Update - Use Every Stamp 2013

Some of you may remember that I am participating in Use Every Stamp 2013.  The class started at the beginning of the year, so it is time for a "check-in".   I was trying to find more ways to use my stamp collection, and my challenge was "Use 'Em or Lose 'Em."

How am I doing?  "So so" is the answer to that one.  I've been attracted to drawing, calligraphy, and gelli printing this year.  I have used some small stamps with calligraphy and some foam stamps with gelli printing.  But, I'm still not using my stamps as much as I should, considering the space they take up in my small office/studio.

How does it feel?  As we move firmly into the second half of the year, I'm thinking a lot about "losing" some stamps.  I've gained clarity that there are some stamps I won't be sad to lose.  (I've never been very good at letting things go when they are no longer used.   The voice in my head keeps saying things like "What if I need this one day?"  So, this is a big step.)  But, I'm bummed out that at the half-way point, I estimate that I've only used about 10% of my stamps.  At this rate, by the end of the year I may have used 20%, and I don't feel that I will be willing to lose the other 80%.

What have I accomplished and what still needs to be done?  I'm marking off stamps in my stamp catalog as I use them.  I've learned that I reach for many favourites over and over again.  I've given a few stamps away and I've been through all my boxes of stamps and removed those that are clear "losers".  I've put the "losers" in the basement and if I don't go down and reclaim them for a specific project they're definitely going.  (The boxes contain wood mounted and clear sets).  I've learned that this project was too big for one year, so I won't try and tackle the CD cases of unmounted rubber until 2014.

My current method isn't going to get me far enough in 2013, though, so I'm adding to my strategy.  I'm going to get out one box of stamps each month and deliberately try to use the stamps in the box that haven't been used in 2013.  We'll do flowers in August, move onto leaves and foliage in the fall, and so on.  As I use my stamps this way, I'm going to follow the tips suggested by Susan on her blog, Simplicity.  (She's also running a Use-Your-Stamps Challenge):

As you use your stamps, pay attention to how you like working with each stamp or set. Is it worth the space it's taking up? Do you want to get rid of it? Perhaps you're not quite ready to say goodbye. If so, put it in a box in your basement or closet for six months or a year. After that time, you'll either be ready to say goodbye or welcome it back into your stash. Time lends clarity.

Who thought that saying good-by could be so hard?

Silly Scraps Saturday

This is a simple collage made of scraps, done in my Scrap Journal.  I made my Scrap Journal with my Bind-It-All, especially to hold these "warm-up" collages.  When I want to make something but I'm not inspired to do anything specific, I make one of these.  One usually leads to two (or more).  I got the idea from iHanna's "Every Artist Needs a Scrap Notebook" post.

Every Saturday I post one of these simple collages.  Thanks for visiting my blog and I hope you are enjoying the weekend!

Links I Loved This Week

Where did this week go?  Maybe I spent too much time surfing blogs and not enough time making art LOL  Here are a few links I loved this week:

Beautiful calligraphy on Ruth Korch's blog.  This blog is new to me and I can't wait to see more!

Lori is loving and drawing gardens over at Elvie Studio.

Love the green, kraft, and white colour combination here.

Dawn wants to see YOUR journal pages for her new book.

Silly Scraps Saturday

This is a simple collage made of scraps, done in my Scrap Journal.  I made my Scrap Journal with my Bind-It-All, especially to hold these "warm-up" collages.  When I want to make something but I'm not inspired to do anything specific, I make one of these.  One usually leads to two (or more).  I got the idea from iHanna's "Every Artist Needs a Scrap Notebook" post.

Every Saturday I post one of these simple collages.  Thanks for visiting my blog and I hope you are enjoying the weekend!

Link Love!

Here are some links that made me stop for a second look this week:

Who wouldn't want to receive a gift like this on Balzer Designs.

Free vintage clip art from Joanna Grant Mixed Media.

Here's what to do with Gelli Prints at Scrappystickyinkymess.  This blog is new to me so I'll be spending some time looking around.

I'm definitely on board with Use it or Lose it Challenge at Traci Bunkers.

Here's a good productivity/energy boosting tip from Just a Lucky Dog.

Best wishes to you all for a fabulous weekend!

Dancing in the Moonlight

I did promise not to bore you with gelli prints.  But these two are kind of different, made with sillhouettes.  They are just pictures cut from magazines, laid on the plate to form a mask during printing.

This one had a bit of an accident.  The silhouettes were covered in acrylic paint and stuck to the print.  Oh well, a happy accident!

I plan to incorporate these into a handmade journal.  I will fold the prints down the middle leaving one figure on each page.

Wide-Eyed and Serious

"Wide-eyed and Serious" is drawn with watercolour pencils in my old book journal. You are beginning to see backgrounds made by cleaning off my brayer during a gelli plate session.