Hello, I'm Back!!

Hello Friends!  I'm back!  The last time I posted on this site was in 2015 but I decided to give blogging a try again.  I am a newly retired person.  I retired from my job on August 1st, 2026 (yipee!!) and now that I have a lot of free time, I want to give card making and scrapbooking another try.  I really miss blogging.  I remember back over a decade ago when blogging was popular,. I had so much fun interacting with other bloggers and paper crafters back then.  I know a lot of the original bloggers no longer blog, many have moved on to other hobbies or are now using other social media platforms such as Instagram to showcase their creations.

I do have an instagram specifically for paper crafting and although I've posted on there on occasion, I haven't been consistent in posting any of my creations on there.  I have tried over the past10 years to make cards and to scrapbook but, sadly, I could not get my crafting mojo going.  It has been mainly because I just didn't have the time due to my job and I had also lost interest in crafting in general.  I shifted a lot of my focus on gardening but I would really like to get back to paper crafting again.

I've kept most of my cardmaking and scrapbooking supplies with the belief that I would some day use them again.  I know there are new products and techniques for cardmaking and scrapbooking but my focus will be mainly to use the materials that I do already have and resist buying any more new items.  Like with anything in life, that can change.  😆

There were moments when I did try to craft throughout the years but I could not stick with it and be consistent but let me see how this goes.  Blogging always motivated me in the past to create new things because I almost treated my blog as a journal and I enjoyed sharing my new creations.  I'm hoping that by blogging again, I will be inspired to create again.  I also have other things I would like to share about my life as a retired person such as my life  adventures, gardening, and other things I plan to do as I navigate this new chapter of my life. If you want you can also visit or follow me on Instagram:  Stampin Inspirations I plan to post on there regularly as well.  

I'll share this card for now.  It's a card I actually created last year.  Most of the products on this card are retired Stampin Up products.  Keep in mind, the products I'll be using on my cards are not current products because my goal is to use materials I already have.  I've hoarded craft materials for the past 20 years and I really do need to use them.  Say hello if you come across my post.  Although my intentions is not to obtain new followers or focus on anyone visiting my blog, it would be nice to hear from you. Until next time. . . 💗💗💗

Visit me on Instagram: Stampin Inspirations

 

Penny Black and Magnolia Stamps Cards

Hey Friends!  I recently stopped by Joanne's and Michaels and I noticed that they are downsizing on  their paper crafting section, especially Michaels.  They no longer carry a wide variety of punches like EK Success (which I loved), they discontinued carrying Spellbinder dies, they no longer carry that many scrapbook papers like K&Co.  I think it's the CAS trend of  card making and Project Life style of scrapbooking that is leading to the down sizing.  I know it's the trend right now but wow, I feel they killed the paper crafting industry. For people like me who still like to use designer papers and punches, bows and embellishments, it saddens me a bit to see how limited the selections are now.  Even the rubber stamping businesses are closing shop.  Ugggh!  I know simple is good in a different way. . .it's faster to create cards and scrapbook layouts and also less expensive because you don't have to buy as many items, but gosh, in my opinion, it haven't been good for the paper crafting industry.  

Thankfully, I still a lot of scrapbook papers, punches, dies and rubber stamps to last me a lifetime!   Anyway, just my thoughts with what is going on in the paper crafting world. 

 Just a brief information about the cards. . . for the first card above, I used Penny Black for the image and Magnolia stamps for the second card.  For both cards, I used retired Stampin Up designer papers. . . which thankfully I have a ton of. 

With this card, I also used Penny Black.  The designer papers are by DCWV which I also have a ton of!  I have a ton of everything. . .I probably can open my own paper crafting store with all the stuff I have.  Anyway, that's it for now.  I'll blog again when I have the time.  Hope you all have a wonderful day!!

Etsy Shop: Inspired & Unscripted

Like my Facebook Page 

 

Masculine Cards

Hi Friends!  Gosh, it's been a while since I last blogged.  I'm finally done with my classes and on summer break.  It's nice to have a break from writing papers and studying.  It's been over a decade since I last was in college and it's been hard to get back to studying mode, especially writing papers and such.

I normally don't make masculine cards but I did make a few a while back and wanted to share them.  It's hard not to add a bow on my cards. . . that's primarily the reason why I don't make too many masculine cards because you have to keep it simple.

Distressing the card is a great way to design a masculine card and using baker's twine rather than ribbon.  I don't have too many masculine image but geese flying I guess is a good masculine image.

Black and white with a touch of blue is another way to keeping a card masculine.

This is simple I could get.  LOL!  I did use a ribbon so it satisfied my need to add embellishments to the card.  Copper colored brads are great embellishments for masculine cards.

That's it for today.  Thank you for stopping by my blog.

 
Etsy Shop: Inspired & Unscripted

Like my Facebook Page 

 

4.5 x 6.25" Cards

 Hey There!!  It's me again!  I actually have time off today from my school assignments. The week starts all over again but it's a free day for me so I decided to blog something.  The cards I've posted are actually larger cards from the typical A2 card size.  These measure 4.5 x 6.25".  I had a bunch of Stampin Up envelopes that I wanted to use up so I made these larger cards.  I actually prefer it from the A2 (4.25 x 5.5") size cards because there's more room to work with.

I have a lot of "sentiment" stamps that I really would like to work with.  They're too large to use as a sentiment along with large images so I've been trying to incorporate images into the background of the sentiment designs.  Flower images really make for good background images for sentiments.

The fern images in the background are by Stampin Up.

The butterfly images are by Stampin Up as well.

I don't know who makes the rose image for this card.  I used a clear stamp but I threw away the packaging and now I can't remember the brand.  Sometimes clear stamps are difficult to use with markers.  They give that splotchy appearance on the image so I had to fill it in with Copic Markers.  I actually like the effect though.

The image on this card is by Flourishes and the paper is by Stampin Up.  I added dots to the image using iridescent paint.

Anyway, since it's my free day I think I'm going to spend my day making cards.  It'll be a fun day for me.  I hope everyone has a beautiful day!!

Etsy Shop: Inspired & Unscripted

Like my Facebook Page 

 

More Cards. The Greeting Farm, House Mouse, Pink Cat Studio, Whipper Snapper

Hi there Friends!  I felt like blogging something today.  I'm back on my Fitbit routine.  On my last post I mentioned that I use Fitbit to track my walking and other activities as well as my caloric intake.  I went off it for about 2 weeks but I'm back on tracking my steps again.  Trying to lose weight and exercising regularly is such an effort.  My day actually revolves around it sometimes and it can get exhausting.  It's no wonder people can't stick to a diet or exercise routine.  The key is to not get to a point where you have to go on a diet and exercise is actually a normal life routine rather than something that you have to work at incorporating in your life.  I hope to get to that point one day.  In the meantime, it's a struggle.  

Anyway. . . .I'm sharing a bunch of cards I made in February.  I do make cards regularly but I no longer blog them regularly.  I'm still old school when it comes to making cards.  I haven't jumped on the CAS bandwagon.  Honestly, the CAS trend is killing the papercrafting industry. . .LOL!  I went to Joanne's a few weeks ago and I no longer saw the EK Success punches.  I love them!  I also saw less of a selection of scrapbook papers.  I didn't see any K&Company papers. I think they stopped making designer papers which I find very sad.  I loved their paper designs.  A lot of paper crafting businesses have closed down.  I think the scrapbooking industry has suffered the most by this CAS trend.  For consumers, it's a good thing because you no longer have to buy a lot of supplies to make a card or scrapbooking so it's good for your wallet.  Personally, I want my cards to look like I made them not emulate printed cards. I love blings and pretty paper designs.  I like my cards layered with bows with lots of pretty colors.  Anyway, that's just my opinion.

 The image on this card is by Penny Black.  I love Penny Black images.  They have really cute animal stamps.

 

The image on this card is by Whipper Snapper.  They also have very cute animal images.

The image on this card is by the Greeting Farm.  

 Awww and the image on this card is by Pink Cat Studio. 

That's it for today.  I have a paper to write for one of my classes.  I have so many papers to write, reading assignments, and projects to do.  This quarter has been a struggle for me.  I can't wait to finish.  I'm hoping to complete the program by May.  I have thought of getting my Master's degree but after going through this certificate program, I'm not quite sure I could handle it.  I love learning but I don't love writing papers and graduate school requires a lot of writing so I'm not sure it's something I want to do anymore.  The future is uncertain right now but I'm trying to see the light at the end of the tunnel but lately, it's been a bit of difficult to see it.  I'm just hoping things will work out and good things will come my way.

Thank you for stopping by and hope to blog again real soon!

Etsy Shop: Inspired & Unscripted

Like my Facebook Page 

 

Hi There! Just a Bunch of Cards I Made!

Hi Friends!  Gosh it's been a while.  I was hoping to blog regularly but I guess that won't be happening.  My classes started last month and there are so many reading requirements, papers, and projects that I haven't had time to do a lot of things that I typically do.  The load is heavier this quarter than it was in the last quarter.  

I did make a few cards this month whenever I was able to squeeze in the time.  I also started on a fitness journey.  I bought a Fitbit.  For those who don't know what that is.  It's pretty much a pedometer that syncs with your phone so you can keep track of your steps.  You can also connect with friends online to encourage one another.  I was doing really well up until about a week and half ago when my class assignments started piling up and I went off track a little.  I'm very disappointed that I haven't been walking or keeping track of my intake the past 2 weeks when I was doing so well last month.  I did manage to lose 13 lbs so I'm happy about that. I'm hoping to get back on track again.   Anyone have a Fitbit? 

 I did work on a bunch of Valentine's Day cards and other cards.  The images on both cards above are by Stampin Up.  I've been trying to use a bunch of my older rubber stamps.  It's a shame to not use them.  I'm going to start selling a bunch of my craft stuff again.  I have been selling a few on Ebay occasionally but I really need to work on downsizing my stuff.  I have too many things I really don't need anymore.  I no longer have the luxury or time to use them.  I miss the days when I could freely craft whenever I felt like it. 

With this card I used my Unity Stamps.  I have a bunch them that I need to use.  I'm thinking of letting go a bunch of my Unity Stamps.  I'll let you folks know once I start listing them on Ebay.

For this card I used a Rachelle Anne Miller stamps and colored it with Copic Markers and Prima Color Pencils.

I used Unity Stamps for this card.  This is the first time I've used these images.

The sentiment on this card is by Inkidinkado.  The ones that they sell at Joannes.  I have a lot of them.  I remember I would head to Joannes and buy a whole bunch of them at a time.  I no longer buy too many things anymore.  I have just way too many things I bought that I haven't used and I need to focus on those items rather than buying more of them.  The flower image is by Stampin Up and I added beads to the center of the flower.  

Anyway. . .I have bunch more cards that I made.  I'll share them on another day.  I hope you all have a wonderful day!


Etsy Shop: Inspired & Unscripted

Like my Facebook Page 

 

Happy New Year and Valentine's Day Cards - Unity Stamps and Kraftin' Kimmie

Happy New Year Friends!  Did you all have a wonderful start of the year?  Honestly, I started on the wrong foot. . . .it started off with quite a few issues but I think it's settling down and maybe at this point it'll get better.  On a happier note, I actually started on a diet and fitness plan and have stuck to all of my goals for the past 5 days.  It's a good start and I'm confident I'll be able to stick with it.  I do have to come to terms that I won't be able to eat the way I have been eating for years.  I think with time it'll get easier.  I just need to remain focused.  My daughter said that I shouldn't be negative about it but I am being honest with myself. . .I think it's okay to grieve over it. . .LOL!  I can't believe I'm grieving over food. . .but it is a loss.  For example, my daughter and I were out shopping yesterday and she suggested that we stop by to eat breakfast somewhere and I told her I couldn't and wanted to eat at home.  It disappointed her and it's disappointing to me too because this is something we loved doing together but until I can get into the habit of not eating fatty food, eating out in a restaurant will just sabotage my goals.  

I was thinking of purchasing the Fitbit Flex but it's pricey so I need to hold off on it right now.  Eventually I think I will buy it but I need to work out a fitness plan first before I do.  I need to concentrate on changing my eating habit first before I can think of going on a fitness plan head on.  I don't want to burn myself out early in the game.  It's one step at a time.

Anyway, let me talk about the cards I made.  The sentiment on the card above was rubber stamped using an Inkidinkado clear stamp. The designer paper is by Stampin Up.

I used a Unity Stamps for this card.  It's a simple design but the paper design helps bring color to the card.

This image is by Kraftin' Kimmie!  This is the first time I've inked it.  I really love the Stampin Designer paper design with the little hearts.

 

For this card, I used Unity Stamps again.  In contrast to my previous card, this card is really busy but I like it. 

Anyway, my goal for this year is to blog more often.  Not exactly daily but maybe several times a week.  I hope I can stick to this goal.  Hope you all have a wonderful Monday!

Etsy Shop: Inspired & Unscripted

Like my Facebook Page 

 

Valentine's Day Card and Other Cards

Hi there friends!  I'm still chugging away making cards.  I wanted to share cards I made this month that aren't Christmas related.  I've already started on Valentine's Day cards and other cards that are unrelated to the holidays.  My goal for the new year is to try to use more of my scraps so I'll probably do a lot more layering.  I have so many small pieces of card stock and designer papers. 

I used Stampin Up for the above card, both designer paper and rubber stamp images.

I used Whiff of Joy for this card and the sentiment is by Unity Stamps.

This is the first time I used this Greeting Farm image.  I have quite a few TGF stamps.  I don't use them as often as I used to.  I have too many stamps that I own that I haven't used so I'm concentrating on them right now.

The sentiment on this card is by Unity Stamps.  I have a lot of sentiment stamps that I would like to use more so another goal of mine for the new year is to use more of them on my cards.

The designer papers on this card is by Stampin Up.  I have A LOT of designer papers that it's not funny.  It's sad that I know I won't be able to use all of them no matter how many cards I make.  Maybe I should focus on making scrapbook layouts so I can dwindle down my stock of scrapbook paper.

 I love most or all of Stampin Up flower images.  All of them are such great rubber stamps.  The designer papers on this card is also by Stampin Up.

The image and the sentiment on this card is by Unity Stamps.  Honestly I initially didn't know how to use the tree image.  I used markers to color the image but I didn't like how it turned out so I added a bit of glitter to the butterflies to make the image stand out a little more.

Anyway, that's it for now.  I hope you all have a wonderful day!

Etsy Shop: Inspired & Unscripted

Like my Facebook Page