Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing you all a happy thanksgiving. May you be spending time with those who are most important to you. I have a houseful, with my in-laws and my sister and her kids. Here are some of the Thanksgiving cards I've made in years past. Everything is Stampin' Up, except the ribbon on the Happy Harvest card and the "Happy Thanksgiving" on the last 2 cards.

Let me know which one(s) you like the best.

Given Away

Back in March, I offered a giveaway on my 250th post. I selected a name, and started working on what I wanted to do. There were little delays here and there, and I'm embarrassed that it took me so long to complete this.

Last Friday, I finally managed to give Christine the prize. I stamped some cards for her. Stamps are Flower Factory and one of the greeting sets. All products are Stampin' Up.

I also turned a piece from the Bride's Tree stitchalong into an ornament. This is the "house" and the image is Liberty's of London. Christine and I both lived in London, so I thought this would be perfect for her. The fabric in the background is what I used to back the ornament. While it's not a Liberty's of London fabric, it reminds me of something they would have. The brown ribbon is from Stampin' Up.

Tri-fold Cards

This month, the swap theme for my stamping group is "designer series paper". I have a lot of DSP and thought this was a perfect challenge to use some of it. I was also inspired by Anna's post on tri-fold cards. Anna was also kind enough to send me some tips on making the cards.

The tutorial for making this card at here, including dimensions. Note that the vertical end panels should be 1-3/4" x 5-1/4" (not 5-1/2" as listed on the site).

Also, you score the base card at 2", 4", 8", and 10" (or if you are using your cutter as your scorer and not one of those fancy scoring bases, 2" and 4", flip the card, and score again at 2" and 4"). The cuts are made between the 2" score and the 10" score at a depth of 1.5" on either side. One thing I discovered is that it is much easier to tape on the smaller pieces before you start folding the card.

Here's a wonky scan of an unfolded card.
I used Chocolate Chip base and the Love Me DSP from a few years ago. 

 

Here's a card folded up.

This one uses Purely Pomegranate as the base. 

To make 12 cards, I used 4 sheets of Purely Pomegranate, 2 sheets of Chocolate Chip, and 5 sheets of the DSP. All sheets were 12"x12", and all I have left are scraps. Oh, I also used a bit of textured Close to Cocoa paper for the larger punched circle on the pomegranate cards. This is a really great project for using up scraps or DSP paper sets that you haven't figured out how to use on other projects.

On the cards going to the swap, on the white panel on the inside, I stamped "Mon Amie" from the Carte Postale set in Close to Cocoa ink. All products are Stampin' Up.

More finishing!

Just in time to go to the needlework store tomorrow, I finished the last of the samplers for my nephews. I'm so excited. In all its beaded glory, I give you the Bluebell Sampler.

Furlough Finishing Flury

It rained last week. A lot. Here are a few of the projects that I finished. I'm having others do the final finishing on all of them and will show you pictures when I have them back. I am >< this close to having a happy dance on my other nephew's sampler. I also have a few other projects almost ready to show you. 

Bent Creek, The Pumpkin Flower Sampler

WDW Chrysanthemum, Mulberry, and Bullfrog

Buttons from Just Another Button Company in Plum 

(instead of the Tarnished Gold)

North Star sampler from the Sweetheart Tree

 Stitched on 28 ct Platinum Cashel with the recommended threads.  

The charm is from ArtBeads.

 

Acorn Garden Sampler from Patricia Ann designs. 

Stitched on 28 ct Platinum Cashel with the recommended threads. 

I may add a couple of crystal paillettes to this, to help it coordinate 

with the other two samplers for my nephews.

Day 4

Life in DC is always crazy and rarely easy. Sigh.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, I stitched and overdosed on TV. Since then, we've been dealing with a pest problem in the house that has required an uncounted number of loads of laundry and moving almost everything out of our bedroom. Not bed bugs, thankfully, but something as tenacious and as difficult to remove. Hopefully, tonight, we'll start moving back into our room, but it will probably take most of the weekend to complete.

DH and I are being productive with our furlough time, but it will be nice when we are past the uncertainty.

Of Pumpkins and Furloughs

This fall, I've made a concentrated effort to start stitching again. I'm mostly trying to finish up some works in progress, although I have also started a freebie stitched in two colors of DMC. I'm finding with my schedule, it's hard to stitch on projects on linen or with specialty threads, so I like having a project with DMC on Aida that I know I can wash when someone spills something all over it.

Last week, I finished this project that I had started last fall. I love, love, love this design. I need to order the beads to finish it, but I'm very happy with it. I altered the colors of the threads to match some fabric that I want to use when I turn it into something.

Bent Creek, The Pumpkin Flower Sampler

WDW Chrysanthemum, Mulberry, and Bullfrog

The next is the never-ending birth sampler that I've had to restart. This is the last project I need to complete (minus beading) to have all my niephlets' birth samplers done. I stitched most of the last section yesterday and this morning. I'm one of the 800,000+ on furlough thanks to the government shutdown. DH is also furloughed, so we're praying that the shutdown doesn't last too long. We're making the best of it for now, but if this goes on long term, the consequences for us, while not as completely dire as they are for some folks, will not be pleasant. Remember, DC (the City) is a federal entity, too.

 

Sweetheart Tree, Bluebells

 

Muriel's Next Stop

Erin of Fairy Tales and French Knots won the coin toss (sorry, Lee), so Muriel is off to central New York for a fall visit.

Memoirs of New Orleans

Hello, all! Madame Muriel here. After my travels to Italy, then back to Arizona, and on to DC, Ms. C let me have a few days out of my travel pod, and then it was on to the Crescent City for a conference. Look at this nice welcome we received in the airport.

Unfortunately, it was quite rainy during our time there, so I didn't get to go out and see as many of the sights as I would have liked, but I did have plenty of stitching time in our hotel room, especially when Ms. C was in her conference sessions. I also took plenty of naps.

 

One of Ms. C's colleagues also brought along a companion. I'm pleased to introduce you to my new friend Cina. We've become pen pals.

I did attend one business meeting, as they were serving lunch. Those archivists were a little out of control, so I had to step in and take over. I know how to keep a meeting in order!

I did insist on being let out of the hotel after a few days! How could one be in New Orleans and not visit Cafe Du Monde? I did have to stow my stitching to avoid the powdered sugar.

I partook of another New Orleans tradition. I highly recommend Cafe Adelaide for their libations. I didn't take a picture but the Saint Lawrence restaurant had excellent food. Larry is the patron saint of archivists, so those crazy nuts felt compelled to check it out.

We finally had a nice day for some outside photos. (I'm lucky I didn't start to mildew with all the rain we had!) Here I am at the famous St. Louis Cathedral. Can you see me?

 

Oh, that's better!

I even tried my luck with horse-back riding.

 

The back of the Cathedral.

Another church with pretty architecture, the Jesuit Church of the Immaculate Conception, at night.

 

And back to overcast weather. How I wish I could've taken a boat ride.

Ms. C took me for a quick stop at the Aquarium to find gifts for her daughters, who love marine mammals. She's sad that the girls weren't with her to see the otter exhibit.

 

We ended the trip watching the New Orleans Zephyrs beat the Iowa Cubs. Here's Cina checking out the game.

It was a whirlwind trip, but great fun. I hope you've enjoyed my Memoirs of New Orleans.

P.S. Don't forget to comment if you'd like me to come visit you next!

Madame Muriel

Due to some miscommunications, Madame Muriel took an extra leg on her trip and returned briefly to Arizona before coming home to me. Thank you to Chiara and Gracie for taking good care of her and ensuring that she remained on her journey. I'm going to take her on a trip with me, and after that, she will be ready to head out on her next adventure.

If you would like to be the next person to host Madame Muriel, please comment on this post by August 24, 11:59 pm EDT, and I will draw a name to see where she'll travel next.

Spring Cards

My computer is sort of mended. I still find missing bits each time I use it, but it's getting better. Here are the spring cards that I had hoped to show you in May. Since all 3 of my sisters-in-law have birthdays in May, these function as both Mother's Day cards and birthday cards.

All paper and stamps are Stampin' Up. The 3rd one is in the Top 3 of my all time favorite cards that I've created.

In a Funk

It's been a while since I posted, not that I had been posting that frequently anyway. In addition to the usual with work and family, it's been a long spring. I've been dealing with some chronic pain issues, which have been affecting me more than I'd realized. Neither physical therapy or medication have had much effect. Since it's my shoulder that's experiencing the pain, I haven't been stitching. I've made a few cards, which I intended to show you, but then my computer met with some ill will last week, and I'm still waiting to see what can be recovered. I wept when I thought my data and photos were all gone for good and managed to scare DH. Let's hope that the final outcome isn't so dire.

I realized yesterday that I was in a real funk, and that the computer incident was not the initial trigger, but more akin to being the last straw. I look back and can now see that I've been swimming through molasses since February, which is why I feel like I've not been able to accomplish or focus on anything. I'm easily distracted... LOOK! Otters! (Much cuter than squirrels.)

Happy St Pat's Day

I don't think there's a lick of Irish in my heritage, but we always celebrated growing up. Mom always made corned beef and cabbage.

My card was inspired by this color challenge:

 

My Fiskers heart punch has been getting quite a work out. Words: My Sentiments Exactly! Stem, paper, and ink: Stampin' Up!

March Swap Card & 250

For the monthly card swap hosted by my SU! demonstrator. Theme was "manly" cards. Pinwheel is 2.5" square, cut on the diagonals, and folded in.

This is my 250th post. Since I first started blogging Christmas 2007, I've mostly posted about cross-stitch, stamping, and books. I've also had my hands full raising twins who are now 4.5 years old!

In honor of my 250th, I'm offering a small give away. Comment on this post by March 16, 2013, and I'll pick one person from those who comment to receive a surprise package, which will include some cards and possibly other items hand-made by me.

Flipping Fairies

Have you paid any attention to children's television lately? I'll admit, we watch too much of it. And it's starting to get under my skin. Anything that's not marketed to the 3 and under set is ... well... kind of outrageous when you think about it. And I do think about it, sometimes. I know a lot has been written about this topic; I've read some of it over the years. It's really hitting home now, though, as I see what my girls are absorbing.

For example, what is wrong with this picture?



It's worse when you realize that the mythology of these fairies says that a fairy is born when a baby laughs. Then why the impractical, overly sexual clothing, folks? And why is there a focus on pairing up with the boys in the latest movie? They don't need to pair up.

Lately, NickJr has been promoting Winx dolls, which seemed cute, so we watched an episode tonight.



Egads! These are worse bodies than Barbie has! This show is marketed to the 7-10 year old crowd. I told DH that we won't be putting this into the regular rotation.

Since I don't see us curing ourselves of our TV addition any time soon, I would like to find some shows or movies that present somewhat normal looking girls who aren't looking -- or dressed -- for a hook up. Suggestions?

Happy Heart Day

Stampin Up! paper, ink, ribbon, sentiment

Passion Pink, Real Red, Creamy Caramel

Friskers heart punch

Retired Stamps Swap Cards

For February's card swap, the theme was retired stamps. I outdid myself. Instead on one retired stamp, I managed to use four. My design was based on this card. Sorry the card is so blurry; it didn't scan well.

All products: Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Friendship's Journey, Noteworthy, Canvas, and Bella Toile

Paper: White, Creamy Caramel

Ink: Creamy Caramel
Embellishment: Hodgepodge Hardware (antique brass)

Thank you cards from years past

Happy New Year!

I feel like I'm still catching up from the Christmas holidays. We travelled this year, going first to visit my BIL in Atlanta and then to see my sister in NC. A lot of time on the road, but it was worth it. The girls really liked seeing their relatives.

I'm slowly writing all the Thank You notes that need to be sent. I purchased the ones I'm sending this year, but here are a few I've made in years past, using all stamping up products.

I'm working on an exchange piece for stitching. It's been fun working on something small. I like the colors I'm using, but the number of thread changes is slowing me down. The back is a mess, sadly. Pictures once my partner receives the piece.

In other news, it snowed here yesterday enough for the girls to go out and make snow angels before school. They were delighted. We didn't get enough dry snow last year to do anything with it, so they're doubly excited.