Wednesday, June 10, 2009

back to basics



Sometimes it all gets overwhelming and a girl has to get back to basics. Lately, I've been spending the majority of my creative time working on classes, challenges, and magazine work. I'm tired of trying to be innovative and creative all the time. Of course it's the end of the school year and teachers are tired, so I'm spending lots of time subbing in classrooms with kids who are tired of school. I'm tired of school. I'm tired of this grey June gloom weather. I'm just tired.

So, I decided to get back to basics today. Create something just because it's fun. I love black and white and polkadots and florals. I love glossy cardstock and a little bling. So, I pulled out this small Magenta stamp to make my own background by turning the stamp every which way and stamping repeatedly with StazOn ink. I stamped it one more time and punched out the focal piece. Both of the punches are StampinUp. Hero Arts makes the best little self adhesive gems and pearls, so I added in some of that. I love the elegant simplicity of this design and use it when I'm not sure how to lay out my card.

I'd love to hear about your go to products or designs or style. Is there something that always works well for you when you aren't sure what to make. I relied on most of mine for this one. I feel better. Thanks for stopping by today.

12 comments:

Karen said...

Hi Tami! Wow, for feeling tired and tapped, this is so elegantly stunning! Clean and simple with a touch of bling is my go to look. The other is background inking, but then I often get stuck when its time to layer on top of the background I had so much fun getting inky (both me and the background! :>). I'm so glad I stopped by and saw this; its really beautiful! I'm actually enjoying the cooler June weather, but since we live at opposite ends of this State, then I wish you sunshine and a creative breeze! :>

Mrs. Fence said...

I LOVE this card. Sometimes I think all my "stuff" overwhelms me, and I go back to simple things. My all time favorite is cuttlebug embossing folders and color core paper. I run a sheet of color core paper through a generic folder, attach a ribbon across the bottom third, and then a sentiment punched from a coordinating color with a sentiment stamped in it, and attach the whole thing to a card base. Simple, but pretty.

thimbles bobbins paper and ink said...

I hear ya, sister. Sometimes it all gets to be a bit overwhelming to try to meet criteria and be new and innovative. Sometimes it's just good to do what we love and relax with.

This card is gorgeous! Oh so elegant. You know the saying, "less is more!"

You make me just want to stamp something and see what happens.

Love this card.

Thanh Vo said...

Totally! I think this is what makes me run away from paper crafting and "hide." (I do that very well as you know I disappear for months at a time lol)

Sometimes I just don't create anything because I feel like everything I make MUST make the cut. Whether it's for magazine submissions or viewers approval. I get so bogged down by these expectations that I forget what it feels like to make something for enjoyment and I run away from it all. Also by setting these expectations, on days where I don't add those 1383043 embellishments and layers on a card or use different techniques on my cards, everything else I make, I deem ugly. It's silly how we set up these goals and expectations on ourselves, but its just what happens. Thanks for the reminder that sometimes it's just best to keep it simple.

christie said...

Oh Tami, this is beautiful! It seems to me that simple is sometimes better then fancy! I find that when I try to go too fancy it just doesn't feel right. I love doing black and white with a touch of color, that always seems to work well for me!

Anonymous said...

I know what you mean too, Tami! Although it's not a product for me as much as it is just my itunes...a special studio playlist I made gets me going.

Anonymous said...

I think this time of year really does this too us! Today is the last day of school for us! Thank goodness! LOL!

Your card is just stunning! So elegant! I am not sure what I run to????

Leonie Castro said...

SIMPLY BEAUTIFUl !!! I can't wait to try this simple technique. Keep them coming those videos and tutorals I mean...lol :)

Anonymous said...

The card is so elegant. When I have the creative blues, I turn to paper pieceing--maybe because that was one of the first techniques I learned. I have these great baby animal stamps that I stamp on dp, and then cut and paste. Fast, easy, and fun to both do and get.

Sue McGettigan said...

Love this card SO much Tami! My formula for burnout is the same as yours basically, KISS - Keep It Simple Stampers! Sometimes it's good to shift gears from complex projects to something very quick and simple, something you can finish in one session - great satisfaction in that and it motivates you to plunge back into the tricky stuff :)

Midnitecreations - Renu said...

This is so elegant. I think sometimes we get carried away with new "in" thing and forget to create for the sake of creating. I always fall back on my coloring skills and when I just play, I get my best cards.

Helen Dooley said...

I really like this card. My go to is a set from THe Angel Companytm called Everything is Blooming. It seems I can use it for so many things. I feel most comfy with my color pencils and zig 2 way and glitter for bling. I like your blog TFS