Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Love....

....this stamp!  I got it in the clearance section of the closest Michael's Store (which now, unfortunately, has closed. bummer.) .  I really like the message...I know it is probably considered a Christmas sentiment but really, isn't that what we all wish for in "love"?  Heheh!  Anyways, thank you for the really nice comments that you all left both here and on my flickr acct.  It is sure nice to know that others feel as I do....mainly that life is a constant drive to find "balance" and that most of us moms, regardless of our age, our children's age or where we fall in the "mom life cycle" find it hard to carve out moments of "me" time.  I am really going to work on that personally.  I'm happier and actually more productive in all areas of my life when I get that time to myself and so am certainly going to keep that in my mind as I go thru 2012.  I want to waste less this year and that includes time.  Time wasted doing "non-essential", unimportant tasks and instead create more moments of time well spent in activities that give me joy.  Ya-ya-ya - enough self examination...time to show a card!  As I said this sentiment was from a stamp found after Christmas in in the clearance aisle .  It is a Hampton Art for Cosmo Cricket.  I just love the font on it!  I used ribbon, bows, glitter-y stickles, flowers, gems and pretty paper.....YEPPERS!  It has now become a Valentine card!  I am entering this into the JUGS (Just Us Girls) Challenge which happens to be a sketch challege for this week.  I have never entered over there before but always take a peek at their challenges...some fun ones lately!  Anyways...I followed the sketch but after finishing the card took a little poetic license and added the roses to the corner...it (to my eye) just needed a little somethin'somethin"....so, here is the sketch...

and here is my card.....



Another thing about this card is that it marks the first time EVER that I used a stamp positioner.  I saw one being used and discussed in the recent online CAS class and have never bothered with them myself before.  Well, now I will bother.  And really, it is actually no bother but instead a fabulously easy way to get a stamp lined up right the first time!  Love it!  And am kicking myself for all those crooked images that (hopefully) are now in my past!  Need to work with it more but def-def a very worthwhile purchase!

Oh, and by the way....my coffee turned out exceptionally de-lish this morning!  I am totally loving every drop of this mug!  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Be well,
Sheila

13 comments:

Elizabeth Allan said...

Sheila you are right - hope, peace and love are great all through the year! Beautiful card!

Nancy K said...

Hi Sheila, I love your posts; you always give me something to think about! And your card is delightful...loving the sentiment, why not use it all year?! Enjoy your new tool and all the {straight} stamping in your future.

Pam W Merwin said...

What a great sentiment! We need HOPE, PEACE and LOVE encouragement all the time ;) I love the font too. The color combo is one great.

Lisa said...

Beautiful stamp found in the clearance section! I just adore tht pretty font and I think it can go for much more than just Xmas- as you have just proved here!
Love that postage stamp shaped die too!
I just glanced again at my gorgeous Valentine and it really does make me smile. I needed one of those today :) Thx again

Shelby said...

The poetic license looks absolutely perfect. Love the balance on this card and of course the reds, blacks and whites are perfect!

Shelby

Tiffany Ervin said...

That is a beautiful sentiment!! And I love your bold and vibrant colors surrounding it!

judkajudi said...

Hi, Sheila! Hope, Peace and Love should be all year long! Love the message in your blog post about time for ourselves; finding the right balance is sometimes tricky, but leads to a less chaotic life! Thanks for the kind comments on my blog! And I hope the next time I get to Minneapolis, you can join us! My boys were swimmers, too, and I LOVED being at their meets! Hugs, Judy

Sasha said...

Hi Shelia,
I agree with you, your sentiment is for all year round...and what a bargain! I wish we had a Michael's here in the UK. When we visited the US in 2000, I spent many hours in your wonderful craft stores.

I love the colour combo of your card. Your postage stamp die looks fabulous with your faux stitching. And your sweet flower spray finishes things off perfectly:)

Brenda said...

Hi Sheila! I love that you are such a down to earth and realistic person, just my type! I think that sentiment is perfect for many an occasion, and not necessarily XMas. It's important to do the things that make us happy, that way, the people around us will also be happy! I love being introspective, it's an important quality! (Sorry that I have been absent!)

Jacqueline said...

Sheila, thank you for adding some of your 'color' to my blog yesterday. I have the Lemon Tart recipe for you here
http://smittenkitchen.com/2009/02/whole-lemon-tart/
I agree with Brenda - that sentiment is a winner all year round!!

Dawn T said...

love how you used the sentiment as a Valentine's card Sheila. The card is superb. You asked about the writing in my St Pats card.... well it's not my own writing... it's a font called "Tall Paul"

Kathryn B said...

Gotta love the clearance bin at Michaels! What a steal this card is awesome!
Thanks so much for getting sketchy with JUGS this week!

Elise said...

Yum, yum, and YUM! Across the board - this card is DELICIOUS! Thanks for the thoughtful inspiration! So glad you shared this fabulous creation with Just Us Girls!