Spoonie Squad

So, if you don't know me well, you may not know that I am a "Spoonie". I have Fibromyalgia, simplified this means I suffer from overactive nerves, anxiety, depression, migraines, stomach problems, mid to extreme pain at any given time... the list goes on. Audra at Kindred Stamps, (that's my referral link, you'll get 10% off your first order and I will be rewarded too), was excited to create a stamp set to celebrate and give voice to myself, and those like me, the Spoonie community. "Spoonie" is a term used by those of us with chronic illnesses, chronic pain, and limited energy.

"Spoonie Squad" was released by Kindred Stamps last month, and it features an excellent assortment of sentiments, spoons, and a couple little leaves. I created 4 cards myself for the release.

First, I used silver embossing powder and the four unique spoons to create a border on both the top and bottom of the card, next I chose the sentiment. I felt like this one was a great celebration for my friends who suffer like me, I kept this card in cool colors, silver, white, and a little turquoise.  

My next card, I used the Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Inks and layered the colors light to dark to create a simple, but beautiful background. I felt a bit snarky, so I thought "you can just fork off" was perfect here.  I sandwiched the saying between two silver spoons.

Typically, I find myself doing a lot of layering but I wanted to keep this one simple so I used a corner punch to add a touch of elegance and finished it with dimensional tape to make the featured part pop from the base.

My next card, again, I kept simple but used more layers again. The black background makes the red and touches of green and silver pop. I used a single spoon with this sentiment to make the impact that much more powerful. I wanted to show off the leaves and put it in the corner.

My last card was a little more work. I chose a nice green base and used these beautiful roses from So Suzy Stamps to create a pretty little card. I colored them in using Copic and StyleFile Markers by Brutus Monroe.

I felt like the glitter tape behind the sentiment makes the impact of the sentiment a little better. This sentiment is super powerful for me. My anxiety, energy, and pain levels are always putting a kibosh on my plans. My friends and family always seem to have to move on without me.

It's been a while since I was able to create a blog post just because I wanted to. I am SO happy that I was able to finally get these up for all to see! My disease means a lot of missed events, laying around in pain, trying all sorts of medicines, both homeopathic and prescription, little to no answers, glares from people that think I'm faking, concerned looks from strangers, and so much more. I am beyond grateful to have crafting in my little world. Being able to create something beautiful makes my life qualify infinitely better, the friends that I've made in this community, and the friends I've brought to this community keep me going even on the hardest of days.

I hope you've enjoyed this post and please remember that not all disabilities are visible, you can't the pain some people live with daily.

~R. Winn

Release Day at Kindred Stamps!! - Planner Stamps: Vacations

Hi friends!!!

I have a VERY exciting couple of things to share with you today!  First, my very sweet friend, Audra, owner of Kindred Stamps has asked me to become part of her creative team, the Kindred Stampers! Thus far, we are a small group of gals who love her quirky, magical stamps.  Many of my projects use them and I'm so excited to get to share more with you!

Today is release day at Kindred Stamps!  Audra is launching her new line of planner stamps and she decided, like any good DisNerd, that they would be based off the most magical of all vacation spots, Disney! Get this awesome set here: Kindred Stamps: Vacations.

As you can see, I was a TOUCH excited about it! now, as I'm in the last week before my anniversary trip to Walt Disney World, what a better way to layout our plans?? 

I broke out my Erin Condren planner, my Japan Disney markers, my ink spots, and my Memento Ink in Tuxedo Black from Stampin' Up! Then I set off looking at the plans we made, and using my excitement to let my creative juices flow... I won't lie, not every day in my planner is pretty, some of them are very clearly hot messes of colors and stamps and the excitement overpowered the creativity!


I am pretty excited about the awesomeness of that castle and fireworks set up though! That adorable Mickey head? You know the one you're looking for on the set but not finding?  I took the large circle for the head and the smaller circle afterwards to make two mousey ears! Oh clever me!

Now, I know I've got some awesome color combos going on here, time to shout out to So Suzy Stamps and her awesome ink bites!!! I use these things for my planner constantly, the bright colors make sure that my planner isn't dull... because that would be very unRachel... and we CAN'T have that!

Now my next fun trick?? That little dot? It makes a really nice pattern that's similar to say... Minnie Mouse's dress when used repeatedly!  Our second day at WDW will be all about the Magic Kingdom, we'll definitely be having churros and a Dole whip so those clever stamps made their way on the page!  I love the words she's included... Fastpass, Reservation, Memories, and the beautiful Once Upon a Time were my most used for this trip!!

Now... I have to admit, I do have one "cheat" day planned with one of my amazing gal pals at Harry Potter World and Universal. (SHHH Don't tell on me!) So the fun little roller coaster made an appearance! 

I also took the fun little fireworks to make a background for our anniversary day... My excitement (and lack of a hard surface got the better of me trying to stamp the castle... but what can you do? 

Ok, so I know some of you may be curious about how I kept my stamping inside the cute little boxes in my planner? My answer? Post It Notes!  I lined the edges of the box with Post It Notes, stamped my little heart out and then peeled them off!

We have some fun things planned like the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, Voyage of the Little Mermaid (like the swim suit Disneybound?? hehehe) and of course the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular. I love using my stamps to tell the story of my day. 

Finally, I used my pretty castle and Tropical Teal ink bite from So Suzy to create a simple background.  

Creativity doesn't have to be complex, it isn't always pretty, but it should always be fun! 

Don't forget to hop over to Kindred Stamps to pick up this set, and several other amazing stamps and creative tools!

Love,

R. Winn

Love is in the air... and so is a sale!

So today, I'm home sick, but I've had this box of of Stampin' Up products that have been staring at me for a little over a month.  I've had so many projects that had deadlines, so many gifts that I needed to make that taking the time to create something I wanted rather something I had to.  Today, I played with my new Stampin' Up products from the new Occasions catalog and the Sale-a-bration special products!  

Before I show up my creation for the day, I want to tell you about Sale-a-bration, for every $50 you spend, you get to pick a free gift from the cattie for FREE.  Twice a year, Stampin' Up puts out an Occasions cattie as well, it's a mini catalog that gives you a change to pick up some products geared towards the time of year it is (i.e. Spring and Valentine's day or Winter and Christmas). This Occasions mini ROCKS, so many fun products and the SAB gifts are absolutely wonderful! I'm absolutely thrilled with what we've got available.  Now through March 31st, you can get your own free gifts! Some are limited time, so don't wait!

With no further ado, my fun for today!

I used the Shine On DSP which has 12 different designs, each fun and unique... oh and about half of them sparkle!  The stamp set is the What I Love photopolymer set, which was one of my SAB gifts, I stamped it in Stanzon Black Ink using my MISTI, which you can purchase from So Suzy Stamps and using my referral link, http://r.sloyalty.com/r/udNBO8QQbUdY you will get 10% off your first order!  MISTI allows me to stamp the same image or sentiment repeatedly, crisp, clear, and exact.  It is brilliant!

For the beautiful flowers, I used the Blushing Bride Glimmer Paper, and the Red Glimmer Paper.  I used my Big Shot, Magnetic Platform and the Rose Garden Thinlit Dies to cut them from the Glimmer Paper, for the small pink flower, I used my Stampin Trimmer to make cut the edge of one off to make the smaller accents on the edges. 

I used Real Red Cardstock for the base, cut a one centimeter "frame" with the Blushing Bride Glimmer Paper and used our Multipurpose Liquid Glue to attach the two layers, then in the cut out portion of my cut frame, I used Dimensionals to attach the Shine On DSP to the card!

I think this may go to my husband for Valentine's Day!  I hope that you enjoy this as much as I enjoyed making it.  Feel free to let me know if you have any questions, or even better, give me some love!

~R. Winn
My Stampin' Up Website

What Happens When I'm Itching to be Creative but My Fibromyalgia Forces Me to Sit on the Couch!

Long ridiculous title, I know.  Today's card is a product of forced "relaxation," aka sitting on the couch because pain and fatigue have taken over your life, and an itch to actually use a few of my new stamps from So Suzy Stamps! 

Last week I missed a few days of work, dealing with a flare up of my fibromyalgia... not fun.  After so many hours watch Netflix I tend to get a bit stir crazy.  

My husband ordered me to turn on some music and color so I would relax.  Out came my Copics and Wink of Stella markers, and sitting in a bin unused looking at me with sad eyes was the So Suzy Stamps Seahorse that I had so desperately wanted (I may have even threatened a few friends to make sure I was first to order when Suzy restocked!... Good thing they love me!)  

I started coloring up Polo (the seahorse) first, but seeing as I had put on Fantasia (my version of turning on music!) He ended up a little psychedelic, but as adorable as I always knew he would be!!  He turned out to be a she... as did all my little critters, in fact, she ended up being a bit of a Rapunzel Disneybound! HEHE!

 


Next, I grabbed some little fishies.  This little ladies are tooooooo cute, I was suppose to add googly eyes, but I forgot, good thing they turned out perfect anyways!

I ended up with Tink, Snow White, Cinderella, and Aurora.  All covered in glitter, as princess fishies should be.  Can you tell yet just how much time I had been sitting on the couch without any sort of creative outlet?

 

I also colored up a few more critters and my adorable coral.  Not everyone could fit on my small card so at least they can have a little moment to shine here!  Meet Ariel the Octopus, and Belle, the Sea Turtle

Today, I decided they needed a home and created a card using a few of my critters! Here, are Rapunzel, Cindy, and Snow by their sea castle on a "Happy Birthday" card.

I used the Fireworks available from So Suzy Stamps to create a fun blue violet water-colored background.  Then took her Castle stamp (another I NEEDED, but had not used!) and stamped it onto the background.  I used Stampin' Up Stamp 'n' Write markers to color in the castle and walkway. 

For the "Happy Birthday" I took a Close to My Heart Stamp I had on hand and used my MISTI and Wedding Dress White Memento Luxe ink.  I had to put down several layers to make the white stamp out from the water-colored background, the final result is pretty awesome! Using some dimensionals and adhesive I placed the critters on where I felt they fit best. I finished the card off with some DoubleClick Skittles as little air bubbles from the fish!

I double mounted the base I had created on some pretty seaweed green CS from my stock and the on top of that I used a water print from a designer paper that I got several years ago at JoAnn Fabric. 

Check out So Suzy Stamps August, Be The Sea Challenge on her blog!

As always, thank you for dropping by!

 ~R. Winn

Visit my Stampin' Up website if you need some supplies!