Puppy No!

This is going to definitely be one of my favorite sets. If you have been following my blog for sometime you know I love to color. And these cute images are perfect for pencils or markers. I know I'll be using them over and over again.

I used colored pencils and Gamsol to color in the stamped images. Check your black in first on a scrap piece of paper by coloring in with pencil and gamsol. Some inks will smear. So try it out first.

Little Friends by SU!

5/8 Inch Crochet Trim Victoria,

Polka Dot Parade Designer Series ,

Tea For Two Designer Series Paper and paper white and Marina Mist

I feel the need to explain why I joined Stampin' Up! again, especially after being away from it for so many years. I know a lot of my friends, who are in the stamping world, were a bit shocked by my decision.

When I decided to quit stamping, illustrating rubber stamps and teaching card-making/ copic coloring classes 2011 it wasn't an easy decision for me. But it was a necessary one.

I have found that some people seem to be able to do it all. I can't. Something would have to give. And I can't sacrifice one part of my life for another part. I enjoy being a stay-at-home mom and I enjoy all the things come with that responsibility. And in order to be really successful in this business you have to sacrifice something in your life to go for it. And I'm sorry, I just couldn't do that. I was spreading my life and time out too thin. Other women, well....I guess their worlds are way different than mine and they can do it all. I just can't go without the clean house, the evening dinners at the table with my family, my gardening, the cooking and the chores for this hobby. I just couldn't.

And then there was the cost! Oh my word. Really. Every time I'd go to a store there was a new product or line of products that came out. A new stamp company or stamp set. A new paper line. A new embellishment. A new tool. And to be published you have to "Keep up with the Jones". It's insane. And teaching. That's not easy either. And I loved it. But the prep, driving to the classes, setting up and cost of materials. Not cheap.(I didn't buy my supplies for classes at whole sale cost or a discount. So I tried to keep my cards simple.)

And being on one or more design teams. I can't even begin to list how challenging that can be! God bless you who are able to juggle it all.

By joining SU! again I am forcing myself to limit my spending by only using one companies products. I get a discount as a demo and I also get free stuff! So when I quit stamping and made it a goal to get out of debt, which I did! I had to make sure that if I got back into this hobby again I would not be spending the amount of time or money that I did on it before. (Mind you, one could still go crazy and spend to much. But I know exactly what I really need and I'm not tempted by every brand of stamp or product out there by staying with just one company.)

So anyways.... I hope that you can understand why I quit stamping and why I'm back again, but with Stampin' Up!

It's a good change and I'm feeling good about it. Living a stress free life is really much easier!

Comments

Wow that is a really great ah ha moment for you. Sometimes I feel this way about all the different products out there and what does appeal to me. I love SU cardstock and inks. I make and sell cards at local farmers' market and so I need to find a happy medium of what will sell and what I will enjoy doing.

Posted by: Lorri Vallese | January 17, 2013 at 12:36 PM