Missing my Chance

Another card for Mojo Monday:

Just a note about the fabric flower - While living in Taiwan I discovered a shop near the Fabric Market which sold accessories including fabric flowers in every color of the rainbow.  They came attached to a strip of tulle.  I bought 3 strips of flowers.  A few days ago I ventured into the local scrapbooking stores for the first time since returning to Boise.  Low and behold, one of the stores had a huge supply of the same fabric flowers on tulle.  I thought I had something that would be original but, once again, it has already been discovered here.  I wish I had bought much more of it in Taiwan because it was no doubt considerably cheaper.

Same thing with Washi tape.  I frequented a bookstore in Taipei called Eslite.  They carried loads of Washi tape and I bought some thinking I could do something different than other Americans.  But when I got home I found out Washi tape was all the rage.  Darn it.

I have one more trick up my sleeve.  I had better get busy using it before it, too, becomes popular!

~La

Finding My Style

I am trying to find "my style" in stamping. I know what I like - collage, blingy, shabby chic - but I am not sure I have the knack for it. And so sometimes I think I should just go clean and simple; it's quicker and easier and there are some admirably beautiful stampers who embrace this style. But in my heart that's not what I love, so I am trying to go in the direction of my heart. Accordingly, I have recently begun playing with Tim Holtz' Distress Stains and, I must say, I am loving the results. I've been pulling scraps from my scrap drawer and just messing around with different ways of getting the stain onto the paper. Some have been wildly successful; others, not so much. But I'm having fun! My daughter's birthday is approaching and, finding myself with a kid-free zone for a few hours, I went to work on a card for her. I looked to Mojo Monday for a layout. This week is their 300th challenge (wow!) I've participated in very few of them as I stamp sporadically, but owner Julee does a great job of offering inspiration each week. In addition, I looked to The Shabby Tea Room for color inspiration. Their challenge this week was to use colors from their (lovely) inspiration photo, flowers, ribbon and newsprint. I don't have any newsprint so I sort of manufactured my own which, I think, turned out quite well. So here is my card:

I hope my daughter will appreciate the Shabby Chic style. I think she prefers bright, contemporary cards. Who knows, if I get time before her birthday perhaps I'll make her one in that style!