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.
Then I had an idea for blue since I didn't have any green glitter paper. As it turns out, I cut the glitter strip about 1/8" too short so I just left it off and still like the way the card came out:
I used a Night of Navy cardbase, Shimmer white for the embossed mat and Dazzling Diamonds glitter paper for the snowflake. The die is a Tim Holtz.
I'll do better in the coming months with Reindeer Club as I am way behind on cards. Bob and I also figured out the base for my Baby Block Christmas Tree. Maybe I can get it done before Fall LOL
As we meet up this month, I'd like you to think about something. This Covid-19 thing has created hardships on millions of people. We don't know how long this will last. What we do know is that families are NOT going to recover quickly. Christmas is going to be a struggle like they've not delt with in over a decade.
If you have the ability, watch those toy sales now and start collecting for the holiday toy drives that are sure to come.
I have been collecting whenever I go out. Earlier this month on a trip to Menards, I found these adorable bears for $4.99 each! (Yes this was an essential trip - our pets have to eat)
These are two toys in one! The bears unzip in the back and tuck into themself to become a ball. The white bear will be come a colorful beach ball in pretty 'girlish' colors and as you can see, Bob had to play and made the brown bear into a football. There were also bears that became soccer balls and basketballs. You can tell what each bear becomes by looking at the bottom foot pad on the white bear.
Next, while on an essential trip to $General for paper supplies last Saturday I found a toy clearance. Where toilet paper should have been stocked, they had numerous toys for 50% off. Here's what I picked up:
As a side note, my dog reallyl liked the football. LOL I'm hoping to pick up a new one on the next essential trip.
Sorry, no cards this week. I'm on the final crunch to finish the studio before Bob comes home on Wednesday. Instead of making cards yesterday, I spent the day pulling the last of the stuff out of the way so I could shampoo the carpet today. I'll have to double up next month.
A couple of days late but we have 8 months til Thanksgiving...
which means, I want to have all of the Christmas cards ready to mail and the many UFO's finished up.
First off, here are my Christmas cards for this month. I'm shy of the number I need to be doing but seems like I'm still playing catch up. Hopefully, next month I can get the numbers up to the forty I need to have done by April. Goddess knows I have enough Christmas paper and stamps to do that ten times over. LOL
Here is the video so you can see how these cards came together and what products I used. Watch to the end of the video to see what project I'll be work on over the next couple of weeks. I need Bob's assistance on the base and he needs a project.
So far we've both done well with the sheltering in place. We've only been to town twice since he came home a week ago. I've gone once without him. There was a planner at HL I just had to have.
As of today, there are 4 days left of National Craft Month. Dig through your UFO's or do a few Christmas cards.
A bit of a mess with the remains of the crafting weekend with my sissy. She left Monday and I slept most of the day. Yesterday was errand day, seeing what might still be available on the store shelves. In prepping for her visit, I didn't play last week. I knew I wouldn't have time to get 'round to visit.
You will see the three most important things. Belvita cookies to the left, coffee up above the mouse on the right and planner in the bottom right.
Bob is on his way home today. We are on Weather Alert for tomorrow with potentially hazardous weather conditions so he's trying to drive straight through on little sleep. I should know around 10:30 if he is stopping for the night.
My daughter has her own company. She gets military transport vehicles on the road, maps out their routes, makes sure all of their paper work is in order. One thing all of her drivers ask for is to be routed close to 'home'.. aka her mom's house. They take their madatory 30 minutes stop, I buy them lunch and hand them a tin of fresh baked cookies for the road. I have two coming through this afternoon so chocolate chip cookies will be baked and I won't get anything done for a block of about 4 hours this afternoon. Longer if the drivers are not close together as the closest 'stop' for them is about 35 min from the house.
All of her drivers have 'hidden' escorts. A military escort ahead of the load and one bringing up the rear. They are 'hidden' because they are unmarked military vehicles. We are not to know which ones they are. She doesn't even know. Last week I met one of her drivers and picked them both out but never let on I'd seen them.
About an hour after her driver got back on the road, she texted me. The 'hidden' military captain in the lead car wanted to know 'where in the hell are my cookies?' LOL I relayed back that it's hard for me to give him cookies if I'm not even supposed to know which car he is in! LOL silly man.
One quick reminder.. next Wednesday is Reindeer Club! I hope you'll stop by. I also hope you've joined the club.
That's it for my desk 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.
For the February meeting I want to talk about Toys for Tots.
Toys for Tots began in 1947 as the brain child of Marine Corps Reserve Major Bill Hendricks, Actually it was his wife, Diane, who was the real inspiration. When there was no organization that donated toys, she suggested he start one. 5,000 toys were donated that first year. Today, over 18 MILLION toys are passed out to over 7 million children! I'd say they give Santa a run and the big guy couldn't ask for more dedicated helpers. I always donate something at Christmas time but decided this year I wanted to pick up the pace. Check out the video for this week then leave a comment below on how you can help this amazing organization:
Here I am in all my messiness this morning.
Sorry I missed last week. Was Thursday before I realized I'd missed Wednesday Oops!
I've been working on several projects. I have three cards I m ust get done today. (Project #1)
To the left is mostly 'office' stuff I need to keep handy until I get my planner shelf finished. (Project #2 today) That brown envelope to the top right has three CD's I need to review and schedule this week for the rest of the month of February (Project #3). I have two promoters I work with on a consistent basis. I never lack for 'work'. Beyond that sits the remains of multiple projects that I need to put away today.
I've been doing really well about putting daytime stuff aside around 3 p.m. and putting on my author hat. I have to finish this next book in a timely manner.
Bob should be home today or tomorrow, depending n the weather and how he feels. I know he worked all night last night so I'm putting money on tomorrow - but working on the house as if he will be home in time for supper LOL
Oh, I've started a new series this year. Reindeer Club. Here's a link to my blog post (with a video inclusion) explaining everything. If you find yourself wore out on Christmas Eve and things still not finished as you'd like, then I encourage you to join me. Let's have fun and prep like Santa's elves!
That's it for my desk 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.
So what is Reindeer Club.. and why am I a day late posting this?
Well, for starters... I uploaded a video to my YouTube channel on time yesterday.. just failed to post over here. Keep in mind, I recorded the video 3 different times before seeing the big screen LOL
Basically, Reindeer Club is doing something on or around the 25th of every month that will bring you closer to a stress-free Christmas. Check out the video below for all the details:
What projects would you like to have done BEFORE Christmas? What could you do a little bit of every month that would make your Christmas less stressful?
If you could have ONE THING on your To Do List done before Christmas, what would you do? Let me know in the comments below.
I'm slowly getting back in the flow. I made two cards yesterday.
I really wanted to make a card a day... well, we see how that went. Mostly because all I've done is work on the studio. Yes, still. But I'm making progress.
Today, I'm showcasing the cards I made form our January Card Chicks kit at SplitcoastStampers.\
Roxy Weaver was our hostess this month and sent a fabulous collection of goodies to play with. Aside from an SU snowflake charm in the bits, she included two snowflake dies! Incredibly generous. She also said if we didn't have a die cutting machine, we were welcome to gift the dies.
I have a Tim Holtz sidekick and Vagabond but I gave my sister a sidekick for her birthday. Her dies are very limited so I shared them with her.
You'll note something missing in one of the cards. Please tell me in the comments if you spot my 'forgot'.
Here are the two cards:
The images are from Deep Red Stamps. I'd not heard of that company before but I've provided a link. Just click on their name.
Since I'd gifted my snowflake dies, I used one from SU Colorful Seasons. The paper is SU - Let It Snow. They suggest Coastal Cabana for the blue but I wanted to color the sweater in the same color but didn't have CCin Stampin' Blends. I switched to Pool Party and I think the colors match very well.
Tomorrow is the 25th. On the 25th of the month, regardless of the day it falls on, I will be showcasing something Christmas - called Reindeer Club. There will be a project I'm working on as well as a coordinating video. Come on back for hot cocoa and all things Christmas!
