Back in the saddle for Christmas...

 

 

I missed May and June for the "Make Five Christmas Cards a Month" Challenge due to the major events I had going on in my life.  I was going to blow off July too and use the excuse that I'm just not ready since the month was quickly escaping me anyway.  SO, I'm proud that the "Just do it!" attitude took over this afternoon... GO MOJO!!!

 

Supplies used...

• Patterned Paper from the K&Company 12" x 12" Yuletide pad
• Neenah Desert Storm Background Paper
• Chipboard Greetings from K&Company Christmas Cheer Chipbox
• Lace and Metallic Ribbon
• Dimensionals

Organizing stamps...

 

Since moving to New Jersey and my new studio, I have been diligently working hard to get it set up as my sanctuary.  I was so delighted with this organization idea, I just had to share.  Back in my sardine can in Massachusetts, I had wanted something where I could "see" my wood stamps.  Space restraints made that impossible and they lived in a box, under my bed. 

And as we all know... outta sight, outta mind!

 

While shopping for something else at Loew's I spotted this expandable Shelf Organizer.  I did a double take as my mind was spinning and the wheels were turning.  It's wider than a spice organizer (I think it's meant for cans in your pantry), the depth of the shelf is 3.6".  Perfect, perfect, perfect to store many stamps on one shelf!

 

Because this shelf is in a cabinet with a glass door, I wanted to raise it up about two inches, so it could be seen when the door is closed.  I got one of the many empty moving boxes and cut a perfect sized base.  I even used my score tool to make the edges crisp for when I folded it over!  I then covered it with a pretty wrapping paper I found in the attic...

 

I am so delighted with this!  But the true test will be, does seeing it actually get these stamps used?  Only time will tell!  And I'll put my money on "YES!" ...

Card Therapy...

 

Almost three months since a post!  Yikes!  Where does the time go?

 

The beginning of June marked my marriage to Ernie, my son Zack's graduation from high school and my move to New Jersey.  By the way, all in the same weekend!  I have been buried in boxes ever since...

 

Finally uncovered enough supplies to do something... so here's the beginning of my wedding thank you cards.  I can't even begin to tell you how wicked awesome that was!

 



Four weeks ago...

 

 

Four weeks ago today, I had the pleasure of meeting with a group of Marblehead High School students who wanted to learn about and make cards for the troops. I set up a couple different stations and they assembled cards from some kits I had made up.  One of the stations had paper, embellishments, pens, markers and stickers and they made and wrote their own Any Hero notes.  One of the young ladies asked me what an Any Hero note was.  While I explained it (btw... something I have explained many, many times before to countless people), I got so choked up and had tears in my eyes that I couldn't speak.  I shared this story with my fellow cardmakers on the Operation Write Home facebook page and someone pointed out that I may have become so choked up because many of our heroes are not much older than the students I was teaching.  I think she was right...

 

Altogether, they assembled 41 cards and made and wrote 14 Any Hero notes.  And I just know, they won't soon forget what we did on that day... :)

 



It's ALMOST Christmas...

 

Because I haven't done a post in almost six weeks...

Because I joined a challenge to make five Christmas cards a month...

Because I need to keep my hand in the till... here you go!

 

It had to be a super simple card since I really can't afford to take time away from planning my wedding, getting ready for Zack's graduation and eventual move to college, moving to New Jersey AND my fiancé's complete renovation.  So, I scanned Pinterest and found this.  It could NOT have been easier...

 

   Supplies used...

• Stampin' Up Chocolate and Very Vanilla Paper
• Recollections Flecked Red Paper
• The Paper Studio "Stitched Holly"
• Brown Grosgrain Ribbon
• Gold Metallic Paper for Star

 

 



My five for March...

 

I had to find something quick for my five March Christmas cards as I'll be quite busy the last two weeks of the month.  I headed to Pinterest and found this for inspiration.  I used a different embossing folder for each of the squares and my favorite red speckled paper from Recollections...
 

Unfortunately, I only made one... :(
 

Merry Christmas!



Another of Sketch #162...

 

Who says you can't learn more from the same sketch?  I loved all the examples and creative interpretations that everyone did on Sketch #162 which you can find here.  It was wonderful to be the "Guest" sketcher for the past week.  And it's neat to know that I will always be the inspiration for Sketch #162... that's wicked awesome!  I decided to take one person's banner idea and add it to another's person's label idea and came up with this...