Back to school for the Blogging Friends Blog Hop

Welcome to the August Blogging Friends Blog Hop. This month we are all sharing Back to School paper crafting using  Stampin’ Up! products.

I will be quite honest with you, this them had me stumped.  1. I don’t have stamp sets that are school-themed. I discovered this after going through my current stamp sets trying to decide what exactly I wanted to create.  I even tried to be creative and look at my stamps in a new way.  I wished many times that I had purchased the playful alphabet dies.  Cause, I had a great idea for those in my head.  2. I realized that I have been making a very big effort to not buy for the sake of collecting.  And the reality was I just don’t have a reason to purchase items that are school-oriented. Where I was really struggling was in the sentiment.  What does back to school say in 2020??? I could have easily made a cute little box or a fun fold but, if you know me  You know those are only things I do in my head.  The reality is I struggle daily to just get what has to be done done.  This is why you will see a basic card from me 98% of the time. All of this to say,  I can up with a wonderful idea after thinking about my options for several days!  In the end, I decided to pick a stamp set and then try and relate that to back to school. Mind you I was still pondering the sentiment???

The stamp set I landed on was field of flowers. I really adore the silhouette look of this stamp set.  And it has been sitting in my to use basket for a few months. So, it was definitely time to get it out!

Field of Flowers

One of the things that came to my mind was the time that my Mom (a science teacher) took me and my friend Holli to this field for our bug collections.  She gave us each a butterfly net, a jar with lid, and told us to not break the wings. And there we were two teenage girls running around trying to catch butterflies, dragonflies, and anything else we could find.  This is the thing I learned from that experience.  That my Mom did for us what she did for every one of her students.  She gave us all the tools we need to be successful with our bug projects then she let us choose to learn and be successful with our bug projects.  I remember growing up, bug collection time of year always had students around after school trying to identify that one big they just couldn’t figure out.  The kids would have books out, bug collections from past years, they would ask questions and get simple answers. Sometimes, the look would tell them all they needed to know.

Remembering all this brought me to thinking about the very unique school year we are about to embark on.  Teachers, parents, kids, and administration all trying to balance that fine line between health, education, and empowering kids.  I have no idea what I would do if I was in there situation.  I thought about how much our educators need our support and understanding.  As well as our parents who have chosen virtual,  blended, or homeschool as the best option for their family.  That’s when I know, this has to be thinking of you card.  Cause, that’s what 2020 demands. More strength, more hope, and more faith.

• The background is created with some simple ink blending.  The sky, balmy blue, seaside spray, and blueberry bushel. I just keep playing with the colors until I got it how I liked.  The grass is call me clover and garden green
• I used my heat tool to dry the background. This kinda helps set the ink. So, I could move on to the stamping
• I did all the stamping in back. Night of Navy would have looked very nice as well
• The thinking of you is from the seaside notions stamp set
• I tried to go the opposite of the blue on the color wheel to add a little extra pop. My choice of orange was Calypso coral

Thank you for stopping by today and for sticking around through all my chat. 

Each of your comments makes me smile! Please, comment HERE.

In case you are interested in seeing someone amazing ideas for Wonderful ways to use paper crafting for school gifts or just to make a sweet gift. Check out my sweet friend Julie’s blog.  You can find her at The Paper Pixie.  Her work amazes me!  She’s a queen at 3-D and tinny boxes! I hope you have a great day! Go and be creative my friends-