Using What I Have

I think I mentioned that I am trying to use my stamp sets instead of letting them sit in a drawer collecting dust. Make that wasting space. I'm not sure how things in drawers collect dust. Unless you are sanding something I would think a drawer is a pretty clean space. Isn't that the whole premise of a drawer...to keep things clean, not dusty! Enough about dust, check out thsi card, "Thinking of You"

I found the leaves in some floral stuff I had in my repertoire of craft supplies. You can't see it in the picture but there is bling in the corners on the right side, it's different for a change. The paper is from SU last year and the stamp set is Kinda Eclectic. Cute don't you think!

I'm off to see tonight's lunar eclipse, the Blood Moon!
Till next time...

Hugs,
Chris

Old Friends

I just read that an old friend from high school, well her father passed away. I think about her from time to time but I haven't seen her in years. I did make contact with her about 8 years ago, but fell short of following up. She's in real estate. Her picture shows that the years have treated her well...she hardly looks any different from how I remember her. I have one great picture of her with my old high school sweetheart. Long hair, jeans and a mid-length suede-leather coat. Some of you remember those...they were actual leather. However knowing what I know now, wouldn't wear it today, animal cruelty and so on. Every time I think of my friend, I think of this photo. I cherish it more than one might expect. It reminds me of a simpler time in life. We were fresh, young and looking forward to the lives ahead of us. As I read the obituary, my mind kept wandering to that photo, and although our lives have taken us down different roads, I'm thinking of her and sending prayers her way. Love and prayers to you Colleen...you are never far from thought.

Hugs
Chris

Cool Weather musings

I love the fall. The days are full of sunshine and happiness and the evenings are crisp and cool. This kind of weather makes me feel like nesting. One side of me wants to snuggle under a blanket while sipping warm cider and listening to the crackle of a roaring fire. The other side of me wants to cook...yes you heard me right. Cook. Maybe some slow-simmered soups, some white bean chili or a company pot roast full of leeks, potatoes and carrots in a wine infused gravy. Can you smell it!

This time of year also brings out the "Holiday" in me. I'm pulling out my all purpose fall decorations. You know the one's that can be used from September thru November. The every growing trove of pumpkins and gourds, fall leaves, and table dressings that will carry me thru to Thanksgiving but are the perfect color for Halloween. I call these boxes my multi-décor boxes. They come out in late August and don't get put up until the weekend after Thanksgiving.

Ah yes, the weekend of Thanksgiving. Black Thursday and Friday. I don't venture out, I'm home nesting, preparing and planning for Christmas. I can tell you that I pull out the decorations but I can't say the house is done that weekend. It's like a work of art, it takes time to layer and contemplate where my next decoration will go. I arrange, arrange again and do a final re-arranging until everything is just so...perfect in my eyes.

Which brings me to a card that I just finished. I played with it and toyed with it. And re-arranged it multiple times. I finally found my mojo and now I think it's perfect. A one of a kind work of art. Hope you like it too!

Hugs
Chris

Here's the tools to make this card (Note: I used the Soft Suede Marker for the Pine Cones)

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Butterflies are...on Sale!

Hi All,

As I mentioned in my last post, the Monarch butterflies are breezing thru NE Ohio. They inspired me to create today's card. This is my "case" of a card I saw on Pinterest.

I love the softness of the card yet it makes a dramatically bold statement. I found the butterfly in my sewing stash. I never did get around to ordering the Butterfly Thinlits. I thought all was lost until now! I couldn't believe my eyes, there they were in the Weekly Deals. I picked up my set this week. Now I can't wait to get my hands on them. I have a special project in mind to use them on!

Until next time....Have fun and Create on!
Hugs,
Chris

The blue background is some old Stampin Up Paper from a calendar set,2009 to be exact. The blue ink is Bordering Blue. I had the ribbon in my scrap bag and the butterfly was in my sewing supplies. I can't for the life of me remember the stamp set I used. It's making me crazy! I also used the following products. Hope you enjoy!

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

A Butterfly Beautiful Day

Hi All,

What a beautiful day it was today in NE Ohio. The Monarch butterflies are making their annual winter trek to Mexico. It's a 3000 mile hike from Canada & the US. I've seen so many this past weekend. They are truly stunning insects. I love to watch them float on the wind but I worry that they will get hurt in traffic. I know...sounds kinda silly. They have come very close to flying into
my windshield. I have to remember not to swerve so I don't hit them at the same time I am mesmerized by their flight & beauty. Their favorite plant for nectar is the Milkweed and I hear it's getting scarce. It's a cool plant with dainty orange blossoms and an almost fern-like leaf. I have some in my front yard. It's a perennial and does spread some. Yet I haven't seen a Monarch near it. Not to worry, good things come to those who wait!

Hugs,
Chris

Mama's Proud

I was thinking about my 3 children today, 2 girls and a boy. All are adults now and just like I did, they are going thru the ups and downs that life has thrown their way. I wish I was telepathic. Maybe I could have changed persuaded them to change their minds about doing things that might create hardship for them in the future. I wish I was the "Great and Powerful Oz" and was able to given them a heart that would never know heartache. I wish I had a fortune that they would always have life's essentials and never run out.

Alas, I am not the "Powerful Oz" and I don't have an money tree in my yard. But...my kids...they're all right. They have taken some hard knocks and have learned to rebound a better person. They have each other's backs when needed. They are not afraid to call each other out if one steps out of line. They laugh at each other as well as together. They share ups and downs, sometimes only thru me. My kids...I am proud of each one of them. Proud of the separate person each one has become and prouder still that they remain close. When I'm gone, I will go knowing they are there for each other.....always!

Using a Stamp Set a Week

Hi All,

I have been with Stampin Up for a year now. I joined to because I love their products, I wanted to earn free stamp sets and I desperately needed inks. I had the opportunity to go to Utah last year for Create, Inspire, Share. I didn't have to be asked twice! I became enamored with the entire line of products. Plus as a demonstrator I had the opportunity to see the Holiday Catalog and purchase goodies from it before it became public.

I have been slowly building my stash of goodies. I'm in love with the stamps sets. Doesn't matter if they are wood, clear or photopolymer. I truly enjoy being able to mix and match the sets to create something special. I have a lot of the ink colors, but there are oh so many more to collect! Did you ever try to make a card or a scrapbook page where the colors just don't seem right? Sometimes it's just the "tones" of the colors. Let me tell you, Stampin Up knows their "tones". Paper, ink, ribbon and embellishments match so well that heck, can someone send Shelli to my house to match my clothes?

Getting back to the stamp sets....I recently decided to start using one set a week. Sure I was using a set or part of one till it was practically thread bare. I needed to start pushing myself to create with all my sets. Oh yeah...I'm buying more as I do this. The way I see it, I should be busy every week while I'm still on this side of the dirt. Then I want to be buried with the sets I haven't used. I need something to keep me going in the afterlife.

Here's my first week's card....hope you like it.
Hugs
Chris

Warm & Inviting--Christmas Card

This card was so much fun to make! I love the new Festive Fireplace stamp set. So many cute things to make. I used a piece of white vellum for the cut out. The candle changes color but I love it when it goes from yellow to red. Really makes the logs look ablaze!

These are a few of the items I used:

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Stampin Up Holiday Bundles

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Getting a Grip on Blogging

Hi All,

I'm finally blogging!  It's taken some trial and error but here it is.
I am looking forward to sharing my creative ideas with you as well as some
thoughts, antidotes, recipes and decorating/storage ideas.

Hugs
Chris