My first Christmas card of 2019 began with Holiday Cheer from My Favorite Things stamps and dies. I have had this stamp on the top of my pile knowing I needed to make a Christmas card with her. She is so cute! This stamp was my first MFT (My Favorite Things) purchase a year ago.

I actually had the chance to travel to Florida earlier this month with one of my stamping friend to go to MFT for Kathy Rac’s Coloring Road Trip! MFT is a great space for finding those special stamps, paper, inks, and various other crafting items. Their space for crafting is fabulous! The area is bright and well lit with a large screen tv for you to see what the instructor is making. Each large table has 6 desk lights to ensure every person has enough lighting for their crafting needs.

I highly recommend if you are in the area to visit MFT you take the time to check it out. And if you can take a class even better! If you can’t make it to the store itself, you can always grab a few items from their website. Let’s remember we need to support our small business crafters so we don’t lose them.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Enjoy the holidays and thanks for stopping here to check out my blog today.

All my piles trying to organize all the pieces of this super cute card. Gotta color all the girls and their shopping bags! I used both Copic markers, Stampin’ Blends, and Stampin’ Write markers for coloring her.

I used the Krylon 18k gold leafing pen for her bells on her hat and the buttons on her coat. I then grab my white gel pen to highlight her hat, jacket, and shopping bags. A few lines and dots are always a great finish to any coloring. Oh, don’t forget about adding those eyelashes! I used my Copic multiliner 0.03 marker. This multiliner is always great for adding those little details!

Finally the completed card, I folded my Petal Pink cardstock in half for an A2 size card. I took a piece of Tip Top Taupe cardstock and ran it through my big shot with a stitched rectangle die. I then adhered it using my tape runner.

I took 1 of each of the stitched circle DSP in glisten and luster by KaiserCraft adhering with my pop dots for dimension. Next I took my Holiday Cheer shopper by MFT and used pop dots to adhere her to the card.

Last I used a simple sentiment “Merry Christmas” stamping it with Tip Top Taupe ink on Neenah Solar White cardstock, and lastly adhering it with more pop dots.

List of supplies:

Stampin Up products
Petal Pink cardstock
Tip Top Taupe cardstock
Petal Pink ink pad
Tip Top Taupe ink pad
​Stampin’ Blends: Lovely Lipstick, Mint Macaron
Stampin’ write markers: Tip Top Taupe, Real Red
​pop dots
​Big Shot

My Favorite Things products
Holiday Cheer stamp and die set

Neenah products
Solar White cardstock 110lb

KaiserCraft products
Sparkle Collection DSP: Glistening & Luster

​Gina Marie Design products
Stitched Circles nesting dies
​Stitched Rectangles nesting dies

Copic products
Multiliner SP 0.03
​Sketch markers: E0000, E50, R81

Krylon products
18k gold leafing pen

Sakura products
White gel pen

​*paper trimmer, scissors, and double sided tape

My Christmas socks are ready to wear for this midweek Christmas Day!

I bought this fabulous self striping yarn at Needles Up event from the Fibernymph Dye Works. Needles Up is an event Legacy Fiber Artz puts on the Friday before the New York Sheep and Wool weekend in Rhinebeck New York. This event hosts multiple vendors from fiber makers and dyers. Next year check out this event and see what you treasures you find.

I casted on my 56 stitches and started with the Forest color way. I did 12 rows of a twisted rib. I knit 1 TBL(through the back loop) and purled 1, to make the ribbing pop a little more. Then I did a little fade changing to the Cranberry color way. I knit 3 rows, then 2 rows, and then 1 row of both colors, alternating between the two colors. I then continued working with the Cranberry color way for the leg and foot.

When I got to the heel, I switched back to the Forest color way. I used the short row heel. I used the Mason-Dixon Knitting Field Guide No. 11, Wanderlust. This field guide is fantastic and fits in your knitting bag easily for on the go sock knitting. If you haven’t gotten your's, treat yourself with a field guide or maybe even 2 in the New Year!

I finished the foot in Cranberry and began with a little fade when switching back to Forest for the toe. I did 1 row and then 2 rows alternating with Forest and Cranberry before finishing the toe in Forest.

I then did the other sock switching the colors so they were opposites. This is how Fibernymph Dye Works intended for this pairing that became my Christmas socks 2019!

Back in November I had a girls weekend for crafting with some girlfriends. We rented an AirBnB for the weekend and all worked on paper crafts. A few of us also knit so we did a little yarn therapy as well. This AirBnB was perfect with a great open space with the dining room, living room, and kitchen all open so we could all enjoy each other’s company even if we weren’t in the same room.

We decided to have a card challenge using the Gnome for the Holidays stamp and die set by Fun Stampers Journey. These next two pics show off everyone’s fabulous cards. Thanks Crystal, Dee, Donna, Laurie, and Sherry for a fabulous weekend of crafting inspiration.

For my card I started with Tranquil Tide cardstock which pairs beautifully with Perfectly Plaid in Chill. I stamped my gnomes with Momento black ink on Neenah Solar White cardstock then die cut them.

I used the markers I had on hand to color my gnomes. Unfortunately I forgot to write down the exact colors and since I had various markers on hand I used a couple different brands.

I used my Tranquil Tide ink on Neenah Solar White cardstock for the banner and heart. I then die cut them so I could arrange everything how I thought was the cutest.

I continued the Tranquil Tide on Solar White for the sentiment. Plus added a few hearts since it’s perfect to a add a little more flair inside the card.

My talented friends made some special gifts too. Donna made us some homemade paper! Sherry made us her delicious apple butter and a dishcloth! Then Crystal made us a treat bag and a treat box! Chocolate goes with everything!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone!

Below are a few pictures of the beautiful AirBnB we rented. These were taken in the early morning just after sunrise, which I think makes it look so peaceful.

List of supplies

Fun Stampers Journey
Gnome for the Holidays stamp and die set

Lawn Fawn
Perfectly Plaid DSP in Chill

Stampin Up
Tranquil Tide cardstock
Tranquil Tide ink pad
Momento black ink pad

Neenah
Solar White 80lb cardstock

Markers
various copic
various Stampin Up

Gina Marie
Stitched Rectangles nesting dies

basic supplies: tape runner, scissors, pop dots, big shot, fiskars paper cutter
​

I started the Emilia wrap by Claudia Wersing because my friend Sarah had started it and was having trouble with how the pattern read. So I decided to make it myself to be able to help her out. I downloaded the pattern for myself and then when we got together I compared my copy with the printed copy she received when purchasing the Juniper Moon yarn at Webs. They read differently and I immediately understood why she was having trouble. So finally she was able to get her’s going. I really enjoyed knitting this simple shawlette with a pretty lace edge. You can download your copy from Ravelry today.

I really enjoyed knitting this simple shawlette with a lace edge. It’s a versatile piece that can be used as a shawl or as a winter scarf. Here in New England we always needs scarves or a cozy shawl to keep us warm.

I used some Malabrigo yarn that was in my stash. This was Arroyo in the Arco Iris colorway. It’s such a pretty colorway that used purples, greens, and yellows making it pop beautifully. The weight of this yarn also shows off the pretty lace edge.

The LYS, Creative Fibers, where I purchased this yarn closed a few years ago. Luckily we have another LYS, Ewe and You in Windsor CT. So if you are in the area looking for a LYS to support, the owner Rachel is always happy to help you find anything you need.