85 Days to Christmas – I AM ESSENTIAL Stamps
Hi !
Thanks for popping in. It’s the first day in October! Where did this year go? The older we get, the faster the time flies.
I got up very early this morning, and decided to spend a quiet hour chatting to you, get ahead of a busy day, sort this ’ere blog out! Me and my good ideas!! Do you have any idea how much work goes into this 100 days to Christmas daily blog thing?!! What was I thinking?? Tell you what though. Makes me realise how much time I invested in blogging every day for so many years. When Dad was ill and dying, I just didn’t have the headspace or time to invest in a daily blog. Then he was gone, and I wasn’t the same person any more. To be honest, I have had a bit of a battle with sadness since he went, and when you feel sad, it’s very difficult to be upbeat and chirpy in a blog every day. But I am finding a path through this 100 Days to Christmas. Perhaps it’s because all I have to do is focus on Christmas designs and ideas. So, before I get tearful here at 4 in the morning on my jack jones, let’s turn our attention to today’s highlight. It’s Essential.
And just like that, the anguish leaves, my head relaxes, the tightness in my chest unclenches, and I have my Clarity hat on.
Some stamps just do what they say on the tin – and our I Am Essential collection is exactly that. Essential.
When you’re making cards, whether for birthdays, Christmas, thank-yous, or “just because”, you always need those little finishing touches – the words, the greetings, the sentiments that say it all. That’s where these lovely stamps that Jazz designed come into their own.
- Most useful: You’ll reach for them again and again. They’re the dependable set that never gets put away for long.
- Different sizes: From bold to delicate, we’ve thought of everything (Well, Jazz has!) – so you always have just the right size greeting to fit your design.
- Simple & classy: No fuss, no frills – just clean, elegant typography, that works with any style of cardmaking.
Birthdays? Covered.
Christmas? Sorted.
Everyday essentials? Absolutely.
If you’ve ever sat with a finished piece of artwork in front of you and thought, “Now what greeting will work here?” – this is the answer. I waste hours looking for the perfect sentiment, don’t you? But now, here’s a stamp set that will serve you faithfully, all year round. I love the Clarity Rub-ons too. They work like a charm! Look familiar? Yep! This is where we found our essential stamps! CLICK HERE
And here’s some exciting news: tomorrow we’ll be launching the Groovi equivalent Essential Plates! Jazz has been busy! So whether you’re a stamper or a parchment crafter (or both), you’ll have those must-have words at your fingertips in whatever medium you love best. Look out for those plates, friends – I have a feeling they will be every bit as popular as the stamps x
Sometimes the simplest tools turn out to be the most powerful. I Am Essential stamps proves it beautifully – and it’s well worth popping into your basket now, so you’re fully kitted out for the busy birthday and Christmas season ahead. CLICK HERE
And there we have it. In the time it took to write the part about Essential stamps etc, and how useful you will find them, I have redirected my thinking, and am ready to face the day. It works, it really does
Love and Clarity,
Barb x x x
27 thoughts on “85 Days to Christmas – I AM ESSENTIAL Stamps”
Hi Barb I am also up early today tossing and turning in bed doesn’t cut it does it. May as well get up and do something crafty. But first to check in on Barbara’s blog and order my place on the gel plate workshop. See you there all you lovely shackers.
I was awake early too. Hope we will be seeing an all occasions stamp version soon as well. Love the rub ons.
6.0 am is early, 4.0 am is middle of the night! These are definitely on my wish list and I’m sure the groovi set will make it on the list too 😀 xx
House hold up late today. opps had a very important call to make, re Dads health and should have been made at 5.30. I’d forgotten to set my alarm and my little bro had slept through or snoozed his. Heard his car start at 6.45. So what a pavlova!
Nice to sit with a cuppa and read this ere blog!
Big hugs Barb, somedays are harder than others, I find it depends how busy I am or how stressed I am. But I’m remember your words “no more bad days” have to concentrate on Dad now.
Essentials absolutely, beautiful set of sentiments and the font style, superb! on my birthday wish list, along with two courses, and much much more from the Clarity website. ATM no more room to add more stuff till I return home to Scotland. xx
Barbara, you have just explained how I feel since my mum died 3 years ago! Time to put my happy face on and face the world! It’s natural to feel sad, we would be robots if we didn’t! You help us all with your wonderful ideas. Thankyou. xxxx
You are such an Inspiration and a Blessing. Thank you Xx
Many will relate to your feelings. Ready made groovi sentiment plates will be a great addition for, whilst you can put together a sentiment using the alphabet, having them set out (without mistakes) speeds up the process; plus you can mix and match accordingly.
So glad writing your blog helped you, and in turn your blog helps us as you voice the thoughts of so many of your friends. We all feel sad,helpless and isolated on occasions and you manage to tell us we are not alone with these feelings. The words in your blog help you , and in turn reading your blog helps us. Many thanks Barbara for everything you do. Have a good day. Pam xx
Aw Barbara, I know just how you feel, I lost my dad 18 months ago and still miss him deeply and probably always will. Isn’t it great that we have our crafting? Our safe space to as you say get out of our heads.
These stamps are brilliant and I’m so looking forward to seeing the Groovi ones xx
These are lovely – looking forward to seeing the new plates – more to add to my Christmas list methinks……!
I am feeling rubbish, and didn’t sleep very well either – I have caught some throat lurgy from work colleagues and am off on holiday on Saturday to Woolacombe in North Devon……
I have waited all year for this holiday and hopefully some brisk sea air will blow the cobwebs away!
I totally understand the sadness issue – a blink away from tears most of the time…….roll on the holiday!
Aww Barb, glad you’re starting to come round after finishing the blog. It’s hard isn’t it. Dad went 11 years ago and I’d give anything for another chat with him. Although Mum went, peacefully in June, I haven’t processed that at all and there was too much going on at time with hubby. We laid her ashes to rest on Sunday and I thought it might hit me then but it hasn’t. I just felt I’m gad where she wanted to be, by dad and her parents. Two butterflies, a little feather (no others around!) and the sun came out did make me feel happy at that moment. The sadness will hit me when I’m not expecting it – thats how I roll it seems.
On a brighter note I have the stamps and use the rub offs all the time. Just need to sort out my stamps – now have a large collection so I can lay my hands on them when I need them !
Hope your day goes well x x
Loved the stamps but having these sentiments in Groovi is a no brainer and they are already on my list.
It is good that you can share your feelings in the blog. Most of us have experienced loss and sadness and feel for you. It is sometimes hard to keep smiling in those circumstances but you manage very well.
I have been a bit up tight for the last 8 weeks undergoing lots of tests, I now know what’s wrong and feel more relaxed. Just waiting to be told what the treatment regime will be.
Off this afternoon to the physiotherapist for something else which is not so serious after which I have a few free days to craft myself silly. So many lovely designs to choose from so I will be in my element for the rest of the week.
Just reading your blog and the comments everyone has made just proves what a great community the Clarity family is. Crafting and creating is our common passion but we are all there for each other. Knowing there are others thinking along the same lines makes you feel so much better and gives you the push to get up and do something. Looking forward to tomorrow’s shows xx
Dear Barb,
I feel like many of the Clarity folk- Three years since my hubby died and try as I can there are times,songs, pictures of places that suddenly hit me! My daughter’s have just decided to take me to Swanage for a weekend in November-very favourite town we all visited often. Great memories.
Thank your team for helping me access your blog again-I like others really feel encouraged reading it.
My Birthday/Christmas wishlist is getting longer now I’ve added the essential stamps and rub ons. I use the sticker collection often (yes the Woodblock set is also on the list!) and the elves and gnomes are favourites with my grandsons.
Take care all-I’m back to bed with my cold and iPad and Clarity catch up. Susan
I too could have joined you at 4am – what is it about 4am !!!
Lovely stamps – vertical ones please Jazz
Your blog helps us all Barbara.
Take care.
Hi Barbara
I lost my parents mam at 57 from a car crash (not her fault) and dad at 66 the next year from a broken heart. Mam was a beautiful cake maker and decorator made me and my sisters wedding cakes. Dad was a carpenter and I spent many times when young helping him in his shed making toys for the shop they had in Askew Road in Gateshead, I was only 30 when I lost them, not long after my husband died, but he left me with 2 children and I now have 6 grandchildren, 5 greatgrand children and one great great grandchild. Also I have now spent 26 years with Dave a lovely man to share my life with. Take care Barbara and slow down.xx
The sadness never really leaves you but the memories make it bearable. 💕 the essential stamps look great but all looking forward to the groovy ones
The stamps are on my wish list, and no doubt the groovi ones will be added to, unless the temptation to order is just too great! My dad passed 10 years ago, and mum followed the following January. I always say night night to their photo at bedtime, and morning to them as soon as I wake up. I miss them both so much, but know in my heart they wouldn’t have wanted to go on living, with their health being as it was towards the end. If I’m having a bad day, I call it a ‘upset apple cart’ day, which helps me, as I always told my dad I’d be okay after they had gone, it seems better thinking that, rather than I’m having a bad day. Take care lovely Barbara, and everyone else too. xxx
This post feels like it was meant for me. We scattered my mum’s ashes just a couple of weeks ago and I still feel so bereft. I haven’t been able to craft since we were told that she didn’t have long to live and have felt rudderless since.
After reading your post and the comments from other followers I know that’s normal so my huge thanks to all of you xx
Just read through the replies to your blog and feel that you have given a space here for us to open up and share our stories of loss of loved ones with others who know exactly about the depth of sadness that tugs deep and strong inside that no words can ever express. Thank you.
Adore these stamp sets , they are now my go to .
not only does the sadness and memories of a much loved parent never go , I miss dad everyday especially when watching our beloved Tottenham Hotspur, he would always come over to watch with me , but I miss and think of my granddad, we were close , he died 2 weeks after my daughter was born , the last time I saw him was when we were both in the same hospital the day if Vicky’s birthday , the nurses brought him up to see us with a cuddly toy , that I still have
We appreciate and look forward to your blogs and all your video – the day would be duller without them! Thank you!!!
I can relate to what you say about sadness since your Dad died. My Mom died in May 2024 and I have lost my gusto for art and have only sat at my art table on a few occasions since last year. I miss it and hope to have get back to it this fall – it does bring peacefulness and creativity which is so good for our soul.
There are many lovely responses to your post Barb, what a lovely group of people the Clarity family are! Many have experienced grief, me included, and we understand exactly where you’re coming from. Thank you for being so open, not just in your blog but in the SHAC too. It helps everyone who might be going through their own difficult times to know that they’re not alone, and I hope that it helps you too. Then there’s the ultimate mind calming tonic of course……. Crafting with Clarity.
Well done on your blog marathon, 💪 hopefully you’ll be rewarded with lots of orders on the run up to Christmas, (but give yourself permission to take a break if you need to!)
Take care, Jane. xx 🌸🌼🌺
Dear Barb, thanks for sharing such heartfelt thoughts. I have days when the sadness of missing my Mom and Dad, and my best friend overwhelm me. Being creative helps, and with my ever growing Clarity craft stash, I can always find something that suits any occasion and takes me off on a happier tangent. So right there with you. We all love your blog, but are also aware of how much effort it takes to do it everyday, so if you need to take a break, just rest assured, we will be hear to appreciate and listen when you come back. Bx
I could have joined you too at 4 am, but from the other end of the night. What was it last night? I dropped off at about 3.00 but then was awake again at 4.00.
These stamps will be a good addition to the old sentiments in your handwriting. I use them all the time.
Hope we all have a better night tonight. Xx
I wrote this yesterday but it has only just let me post. Much better night last night!