Happy Monday….Happy New Week…can you believe that this is the LAST WEEK of the month! Yikes, the calendar is putting age on us! When I hear the word “September”…I think of kids going to school….and then I think of….here it comes….hang tight… as the next 3 Months will be the “trifecta” time of the year !!! Let the holidays roll!

Friday just simply did not happen but have no fear…I am here to sow you how you can make the perfect compliment to the Note Cards and Envelopes that I blogged about using the Abstract Impressions AMAZING Stamp Set! I really do love this little gem and yes, I did cave in and bought it as a bundle but honestly….if you like super clean designs, just get the stamp as it is one that you will use over and over….

I am going to share with you the colors that I used for the Note Cards when I stamped them. I had lots of comments and emails about that so keep reading as I will share!

Here is a great tip that I recommend that you do…PLAY and just have FUN with all different color combinations. I think that you will be amazed with how even just stamping off and also double stamping a color will give you a great effect if you do not have a bunch of ink colors!

I can remember a great little tip that a wonderful elderly man gave me when I was gardening one day just after I was married…..decades ago!  🙂 I was very young and did not know a thing about gardening and colors etc…This tip stuck with me stuck with me as I was trying to be a perfectionist.

Sweet little Mr. Kunkleman came over and said….looks like your having a hard time deciding what to plant? I said, yep….I just do not have the same amount and the color won’t match and be balanced. He sweetly and kindly looked at me and said…it really doesn’t matter because God loves and splashes all colors…everywhere with all sorts of textures and heights…just plant them and you will see how the mix beautifully and will pop with color!

Where does this go with stampin’? EASY…do not stress!!!

I admit, I think of him and this advice often when I get stressed out with finding the perfect colors when I stamp. When you really stop and think about it…it doesn’t matter, what matters is that you are having fun creating! Here is another thing that I often will say to myself – does it really matter???….my cards and the images I stamp and color are my own little imaginary world…the important part to always remember, is to have fun!

Here are the colors that I used for the above sweet notecards!

Remember….no rules – just have fun!

• Top left – The grass/stems are Granny Apple Green and Garden Green. The flowers Highland Heather and Gorgeous Grape were both STAMPED OFF ONCE and then I stamped the color.
• Top right – The grass/stems are Mint Macaron and Tranquil Tide. The flowers Petal Pink (full strength) and Calypso Coral  was STAMPED OFF ONCE and then I stamped the color.
• Bottom left – The grass/stems are Lemon Lime Twist and Pear Pizzazz.The flowers are Coastal Cabana and Bermuda Bay were both STAMPED OFF ONCE and then I stamped the color.
• Bottom right – The grass/stems are Granny Apple Green and Garden Green . The flowers Daffodil Delight STAMPED OFF ONCE and the stamped in the same color FULL STRENGTH.

Now I know what you are also going to want….the SCOOP on making the Box! I have blogged about this before and you can click here to see a more detailed post on the box….but below you will see quick bullet points that will give most of you the details that you really need.

If I were you….I would make a box today and then write the measurements and scoring scoop down. Trust me, you will make this over and over….another reason that a “formula concept” always works!

For the Box:

• Granny Apple Green Cardstock – 8″ X 11″
• Score on the 8″side (shorter) at 2″ & 6″ I do use and suggest the Simply Scored Tool….I always think that leave a deeper impression than the trimmer…again, it is a basic tool that we all need and will use!
• Turn Paper to the 11″ side (longer) and score at 4 1/2″ & 6 1/2″
• Fold In and use Bone Folder to give a great crease
• Cut in the scored lines
• Use Tear & Tape as shown and fold in sides

Decorating the box: (these below are correct – in one of the pictures I had them mixed up…!)

• The White piece on the front is 3″ X 3 3/4″ and then I did score  some lines as I think this adds a bunch! You can see that I only stamped one grouping of flowers as on the notecards I did use 2 groupings for each notecard.
• The DSP on front is 2″ X 3 3/4″
• The DSP on back is 2 1/2″ X 3 3/4″ and remember to only put adhesive on 3 sides as this is just a pocket to put 12 stamps in! If you do not want to put any stamps on your project, simply leave the back plain. Sometimes I put DSP all around the box but really….it is not necessary – it looks great as it!

I want to chat about the envelopes! You know that on Wednesday I shared with you that I used the 6″ X 6″ DSP paper found in the Annual Catalog on page 191! I ADORE THESE PAPERS and I am just so happy that Stampin’ Up! decided to bring them back! I love them so much because they take the guess work out of having to find a perfect match with DSP to your project!

I know that many of you LOVE TO HOARD your DSP and trust me, I get that. I am offering these again on my PRODUCT SHARE that is going on right now – IT IS ADD ON #2  (yep, you still have time to place a share order) as these handy 6 X 6 sheets come in each and every color of our color collection and they are in fun polka dots and stylish stripes!

Scroll back up to the picture that has the notecard samples and you can see that I used the different stripes and polka dots on each of the samples! If you want to take advantage of these in the Product Share or any other shares for that matter…..please email me and put in the subject line HOLIDAY PRODUCT SHARE and I will reserve it for you!

For these envelope I simply cut the paper to 1 1/2″ X 6″ and then use a 1/4″ strip of cardstock. you can see above that there is a week pit of envelope showing! No worries, just trim the envelope a wee bit shorter!

This is kinda getting back to that thing that I say to you…..DO NOT STRESS….do not worry about perfection…..just do it and have fun! By cutting the paper this way, you can cover (4) envelope flaps per sheet of paper!!!! Another reason why I love these papers – I had many requests to offer these again in a share….so here you go – your chance to get each and every color and design!

I hope that this post has brought you inspiration and smiles and I also hope that it brings to you a gentle nudge to not be so hard on yourself. Trust me, this is something that I have to work on each and everyday as self care for myself is a SUPER HARD thing to do! I am definitely one that likes to give and give to others before doing something kind for myself!

This is one of those reasons why I love stamping so much….it gives me some “me time” and is truly a therapy for me…there is nothing like paper, ink, stamps…..

If you were to poll my peeps and ask them what is one of the all time “MOM things/quotes” that I have said to them OVER AND OVER as they were growing up and experiencing situations…growths….obstacles etc….it would probably be this…

“If there is no joy in the journey…than there is no joy at the journey’s end!”

I invite you to read this and then re-read it and then think about how true it is in many aspects of our lives! Let’s take stamping for example…I adore stamping…I adore creating….but if I came to a place that it was stressful, not fun, making me grumpy and resentful than I would do this – simply stop it…now this WILL NEVER happen with me as I adore expressing myself with handmade love.

I think that you get where I am going…we all have choices in life and let’s face it…it is so much easier and rewarding doing something that you get joy from than having to do something that stresses you….life is just to darn tootin’ short!

OK  — enough of LIFE STUFF….I think you all know me well enough by now…I love what I do and I share with you through my blog snippets of who I am and what makes me roll! Speak of making me roll….this type of project makes me roll and it is something that I make often with all different stamps!

One last picture of this gem….I do not know about you but I adore these new Mr. Rogers Stamps that the Post Office has. I am a stamp hoarder (yep, I admit) and between these and the new Scooby Doo Stamps…..I am smiling! My sweet little Post Office often sells out of new stamps as they do not get a bunch in….so remember, check the USPS Website…they will have all stamps!

Well…there you go – inspiration… “how to’s”  to make a perfect, useful and practical gift! Have a great day and remember that we are on the LAST WEEK to take advantage of the Bonus Days where you will get a $5.00 Coupon Code from Stampin’ Up! for every increment of $50.00 that you spend! You can use them in September and if I were you…..I would wait until the 5th – when the new holiday catalog goes live!