Cool Chick

Over the past few days I've read several articles and blog posts about how we add stress to our lives by over-booking and over-committing because we think we "have to" or we "should". I would do certain challenges every week because I always have, and I can't possibly skip one! OMG, the world would end! No, no it wouldn't.

I've already made several changes over the past 6 months. I stopped doing the weekly Farmers Markets some time mid-September. I've also stopped doing my monthly SU classes, though I'm still an active Demo. There's a story behind both of those, but that's not what I want to talk about today. Today I want to talk about the stack of sketches and color challenges I print out for myself every week and tell myself I must do them before next week's challenges are posted. No, I mustn't.

The only thing I HAVE to do is my weekly project for SOS, which I love because it forces me to use stash, which is why I begged to be on that DT in the first place, so it's really a "want to do". Stash - I haz it. And it's spilled over into most of the other challenges I do, too. I am buying way less than I used to, I'm using what I already have, and I'm having fun. If I don't feel like stamping, I don't.

I am now one ... cool ... chick.

So tonight, while reading through my Google Reader backlog (I hit the dreaded 1000+ this week. ;/), someone mentioned the Herringbone tutorial on Splitcoast, and I decided to try it. I mean, it's not like I don't have packs of patterned papers already out, right? :)

I made this:

The papers are from my still-out Memory Box brioche pack, and I used almost all remnants. I cut them into 1/2" strips and followed the instructions to place them onto the panel. The blue layer is (I think) SU Pool Party, as is the ribbon; the card stock behind the tag is SU Poppy Parade. The blue brad is from a vast collection of Every Color Brad & Eyelet and I declared it "close enough". And last, but not least, I opened and used my Paper Smooches My Peeps stamp set. This totally allows me to buy some of their new stuff coming out March 1st, right? RIGHT?!

*ahem*

So thanks for listening, and thanks for stopping by!