Good morning everyone! I took a bit of a break from Monday memes, but I’m getting back to it! Everyone needs a laugh right?!
Have a great week!
–Dawn
Monday Memes…Fun with Dogs
Author: MTdawn
Hello Birdies cards
Today is a 2-for-1!
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There comes a time every winter when looking out at the grey snow-covered scenes beyond my window just makes me want color.
This year is definitely no exception. This year the cold seems to be going on forever. The good thing is that these cards give me a little break from the blah outside, to thoughts of warm days, with lots of fun color.
Both of these cards are made from essentially the same supplies. One of which is one of the first stamp sets that I ever bought…many years ago. It is the ‘Feel Better’ stamp set from The Angel Company. For anyone who knows about the company, it goes to show how long I have been making cards for (For everyone else it was 2008 – a while ago). Anyway, long story short, The Angel Company is now Red Rubber Designs.
Hello hello card
‘hello hello’ card measures 4 1/4 x 5 inches
Supplies Used:
- Stampin’Up! ‘Flying Home’ stamp set
- The Angel Company ‘Feel Better’ stamp set (FYI The Angel Company is now Red Rubber Designs)
- Darice embossing folder
- Oval die
- 1/2 inch purple ribbon
- Ink: black, purple
- Cardstock: dark teal, light teal, dark pink, off-white
- Ranger Liquid Pearls, Silver
- Watercolor pencils, blender pen
‘hey there’ card measures 4 1/4 x 4 1/4 inches
Supplies Used:
- Stampin’Up! ‘Flying Home’ stamp set
- The Angel Company ‘Feel Better’ stamp set (The Angel Company is now Red Rubber Designs)
- Darice embossing folder
- Circle die (2 sizes)
- Scallop Circle die
- 1/2 inch purple ribbon
- Ink: black, purple
- Cardstock: dark teal, light teal, dark pink, off-white
- Watercolor pencils, blender pen
I hope you have a great day!
–Dawn
Happy Diagonal card
I hope everyone is having a great day! Today I am sharing my Happy Diagonal card! I wanted to give you a little hint about this card that you need to know. The paper on the inside of the card is the remnant of the paper from the front. Which allowed me to easily get the same diagonal line.
This card measures 4 1/4 inches by 5 3/4 inches
Supplies used:
- Stampin’Up! Botanical Garden vellum stack
- Stampin’Up! ‘Petals and More’ dies
- Stampin’Up! ‘Merry Christmas’ dies
- ‘For You’ stamp – from Hampton Arts
- Recoleections paper stack ‘Paper Pad’
- Cardstock: Taupe, White, Purple (small amount)
- Stampin’Up! ink Perfect plum
- Cuttlebug embossing folder ‘Ornate Medallion’
- Ranger Liquid Pearls, white
What do you think?
–Dawn
Pink and Gold card
Isn’t this just a pretty little card?
Sometimes simple designs are best. For this card I really wanted the simplicity of it to be the main feature, which would allow the paper and accents to stand out. In fact, I liked it so much when I was putting it together that I almost didn’t stamp the sentiment. In the end, I obviously did, but I think it would work either way.
This card measures 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inches
Supplies used:
- Stampin’Up! ‘Friendships Sweetest Thoughts’ stamp set
- Stampin’Up! Little Leaves sizzlit die
- Recollections paper stack ‘Pink Parasol’
- Cardstock: Pink, gold, vellum (small amount)
- Stampin’Up! ink Rococo Rose
The Little Leaves die that I used was one of the first dies I ever bought. So, I am a bit sentimental about it. I know a lot of card makers only use current products, but I am a true believer of using the amazing things that you already have.
I hope you have a great day!
–Dawn
Me and You card
I hope everyone is having a wonderful day! So far here on MTdawn, we are. Just enjoying our lovely winter weather! On days like this I tend to spend more time in my craft room, mainly because there is very little to do outside (other than hang out with our quackers!), and because I get a little break from the grey outdoors by working with pretty papers!
The paper that is the basis for this card comes from a Recollections paper stack called ‘Pink Parasol’. And even though I am not a huge pink fan, I really do like this card!
This card measures 4 1/4 x 5 1/4 inches
Supplies Used:
- Stampin’Up! ‘Layering Love’ stamp set
- Stampin’Up! Bouquet Bunch dies
- Stampin’Up! Heart dies
- Recollections paper stack ‘Pink Parasol’
- Cardstock: Taupe, white
- Ink: Black
The card itself is straightforward to make. I did opt to go with a similar green for the leaf die cuts, and red hearts to mimic the paper. I think it came out well!
What do you think?
–Dawn
Help for the Winter Blues…
Hands up if you have ever experienced the winter blues?
Don’t worry if you do, I get it also. The crazy thing is that I never realized it until a few years back when my husband pointed it out that I always seem low and out of sorts in January and February. I remember just looking at him and the light seemed to turn on.
I had never been a fan of those two particular months, but it had never dawned on me that my feelings of depression were related to them. Or more accurately, to the time of year.
As a coder I was familiar with and had even coded my fair share of SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) diagnoses. I even have a friend that almost goes into full mourning as soon as the leaves start to turn in the fall. So, I know the symptoms, some of which can be very serious. And I knew that that wasn’t the problem – however I will say right now, SAD can turn into a very serious medical problem. If you think you may have it, please get help.
So, what are you to do to try to combat the Winter Blues?
Here is a list of things I use and do to get out of my winter blues.
- Realize it – recognizing what’s going on will help you realize that it’s only temporary.
- Essential oils – you can use them in oils, put them in the bath, shampoos/conditioners, etc.
- Herbal teas
- Exercise – keep it up even if you think it’s not working
- Self pampering
- Eat a clean diet – lots of fruits and veggies
- Cut back on coffee (ugh!), sugar, and if need alcohol and tobacco.
- Get outside – even on a cloudy day you can get some benefits from the sun – but oh how wonderful it is when the sun is out!
- Buy/do something just for you – I am not saying to go buy a new car – I am talking something small. Go to a movie, or buy a new nail polish – think small.
- Take a class or volunteer.
- Try a new hobby -or- pull out an old one.
- Put music on and bust a move!
- Plan for the future – Springs coming! Sometimes it doesn’t feel like it, but it is. If you are a gardener, order some seed catalogs and start planning your garden. Like to travel? Start exploring ideas for your next adventure!
- Plant something! On my windowsill I currently have herbs, lettuce, spinach, kale, swiss chard and microgreens happily growing.
- Animal/pet therapy – I always feel better after I have hung out with my dog and/or ducks!
- Get out – of the house I mean. Go to church, go window shopping, grocery shopping, etc. See people -and- interact with people – it may seem silly, but it helps.
If all else fails, look into a light lamp/box. When I worked in-office, during the winter we very rarely seen the sun (we were in the basement!). The boss was a wonderful woman though, and she realized that we poor, pale souls needed a little boost during the winter months and invested in some light boxes for the break room. We didn’t use them much, on lunch and breaks, but even the little bit that we did used them it seemed to help.
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What do you do to help with the winter blues?
–Dawn
Black Arrow card
The inspirating for this card came from last year…
Last year I was able to get into something that I had wanted to do for years – Archery! Not for hunting, just for shooting targets. Actually, my daughter and I both got bows and everything that comes with them for a little mother-daughter bonding time – but then after about a month my husband – apparently feeling left out – got one too. It has been great fun, and a wonderful family activity.
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After playing with this arrow die for the Hearts and Arrows card, I thought that it would be fun to make a card that had the arrows and a target on it.
This card measures 4 1/4 x 5 inches
Supplies Used:
- Arrow dies (sorry don’t know who made them)
- Circle dies
- Stampin’Up! Bloomin Love stamp set
- “Love” Stamp (sorry don’t know who made them)
- Gold ink
- Cardstock, black, white, red
What do you think?
-Dawn
Mint Floral Sympathy card
I know it seems a little morbid to make sympathy cards when you don’t need one. But usually when I need one I either: don’t have the time, or the loss hits me hard and the thought of making a card is too much. So, I keep a few on hand – just in case.
Hopefully keeping them handy will keep family and friends in my circle safe (er), since I always have a bunch of stuff that I don’t need laying around!
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The good thing about this card is that it is pretty enough that it could be used as a Spring card, all you have to do it change the sentiment.
This card measures 4 1/4 x 4 1/4 inches
Supplies used:
- Stampin’Up! Vine Design stamp set and coordinating dies set ‘Flowering Vine’
- Stampin’Up! Stitched Greenery die
- White, Mint cardstock
- Small amount of vellum
- Stmpin’Up! ink Tip Top Taupe, Rococo Rose
- Self adhesive pearls – 2 sizes
I hope you have a great day!
-Dawn
Hearts and Arrows card
I hope everyone is having a wonderful week! Today I wanted to share this very colorful Hearts and Arrows card. I love the colors of this card. It just makes me happy – there is something to be said about that since it’s a cold, gloomy winter day!
This card is made on white cardstock, I know it looks a little off-white in a couple pictures – my lights were giving me troubles!
This card measures 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inches
Supplies used:
- Stampin’Up! Hello Life stamp set
- DCWV paper ‘The Textile stack’
- Cuttlebug embossing folder
- Arrow dies (Sorry I don’t know the maker)
- White cardstock, small amounts of yellow, teal, pink, taupe, blue and orange cardstock
- Taupe ink
The hearts on the inside are from the back of the inside arrow. I used just a dab of glue to adhere them to the card.
I thought this card would be wonderful for Valentine’s day – or just a little love note for someone special!
What do you think?
–Dawn
Hello There card
With the holidays over it’s time for us to get back to everyday life. And with that comes pretty cards that make me yearn for the warmer months. But since we just barley ‘officially’ started our winter, that will have to be a hope for later.
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I love the color palette of this card – perfect for spring – in fact if you added a spring sentiment you could easily pull this off as a spring or even an Easter card.
This card measures 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 inches
Supplies used:
- Stampin’Up! Stiched greenery die
- Stampin’Up! Full of Love stamp set
- Black ink
- Watercolor pencils/blender pen
- Purple and white cardstock
- Vellum paper
The main image did take just a bit of fussy cutting, but it didn’t take long. I really like how it stands out from the vellum.
I hope you have a great day!
-Dawn
Morning Chat 12/26/2022
Welcome to Morning Chat.
I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas.
Over the last few weeks I have been doing a little tweaking to the blog – trying stuff here, adjusting stuff there. My reason is simple. – a change is coming. Not a big deal, life changes all the time. But here on MTdawn the New Year is bringing realizations and hopefully a little more time.
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A few months ago, I started to feel as the blog was running me. Again, not a big deal. I am sure at every time a blogger feels the same way at one time or another. But what bothered me is that I wasn’t enjoying myself anymore. I started the blog to connect to people and share ideas. I still felt that those were the driving force, but it became more about deadlines and stress. I didn’t like it.
And I know what you are thinking – yes, I did bring it on myself. I totally admit it. For some reason I didn’t feel the way I thought I should, or the way I wanted to. Now, I know that life isn’t all fairy tales, rainbows and unicorns. My time on this planet has seen more tears with it then I would like to admit. But this is my blog. And what’s good about that is that I can make the rules.
So, with that I wish you all a wonderful year full of happiness and joy. I hope you will check back every now and then and see what’s going on here, even drop a line just to say ‘hi’!
I am looking forward to the New Year. I hope you are too!
–Dawn
Simple Christmas tags
These simple tags come together in a matter of minutes – perfect for last minute gifts!
This is just a ‘what I made post’ – I am not getting anything from Kuretake.
A few weeks ago I bought myself an early Christmas present – new markers! I bought Kuretake Zig clean color brush markers. It has been a while since I bought new markers, and when I do it is usually it is just the new colors from Stampin’Up!. So, I figured what the heck! You need to splurge on yourself every now and then – right!?
I ended up buying the 48 marker set and then another set of smoky colors, which is what the tags above are made from.
For the tags:
I used watercolor paper, punched out a tag using the large Mavyn tag punch – then free handed the design. I never thought my handwriting was really pretty, but the brush tip of these markers make all the difference.
What do you think?
–Dawn
Quick and Easy Food Gifts and tags
Mason jars filled with homemade snack mix to use as last-minute gifts and quick tags to top them off!
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It happens to the best of us…things are running smoothly, all gifts are bought…and then…you realize you missed one person. Ugh! It doesn’t mean they aren’t special, it just, well it’s Christmas!
So here are a couple super easy – last minute – ideas that will hopefully help you out!
S’mores trail mix and Gingerbread Tag:
S’mores trail mix:
For the S’mores trail mix you really only need three things, they are:
- mini marshmallows
- Teddy grahams
- Chocolate (I used a bag of Christmas chocolate stars and red and green M&Ms in mine – but you can use whatever you have/want)
To make: you don’t even need to measure, just add as much as you want of each then dump everything in a bowl, mix it up, put it in a pretty container and top it with a bow or tag!
Gingerbread Tag:
Supplies used:
- Stampin’Up! Deer Friends stamp set
- DCWV paper stack ‘Holiday Goodies’
- Brown ink
- Marvy Circle punches
- Scallop die (sorry don’t know who made it)
- Pink/White Bakers Twine
Sweer and Salty trail mix with Holly Tag:
Sweet and Salty Trail mix:
- caramel corn
- peanuts
- mini pretzels
- M&Ms
To make: same as the s’mores trail mix – you don’t need to measure, just add as much as you want of each then dump everything in a bowl, mix it up, pour into a pretty container and top it with a bow or tag!
Holly Tag:
Supplies used:
- Stampin’Up! Peaceful Wreath stamp set
- Stampin’Up! Peaceful Pines die set
- Black ink
- Red/Green watercolor pencil
- Brown/White Bakers Twine
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Have a great day!
–Dawn
Merry Poinsettia card
A little fussy cutting, markers and a blender pen help make this card shine.
I had a lot of fun with this card. First, I stamped the image twice, once for the card, and again for just the flower. On the first image I used a little bit of markers and a blender pen to make the watercolor-look to the base image. Then I colored the poinsettia, fussy cut it out and attached it using a foam dot. I really wanted it to stand out!
This card measures 3 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches
Supplies:
Penny Black ‘Bountiful Bouquets’ stamp set
Stampin’Up! ‘Arrange a Wreath’ stamp set
DCWV ‘The All About Christmas’ paper stack
Markers: red, yellow, green, with blender pen
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What do you think?
–Dawn
Morning Chat 12/20/2022
Good morning and welcome to Morning Chat for December 20, 2022!
Anticipation and a pink Christmas card!
I hope everyone is having a great day so far! This week it’s Christmas craze! I guess that’s what we get for having a child…the anticipation just builds until the big day!
Today I thought I would share the last paper stack card that I have made. I hope you enjoy it!
For his card I used Recollections 6×6 paper stack ‘Peppermint Stripe’.
Have a good day!
-Dawn