Challenges and Belief

Believe In Thyself

Challenges and belief go hand in hand. I've learned that without believing in myself I won't conquer the challenges put before me. It's been months since I posted here or finished (usually start but don't finish) an actual art project. My energy wasn't there and I soon started to feel like I was drifting away. It's one of the feelings I never wanted to feel. A recent conversation with a friend had my wheels turning and my emotions flowing. I knew I was capable of creating great things but I needed that extra push. 

Yesterday I sat with a warm cup of tea and jumped online to look up new greeting card layouts. The list was endless and my goodness the talent! It's was all so inspiring! A specific card brought me back to the photo above. It wasn't the layout that caught my eye but the paper that was used. I had used the same paper on a challenging project! Memories came rushing back...

Last summer a good friend of mine asked if I would be able to make 30 baby shower invitations. At first I was shocked (more like what?! Really?!) to be asked to do such a thing for an important party. Then my doubt set in and I thought, could I even do this? As we talked more I realized something. Doubt has always been a devil on my shoulder. To hear another person tell me they believe in me gave me confidence. Wow, a stack of cards?! Challenge accepted!. 

The whole process was fairly new to me. I sat for hours looking up ideas and searching for baby items. Why is it that when your looking for certain items you can't find them? It took some time and plenty of goof ups but I settled on one layout. The assembly line formed and I was a mad women stacking invitations. 

The feeling was such joy and happiness. It was exactly what I wanted to be doing! I've learned a great deal as I sat at my craft table day in and day out. Time is precious and being 100% every day is important. I can't show up not wanting to create or else nothing will get done. All meals must be prepped or hire a chef haha joking! Cooking and creating at the same time can be tough. All in all it worked out and everyone was happy with the outcome. 

A little surgery to the "Thank You" stamp to get it to curve.

Hand cut every little onesie. Attention to detail and perfection set in..

Next up! Information sheets cut and placed inside of card.

One of the late nights at the craft cart.

The end result!
Piece by piece, day by day.
Never let doubt take over.

xo - Starlynn

The Elves Are Here!

Holiday Greeting Cards

Scrapbook paper, paper flowers, embossing, ribbon and pearls.

The busiest time of the year has arrived and the elves are hard at work. Well ok, their really is only one elf. Betcha didn't know that this elf makes handmade greeting cards as well. It's a hobby that has grown and now (jokingly) considered a hoarder of scrapbook/crafting supplies by my friends. I'm in denial and if I use them daily then I'm fine, right? I'll share the journey and early photos of my handmade greeting cards in a later blog post. For now I'll let you have a peek at the card stack.

The above photo is of the first three cards made for 2014. I tried a new layout (top card with poinsettia and deer) taken from a card maker magazine. With the added ribbon and tilt of the sentiment it became a present. End result is two thumbs up! The bright cheerful card to the left was fun. A lot of cutting, measuring and paper choices. Color combo was on par and will be revisiting that idea again. The third card had me giggling. Absolutely LOVE how beautiful the outcome was. As you can see (below) I loved it so much I made a billion more.

Gold embossed trees on textured cardstock.

Their has been something about gold that has caught my eye this season. It's been showing up in my wardrobe and card layouts lately. Pair gold (embossing powder) with pretty solid cardstock and you got a simple elegant card. I'm going to run with this gold loving idea until I run out of supplies. Have a lovely day!

xo Starlynn