An Idea from Down Under

I saw a card with a penguin posted October 30 on Stamp Owl's blog.  Since  we don't have penguins in North America I used a polar bear.   CS is CTMH Outdoor Denim and Robin's Egg Blue (retired).  The polar bear is from the Chillin' set that CTMH had.  Punch is Stampin'Up's Word Window.  I used red stickles on the scarf and diamond stickles on the snow.  The sentiment is Penny Black.  I used the Spots and Dots Cuttlebug folder and Nestabilities.

Today was a great day in Northern Michigan.  It was 65 degrees out.  A friend and I did get our walk in but otherwise I was in the basement most of the day getting laundry done and cleaning my crafting area. 

Last Thursday Jim and I were outside cutting back the perennials and pruning some bushes.  On one small branch, about half the size of a pencil I had to exert a little pressure and that caused the arthritis in my right thumb to really act up.  I tried to ignore it but it didn't get any better and I couldn't even cut back the perennials.  Finally I said to Jim that I was going in to call my orthopedic surgeon.  I have an appointment Dec 1.  Most likely I will have surgery.  I am trying to get a lot of cards made ahead.  The dr and I have talked about surgery.  He has given me two cortisone shots and while they work it isn't good to keep getting them. 

Sunshine

Except for a little bit this afternoon, we haven't seen the sun in three days.  This is my bit in making some sunshine.  Cardstock, markers are all CTMH. CS are Sunflower, Sunny Yellow and Citrus Leaf.  Makers used are Pepperwood, Sunflower and Clover Meadow.  I used 3M mounting tape to pop up the flowers.   Stamp is Penny Black.  I used the Swiss Dots Cuttlebug and Oval Nestabilities. 

Tomorrow it is supposed to be in the 50's, so hope to finish up the outside yard work.  Still have one coneflower in bright pink bloom. I have lots of projects to keep me busy inside the house for winter.  We are trying to do one extra thing a day. 

A Simple Card

This card was done using Cuttlebug's Snowflake die, the cardinal was stamped in Cranberry and is from CTMH's Season of Splendor.  The branch is stamped with New England Ivy and is from Hero Arts.  I embossed the pinecones.  They look green in the photo but are really brown. Cardstock is white and Cranberry.  The brads are from Joann's.   I got the idea from a blog but I don't remember which one.  It featured a blue bird from Inkadinkado.

It was a quiet Sunday for Jim and I as Sam and his girlfriend went to a college hockey game.  Sam D. (girlfriend) is usually here the entire weekend and on Sunday afternoons we play table games.  I took a nap, watched Skate America and surfed the net. 

Stamping Between Loads of Laundry and Exercising

My craft area is a total disaster, but I had fun.  Thought I would post before supper.  Cardstock is DCWV Earth Tones  Striped paper is Hallowhimsy by Imaginisce.  I think the small scraps are Pansy Purple and New England Ivy.  Don't know where the cream color is from.  The sentiment is Impression Obsession.  I stamped the leaves (Hero Arts) with Pansy Purple, Sunflower, Autumn TerraCotta, and Sunny Yellow.   The leaf button is from Joann's and I used CTMH Natural Hemp. 

The sun is trying to shine.  Got up this morning and it was shining, then it rained in the middle of the afternoon.  I didn't do anything today other than a mountain of laundry and stamping.  Now I need to get my stamping area cleaned and my cards organized.  Mostly I made fall cards but did do one winter card.  I had to wrestle the computer away from Sam and told him I wouldn't be long.  Now he is looking over my shoulder.  LOL.  That's okay because I need to make a dent in the living room before starting supper.

No Stamping Required

Here is a very simple anniversary card made with CTMH's Heart of Winter  paper pack from 2007 (I think).  I used some dew drops and you can't see it in the photo but on white space of the purple flower I used Stampin' Up's 2 Way glue and diamond glitter.

 

Tomorrow is not supposed to be a  nice day so I am planning on spending a lot of time stamping and doing laundry.  They are side by side in the basement.  Gas is down to $2.99 in our neck of the woods. 

Paper...Too Pretty

As Kathi said in one of her posts some paper is too pretty to cover  up. That's what I thought with this paper.  I have had it for a long time.  It is from PSX.  All I did was put it on some cardstock and outlined the top leaf and embossed it.  I put natural   hemp in the middle.  The buttons are CTMH. 

Today the Good Samaritan struck again.  I went outside this afternoon to put away some  pots that I still haven't taken care of and saw our neighbor and his dog in his oversized golf cart sitting across the road on our property.  So I walked over to see if was all right.  He has had two strokes and sometimes get confused.  He said that Jim had said he could have the pile of wood but he couldn't pick it up.  I told him he could still have the pile of wood and that I would go get Jim.  Jim came right out and cut up the wood until he ran out of gas for the chain saw. 

It was a nice sunny day here and this afternoon went for a walk in the woods.  I love the sound and feel of leaves crunching under my feet.  The leaves are mostly off the trees.  Sunday snow is predicted.  Now while I like winter, I don't like the in between stage when we get sloppy snow.  If we are going to get snow it needs to be white and fluffy. 

My Take on Kathi's Card

Over the weekend Kathi posted  a card using an EK Success punch and this is my version of the card.  Card stock is olive and spring iris.  Striped paper is Die Cutswith a View.  Ink, buttons and waxy flax are hydrangea.   Punch is EK Success.  Sentiment is from Hero Arts.   

 

It was a beautiful day here in Upper Michigan almost 80 degrees.  Tomorrow that is all to change as it is only going to be in the 50's.   Over the weekend I got my potting shed all cleaned out and ready for next spring.  Today I neatened up my half of the garage.  Also cut back some of my water plants.  The flowers in my garden are still doing okay so am leaving them until we have a frost, which we usually have had by now.