That one paper I have been avoiding

 

I had a single 12 x 12 sheet of this pretty paper with gourds.  It is beautiful, but so busy that I have been saving this one sheet for over 7 years now.

Enough!  Let's use it up!  I die-cut the "Thanksgiving" sentiment from a "mat stack" that came from Joann's from someone who abandoned it, and used die-cut greenery that were leftovers from a different project. 

The inside of this one has 2 die-cut pumpkins that were also in my leftover box. I also used up some kraft card bases that I made a few years ago.

I also got a new lightbox this week. So far I'm loving it, especially for the stand-up pictures.

Down the rabbit hole of Chinese shopping...

I ordered a few (ha!) crafting supplies from that new "direct to consumer" supplier that ships in orange plastic bags.  I'm not saying who, but you all know.

Anyway, here are a couple of 5 x 7 cards I put together using the dies.

I also used some washi tape and a gold star for this one, above.  For the one below, I used very old stamps from Lawn Fawn and My Favorite Things for the sentiments and bats.

 I may have mentioned in the past that I didn't know Halloween was a card-sending occasion until I started making cards.  Who knew that was a thing?

Smiling planter

 

I needed a get-well card, in a hurry. I chose this embossed background (Spellbinders 3D embossing folder of the month for February 2023. I paired it with this planter die set from SB's January kit (the add-on die).

Most of my get-well sentiment stamps presume an illness, but in this case it was a broken foot that needed to be acknowleged.  

Flowers, rainbows & unicorns!

 

Using a couple more inked backgrounds, here are Whittle Unicorns from Poppy Stamps, and Be Bold Blooms from Spellbinders.

And, here are the Be Bold Blooms again, this time with an embossed background, also from Spellbinders.

Spellbinders' Card Kit of the Month went on a reducing diet for the new year.

 So, Spellbinders reconfigured their card kit of the month with no dies or stamps, and a reduced amout of patterned paper. They also trimmed down the cardstock into A2 size peices.  According to the YouTube influencers, they were trying to reduce the price of the kit.

I'm still not crazy about the so-called sentiments that came with the kit, but I used some of them anyway.  I don't know anyone who is a "proud plant parent".  No really, I don't.

Ok, I think haveing less patterened paper to "use up" is a good idea, and I did smack out 11 cards in one afternoon just using the kit contents.  Now I'm mentally done with it.  Really? Not something I'm super proud of, that's for sure.

Little Whittles

I'm playing with my little Whittle dies from Poppy Stamps. I'm also making envelopes with old 12 x 12 paper I'll never use otherwise.  

I'm using the hearts embossing folder that was last year's folder of the month from Spellbinders.  This may be the closest I come to making Valentines, but we have a few weeks to see about that.

As I'm typing this, I'm getting my new AC unit installed. It's been an expensive month for me so far: new washer, dryer, microwave and AC unit.  Oh well, at least I have plenty of craft supplies.

 

Happy New Year to me and my house, I think.

 You know, I'm of the opinion that once I replace something it should stay replaced. But I guess living a long time in the same house negates that all together.

It's early in 2023 and my washer/dryer must be replaced again (only the dryer is broken but who replaces a red dryer only?).  I got them in 2010.  I got my AC in 2009, so I guess it's due now too.

My microwave was replaced in 2013, but it went up in flames on New Year's Eve while trying to make popcorn.

So Friday is a big day for me. I get the new washer, dryer and microwave installed, and the AC guy is coming by with an estimate for the new AC system.  The AC is sort of working now, but the heat part isn't.  Lucky I live in south Florida, right?

I hope this is the end of major appliances dying for a while.