Good Morning.....I knew I had to have this Stampin'Up set the minute I saw it...the serene setting of an old dock in the water, whether lake, pond or ocean, brings back memories and thoughts of fun summers as a child.  

I have always loved to be by the water........ the sounds, smells and freshness of nature is a natural de-stressor, with the only side effect being.....a desire to always return.

This is the first of my creations from this set...I look forward to sharing more as they evolve......until then,

I wish each of you a Blessed New Year with the joy of creating memories with loved ones.

As always, I leave you with my reflections from the woods.

jo

The Great Outdoors.....so many options, so much fun!

The two cards on the outside are created using the By the Bay Stampin'Up! set (CASED from Barry and Jay of Mitosu Crafts, UK).  This technique of masking and sponging creates a unique night sky with light effects on the house and water that make you feel as if you are right there soaking up the beauty of the night time coastal wonders.

The center card is my creation from the SU set, Let it Ride.  Over the past few years I have developed an avid love of horses and their majestic beauty and grace.  This is my first attempt with this set and I am loving it.  Again I utilized the masking technique to create the background.  I wrestled with the decision of whether or not to color the horse, but somehow leaving it white enhances the mystery of his freedom to run with the wind.

On a more personal note: re my love of horses.....
Each year my cousin, Lee and I vacation with our husbands, usually in an area that is abundant with Fly Fishing resources for their adventures.  Then she and I always find a stable and venture out on an amazing ride.  Each place has been so unique and challenging in it's own way....but, the most amazing ride was in Alaska in 2016.

Here we are on the very top of a mountain overlooking the clouds and the lake below.  It is a very good thing that these horses had posed here before as we are on the very edge of that ledge and it is a LONG way down.  The beauty from that elevation was extraordinary.  The smiles on our faces illustrate the pride in ourselves for being so brave and accomplishing this challenging ride of a lifetime.
So ends my post for today, leaving you with smiles and Blessings from the woods!

Thinking About a Peaceful Place

Finding a stamp set that serves a dual purpose is a real deal....the ones I am referring to are the ones that take us to a special place with a special memory and inspire our creativity....

As a child, my happy place was playing around the brooks in the woods behind our house...I guess you could say that I was a Tomboy at heart.  When I saw this stamp set in the Stampin'Up catalog, rightfully named Peaceful Place, I knew I just had to have it.  It can be used for so many occasions and has the option of using just the inked background effect or water coloring for a real outdoorsy effect.  Combining it with different greetings and other sets, opens the door for a wide variety of projects.

You can find this set on page 59 of the 2018-2019 Annual Catalog

I hope that you have a Blessed Day and Happy Stamping Adventures.