3 Positives: time in the studio New Year’s cards printed, cut and ready to assemble fun to watch a family text thread unfold yesterday
My Journey Notes: Still have a croaky voice – hoping I get my old voice back sooner rather than later. It would be nice to be able to talk above a whisper again. Lists still my biggest aid. Grateful for those simple slips of paper and check marks that show progress each and every day and keep me on track.
A personal calendar for next year is printed. Trying to decide if keeping a separate planner (with calendar and notes) is necessary or if I should just do a journal type of entry for 2026. Need to make that decision this weekend. I have an undated printable option on the computer, so I might revisit that over the weekend to see if it is still a viable option or if I should just go and purchase a new option at the store.
3 Positives: slowly getting through the backlog on my lists one day at a time breakfast for dinner
My Journey Notes: I’m definitely starting to get some energy back — and that feels good. I was able to spend some time in the studio and got another batch of Holiday cards in the mailbox for pick up yesterday. Hoping to do more of the same today… small numbers seem to be answer for me. I have a few more cards to cut and assemble this morning, but it does feel good to know that I’m getting that checked off the list for the year and can feel good and not guilty about not doing it or waiting until after the first of the year.
3 Positives: a few more holiday cards ready for delivery neighbor gifts delivered (thanks T) document signed, notarized and ready for hand delivery Monday morning
I really like this tag. The mistletoe cut is from a collection I found at Creative Fabrica. The embossing was done using an old border folder and the “merry Christmas” was done using the Foil Quill. Half pearls and some metallic thread and a glittered star round out the rest of the details for this tag. It would also work as a panel for a future card — maybe next year’s card… we’ll see.
Digital image from Creative Fabrica. The plaid is from an old Carta Bella Christmas/Winter collection. I did use an old background stamp for the base of the tag and added some cuts in the plaid for trim. The digital image is propped on a wobble and it’s fun to watch it shiver and shake!
Over the course of the years, I’ve tried to include one tag that has some interactive component – music, lights, wobble, motor, etc. This year, I opted to use a chibi light on a reed switch circuit. The last time I tried that particular circuit I couldn’t get it to work… this year, it worked on the first try! I’ve had some fun with it and the bar magnet was a perfect tool for the on/off switch! I’ll be using that circuit again for sure. The tag shape was created using shapes in the SCAL library. I used two layers of foam tape to allow for the depth of the switch and battery. Since the switch is generally in the off position, the battery lasts much longer than if I was using a regular circuit and a switch at the battery.
These tags are always fun to make. Hopefully, next year, we can bypass the pneumonia and other issues and just have time to play and create! I’m looking forward to it!
3 Positives: holiday tags finished for 2025 first of the holiday shopping lists – checked off prepping studio for next project – whatever that happens to be.
this year was a bit different than previous years’ reveals. I wasn’t able to finish all 12 tags due to illness… so instead of doing several different posts this year, I’m going to do just a couple. So let’s get started:
Lots paper piecing this year — most files were already on the computer, found for free online or inspired by something on Pinterest.
This first tag is a go cup – all the facial features were created using simple shapes in SCAL. Love being able to use up a ton of scraps as well this year. The embossing folder is from Crafter’s Companion – likely retired by this point in time.
I’ve always liked this bear stamp — I’ve used it for several different projects including birthday cards. For this tag, I added some digital paper from an old Echo Park collection and a bit of the paper yarn I made last fall. The sentiment is foil quilled and the SCAL software makes it to easy to complete a print to cut; foil to cut project!
A third tag is a fun piece — I’ve created something similar a couple of years ago, but I do like this version of the “peeker”. A little bit of ribbon, some Nuvo drops and a white paint/gel pen for details. Fun way to use your scraps again.
Using a file for a laser ornament — the file was from Creative Fabrica. Super easy to do and I just used 2 extra layers of paper to get the look I was after. All paper is from AC cardstock – with texture.
Poinsettia’s are a favorite of mine… they come in all sorts of colors and I thought that the white on white would be a perfect way to display this one. The file is from Maison Gregoria, reduced in size to about 2 inches across finished. Tag shape is made from simple shapes and a little bit of gold pen on the panel edge adds a little more texture to this tag.
We’ll stop there for now…. Just a few more to go and I’ll share those tomorrow.
Greatitudes 