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Rainbow Skies

Hi all!  Long time no see!  My studio isn't quite available, as we had to move everything out to get our carpets and ducts cleaned this weekend, so I'm here with a card I planned to post last week, but never got around to scheduling!  :)  There wasn't a spare moment during our vacation to do anything but our mega list of improvements.  The sketch was Amy's Viva la Verve! May Week 3 sketch and I used stamps from Blue Skies.


I made this for a dear friend who loves rainbows and could always use a little blue sky in her neck of the woods.  I added some random little bits of bling to the Fly A Kite Papers, then added some liquid pearl accents and made the twine do my bidding with a bit of Diamond Glaze.   Most of all, I just had fun and the card came together so easily - it always amazes me to see a card transform from bits of paper and ink into something lovely.

Speaking of transformation, Mark and I spent last week working on all sorts of improvement projects...  new blinds ordered, new flooring ordered, ducts cleaned, carpets cleaned, house cleaned top to bottom, entire front room transformed into an office for my assistant, furniture moved, furniture built, 6 full loads of donations to our local thrift store and we've almost reclaimed the buried desk in my garage that I'm going to be using as my mixed-media studio.  Hooray!  Although I must admit my idea of a vacation was not spending sun-up to well past sun-down cleaning and re-arranging, the transformation is truly inspiring.

The thing I learned most from the past week is that things have to get uncomfortable to truly make a change. You can't stay in your comfort zone and expect radical improvements.  At first I was unmotivated and extremely intimidated by our list of tasks to accomplish.  I didn't believe we'd accomplish half of it, and envisioned a dozen  half finished projects laying around my house for the next several years, so I almost didn't even want to try.  How many times have you not tried something because you're afraid you'll fail?  I know that's been a large deciding factor in most of the decisions of my life. But it's those things that you perceive as possible failures that give you the most satisfaction when you do accomplish them. So, why not try something you're not sure you'll be good at... a new technique... a little painting... a little drawing... a different style of card making and just see what you can accomplish?  I'm pretty sure you'll soar!

Enabler's List:
Stamps:  Blue Skies (Verve Stamps)
Paper: Fly a Kite Lime Twist (My Mind's Eye), Basic Black (SU!), white
Ink: Onyx Black (Versafine), Pumice Stone Distress (Ranger)
Accessories:  Classic Circles Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Orange divine twine (TCP), liquid pearls, stickles (Ranger), diamond glaze (JudiKins), flatback rhinestones (Pizzazz Aplenty)

16 comments

Niki Estes said...

Such a pretty card, Julee! I love the colors, papers, and touches of sparkle! Sounds like a very productive vacation! :)

Tanya said...

Oh Julee this is gorgeous! You have been a busy, busy, girl!!

Kim said...

so pretty! I love these colors

Tosha Leyendekker said...

So sweet, charming and beautiful Julee!! I love the dp's you combined with one of my fave sets!! LOVE the colors and your happy butterflies!!

Sarah Gough said...

you've been busy but it sounds so rewarding - yay for you! This card is gorgeous too!

Jen Shults said...

This is gorgeous Julee! I love the subtle shading of grey around everything and the bright colors. And you are so true... fear of failing holds us back from doing so much. I'm glad you were able to accomplish so much over your vacation!

Debbie Carriere said...

Julee, glad you're back & I love this card!!! Love the vivid colors and all the bling :) Happy to hear you accomplished a lot while on "stay-cation" - lol! Have a great week!

Amy Sheffer said...

Gorgeous, Julee! Love the mix of papers, the glittery butterflies, and the special little details ... twine, liquid pearls, the bling in the argyle. Love what you did with my VLV sketch!

Congrats on all the productivity, around the house, too, Julee! Sounds like a big accomplishment!

irishgalkelly said...

Julee,
What a bright and cheery card! Love the colors and beautiful design. Those butterflies are my favorites!

I really needed to hear your words today. I have a l-o-n-g list of home projects and have put them off for far too long. So long that it is weighing me down. My husband and I decided to work on a few things this weekend with the extra days off. I hope to accomplish a tad of what you got done. Thanks for the inspiration today!

Marisa said...

Can you and Mark come to my house and help me with my long list LOL!

My dad had a saying I have always loved and often used when life, school, work etc. gets overwhelming: "How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time!" Looks like you don't have much elephant left :) Always feels sooooo good once you are done so a big congrats to the two of you for all your accomplishments over the past week!

Love the bright colours on your card and the fun DPs. I'm sure your friend will love receiving it. Good to have you back in blogland:)

NormaJ said...

Sounds like you got your mojo back in many different ways. I need to do that with my house. I took all the accessories out of my living room last week, and then put back some of them in different places. Oddly enough I was watching Nate Berkus on Friday, and he said to make a small change, clear the room and then bring back those things in a different order. It will feel like a new room. It does too. Love your card and it is colourful, but I like the shading on the edges. It tones down the colour with a finishing touch. Very nice.

Luanne said...

So thankful for your encouraging words today! I had a crummy day at work today, and your words and sweet card really helped! I think Miss Rainbow will adore her card too! TFS!

SAMARA said...

Hi julee: what a great post. inspiring and real. i love that about you...genuine and no bones about sharing the good, bad and the ugly! oh, i just read your "about me." I LOVE IT! not only a creator of the stamp etc. life but a wonderful therapeutic writer too! (I was a counsellor for 30 years...your stuff is the grit that works!!!) your card is lovely and light yet high flying with its colors. i love the blingidoodle on the diamond paper. such little things yet add so much. great array of color...hmmm almost makes me think summer - >without rain! Hugs, Samara xox

Chrisd said...

We have an exciting weekend planned to clean , repair, & decltter...and a barbeque thrown in there too!Thanks for sharing your renovation process and inspiration to tackle our things too.

Linda Carson said...

Beautiful artwork! Love your creative style!

Peachy Wessels said...

I loved your card - very colorful and uplifting! Also, you are so right about change and how one procrastinates & about being afraid to fail! I found your words of wisdom something to thing about and very encouraging! Good luck on all of your projects!