Camp & Stamps

We have a funny, twisted relationship . . . my stamps and I. It’s sort of a love/hate thing, ya know? I LOVE to buy and collect them, but when it comes to putting rubber to ink and ink to paper I kind of get a lump in my throat. I hesitate. I freeze. I’m not sure if I’m ready to commit. . . . Nope. I am NOT a confident stamper. I’m a total Wannabe Stamper. But I’ve decided to challenge myself to use them more. To explore them. To give myself permission to play with them. I mean for heavens sake, Jana, (talking to myself) you have bought enough of them! It’s time to dust off a few and put them to use! So this is my latest goal . . . to incorporate stamping into my projects more.

Yes, I get worried that I’m going to ruin my project with a mishap. My solution? I avoid stamping directly onto my page. Instead, I’m testing the waters and gradually gaining confidence by stamping on a separate element that I can later adhere to my project. I am liking this approach so far, because if I mess up . . . no worries! I just keep stamping until I get the result I want, then cut out the elements and add them to my page.

For this page, I incorporated stamps in three ways. First, I stamped a border on the text paper using a Ruler stamp by Jenni Bowlin. I know. It’s hard to see . . . but it’s there!

Second, I used a woodgrain pattern stamp in the background of my title block. The title block was crated using the Fabulous Finds Cricut cartridge. I stamped the base cut and then adhered the letter stickers on top of it.

And finally, I stamped banner pieces onvellum to create a fun border to go across the top of my page (stamps by Teresa Collins Designs). To anchor the stamped pennants I simply stitched a couple lines across the top using my sewing machine.

Okay . . . so are you diggin’ that cute car and trailer cut on the bottom of my page? I know! Me, too! I love it! It was created using the Pack Your Bags cartridge.

A little tidbit about me . . . I grew up vacationing in RV’s. I have such awesome family memories of travelling across the country in trailers and motorhomes. Oh, sure, we got sick of each other, being trapped together in that rolling room for weeks . . . but we also learned to share, to be patient, and that a good book is a great way to mentally escape. Haaa! I love RV’s. To me they are charming and the essence of family vacations! 🙂

Cricut Machines Used: Cricut Expression
Cricut Cartridges Used:  Pack Your Bags, Fabulous Finds
Other Supplies: Noel Mignon “Study Hall” kit, Cardstock (black, kraft, blue), Patterned Paper (Lily Bee Design), Vellum, Labels (Elle’s Studio), Letter Stickers (October Afternoon), Mini Letter Stickers/Buttons/Burlap Ribbon (My Mind’s Eye), Eyelets (American Crafts), Ruler Stamp (Jenni Bowlin), Woodgrain Background Stamp (Stampin’ Up), Banner Stamps (Teresa Collins Designs), Ink (StazOn), Sewing Machine & Thread, Paper Piercer, Needle & Floss, Punches (Martha Stewart Crafts, EK Success, Marvy Uchida), Black Distress Ink (Colorbox), Tiny Attacher & Staples (Tim Holtz), Metal Photo Corner, Black Gel Pen (American Crafts), Twine

So what product are you afraid to use on your pages? I challenge you to challenge yourself to face your fears and make a point to add that item to your next project! 😉 Who knows? You may just find your next “big thing”. 🙂

See you again soon!

Jana