SLMPetersen

I'm in a bit of a card making drought.  No lie, haven't made a card in weeks.  Burned out, over inspired, over-stimulated, lack of inspiration, creative block.  Whatever your phase of preference is I have it.  In an effort to break the block or brick wall I've started playing with mixed media again.  I've dabbled in this a few times.  I enjoy it, but it kind of intimidates me.  I'm flipping that view on its head and letting it challenge me rather than intimidate me.  Since we had a long weekend, I took one day and did a little bit of experimenting and playing with mixed media.  I also got crazy and ordered some supplies.  Here's the art journal page I created.  I've been building pages in this watercolor notebook for quite a while.  The paper wasn't very good for watercoloring, as it was pretty low quality.  I opted to turn it into an art journal, and I dig it out once in a while to play.  I usually gesso the ...

Alright, so by now you might actually be noticing the lack of social media postings.  It's called a creative slump ya'll.  I'm working on trying to break the slump.  I thought I would take this time and talk about a few things.  The struggles are real and I want to be transparent with you, my followers (hate that term, if you have a better one let me know).  I'll be honest, I'm struggling with a little bit of the wind being sucked from my sails.  I have a lot of great cheerleaders in my camp, but there are still a lot of negative people out there.  Lately, I think I've let those negative people creep into my thoughts a bit too much.  I've also been really struggling with watching people succeed in the industry on lots of levels and feeling like I'm over here in my corner shouting with no one listening.  I desperately want to write in this space, but I'm not a how-to writer.  That leaves me in a bit of a tangle.  What should I ...

Do you send thank-you notes?  Or are they more of an “I’ll get to that later” kind of thing.  Stop sitting on the most important note you could be writing and just send the thank you. Think about this.  You send a gift for a baby shower or a wedding or even graduation and you never receive a thank you note in return.  As the gift sender, how do you ever know that they got the gift? You don’t want to have an awkward conversation about it in the middle of the grocery store one afternoon.  It’s a bit tacky to have to ask if they got the gift you sent. As the gift receiver, you surely don’t want that awkward conversation, especially if it was a gift that wasn’t in your taste.  The sender doesn’t need to know you hated it or that you exchanged it, they just need to know that you got it.  By sending the thank you you can easily overt all of these less than pleasant encounters. Those of us that go above and beyond to do special things for the loved one...

I get a lot of joy from sending happy mail to friends, family, loved ones, and even strangers (you'll want to read the Card Shower post to learn about sending strangers happy mail).  I'm currently building it into my weekly intentions to add another healthy habit to my routine. The following quote is from the article Letter Writing to Calm Your Mind and Share Your Heart on  nabilak.com  - "Experts say that pouring your thoughts out on a piece of paper is another way to embrace tranquility and maintain peace of mind."  This same article states that by picking up a pen and writing a note, no matter what length, to someone you care about can lift your spirit in ways you may have never considered.  Now, who doesn't want their spirit lifted? I'm the first to admit the number one reason I send happy mail is because I'm selfish.  I like the way writing that letter and dropping it in the mail makes me feel.  I do it for personal satisfaction.  That ...

Thanks - Green Check by Inked Inspirations Today I'm starting a new series - Inspired by... Today's card was inspired by Heather Hoffman's card that was shared on Lil' Inker Designs Instagram a while back. I'm loving how these Thanks cards turned out and I'll definitely be using this design in the future. The black and white absolutely makes the pattern paper the star of the show by making it really pop. I think this card design will be a great stash buster for some of the 12x12 scrapbook paper I've been cutting into card fronts.  So many of them have great patterns that will carry a card design like this well. Let's look at the elements that inspired me and the ones that I changed up a bit. Elements of Inspiration: Pattern Paper Black and White Tag Thanks Sentiment Inspired by this card by Heather Hoffman Design Swaps: Checked Paper in place of Plaid Ribbon in place of Rick-Rack Large brad in place of Staple ...

There are roughly millions of ways to communicate with each other.  Do you want to be just another email, text, DM, IM?  Or do you want to be the one that sends the card, the card that gets tucked in a drawer to be read again and again?  This week I want to talk about the value of buying and sending greeting cards.  According to this article from The Art File, cards are  "still considered by most as the truly effective way of telling someone you really care."  Think about that and let that sink in for a bit. The same article also stated that handwriting helps us learn or improve our fine motor skills.  We also express our emotion in writing.  Writing, not typing or texting, just so we're clear here. Time is precious in this busy fast-paced world we live in and taking the time to write someone conveys real value to the relationship.  When you take the time to handwrite a card, letter or note to someone it conveys to the receiver that...

What is a Card Shower?  Exactly what it sounds like, it's a shower of cards that arrive at the doorstep of the celebrated person for any occasion. Card Showers can be thrown for any reason.  Someone having a baby across the country?  Organize a card shower.  The bride-to-be has friends and family all over the country?  Organize a card shower.  Grandma turning 90?  Organize a card shower.  You get the idea.   Receiving cards in the mail is always puts a bright spot in someone's day, but getting showered with them can be even better.  I hosted one a few years ago for my mom and it brought her a bundle of joy and smiles.  I've also sent cards to some of the showers that I've seen in the news or on social media.  I especially try to send a card when a veteran has requested cards for a birthday. Tips for a Successful Card Shower: Once you've selected a recipient, you'll need to decide on a date for the cards to arriv...

I've been on a roll busting through some of my pattern paper stash.  If you're like me you used to scrapbook and you have this huge stash of pattern paper from years gone by.  Maybe you bought it because you loved it but it was "too pretty" to use so you've hoarded it for that "perfect" project.  Girl, that paper ain't getting any newer and that "perfect" project isn't gonna happen on its own.   My first step is to cut the 12x12 paper into six 4 x 5 1/4" panels.  I usually use these panels for the base of the card design.  Then there is some digging in the scrap box for other bits that will coordinate with the pattern panel.  If I need additional inspiration I turn to my Pinterest board It's All In The Cards to find an idea that will spark my creativity.  Ready for some inspiration?  Here are my most recent stash-busting cards.   Links to Products Used: Affiliate links are used at no additional charge t...

"Your cards are beautiful, do people still send cards?" "I'd buy your cards, but I don't know who I'd send them too."   These statements do two things, they validate some sort of guilt for the person saying them and they sting the recipient.  The sayer is very often the same person who would be delighted to get something other than junk and bills in their mailbox.  The recipient is often saddened by the lack of value placed on what they've created.  Our lives have become so overwhelmingly saturated with activity we've lost sight of being kind just for the sake of being kind.  Sending letters used to be the only form of communication and now it's referred to as a "lost art" and treated as an inconvinence.  We talk about not know what to say if we were to write the note and not having anyone to send happy mail to anyway.  We don't seem to have that trouble with email, texts, and IM, but sending a note with a stamp is too mu...

I've noticed a little theme in my card making as of late, orange.  I've not always been a lover of orange, but as of late it sure is popping up in several of the cards I've made. Get Well Butterflies (SENT) Happy Mother's Day - Orange (SOLD) Thanks (SENT) Happiest of Birthdays to You ( AVAILABLE HERE ) What do you think?  Do you love the orange? Interested in the products used?  Here are a few affiliate links: Affiliate links are used at no additional charge to you Kokuyo Tape Glue Dot Liner Long tape, Refill cartridge 5 Pack, Shop at: SSS | AZ Kokuyo Tape Glue Dot Liner Long-Blue Shop at: SSS | AZ Lil' Inkers - STITCHED SENTIMENT FLAG DIE Shop at: Other Shops Simon Says Stamp STITCHED RECTANGLES Wafer Dies Shop at: SSS Simon Says Stamp WONKY RECTANGLES Wafer Dies Shop at: SSS WOW Embossing Powder PRIMARY EBONY SUPER FINE Shop at: SSS Gina K Designs JET BLACK AMALGAM Cube Ink Mini Pad...