Making a Change in My Creative Life

Hello Friends!

I'm putting together a quickie blog post to share some news with you...

After thinking...re-thinking and thinking some more...and then some more after that...I've decided to make some changes...switch things up.....in the creative portion of my life.

There's so much that I could share about this...the why...the when...the thought process...the reasons...
But it all boils down to one big thing...
I'm going to change things up a bit...switch things up...take a different creative path...maybe not forever..but at least for the foreseeable future...

I'm going to be setting aside card making as I've known and loved it for almost 2 decades...(Copic coloring..water coloring...pencil coloring...and PanPastel card making and more)...and I'm going to focus on creating cards that are primarily die cut.....as well as spending time doing lots of Cricut related creating...and working on vinyl projects.

This doesn't mean that I'll never stamp...paint...or color another card...
But for now, I will be going through and selling most of my huge amount of stamping/card making  related things.
I'll hold onto stamp sets that are compatible with what my new focus is....but I'm guesstimating that I'll be parting with about 1500 stamp sets...as well as an overage of ink pads...embellishments and other things that are mostly card making related.

Yes..in some sort of way....it's a little bit scary...
Like all of you I LOVE the things that I have..
But truth be told...
There just isn't enough time for me to pursue everything that I'd like to be doing, creatively speaking...simultaneously.
So after mulling this over for  more than a year... and sharing my thoughts with my sweetheart, Gary...I've decided to take the plunge and start a new creative chapter in my life.

I know that I'll never walk away from my beloved stamping and above all water coloring...I love it too much..and always will...
But now..that just won't be my #1 go-to "thing" that I do when I have time to create.
Instead...I'll be enjoying doing lots of die cutting...and vinyl related projects.
And best of all...I'll be working on some things with my daughter, Chelsea...whom I adore.

This means that beginning NOW, I have a huge studio clean out to do...and it's got to be done ASAP...because on September 14th..I'll be having a HUGE CRAFTY GARAGE SALE here with 9 of my crafty pals. who will also be selling their unwanted...unused....unloved ..excessive amount of crafting items.
As for me...I'll be going through every nook and cranny of my studio and gathering up everything related to card making that I wont be holding on to.
Emphasis on EVERYTHING...

I have wayyyy over 2000 stamp sets...and the plan is to hold on to no more than 200-300 sets...

All of this feels good...and exciting.
In the non-creative portion of my life I always welcome change...because I believe it keeps a person...fresh....re-newed...open minded...growing...and learning...
I believe that this change of path with my creative life will be all of that and more and I am looking REALLY forward to the journey!

All of this being said...
I'll be continuing on as Design Team Coordinator for Blue Knight Rubber Stamps, which will keep me making  stamped, water colored and inked cards that you've come to know as my "style" when it comes to card making. As a matter of a fact, I've got some cards lined up for the coming weeks for Blue Knight's August Winter/Holiday/Christmas card Making Marathon that I'll be sharing here at my blog!

I'll never stop loving the style of card making that has been my creative passion for decades now...
But I also love the idea of making a change....doing a massive overhaul of my studio...moving lots of things OUT...and lots of things IN..... and cultivating a new focus...and some new creative adventures to share with you here, at my blog.

I hope that you'll continue to join me here at my blog, as I venture down new creative paths...
I'd love to take you along on the journey!

Thanks for stopping by today...
Wishing you many joyful creative adventures of your own..
Michelle.

PS..here's the "poster" for the crafty garage Sale...
If you live nearby...stop by on the 14th of September!

AWAY in a MANGER: Creating a Classic (CAS Copic Colored) Christmas Card

Hello Everyone!

I'm happy to be participating in the Blue Knight Rubber Stamps Design Team's August Winter/Holiday/Christmas Themed Card making Marathon!

My first card of the month is a Christmas classic!

I chose to begin my Christmas card making with Blue Knight Stamps AWAY IN A MANGER stamp.
I love that this is a large, card front sized stamp and beautifully detailed image.

I opted to color the image with Copics and because the image filled the card front...I also kept it all very CAS (Clean and Simple). I focused on shading and blending colors to get them as I wanted them for each of the scenes elements....
I enjoyed using an assortment of Copics to do the blending, shadowing and shading and to get the hay...manger...Baby Jesus...window frame..stone walls...hay fork....ground....bucket and starlit sky as I wanted  them to be.
To finish the card I chose gold and blue metallic card stock from LCI PAPER.

If you love to color, love classic Christmas card images...and love scene cards...the AWAY IN A MANGER stamp is perfect for you!

If you'd like to create AWAY IN THE MANGER Christmas cards, like the one I've shared today...
Head over to the Blue Knight Stamps web store where you'll find the AWAY IN A MANGER stamp (HERE)
The metallic card stock by LCI PAPER can be found HERE 

To follow the Blue Knight Design Team's August Marathon of  Winter/Holiday/Christmas card making...check in HERE, at the Blue Knight Blog every day for new card making ideas and inspiration!
Thanks for stopping by today...
Wishing you a wonderful day!
Michelle.