Welcome to July! This year is just sliding by. That's why it's so important we keep in touch.
Last week was super crazy with interruptions. I'm getting back on track this week.
Today, I launched the 25 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS on my YouTube channel. I'll be posting the week's cards on Friday of each week but y'all get a sneak peek today.
Each day for the next twenty-five I'll make 5 cards; 1 premade before the video, one on the video then three after I've filmed to round out the stack. By the 25th I'll have about 85 cards. I want all new ones for folks this year.
On Monday the 6th, I'll also be sprinkling in a new journal - a Pink Christmas kit I've had in my stash for about five years. I'm trying to work through all of my kits. It's time and it's feels great to be creating on a regular basis.
As if July isn't going to be crazy enough, I'm also taking part in #jaritupjuly pantry challenge. I don't want to run either of the canners or dehydrator when the AC is running, I'm only doing dry canning. If you want to learn more, you'll find what I'm making in my Ozarks Journal blog post this week.
Lastly, I'm finding my writing routine again and dedicating two hours every night (except the 4th) to pull this manuscript together. I love my characters in this book but I'm ready to meet my next reunion couple.
That's it for my desk (and story)
this week. Who's Miss Sarah and why am I here?
When you are done visiting me in the Ozarks, please hop on over to Sarah’s Craft Shed for all the details. Miss Sarah has a long list of other studios you
can peek into. No standing on an up-turned milk pail to look in the window. We
open the doors wide and welcome you.
Please leave your number and you'll be among the first on my list.
Well, I wrote my post, linked at Sarah's and the post has vanished so let's try this again!
First off, I apologize for link issues last week. HERE is the correct link for the Angel Number video.
Here's my desk:
In the center you'll see the 'list' journal I created for Julie's Mini Challenge In the Challenge for this month. She has one of these mini challenges every month for those who might want to play but don't have the time or the inclination for the larger month-long challenge. Like all of her challenges, there are specific requirements. In attempting this mini, I remembered why I stopped doing her challenges. I want to create what I want, how I want, use my own creativity. I just don't find the challenges fun for me. I'm okay with that. This is NOTHING against Julie. She's a lovely person and so many people enjoy her challenges. Sadly, I'm not one of them. You can see my struggle in my #TagTuesday video yesterday.
So here's my plan going forward.
I will be making a journal every month from kits I have curated based on my preferences and style. This month, I'm making a Patriotic birthday to celebrate the 250th birthday of the USA. Definitely a keeper journal. Next month, I plan to work through my Pink Christmas for Christmas in July (mind you, while posting Christmas cards - time to get on those!)
If you'd like to follow my process, please subscribe to my YouTube Channel and click the notifications. Your follow is very much appreciated.
That's it for my desk (and story)
this week. Who's Miss Sarah and why am I here?
When you are done visiting me in the Ozarks, please hop on over to Sarah’sCraft Shed for all the details. Miss Sarah has a long list of other studios you
can peek into. No standing on an up-turned milk pail to look in the window. We
open the doors wide and welcome you.
Please leave your number and you'll be among the first on my list.
I've always been conscious of numbers and their meanings. I'll leave a short video at the bottom for you. But in general, 888 means Abundance, Prosperity, and everything is falling into place as it is meant to be.
I'm feeling that now. As my desk this week shows, I'm back to creating.
I'm doing a patriotic journal this month and decided to jump in to the DearJulieJulie challenge this month. June Just Junk Journal Challenge 26. I've not played in her challenges in a couple of years but she's been doing some new things with the challenges and I love to learn new things.
The chair holds a canning jar box with most of the items I'll pull from for the challenge. The page in the center of the desk is the list of requirements. I'm not doing the full challenge, which requires posting to the facebook group, but I'm following some of her items and will be doing videos along the way. You'll find the details for this month's challenge HERE.This is a month-long challenge so plenty of time to jump in. I've done her challenges in as little as 3 days. I don't recommend that. LOL
And here's the short video on the Angel Number 888.
That's it for my desk (and story)
this week. Who's Miss Sarah and why am I here?
When you are done visiting me in the Ozarks, please hop on over to Sarah’sCraft Shed for all the details. Miss Sarah has a long list of other studios you
can peek into. No standing on an up-turned milk pail to look in the window. We
open the doors wide and welcome you.
Please leave your number and you'll be among the first on my list.
Sorry I skipped last week and didn't get 'round to folks. I'll do better this week.
First off... progress has been made:
A relatively clear desk. I filmed two videos yesterday so the organization had to happen. the 2 brag book photo albums on the right are my catalogs of 12x12 paper pads. I'm on the hunt for something with a Patriotic spirit for this month's junk journal as USA is celebrating 250 years! Sometimes I wonder how we got this far. I wonder if our forefathers saw this for us and if they're shaking their heads at what we've done to this country.
I also got the big red bag moved to my car. Little things here and there.
Okay... next. I've been doing a lot of gardening. With the exception of two flower beds on either side of the front step and the accompanying flower boxes, I'm done planting. Now to just keep everything alive.
This is a tower of Juliet Roma grape tomatoes. They're supposed to be meatier (like full size Roma paste tomatoes). We shall see. I plan to dehydrate the produce then grind into tomato powder this fall.
I have one of these towers with strawberry plants in them. We can't put the strawberry bed in until the local fireworks tents set up and I can confiscate cardboard for mulching the new bed. For now the strawberry plants are in a holding pattern.
I'll show you the front flower displays next week (if I remember. hehe )
That's it for my desk (and story)
this week. Who's Miss Sarah and why am I here?
When you are done visiting me in the Ozarks, please hop on over to Sarah’sCraft Shed for all the details. Miss Sarah has a long list of other studios you
can peek into. No standing on an up-turned milk pail to look in the window. We
open the doors wide and welcome you.
Please leave your number and you'll be among the first on my list.
I'm finally back in the studio and doing fun things again. The office isn't much farther than the Disaster Video but I'm making progress.
I've mostly been busy pressure canning foods for the pantry. I brought back #40 of potatoes from the retreat. I still have about #8 to work through. I've also canned baked beans and have apples in the crockpot as I type to turn into apple butter.
But today, I have a couple of things to share.
I'm planning a patriotic journal for this month. I've picked up these pairs of earrings at Walmart for $5. they do these seasonally for all types of themes. I've picked up hearts for Valentine's Day, bunnies for Easter, shamrocks for St. Patrick's Day.... you get the idea.
While these are post-backed, they can be broke down into individual charms. I plan to use the star on a tassel and the smaller individual charms for page edges.
The other thing I have is an on-line haul video from Rebekah Wills. She was one of my table mates at the retreat and does lovely handwork as well as sourcing vintage items. Drop back by later today for the video link or just go to my YouTube channel around noon CST and the video should be the first one in the list.
I'm off to plant flower beds and hang laundry before I come back in to curl up with a book I need to review on my author blog tomorrow.
Before I go any further, I want to offer condolences on Neet's passing. She will be missed but watching over us. I never received ATCs from Neet but I'd love to swap this year.
I've been gone seemingly forever (okay, only since February). I've been swamped.
So my desk this week is a short video of the current state of my studio. Was a disaster before I had to start planning for the annual junk journal retreat, then things got left out that I'd pulled from and when I got home, all the stuff I acquired at retreat got added.
Everything had to go on hold as I canned #40 of potatoes, #10 of hamburger and #20 of breakfast sausage.
My garden is almost all planted and I can start in here.
Full disclosure... if clutter is a trigger for you, don't watch. LOL Just know I have A LOT to do before I can get back to crafting.
Next week, I'll try to remember to share what I brought back from retreat, though will probably also be a video with a photo of the cleared desk.
That's it for my desk (and story)
this week. Who's Miss Sarah and why am I here?
When you are done visiting me in the Ozarks, please hop on over to Sarah’sCraft Shed for all the details. Miss Sarah has a long list of other studios you
can peek into. No standing on an up-turned milk pail to look in the window. We
open the doors wide and welcome you.
Please leave your number and you'll be among the first on my list.
The first quarter of 2026 has been an adventure, for sure. I'm so glad all the injuries are behind me. Bob on the other hand is on the end of a foot injury. Lots of sitting for him for a couple more weeks at least, which puts one of my projects behind. Bug overall, we're doing fine.
As spring moves in, there is so much I want and need to do. I hope to get seeds started tomorrow. Temps are finally warm enough in the greenhouse. I only have about five days left of this moon cycle. Seeds need to be planted before the Full Moon. I have a busy week ahead.
Between cracked ribs, knee issues and sinus infection, it's been a rough month. Normally, those things would just be minor bumps in the journey but approaching 65, the bumps get a little bit more intense.
I did manage to take part in my first crafting collab. Participated with JJ with Joy on YouTube. She had some fabulous digital designers. Their makes were really pretty. I chose Before The Boom with Created By Tina and Spring Showers by Bee Happy Stationary.
My first collab video was on March 17th. I started with Spring Showers from Bee Happy Stationary. I really loved this kit. Here's the first video:
You'll see final additions to the journal in the Sneak Peek for Before the Bloom HERE.
hen on March 27th, I had two videos, a Part 1:
And Part 2:
I've also managed to keep up with Tag Tuesday. Including a couple of 'busted canvas' style tags. Just check my videos for those Tuesday posts.
I'll have a new Tag Tuesday tomorrow working with a 6x6 paper pad. Instead of posting those on Wednesdays like I was doing, I'll be posting them on Tuesdays with the video link.
I hope you all are crafting! Share on Instagram and tag me @KellysCreativeDreams
