Christmas In August

I hate to admit it but Christmas is coming, whether I want it to or not.   I had a friend announce the other day that she bought her first Christmas gift.  It's a good thing she's not close by or I would have to smack her!  The deadline for Christmas cards is coming even faster.  So I might as well embrace it, instead of fighting it.

I saw a card online using the thread technique to make a Christmas tree.  And since I just got a goodie bag from Sarah of different color baker's twine for me to try out, I had to give it a whirl.  It's a very easy card to make.  The only issue I had was how much twine I needed without wasting.  Took a couple of tries, but I got it.

Pattern Paper ~ Oriental Trading Christmas Paper Pad

Star ~ Sizzix die

Baker's Twine ~ The Twinery (Pea Pod)

Midweek Throwdown - Any Hero Cards

When this challenge came up on OWH's blog, I thought no problem.  Easy, peasy to make patriotic cards.  WRONG!  I was on the verge of burning my creations.  Not just throwing them in the trash but actually burning them. 

I used my border punch to get the scalloped edge.  The blue paper with white stars came from a 6x6 pad I just purchased today (don't remember name of it). 

After about 5 attempts, I finally came up with this card.  I'm having major OCD & notice my strips aren't straight.  Oh well! 

I Think I'm In Love

I think I'm in love......with a sketch.  Going through the latest additions to the OWH sketches, I came across #123 and thought I'd give it a try.  Now I think it's my 'go to' sketch.

I thought I would try to make some masculine cards while using this sketch.  The first one was using some green.

Pattern Paper: Recollections Aqua Damask

Sentiment: Paper Smooches 'Chit Chat'

Embellishment: Liquid Pearls

This next one is my favorite.  I really like the browns together.  The green thank you card is very simple.  But I really like how 'polished' this one looks with the black layers.  I love it so much, I made 12 of them!

Pattern Papers: Recollections Fashionably Chic Paper Pack

Sentiment: Stampin Up

Thinking Winter

My son started an amazing adventure today......his 1st day of kindergarten.  He is attending a year round school.  With him being at school all day means Mommy has time to play!  I have a box just about ready to ship.  But couldn't close it up yet.  I was in desperate need of crafting time.

My son excited about his 1st day

With it being in the 90's today & humidity making it feel worse, I needed a cool down.  Even if it is with a card.  The image & background of the image came from The Paper Shelter - Warm In The Winter.  The snowflake brads are from a stash I've had for years.  And the snowflake ribbon I got last year.  I took the image of the girl & popped it on the background part. 

Post Vacation Cards

My son & I spent 2 weeks in Colorado visiting my parents.  It was a wonderful time.  My parents fell in even more love with their grandson.  My parents live in a small community in the middle of nowhere.  So to do or see anything, it's a bit of a drive.  When went to Glenwood Springs, Rifle Falls, Grand Junction (my aunt & her husband live there, so we went many times), Fruita.  One trip to Grand Junction, per my request, was to go to Hobby Lobby.  I have shopped Hobby Lobby online before but have never been in their store.  OMG......I'm in love!!  Maybe it's a good thing there isn't a store close by.  Or I would be broke.

The downside to my 2 week vacation is I didn't have any of my card making supplies.  I was doing fine until the last few days, then I was itching to make something. 

Getting home was quite the adventure.  We were stuck in Houston, TX for about 7 hours due to bad weather.  Both my son & I were about to pull out hair or strangle one another.  But somehow we survived.  And we made it home at 1:30am.  So I have spent a few days recovering from the trip (time change, altitude change & sitting in an airport for hours).  But now that I'm not as jet lagged......to the craft room I went. 

This thank you card is my take on one I saw that is being done for a card making class.  There is 3 different pieces of paper that I put together, added the ribbon & sentiment.  Very simple and I was able to make 12 of these.

This next card I made using OWH Sketch #126 and an image from Doodle Pantry.  I just turned it on it's side to make my card.  Who doesn't love the D.P. ants.  Especially on these hot days of summer.....makes me want to join them in playing with the hose.  :o)

Clear Stamp Storage

I have drawers of unorganized clear stamps.  I have pondered & pondered on how to store them.  I know many people like putting them in CD cases.  But I don't have to room to store a lot of CD cases.  So I searched around the net for ideas and found one that will work, the binder.

Say goodbye to drawers of stamp sheets that takes me awhile to rummage through and forget half of what I have.

Hello new set up.....

So I start with a sheet of white cardstock.  Then I stamp the images on the cardstock.

After the sheet is filled up, then I line up the stamps on the transparency sheet to  match what is on the cardstock.

Put the transparency film on top of the cardstock (so now you can really see the image)
and slide them into a page protector. 
 

Then I plan on putting the page protectors into a binder and categorize them by theme.  If I have the info on the stamps (company name and/or stamp set name) then I write it on the cardstock.  So then I will only have 1 or 2 binders that don't take up a lot of space.  And I will be able to find my stamps.

ODBD Challenge

My husband has been away on a business trip to England.  So I have been playing the role of Mommy & Daddy to our son.  I don't know how military spouses handle it!  I go crazy with my husband gone for a week.  I couldn't imagine what it would be like if he was gone for months.  I have complete admiration to the family waiting at home for their hero to return!

Last night, my son was tucked in bed, I had caught up on "my" shows & I actually had some energy.  So I decided to make some cards.  I CASE'd the card from one in my inspiration folder.  I was going to make it a thank you card.  But I couldn't resist this sentiment since I was using paper with stars.