Just Hanging in There?

Aloha, all!

Oh, my, it’s been awhile since I’ve taken the time to sit and chat.  The problem has been in the sitting, as my back has really been giving me a hard time over the past couple of weeks.  So it’s been hard to keep my focus and do everything that I’m used to doing.  But I’ve been hanging in there.

For one thing, I’ve been able to spend some time in my craft room because I do most of my papercrafting standing up.  That has nothing to do with my back; it’s just the way I like to work.  I may have to analyze that one day.  But for today, I’m going to take some time to try to catch you all up on what I’ve been doing.

To begin, I have a friend – Marcia – who has also been under the weather.  So a get well card is definitely in order.  Getting that designed and made fit right into a watercolor class that I presented last week.  For that class, we used Stampin’ Up!’s Watercolor Pencils.  These are one of the hidden gems in the Stampin’ Up! catalog.  I’ve taken art lessons on and off for the last 20 years or so, and watercolor is the medium in which I work most of the time these days.  So taking a wet brush in hand is just a delight, especially when I can use Stampin’ Up! products.

There are quite a few Stampin’ Up! products in this card, some old and some brand new.  You’ll probably recognize the "old" stamp sets, Flower Fancy and Sincere Salutations.  It seems to be that I’ve been using these sets since I became a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator.  And I never time of them.  They’re comfortable old standby stamp sets that I can turn to for every need.

What I didn’t expect was how well they coordinated with one of Stampin’ Up!’s newest product lines, felt embellishments.  You may remember the Felt Flurries of Christmas 2008.  The newest felt line, Sweet Pea Stitched Felt, has so much more to offer!.  I have to tell you that I couldn’t quite get myself to but any when we available to preorder from the 2010 Occasions Mini Catalog.  But Stampin’ Up! gave me these free when I received my My Digital Studio certification.  Can’t have something lying around and not using it, can I?!

When I get myself back to where I’m comfortable staying in one position for any length of time, I’ll prepare some kind of a tutorial on the use of the watercolor pencils.  For now, I think I’ll take a break and go walk around a bit.