Simple Stamping for “A Little Me Time”

I feel like every crafty person goes through similar struggles during a typical work week. Whether you are a mom who stays home with little ones all day or someone who works, when evening time hits you are probably drained.  I know I am!  Chasing after twin 4 year olds, helping with 2nd grade homework, prepping meals for my family, folding laundry, picking up toys, and chauffeuring children from activity to activity has my brain running on low power by the time bedtime hits.  But, the evenings are also my chance for some creative “me” time.  I love getting crafty because it renews my spirit and sparks joy, but often I can’t seem to muster the energy to really put my heart into a project.  Can you identify?

My first inclination is to turn on the television, stretch out on the couch, and take mindless time to unwind.  While I certainly go this route many nights, I know that for me, this isn’t the best use of my time.  Often, if I can muster the energy to just get going on some sort of easy, creative project, I will get a second wind.  That is where I found myself last Wednesday evening.

I am still in love with the traveler’s notebook (TN) format for memory-keeping.  The smaller pages keep layouts simple, and I can print up pictures in small batches on the weekends. This gives me an array of photos to choose from when I feel like spending time working in my current TN.  The page I started on this evening, all stemmed from a sweet little stamp set I purchased on sale from Felicity Jane!  There was a small stamp that read “A Little Me Time” and I knew it would be perfect for a personal page in my TN.

I opted for an array of ink colors from Illustrated Faith and jumped straight into stamping.  The simple pattern of stamping multiple rows of the same pattern was a relaxing task for my tired brain.  By using all my favorite colors, the pattern really sparked my creative flow and had me excited to continue to work on the page.  It is remarkable how just a simple crafty task can really give you energy to keep creating!  Plus, using stamps to create my own background gave me a completely personal and unique background in my traveler’s notebook.  And, as an added bonus, it adds zero bulk to my book which is inevitably chunky by the end of the month.

I chose a picture of myself sitting at my craft desk on a recent snow day to go on the opposite page.  It was heavenly.  I had stolen a little “me time” while my husband had taken the kids out to play in the snow, and he snuck this picture when they came back inside.   To layer the photo, I started by matting it on black cardstock and then layered behind it with a series of tickets cut from a Maggie Holmes Flourish paper.  To add a bit more interest, I grabbed my new Tim Holtz snarky conversation stickers, which I have been super excited to use!  The perfect phrase jumped right out at me….

Lastly, for a final touch, I grabbed some heart puffy stickers and clear Nuvo glitter drops. The small addition of these embellishments created some fun texture and added much needed detail to this otherwise simple layout.  After just about 20ish minutes of creative time, I had a completed layout and renewed energy.  It is amazing what a little creativity can do for your day!

What do you do when you are feeling worn out?  Any “go-to” techniques or crafts for when your brain is feeling fried?  Let me know in the comments below!

Keep it creative,

-The Scrappy Wife

Supplies Used:

• Felicity Jane stamps (no longer available)
• Illustrated Faith Ink (no longer available)
• Maggie Holmes Flourish Paper
• Tim Holtz Snarky Small Talk
• Nuvo Clear Glitter drops
• Puffy heart stickers from my stash