When I Can't Find It ...

I make it!  I think I am discovering why it sometimes takes me a while to complete a layout.  I am obsessed with perfection.  You would think it's a strength but I think it may be a curse.  I have incomplete layouts from a year ago (at least) because I can't find the perfect elements for the title or I need a specific embellishment or some other excuse.  I don't think I'm exagerating.  Well when it comes to the perfect paper, that is not an issue.  I love making my own patterned paper. 

Need paper with a particular theme and the stores are closed or what they have in the stores is the wrong color or not my style?  No problem, I pull out my acrylic stamps and inks and make it myself.   This one sample looks a little busy in this pic but it looks great IRL.  I stamped the "ZOO" background paper and journaling cover.  This is an old sample from probably 2 years ago.  My style has changed but it's one of my more detailed samples. Also,check out the pink and green cardstock in my "3 weeks" page. I wanted a tone on tone effect so I handstamped a similar color on the papers.

Need paper with stripes?  No problem, I'll score some colored with white core cardstock, sand the ridges and voila, I have stripes. 

Need to add slight dimension to plain background cardstock?  I'll distress the edges with ink.  See the "Cutie Patootie" layout in an earlier post.  Or I'll give it some texture with my rubber brayer and a little ink.  See the green cardstock in the "Everything Grows Better With Love" layout posted in February. I handstamped the blue cardstock too. 

I could go on and on and on but I'll spare you the details. 

Of course I do this with my embellies as well by adding liquid glass to boring embellies, stamping on ribbon, applying rub-ons to buttons, stamping Staz-on on just about anything, painting metal embellies, etc.  Again, I could go on and on. Here's a button I stamped a date on and another button I added a white rub-on flower to.

My point is ... when I can't find it I usually attempt to make it, which leads to longer time it takes to finish a layout.  I think I am okay with that.  Then again, I look at all the photos I have on file and wonder when I will ever get it all done.  I'm out to prove I can do it with this blog and the online challenges I have joined.

I read a great line the other day. It said "Anything worth doing is worth OVERDOING." Sounds like a good motto for me.