Stampin' Up! Picture Perfect

Hi Stamping Friends!!

So I finally created some cards for my "reverse Lent" challenge. Where instead of giving something up for Lent, you do something extra. My extra is sending cards for each day of Lent. And I'm not gonna lie. I do not send one card every day. I usually end up sending about 7 or 8 cards once a week. But all the math works out in the end and I usually send for than 40 cards anyway. :)

Stamps: Picture Perfect, Rose Wonder (sentiment)

Ink: Pink Pirouette, Blushing Bride, Calypso Coral (rose), Pear Pizzazz, Old Olive (leaf)

Paper: Whisper White, Calypso Coral, Blushing Bride DSP (retired)

Accessories: Triple Banner Punch, Circle Punch, Organza Ribbon

I love the realistic look of this pretty rose. It's very easy to do using a "triple" stamping technique.

When doing this stamping technique, it's best to start with the lightest color first and build your up from there. It's amazing how the rose image comes to life with each additional color.

For the leaf, I only used two ink colors. For the first step of stamping, I "stamped-off" first to get a lighter color of Pear Pizzazz. Then I did a regular layer of Pear Pizzazz and my finally layer was Old Olive. 

I just love the detailed look of this set. I can't wait to use the other stamp images in this set. The starfish is beautiful!

Thanks so much for stopping by!!

Have a stamptastic day!!

Krystal

The Reverse Lent Challenge

Hi Stamping Friends!!

Are you observing Ash Wednesday today? We don't attend an Ash Wednesday service, but we do discuss the tradition with our kids. Growing up, we did not observe Lent in the traditional sense of "giving something up" (It's not part of our churches practices). But over the years, I've been drawn to the spiritual exercise that takes place for 40 days before Resurrection Sunday.

Last year I happened upon Karen Ehman's blog post regarding the Reverse Lent Challenge. She offered up the same challenge this year. You can read all about it on her blog HERE. The gist of the challenge is to touch 40 lives during the 40 days of Lent. She gives 5 ideas of how you can accomplish the task. I prefer her first suggestion:

1. Jot a note.

Jot a quick note each day to one person in your life. To make it easy, purchase some simple note cards and stamps. Go ahead and place the stamps on the envelopes along with your return address. Place the pile of notecards on your nightstand or next to your favorite chair in the living room. Have your addresses handy. Each morning upon arising or every night just before bed, write a special message to someone. Or if you are a television watcher, do it during the commercials. At the end of Lent you will have made 40 souls smile.

Last night I finished up 5 cards that were leftover from a workshop I had recently done.

Stamps: Petal Potpourri, Blessed by God

Paper: Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Whisper White, Soft Suede

Accessories: Daffodil Delight Seam Binding, Flower Medallion Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Decorative Label Punch, Spring Flowers EF

TIP: I used the watercolor looking flower in the Petal Potpourri stamp set to create leaves for my flower.

Last year I did not send one card every day. Sometimes I would send 2 or 5 at a time. But I did touch 40 lives over the 40 days and that's what matters to me. I plan on taking the same flexible approach this year. I do not need to guilt myself out of continuing the challenge just because I miss a day or two.

Will you take on the challenge too? Imagine if we all decide to bring a smile to 40 people in the next 40 days. How beautiful would that be?!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamp Something!!

Krystal