Monthly Wanderings

 Sunday, January 5, 2025

December was a blur. 

It started with our grandson arriving three weeks early via Cesarean section on December 7. I won't explain all the details but he was breech. He was wedged in his momma's womb in such a way that he had no more room to grow and wasn't growing enough. So many tests on him and his momma. So much stress. So, out he came. We were hoping he would be 5 pounds. God is gracious. He was 5 lbs. 9 oz. The smallest baby I have ever held. He is beautiful. His name is Weston Ray. Weston. Not Wes. Not West. Weston. He joins his big sister, Paisley, who is 2-1/2 years old.

 

Poppy and Gigi (my husband and I) are amazed.

The rest of December included various appointments, events and of course, we celebrated Christmas!

This past week it was our turn to watch Paisley while her momma is still recovering from childbirth via Cesarean. We had both Paisley and her cousin, Autumn, one day. Just one day.  Oh, I thought it would be fun. They could have a playdate. We'll do this and that...NOT. It was the most stressful day. I was in tears. Autumn was crying. Paisley was mad. It was NOT good.  Complete failure as a Gigi. It reminded me of those days as a parent...when at the end of the day I felt like a complete failure. It was then that I had to remind myself that no one got hurt, I fed them, they took a nap at the same time, we read books. Everything is okay. So, we have to work on some relational issues with a 2-1/2 year old and an almost 2 year old. I think that is normal or so I hope! 

Paisley...

Autumn...

This weekend has been all about recharging. Being in my studio crafting has definitely helped recharge my batteries!

Happy New Year and Happy Stamping!

Tracy

Sunshine & Smiles

 Friday, January 3, 2025

Today's card was a fun one to make on a very rainy day here on the farm.

I have a friend who is struggling with some health issues so I thought this might cheer her up.

My card base is Granny Apple Green and I am using that fun Fruit Salad DSP that I've used on the other cards I posted this week. My sentiment is from Enjoying Little Things.

I'm using the sketch from CASE-ing Tuesday #493 which is on Facebook.

Happy Stamping, my friends, and have a wonderful weekend!

Tracy

Thank you #2

 Thursday, January 2, 2025

Today's card is another thank you card I needed. I made it for our oldest son and his family. 

I love that as the creator we can customize our cards! We have an apple tree in our front yard that our granddaughters have helped pick up the "old" apples that we then feed to the goats, sheep, llama and cow on our walk when they are here. Sooooo, I made sure the apple panel was larger and included a bird because we are always looking for the birds and watching them when they come around. 

For my card I used another panel of the Fruit Salad DSP (coming to SU! Jan. 7 as a SAB item). The sentiment and bird are from Winterly Tree Tops and the neat die is from the Mixed Labels dies (coming Jan. 7 as an Online Exclusives item).

I am playing along with the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge Sketch #610

Here's a pic of Paisley feeding the goats the apples.

And a pic of the animals!

And a pic of the recipients of the card! Our oldest son, Steven, and his family. They just had a baby boy four weeks ago! More about that in another post.

Happy Stamping!

Tracy

Thank you

 Wednesday, January 1, 2025

Happy New Year! 

Today's card is a thank you I needed for a gift we received during the holidays.

Can you guess what the gift was?! Yep!  A delicious box of pears! They were so yummy. Like eating candy!

My card uses a Granny Apple Green card base. I adhered a piece of black and white gingham from my retired stash. I cut two circles using the Stylish Shapes dies from the Fruit Salad DSP which is a SAB item coming next week. I stamped the sentiment from Go To Greetings onto a banner from the Stylish Shapes dies. I added a bit of gold thread and a few sequins.

I'm playing along at TGIF Challenges. #tgif505 where they are looking for thank you cards.

Happy Stamping!

Tracy

Sending Love

 Fri-yay! November 29, 2024

Today's card came together using some leftover strips from  A Little Bit Festive DSP.

I'm using this week's sketch from Freshly Made Sketches #664.

My sketch is descending in the opposite direction. I may have had a little snip out of that center strip.😉 But who will ever know! I stamped a sentiment from Lovely & Sweet onto a sweet little stitched label from SU!'s Mixed Labels dies which is coming January 7 as an Online Exclusive. I finished it with a few gold hearts and some gold twisted thread.

We had this little one earlier this week. She and her great grandma were reading Christmas books. Isn't that the sweetest?!

Happy Stamping!

Tracy

Season of Fun

 Thursday, November 28, 2024

Happy Thanksgiving! We will be celebrating with our kiddos tomorrow. Today is a quiet day. I have done some food preparation but everyone is bringing food so it isn't bad at all. 

I made today's card with a December birthday in mind but I'm not sure I'll use it for a birthday.

I had to ink up and color in that sweet little gal from SU! Seasons of Fun! I'm playing along with The Paper Players Challenge #717

Yesterday on our moring walk we saw some elk. We have a lot of elk in our area...they kind of rotatilled our recently planted wheat field. 😒 We looked up and there they were. Look closely! Of course it was a foggy morining and they blend in so well with the environment!

Happy Stamping!

Tracy

Humble Home

 Monday, November 25, 2024

I had two cards I had made with SU!'s Humble Home bundle. I just realized I already licked the envelope to one of them. Ugh! The more elaborate one too! It was a fun fold which was kind of fun but I don't do them often and have no plans to make another one any time soon!  Anyways, here's today's card using the Humble Home bundle:

I noticed on a few videos that everyone stamps the house differently. I won't go into detail but I always punch a template for my builder punches. I stamped the door and windows separately and used the punch for the windows and fussy cut the door. The punch also punches out a dot. One person said it was for the door knob. Maybe??? but I think its a bit big for a door knob. I thought it was for making a tag! LOL! Who knows! Obviously there are multiple ways to use this bundle and crafty people do what they want! LOL!

The Farmer and I spent last week at the beach! We celebrated our 36th wedding anniversary which is truly a miracle. God is gracious and has blessed our marriage is all I can say. We actually had some very nice weather while we were there.

Now it is on to the holidays!

Happy Stamping!

Tracy