One Set, Two Styles...and Some Thoughts

With all the conflict, tragedy, and fear out there, I've felt a strong desire to escape and revisit some long unused stamp sets, and you'll see the results of these escapist visits with old friends over the next few days.

StampinUp's Nature Walk is such a lovely set, one of the first cling sets I bought from them. It's vintage-y, so my first card reflects that...along with a whole lot of white space on a 3 3/4" x 7 1/4" card.

The squares were punched with a 1" punch after coloring with watercolor pencils and stippling. After punching, I sponged the edges to make the squares pop off the white background more. 

Coloring with watercolor pencils is super easy. Since I use a water pen, very little water gets on the paper...just enough to move the pigment from the pencils around. No need to use watercolor paper.

After wallowing in vintage style, I wanted to do something completely different. The multiple matting is cut for +1/8", +1/2", and +5/8" larger than the stamped panel. The skinny, wider, skinny matting adds a touch of elegance to the card, I think.

I used Memento markers and dewdrop ink pads to color the stamps. The stem was spritzed lightly with water to blend the marker colors.

If you're not interested in devotions or hearing my thoughts on the state of the nation, feel free to click away.

I hope you're all safe in mind, body, and spirit today. While my body thankfully remains healthy so far, my spirit is deeply troubled and being moved. I'm scheduled to give another devotional on Friday this week (see the past ten devotional recordings and this week's upcoming five--every day at 9:30 a.m. EDST--at First United Methodist Church of Springboro's Facebook Page).

I'm not sure what exactly I'll talk about Friday, but it's likely going to be about listening to others' stories, unity, and the dangers of division. Divisive people are "self-condemned," as Paul says in his letter to Titus.

A friend shared THIS ARTICLE on white privilege this morning. So many people misunderstand the term; if you're feeling attacked or accused of white privilege and thus defensive, then this article might help you put it in perspective.

Several people unsubscribed from Simplicity within 24 hours of my posting "Ask, Seek, Knock." I get it. When I stated my support of same-sex marriage and LGBTQ clergy, people unsubscribed as well...one of which quite surprised me as we've had a very cordial relationship through stamping for over 15 years. Some people prefer their stamping without a side of commentary, especially when that commentary expresses opinions they disagree with.

But I hope that those who see the deepening divisions in this country want to learn how we can heal them, build bridges, grow and learn how to create a country that honors all people, regardless of faith, nationality, race, ethnicity, or identity. This sort of growth is uncomfortable, and we need to be still and listen, open our hearts and minds with compassion and an earnest desire to do better.

This is a stamping blog, and I'm not going to start preaching every post. But the way things stand right now, silence benefits the status quo. And the status quo sucks.

Mercy, grace, peace, and love for everyone,
Susan