Hello, goodness I have been fighting against google lately, I started to think I couldn't get back on this blog. So frustrating. I would like to invite you to come on over to my other blog which I will likely be updating over there more. I have added digital pages for you to download to use in your own printed out crafts.
https://joyinthecraft.blogspot.com/
I hope you will join me on this newish blog. See you there
And would love to have you join as a follower. Thank you!
Mary
Hello fellow crafters how have you been? Thought I would stop in here to post an update on what's been happening on this side of the world. I no longer work at the big box store, that was over a month ago. I don't miss working there. I have missed seeing the co-workers and I have stopped in to shop from time to time to get caught up with the news. I now work for an artisan's shop. I sell my greeting cards with the artwork that I used to create. I've been sewing items by hand and recently purchased a new sewing machine that I am liking very well. When I'm not working in the store, I am working on something here at home. My husband has been selling his paintings. Snowy covered bridges seem to be popular right now. To tell you the truth, this is one of those "dream" jobs and has always been something I wanted to do. I can say that I am very thankful to God for this wonderful opportunity. The hours of work are so much better, no late-night shifts or super early mornings. While I do have to work at least one day during the weekend, that isn't too shabby. The shop has been open for a year now so it's still in a growth period. But I feel in time it should grow! At least that is the hope, and I will continue to pray. It's hard to believe that we are so close to the holidays. My where has time gone? It goes by like sand through an hourglass. I think the last post update I did was when we were planting our garden well this time around the green beans didn't fare too well. The lettuce did very well. I tried my hand at planting potatoes and was very pleased by the results. The taste was creamy better than what you find in the grocery stores. We will have to keep that in mind for the next growing season. Let's see what else, oh yes, my crafting desk has been moved from one room to another throughout this year my husband thought it would be great if I tried working in the laundry room. It worked for a while until the machines were whirling on in the background unless I was wearing noise blocking headphones it really got on my nerves not to mention this room was built on in our garage. So, we packed everything up and headed into the nook of the living room, while it seemed like just the perfect spot to have the computer and crafty stuff I now was bothered by the constant groaning of the refrigerator. I didn't realize how often or what type of sounds came from that appliance. Not to mention I had access to the television. Which came in handy at times as I get older it seems to help to have a little chatter going on in the background. After a while I told my husband that I really needed to move again, someplace that could "hide" the extra mess that I leave on my desk and sometimes the floor and it doesn't make for the rest of the living room to look good. He agreed. But that meant that we needed to break down the guest bed and store it in the cold closet. My new home is where it should have been the guest bedroom. I do have a roommate, but he is fine with me. Well folks that's what's going on with me. I will try not to take so long next time round. Hope you all have a great weekend wherever you are in the world. Thanks for taking the time to read my post, hope to see a comment. Thank you.
Mary
Farm Quest Country Christmas Challenge is having a Challenge starting today September 7th through October 5th. So there is plenty of time to enter your craft creations. I would like to take this time to share my creation with you. I call it a Christmas Tag Card. And it features a fabric dangle & playing card, from a really neat Etsy shop: @Carolyn - http://thesweetshoppescraps.etsy.com And it features a coffee dyed tag from @ Triple V Vintage, be sure to visit her Etsy shop as well. I really love how this turned out. Before you leave please consider leaving me a comment. :) Thank you and blessings, Mary
Hello! I can hardly believe its already September. Wow, where did the summer go? Technically its still summer we can judge it by the high temps outside. Without further ado let me just tell you about Christmas Crafts All Year Round Challenge, yes, you need to go there and check it out and join in too! Here is my project that I have made. Below you'll find the materials used in making this holiday card.
Tag Card ~ I love how this card came together, the little fabric dangle came in the mail the day that I made the card. :)
Tag - Mistletoe & Holly from Blue Fern Studios
The winter scene - is a playing card from #The Sweet Shoppe Scraps @Carolyn & her daughter run the shop over on Etsy. http://www.etsy.com/shop/thesweetshoppescraps The pretty Christmas fabric with button is also from her shop. :)
The added elements are stickers.
The green crinkled ribbon at the top is from my scrap cabin shop on Etsy.
To make this look more vintage I added brushed corduroy around the edges.
Thank you so much for stopping in and don't forget to leave a comment before you go. Blessings, Mary
PS. I wasn't sure how to "tag" someone hopefully this worked.
Hello everyone, I just wanted to let you all know of my new Freebie Blog - Joy in the Craft this will be home for all things "free". So I hope you will go over there and have a look 'round and see what you might like to use in your crafty projects. Be patient as I am just starting to "load up" some items. These will not be for sale, these are just things to share with you. And consider becoming a follower too. I will be giving the blog updates here and there... I need to see how to add the follower thing. Anyway, hope to see you there!
Mary
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For a new Challenge at Farm Quest Country Christmas Challenge - Beginning Today February 7th until March 5th. We would love to have you join in with our challenges. To find the rules and themes for the challenges be sure to check out the blog here: farmquestcountrychristmaschallenges.blogspot.com without further delay here is the card & tag that I have created for this challenge: the design is created using pretty napkins. Seam binding from My Scrap Cabin Shop you can locate her shop on Etsy. If you would like a tutorial on how to create with napkins, please check out my YouTube Channel here: My Channel @marysmith4501 I have many crafting videos.
Until the next time, happy crafting. Mary
Hello everyone! Welcome to a New Challenge over at CCAYR, and welcome to 2024! I am running a bit behind in getting my card ready to go, it was already made a few days back, but just now got it uploaded. If you had been wondering why I hadn't made a post in a while, it is due to being sick. Tis the season for some sneezin'. Anyway I digress. Here is my card and our theme this month is Snowflakes. The bear in the background just adds to the cute factor. :) My card is made up of lollipops, candy canes and sugar sweetness, topped off with a glittery snowflake. Thanks for popping 'round to see my card and leave a sweet comment too!
Hugs, Mary
Hello Crafty Friends, Today begins a New Challenge over at FarmQuest Country Christmas Challenge Blog ~ Where I am a new designer! I am happy to be on Becca's Team. I hope that you will come over to join in with us today - this challenge goes from November 7th - December 5th.
I decided to create a card featuring a Country Home Setting, only with a Vintage Style. I love it! Here is my card ~
Thank you for checking out my card, and we hope to see you at the Challenge!
Have a Crafty Good Holiday Season, and Merry Christmas.
Mary
Hello! Today starts a Challenge over at Christmas Crafts All Year Round, the theme this month is: 11 Pipers Piping or 11 of something or Holiday Carol
My card has a cute little Kitty sitting in a wicker basket, surrounded by holly berries and musical notes in the background. By Stamperia. The Ticket - Simple Stories. And the background paper - Paper Heart. The Gold Border Sticker - Dazzles Ivory Card Stock - craft store. Thank you for popping by and don't forget to enter your beautiful creation at - Christmas Crafts All Year Round
Happy Crafting and Happy Holidays!
FA - LA - LA Mary
Here is my card:
Hello everyone! It's been so long since I've posted anything. This blog has been sitting here waiting for me to post something so here goes.... the last part of August we had been busy with physical therapy for my hubby, he was cleared for getting back to work and can walk much faster than I. So amazing and I am thrilled with the outcome.
I have been neglectful of not posting any of my makes done for my design team at Christmas Crafts All Year Round. I'm not sure why that is...only to say its either been laziness on my part or just been working too much, (which I have). The holidays are almost upon us - which is unbelievable!! Where has the time gone?? Wasn't it just the summer and now autumn has crept in with frost and freeze warnings. Brrrr... well time waits for no one that is for sure... and it can slip away too. I am just going to say... Christmas will be here before you know it, and that ever present Black Friday will be coming around the corner and we all know what that means in retail world - Hold On To Your Reindeer ~ you haven't seen nothin' yet!!! I never was that person that camped out in the parking lot overnight waiting for the doors to scream open just to chase down a bargain or two. Nope. But when you work retail just as I do, you must learn to like it or try to look for a hiding place... no, no, I must face reality. Go forth and push my way through the crazy crowds to go to work. Until that day happens, I will be here to post my creative makes with you.
By the way - I am now apart of the Design Team on Farm Quest Country Christmas Challenge Blog!
Okay, its very early A.M. here on this side of the world, and for whatever reason I saw the need to rise up before the sun, and the chirping birdies... to write this blog post. it's about 45 degrees F outside today, won't get much warmer than that I am sure... and its another day off for me. Thank you Lord! We all need days off... yay.
Until next time 'round, have a crafty good day. Hugs, Mary
Hello! It's August, that means Challenge time over at Once Upon A Time! My Card this month features a Bee, with the Sentiment "Just Bee You"
The Bee = Close To My Heart
Sentiments = Stampendous - Honeycomb Wishes
Coloring = Water brush using Distress Crayons and Distress Inks - Tim Holtz
Trim = Fancy Fibers - Stampin Up - found at my local flea market
Corner Punch = Stampin Up - found at my local flea market
Here is my card: Just Bee You
Hello Crafting Buddies, This evening I felt inspired to listen to some soothing music and to work on a craft, my project is - "Happy Day Flowers" This is a stamped image from Stampendous, and one I found at a local flea market. These reminded me of Coneflowers that used to grow in my summer garden. I wanted to give them a "wash" of color using a water brush and water color pencils and Distress Crayons ~ I think it turned out lovely. I then used some netting from a vintage wedding dress and tied with a soft green trim, with the words stamped: Happy Day. The butterfly is made of wood, this was ordered online. The green paper background is from my stash. While the colors of the petals remind me of Autumn or late Summer, I wanted to give my card the feel of a pretty Summer garden. The words are stamped, with a light "wash" of color in the background.
Thank you for stopping by ~ please leave a comment, it will inspire me to create more cards. Hugs, Mary ♥♥
I would like to enter this card into the following Challenges:
We Love Stamping - July Challenge Fabulous Florals & Anything Goes Option ♥ ♥ Challenge closes Aug. 2nd - My entry #107
Stamping Sensations - July Challenge - Theme Summer Flowers ♥ ♥ My entry #92
Its Christmas.... okay, maybe not Christmas yet, but thought I would make a card featuring Jolly Santa.
♥ ♥ The materials for this card came from a card kit that I found at my local flea market, so it really did not have a brand attached to it. The gifts are layered or "popped". Diamond Stickles were added for a glistening effect to the top of his hat, down to the boots and snow. The background papers are from Paper Adventures. With an added mint candy sticker. I really do like how this card came together... thanks for stopping by to visit, and leave a comment too! ♥ ♥
It's been a while since my last post. I have been busy with my hubby and his recovery. The surgery went very well, they had him to spend the night and the next day he was brought home. Just after a few hours of rest he was up using his walker and just tooling around the house! He has had some pain following surgery but that is to be expected but he seems to be doing very well. He is currently going to physical therapy twice a week.
We certainly do appreciate the prayers!
I would like to get back into crafting here soon, as I am growing restless much like my hubby. LOL He stays busy throughout the day, which is very good. And watching tv here and there, I think we are getting weary of watching episodes of the Love Boat. I may have told you that I had injured my leg about a month ago, well finally I am seeing some improvements in the way its been feeling. The muscles used to hurt if I sat down at my desk for too long a period.
Also, not sure if I mentioned to you but we are now a three parakeet household! We recently adopted Bonnie & Clyde, we decided to keep the names they were given, and now our Abby has friends that she desperately needed. Hah! Many years ago we used to have parakeets as we were renters and we couldn't have 4 legged animals in our residence. We always enjoyed our birds. And even trained them. We think Clyde might have been trained to sit on shoulders but we haven't really had them out of the cage. Anyway they can get very LOUD at times but then that is their nature. Our dog Bella doesn't seem to mind them a bit.
Supposed to get up to 88 degrees F., today... whoo that is a might warm.
I like to keep my hair trimmed up a bit so I got out the scissors and just worked on it... I don't like to go as short as my mother always urged me to go. She always said, "Mary your face is round so your hair would look better short". That was her opinion, and at times, much to my husband's dismay, I would allow her to create a cut that looked good on me. I would draw the line on getting perms or color added. The things I remember. *Rolling my eyes* I'm not saying all of this to be sarcastic, but in a way just a chuckle.
Well, I just wanted to "yak" and my thoughts just got in a ramble... I do miss chatting away on the telephone with mom. Those were the days.
Hope you all are fine as frog hair, and I'll catch ya later,
Mary
Just wanted to give you all an update, I'm not sure if I remember mentioning that my husband will be going in for surgery on his knee this Wednesday morning. If you see this post please be in prayer for him that all goes well. Thankfully the ex-rays showed only arthritis on the one knee, but his right knee has a cist that must be removed as well. So, what we know now is his recovery time will be until later part of August or early part of September. He is already been approved to be off of work for that time, and I will be his "coach" to make sure he does his exercises and help when its needed. I will be taking care of necessary things like household duties and yard work. I have taken one week off, as I cannot afford to be off too long a time. Our time has been taken up with what do we need to make his rest and recovery more comfortable. We have installed grab bars at all places that needed it, like bathtub. Which is a major improvement seeing that the tub can be rather slick depending on the soap used. Anyway, we have shopped to get needed supplies of food and snacks, so we don't have to be rushed to go out anytime soon, as my main concern will to make sure he doesn't have to be alone too much. I will be driving him to all his appointments that will be coming up. We learned through a class (Joint), that some folks don't have anyone to care for them when they get home as they are alone with no family. I cannot wrap my head around that at all... and some can't afford to be off of work too long and must learn to use that new knee in order to get to work. Wow. My heart goes out to those with no family or help of any kind. Bless your heart for having to go it alone. When I get updates on how he is doing after surgery I will make another post. Earlier this evening I was finally able to set down at my craft desk and do a crafting video, its still being uploaded as I type this out.
Thank you for coming by, and taking the time to read this rather long post. I hope you all have a blessed day, and one day when the dust settles I will be working on crafts to show.
Hugs, Mary
Hello! I have created these cute vintage Guest Check Freebies for all of my Subbies on my YouTube Channel & followers of this blog.
These are for your personal use only, in your junk journals. I hope you'll like them, please be kind and leave a comment. Thank you. Mary :)
Wednesday Freebies ~ Vintage Guest Checks!
I hope you'll check out my newest video!
Hi everyone! We have a new April Challenge going on now at Once Upon A Time! This card was designed by me, & I named it: Fuzz E. Bear - Bear Hugs He is a super cute bear, sending off a card. There's even a little teeny spider with a web underneath the mailbox. :) I asked my hubby if he thought this looked too much like a valentines design, and he assured me that it would work anytime of the year, which I happen to agree. Here it is.
