Christmas Week!

This past week I finally did something we all need to do but dread doing... cleaning and organizing files on the computer! Normally, I try to keep things cleaned up as I go, but as you know "good intentions" and all that!
Also, if you're like me (not like Jennifer McGuire!) keeping track of stamps you own and inks you own and which inks you need to purchase, etc. takes too much time and you'd rather be stamping. And how many of us purchase the same stamp set because we forgot we already own it?! (Ashamed to say, I've done it more than once!)
So while I was organizing I decided to make myself an "Ink Inventory Chart" so I could keep track of what I own and especially ink refills I need to buy. So, my gift to you is an Ink Inventory Chart that you can keep track of all your Distress inks, Distress Oxide inks, Stampin' Up inks with places for all the ink refills and markers. (Click on that link and if you have a problem, email me and I'll send you the file.) I hope this is helpful for someone besides me! You can download the PDF file and print it out on cardstock and as I did, I marked with the actual color the inks, refills, and markers I have and don't need to "repurchase!" There's a "key" at the top of the tables showing a symbol for each item and a box below that you can check off if you have it. Here's what mine looks like so far:

Lovely Lily Pad Background

It's been awhile since posting and I've been trying to get my right hand back in shape. As you can see in this video, I am wearing a brace on my right thumb, which makes using scissors very difficult. I actually cut the lily pad with my pointer and middle finger, so I am sure you can understand why I didn't repeat the process here!!
Anyway, we will be making this background (and card) at my January 2020 stamp camp and I thought I'd post a video on the technique. I realize the background does not look exactly like the double-sided paper I am showing, but it gives a good impression of a pond surface.
The "Lovely Lily Pad" set is one you can earn free for a $50 purchase from either the annual catalog or the Spring Occasions catalog. There is also a matching die set to go with it!
Before I forget, this stamp set is one of the sets that Stampin' Up is making that you are supposed to stamp the back of the stamp and the front of the stamp. Because this is not a symmetrical image, it is not supposed to "fill in" the outline image fully, and it will not match the outline. (I called demonstrator support on this to clarify!) So if you're expecting the solid image to "match" the outline when you flip over the stamp, it will not.
Also, you will notice that I have not included showing the ENTIRE process as I don't like to waste your time. You know how to emboss, stamp, color, die cut, so I have not shown that in this video, mainly how I did the background and also how I made the flowers. I hope you enjoy it, and if you have questions, please post them and I will answer them. If you'd like to watch it on Youtube, you can click here.