Sailing...

It's the weekend, and it's the first one after coming back to work after the holidays, so I'm just gonna dial this post in from the side of the pool.

No, I'm really at the pool, but I won't be poolside for long. It's too cold to linger out there, either jump in or get back to the locker room.

The Fine Print: Just a few more of the "Sail Away" cards I made from that kit sometime last year.

Waxing Philosophic

I had a coworker who would occasionally bring in thrift store finds to share with others. She knew my love of paper crafting so the things she brought me were always along those lines. Some were winners and some weren't.

She brought me a card making kit she found for dime once. I'd seen similar kits in the craft stores from time to time and they had much bigger price tags than that. It was opened and while all the parts were no longer there, there were enough there for me to make these cards out of it with bits from my own stash as well.

When she gave me this kit she said that if I'd rather not be given random things to please let her know. She didn't want to burden anyone with unwanted gifts. I told her that I love surprise gifts! It meant someone thought of me. I did caution her that I hoped it was okay with her that if a gift wasn't too my liking I'd pass it on to someone else who could love it.

She said she was so pleased to know that I had already learned that lesson in life. She said it took her many, many years and much agonizing before she realized that you don't have to keep things that you don't love and you don't have to keep things just because they were gifts.

She and I both know that is an unpopular stance these days with the whole "more is more" greed culture that the population is so wrapped up in, but it is very freeing. I know many folks are making resolutions about reducing clutter and accumulating less. If you're one of those people, consider passing on a thing or two that you don't love or no longer love to someone who will.

The Fine Print: The secret is that I loved the card kit but I don't want these card parts in my house any longer, so I will now mail them out to folks. Hee hee. The kit was Sue Dreamer or something like that? Die cut words by Cheery Lynn, stamped greeting by Stampin' Up.

Smiles and Giggles

My friend sent me this funny email today:

A SENIOR’S PERSPECTIVE OF FACEBOOK - By Mike Harnett

 

For those of my generation who do not, and cannot, comprehend why Facebook exists: I am trying to make friends outside of Facebook while applying the same principles.

 

Therefore, every day I walk down the street and tell passersby what I have eaten, how I feel at the moment, what I have done the night before, what I will do later and with whom.

 

I give them pictures of my family, my dog, and of me gardening, taking things apart in the garage, reading the paper, watering the lawn, standing in front of landmarks, driving around town, having lunch, and doing what anybody and everybody does every day.

 

I also listen to their conversations, give them the "thumbs up" and tell them I like them.

 

And it works just like Facebook.

 

I already have four people following me: two police officers, a private investigator, and a psychiatrist.

Her story definitely made me smile, because Facebook does not transfer to real life at all. Unfortunately photographs don't capture that good either as this card is a lot cuter in person with its bright and happy colors.

I hope you are smiling today. Beware of those random followers!

The Fine Print: Cat stamp and heart border by Taylored Expressions, scalloped border die by A Muse Studio, circle die by Spellbinders, and scalloped circle punch by Stampin' Up. 

Workdesk Wednesday First of the Year

I thought I'd ring in the new year with a properly messy desk to share with the lovely and nosy ladies at What's on Your Workdesk Wedneday. It's been so long since I played, mostly because the darn desk is picked up all the time (and indeed it is picked up by the time this post goes live).

Proof I can make a mess:

Proof that it extends beyond the desk:

At the time I was working on my first two Christmas cards for this year. Amazing how two little cards can require so much product and space!

The Fine Print: There is no truth to the rumor that I paid the neighborhood children to make a mess on my desk just so I could claim it for myself. Happy 2017!

Hark! Merry Monday

It's time to get back into the Merry Monday saddle and start all over again making Christmas cards for the holiday season. I owe my laid back pre-holiday season to Marry Monday so you bet that I'm signing on again this year.

This week we are asked to used angels on our Christmas cards. I had to groan when I saw the topic. Angels are just one of those things that I'd rather not use. I do actually have an angel stamp though. In fact, I have two. They are brushstroke angels that I hold onto because I think that I might need an angel stamp at some point in my life (like now!).

I also picked up a third angel stamp from my friend who gave away her crafting collection. It's cute but I'm not sure it really works for Christmas or not. You can let me know. I do like it paired with all the icy blues.

In case, that one doesn't do it I did break out with one of my old standbys. I even painted it with some shimmery metallic painty stuff and made a layered poinsettia to go with it. I also stamped my hallmark on the back of both these cards and finished off the insides with greetings and a bit of fanciness.

So there you have it, my first two Christmas cards for this year. I won an honorable mention for the bottle tag I made for the spirits challenge. I still have the bottle of bubbly it was attached to. Somehow we forgot about it on both Christmas day and New Year's eve.

The Fine Print: Angel stamps Stampin' Up and DeNami, papers by Joanns and DCWV, circle dies by Spellbinders, poinsettia die by A Muse Studio, ribbon and wooden snowflake from my stash.

Wild Mouse

Once upon a time, Squirrel posted THIS card and of course I fell in love with that cute furry wild mouse and had to have him. However, since I've been practicing restraint I didn't rush out and buy him. I did put him on my Amazon wish list though.

Guess what?! Santie Claus shops at Amazon because now this fabulous mouse is mine! I'm afraid I can't color him as professionally as Squirrel but I think I did him proud.

The card base sort of looks like that embossed dotted paper that Bazzill used to make (and maybe still do for all I know), but it isn't. The dots you see on it are printed a lighter black. I thought the different patterns all went together well. I want to do a bit more mixed and matching. We'll see how that goes!

The Fine Print: Mouse stamp by Wild Rose Studio, card base by Lasting Impressions, designer papers by My Mind's Eye "Indie Chic," and alphabet stickers by Basic Grey.

The New Calendar

Now that the year has changed it is time for a new calendar. I have a little one in my craft room that shows the dates and precious little else because of its teeny size.

I've often admired the calendar critters, calendar critter accessories and calendar blanks that Taylored Expressions sold. So this year during one of the black Friday, Plaid Saturday, Chartreuse Sunday, or Manic Monday sales I splurged and got them for myself.

This is my January calendar, featuring the bitterly cold weather that January brings with her. I bought a cheap plastic standing frame from the dollar store to house it in. The calendar itself is 3"x4" but since my frame is 5"x7" I had room to add a patterned paper background which is mounted on a piece of white cardstock.

The photo is taken in the dreary gray mush that passes for sunshine this time of the year, so you get what you get. The red dot is my big stamp club meeting date. Since I'm in charge of it I'd be lynched if I missed it.

This here is card showing Cindy ringing in the new year. She got a bit tipsy on milk as you can see. Hope your day is happy and that you aren't too hungover. Remember the dog that bit you and drink his hairs.... I never did understand that cure.

The Fine Print: Calendar and parts by Taylored Expressions--Calendar Critters, Calendar Build a Scene, and Ready Set Snow (the trees). Card stamps and dies by Tim Holtz--Crazy Cats and Crazy Accessories. The pressure is on.... I now have 31 days to make my February calendar.