This project has quite a story to it.
Candace is the hostess this week at Stampin' Sisters in Christ and the scripture she chose is Psalm 118:6.
The Challenge is to:
Do something on your card that you're "afraid" of!
(ie. something you wouldn't normally do, like if you’re a “CAS” girl, try to pile it on… or maybe it’s a technique you’re scared to try etc.)
(ie. something you wouldn't normally do, like if you’re a “CAS” girl, try to pile it on… or maybe it’s a technique you’re scared to try etc.)
Now here's my story.
I've spent a lot of time these last weeks on a big sewing project for hire, on top of having a new baby. (Ten weeks old now.) Which means I haven't had much scrappin' time. Yet, when I go to my paper crafting area, there are all these usable scraps staring at me. I have great ambitions to make them into pretty things because they are too good to just throw away.
The problem: every time I sit down to make something 'using only my scraps', I don't like the way it turns out.
So here's what happened.
I visited Lovely Linda's blog post here, and was encouraged to dig into my scraps---again!. I was also feeling discouraged over all the big projects I have going that are moving slowly toward completion and wanted something to do that would be an accomplished project, done quickly. And I have a little daughter who was wanting to stamp, and we hadn't done that together for a while.
I found a piece of SU! DP lying on the scrapping table and a piece of Cameo Coral CS, (which matched the DP!), already partially used. I cut the card base to the best size I could. Then I cut the DP to fit at the bottom of the card to make the front the proper size. I punched the scalloped trim on the DP for the outside edge, and then decided it would be cute to have that same edge on the inside, too.
I wanted to use my Spellbinders Label 14 so I cut out the second largest size for the front. When I took it out of the die I noticed that the paper (another piece of scrap, just big enough for the die) had slipped and one curve was cut off the edge. =( Major NoNo in Nutty's book of doing things right! But I decided to use it anyway. Then guess what!! It happened again on smaller die I cut for the inside! Argh!!
While my little Dinky was inking the Labels for the stencil effect, I went looking for a stamp set to use. I found an old SU! set, , that I haven't used in along time, and decided to make a bouquet with the flower and leaf stamps. Lots of cutting out, but it went fairly quickly. I had The Dinky girl stamp those, too, and it took us three tries to find the yellow we liked best! (Which just meant more stamping for her! =) )
As I was cutting, I wondered if I could possibly use this for the SSIC challenge for the week, but the chances of a card I was making on SATURDAY evening fitting in with the challenge that wouldn't be posted until the next morning were pretty slim. Oh well, that just means more scrappin' for me! =)
I finished the card by gluing everything together, popping one of the pink flowers up with a dimensional, and adding pearls to the center of the flowers.
Voilá! A finished card...made from only scraps.....And I LIKED it! Done in one evening, and I stamped with my little girl. A very pleasing accomplishment.
When I checked my blog reader for the SSIC challenge the next day, I found the above info. I had a hard time thinking of something I'm afraid of, or haven't tried in stamping/scrapping. Then I thought of my card of the night before. And of the fact that it was the first time I had a 'scraps only' project turn out to be something I liked. (Had to get over that 'fear of failing' to even try again.) And of how I used the two labels, even though they weren't perfect. (A confessing perfectionist, here.) I decided this card did fit in with this challenge.
I'm reminded of how we aren't perfect, but God accepts us when we are cleansed from our imperfections by the blood of His Son, and even though those imperfection still show. He helped me conquer the dread of having it all come out wrong...again! And of not having everything 'perfect' on the card.
I'm reminded of how God knows what we need, and won't let us have more than we can bear. He knew I needed a 'pick-me-up' so the card came together quickly and beautifully!
And.....God knew I really wanted to start participating in the SSIC challenges again, but only have so much time while I'm still finishing these dresses I'm sewing. So He orchestrated my time available, and the inspiration for this card to fit with the challenge. Thanks, Lord!
God really does care about the littlest things in our lives. And He does want to help us in every little battle we have to face, as well as the big ones.
Thanks for coming by! Blessing to you!
(If the SSIC team determines this does not fit the challenge, I'll gladly have it removed from consideration for the prize!)
Challenges:
Stampin' Sisters in Christ #141: Do something you are 'afraid' of
Make it Monday # 91: Always anything goes
