{ So Gone, So Long ... }

All images (c) Stampin' Up! Stamps: Love It and Warm Words, Paper: Barely Banana, Bashful Blue, Chocolate Chip, Vanilla and Spring Showers Ink: Chocolate Chip and Bashful Blue Accessories: Chocolate Grosgrain and a run-of-the-mill staple!

Okay, so I have only been able to get into my craft room once since I last posted - *GASP.* I know, I know. It's been really cold and I just need some good, old-fashioned R&R, so I pretty much loafed around the house getting only a few things done when I really needed to get many things done. Isn't that how it always goes?

I had a swap to complete so it forced me to do a little stampin, and once I got started, I so did not want to stop! I just love that my hobby continually keeps my creative juices flowing and keeps me wanting more ... more ... more! Well, my hubby (and bank account) might not like that last part! Anyway, I'm really happy with the way it turned out. Sometimes I complete a swap and am not entirely thrilled with the end result. I always try to do my best work for fellow stampers, but sometimes my stampin mojo just isn't working. I might be biased, but I think that this is the perfect example of when it is! :-D

{ Organizing and Stamps! }

I didn't go to work today since a winter storm hit yesterday, leaving our street covered in an ice/snow/sand mush. Being from the South and not used to driving in this sort of thing, I thought it would be best for both me and other drivers to stay off the roads. It gave me the perfect opportunity to do a little organizing in my craft room! It's something that I've been wanting to do for a while now, but you know how time just tends to get away from you. Anyway, I *finally* was able to take all my scraps and split them up into color families: Soft Subtles, Earth Elements, Rich Regals, Bold Brights and Neutral/Pattern/Non-SU!. I think that this will help me actually use my scraps rather than just collecting them. I even am going to keep a little drawer of already punched-out shapes. So often, I get into the grove of punching this or that for a project, then decide to use a different color or not at all, so I end up with a lot of punched out shapes with no card to call home. Well, now they have their own little drawer. Hopefully, I will remember to look there.

I also got around to combining/labeling my stamp sets. There was a tread over on SCS about combining stamp sets. I had a couple already that were combined, but the thread gave me some ideas on other sets that I could combine. I was so excited by the extra room that I created for myself that I began to think that maybe some sets could go in smaller boxes - and I was right! I think I had 4 sets that could go into smaller boxes. I was able to really clear out a lot of space, and you know what that means ... room for *more* sets!!! Perfect timing, too. My hubby got me *STAMPS* for Valentines Day!! I know most girls would like flowers or chocolate or a romantic dinner, but my husband knows that I'm not like most girls (in many more ways than one!). For me, I want something that will last forever: stamps and jewelry!!! Either one makes me the happiest girl in the world! He even picked sets that I had decided to put in my next order! I will be getting: In My Thoughts, Supersize Symbols and Snowflake Spot! AND (as if that wasn't enough) since it is Sell-A-Bration, the order qualified and I was able to get another Just Delightful Simply Scrappin' Kit ... Yes! This kit is perfect for the scrapbook that I will *eventually* begin for my little niece, Madison. What a good day ... two of my favorite things: organizing and stamps! :-D

{ Browsin' Blogs }

Well, I had hoped to get into my stamping room this past weekend to get some ink on some ink-less (*shock*) sets, but it just didn't happen. It was cold, so I stayed under the covers ... all weekend. Yes, I'm a bum. Oh well. I figured that I needed to add *something* soon, so I thought that I would post some other blogs that I find of particular interest and like to keep up with.

http://tayloredexpressions.blogspot.com/
Taylor VanBruggen keeps this blog. I just love her style. It is whimiscal and bright and fun. I want to do more work like this. I think she has a lot of fun with what she does, and it really shows.

http://kwernerdesign.com
This blog belongs to Kristina Werner. I just *love* her photography. If I could shoot pictures like she does, my scrapbooks would look so awesome ... well, once I actually scrap my photos into books! That's besides the point! My point is, I think that her photography actually *makes* the scrapbook page, not the other way around. I think that that is such a unique quality.

http://amusenews.typepad.com
Linda Carnell keeps this blog. She owns Amuse Stamps (http://www.amuseartstamps.com). I don't own any of her stamps yet, but hers are the only ones that I have seen other than those made by Stampin' Up that I truly *love*. Her blog has all her latest products (which I always drool over) and has some of the cuteist (is that a word?!) cards!

http://papertrufflez.typepad.com
This blog belongs to Julie Ebersole. I truly admire her work. Her work can be so simple that you don't feel intimidated by it. It's like, "Wow, that is so pretty, yet simple - I know can do that." Sometimes I think that we paper crafters try to over-embellish or over stamp a project to death and end up missing the simple, elegant beauty that the project could have had. Does that make sense?

http://debbiedesigns.typepad.com
This is the blog of Debbie Olsen. She is one of the best stampers that I have seen. Her work, like Julies, is very simple, elegant and beautiful!


***UPDATE*** Okay, well, I'm starting to browse more and more blogs and I can't just keep updating this one post, so as you can see, I have added a list of links over on the side of my blog. Just a bit of reorganization - hope this makes things a little easier!

{ First Picture! }

All materials made by Stampin' Up! Sincere Saluations and I'm Here Stamp Sets,
Pretty In Pink, Whisper White and Chocolate Chip Cardstock, Chocolate Chip Ink
Pad, White Wide Organdy

My first picture post!!! Okay, so this isn't a new creation, but it is one of my favorites. This was the invitation that I made for the baby shower that I held in October 2006 for my sister for her first child.

{ New Beginnings ... }

Well, I've decided to start a blog about my stamped creations in the hopes that it will make me want to stamp more. I hope to post a new creation on here at least every other day ... "hope" being the key word! :-D