Happy Thursday! I was buried in the studio all day yesterday, and need to be back there today too. I have some project deadlines on a time crunch and have Stamp Club on Saturday I need to prepare for.

I don’t know if any of you ever feel that the fun of stamping has left you, but that is how I’ve been feeling the last few months. It seems like everything I’ve done of late has brought me no joy (well except Gina K’s Way to Go set – hehe). I think that set has rejuvenated my twisted side slightly. Oh okay – it’s had a major impact!

I think I’ve been trying to design in a less cluttered, simple way and that just isn’t me! My home and studio might be tidy but my mind definitely is not. Big revelation right? I’ve had a few discussions with some close friends about not enjoying what I’ve been designing and how to change it. One way to change it I realized, was to get back into the Splitcoast Daily Challenges. Which is where I learned so much and know that I can learn more. They do inspire me and I hope they inspire you too. Another way, was to do what I enjoy. So last night I broke out the distress inks, the sponges and started layering again. I can’t show you the cards yet, but I think they might be the most fun I’ve stamped in a very long time. So now I need to learn how to incorporate cutesy with my style of stamping – I’ll be working on that one!

Anyhoo, let’s get to today’s Ways to Use it Challenge on Splitcoast. Love this challenge – velvet. Velvet papers, ribbons, flowers! Everywhere you look right now, velvet is on the shelves and it is absolutely fabulous. I’ve not been able to bring myself to purchase any of it, there is a stamping budget ya know, but I do have a stash of some yummy May Arts Velvet Ribbon. While in Texas, I picked up the new Crafty Secrets Vintage Christmas from Anna’s Sweet and Sassy Crafts, and haven’t even had the time to ink it up yet. Well today I did! Can ya hear me now – I’m LOVIN’ this set!!! Thanks Anna for putting this set in my hands!

I stamped the image in brown and then colored with Prismacolor Pencils. Instead of using Turpenoid and stumps, I used my Prismacolor Alcohol Blender Pen in order to get into the tiny spaces. I had some scraps of BasicGrey Figgy Pudding (which I got from Jacksonbelle Embellishments) laying on the counter and just HAD to use it. The edges of the image and the Figgy were sponged with distress ink and then the background panels were sewn to a layer of Chocolate Chip. I punched the image out using the Mega circle punch and mounted it on Chocolate Chip which had been punched with the Giga scallop punch. Liquid Pearls were added to the scallops to add some dimension and just because I wanted. The fabulous floral brad embellishment is one I found at Archivers on an excursion with Jeanne while she was here. Gotta tell ya though – watch the liquid pearls. I was done, had one little dot left and the bottle burped. Uh huh, had to rip it apart and start over – not a good thing!

Stamps: Vintage Christmas by Crafty Secrets

Paper: SU Soft Sky and Chocolate Chip, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, BasicGrey Figgy Pudding

Ink: Adirondack Espresso, Tim Holtz Old Paper Distress Ink

Accessories: Prismacolor Pencils and Alcohol Blending Marker, Uchida Giga and Mega Punches, Ranger Liquid Pearls, May Arts Velvet Ribbon, Creative Imaginations Marah Johnson Clous and Brad, Sewing Machine