'Just be' + 'Bee Happy'

Well, I have another day off... I just love my mid-week time off, it's so quiet...and for me means time to clean, I mean craft ;) It is a bit overcast today, which means not much sun... well, at least nothing is coming from they sky... I dare not say the "SN_ _" word or it might hear me! I really don't want an unexpected visit from him...we've had far too many this season and I'd really like spring to come soon!!!

Last week I had fun creating some fun 'spring-like' projects with the 'Backyard Basics' stamp set. I initially thought I wouldn't need this set when I first saw it in the catalogue, but my gut told me to order it (last June) and boy am I glad I did... it's one of my all-time favs! I really like the cute bumble bee... and I thought I should make a sign for about my site... well my Stampin' Up! site - which is justbeandstamp.stampinup.net.

I am an avid crafter, I feel it is so important to have a creative outlet... for my sanity especially! To be able to dream up an idea and see it through to completion is something really special. Before I got totally addicted to paper crafting I made jewelry. When my vision decreased several years ago I found it very difficult to do too much beading. Once in a while I pull out my beads and create some pieces but I am in love with another crafting product.... all things paper crafting!! So it doesn't happen all that often!

Many years ago, when I first started making jewelry, I was trying to come up with a name. My name is Beckie, and what was Just Beckie, which sounded silly to me became Just be... that name has always stuck with me. I like that 'just be' could go with many different things, I have many hobbies and sometimes it's nice to 'just be'........ you can fill in the rest!

I originally had this blog with that name, then thought I'd like to have this blog dedicated to my artistic side, so this is a place where I share my love for crafting and creating... my artistic embellishments you could say?! Check out my framed art piece below...

 

I created this cute framed art for my stamp/craft room in some bright yellows (who doesn't love a bright, cheery yellow to spark inspiration!?). I punched out several hexagons in Summer Starfruit, Crushed Curry and So Saffron Cardstock - I matted them onto Basic Black, leaving the slightest of gaps to have a bit of the black peek through! I then stamped 5 bumble bees and cut them out. I opted to only colour the bee's body yellow, I did add some Dazzling Details to the wings for some sparkle.... cause' come on, life's better with a little sparkle! The letters are cut with the 'Typeset Alphabet Bigz Die'. This sign makes me happy and is in a place where I can 'just be'....?

I have another project featuring Mr. Bee... I made this cute card the same time I created the 'Just be' frame. It features the 'fun' and 'fabulous' Triangle Punch... I believe I mentioned how much I love a paper punch once or twice ;)

I randomly stamped the Bumble bee from 'Backyard Basics' and punched randomly to have different parts of the bee in the punched image for the effect I was going for... some have the bee's head, some the wings, some the bum of the bumble bee?! I then matted the triangles onto a piece of Basic Grey cardstock, leaving a bit of the grey showing. I then stamped the bee and cut it out, coloured the body with a Crushed Curry Stampin' Write Marker - added some Dazzling Details to the wings and popped it up on a dimensional so it stands out a bit from all the bees in the background... Where's the bee... Can you see him? I used the 'Yippee Skippee' stamp set, but only coloured the 'Happy' with a Black Stampin' Write Marker so my card says 'bee happy'! I added some White Baker's Twine to finish off my card. I think I might just have to frame this card too and add it to my wall of inspiration. This card makes me happy, hope it makes you happy too!!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:
Hexagon Punch [130919 - $21.95]
Triangle Punch [133375 - $21.95]
Large Oval Punch [119855 - $21.95]
Typeset Alphabet Bigz [127553 - $110.95]
Backyard Basics [wood: 129255 - $30.95; clear: 129258 - $21.95]
Baker's Twine [124262 - $3.95]
Dazzling Details [124117 - $3.25]

Thanks for 'Buzzing by' and I hope you like my projects and find some time to just be!  and that you'll visit me often to see my Artistic Embellishments! Happy Stamping :)