Time for a break...

It's time for a break from the cross stitch posting...tomorrow I'll have an update for the Christmas stocking...but today I wanted to create a card...and I remembered that Retro Sketches posts new challenges on Saturday...I liked the challenge, but I had at least 3-4 try's  because I couldn't get the raises just right...

I cut paper which I had to throw away...I hate that! But I did it and I didn't give up...I have a tendency to not work on a card if I have to experiment or test as I go...so I was happy when I did get it right! Or at least to my likings...

Cardstock: SU! whisper white & strawberry slush

Designer paper: unknown...paper I got from BFF a long time ago! Felt good to finally use it!

Stamp set: SU! Four Square

Ink: SU! strawberry slush

Accessories: SU! Scallop square punch

Oops! Wrong color...

Oops! Wrong color...honestly thought I had the right color, but it turns out I didn't! At least it wasn't a HUGE correction! 

Here's the color comparison...the wrong color and the right color...

And here's the completed fix!

I'm going to take a break now...heading up to the craft room to play...

Later!

Almost finish the dress...

I'm almost finished with the dress...well, at least the bottom of the dress...I've been using the perle floss in short lengths because it was starting to ravel and the stitches were looking kinda icky!  I still might try the stitch heaven...perhaps it will help the floss from fraying and such!  

Not much time to write as I'm trying to keep on stitching...

I'll check back later this week with a progress; I'm hoping I'll have time to work on then Christmas Folkal Point quilt and a couple minutes to make a card...perhaps it's a little overambitious but I will try...recently I've gotten some great things at a great price and I'm anxious to work them into a card!

Anyho, here's a pic of my progress...

Laterz! And happy stitch of any type!

Pretty lacey dress...

Just wanted to stop by with a progress report...I've been working on the Christmas stocking very dilegently! Although you may not be able to tell, I've just completed the bottom of the angels dress...I'm having a lot of fun!  I'm hoping to have the dres completely by tonight...perhaps if I can keep my eyes open...maybe I need to get the second DVD of Downton Abbey's forth season!

Did I mention that I got a Fat Eighth bundle and some yardage of Moda's S'Mores Love fabric...it's super cute and I can't wait to do something with it!

Until next time!

Retail therapy...

I visited the local quilt shop; and got some things that I needed....and some things to added to my stash...doesn't it look like a bunch of fun!

The embroidery book I got from Goodwill; and you will notice the linen on the opposite side...I wanted to get it for the embroidery blocks.

Oh, see the CORRECT thangles for the Christmas quilt...I got the right size this time!! Let the progress begin...I'll keep you posted!

And I almost forgot, I friend of my recently received a promotion...I wanted to whip up the cell phone case...you can see it sitting on top of the embroidery book....it has an embroideryed bicycle on it...

Wait! I think I just added another project to my list! What the heck!

And I have the first hurdle...

Oh my goodness, I have my first hurdle...I've never cross stitched with perle floss before...so I've never had to wind up that type of floss.  And here's what happened when I was trying to wind up the floss...

I'm afraid this mess is going to add a little excitement to the project, don't you think?! YIKES!

Here's the first Christmas stocking that I'm working on; like I said its a bit unsual to be working on an 18 ct. Linen using perle floss...but I like how fast it's coming along...hope I can say the same when I'm on my 4 or 5 or 6 stocking!

Something old and something new...

Just like any paper crafter, there is a tendency to collect (or hoard) designer paper...I am no different!  I have a personal challenge...to use the designer paper which has been procuring since the being of time!  So I went digging into my stash of paper and pulled out something a little funky!  And since it was Sunday, I used the funky challenge to go with it: Retro Sketches challenge

Check it out:

Be back later in the week!

Lesson learned...

So as you many know I'm working on a Christmas quilt; as seen here:

If you look at the picture from the magazine, it shows SEVERAL half triangle squares...SEVERAL!  So I thought it would be smart to use Thangles. Well, I've never used them better but I knew they were pretty straight forward, or so I thought.

I purchased a pack...it says to cut 3 inch strips and finishes at 2.5 inch...yep those are the ones I need! I think to myself...yippee! I can work on my quilt again! Being the cautious person when using a new technique...I make one set. I complete all the steps are stated in the directions...the finished product is 3 inches...1/2 inch off!  So I've done something wrong because I need the half triangle squares to be 2 1/2 square! Well, perhaps it was because I strength the fabric when I took the paper off. I watch a tutorial on YouTube...I re-assess that it looks likes I'm doing everything right! 

So I got ahead and sew all the Thangles I need and I cut apart the first one; being very, very cautious...I think to myself this time I got it! I measure it and nope, I ain't got it! I still have a half triangle square measuring 3 inches!

After much thought and research, I mean MUCH THOUGHT AND RESEARCH I figured out the following: the 2 1/2 inches finished refers to the block size when you sew it into a block...does that make sense?! 

So after several thoughts, I decided to cut then like so:

Which gave me this:

I figured at least I wouldn't have to cut all 4 half triangle squares...if I cut them like the above picture.  

Here's my final result...exactly what I needed...2 1/2 half triangle squares! 

Yippee! Time for my next step!

A day of leisure...

Yep, today has been a day of leisure! And I'm enjoying every minute of it! I've straighten up my craft room and it provides the creative juices to kick it in high gear.  I've created a card for a friend of mine using the latest MojoMonday challenge.

And as many of you have been told...we are a little over half way until Christmas...and this year the following will happen: 1. I will have a Christmas tree skirt 2. I will have a Christmas quilt to hang 3. I will have cross stitched 8 Christmas stocking for my brothers and their family.

Uffda, I'm already exhausted....oh, did I forget that I need to work in 2014 projects listed on my blog?!  My goal is to have at least 1/2 of the projects completed!! 

I definitely need to have a pretty structured routine...it will be interesting to see what I can accomplish!

I've ordered the everything for the first stocking...and I noticed the shop has everything ready for the mailing...I'll be able to start early next week!

Oh, let the fun begin! And as always I'll keep you posted...

Playing with paper....

This is me! Never have I ever felt more alive when Ive been able to create with fabric, yarn or paper...

I've been able to create every night this week...it has been so fun!  I have so many stamps which I hadn't even touched...and I don't want to be THAT person who has a great stash but doesn't take the time to dig into it!  This week, I've used some stamps which are regulars but others which I'd forgotten about...

I participated in The Paper Players sketch challenge...and here's what I created:

Can't wait until tomorrow to create more...stay tuned!

it's been busy week in the craft room...

It's been a busy week in the craft room; my work place has kicked off the annual United Way campaign.  Every week, work has events to help raise funds $$$ for them...usually, Sarah (co-worker) plans the following events: For a $1 you can pop a balloon which has free stuff in them, $1 Rootbeer Floats, Craft sale and bake sale....the later of the two which always interest me.  The idea is to get co-workers to sell craft and bake items for the sale...and every year I've wanted to participate but it always creeps up on me...and then I didn't have any time to plan and participate!

Well, this year, I'm ahead of the game...this week I've been making cards to sell at the craft sale. Honestly, I am having a lot of fun...using paper and stamping...and I've realized that I have a lot of stamps which I'd forgotten about!  So I'm trying to make every intention to use them in the cards.

Here's what I've completed so far...stay tuned...there's more coming....

What's wrong with this picture...

Good Afternoon, so this morning, I had it in my head that I would sew up a really quick and easy quilt.  You ask which one, right?  Well, I decided I wasn't going to start ANOTHER quilt project, I reached in to my 2014 project list bucket...and thought I would be able to finish Sidelights using the Basic Grey's Fruitcake fabric by Moda.

So I cut per the directions...my first issue: the focal was a little short on the width...which should have been an alert for me, right? NOPE, not yet.  So I got to where I sew the little boxes to the focal fabric...all is well!  Then I get to assembling the little boxes on the bottom...my second issue: I've run out of the red fabric! CRAP!  This is how much I have left...I'm missing enough for one...ONE!!...2 inch x 8 1/2 inch strip! ONE!

So I thought to myself...fine I won't be able to finish the quilt...oh, well, there are worse, right!  Well...I thought I would at least sew the bottom (little boxes) to the rest of the quilt...and here's where I am alerted of the my problem from my first issue! check out the far left hand corner of the pic...there's my problem issue #1...

Here's what I'm left with...and realized I would have to surrender...I will not be able to finish the one thing I thought I could finish!!  I feel defeated!  All I could do was fold it up and bring it along with the others of the my unfinished quilts which need fabric in order to finish!  It's probably just as well...I need to find a border fabric, also...the hunt goes on!

Thank you for stopping by...have a great day!

Another amazing day....to create in my craft room!

Good Evening, seriously, I could live in Minnesota FOREVER if all the days were like today.  It was 80 degrees and sunny with a slight breeze! Perfect! Yes, perfect...of course, it was before the bugs hatched and the humidity make living life unbearable! So YES, it was PERFECT!

I ran up to my craft room...to participate in the Pals Paper Arts Challenge...and used the Color Throwdown Challenge...so, so, relaxing to create...it's seriously my zen!

Well, I should take that back...it wasn't relaxing at first...I couldn't figure out which stamp set to use...I usually have a process to my creation which goes something like this: 1.) find a sketch 2.) figure which designer paper to use 3.) figure which cardstock colors to use 4.) figure out which stamp set to use....then start cutting and such...but I didn't use my usual process...I needed to auditioned at least 4 or 5 different stamps...before I found one that worked well...isn't this doll a cutie! It's just so sweet...don't you think?!

Merry Monday Tag#4...on a Tuesday...

Good Afternoon, what a nice day...I'm loving that my creative juices have flowing...it's been really nice to be in my craft room just making some noise!

Today, I was able to participate in the Merry Monday Challenge which has to create a christmas card using a flower!  Well, I went with the theme of the design team...which was to use the Christmas flower, Poinsettia...but I put a twist onto it...by having my flower be the white variation with a splash of pink.  As usual I did need some help with the design/sketch, so I joined in Fusion Card Challenge for the first time...I did miss the time line to post my tag, but nevertheless, it was fun to find another challenge to participate in.

Here's the tag:

SU! Colors: blushing bride, old olive & chocolate chip

SU! Stamp set: bells & boughs

SU! Designer Paper (retired): letters to santa

Dies used: tim holtz tag and ties & on the edge-scallops

Oh, and look what I found while I was cruisn' to some unknown designation while at work...the Quilt Sampler edition for 2014 Spring/Summer!  I love reading about the quilt stores across the United States...oh, and there's one from Minnesota...and believe it or not...I have not visited the store!  It's all really fun to read...and the patterns are fun, also!

Just a little bit more...on baby afghan gift...

I just have a little more to work on...I checked early last week with my friend to ensure the baby hasn't been delivered...and nope, Aubrey isn't here, yet! Although big brother, Owen is not as patient as his parents...oh, soon enough his wish well come true!

Here's my progress: 

As you may have noticed, I've added a couple of new projects to my 2014 project list...oh, gosh what was I thinking! I seem to get boggled down with life stuff that I forget I have a project list to keep me structured with my UFOs! At the beginning of the year, I seem to stay on task, but as the year continues I seem to forget I have a list!  Well, since the list and I have been reintroduced, I will have to continually revisit section of my blog! Hope you have a great week!

Thank you visiting my blog!

What a lovely day...with a retro kinda style!

Hello, hope everyone is having a great day! Today has been very relaxing! Just got back home from spending a couple hours with my mom...I created a card for my nephews birthday...and I might add a really late birthday card!  With a little help from Retro Sketches, I was able to create this little beauty!  I will say every year as the boys get older, it gets increasing harder to create a card which is appropriate for their age! I'm going to have to add some masculine type stamps to my stash!

Speaking of adding stamps to my stash, I received the new Stampin' Up! catalog!  Wow! There's some great things going on for them! It seems that there aren't as many stamps, but they've added a lot of other goodies!  Seriously, there are a lot of flagged pages! A LOT!!  I can't wait to place my first order!

Anyho, click on the highlighted link to see the Retro Sketches #115 Challenge.

And here's the card which I created for the challenge:

Lovely little birdies...

It was nice to create a card today...very thankful I didn't have to struggle with the creative juices! Retro Sketches challenge offered a great sketch to help...

Here's what I created with those creatives juices:

Busy, busy, busy!

Um, I'll be really busy all day today! I just received my Stampin Up! catalog! A lot of great things going on in these pages! Thank you, Ann Stach...I'm very grateful! Creative juices...here I come! Honestly, some really cool things are included in this year catalog!

Starting something new....Sounds of the Season quilt

Hello, I don't know why I put myself in this type of situation...I already have several...SEVERAL craft projects started...and I don't even know where or what they are...but with this in mind...I started another project...WHAT AM I THINKING!

And the quilt is not even for the summer season...it's a christmas quilt!  I don't know if you are like me but many times I page through quilting magazines and think..."that would be fun to do"...but I never get around to doing them...well, this time I am!  In the April 2014 edition of American Patchwork & Quilting, they did a pattern titled, Folkal Point.  I thought it was really cute...and I had the perfect fabric for it!

However, after investigating, I realized I have my work cut out for me; the main blocks in the pattern are 8 1/2 inch.  The blocks of my fabric were too small, so I needed to add a coping strip to help get the correct square size.  And now that I have the main blocks completed, I'm stuck!  The fabric is from my stash and it's several years old, and I looked online to see if anyone was selling this fabric.  But no go! I do have 3-4 different fabrics which go with it, but I'm having troubles seeing the quilt coming together...So I'm going to have to spend some time auditioning some fabrics...this task might take a while!

Have a great evening,

Christmas Tag #2...

At first, I thought I won't be able to play along with this weeks Merry Monday Challenge  because, well...I'll be honest...Gingerbread people aren't stamps that I'm drawn to...don't get me wrong...I'm not a hater...but...well, anyway...You get it, right? But I didn't give up...I dug into my stamp stash to find this little guy...

I don't know if I pulled off the tag...the overall layout isn't one of my best. In the making of this tag, I forgot to put the heat tool to the background...and as a result, I smudged the "let's be merry" stamp...which would explain the sequins, crystals and bubbles in the middle of the tag...look, I tried...and maybe failed...but I tried!

Anyways, looking forward to next week's challenge!

Laterz!