Toy's Haven

When my mom was alive, her house would be full of poinsettias.  She would order them ahead of time and then we would take the van to pick them up… they would fill the entire back end!

One year, my hubby and I sent a poinsettia to my mother-in-law.  She kept it alive for over 5 years!  The minute I brought a poinsettia into OUR house, the leaves would immediately start to fall.  No fair!

So this week, we’re challenged to make a poinsettia card.  Twist my arm! 🙂

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I looked around Splitcoaststampers’ resources and it brought back the “Kickstand Card”.  This was so easy!  The hardest part was waiting for the drops to dry.

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I used:

Stamp Simply Clear Stamps – Floral Cluster-winter poinsettia
Stamp Simply Clear Stamps – Wonder of Christmas Sentiments
Echo Park 6 x 6 – A Lumberjack Christmas
Spectrum Noir Ultrasmooth premium white cardstock
Stamp Simply Steel Dies – Floral Cluster & Sprigs
Spellbinders – Standard Circles
Spellbinders – Scalloped borders
Memento Tuxedo black dye ink
1/4″ ScorTape
Thermaweb 3D 1/4″ foam squares

other:
Red cardstock
Copic
Crystal Drops

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Thanks for stopping by!

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Ok, say what you will, but I’m seriously thinking of putting our tree up this week.  It’s fake, so no worries.  I just want a symbol of Joy, Peace and Hope filling the house.  I want inspiration for the dozens of Christmas cards I’m about to make!

A couple times a year I donate a basket of cards to a local non-profit that holds monthly theme basket auctions.  The money they raise helps their equestrian therapies.

I’m thinking blue/green/white is my Christmas theme this year!

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And I tell ya, the typewritten sentiment sets that were recently released are AWESOME!  Get you some 🙂

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I used:

Stamp Simply Clear Stamps- Typewritten Year Round Greetings
Carta Bella 6×6 – Winter Market
Spectrum Noir Ultrasmooth Premium white cardstock
Stamp Simply Steel Dies – A Cup of Java (Coffee)Dies
Spellbinders – pierced nesting squares
Spellbinders – Snowflake dies
Memento Tuxedo black dye ink
1/4″ ScorTape
Thermaweb 3D 1/4″ foam squares

other:
Star Dust Stickles
Novu Crystal Drops – Midnight Blue

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Thanks for stopping by!

It’s November.  Let that sink in.  We have five birthdays in the family this month.  And, of course, we have a modified Thanksgiving dinner, too.  I need to hit the ground running tomorrow morning.  Lots to do!

How about some more Christmas tags this week?  I won’t need too many as we’re at the point of exchanging names.  Kids get the lion share of the gifts.  As it should be!

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I love blue/green/white for Christmas cards and tags.  And, I’m really loving the Typewritten sentiments.

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I made two larger tags and one a bit smaller.

I used:

Stamp Simply Clear Stamps – Farmhouse Christmas
Stamp Simply Clear Stamps – Christmas Joy
Stamp Simply Clear Stamps – Typewritten Year Round Greetings
Stamp Simply Steel Dies – Fishtail Banner Dies
Spellbinders – Label Eight
Spellbinders – Label Four
Spellbinders Die – A2 Scalloped Borders One
Spectrum Noir Ultrasmooth Premium white cardstock
Versamark
Stampendous Super Fine Embossing Powder – Detail White
Seambinding – Olive
1/4″ ScorTape
Thermaweb 3D 1/4″ foam squares

other:
Olive and Navy cardstock
Stardust Stickles

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Thanks for stopping by!

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We had our first snow of the season start on Sunday early morning.  We’re all praying that the moisture will put a major dent in the 370K acres burning in the Rockies (just west of us).  We’ve had our fair share of horrible quality air for the last 2+ months.  On several days, the smoke cloud has been so bad that it completely blots out the sun.  It’s a really eerie feeling when it’s pitch black out at noon.

We’re debuting several new sets at The Stamp Simply Ribbon Store.  These are PERFECT typewritten sentiments that cover a vast variety of occasions.

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I made these with a faux abstract look.  Definitely flat enough for mailing.

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Background:

Any dye ink (water soliable)
Acetate

Water

Paintbrush (optional)

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• Run ink pad over acetate a few times
• Add a few drops of water
• Mix with paintbrush or leave as is.
• Two options for creating background.. Spread on your cardstock with paintbrush
• or apply cardstock directly into the ink.
• You can do multiple colors for your panel.
• I recommend watercolor paper, but I used a heavyweight cardstock.  My edges slightly curled, but I like the look.

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Stamp Simply Clear Stamps – Typewritten Just Checking In
Stamp Simply Clear Stamps – Typewritten Year Round Greetings
Stamp Simply Clear Stamps – Thinking of You Rose
Stamp Simply Clear Stamps – Get Well Tulip
Stamp Simply Clear Stamps – Sunflower Season
Stamp Simply Clear Stamps – Thank you for Caring Coneflower
Spectrum Noir Ultrasmooth Premium white cardstock
Memento Tuxedo black dye ink
Versamark
White Embossing Powder
Darice – Vine Pattern embossing folder
1/4″ ScorTape
Thermaweb 3D 1/4″ foam squares

other:
Black Cardstock
Assorted Inks
Acetate
Assorted Glitter Glue

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Thanks for stopping by!

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The highlight of my week has been time spent in the studio.  You see, we are a few scant miles of Colorado’s largest wildfire in history.  Our skies are black half the time… leaving one to wonder what time of day it is!  We can smell the burning trees inside our apartment!  There’s a large reservoir between us and the fire, so I think we’re safe.  At least it has me distracted from election shtuff.

I’m in love with this Christmas Peace candle.  I masked it off and sponged the background.  It makes the flatter cards appear dimensional.

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I love mixing patterns!

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I used:

Stamp Simply Clear Stamps – Christmas Peace
Echo Park 6×6 – Lumberjack Christmas
Bazzill Gold Mirror cardstock
Spellbinders Classic Ovals
Daubers
Memento Tuxedo Black dye ink
Ranger Glossy Accents
1/4″ ScorTape
Thermaweb 3D 1/4″ foam squares

other:

Copics
Nuvo Crystal Drops
Memento Cottage Ivy dye ink
Memento Dandelion dye ink
Spectrum Noir Ultrasmooth Premium white cardstock

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Thanks for stopping by!

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I just took a look at my calendar for this week.  Not going to get much of lull, but that’s ok.  I want this week to go by quickly as we haven’t seen all of the grandkids in a couple weeks, and this Grammy is having withdrawals.  I miss all my girls!

Back to Christmas cards this week.  I’ve volunteered to make a theme basket for a local charity.  All Christmas cards.  I’m trying to keep them thin enough so they don’t require special handling in mailing.

Oh, and new papers hit the studio this past week.  All gorgeous!  The one I used here is Silent Night by Echo Park.

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Love how the sentiment and floral fit on this oval die cut perfectly.

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I used:

Stamp Simply Clear Stamps – Christmas Peace
Stamp Simply Clear Stamps – Floral Cluster – Winter Poinsettia
Stamp Simply Steel Dies – Floral Cluster & Sprigs
Echo Park 6×6 – Silent Night
Spectrum Noir Ultrasmooth Premium white cardstock
black dye ink
Spellbinders – classic ovals
Spellbinders – scalloped borders Two
1/4″ ScorTape
Thermaweb 3D 1/4″ foam squares

other:
Memento Paris Dusk
Copics
Gold Crystal drops

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Thanks for stopping by!

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October.  This has been one strange, chaotic, loooong year (so far).  We took part of the family out to dinner last night to celebrate a couple birthdays and a couple anniversaries.  There were NINE of us.  Although the restaurant claimed they could handle our party… I called a day in advance.  When we arrived, they claimed that they don’t take reservations.  They did.  Finally, they seated us in two separate booths about 10 ft away.   An hour later to get food and it was cold.  Mind you, this was no fancy restaurant… it was Applebee’s!

Ok, now it’s time to hang on to your hat.  I love a good CAS card.  They’re very different from my style.  So today I’m featuring one of the most CAS cards I’ve ever made.

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I sponged the background with several shades of yellow <——->orange<——->red.   Leaves and sentiment were simply embossed on in white.  I added dew drops (using Glossy Glaze).

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I used:

Stamp Simply Clear Stamps –
Pastor Appreciation Greetings
Pastor Appreciation Scripture
Give Thanks
Harvest
Spectrum Noir Ultrasmooth Premium white cardstock
Versamark
Ranger Fine White Embossing Powder
Glossy Accents
Blending Brushes
Daubers
1/4″ ScorTape
Thermoweb 3D 1/4″ foam squares

Inked Background – Memento Tangelo
Memento Cantelope
Memento Morocco
Memento Potter’s Clay

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Thanks for stopping by!

So, it’s been another crazy week at Casa McMillen.  Three birthdays and an Anniversary.  Had several doctor appointments and to top it all off, our 4 yr old car died.  Fortunately, we have a mechanic in the family and a quick fix later… we’re road ready again.  Next week is going to be quiet and laid back.  I hope.

This week I was going to make a Christmas card or a Coffee card.  I couldn’t decide, so I made it both!  This could easily turn into a New Year’s card.

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I love the colors in the two Kaisercraft.  Unfortunately, it’s very difficult to get an accurate picture.

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I used:

Stamp Simply Steel Dies – A Cup of Java
Kaisercraft 6.5×6.5 – First Noel
Kaisercraft 6.5×6.5 – Starry Night
Spectrum Noir Ultrasmooth Premium white cardstock
Bazzill Gold Mirror cardstock
Acetate
Darice Embossing Folder – Holly Vines
Enamel Dots
1/4″ ScorTape
Thermaweb 3D 1/4″ foam squares

other:
Twig punch
Black Cardstock

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Thanks for stopping by!

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I know someone is going to say, “Christmas already?!”  Those are the ones who don’t sent a gazillion Christmas cards, or gifts.  So, tags it is!  Tags are super easy on the tiny “canvas”.  I love the challenge.

The last couple of weeks has been incredibly hard for our family (and extended family).  The good news is we have experienced a true miracle.  One of my aunts has been battling cancer for 18 years.  The past week she got “cancer free” from her Oncologist.  Praise God!

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Although I enjoy making Christmas cards in non-traditional colors, the classic Christmas colors are like a hug from my childhood.

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Making tags is the only time I make multiples.

I used:

Stamp Simply Clear Stamps – Stick Family Sentiments
Stamp Simply Clear Stamps – O Christmas Tree
Stamp Simply Steel Dies – O Christmas Tree
Bundle

Spellbinders A2 Scalloped Borders
Spectrum Noir Ultrasmooth Premium white card stock
Versamark
Ranger Embossing Powder – Fine Detail white
Darice – Snowflake Scroll Embossing Folder
Enamel Dots
Baker’s Twine (red/white/green) – Christmas
1/4″ ScorTape
Thermoweb 3D 1/4″ foam squares

other:
Memento Paris Dusk dye ink
Stickles
Nuvo Drops
Kraft cardstock
Blue & Green cardstock

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Thanks for stopping by!

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Can you believe that it’s already the middle of September??  Last Monday, we had air so thick that it was pitch black at noon.  Tuesday it snowed.  By Thursday we were back to the upper 70s and today we’re expecting mid 80s.  Making my head spin!

Ok, so today I’m sharing a unique Christmas card from the newest release @ The Stamp Simply Ribbon Store.  Two down, several dozen to go! HA!

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The simply beautiful ornament paired with the MLK quote create a simple elegant card.

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I used:

Stamp Simply Clear Stamps – Christmas Joy
Authentique 6×6 – Alpine **
Spectrum Noir Ultrasmooth Premium white cardstock
Bazzill Silver Mirrored cardstock
Memento Tuxedo Black dye ink
Spellbinders Nestabilities – Standard Ovals
Enamel Dots
Baker’s Twine
1/4″ ScorTape
Thermaweb 3D 1/4″ foam squares

**Paper out of stock. The store carries many other papers that would work well

other:
Ticket corner punch
Copics: BG10, BG11
BG23, BG32

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Thanks for stopping by!