December 2

 Our neighbor gave us a table top easel that her kids outgrew. Today was a good day for some painting, and I had bought some washable tempera paint. It was messy with Carolyn, so I am glad to have our basement for this creative activity. 

December 1

 Our first snow fall began yesterday with enough to make a snowman today. Some kids from the neighborhood helped, and it was fun to watch them all play in the snow. Alex's Halloween costume items for Cousin It were repurposed for our snowman, which will melt soon as temperatures climb on Wednesday and Thursday. 

Being Present

 I decided to table my bigger "to-do" list item until January. I am planning to send off all my transcripts and test scores to the state to check on an elementary teaching license. I realized that I want to stay present with my family this holiday season and figure out how to make fun memories during this uncertain time. I am lucky that I get to be home with my kids right now. 

We had our first snow fall yesterday, which gave me some perspective on this time. I  get to bundle up and play outside with Carolyn and make sure that Alex has enough warm clothing as he goes off to school and to play in the neighborhood. I can spend more time settling into our new house and making the space work for all of us. 

I will try to write December Daily blog posts and might make a scrapbook for the month. There are great ideas at Aliedwards.com

Here are some pictures from November 30th in the snow:

Freshly Made Sketch #463

 I made another card during nap time with the Simon Says Stamp December Card Kit using Freshly Made Sketch #463. It was another quick card and focused on the pattern paper from this kit. I went to link the kit and jut noticed that it sold out. I am glad that I ordered one! The papers are from Simple Stories Simple Vintage North Pole and will be featured on more of my cards. 

Other Supplies Used:

Close To My Heart white card base and assorted jewels

Card in 25 Minutes

 I wanted to make a card for the last Mojo Monday sketch of the year, but I new my time would be limited. I used the Simon Says Stamp December Card Kit and set my timer. I was a fun challenge to put together a card quickly and start using this great kit. The style of this kit is a little different than some of my current supplies, and I don't often use ephemera on cards. Yesterday, Carolyn helped me emboss some card stock with the snowflake embossing folder. I have a little craft buddy now! 

Other Supplies Used

Close To My Heart: White card base and card stock 

Stampin' Up!: Stitched circle die, Stampin' dimentionals, Winter Snow embossing folder

First Pie from Scratch

 Until this Thanksgiving, I never made a pie from scratch. I bought pies or at least the premade crust. Alex started to learn to make pie with his grandma earlier in the fall, so he and I made out pumpkin pie from Thanksgiving. 

We used recipes from Crazy for Crusts for the crust and filling. We learned a few lessons along the way. I need to still flour our non-stick mat. We also have to be careful not to overfill the crust. The result was tasty, and I will try more pies in there future. 

First Pie from Scratch

 Until this Thanksgiving, I never made a pie from scratch. I bought pies or at least the premade crust. Alex started to learn to make pie with his grandma earlier in the fall, so he and I made out pumpkin pie from Thanksgiving. 

We used recipes from Crazy for Crusts for the crust and filling. We learned a few lessons along the way. I need to still flour our non-stick mat. We also have to be careful not to overfill the crust. The result was tasty, and I will try more pies in there future. 

Test Post

 I am back to more crafting in 2020, so I am seeing if this blog still works. I also wanted to look at my older entries. Happy crafting! 

Rainbow Cards

 I keep experimenting with my watercolor sets, and this round resulted in two cards for family members. The rainbow ribbon came on a birthday goodie bag that CJ brought home from preschool, and it looked fun to use on a card. I started with watercolor backgrounds using the Sakura 24 color set and added gold specs and frames with a metallic watercolor set. I wrote the sentiments with a gold gel pen. I also added some rainbow jewels for more details. I even managed to get these cards mailed after buying larger envelopes for 5x7 cards. Now back to making Christmas cards. 

Card for Mojo Monday

 For this card, I tried my watercolors with stamps and papers from my last Stampin' Up order. I will list out the supplies at the end of the card because they are mostly current for once! This is a great sketch for Mojo Monday. 

I wonder if other crafters occasionally lose their clear stamps because I do! Luckily, I always find them. The sentiment on this card was stuck to my self-healing mat for a couple of weeks. I was happy to find it yesterday because I worried that my vacuum might have gotten it. 

Supplies Used

from Stampin' Up!

Coming Home Stamp Set

Trimming the Town Designer Series Paper

Night of Navy Cardstock

White Embossing Powder

Versamark Ink

Archival Black Ink

Banners Pick a Punch

Winter Snow Embossing Foler

Stitched Dies (retired)

from Close To My Heart

White Notecards

from Amazon

Watercolor Paints

White Gel Pen 

Watercolor Brushes 

Watercolor Class

I think that it's beneficial to be a beginner and learn new things. I have enjoyed previous Online Card Classes, so I was excited to try the newest class. (These classes are packed with content and a great value!) I had used some of my inks to watercolor cards occasionally, but that is the limit of my experience. I bought some water color supplies and am trying new cards. Right now I have made some card pieces and 2 completed cards. 

These cards are from the Day 1 Lessons: 

I have so much more to practice and learn! 

Supplies Used:

Watercolor set

Metallic watercolor set

Brush set

Gold pens

White gel pens

Watercolor paper

Hardboard

Small round bruh

Stampin' Up! cardstock, stamp, gold paper, embossing powder, Versamark ink, and heat tool. 

Fall Weekend

 After 16 years in Texas and California, I am enjoying my first Midwestern fall again. The Ohio weather has been mild, which is helpful. This weekend we visited a pumpkin patch and played outside. Alex made his first apple pie with his grandma. I knew that I needed to embrace the seasons as we moved back to Ohio, and I am enjoying the fall so far. 

Have a Beautiful Fall

 The leaves are changing in Ohio, so it's a fun time to play with the Beautiful Autumn bundle from Stampin' Up. I started stamping and punching pieces on Saturday and then used a sketch on Sunday to put my card together. Here is the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches (#455 by Jen Mitchell).

I mixed 2 stamp sets for my greeting. The original greeting was "Have a Beautiful Day," but I wanted my card to say fall instead of day. I used a retired stamp set from Close To My Heart to make the change and used the Mini Misti tool to line up my sentiment. I wanted to add the red maple leaves to the card because those are my favorites right now in our neighborhood. 

I am photographing my cards by our stairs, so I may look for a light box to improve the process. We are still setting our upstairs office and craft nook, and I feel grateful to have the space. 

Supplies Used

From Stampin Up: Crumb Cake cardstock, Pear Pizzazz cardstock and ink, Crushed Curry cardstock and ink, Cajun Craze cardstock, Real Red ink, stitched circle die (retired), Woodland embossing folder, and Beautiful Autumn bundle

From Close To My Heart: White notecards and cardstock, New England Ivy ink, pattern paper, and Autumn Air stamp set (retired)

 
 

Thankful Thursday: October 1

 I have been revisiting some blogs that I've read in the past. I enjoyed reading Thankful Thursday posts on The Frugal Girl, so I will share my thoughts here. 

1. The Ohio weather was nice in September! We've enjoyed a lot of time outside, including walks, bike rides, and a bonfire. The leaves are starting to change colors too. 

2. I am thankful for our patio, so we could enjoy safer time with family and friends outside. 

3. Hybrid school is working out for our family. Preschool is three mornings a week and sixth grade is 3 hours each morning with online homework. We feel fortunate to have a choice in options and that our schools are following strong procedures for health and safety. After teaching last school year, I acknowledge that there may need to be future changes and that each solution comes with challenges. I am really grateful for the time that preschool opens up for me each week. 

4. We have a gas range again! This is my favorite kind, and we've not had one since the end of 2014. We rented an apartment and 3 houses over 8 years, so I am grateful to settle into our own home now. 

Happy Fall Y'all!

The weather is cooling off in Ohio, and I feel fall coming. I left our box of coats and jackets in a closet when we moved in July. It was time to unpack it this week due to cooler mornings. It's time to start making some fall cards! I enjoyed working with this sketch from Freshly Made Sketches. 

Supplies Used

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! (Cajun Craze, Garden Green, Soft Suede, and Crushed Curry) and Close to My Heart (white card base)

Inks: Stampin' Up! (Crumb Cake) and Close to My Heart (New England Ivy)

Stamps: Stampin' Up! (Banner Year) and Close to My Heart (retired)

Embossing Folder and Dies: Stampin' Up! retired

Punch: Stampin' Up! Banners Pick a Punch

Acorn Stamp

 Summer is winding down here, so I am digging out a couple of fall stamps sets. I had an unused set with an acorn, which I will use now. Our new town is named for the oak trees. This card is for my daughter's preschool director, who has created a smooth start in these uncertain times. My Stampin' Up! Night of Navy and Crushed Curry supplies match our school colors. I am happy to have time, space, and supplies to make cards from the kids' teachers.

Supplies Used

Papers and Card stock: Stampin' Up! and Close To My Heart

Stamps: The Stamping Village and  Close To My Heart (retired)

Inks: Stampin' Up!

Embossing Folder: Close To My Heart (retired)

Punch: Stampin' Up! Banners Pick a Punch

Teacher Cards

 I am working on cards for teachers. School has started in our new city, and the "thank you for your dedication" sentiment seems so fitting for this time. Teachers are putting in extra effort to make online, hybrid, or in person learning work for kids. 

I found the inspiration for my card design from the Happy Stampin' blog. This design is flexible to use with different sentiments, papers, and themes. 

Supplies Used

Stamp - The Stamping Village Thinking of You

Papers - Echo Park Teacher's Pet

Card Stock - Stampin' Up! Crumb Cake and Close to My Heart Notecard

Other - Stampin' Up! Banners Pick a Punch and Candy Dots (retired) 

Beach Card

 I tried a beach card for the Make My Monday challenge blog even though I don't have any beach theme stamps. I used the castle from the Lawn Fawn Critters Ever After set and two of my favorite Stampin' Up! colors: Crumb Cake and Pool Party. It turned out to be a simple card, but it was fun to experiment with a few options from my supply stash.

Sunday Stamps

 I have been stocking up on birthday cards and made my first card from the Sunday Stamps challenge blog. I was originally going to set up a different sentiment from the Endless Birthday set (Stampin' Up! retired), but I temporarily lost the larger birthday stamp. Does anyone else lose their clear stamps?! It's happened to me a couple of time, but I always find the missing piece in time. 

For this color challenge, I used Pool Part, Night of Navy (both from Stampin Up!) and Lilac (from Close To My Heart).

CASE(E) this Sketch #385

 In the spring, I learned about the collaborative sets from The Stamping Village. I ordered my first set and just started using it in my new space.

I also learned a new technique from Jennifer McGuire and plan to try more dot coloring. I used CAS(E) this Sketch to put together my new stamp set and new technique. 

Supplies Used

Card Stock: Kraft from Bazzill and White Notecard from Close to My Heart

Ink: Versa Fine Black, Memento Tuxedo Black, and Stampin' Up! Crushed Curry

Markers:Stampin Up! So Saffron and Spectrum Noir Yellow from Close to My Heart

Dies: Sizzix Stitched Shapes from Stampin Up! (retired)

Using Scraps

 Using my scraps and having precut card bases are two things helping me create more right now. I cut strips from my sun ray pattern paper and realized that I also like the pattern on the back. I have less card stock colors right now so, I used watercoloring to add colors before embossing the paper with a butterfly folder. I continued to use butterflies that I stamped and colored before our move. Also, I stocked up on white card bases and envelopes from Close to My Heart, which saves me some time. 

Many of my supplies are retired from Stampin' Up!, but here are some items for easy watercoloring:

Calypso Coral ink pad

Crushed Curry ink pad

Brushes

Water Color Paper 

Hard Board Panel & Purple Tape (to keep the paper flat as it dries) 

Fab Friday 195

 I finished 3 cards today while CJ napped. She is becoming an expert at stalling before "quiet time" and may drop her nap soon. I will see how our fall schedule comes together. I love the long summer days, but it make her earlier bedtime more of a challenge. I used this Fab Friday sketch for another card. I am out of Calypso Coral card stock, so made my own paper by watercoloring the ink from my stamp pad. 

Mojo Monday 543

 I have been creating birthday cards this week. I like this sketch for using pattern paper, especially some scraps. My next challenge is to decide how to store and organize my scraps. A benefit of moving has been rediscovering some craft supplies. Stampin' Up! retired the candy dots a while ago, but it's still fun to add them to embellish a card.