Opportunity to Support Japan

I know some of you cycle or have cyclists/triathletes in your life. Here's a chance for them to support Japan's recovery while buying a really cool cycling jersey.

De Soto Sport: Tri 4 Japan Bike Jersey

$80 of your $100 purchase goes to Japan, and it's tax deductible. So you're getting a quality jersey for $20 AND wearing your support for those in Japan AND making that support tangible with a monetary contribution.

George ordered his today. I can't wait to see him wearing it out on a ride. AWESOME!

Evolution of the OLW Sympathy Card

I know the OLW was to make a one-layer sympathy card without trees or flowers, but I got the idea because I had to make a sympathy card for the wife of a man who died after a fall while trimming a tree in their yard. How completely shocking and sad. I really couldn't put a tree on the card. So I made this card:

Mellow moss, always artichoke, and PTI's natural cardstock work so well for a subdued natural theme, don't you think? I really like how this simple, unembellished card turned out, and I'm enjoying seeing what you all are doing for the challenge. Good stuff!

Cheers and the Question of Art

I made this card a while back with the intent of using it during Little Things week. Then I forgot about it. What a shame because it's a fun card!

Hmm. I want a margarita.

There's been a lot of chatter on SCS about whether what we do is art, and it's got me thinking. Here's my perspective on the subject. If you're not interested in my blah, blah, blah, just skip to the supply list at the bottom of this post. There's as much value in that as in my musings on art. *snort*

Art, to me, is the end result of deliberately creative self-expression.

That's it. Not all art is good art, of course; in fact, a lot of art--perhaps even most art--is bad. But it's still art. It doesn't take talent to make art. Sweat, hard work, and study are actually more important, but little kids make art all the time without sweating, studying, or working hard. I make art, and Leonardo Da Vinci made art.

His, however, is way more better than mine. He devoted his life to his art. My art is a passionate hobby.

But that doesn't matter. We shouldn't compare our creative expression to anyone else's creative expression. I do the best I can with what I have and follow my own muse. Leo did his best, too, and his muse totally rocked. 

I found a quotation from Einstein on Pinterest recently that's relevant here:

Art is like genius. Leonardo climbed the tree. I swim in the water. I'm not denied art because I can't paint the Mona Lisa. 

Creative self-expression gives voice to what's inside a person's heart, soul, mind, spirit. What's inside us is valuable, precious, special. We should treat it with respect and not belittle it, and we should let it sing in whatever way it can. I'm Susan and stamping makes me happy.

No, what I do is not at all in any way comparable to what Leonardo did.

It's not supposed to be. It is what it is. And it's good enough for me.

Care to make some art? Grab a stamp and express yourself!

Supplies
stamps: SU Cheers to You
ink: Memento
paper: PTI white
accessories: Memento markers, glue pen, glitter
Card Size: 4 7/8" x 3 1/2"

One-Layer Wednesday 48: A Sympathetic Challenge

This week's One-Layer Wednesday Challenge is to make a sympathy card that does NOT include flowers or trees. For my card, I used Quilter's Sampler from Papertrey Ink.

Sympathy cards are uncomfortable to make, especially at the last minute, and I find it easier to have a few on hand. I took this chance to make several of this very clean and simple card for my stash.

OLW48 Rules

1. A one-layer card is defined as a single layer of cardstock folded in half. No other layers allowed.

2. Make a sympathy card that uses an image other than trees or flowers. Remember to keep embellishments to a minimum.

3. Upload your card online and link back to it using the InLinkz button on the sidebar of Simplicity.

4. The most important rule of all: HAVE FUN!

Supplies
stamps: Papertrey Ink
ink: Memento Black
paper: PTI white
accessories: SU Markers

CAS113 Color Challenge--Edited

The new CAS challenge at Splitcoast is to make a card with soft aqua, soft yellow, and white. LOVE this combination!

I've been playing with some Snow Storm white cardstock sent to me by Mark's Finest Papers. It's smooth like SU whisper white but feels heavier. It's definitely lighter than PTI's stamper's select white, but it holds up to making a card base very nicely, as you can see on this card. I'm going to order some of the Heavy Snow Storm white to check it out, too.

If you're a CAS stamper, you can never have too much white cardstock!

Thanks to everyone who left comments on Monday's post. It's fun and uplifting to read other people's responses to the doldrums. I think I will get rid of a bunch of paper...or at least clear it out of my craft room.

Also, for those of you who won blog candy during Little Things Week, the packages were mailed Monday for everyone except the Day 7 winners (still waiting on the dimensionals from SU). If you don't receive your package in a reasonable time (it's coming from Ohio), please let me know.


Edited to Add: Ooops! I incorrectly attributed the SU branch stamp. It's from Garden Silhouettes instead of Stem Silhouettes. Sorry about that!
Supplies
stamps: SU Garden Silhouettes, Anna Griffin sentiment
ink: cool caribbean, so saffron
paper: Mark's Finest white, SU cool caribbean
accessories: dimensionals, Martha Stewart bird punch

Monday Blah, Blah, Blah and a Card

I've been experiencing a crisis of sorts in my stamping. You see, my 2009 resolution to use all my image stamps is pretty much accomplished. The very few images I haven't used were bought for scrapbooking anyway, so I don't feel it is cheating to leave those out.

What do I do next?

Sigh.

That resolution gave structure and purpose to my stamping for over two years, and now it's gone. Oh, I'm still stamping, but I feel sort of aimless and adrift, if that makes any sense at all. When I'm not in my craft room, I develop all sorts of intentions of purging and simplifying and trying something new. When I actually go to do these things, I find myself whimping out.

I gaze longingly at the A Muse catalog and then tell myself that no matter how yummy that paper looks, it would be silly to buy more cardstock. I'm resolved to use up my colored cardstock, but much of what I make with it won't get posted here, mainly because I don't like a lot of the colors...they just aren't me. Should I just sell the stuff that isn't me and start over? 

That's a rhetorical question.

The truth is, I'm sharing my floating in the doldrums with you not so you will feel sorry for me or offer up advice, but so you will know that YOU are not alone whenever you hit the doldrums yourself. These slow periods happen to most everyone who passionately engages in any hobby. They are not permanent, nor are they unhealthy. They just are. I'm trying out a few new resolutions, reorganizing some stuff, studying magazines, and generally taking it easy, making cards using my Second Theory and plugging away at using up that cardstock!

This card is 7.25" x 3.5" in size.

What do you do when you're in the doldrums?

Supplies
stamps: SU butterfly, Shady Tree Studios sentiment
ink: Memento
paper: SU pretty in pink; Mark's Finest white
accessories: SU butterfly punch, Fiskar's bracket border punch, rhinestone

Quick Card Set

I needed a bunch of thank you cards for people at my church on short notice, so I pulled out two Papertrey sets: Simple Little Things (a limited edition anniversary set) and Everyday Blessings.

Add a bit of bling, round the corners with scallop scissors (tutorial to come on that), and you're done!

Happy Sunday!