REINDEER CLUB RETURNS! & ONE LITTLE WORD aka OLW

 

Good morning, everyone!

I hope everyone had a blessed day yesterday. Christmas day was quiet here. I did the video I'm linking below, cooked a small Cornish hen with all the trimmings and watched a couple of Hallmark movies. I was even blessed with a text with a GIF from dear friend in the country music industry. While we're not the kind of 'call on one another friends', he put his number in my phone and that's a biggy. 

Evolutionary Consistency

A couple of weeks ago, I chose my word for 2023 - Consistency. A spirit guide suggested we add Evolving or Evolution ahead of our one little word. Why? Because as we focus on that new word for our year, we will evolve with the changes we incorporate into our life as a result of that word. 

I want to be more consistent with my postings, my creative goals, my writing, etc. I sat in on a replay of Ali Edwards and her Team. Each member offered an insight as to how/ why they chose their word for 2023. The video is just over an hour long but well worth the listen. Here's the LINK

While I listened to the video and took notes, I pulled out my Creative Planner (Planner video coming later in the week) and put little reindeer stickers I got from Hobby Lobby Christmas clearance on the 25th of each month.  I've also created stickers to fit in my HB90 Daily planner so I'd remember. 

On New Years Day, I'll have another video for you. I want to start my own challenges on my YouTube channel this year in hopes of growing my channel. In the past, I've found many of the challenges do not allow me the FREEDOM to play with all my toys and the way I want to create. I'm hoping my challenge opens that gate for you. 

I have the January theme set so I plan to spend part of today setting the remaining 10 themes (We're taking December off) so I can create the stickers for those. I will post that info & video here on New Years Day, but if you want the details a little early, then I encourage you to subscribe to my YouTube channel and click the notification bell. The video will be a premiere at 11 a.m. EST New Years Eve  so we can be in the chat sidebar, giving you the opportunity to ask questions and offer suggestions for future challenges. 

My GOALS for the challenges are:

1 - To fit within YOUR creative wheelhouse while offering the opportunity to maybe learn something            new

2 - Offer you the opportunity to create the way YOU want to create - but with in the minimal                         parameters

3 - To be FUN!

Above all, I know that without consistency and sticking to deadlines, neither of my businesses can grow.  I work from home. It's time I treated this as a money-making venture, and not a leisure activity.

Here is the Reindeer Club Introduction Video:

Tell me... Do you have a One Little Word for 2023 - share if you'd like. Let's support one another on this Evolutionary Journey.

Creative Blessings

~Kelly

#12WeeksofChristmas2022 - Final Look!

 Hi everyone!  MERRY CHRISTMAS!

It's been a crazy 4 months!  I am so ready to slide into 2023. How are y'all doin' out there? 

I offered to co-host a collab back in September and things haven't stopped moving since. 

This collab was with Brian Dickey @ B&D Crafts & More (see him on FB, IG and YouTube). He is also a Stampin' Up! demonstrator. The idea was to post a video every week from the second Sunday in September up through last Sunday - December 18th, related to Christmas. The final project took me a lot longer than I'd anticipated so posted the final video last night.

I chose to work with an older 6x6 paper pad from Stampin' Up! called NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS For my projects I used the 6x6 paper pad and various 6x6 One Sheet Wonder sketches. One week I'd take a sketch and make cards. The next week, I'd work with the same sketch and make junk journal elements. (You'll see them in the video later in the post). 

I wound up with 25 Christmas cards:

Links to all of the One Sheet Wonder templates are linked in the description box of the videos. You'll find the playlist HERE.

I combined most of the elements with others that I made from the remaining papers to make a 3-signature journal. Here's the final Flip-Through video with some important news about what's coming up on my channel:

I'm back to normal in here January 1st. I hope you were patient while I went nuts over here LOL. I'm fine, just took a lot of time off and spent lots of it with Bob. 

P.S. He has since put me on a work schedule. LOL No more fluffing off when he's home. I work 9-5 or 10-6 four days a week except for his first and last weekend home. My plan is to have the content up ahead of those off-days. 

I will be back on Monday, December 26th with a bit of what to expect in 2023.  In the mean time...

Creative Christmas Blessings!

SCRAPBOOK SATURDAY - Sort of

 Good morning, crafty friends!

A quick heads up - after tomorrow's post I'm going to take a couple of weeks off to try and finish the studio and spend time with family before Holiday activities are upon us. 

I have a non-scrapbooking project that was inspired by THIS December Daily project from Jan Hobbins that I linked you to on Wednesday.

This was supposed to be for a Graphic 45 challenge but as I went to upload pictures yesterday I realized this was supposed to be an ALBUM. While mine is inspired by Jan's December Daily 'album' this didn't qualify. However, in the end I have something I love and am proud of. That's what's truly important, right?

Here's my finished box:

Close-ups of a couple of the contents:

File Tab

File Tab with file folder

front & back of file folder

I'm not going to leave a product list or dimensions. Everything is in the video below:

Tomorrow, I'll be back with a HUGE Hobby Lobby haul. You won't believe how much I SAVED!

Creative Blessings

~ Kelly

WOYWW #691

 Good morning, friends.

Before I forget (because I have short term memory as I age, apparently) Someone was dong a flip book last week and I promised to post a link to a YouTube video by Natasha at Treasure Books. This is her tutorial I've followed:

https://youtu.be/cadOAahftcM

I had also said I'd post something for someone else but didn't write it down so if that was you, please remind me and I'll get it put in next week, I promise. I'll write it down this time lol.

The desk is a bit of a mess this morning... well two desks actually. They're both part of the same work table, just different sections.

The first (main) part of the worktable you're used to seeing:

I've set the bee journals aside til tomorrow. Today is all about working on the G45 challenge. I spent some time last night unpacking a laundry basket full of stuff I've ordered from SpectrumArtCreations over the past few months. Part of which was this family album and the Stamperia molds there in the center.  I also unearthed a clam shell box of my black bling just in case I need that for the G45 project.

I was inspired by THIS post from Tim Holtz maker Jan Hobbins. She made a December Daily vignette box tray. I want to do one for a Spell A Day vignette. 

Next:

This is the ironing board platform on the end of my worktable. The photo box and the pile in front of it is what I might use in the G45 project... all Halloween related and various dies to go with their CHARMED collection.

Everything to the left on the actual platform and behind the box is the rest of what I unpacked out of the basket. Mostly paper pad collections and ephemera bits. I'll file those papers away today before I get started.

That's it for my desk (and story) this week. Who's Miss Julia and why am I here?  When you are done visiting me in the Ozarks, please hop on over to Stamping Ground for all the details. Miss Julia 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.

 Creative Blessings!

~ Kelly

HAUL TIME - Tim Holtz + G45 Project

 Good morning, everyone!

I'm deep in cleaning mode today and finishing the bee journals - finally! Will have them to show on Friday.

In the mean time, here's my latest haul video. All about Timmy! I usually order his new Halloween stuff and this year is no exception. The only difference is instead of ordering through Simon Says, I caught an excellent 40% off Sale at JoAnn's plus $2.99 flat rate shipping! Whooo Hooo! JoAnn stores are the only brick n mortar to carry his line this year.

I have more coming as I've put in an order through Spectrum Art Creations during a LIVE sale. They'll have more on Saturday - yay!!! There's still a couple of things I'm missing.  PLUS I think I'll find some at the 75% off sale at Hobby Lobby this week. I have a good idea from one of the managers when to expect the mark down. Their truck just got there yesterday and they are short staffed. So there will be a second Timmy haul video in the future.

In the mean time, here's where I'm at so far:

I also have a Graphic 45 challenge that I want to enter. I'm pushing for end of day on Thursday. I got the idea from Jan Hobbins' December Daily box. She is one of Tim's makers and I just love the idea of a vignette box with the file tabs for each day.  You can see her game plan HERE.  I want to do one using the Graphic 45 CHARMED collection. 

I'll be back on Friday to show off the bee journal as well as what will be going into my shop then I'm taking a couple of weeks off. We have company coming plus I'm thinking of a short get away before Bob goes back to work. 

Creative Blessings

~Kelly

MAKE IT MAIL IT MONDAY - August Paper Pumpkin

Good morning, everyone!

I finally made time to pop open a current paper pumpkin and so glad I did. Aside from the florals and bee theme, they included free honeycomb foil laser cuts I can add to the bee journals!  Journals, which I intend to finish this week!

Here's a shot of the instruction sheet:

This kit will make nine cards and the envelopes are GORGEOUS! Everything has the 'look' of having been created on watercolor paper. If you missed out on this kit, I'm so sorry for you. If the items come up on a kit in the future, I'll be sure to let you know because I'll probably be buying a refill for myself.

I made one of each of the three cards. 

For the first one, the flowers to the left as well as the sunflower and the sentiment strip are all raised on dimensionals. So are the bees. They gave us the sunflower base as a die cut. All I had to do was use the stamp set to stamp the sunflower, the center and the sentiment:

Card number two was the simplest of the three. The only stamping required was for the sentiment. Everything was just die cut and layered with dimensionals and glue dots!

I loved this. The honeycomb and the florals are all one piece. just adhere with four glue dots to the card base. The bees and the sentiment mat were attached with dimensionals. I just had to stamp on the sentiment mat then adhere.

Seriously, if you want quick cards or projects, Paper Pumpkin is the way to go! With the exception of the stamps and inks (included) you don't have any leftovers unless you want to go out on your own journey and do your own thing.  So you are not adding a lot of bulk to your already bulging craft supplies.

The stamp sets are created exclusively for Paper Pumpkin.

I think the September kit will have something to do with Halloween Treat containers of some sort. Remember, you must subscribe before September 10th to get in on the mailing.

Demonstrators don't even know what the kit will actually contain. We are surprised when we get our box just like you are! Once you subscribe, the kit usually arrives around the 21st of the month.  Please use the link below to subscribe and join the fun with me!

https://www.paperpumpkin.com/en-us/sign-up/?demoid=2166634

I have my Make It Mail It video up. You can watch in real time how I put the three cards together:

I'll be back tomorrow with a short Tim Holtz haul video and talk about the next project I'll be working on - that is due FRIDAY!

Creative Blessings!

~ Kelly

 

WOYWW #690

 Good morning, friends!

Where was everyone last week? Just busy, I hope. Let's get back to crafting!

Can you believe that we've been together (well, not everyone every week, but still...) for over 13 years!!!

My goodness, that's a lot of blogs, a lot of friends and a whoppin' amount of inspiration and creativity!

So what's on my desk this morning....

I'm getting closer to completing the bee journals. I finally got the new sewing machine out yesterday, figured out how easy it is to thread and the needle went through the two layers of manilla envelope, two layers of fabric easily.   That's my signature to the right of the cover. The cover is surrounded my this and that and elements of construction - except for the playing cards. They're left over from the mixed media ATC class. I just haven't gotten down on my kneeling bench to put them away. 

This week on the organization front, I'm talking about GLUE. I've had several questions about not only the glues that I use on a regular basis but how some of them work compared to others. I hope there's information in the video that helps you. Also, please share your favorite glue in the comments below.

Here's another tidbit for you before I go.

If you haven't already, I hope you'll subscribe to my YouTube Channel. Friday at 11 a.m. EST I'll be having my weekly premiere - but this one is SPECIAL!

I'll be unveiling the FIVE give away packs in honor of my 500 subscribers. I'm working on something now that I might even be able to offer something to NATIONAL Subscribers. Cross your fingers I can make that happen. 

In the mean time...

That's it for my desk (and story) this week. Who's Miss Julia and why am I here?  When you are done visiting me in the Ozarks, please hop on over to Stamping Ground for all the details. Miss Julia 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.

 Creative Blessings!

~ Kelly

CARD CHICKS -August

 Good morning, friends!

I'm actually on time with this month's Card Chicks envelope. 

First, the contents:

Terry was our hostess for this month. As you can see, she sent a unique item. Something I'd never seen before - 'tin pin' embellishments. They are basically known as 'flair' in the scrapbooking world. You'll find them on Darcie's website by clicking HERE. Terry also included papers from the Darcie line. If you go to the main Honey Bee page  then scroll down, you'll see individual items I used listed.

Terry suggested if we were going to use the Tin Pins to color the entire image first, then place the flair in place to prevent white edges showing from beneath. I think this close up will show you what she means.

As you'll see in the cards below, some flair cover better than others so having that stamped image colored before adding the flair is important for a clean look.

Technically we aren't to use any other materials except what's in the kit and our card bases. I did bring in more of the basic black and Bumble Bee to let the images pop off the pattern a bit more.

Card #1 -

I used the smallest dual hexagon from Stampin' Up! Beautiful Shapes dies to punch from the patterned paper. I glued those to Basic Black cardstock then trimmed 1/8" around all sides to create the mat.

I used the second - largest hexagon in the set to cut out the image then did the same as the small ones but matting with Bumble Bee cardstock.

Card #2 - 

I used the layering circles dies from Stampin' Up! to cut out the bee image and mat. The sentiment was cut out using the postage stamp style die from Stampin' Up! Rectangle Stitched Framelits then matted with a die from the Stampin' UP! Stitched So Sweetly set.

Card #3 - 

I didn't place the flair in place on this one before I took the picture so you could see what the image looks like underneath before placing the tin pin in place.

I used the largest hexagon fie in the Beautiful Shapes set to cut out the image and my Fiskars hexagon punch for the sentiment. 

All of the images were colored with Stampin' Blends in varying shades. Daffodil Delight, Pale Papaya, Basic Black (Lt & Dk) as well as Stampin' Write marker Real Red. I used a gold Recollections metallic pen for the crown and added bling from the kit in the center of the crowns.  Wings were colored with Wink of Stella.

I'll be back tomorrow with WOYWW. Hopefully, there will be a change in the worktable. Cross your fingers. LOL

Creative Blessings!

~Kelly

MAKE IT MAIL IT MONDAY - Bee Cards!

 Good morning, everyone!

I took time to play last night so this post AND the coordinating video would go up on time. 

As I sat thinking about what card to make for today I realized I wanted a card to go with each of the bee journal packages going in the mail later this week. 

As I was pulled items I knew I wanted to use for the card, this sketch was in the front of my sketch file box. I could almost hear it say 'pick me - pick me!'  So I did. LOL

I don't know where the sketch originated. Please ignore the grid lines in the back. LOL That was from the sketch.

Here is the card:

I used Basic Black for the card base and cut the woodgrain mat from a piece of the Heart & Home Designer Series Paper I've been using for the journal.

The mat is cut to 4" x 5-1/4"

I used the Layering Circles die set from Stampin' Up! The larger circle was cut from Bumble Bee cardstock using the 2" circle. The other 4 circles were cut from scraps of the Heart & Home DSP using the 1-1/4" circle

I used the Message Dies (Retired SU) to cut the sentiment. You can see how that was done in the video. Easy enough to modify if you don't have that die. 

You can use any small sentiment. I used the 'hello' from the August Paper Pumpkin kit, It's what I had handy. 

The brad is from the Eyelet Outlet (available) but I purchased mine from Spectrum Art Creations. (out of stock)

Stay tuned because I'll be using this same layout for Halloween & for Christmas in the coming weeks.

Here's the video:

Creative Blessings

~Kelly

WOYWW #689

 Good morning, everyone!

Last week was just nuts. When Bob is only off the boat for two weeks and spends 5 of the first week at his brother's just really shortened our time to do things that needed done and just spend time together. We only got to play cards TWO days! That is so not like us. 

So my desk this week is busy. I took a Lindy's magical technique class from Madi at Spectrum Art Creations last night so all my pieces were left to dry over night. I worked with the Jingle Bells collection. She is sold out of those at the moment but if you go HERE, you'll see what color collections she does have in stock. 

Some of the bee journal items are along the back. I'm hoping to finish those this weekend. I'll have my video premiere Friday morning 11:30 a.m. EST on my youtube channel if anyone would like to come and chat with me. The video will run while we're in the chat room.

The studio organization is still in progress. I'll drop last week's video at the bottom of the post if you want to see where I'm at in the process. In the mean time, I have a drawer perfect for storing my stickles but the units from Stamp n Store won't fit so Bob made one for me:

 

As I organized I realized there were some colors I don't have... Orange for one. Madi pulled some colors into the sale for me last Saturday. I have four new colors on the way... including the errant Orange. You can't do Halloween without orange!

Here's the video from last week:

That's it for my desk (and story) this week. Who's Miss Julia and why am I here?  When you are done visiting me in the Ozarks, please hop on over to Stamping Ground for all the details. Miss Julia 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.

Creative Blessings!

~ Kelly

OOPS! - Rescheduled

 Hey everyone!

No card post today. I didn't get to make anything yesterday as a project I thought would only take a few hours took ALL day.

I'll have a video tomorrow showing what took so long.  In the mean time, check out this video from Tim Holtz showing how to work with the different mediums Ranger offers!

Tim makes a great point in this video. Play with everything and make backgrounds. Then when you need a card, you have a base to embellish! No last minute 'start to finish' card making!

This is a long one, so get comfy! You didn't want to clean anyway LOL

Creative Blessings

~ Kelly

MAKE IT MAIL IT MONDAY - Fall Is Coming!

 Good morning, friends!

While out shopping last week, I found several Close To My Heart stamp sets at a price I could not pass up!

ETSY LISTING - $10

POSTER TIDINGS

September Stamp of the Month

After seeing a Christmas card made during a card summit a couple of weeks ago using a similar style of stamp set, I knew I could use this one. Daniel West of Colorado Craft Company did a beautiful Christmas card. Here's the link to the demo Daniel did. 

I was inspired by this card:

PINTEREST

I started with this:

I chose papers from Stampin' Up! Gilded Autumn ( Holiday 2019-2020), Early Espresso card stock, Early Espresso and Pumpkin Pie inks plus ribbon from my stash

The card base and mats are Early Espresso.

Card Base - 4-1/4" x 5-1/2"

From pattern paper - 4" x 5-1/4"

From Early Espresso - 2-9/16" x 4-7/8"

Stamp the image twice on pieces of white or cream cardstock measuring 3" x 5-1/2" - once in Early Espresso and once in Pumpkin Pie

I recommend using a stamp positioner such as a Stamparatus (Stampin' Up!) or a Misti.

Trim the image stamped in Early Espresso close to the words all the way around so that it will just fit inside the Early Espresso Mat. 

Trim the focus words stamped in Orange out close to their letters. 

Adhere over their matching words with dimensionals.

Cut two pieces of your ribbon at 2" each. Fold each one in half and stick with glue dots to hold. Then use another glue dot or double-sided tape to adhere to the back of your sentiment mat. 

Cut a piece of the brown ribbon 3" long. adhere ends to the back of the mat. Take another length approximately 3" and tie around the first piece and taper the ends (as shown in photo) 

Adhere Dimensionals to the back and place over their matching word (stamped in Early Espresso)

Here's the video link for the 'talk-through'. I've also left a questions. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

I'll be back tomorrow with a quick card as well as a link to my recent haul video. I hope you'll join me!

Creative Blessings!

~Kelly

WOYWW #687

 Good morning, friends!

Where did July go? Has anyone seen it? Left without so much as a goodbye!

No animals this week but I'm glad you enjoyed my visitors last week. I think even they are hiding in the heat. Well, except for the one squirrel who keeps coming up on the back deck and rattling his feed can. 

I've managed to get the ladder shelves and the work table moved back into their spots.

Die cutting station with photo boxes ready to be filled with all of the dies. I'm still thinking about covering them with the teal & white Moroccan patterned shelf liner. or at the very least, two of them so that I could have white/ pattern - top shelf, and pattern/ white bottom shelf. We shall see.

The planner shelf is back in operation. The boxes are bird suet cake boxes covered in the blue Moroccan shelf liner I'm considering for the die cutting shelves. What do you think about my idea to cover part of the boxes on the die cutting so I have a checker-board effect.

What you came for...

The desk is covered mostly in items for the bee journals, except for the LIFE magazine from 1963.That particular issue contains a story as told by the last man to see President Lincoln's face before the sarcophagus was placed in it's final resting place. If you're a Lincoln aficionado, or even just a history buff, I'm linking the YouTube video telling of Lincoln's multiple burials until this final entombment.  

Finally, a shot of the bee journals in progress...

Each pile contains the journal signature, pieces for the cover as well as completed embellishments and components of things to be finished.

That's it for my desk (and story) this week. Who's Miss Julia and why am I here?  When you are done visiting me in the Ozarks, please hop on over to Stamping Ground for all the details. Miss Julia 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.

Creative Blessings!

~ Kelly

CARD CHICKS - July + Bonus Item

 Good morning, everyone!

I finally got to work on my July card chicks kit this morning. Mostly, because if I didn't get it done for this post, I feared the envelope disappearing in the chaos again.

Roxie was our hostess for July. She picked up the following stamp set (not the die as show) at a stamp convention. She dug through 5 tubs of stamps to make sure she had enough sets for each of us to have one.

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON EBAY

On a search for an image of the stamp set, I found this on Ebay -- which includes the coordinating die. 

As is our 'rules' Roxie included everything we needed to make the card. We can add a card base as well as any tools such as die cutting/ embossing folders/ ink  to make our card.  Everything except the stamp set was from Stampin' Up! The only thing I added was to die cut out the center of the sun, ink and adhesives.  I used Bumble Bee and Mango Melody inks.

I used the provided ribbon to hide where I seamed the two dsps but then I cut a length of ribbon in half so that it was narrower to tie on to the full length. I felt at the original width it overpowered the card. The narrow piece also provides balance for the bee, which was part of our kit. 

I'll be back tomorrow for WOYWW and will link the Premiere video on Friday. Then I will be hit or miss as Bob comes home tomorrow and is only home for two weeks this trip. 

Creative Blessings

~Kelly

MAKE IT MAIL IT MONDAY - August 1, 2011

Good morning, everyone!

Coming in a tad late but I was trying to get the author blog posts for the week done. That blog will always come first.

I'm still working on the studio as well as the bee journals so I'm resurrecting a Christmas card from August 1, 2011. You can see the full post HERE. 

I'll try to keep posts up this week but Bob comes home on Wednesday after having been on the boat for a month!  Yeah, this first few days are all about him. 

Creative Blessings!

~Kelly

JUNK JOURNAL FRIDAY - All About Fabric

 Good morning, everyone!

Another buzzy day in the studio. I've added specific items to the journals this week using the three different patterned bee fabrics I had pulled for the kit.

FABRIC

I made three fabric flips for each journal:

FLIPS

I've edged each one with a different Stampin' Up! ribbon and there is a different sentiment under each one:

Bee Happy (from the Cardmakers set)

You are positively the greatest  (from SU Cottage Rose)

You are a real blessing to everyone around you (from SU Blessings of Home)

I also used:

SU - Black Gingham Ribbon

SU - Embroidered Ribbon

as well as the retired SU Bumble Bee Ribbon

I also made 1" ruffles from each of the fabrics:

RUFFLES

Cut in half, I have six page edges. I've added a button to three of them (yellow button not shown) and each button is centered with $Tree bling or SU - Iridescent Pearl Basic Jewels.

Here's today's video showing these in my journal pages:

Creative Blessings!

~Kelly

WOYWW #686

 Good morning, everyone!

Sorry about no post yesterday. Had a last minute change of plans. 

Before we get to the activity (or lack thereof) I want to drop a quick reminder that the Stamp With Love card summit begins on Friday. Details are on THIS blogpost from last week! Come join us!!!

I am dropping in for WOYWW this week, though I don't really have a desk. More of a "today's project" kind of thing.

The desk is there - to the left but I have other things to do first, which is what I can finally take care of today. I've been waiting for those two ladder shelf units to dry after getting two coats of paint. You see them in the foreground. Beyond them there is an ironing board holding the die cutting machines that goes on one of the units and past that, the sofa bed I can finally move back into place now that the Little Golden Book shelf (from last week's video) is finished. I'm going to link that short video HERE if you want to hear a bit of info regarding my LGB collection.

The other something to show you is this:

These two raccoon cubs showed up in my bird feeder earlier this week. Not sure where they came from or how they got up there, though I suspect they jumped from the deck railing. They looked to only weigh about #7 (based on how close in size they are to my Tabby cat)  One found his way down later on his own but I had to put a small ladder up against the feeder for the feistier one of the two. Feisty he may have been but he was also very scared. I don't know if momma was around or if they were orphaned. They are the first raccoons we've visibly seen in the yard in about 8 years... ever since Bear dog ran Miss Thing off in the direction of the lagoon. Miss Thing would come up on the deck at night and take graham crackers from my hand. I miss her visits. Since we no longer have full-time outside dogs, maybe my wildlife visitors will increase again. 

I was treated to these over the weekend:

Grace with her spring fawn

Bucky - the 2 yr old 

Grace is one of the largest does I've ever seen and she is so graceful, with a beautiful long neck.

This is Bucky's first year to have antlers. In this picture he is only about 10' from the picture window in our living room. He's been known to come right up to the front deck, too.  These are just 3 of the 8 deer that frequent our yard a couple times a week.

I'll do better about visiting this week. Last week just seemed to zip by!

That's it for my desk (and story) this week. Who's Miss Julia and why am I here?  When you are done visiting me in the Ozarks, please hop on over to Stamping Ground for all the details. Miss Julia 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.

 

Creative Blessings!

~ Kelly

MAKE IT - MAIL IT MONDAY - Memories & More Card Pack!

 Good morning, everyone!

Today, I pulled out a retired Stampin' Up! Memories and More card pack from 2018 called Santa's Workshop. 

I had purchased several packs of these and the coordinating paper for plans to do a December Daily album. There's still time as I still have those photos to scrap. :-)

I made eight cards in about 20 minutes time using the cards, coordinating cardstock, adhesive and dimensionals. 

Here's the cool thing about Memories & More card packs as Christmas cards. They look great displayed for the holidays as well as great 'keeper' cards but if you send them to someone who doesn't keep the cards, you are not out a ton of money if they just toss them at season's end. Memories & More card packs make these Christmas cards a WIN WIN for everyone!

Aside from the eight I completed, you'll see in the video I have enough great cards for about twenty additional cards and still have others left over for actual scrapbooking.

Here's the video showing the cards and a SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!

While the Santa's Workshop is no longer available (or maybe you purchased and never used?), the  SANTA EXPRESS Memories & More card pack in the current holiday catalog is only $10!! 

Add things you probably already have on hand such as cardstock, adhesives and dimensionals and you are set for putting together quick holiday cards. Even the kiddos can get involved!!

I'll be back tomorrow with a Card Chicks card or two.

Creative Blessings

~ Kelly