Getting back to my "Jobby!"

Around here, we lovingly refer to my Stampin' Up! business as my "Jobby."  It's not really just a hobby, but it definitely more than just a job too.  However, for the past several months, a lot of energy that I previously spent on my jobby has instead been spent on politics.  I've been a district co-captain for a citizen initiative here in Utah to change the way candidates for office get elected.  I don't want to turn this into a political discussion because who wants to mix stamping with politics?  One is beautiful, and one just plain isn't.  All that is really important to know is that is winding down as a compromise makes it's way through the State Legislature and I can start to feel my life going back to what it was before.

This whole thing was kind of a test for me to see if I was ready to give up my jobby and go back to the career I left shortly after my first son came along.  The answer actually surprised me.  I really, really missed being creative and spending time making beautiful things.  I ♥ my jobby and I am so excited to get back to it on a more regular basis!

And to kick that off, I am actually going to play along in the Fab Friday Challenge for this week.  It's been a goal of mine to play in more challenges but I just never seem to get around to it.  Well, fortunately, a project I made for stamp club last week fits perfectly with this color challenge:

Colors: Bermuda Bay, Strawberry Slush, Basic Black, Whisper White and Crushed Curry.  Stamps: Starburst Sayings.  Big Shot: Starburst Framelits.  Punch: Banner and Envelope Punch Board. Accessories: Kaleidoscope Designer Series Paper.

The basic directions for this box were found on Pinterest but when I went back to find the right person to credit, I found a million of these boxes in many different sizes.  For this box,  I started with an 8" square paper and then using the punched and scored on each side at 3" and 5".  (Instead of lining up the box with the previous score line when you rotate the paper, each side was scored at 3" and 5".)  And to hold the box shut, I made a belly band and used the Starburst Sayings Stamp Set and Framelit bundle to make the tag for the front.  And I just can't stop using that banner punch to make little accent pieces.  Everyone needs this punch!

Here is a side view of the box too:

Hopefully I will have lots of new things to show you over the next several weeks.  Come back Friday to see another Stampin' Addict Blog Hop featuring the Hidden Treasures Stampin' Up! has given us over the past several months (items not featured in any catalog).  And then next Monday is a bonus edition of The Stamp Review Crew featuring Happy Congratulations from the Occasions Catalog.  See you back here then!

Stampin' Addicts Recycle Challenge #5

Yapha Mason posted a great color challenge for us this week on the Stampin' Addicts Recycle Challenge: Soft Suede, Pool Party, & Pear Pizzaz.  I love these colors so I knew I was ready to jump in and play along:

Colors: Soft Suede, Pool Party, Pear Pizzaz, & Naturals Ivory.  Stamps: World Map & Really Good Greetings.  Big Shot: Chalk Talk Framelits. Accessories: Clear Embossing Powder, Natural 7/16" Trim & Antique Brads.

The World Map stamp was the first stamp to go on my wish list from this catalog.  Then they had to make a change to it so it wasn't available to order when the rest of the catalog went live.  I did end up ordering it when it was available, but by then, I was playing with Halloween and Christmas stamps and didn't have much of a chance to ink it up.  I thought this challenge was the perfect opportunity.

To make the card, first I stamped the map in Soft Suede Ink and then quickly dumped clear embossing powder all over it and heat set it.  Then I used my Aqua Painter to color the ocean Pool Party and the land Pear Pizzaz.  This didn't work out perfectly because the Soft Suede did still smear a little bit, but it kind of just adds to the antique feeling of the card.

Head on over and play along with this week's challenge. You can also see, like and repin all the projects on Pinterest and help us determine the winner of this week's challenge. The challenge ends Friday, September 27 but don't put it off.  The player with the most repins and likes wins.

Stampin' Addict Sketch Challenge 104 & Color Challenge 108

I have A LOT of nicknames.  In my younger years I was also Paula Koala, PJ, and PaulaJo.  And because Californians tend to shorten everything (rad, bromance, vaca, Cali to name just a few famous terms) I was even just Jo for awhile.  Now I'm mostly just Mom, Paula, Pahlua (because I misstamped my name once and it stuck) or my online name, scrapshappen.

But I have another name not very many people know about: Challenge Master. When Stampin' Addicts first got started I took on coordinating the Challenges.  We have six every week: Monday's 3D challenge (with awesome video tutorials), Tuesday's Techniques, Wednesday's Accessories and More, Thursday's Sketch, Friday's Colors and Saturday's Scrapbooking.  If you are ever in need of some inspiration, be sure to check it out: www.stampinaddicts.com.

I've mentioned before that I host the Sketch Challenge and then a group of very talented stampers do the rest.   This week's challenge came straight off of page 104 of the Idea Book and Catalog. (Coincidentally, it is also Sketch Challenge 104).  One of the things I love about our catalog is it really has some great inspiration for creating at home -- substituting other stamps and colors for those shown. 


So here is the card I made based on the sketch for this week:

Colors: Early Espresso, Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie and So Saffron.  Stamps: Daring Adventure. Accessories: Brads, Markers, Spritzing Tool.

I love the saying on this stamp set.  It makes me want to be brave and go climb a mountain or something. But after I made this card, I had an idea for another one:

Colors: Island Indigo, Calypso Coral, Pool Party, Lucky Limeade. Stamps: Delightful Dozen. Accessories: Designer Printed Brads, 3/8" Ruffled Ribbon.

 

Notice how the cards have the same sketch but the one on the bottom is flipped up so it looks completely different.  It was a happy accident actually.  But I was very pleased with the way it turned out.  (Sorry the Pool party ink didn't show up well in the picture, it looks much better IRL).

And because our usual color challenge hostess Crissy is vacationing with her family, I repurposed this card to be the color challenge this week too. That's color challenge 108 if you'd like to play along too.  Have I mentioned how much I LOVE the new colors?  I have?  Oh, sorry. Use them and you will too.  I promise.

So head on over to Stampin' Addicts and check it out!  You won't be sorry.