Lately I've been thinking about how easy it is to lose myself and my "style" the more responsibilities I take on. It's always tempting to look at other people's fabulous creations and berate myself and my work. In doing work for design teams, blogs, contests, sketches, etc., I often put pressure on myself to come up with something new that will knock everyone else's socks off. When it's something for a design team or special project, I often spend hours trying to make everything just perfect and prove that my few good cards in the past weren't just "one hit wonders". I have these expectations I feel I need to live up to, but in the end, I'm usually disappointed with the results. I'm beginning to realize it's not because my project is bad, it's that I compromised myself and my creative style to create something I thought OTHERS would like. The magic of stamping becomes work when I try to be someone I'm not. After all, wouldn't this world be a boring place if we all stamped just the same way? That's why I love making sketches for you all. It's so fun to see how different everyone's styles are.Okay, I've probably rambled on long enough, but the sentiment inspired me to THINK, and so I tried to make this card just for ME. No it's not mind shattering stamping, and some of you might not like it at all, but I enjoyed the process - and that's what's really important. So today I challenge you to make a card for fun - one that's totally YOU! Don't worry about perfection or whether anyone else will like it. Just create a little piece of joy for yourself and delight your stamping soul! :)
Card Ingredients:Stamps: Swirly Stars (Verve Visual), Happy Messages (Hero Arts)
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Soft Sky (SU!), Classic Cream (Neenah), My Mind's Eye DP
Ink: Soft Sky, Blue Bayou, Chocolate Chip (SU!)
Accessories: Bind-it-all, polka dot ribbon (May Arts), Chocolate Taffeta (SU!), Janome Sew Mini, Rhinestone pocket patch
41 comments
Beautiful card Julee!! I really love the rhinestones...and the saying is perfect! Isn't it nice to just stamp for yourself once in a while?
What a gorgeous card Julee. Love everything about it.
Very pretty. It has a strong message, but in soft colors. I love that!
Oh, how could you NOT love this, it IS beautiful!!!! I am so with you on your message today--I sort of eluded this sort of thing last week when I highlighted a simple Verve card--what a novel concept....simple and easy. Your style is perfect just the way it is, and you are so right to be true to yourself!
Kudos girl,
Amy
OHHHHHH, lookey here...blue & brown... YUMMY!!! I love this card!
And I totally know how you feel about losing ones self, especially when being on a DT. Crikey girl, I have never felt so much pressure or I should I have never put so much pressure on myself before. It is silly now that you mention it. I mean, I wasn't picked for my good looks and all, was I? LOLOL
Anywho, I love ya and I love your "style," keep up the great work!!!! :)
I couldn't agree more. Your words are so true. Have a great day.
Thanks for the wise words Julee....I love the card too.
I agree!!!! It's still just for the FUN of it! Although, I do have to admit, on occasion, I do like a challenge and trying new things or techniques - I have no problem copying or taking bits of other's work to incorporate into MY Style... perfect card sample for expressing our feelings.
Oh my another gorgeous card! wow!
Julee- This is gorgeous! I so admire you style, part of which is your courage to try new things! I can always find inspiration in your work and in your blog!
beautiful card, love the colors and all the bling!
Beautiful. I love all the ribbons.
Love that quote. It is wonderful to know people will know who you are and not who you are trying to be when you are just yourself!
Just LOVE how you tied the ribbons on the top of the panel - going to have to case that asap!!
What a pretty card Julee - your work is always inspiring and beautiful and your words here are so true! :)
Are you kidding? How could you not love this? This is gorgeous! I do know what you mean about losing yourself. I'm so glad that you got to stamp for yourself. :)
Your comments come at a really interesting time - desperately battling to create a special card for Hubby's Birthday on 28th. Always try too hard so I think I am going to chill out and make something I like and see what happens! Thanks
You always have the right thing to say when I need to hear it. I was just thinking of this yesterday...and it is so hard to not get caught up in the "I wanna be like..." mentality. I am really tying to let "my style" take over and not worry about other people or their styles. You hit it right on the head.
Your card is simply amazing.
Wow! fantastic!
Brautiful card! I love the ribbon.
Hugs,
Michelle
Very well said, and your card is beautiful, so if that is "your style" I hope you stick with it!!!! :)
Julee, I can totally understand the feeling of maybe "losing yourself" in your projects. So glad you came to a place for yourself that reconnected you to the reason why you stamp. I love your work and your fabulous style, you are an inspiration to me. Keep doing what you are doing!
Thanks for that, Julee! I know exactly what you mean. I find I do that ALL THE TIME. LOVE your card, but then I love EVERYTHING you create! :)
Wow it's beautiful!!
Julee, this looks absolutely amazing! I love the soft colors, the paper and that ou added bling.
Gorgeous card.
This is just breath taking, the card and what you wrote.....your right its hard to try and be yourself!
I just finished making a card for myself tonight and posted it on my blogsite. It isn't what everyone else is making, but I like it.
And oddly enough, I used the saying
"all you need is love". Are we on
the same page or what?
And after all that, I love your card, Julee. Good for you for expressing what a lot of us are going through right now.
I love everything about the card too, especially the sentiment and the colors (my favorite!). Jeanne
I think your card is gorgeous, your style always seems like understated elegance and I love that. Thanks so much for all the inspiration you share with us.
Karen W
Beautiful! I love the stars.
Very well said. I think we all place that burden on ourselves...but I gotta say....THIS CARD IS STUNNING! Wow!
It's beautiful! I love everything about it!
Hi Julee,
It's so true, we all have our own style. And in doing our own style it adds the variety to our cards. Like you said we all start with the same sketch, and we see it differently. I love to look at your card style,which is totally different then mine.
Your card is beautiful.
A very beautiful card!
Hey Julee, I finally got around to the tag...things have been a little crazy. I just wanted you to know and thank you for including me in this round of tag.
This is a gorgeous card Julee - I love the color combos, it is one of my favorites! The saying is awesome, and just perfect! *STAMPIN HUGS* Alex
Apparently what you like is what I like, because I LIKE this. Glad you found some time to just enjoy your stamping.
Thanks for sharing that! I totally understand what you are saying. Your work is fabulous, and this card is WOW! i just love the colors and the sentiment! TFS Continue to create for what you love about the craft. I think if you create for yourself everyone is going to love it as it is a part of you.
Hello Julee: I just awarded you the "You Make My Day" award on my blog.....thanks for the inspiration here on your blog and for sharing such beautiful cards.
Bela
Love this peek into your thoughts about the constant pressures of proving one's self (whether stamping or otherwise). Good for you for stepping back and taking time to "delight your stamping soul," as you put it. You've delighted mine today, too, cuz this card is gorgeous!
Another wonderful, inspiring post! I can certainly relate to what you said - way too often I get discouraged when comparing myself to the amazing stampers out there (eh hem, like YOU!) but I try really hard not to do that and just be myself and know that the more I stamp, the more I improve. Anyway - thanks for the nice post and I LOVE this card too!!
I've only recently found your blog, but quite honestly, all I've seen so far, including this one, have sock-knocking-off abilities!
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