Another Adventure

Happy New Year, y'all!  I hope your 2026 is off to a good start.  I heard somewhere that you should do all the things on New Year's Day that you want to do all year, so just like last year I am making sure today is full of puppy snuggles, tea, books, crafting time, and telling my fam that I love them.  And I have a card to share, of course!

I bought a few stamp sets what seems like a long time ago that I hadn't inked up yet with December being...well, December.  So meet Outdoor Adventure and the ridiculously beautiful Nature Walk DSP.  That DSP is speaking my love language in colors, it's all gorgeous greens and blues and I think I need another pack (or three).  Anyway, no challenges for today's card, just me playing with some new stamps and papers for funsies.

Supplies, all SU!
Stamps:  Outdoor Adventure, Scenic Adventure
Ink:  Secret Sea, Garden Green, Pecan Pie
Paper:  Garden Green, Secret Sea, Basic Beige, Nature Walk DSP
Accessories:  Outdoor Adventure dies, Deckled Rectangle dies, Dimensionals, In Color Flat Pearls

As I usually do on this day, I looked back at the goals I set for last year.  Last year's word was FOCUS and I don't know that I did that well with it, but this year's word is going to be CHERISH.  I want to cherish the time we have with Ryan while he's still a kid who loves Legos and believes in Santa Claus and loves his newly yellow-painted bedroom.  I want to cherish spending time with the hubs and making each other laugh and taking walks with Daphne.  I want to cherish the time I spend reading good books or creating things, whether it's cards, scrapbook pages, stitching projects, or even just dinner.  We are so blessed and I want to mindfully acknowledge that this year and spend less time doom-scrolling or worrying about things instead of focusing on what I'm doing in the moment.  I started work on that with my yoga practice this morning, I had to remind myself at least a half-dozen times to focus on and enjoy the yoga and not think about what else I want to get done today, I want to be present in the moment of whatever I am doing.  This is a mindset shift that probably won't be easy, but I think will be worth it in the long run.

So, maybe I didn't get very many scrapbook pages done last year (36).  I made a lot of cards and sent a lot of sunshine through the mail.  I was invited to join the Paper Players design team and I had a ball creating cards inspired by Nancy Drew books and making more Halloween cards than ever before.  So in 2026, I just want to create things and enjoy the process and not worry about the metrics.  Maybe I'll finally finish that wedding album, we'll see.  If not, that's okay too.

My TBR pile continues to grow nearly as fast as Ryan; I had just hit 1,000 books in my Unread collection on my Kindle and now that collection has 1,261 books in it, and I read 193 books last year.  Many many many of those were rereads as I am going through the Nancy Drew series and that's okay, I can honestly say that I heartily enjoyed the vast majority of the books I read in 2025.  I like to start off the year with rereading an old favorite, and this year's book is Anne of Green Gables, which is like a warm hug from your favorite friend in book form.  I sent the boxed set to my niece for Christmas and I still have the boxed set my aunt gave me when I was about the age my niece is now, though I am currently reading it on my Kindle.  Anne and I have been kindred spirits for decades and it is so wonderful to spend time with her again.  (I may have started that reread a couple of days early, I just couldn't wait!)

As for my health (other than that whole appendix thing), I did manage to go to the dentist in 2025, though I still haven't found an eye doctor so that is a goal for this year that I just cannot put off any longer.  And I am renewing my commitment to working out and eating healthy foods; December was...well, December ; )  I'm ready to start feeling healthier again and not eat cookies for breakfast.

As for stitching, I did finish Ryan's duckling, the shooting star quilt pattern, and my witch, plus a cute otter pattern for a friend's kiddo.  I currently am still working on an art nouveau tiger pattern in honor of my friend Neelu and I love it.  I have several other patterns that I am eyeing to start in 2026 (and I might possibly have bought a new one this morning).  I think I want to stitch something Christmassy this year.

So that's how I am starting 2026.  Contemplating my many blessings and mindfully enjoying the small moments every day.  Savoring my second cuppa tea before I take Daphne out for our daily walk, when I can appreciate the beautiful mountains that I can see halfway through our circuit.  Happy New Year, y'all.

Wintry Tree

Mornin' y'all!  How's your New Year's Eve starting?  I was once again super lazy and didn't get out of bed until late (which was lovely), and I am currently sitting here with my morning cuppa.  Looks like a nice, sunny day today, and substantially warmer than usual (in the 50s), so Daphne and I will go out to enjoy it here in a little bit.

But first, I have the last of the cards I made for the hubs to take in to work.

I'll be honest, I wasn't super thrilled with how this card turned out and I would have remade it if I hadn't been in a time crunch and the hubs' coworkers don't know anything about card design anyway so it was good enough for the job.  I am planning to get in my craft room this afternoon to have some fun on the last day of the year.  Side note, how is it the last day of the year when I only just got accustomed to writing 2025?

That's it for...this year I suppose, peeps.  Cheers!

Supplies, all SU!
Stamps:  Above It All
Ink:  Pool Party, Garden Green
Paper:  Pool Party, Garden Green, Thick Basic White, Snowy Scenes DSP
Accessories:  Snowy Scenes dies, Dimensionals

Multiple Deliveries

Mornin' y'all!  I have been very lazy this morning, it's great : )  But now I'm up and I have my morning cuppa and some oatmeal, and after breakfast we're putting up the Christmas decorations.  We got Ryan's room put back together late yesterday afternoon and he's quite happy with his new yellow abode.

So!  I was working on a card for a Paper Players sketch a while back and I ended up with some cut-up parts and pieces that weren't exactly what I wanted for that specific card, but I used them to make two other cards and that's what I'm sharing today.

I love this bear and his mouse friend, they're both cutouts in the North Pole Delivery DSP as well as the candy cane postage stamp.

And here's another doggo card, similar to the one I ended up with for the sketch but a bit different dimensions on the background panels.

That's it for now, peeps.  I'm going to enjoy my morning cuppa and then get the tree down so I can be lazy for the rest of the day : )  Cheers!

Supplies, all SU!
Stamps:  Jolly Delivery
Ink:  Garden Green
Paper:  Petal Pink, Poppy Parade, Thick Basic White, North Pole Delivery Specialty DSP
Accessories:  Textured Notes dies, Dimensionals, Dear Dots

A Parade of Paper Players Christmas Cards

Mornin' y'all!  Anyone know what day it is?  ; )  The hubs and I spent the entire weekend painting Ryan's room and bathroom.  Ryan's room is yellow with a darker yellow accent wall, and now that both the yellows are up the hubs has conceded that the darker yellow doesn't look bad.  The bathroom is the same lighter yellow color from Ryan's room but I think because of the lack of windows it looks MUCH more intense in the area where the sinks are.  Doesn't seem nearly as intense in the area with the toilet and tub, but there is a window in there.  I think I would prefer it to be a softer yellow, but at the same time I don't want to repaint in there because I'm sore from doing all the painting already!  Now all that's left is repainting the main living room area (I feel really bad about that, it's a huge area) and the master suite (also a huge area).  I am winning the war against greige!

Anyway, I have not spent any time in my craft room in the past few days, but I did get a little collection of ridiculously amazing Christmas cards from the Paper Players and today is the day to share them!

This one is from Claire and I don't think those jams and slippers could be any cuter.  And being a part of the Paper Players is perilous for my finances because I currently have a bunch of Spellbinders dies on my wishlist and let's not mention the package that is already on its way to me : ) and it's because of the amazing cards I see Claire and Jaydee make with dies!

This amazing shaker card is from Stef and it is so cool!  The shaker elements include little Christmas trees and snowflakes and they're just perfect with everything else on this card.  I've never made a shaker card before because I'm chicken (I only make fancy fold cards under duress, and no one has ever strong-armed me into making a shaker card before either) but there's no way I could top this one.

This beauty is from Ann, and I wish you could reach through the screen and touch it because the floral and greenery elements are felted.  I keep petting this card : )

This merry masterpiece is from Jaydee and these little creatures are so adorable and beautifully colored.  I'm so glad that my photo shows the amazing snowflake background too, it shows up better in the pic than it does where I'm looking at the card on the desk next to me!  Also I'm loving the current trend of pink for Christmas.

And one more holiday card that's not from the Paper Players, it's from my friend Lynn, as a thank you for making Thanksgiving dinner in an unfamiliar kitchen : )  Such a pretty embossed background and perfectly placed rhinestone elements to accent the greeting.

I have all of these cards displayed on our china hutch in the dining room along with all the other Christmas cards we've received.  I have the ingredients for my annual Christmas card color block scrapbook pages, but I'll wait a few more weeks because sometimes we get cards on into January.  Actually I never put together last year's pages so maybe I'll do them both at once.

That's it for me today, peeps.  I have a dog to walk and groceries to buy.  And a child who has been wearing the same set of jammies for days now because his room has been unusable while we paint in there.  As soon as we can access his dresser, I'm going to make him give me those jams so I can wash them...maybe multiple times!  Cheers, y'all!

Rudy

Mornin' y'all.  How are you enjoying this weird limbo time between Christmas and New Year?  The hubs and I spent ALL DAY yesterday painting in Ryan's room...got the ceiling and the closet done and then we painted the accent wall BRIGHT YELLOW (hubs has commented on how bright it is at least 20 times and I have reminded him as many times that it's not his room and this is what Ryan chose) but for some reason the yellow paint isn't covering the ugly greige.  We did three coats and maybe we weren't waiting long enough in between?  But we can still see the greige coming through.  The rest of the room and Ryan's bathroom are all supposed to be a paler yellow so we may have to do primer before we paint those.  'Cause I don't want to do four coats on that much wall space.

Anyway, a while back I cut out two reindeer for a card and I ended up using just one, and while I was making cards for the hubs to take to work I figured I might as well use the second reindeer.  So here's my new reindeer card:

The only stamping is the greeting.  I was keeping it simple since I had to make a bunch of different cards but I'm not sure how much I like this one.  Oh well, done now and like I always say, not every card can be your favorite.

Okay, I'm off to either take Daphne out for a walk or attack the walls in Ryan's room again, that's a tough choice.  It's in the 30s and super windy outside and Daph just got herself all comfy in her chair so...maybe it's painting for a bit.  Cheers!

Supplies, all SU!
Stamps:  Snowflake Sentiments
Ink:  Real Red
Paper:  Garden Green, Real Red, Thick Basic White, Reindeer Fun DSP
Accessories:  Dimensionals

The Clue of the Velvet Mask

Happy Saturday and Nancy Drew Challenge day!  Today we are investigating the Clue of the Velvet Mask, Nancy's 30th adventure.

So we have Nancy in fancy dress on the left (OT version), watching a nefarious man in a cape scale a trellis and it's fun.  Lots of color, a nice scene that happens at the beginning of the book, the title and author are nice and big so you know what you're reading, very nice cover by Rudy Nappi.

On the right (RT version), we have Nancy carrying a fancy dress/shawl/thing and looking apprehensive while a masked someone stares at her, and this masked figure is simultaneously silly and also creepy.  It's the eyes.  This cover is also by Rudy Nappi, but I gotta give it to the OT cover this time because the eyeballs on the RT cover are too creep-silly.

Let's take a look at the case.

Case file:  Nancy investigates a series of brazen robberies at every rich people party in River Heights over the course of several weeks, attending masquerades and academic lectures and wedding receptions, oh my.  While helping Nancy on the case, George gets kidnapped and drugged and ends up with PTSD so she becomes more fearful than Bess for most of the book, until Nancy and Bess are captured and George steps up to help save them.  Also Ned helps out with this case mostly by being a brawler.  Being friends with Nancy is dangerous.

Here's my card:

George was abducted off a train while pretending to be Nancy, and as I don't have any stamps that go with the Spanish lady fancy dress that Nancy is wearing on the front cover, I decided to go with the train for this one.  I paired it with the Attic Boutique DSP for some nice vintage imagery because it seemed to fit with the train image and the pattern is Poppy Parade to match Nancy's costume.

I gently added a bit of yellow and green around the train to echo the colors around the party scene on the cover, and also to make that panel less stark white on my card.

Supplies, all SU!
Stamps:  Greatest Adventure
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Daffodil Delight, Pear Pizzazz
Paper:  Pear Pizzazz, Basic Black, Thick Basic White, Attic Boutique DSP
Accessories:  Dimensionals, Black Rhinestones

Now on to the RT and Mr. Creepy Eyes:

No significant changes to the story, and we're approaching the end of the revised texts; after #34, we only have one version of each story.  Anyway, here's my card:

The gang of thieves is using a dilapidated place called the Blue Iris Inn to stash their loot, and since Nancy is wearing her signature blue on this cover, I decided that my card should also feature blue irises.

Mr. Creepy has green eyes, and I needed a green for the iris stems so that's why I have a lot of green on my card (plus green is my favorite color); even though I didn't use any reddish colors, I found some old Wild Wasabi DSP in a pattern that is kinda reminiscent of the lace thingy that Nancy is holding.  And I found a painted-style pattern for the background that's a pretty good match for the background on the book cover, even though I ended up covering most of it with the other card elements.

Supplies, all SU!
Stamps:  Inspiring Iris
Ink:  Pebbled Path, Balmy Blue, Wild Wasabi
Paper:  Balmy Blue, Thick Basic White, Fresh as a Daisy DSP, Wild Wasabi DSP
Accessories:  Stitched So Sweetly dies, Dimensionals, In Color Opaque Sparkle Dots

I give this one three and a half stars, it's fine but not one of my favorites.  I will say that I vividly remember George being incapacitated and saying the bad guys' threats were burned into her brain--I remember the wording of that from when I read this one as a kid so at least that part stuck with me for years.  I am now thirty books in (well, sixty really since they all have original and revised versions to this point), and I am still having lots of fun with this series : )  If you would like to play along, it's as easy as leaving a comment here with a link to where I can see what you make and I hope you have fun too.  Stay tuned next time when we uncover The Ringmaster's Secret.

Son of a Nutcracker!

You know what, we did not watch Elf this year, or any of the Santa Clause movies.  The only Christmas movie we did watch was the old animated How the Grinch Stole Christmas...and I watched quite a bit of Lord of the Rings:  The Fellowship of the Ring yesterday.  Don't tell me that's not a Christmas movie, it's got elves and snow and gift-giving and a man with a long white beard.  I also finished reading the book on Christmas Eve; I've been a little fixated on Middle Earth of late, which is weird because I first read the books about 15 years ago and then immediately sold them because I thought they were a slog.  I enjoyed Fellowship more this time around.

Anyway, on to the nutcracker!

I made the Santa card for the hubs to take into work so I couldn't leave out the stache-tastic nutcracker to go with him.  I chose a piece of Festival of Prints DSP and then colored the nutcracker to match and fussy cut him, so this is the card that took the longest out of all the ones I made.  I think he's pretty handsome though.

Okay, we're going to do Boxing Day celebrations with Bennet and Missy so I need to go make another apple pie and some other stuff.  The hubs is clearing out Ryan's room so we can paint in there this weekend.  Cheers!

Supplies, all SU!
Stamps:  Santa Stache
Ink:  Early Espresso, Stampin' Blends in Cherry Cobbler, Pecan Pie, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Neutrals
Paper:  Cherry Cobbler, Crushed Curry, Thick Basic Vanilla, Festival of Prints DSP
Accessories:  Dimensionals