Spring is (Almost) Here and Living with Style Blog Hop
Welcome to our Blog Hop! We are eagerly awaiting spring and today we have some great ideas, inspiration, tips, resources and how-to for you this Spring as you move along through the blog hop.
You may just be starting the blog hop or may have come from Pam Baker at The Birch Cottage on our Living with Style Blog Hop. If you get off track at any time, the full lineup below will help you move along from blog to blog so you make sure to see and learn from all of the articles featured here today.
I am greatly looking forward to spring and all the hope that it brings for new beginnings. Seems like the change of seasons come just in time to rejuvenating our spirits, giving our steps a little extra purpose. This time of the year I start opening up the house, cleaning out old stuff, and straightening what I have ignored all winter long. My body just seems to be longing for warmth and sun! The flowers start to be bloom! Here in Alabama the process has slowly started. Our Daffodils just started appearing in the yard. For us, this is always the first sign that Spring is just around the corner.
Make sure to cut and bring in some of your fresh flowers! That way you can enjoy the even on rainy dreary days.
Over the weekend I started cleaning for spring. This is a necessary much needed evil of life. That seems to just be part of the natural process of seasons changing. I tend to do this right before fall also! So, I started with the most cluttered room. The craft area (AKA dinning room) I paint and make cards and what ever else comes to my crafting mind in this room. Over the last several weeks I have been jumping from project to project not taking time to pick up! So it was quite a sight! This weekend it will be the pantry and kitchen areas. And so on and so on and so on……… I hate and love this process of never being through….
Something else that tends too just naturally happen is that my wardrobe just seems to start cheering up. I bring out brighter colors to ware. More yellows and pinks and greens. Just one day it come to me…I need more color ….It’s just something we do as Spring approaches…. With this in mind my cards start to show the evidence of pinks, yellows, and greens as well. I start pulling out flower stamp sets and wanting to paint happy stuff….
So as we approach the Spring season it is time to remember to chase our dreams, clean a little, play a lot, and hope for a bright future!
While working on this I mentioned to Mike “the man” that I need some ideas about the change of season. A few minuets later he came back with this quote…”In the presence of spring we all delight. Feeling the warmth and viewing the blooms of her gifts to me and you”…Wow, he really hit the nail on the head with that one!!! I love the thought of delighting in the presence of spring!
I am loving the Picture Perfect Stamp Set from the occasions catalog by Stampin’ Up! This set just really makes me happy. The roses are truly picture perfect.
Picture Perfect Stamp Set
The layered look this set is really popular right now. Because, the layered stamps make it easy to give a sophisticated look. I had to practice several times before getting the rose layered correctly. It is not something most of us get on our first try. But, defiantly worth the effort. My process was to choose three colors that went together for each layer of the rose. Because the base layer was so light I was having a hard time lining it up. So I stamped the second layer first then went back and stamped the first layer. Then stamped the last layer. I did this while I was practicing then went back to the 1,2,3 process after I was confidant I know how to line everything up correctly. The 1,2,3 process to me really gives the nicest results. 1. Lightest layer 2. Medium layer and 3. Dark layer
This time I paired it with the Brushstrokes Stamp Set by Stampin’ Up! And a Wonderful sentiment stamp from Altenew called thoughts & reminders. And the pretty little corners are in the stamp set Help Me Grow by Stampin’ Up!
The inks used are The Ton Couture Color in Rose Quarts, Soft Garnet, Red Sangria and Stampin’ Up! Mint Macaron and Always Artichoke. The Ton makes some really great inks. You would think that with all the colors Stampin’ Up! has I would never buy any other colors. But, some times a girl just needs some change.
The card base is Smokey Slate. My favorite gray! I just love the softness of this gray!!!!!!
Our cat’s enjoyed the craft room (AKA Dinning Room) clean up! Between a chair and a big box they made home to watch the cleaning frenzy begin! They love being close but “hidden” and most of all snuggled up together. It want be long and the Spring will hit and they will be running and chasing all over the place…
Siamon and Maggie Mae
The next stop is, Natalie Bradley at NatalieBradley.com on Living with Style blog hop! Thanks for visiting and I hope to see you again next time around!
Blog Hop Lineup:
- Lory Robinson at The Robin’s Nest Designs
- Kristy Stewart at Under My Gabled Roof
- Beth McCullough at Stamping Mom
- Lisa Milligan at Life on Merlin
- Pam Baker at The Birch Cottage
- Jennifer Spiller at Westside Paper Creations
- Natalie Bradley at NatalieBradley.com
Here is the supply list:
Remember if you like that sentiment it is from Altenew (Thoughts & Reminders) and be sure to check out the Couture Color ink by The Tone
Stampin’ Up Products:
- Picture Perfect Stamp Set
- Brushstrokes Stamp
- Help Me Grow Stamp Set
- Smokey Slate Card stock
- Whisper White Card stock
- Stampin’ Dimentionals
- Paper Snips
- Mint Macaron Ink Pad
- Always Artichoke Ink Pad
- Multipurpose Glue
I will leave you with one last thought courtesy of “The Man” he stole partly from Omar Khayyam
A glass of wine,
A book beneath my pillow,
and Spring by my side
Enjoy your Wednesday and be sure to finish hopping along with all the others!
Much Love,
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