Friday, September 29, 2017

National Coffee Day!


Hello, cafe friends!

Today is National Coffee Day!

And in honor of this most sacred holiday, I made a coffee card today! I just got this stamp set from Lawn Fawn this week. Isn't it totes adorbs?! You just know that if it's called "Pumpkin Spice", I'm gonna love it.

When I was cleaning out my craft room, I found this die from Stampin' Up to make flip cards. I always forget about these, but they are seriously fun to make. When you open the card, it flips to the sentiment side :



{Today's Brew: Pumpkin Spice stamps and dies (Lawn Fawn), Lawn Fawn papers and leaf dies, COPIC markers, SU flip card die}


I think this will be the cutest card to give to my sweetie for our anniversary next week.

Blessings on your coffee day, my friends!

Wednesday, September 27, 2017

More Added! Fall Cleaning Sale!

I started cleaning in the craft room yesterday. That's a dangerous thing to do! I am often filled with remorse and regret over bad purchases. And then there is the guilt for not using half of what I have on a regular basis. Ugh. Can anyone relate here?

I find that I try to keep a balance between too much stuff and not enough of what I need...and it is SO HARD. I want to be all Marie Kond0-like , but honestly, I'm a bit of a collector of precious treasures. Frequently, I need to take a good hard look at my stuff and say "Let that go."

I wish that I could say I'm better about only purchasing what I really need. Sadly, I still go on shopping sprees for no apparent reason. I really need to curb that behavior.

One thing that has helped...I limit myself to just a few craft and stamp related companies. I buy from about four or five of them, and not everything they release all the time. I know that I like their designs and that I will use them. It saves me a lot of time and money and headaches this way. And if I can buy them used at a fraction of the retail price? Even better.

Another thing I try to do is stay out of craft stores. Hobby Lobby, you tempt me with all of your pretties! And I am weak, I tell you. Weak!

All of that being said, here's an updated list of items that need new homes.

Doing some fall cleaning! Prices listed, add $2 for shipping. Will combine to give you a deal! Make me an offer! Payment via Paypal.

Papertrey Ink stamp sets, sold on acetate sheets (unless I have spare hard plastic DVD cases):

Kid Kudos and dies $18
https://www.papertreyink.com/pti-dies/papertrey-ink-kid-kudos-die-collection-set-of-2/
Iconic Images $8 (anniversary set)
Just The Ticket and die $18
https://www.papertreyink.com/stamps/the-vault-just-the-ticket-stamp-set/
Label Basics $10
Hanging Out with dies $18
Sending You $10
Birds of A Feather $10
Bird Watching $10
Bird Watching Additions $10

Lawn Fawn Critters Down Under: $8
Lawn Fawn Critters in the Arctic: $8

Mama Elephant Purrfect Pair stamps and dies: $20
Mama Elephant Balloons Et Cetera: $8

Sizzix/Hero Arts with Framelits dies: $8 each

Paper Smooches Folkal Points $5

Amuse Studio Quick and Cute Valentines $5
Amuse Studio Love Conquers All $5

Simple Stories Life In Color Snap Pack $3

Photos on my blog: maryrosescafe (dot) blogspot (dot) com
Thanks for looking!










Tuesday, September 26, 2017

A Warm Cup of Autumn


Autumn is officially here! And you know what that means: Pumpkin Spice season!

Don't you love my new Pumpkin Spice blog banner? That was a sweet gift from my good friend, Beth!

I brewed up a cup of inspiration with this Autumn-inspired card this morning. I have to say that I LOVE Lawn Fawn stamps for the Clean and Simple cards. So much fun!

{Today's Brew: (Supplies from Lawn Fawn) Love You A Latte stamps and dies, Fancy Frames dies and stamps , Stitched Leaves , note card, Scallop stitch die, Sweater Weather papers, inks and COPIC markers}

Grab a cup of Pumpkin Spice to go, and enjoy your day, cafe friends!


Thursday, September 21, 2017

MFT Superstar Challenge #3: Color!


I hesitated to enter the MFT coloring challenge because, well, when it comes to coloring...quite honestly, I fake it. Yep! I never know what I'm doing with paints and markers...no rules, just me doing my own thing.

But this card idea had been floating around in my head all week. I think I've been inspired by early morning sunrise (back to school hours...hello, 6:30 a.m.!), and how everything is about light and shadow.


I decided to stamp this little chicken on a dark grey card stock, and then color it with very light colored markers. The idea was to just give it a hint and suggestion of color. That way, the start of the show can be the sunrise in all its sparkly glory!


{Today's Brew: I Love You More stamp set, The Whole Herd stamp set, radiating rays stencil, Glimmer Mist, Distress Inks, farm fence die}

Phew! Three cards in one day! And just under the wire for the MFT submissions!

Thanks for visiting the cafe! Blessings!

MFT Superstar Challenge #2: Innovations


Here's one more entry for card innovations. I wanted a cute little square card that looked like a moving box. Y'all know that I know a thing or two about moving boxes!

This card "unpacks" to reveal a happy housewarming sentiment!


{Today's Brew: Up In The Air stamp set, No Place Like Home stamp set, arrow stamp from Whimsical Wishes stamp set, Blueprints dies, circle die, COPIC markers, washi tape, baker's twine}


Thanks for visiting the cafe today!

MFT Superstar Challenge!


Hello, cafe friends!

Here's a card I made today for the My Favorite Things 2017 Superstar Challenge! I used the Christmas tree stamp and stockings from Merry Christmoose to make a fun garland of holiday greens! I hung the stockings using silver cord.

{Today's Brew: Merry Christmoose stamps and dies, cross stitched frame die, banner die, washi, Wink of Stella, cord ribbon, Kuretake Gansai Tambi watercolors, white spray}


Thanks for looking today!

A Coffee Cozy For The 500th!


Good morning, cafe friends!

I have a fun project to show you today. I made this coffee cozy in honor of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. Yes, 500 years ago on this October 31st.

I used Martin Luther's rose seal as my inspiration, which you can see here on my bible:


The sweet blogger, Adriane, at Little House on the Dairy is hosting a mug swap called Here I Swap. You can see her adorable blog (and get a little peek into her farm life) here:

http://www.littlehousedairy.com/

I thought this coffee cozy would make a fun gift for my mug swap partner. Because we're Lutherans, and this is how we feel about that:


I added a little love with the tag on the side, too.


{Today's Brew: Coffee Cozy die, circle die, flower dies, felt, DMC threads}

And if you were curious, I used a lower case letter "t" die from My Favorite Things (an oldie) to make the cross. Crosses are notoriously hard to cut (a little more on this side, now the top, now the other side...aaack!), and while this "cross" isn't perfect, it looks a lot better than if I'd attempted it free style. Trust me. No one wants to see that.

I think I need to make a few more of these for some of my hard core Lutheran friends. Time to get stitching!

Blessings on your day, cafe friends!

Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Another Furniture Find For The Cottage


I'm still nesting in the new cottage. I swapped out the red and floral fabric curtains for the softer lace. Then, I put the off-white slipcover back on the chair and ottoman. With a nice neutral palette, I was able to bring in lots of autumn decor to make it feel homey for the season.

I've been hunting for a replacement coffee table for a few weeks after giving the old table (and sofa) to our son, Luke, for his new apartment.

I looked at department stores. I looked at online stores. But nothing really struck my fancy. 

And so I turned, once again, to Craigslist, thinking I may have to find an old piece and paint it.

That's when I found this great deal for a coffee table and end table, both only a year old from IKEA. The tables had the softer lines and turned legs that reminded me of the pine furniture already in the room. And the soft creamy white looked like it would go great with the newly painted fireplace mantle. I also liked the addition of round lines in a room that already has a lot of square/straight lined furniture.





And here's the really funny part. The seller was the same person we'd bought the IKEA couch and chair from back in July! I guess it was meant to go together all along.



I've been wanting a table by my reading and stitching chair for a long time, and this one is the perfect height. It's a great place to put a book or a cup of coffee.


I REALLY love the tables in this room for a few reasons:

1.) Practical! My coffee cups needed some safe landing spaces!

2.) The creamy light color works well with the existing woodwork, and it helps to lighten up an already dark-ish room.

3.) The round shape picks up the round mirror and round china plates on the back wall.

4.) They are made of a really solid, heavy wood (not your typical particle board stuff from IKEA).

5.) They were a great price! I couldn't have bought ONE table for the price I paid for two!



A great addition to the great room. I know we will enjoy these pieces for many years to come.

Monday, September 18, 2017

Autumn Plaid


Flannel shirts. Woolen blankets.  I LOVE plaid in the fall!


I made this card using a new-to-me stamp set from My Favorite Things!


{Today's Brew: Fall Foliage stamps and dies (MFT), Lawn Fawn paper, PTI ink and card stock}

Don't forget to check out my Fall Sale! I've lowered the prices on lots of stamps and dies!

Thursday, September 14, 2017

Prices reduced! Fall Cleaning Sale!

Good morning, cafe friends!

I'm doing a little fall cleaning, and I'm hoping to find homes for these neglected craft supplies. Prices are listed, and you can add $2 for shipping. Payment via Paypal. Please email me at: maryrosescafe@gmail.com


Lawn Fawn Critters Down Under: $8
Lawn Fawn Critters in the Arctic: $8


Lawn Fawn Hello Sunshine stamp sets and dies :$20


Mama Elephant Purrfect Pair stamps and dies: $20
Mama Elephant Balloons Et Cetera: $8


Sizzix/Hero Arts with Framelits dies: $8 each


Paper Smooches Folkal Points $5
Paper Smooches Vogue Abode $5


Paper Smooches A Good Egg: $5


Paper Smooches Squeaky Clean: $5


Paper Smooches Let's Shop: $5


6 x 6 paper packs, partial to full. Selling entire lot for $15, all shipping included

Papertrey Ink stamp sets, sold on acetate sheets:



Kid Kudos and dies $20

https://www.papertreyink.com/pti-dies/papertrey-ink-kid-kudos-die-collection-set-of-2/

Iconic Images $8 (anniversary set)


Just The Ticket and die $20

https://www.papertreyink.com/stamps/the-vault-just-the-ticket-stamp-set/


Tuesday, September 12, 2017

Tooting Sam's Horn


Sam is an original. He marches to the beat of his own drummer. And today I am tooting my horn for Sam because it is his fourteenth birthday!


I made this card for his birthday because Sam is quite a talented trumpet player!


{Today's Brew: Strike Up the Band stamp set and dies (MFT stamps), Distress Sprays, copic markers, PTI card stock)}


Love you, my sweet Samuel!

Thursday, September 7, 2017

Kindness: Little Sheep Virtues



Good morning, cafe friends!

I finished a cross stitch gift from Little House Needle Works this week. This is from the series called "Little Sheep Virtues", and there's a sweet mini sampler for each month.

I made one for my Mom for Christmas, and she has had that thing hanging up all year long. It was on my To Do list to make her one for a new season, so here it is!


I added a little lace to the finished piece and used two coordinating fabrics to tie it all together. A few buttons, a ribbon hanger, and done!



A cute piece to hang anywhere...doorknob, coat hook, basket.


It's been chilly and crisp here in Michigan, and the landscape has the golden tones of early autumn. Pumpkin Spice season is nearly here!

Blessings on your day, cafe friends!