be fun. we visit you because we love you, not because you owe us anything. your family and those responsibilities and activities are most important. we are the extra. so you don't ever have to apologize to us.
    thanks, again, for sharing your talents with us.
    with love,
    marty ferraro

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  22. This so is beautiful, Susan...and I am loving that shade of green as well!! I love how you've stamped the leaves perfectly, and your addition of buttons is a wonderful touch'!!

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  23. No responses necessary, just carry the CAS banner and lead the way for those of us who love PTI and CAS.

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  24. I'm a non-comment person. How do you make a comment without it sounding "sappy and sugary and sweet"? Your cards are awesome. So nice to see work that is elegant and hasn't zillions of layers. Don't stress we appreciate it when you do post.
    Tamara Conroy
    Adelaide Australia

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  25. A beautiful card! I can't imagine using buttons on my cards (occasionally I manage a brad or an eyelet teehee) and yet these are the perfect touch on this card.
    You're feeling guilty? And you not only create beautiful paper crafts, blog, read everyone's comments, but you've even responded to my comments by email! You may just be a superheroine in disguise! :P

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  26. I'm glad to hear you like having comments on your blog, because I admit to holding back, for fear you'll think I'm a stalker! I view your blog every day when I need a break at work - looking at your cards, with all that white space - is actually calming in the midst of the chaos that is my work life.

    I have news that I thought would excite your medieval heart - my niece was just accepted to a Welsh university where she'll be studying history with an emphasis in medieval something or other (I can't remember the name of the school or the actual course of study, but I told her about your interest in all thing medieval and she completely understood.

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  27. No worries! I only comment when I can too! Please know that I comment in my head as I read your posts, everyday!

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  28. NO guilt allowed here ... you are an inspiration and we appreciate every post you make. As I have said before I do not know how you fit everything into your day ... when my children were growing up the idea of making cards let alone posting to a blog everyday would just not have happened. None of us can avoid the stuff life throws at us and it sometimes just gets in the way of the 'fun stuff'.
    So relax Susan, one comment on my SCS gallery from you lasts me weeks ....
    Your adoring fans love you big time (not too sugary I hope!!!!)
    BTW this is a wonderful CAS card and those buttons so right. I will ignore the fact that PTI is beyond my reach ;) teehee
    Keep sharing ...

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  29. guilt and a hobby should not be in the same sentence, but I know how you feel! great card!

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  30. First of all, I LOVE this card!!! Secondly, I'm one of those who looks at your blog every day but does not leave comments. Like you said, when you're looking at dozens and dozens of blogs in a day, sometimes you have to make a choice between leaving comments or living your life ;) Please don't feel guilty about not leaving comments, I'd rather have you spending your time creating so I can look at your fabulous work every day than receive a comment on my blog ;)

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  31. This is gorgeous! I love every time I see you use this set. I get inspired to use mine! Don't be consumed with guilt. You are an inspiration, and I love your style always! Life happens, don't let Google reader get ya down ;)

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  32. Such a lovely card! I love that you explained the visual triangle. Now I need to try it. :)

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  33. I like your use of the buttons on your very pretty green colored leaves.


    I hear you about the time crunch. Besides my regular job I'm also working for the Census for the next month and doing taxes at night (at least for 10 more days). I've had barely enough time to keep up with my own blog let alone visit others. And I've been feeling very guilty myself. So tonight hubby is making dinner so I have an hour to blog hop.

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  34. Love this. Beautiful simplicity.

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Thank you so much for taking time to comment!