again...

Yes, it IS another Christmas card. I'm not the only one making them now, right? I kind of think its the Christmas card rush time--heehee. Where everyone's getting there last ones made before they have to get them all sent out. So, what do you do? Are you the kind that makes like 50  of the same kind? Or maybe just like 5 of one kind and then 5 of another etc? Honestly, I really don't have that many people to send them to lol. So I just make different ones as I feel like it. But if I do kind myself in the situation where I have to make LOTS, I make maybe 5 or so of one kind, and then change it up a bit. Once I get doing more than that of one kind, it stops being fun for me. And if its not fun anymore, then I don't like to do it. But that's just me. I know everyone has their one "way" of doing things :)

Not quite as simple today. But I did use Fine linen again. Really, such a versatile color. I just hand cut the trees out of Basic Grey paper and just barely inked the edges for definition. Stamped the flourish in versamark and added the sentiment on top. Used the Hero Arts friendship definition on the blue again and then stitched it down. I really liked this Basic Grey Christmas paper, but whenever I tried using it in bigger amouts, it was harder for me to get to look nice. I love how it looks for the trees here though. The sentiment is from Papertrey.

So glad you popped in!! Happy Thanksgiving! :) Since its not officially a holiday here, no one gets off from work, so we won't be celebrating it till Saturday. I'll be making loads of broccoli casserole this weekend :)

Back.

Yay :) Tomio got back safely! The kids were all super excited to see him. There were lots of snuggles shared by all. The kids got to stay up a little late since he got back technically past their bedtime. He would have been home even earlier, but he ended up having to wait for a bus for about 40 minutes...one of the perks of living out in the boonies, right? :)

I know, another simple card...see, I told you!  I'm loving simplicity right now. Oh, and these two colors! Fine Linen and the new Blueberry Sky from Papertrey Ink. Really nice blue. I used stamps from Holiday Button Bits again. And one of new go-to stamps, the Friend Definition from Hero Arts. It was one of those stamps I thought, well I do have other text stamps, should I really get it?...and now of course it is one of the first stamps I reach for. I really like how Antique Linen distress ink looks on the Fine linen cardstock.

I love any chance I get to use my buttons :) And I added just a bit of stitching for some interest.

Thanks for popping in! Miss Emma got in an early nap today, which means she went down nicely...which means I should get some crafty time tonight:) Hope you're having a lovely week.

more Christmas :)

Yes, I have another Christmas card today :) Like I said, my favorite kind of card to make :) And for some reason, I really can't seem to stop making CAS (clean and simple) cards. Not sure what it is....

Simple can be good, right? And don't be fooled by the appearance, CAS cards don't take me as little time to make as it looks. I usually spend forever on a card, no matter how fancy or simple lol. I used Holiday Button bits for this card. I was glad to get use it since I got last year after Christmas, I missed using it for Christmas. And I was also glad to get this holly image to work. I loved it--I mean, polka dot leaves, how cute is that?!--But, I just couldn't seem to work out how to use it. I like this way though :)

Tomio comes back tomorrow night, so this my last night I have to be alone. Well, if being surrounded by 4 little kiddos all day counts as being alone....which I guess it doesn't, does it? But I'm still lonely without my hubby :) At least we have cell phones, right? I was remembering when he had to take his first long trip after we were married. Leah was only 1, and he had to go to America for a month. We had cell phones then, but no overseas ones. We could only talk maybe a couple times a day, and whoa, was it expensive! So glad things are more convenient and cheaper now.

Thanks for stopping by! I really appreciate your coming to "visit" :)

another jar

I'm really, really enjoying my new living room :) I never actually forget that we have redecorated everything, but sometimes when I come in from another room I'll still be surprised. And its fun :) There is of course of the added bonus that this layout gives us a lot more room to just move around in, and the CD rack I always sort of wished was somewhere else, had to be moved to the garage:). Kind of makes me want to rearrange all the rooms, though....and I'm not sure Tomio would be up for that heehee.
Another Christmas card today. I'm just trying to get everyone else in the mood like me :)

I'm also still trying to fall in love with my jars. I do like how this card turned out. Another simple one again. I stamped the jar and snowman on Fine Linen cardstock. I colored his hat and scarf with my copics, and then used a Q-tip to dab on some white ink. I don't think the photo picked it up, but I also took a white gel pen and dotted all the centers of the falling snow too. It adds a nice touch in real life :) Oh, all supplies are PTI today.

Miss Emma decided she didn't really want to sleep much last night. And I'm not as young as I used to be, so that kind of made us run a tad bit later than normal this morning. But we are still getting everything done. That's what counts, right?
Thanks for stopping by! I hope I helped get you into the Holiday mood. *smile*

too busy

I'm usually not too "busy" outside of the house. We stay home and get school done, and I get the housework done, and I get some crafting done :) But I feel like I've been too busy these last few days. Lots of getting out and staying "busy".  I hope this coming week will be more my normal kind. All day Saturday the kids had their "sports day". This time Daddy got to come, so he was able to participate in the "Family relay".  Which is much better than Mama trying to run while holding Miss Emma :)  We went to the dentist too. We had braces related questions about all three of the big kids that we asked our old dentist, but we wanted a second opinion for all of  them. I'm so glad we tried the new dentist near our house now.  Just liked him better overall, and he gave us some solutions. It look likes Rhys will need some partial braces for a little while. I'm so happy though, just that I know his teeth will get straightened out :) Leah will probably need them too, but not yet.

Today's card is a little different. I wanted to make a "sewing" card, but I don't really have any sewing themed stamps or diecuts. So I kind of challenged myself to come up with one anyway :) And this is what I made:

I cut the pin cushion shape out of PTI felt and stitched a cute swirly pattern. I wrote the "Sew" and then stitched over it. I used stickers from Echo Park, the pattern papers are from the same pack. (I've decided I LOVE Echo Park papers, btw :)) I stuck some real pins and a needle in the pin cushion too. I think it turned out pretty cute :) And it was fun trying to figure out how to make it when I didn't have the actual stamps. I think I might try to do that again sometime. It's good to stretch yourself sometimes (I'm usually one to avoid stretching when possible though...)

 Thanks for stopping by! Are you ready for a new week to start yet? I'm not :) 

just quick

I'm going to have to be quick today! After we get some studies done, we are heading out to Costco! Not nearly as convenient as an actual American one, but still fun :) I REALLY want to get lots of different kinds of cereal...but here all they have a Frosted Flakes and Bran Flakes...seriously?! There are SO many others they could have, I mean, they don't even have Rice Krispies for Rice Krispy treats!! But, they DO have HUGE boxes of oats, for at LEAST a quarter of  the price we would find it anywhere else in Japan. You can be sure I will getting those :)

Anyway, we will be off :) And since I don't have another card loaded up to share yet, I'll just have to show you a picture of the yummy "creature cookies" that Leah made :)

Why, yes, they really were that good.:)
Thanks for popping by!! I hope you are having a super day!

the next one

How's your week?! Mine's fuller than normal. Visitors in the middle of the week, Christmas tree decorating, shopping tomorrow and my kids' "Sports Day" this Saturday. I just hope the rain holds out though....they are supposed to have alternative activities planned in case of rain, but its just not quite the same :)

Well, here's the next card I made with my Friendship jar stamps. I'm tried taking a break and using stamps that were easier for me, but in the back of my mind the jars kept creeping up, reminding me I couldn't use them. I might be a little weird....do no one else's stamps talk to them?!

So, I just had to keep trying to make some more cards with them. I used the Holiday Fillers too. I think I actually like the end result :) Oh, and I used the stems from Green Thumb again. I used some Quickutz holly to cut my felt. I trimmed the jar with a copic marker for definition. Oh, and I colored the snowmen with copics and cut them out. So much easier to position them correctly,and more room to mess up and make again as necessary :).

Thanks for stopping by!! Have a great day!! :)