Need Some Craft Time

I have been doing a lot of things, but nothing particularly creative.  I FORCED myself to go make some cards.  I have to schedule fun time around here or I just keep plugging away at work things.

OK.  I lied.  I went crazy on the computer and ordered every library paperback that looked interesting.  And then a whole bunch came in at once.  I have 21 books checked out and 20 books in the queue.  The books can be checked out for 28 days, so while I don't really like taking a rest in the middle of the day, I have a lot of reading to accomplish and not much time.  It's a hard job.  But I am up for the task.

To be honest I can usually read a book a day. But now I HAVE to.  A former library employee can't have late books.  That's just wrong. 

 

So I made some cards.  Recently we made a trip to Michael's looking for some Fall themed items.  I found a few things and most of them were on sale.  The advantage of procrastinating. 

 

I also want to send a card to my daughter in England, thanking her for joining us on our recent trip to Cornwall.  I needed a travel theme.

OOPS.  SPOILER ALERT FOR TRISTA!

Trista can't see the card or it won't be fun for her to get one!  Speaking of which. Don't you love getting a real card.  Yes, I like email cards and just notes from friends and family, but a card is extra special.

 

I placed a bunch of items I thought would work on the table and then picked out the ones I wanted to use.  First I made the travel card.

 

For this I used some travel stamps.  I love the ones I peel off the backing and place on a clear stamping block.  These are easy to store and easy to place.  Of course, in this case, I stamped more than I needed on some card stock and cut them out.  I like to do this when I have time.  Then I save them in little Ziploc bags for days when I need a card in a hurry.  Then I can paw through what I have and throw something together.

Outside

Inside

While I was stamping, I made some that said Happy Birthday.  I like to have a bunch of those on hand for birthdays that pop up.  Thank you is also a good thing to make a bunch of extras of.  (I tried like crazy to not end that sentence with a preposition.  My internal editor does not like that sentence, but it is a good thing to do, so stop trying to figure how I could have said it better and go stamp yourself a Thank You stamp on a bunch of card stock.)

 

I also assembled some Fall leaves, rust colored paper and some 3D yellow daisies.

 

I like the finished ones.  But I don't love them.  My creative juices aren't flowing.  Maybe I should go work on the quilt I started months ago.

Gotta write that on my list.  Stop reading and cut some quilt pieces out.  I mean, cut out some pieces for the quilt.  I won't write that either.  Just QUILT.  I know what I mean.

In the Card Making Mood

The other day, I was still in the card making mood.  Before I put all the supplies away, I made a few more.

 

I had a few clear stamps with coffee and tea themes.  I like the clear stamps.  They don't take up a lot of room and they are easy to position on the paper.

 

This time I stamped a few of each of the designs I wanted on different colors of card stock.  Just stamping, not embossing.

I colored them in lightly with markers and water color pencils.  Then I cut them out using scissors and an X-acto knife.  I then put "buy small scissors" on the list for the next craft store trip!

 

I choses some paper from my stash that looked tea-like and started assembling a couple of cards.

The rest of the pieces went into a small bag for use at a future date.  I like to stamp multiples for when I need a card and don't have a lot of time.  Then I just have to assemble one from the available pieces.
 


I think they turned out pretty well.  Now I have to write a card to someone.  Who shall it be??

I Need A Few Cards

I like to keep a few handmade cards on hand.  I haven't made any in a while and the last time I looked my supply was seriously depleted.  It meant cleaning up the craft room and spreading out a bunch of ideas.  Then I have to stand back and look.

 

 

I decided to do a couple of my medallion stamps. 

 

 

In essence you stamp the same stamp many times.  Then you cut out smaller and smaller sections and glue them together with spacers to give a nice 3D effect.

 

Next I stamped a few friendship notes and put them together.

 

 

I made one with no stamping and embossing. 

 

I had a few flowers from stems I bought at Michael's.  I stripped off the petals and saved them in a Ziploc bag.  I cut a few stems and leaves from green cardstock. 

 


I added some little things I have collected, cute little ribbons and flowers made out of ribbon.  I love buying them and then I hate to use them.  Too cute!

Now I can justify another trip to a craft store for more.  Oh, Good!

A Card From Julia

Shortly after getting a job at the Fincastle Library, I met a wonderful family.  They home school the kids so they are library regulars.  It wasn't until a few years later I discovered we were cousins.  Our great grandmother's were sisters.  My side of the family went to California from Des Moines, Iowa.  Her family left Iowa and moved to New York.

We both ended up in Botetourt County.  Can you imagine???  My father wrote a genealogy and would have been so fascinated. I wish he were here to meet them.

 

Julia, one of my young cousins, sent us a Valentine's Day card that she made herself. 

 

Isn't that the sweetest thing?

 

So, of course I had to make her one, too.

 

I love that she thought of us and sent us a card.  People who make cards to send understand the time and thought that goes into making one.  So I know she will appreciate the one I sent back.

 

I need to finish the quilt I have been working on in the craft room to make room for some serious card making.  If we start sending cards between the two families, this means I have to ramp up my card making.  Julia is one of 10 children!