Wow! It is February and we are sorting, sorting and packing. We already have two u hauls ready to go. I would love to go through that stuff and just purge...... Don't believe a word of it, it wouldn't happen.  In case you haven't moved in a while, let me give you an example.. First, lets remove the stamps from the wood mounts, really. Ok, now decide if they still stamp even with the misty (?), some do, some don't. Are they even worth putting on the backing? Do you like them enough, and/or do you just think you MIGHT use them in the next 10 years. Another example the box of rollographs.. Some of these are really fun. I used the 'birthday present' roller for the first time in that 10 years that I am talking about. So do you think it will be another 10 years before I use the cute little Christmas roller.  Too keep or not to keep. Just go take a nap! 

Or as you will see below, I am using as much as possible like a 'crazy woman' as I might never see it again. Here is just a couple things.....for Christmas in the next 11 months. Yeah. 

               Gemini shaped card. I have a 'christmasy' floral stamp that is shaped around the bottom of the O. You could color that. I just opted for the colored or printed paper. I think 9  is my magic number here.           

                       The next two are ready to be photographed, so maybe tomorrow morning I will show them.

                                 11 months to go!!

                                  Thanks for looking!

                                       Mary

Thursday January 19th

 Who hoo! Tons of things going on here this week. We did a complete 'turn around', and may be moving North! We had an appliance nightmare & a family crisis, all while trying to reverse our thinking! Lets just see what happens in the next few days. This evening I just want to show a couple pictures of a favorite die. This is a Sue Wilson die from Creative expressions. 

 I am not sure 'large' does them justice. They need to be 'extra' large. It was for that reason that I didn't think I would like the die, but turns out I really like it/them. Comes with the banner & 3 words Thinking of you,  you are the best & best wishes!

                                   

                     They are finished at 5x7... Maybe a jewel or two!

                                  Thanks for looking today!

                                                  Mary
       

Sunday January 8th

I stamped a bunch of 'critters', or little images a week ago. Used a jig. I remember talking to a friend recently and she had no idea what my jig is about, and I have shown her a dozen times. It really makes your life easier than trying to stamp into a diecut. I can't stamp anything small without getting it crooked! So, yes, this is how we make a jig........

 Just use a 5x8 or whatever size will accommodate your stamp set. This is Hello bluebirds 'snowball fight' from 2021. There are alot of dies here, but some sets are just 3-4 dies and you can use a smaller piece of paper. I want my paper to fit on the MISTI. That is key. And make sure there is enough space between the cuts to lay your clear stamps each in the corresponding spaces. Carefully fit them in. Then lower the Misti door/cover. It will pick up all the stamps at once. 

                        Now go back, and cut more images. I usually cut 3 sets. One to use, two to have for later use. Also you can cut the images closer together, saving paper. 

    Stamps are on misty ready to stamp. Don't move your jig! Put the cut images in the corresponding image. Sorry the  picture is horizontal, but I think its okay.

                                       

               Close the misty door and stamp the images all at once!

                 Set up the 2nd set of dies and put in the misty.

           Stamp again all at once. Aren't they cute & ready to color. FYI: you are using the misty, so if the image doesn't impress like you want. stamp it again. Don't move the jig!!

 One more really important thing. SAVE YOUR JIG. I keep mine with the stamps & dies in a storage bag. All you have to do the next time is re-position the stamps to fit the jig on the misti.

                     If there are any questions, please let me know.
                                          Thanks for looking! 

                                                  Mary

Wed. January 4th

A belated 'Happy New Year' to everyone.... It has been busy over the holidays.. We have been getting ready to move. Ask me where, and the truth is that we really don't know yet! We tried Washington state, Florida, and Texas. Not happening yet....But the inspection on our house is NOW, and I am sort of stuck in the computer room with Lucy Lou. What better time to blog!! 

I have been working on these cute little cards using the Lawn Fawn 'platform die'. It has taken me part of the fall/summer to make them. I did 3, then 3 more. As usual, I would like to have continued, but I needed to clean out the hutch!

                Might be a combination of a couple of Hello Bluebird sets

                There is Gnome one like you is from My favorite things.

                  The critters above are the 'Snowball fight' from Hello Bluebird stamps. I have another one to show you with this same set. I will try to add it on tomorrow. 

                                    Thanks for looking!

                                            Mary

Friday, December 30th

Are you ready for 2023?? It surely fast approaching. Today I would like to share some Christmas dies from Tim Holtz. Again, I didn't want to stop making the cards. These are called Christmas cut outs.

                  Had fun using background paper that otherwise, might had been throw away. These are watercolored papers. Perfect. 

                            

                                 Thanks for looking & stay warm!
                                                    Mary

Merry Christmas

MERRY CHRISTMAS.. Hoping you are having a wonderful day! So far we watched Its A Wonderful life this morning! We hadn't seen many of the oldies this year, so we were glad to see it. Speaking of a 'wonderful life.'. It is a wonderful life, thanks to that miracle birth of 2000 plus years ago! Hallelujah Jesus Christ is born. 

I did these cards a couple months ago and just didn't get around to showing you. They are easy Spellbinders 'foil' die and a greeting in the center diamond. Maybe a little greenery around the edges. 

                                          

 

                      These all went out to the nursing home here. 

 

                               A Merry Christmas to all!

                                          Mary

Thursday Dec. 22nd

 Christmas is almost here!! I am baking today so this will be a quick share! This is a little die set from Honey Bee stamps and I couldn't stop making them. Even have a couple more done, but not photographed!

                                         

                                         

            Hope you enjoy and are ready for the holidays!

                                           Mary