Coffee and Cross Stitch

Vintage Christmas

If you're anything like me, the title of this post makes you think of Ol' Time Kris Kringle, rich reds, greens and golds in decorations, silver and gold balls on trees, and most of all, "A Miracle on 34th Street".  

Recently, however, I've noticed that this "vintage" look has taken on the pinks, blues, and yellows of more "mod" decorations from the 60's.  Not really my stizzy, BUT, some super-cute things have come out this year with this color scheme, and I have to admit, it's kinda growing on me.

Country Cottage Needleworks has a really cute pattern out that I would actually consider doing, despite the pinks and blues.  Lizzie Kate also jumped on that wagon and has a new release called "Be Jolly" which, although cute, will most likely stay at my LNS.  I don't think it's a "must-have" for me.

Those of you who know me are probably struggling to pick yourselves up off the floor right now, since I just said I would be foregoing the latest LK pattern.  I know.  I can't even believe it myself.  Her designs are so cute and quick to finish, but it's just not jumping off the screen at me.  She also still has this ridiculous love affair with Light Mocha linen.  I can't freaking take it anymore.   And she uses 28 count.  Um....that's freaking HUGE to me right now, since I've been doing everything on 40 count lately (yes, I am that crazy).  Although, 28 count is good for stitching over 1.  I'm getting ahead of myself and way off the topic I really wanted to share.

I decided last night, since it's been hellish at work for me lately, that even though I really needed to get out in the cold air and run it out, I needed quality time in my craft room even more.  So, up to the third floor I went, and made a few Christmas cards that have this 60's vintage flair.

Cute, right?!???  The cards were on sale at Paper Source (seriously one of the best places to get lost for hours besides a cross stitch store and a library), and I decided to just go for it when I saw them.  I have an entire stack of cards in the traditional red and green ready to embellish, but these really jumped out at me.

One of the best purchases I've made this year is the envelope liner template that I got from Paper Source.  It makes your cards that much more personal when you can match the INSIDE of the envelope to the card!!  I didn't have paper that matched perfectly (again...traditional Christmas colors in my craft room....), so instead, I tried to pick ones that would be funky and fun to match the pink snowflakes.

I think they turned out fabooo :-)  Stay tuned for more on these cards....it involves my Cricut.....

Do something creative today! 

Cardmaking extravaganza!

I had a little bit of fun in my mess of a craft room the other night...I decided to continue making Christmas cards for this year.

I was on a roll, and made quite a few, but I'm only going to share two with you today.  I'm going to wait until they're all sent to post pictures of all the cards I make this season.

If I remember.  

Maybe I should set a reminder on my phone.  

I have to remember to do that, though, too.

Anyways.

My cards :-)

I love that stamp!  It looks so vintage and reminds me of "The Miracle on 34th Street" :-)

I think I'm finally getting the hang of those vellium (sp?) quote thingies.  I think they're fun, but it was tricky trying to get them attached to something without having the glue or photo stickie thingies show through.  I may add a little more to this one, but for now, I plan on leaving it just as it is.

Now...I gotta go clean up the mess I made with all the paper and adornments....

Another late night.

Thanks to technology issues (read: iPhone update taking way longer than expected), I was up later than I wanted to be, since I have to be up relatively early to head out to a wedding in the morning.

However, it didn't stop me from getting a head start on these...

...and making a big ol' hot mess along the way...

...but who says you have to be neat to craft, anyway?

;-)

Weekends just go way too fast.

Well, at least during this time of year.  It's just an insane time of year at work, and it always seems that Monday morning comes a lot quicker than it should.  

I went into work yesterday (yes, yesterday as in Sunday.....), only to find that my computer was acting all crazy.  Good times, right?  Story of my life, actually.  Especially at work.  I've already had one hard drive explode, why not have my new laptop combust as well?  I waited about a half hour after trying various things to get it to work, and since it was having none of that, I picked up my stuff and headed out.  I guess it was a little sign that I didn't actually have to go in yesterday, that I'll be able to finish all of my stuff with plenty of time to spare.  We'll see if that's actually true when next Friday rolls around...

Anyhooter.  Yesterday was an unexpected day to do stuff around the house, since I'd planned on being at work most of the day, so I started getting ready for Wednesday.  What's Wednesday, you ask?  Oh, only the little bridal shower I planned for one of my friends at work who's getting married next month.  Since my mixer is being a pain in the ass again (for those of you who are unaware of my mixer plight -- it now suddenly has 2 speeds:  off and warp.), I had to find recipes that did not require anything other than a good ol' whisk.  So, I got out my Magnolia baking book (if you don't have this book, you HAVE TO GET IT and the earlier one Alyssa wrote.  I have yet to make a bad recipe from this book, and her recipe for Red Velvet Cake is INSANE and PERFECT.), and made the trusty recipe for Hello Dolly! bars.  They're scrumptrulescent (bonus points for the follower who can tell me where that word originated...), and you all must make them.  I'm telling you -- these bars are to.die.for.  The men in my office eat these bars by the fist-full.  Next time I'm getting gluten-free graham cracker crumbs to make these so I can have them, and not just eat a spoonful of chocolate chips sprinkled with coconut.  I mean....whoops.....

So, I made the Hello Dolly! bars, and set them aside to cool, while doing laundry (I think I got lost in the piles for a solid half hour before finding my way back across the laundry room) and straightening up the kitchen.  Then, I went to mass like a good little Catholic girl, came home, and went straight up to my third floor to do some cardmaking.  A bridal shower has to have cards!  I've been gathering quite the stash of wedding crafty stuff, since my sister's wedding is also approaching, and I'll be making stuff for her, too.  So, I pulled everything out, and went to work.  The first one I made has an a-dorable stamped bride and groom:

I added flowers to the bottom corner with some shiny brads, and stamped the word "bliss" using typeface alphabet stamps, cut each one out, and glued them to the card.  I think it came out super cute.  Not over the top with too much going on, but just right :-)

The second one was even easier than the first, since I'd finally fallen into my card-making groove:

Adorable, right!  I don't know why, but the flourish stamp I put on the envelope came out blurry.  I put that on both envelopes to be a pretty little addition to a cutie card! 

On the inside of both cards, I put a very simple sentiment:

I hope Danielle likes them! :-)

I also spent some time at my sewing machine this weekend.  Actually, I spent the bulk of the Phillies CLINCHING GAME at the sewing machine, with Franski and LA announcing all the greatness happening at Citizens Bank!!  Anyways.........

What did I sew?  Well, some of you may remember this cover I made myself for my nook.  Well, one of my friends recently got herself a nook color, so I asked her if she wanted me to make her a cover.  She said she'd love one, so I told her I would surprise her with the pattern and make her a cover.  

This is a sneak peek of the cover I made for her --

Sorry Phils Phans...that's all you get to see for now.  She reads my blog, so I can't give away too much before she gets her pretty cover :-)  (side note, though:  I'm pretty daggone proud of myself for getting those blocks to match up!  Go me!)

That's all I have for today, folks.  Make today a fabulous fall day and do something creative!  Make some mulled cider and sit out back under a blanket and take in the crisp fall air!  I know I will be doing just that.....at CBP to see my Phils crush the Cards!!  Playoffs are almost here!!  Woohoo!!!!

Again with these ornaments?

Um, yes.  They're just so stinkin' cute!!  Here's the latest installment:

This one is "Baked Goods" (duh) by Little House Needleworks.  I just love the ornaments that Diane has created for us all this year.  They've all been so adorable so far!  I stitched this one on 40 count Sandcastle by Silkweaver.  I love their fabric - it's so, so nice to work with and the colors they come up with are just incredible.  They're a little more subdued than Picture This Plus, but I love their fabrics, too!  I stitched my Frank n' Boo on their Echo.  

I've also been busy with my Cricut this week -- a friend of mine at work is getting married in October, and we're throwing her a shower in the office.  She already had her big shower in July, but us gals at work thought we'd do something for her in the office, too.  So, I picked out a few things I want to do for her card and for little gift tags to put on the gifts, and this is what I've come up with so far:

This is a little gift tag I came up with using the Tie the Knot cartridge.  The bridesmaids will be in black, and their bouquets will have pink flowers, so I thought this was perfect.  I love how the dress came out in the corner - so dainty!

I did a monogram for what will be her new last name, which came out super cool.  I plan on using this for one of the cards I'm making for her.  The bottom piece is the back of the tag with the dress on it -- I cut out a little shoe for the top!  How fun is this!  I'm telling you -- papercrafting is totally addicting.  Totally.  

Now, you'll have to forgive me for the more personal nature of this next picture.  This is for my stitch bitches.  Feast your eyes on this, ladies --

Are you all seeing this??  Not only do have a-dorable new Christmas fabric, but I got me some new scissors.  You know what this means...Karlie will no longer suspect I've been using her scissors all night.  I still contend that I shouldn't possess anything this sharp...but I digress....

Much love to you all!

That's all I have for the moment!  Stay tuned for more papercrafting fun, and the next ornament -- "Bringing Home the Tree" from Little House!!

Do something creative today!  :-)