Percolated Creativity

I know that's a weird title for this post, but it's what describes best the process I went through as I designed this set of monogrammed stationery. I've had two of these done for several weeks, using Basic Grey and Cool Caribbean (tryin' to use up some VERY old card stock from the first InColor collection in '06).

Then I lost my creativity--I think fatigue and the knowledge that I wasn't going to meet my initial deadline to give this as a gift for the holiday stole it--and it wasn't until Friday that it returned! Has this ever happened to you in the middle of a project? I'm cruising right along and then I just lose interest. I don't get it. Since the result of "letting sleeping cards lie" usually works out for the best, I'm posting this so you don't get discouraged by your process and persevere. Good things are in store, I promise!

This was the first card I created. I wanted this set to be usable by either the husband or the wife, so that set the tone for the designs. Clean, crisp, no frills. Very modern. The stamp sets I was inspired by were Fresh Alphabet and Simply Stationery by PTI. I also used Basic Backgrounds Retro, as it has a fantastic, hip look.

Since I didn't purchase the ink pads for the CC, I had to improvise. I went to the other InColor collections and on this card used Soft Sky from 2008. Then I walked away from this project for a few weeks and forgot that was the color I used! When I grabbed the ink pads again, I chose Baja Breeze, which is a bit stronger blue than SS, and it worked beautifully--and better, in my opinion.

The second card is a bit unusual, as it spells out the family's name across the front. Here's another example of where percolating works to one's advantage. When I set this card aside originally, it just had the center panel. Two days ago, when I compared it with the others, it looked a little drab, so I added the stamped images as borders across the top and bottom. It really jazzes up the card and grounds the center panel, don't you think?

The third card grew out of my love for circles and playing around with the two sizes of double-ringed circles that come in the Simply Stationery set. I had never used the little one before--I think it's 1/4" in diameter--and the design just kept growing as my creativity nudged me to "try this." Listen to those nudges! I added a strip of Basic Grey 1/4" satin ribbon to this, and I think it helps with the need for some visual relief from all the paper. See, a masculine-oriented card CAN incorporate ribbon! This is my favorite design of the set.

The last card began as a divergence from the earlier design with the bold border, and morphed into a card that was more feminine than any of the others. I decided not to fight it, did a little detective work to find out the wife's middle initial, and created this one specifically for her use. I started out working with this as a vertical orientation, but was happier with it as a horizontal card. The scalloped border punch really helped pull this design together.

I'll be giving the set to its intended recipients tonight. I hope they're as pleased with it as I am, and I know they won't mind that it's a little "after the fact" because it needed to percolate awhile.

ONE LAST THING: consider picking up this at-home kit for getting organized this month! I have plenty available, so disregard the need to wait until after Monday to let me know of your interest!

The Card I Wish I Never Had to Make

When I was at work yesterday, one of our regulars came in and got his usual drink. While my boss Kimmy was making it, she asked him how things were going. He replied, "Okay." And then he said this: "Well, actually, Julie and I just found out last night that she has breast cancer." (Yes, he considered us important enough people in his life to share that information with. What a privilege.) As soon as he left, Kimmy shared this with me, and the next words out of her mouth were, "Would you make them a card?" Of course I would, but what kind of card should it be?

I decided it needed to be one that would encourage, yet not contain even a hint of triteness. I went online and searched for quotes about hope. I chose the beginning of one by Anne Lamott, and I think it's perfect. I trust they will too.

Where they are is, most likely, a dark place. I've not been there personally or with anyone in my immediate family, but that doesn't mean I can't imagine, and what I conjure up is a dark hole. That's why the quote by Lamott spoke to me. It doesn't pussyfoot around, acting like something isn't completely out of whack. But it does foster peace by pointing out (by what it doesn't say) that where they are now is not where they'll always be.

I created this using my favorite DSP of all time, Urban Garden. I matted a large piece on Not Quite Navy and cut the flowers out and mounted them so that they weren't completely flat. The ribbon is non-SU! that I found at Michael's. The quote was created by using the Fresh alphabet by PTI and NQN ink.

All of us at the store who know this family will be signing the card to let them know we are with them as they walk this journey. What a community is developing over coffee. I've said it before but it's worth reiterating: THIS IS WHY I CRAFT. Who can you minister to today with your art?

Stationery for the 'Rents

When I was in high school, someone came up with a nickname of sorts for the term "parents". It was "'rents". Not exactly disrespectful, but, as I look back on it now, a bit too casual and sort of crass. Aren't you glad that the brain you had as a teenager didn't STOP growing? I AM.

My folks are coming in a week to spend some time with us. Both their birthday were in April, but I'm too pragmatic (and cheap) to send their presents when I could just wait and give them to them a few weeks late. Besides, then I get to see the reaction on their faces when they open them (and they get to cart them back with them in their car, saving me the postage)!

My PArents are "old school". They like to send physical mail. I like that and want to encourage it, especially if some of it ends up in my little black box at the end of the driveway. My parents also share the same initials (my sister and I do too, so we all four have the same three--follow that?), so it was easy to design a set for both of them. The trick was making the cards not too feminine so that my dad would be inclined to use them. The desktop organizer is from a template by Lauren Meader, who is selling her creations with Papertrey Ink, one of my favorite companies. You can download it for $5 and use it as many times as you want! It's really well done.

The color scheme I chose is one of my favorites and inspired by a pair of men's underwear that I fold regularly: Bashful Blue, Real Red, and Night of Navy. Classics, right? This card's pattern could go either way, right? I think it's bold, yet not too frilly. I'm not a baroquey kind of person--I know some people have this kind of wallpaper in their homes--but I like this pattern, which was created by stamping the NoN outline and then filling it in with that "thing" using RR.

The next one is may be a bit too feminine for dad, but I know my mom will like the buttons on it. This is one of 5 patterns you can make with this set. It reminds me of something old-timey from my grandma's house. Simple embroidery. Don'tcha wish times were as simple now as they were back then? I'm not sure I do, because there was no internet, no Tivo, no answering machines, and no microwave ovens. Progress is good, but so is simplicity.

You know how I love circles, so I had to incorporate this pattern into one of the cards! The larger circle on either side of the monogram is also in the set. It's quite the bargain at $24! (Please don't tell me if a certain body part comes to mind when you look at this one. It wasn't intentional or Freudian, I promise!)

This last card is SOOOOO retro, don't you agree? I could've spent all kinds of time coloring in those diamonds, but I only allowed myself to do so on the envelope.

The monogram letters are also from PTI, from a set called Fresh Alphabet. I think I used a 3/4" circle punch, which actually cut it just a tad close. They're just the right size, though. Those who know me from way back may realize that the monogram's not in the right order, i.e. first name initial, last name initial, middle name initial. We just never did it that way, so I know mom and dad will get it. We're not that formal a family, and none of these notes will ever land on Martha Stewart's desk.

I hope you enjoy all this card candy today! Thanks for stopping by! I love it when you, and when you comment so that I know you did.