So, yesterday I mentioned how all of the lovely new "Blossom" items from the Occasions Mini were very fitting for me this year. I wanted to explain. Please pardon me (i.e. feel free to scroll on by) as I share a a bit of my "self-improvement" goals with you! (FYI—Self-help is another one of my favorite passions, not that I ever master it!).
It's Time To Blossom!
I know that this is going to be an exciting year and I can't wait to share it with you! I'm not really one to have official New Year's resolutions, but I do have a New Year's Theme! I got the idea from a book I read last week by my current favorite author, Debbie Macomber. The book is called Thursdays At Eight. Each of the four women in the novel select a word as a theme for their year.
I love this idea! So, I've decided that my word for 2011 is BLOSSOM.
Blossom [ˈblɒsəm]: To develop or come to a promising stage. To flourish.
And, I swear to Jupiter that I made this selection without realizing that their were five, count 'em, five items in the Mini that had the word "blossom" in their name! And, four of those items ended up being in my Top 10 Too Cool Picks. (The other one I didn't pick is Bold Blossom, which I still like a lot.) Is it a coincidence? I think not!
Why Blossom?
Why "blossom"? you may (or may not) be wondering. (scroll alert!)
Well, over the past couple of years since my mom's death, my life has been a series of challenges and adjustments. A lot of finding the "new normal." Not only was I getting used to life without My Mommy (and friend), I also was adjusting to my decision to leave the 9-to-5 world after 17 years in a "real" job.
It has been a wonderful blessing that I have been able to do my favorite thing—STAMPING—on a full-time basis! I have My Mommy to thank for giving me the courage to find my passion. I love what I do! (Did you know that "Too Cool Stamping" is named in her honor? When she saw my stamped creations, she would always exclaim that they were "too cool!")
The year 2010 brought some much-needed resolutions to many of the big, lingering challenges in my life. I still have some obstacles (don't we all?) that I'm trying to hurdle, and I will in time. I've also started making some real progress in getting my personal and professional life where I want it to be. Baby steps.
Now, I feel like I'm ready to start blossoming in all areas of my life! I want my creativity to blossom! I want my stamping business to blossom! I want my health to blossom! I want my relationships with friends and family to blossom. I'm ready to blossom, baby, blossom! And, that's what I plan to do this year!
Speaking of Baby Blossoms! (Baby, that's one awful segue!)
Baby Blossoms & Springtime Vintage Designer Paper
A C
B D
Usually I do two versions of whatever card I'm working on—one to keep, one to share. This time, I was having too much fun playing with different elements to stop at two!
Card Similarities— All cards use the Baby Blossoms two-step stamp set, in combination with the striped pattern from the Springtime Vintage Designer Series Paper. All card fronts are layered onto Blushing Bride card stock and mounted on a Pear Pizzazz card base. Each uses both Pear Pizzazz Poly-Stitched Ribbon and Basic Pearls. I used Blushing Bride, Pear Pizzazz, and River Rock inks on Very Vanilla card stock for all stamped pieces.
Tip #1—There's a leftover inside oval from the decorative frame image in this stamp set. Rather than discard it, I used it to stamp the River Rock background oval behind the sentiments. Don't waste your remnants! You might be able to use them!
Tip #2—Save time by randomly stamping your background images over a larger piece of card stock, then cutting it up like decorative paper. I started with full size card front pieces, then trimmed them down, using the top 1/3 on one card and the bottom 2/3 on the other. Try it with a whole sheet of card stock, then use it like a One Sheet Wonder decorative paper.
Different Inks—Cards A and B use slightly darker inks. I used Blushing Bride and Rose Red ink for my two-step roses, and Pear Pizzazz for the leaves. Cards C and D use only Blushing Bride for both steps of the rose, making the flowers much softer. The leaves on those are done in Certainly Celery.
Different Sentiments—Cards A and B use the "Birthday Wishes" stamp from the new Bring On The Cake stamp set in the Occasions Mini. This set has all kinds of birthday greetings—a must-have for your stamping list! Cards C and D use the "Thanks" greeting from the Afterthoughts Level 1 Hostess Set. The greetings are stamped stamped in Rose Red or Always Artichoke.
An FYI—Because the words I used went outside of the edges of the center oval shape, I had to hand-cut the sentiment. However, the inside oval can normally be punched out with the 2" Wide Oval Punch.
Different Embellishments—Each card has a slightly different stamped embellishment, along with Basic Pearl accents.
- Card A features a leaf with a small pearl on it, and large pearls lining the bottom.
- Card B features a dark rose with a tiny pearl on it, and tiny pearls on each of the random roses.
- Card C features a leaf, and a row of mini pearls dividing the papers.
- Card D features a light rose with a pearl, along with a cluster of larger pearls.
I love experimenting with how little changes effect the look of the card designs! Have you ever played with different versions like that? It is actually a quick way to get several cards finished, because you don't spend much time trying to decide what looks better—try out all the possibilities! It's a great way to start blossoming in your own creativity!
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So, apparently, I'm not the only one with this fabulous "word of the year" idea! I follow Julie Buhler's Paper Pleasing Ideas blog, and she also talked about her one word for the year: Hope. I never claimed to be an original, but I couldn't believe that she blogged about this, too! Too cool!
Do YOU have a word for 2011? I'd love to know what it is—please list it in the comments section below! You could win some Too Cool Secret Blog Candy!
Angie
I haven't really thought of having a word for the year. I don't have one but I'll think about it.
Posted by: Jodi Geers | January 05, 2011 at 07:49 AM
Word of the year is Simplify...the craziness that my/our life has become has taken it's toll this year. I have to learn to let some things go...if you don't decorate for EVERY holiday, life will go on. Just get the house clean and be grateful for that. If the kids don't make it to every activity...big deal. Those bleachers are uncomfortable anyway. If you don't have 100 new items made for that craft fair, good! Just means the customers will have to buy the older items and clean out the inventory!
I talk big...we'll see....
Posted by: Amy Slattery | January 05, 2011 at 01:14 PM
Mine is Change. Because change can be a good thing. and I'm thinking it's time for one. Gonna lose some weight and try and make some other changes for the good. ( :
Posted by: Twila Davis | January 05, 2011 at 04:20 PM
Sounds like a challenge - I'll have to think about a 'word' for the year...
Posted by: Debbie | January 05, 2011 at 06:18 PM
I was not crazy about the Baby Blossoms & Springtime Vintage Designer Paper but thes cards came out beautiful!
Posted by: Carie | January 10, 2011 at 01:15 PM
My word is courage. I take care of my mom who is in the late stages of Alzheimer's. I have alot of decisions to make and some days it takes everything I have in me just to get up and face the day. I need courage and by making it my word, it reminds me that I am strong enough to handle all the challenges that life throws my way.
Posted by: Cyndi | February 08, 2011 at 09:42 PM
Is there a punch that does the decorative frame or am I msising something??? LOL
Posted by: Katrina Dundore | March 30, 2011 at 03:58 PM
Katrina, I freehand cut the decorative frame...no punch.
Posted by: Angie Leach | March 30, 2011 at 09:15 PM