Just Another Manic Monday

Hi everyone

I hope your Monday has been a lot better than mine has. Well, I say that, my Monday was ok, rather stressful and very frustrating but I have come to realise - and I wish that I did this more often - that no matter how frustrated or anxious we get, the situation or circumstance will still have the same outcome because we have no control over it. The same way that we have no control over what people may say or think about us and yet we seem to let it ignite something within us that can make us feel insignificant or overwhelmed or just plain pants. I don't like that feeling and when it creeps up on me, and it still does, sometimes, just sometimes, I can see it happening before I sink too deeply into myself and into that dark place that no one should ever have to be in.

If you have to think of your favorite battle scene in a movie and how everyone in that scene are covered in blood and fighting hard to make sure that their side is brought to justice or safety, that's what anxiety is like for me and probably so many others. I fight my demons every. single. day. It's hard but there are also these amazing moments in my life that I am so grateful to have. When the demons take over, it doesn't mean that I've fallen out of love with my husband or don't want to look after my animals, it's just that I don't want those things for me. I give up on me, not them. But how do you look after and love those you care about so much if you don't do the same for yourself? This is something I have to work on all the time and at the moment, it's tough.

So as I sit with my cup of tea and type this post, I'm thinking about the billion things that I should be getting done, the ones that have to be done, the ones that I probably should get done and the ones that I'd like to get done. For me, I think a list is a good thing to make and to start at the top and work my way down. That way I'm breaking it down into smaller chunks that hopefully won't overwhelm me to the point I can't see the wood for the trees because when that happens, I don't do anything.

Just remember to take a deep breath, put your big girl/boy pants on and smile because no matter how bad you feel, there is more than likely someone else out there who is worse off than you are (another thing I need to remind myself of).

I hope that this post has made those who need it know that they are not alone because you're not alone.

Until next time, keep smiling :)

Hugs

Janene

Using Dies To Emboss Cardstock

Hi Friends

For this project I wanted to explain how to emboss your cardstock using your dies. It's a great technique and a super way to get more use out of your dies. Dies have become an incredible tool for card-makers and scrap-bookers alike and because they can be quite pricey at times, we definitely want to be able to make the most of them and create in more ways than one.

I have a video for you to watch here which demonstrates this technique and how to make the card shown below or you can head over to my YouTube channel to see not only this one but many others that I have made for you with lots of ideas and techniques.

Here is the card I created and I think it turned out super cute :)

[gallery ids="670,671" type="slideshow"]

Right, once you have the 'sandwich' for your embossing and die-cutting machine down to a fine art, the sky's the limit on what designs you can come up with for your projects.

So for the sandwich - the non-edible kind ;)

I used a Cuttlebug for this project (I also own a Big Shot) but you can use the same formula just check your machine's specs and the plates needed for embossing. Some machine's will need more pressure than others and with mine I needed to use a piece of cardstock folded in half to put a little more pressure on the sandwich so I got a deeper impression of the die itself. This is the sandwich I used, starting from the bottom up;

• A plate


• B plate


• Spellbinders Tan Embossing mat


• Cardstock you want to emboss


• Die face down - in other words on the cardstock as if you were going to die cut but this time we're going to emboss it


• B plate

Like I said I put a piece of folded cardstock on top of this sandwich before running it through the machine, but I had tested it a couple times just to see how deep the impression would be.

And that's it, super simple and a technique that will wow your friends and they will wonder how you did it.

Below are the supplies I used. Please note I am an Amazon Affiliate however links to all products used are made available where possible.

If you  have any questions please let me know.

Lawn Fawn Sealed With A Kiss Stamp & Die

Neat & Tangled Heart of Gold Die

Versafine Onyx Black Ink

Tonic Studio Nuvo Embellishment Mousse in Pure Platinum

Tonic Studio Nuvo Crystal Glaze

Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers in 091 Light Gray, 025 Pink, 022 Carmine Red & 081 Light Violet

Zig Wink of Stella Brush Marker in 999 Gl. Clear

Derwent Watercolour Brush

I hope this tutorial was helpful and encourages YOU to try something new today :)

Have a wonderful day!

Hugs

Janene