Avery Elle News

 

Hello, café friends! I hope you are enjoying these glorious autumn days. We took a trip up north this month to do some leaf peeping and walk along Lake Michigan's shore. We even saw quaking golden Aspen trees, something I didn't realize you could find in Michigan. 

On our drive home, we popped in to Marshall and I made a small purchase at Paper and I...Avery Elle extra large storage pockets. I use these for so many purposes. They're a great size to hold 6 x 6 or 6 x 8 paper pads. I often put my Simple Stories pads in these, along with any matching enamel dots or bits of ephemera. They also hold large stamp and die sets.

Well, it's a good thing I got them because Avery Elle announced they are going out of business. If you want these awesome storage envelopes, you better get them soon.

This paper pack really came in handy this weekend. I needed a set of cards for Pastor/Church staff appreciation Sunday. I want to give all of our staff a little gift, so I gave each one a jar of specialty jam and mini French toasts. A little sweet treat.

It was the perfect excuse to FINALLY use this stamp and die set from Reverse Confetti. So cute. I wonder why it took me so long to use it!

It's the last week of October, and I'm starting to think about the upcoming holiday season. I'm playing Christmas music in my craft room while I work on a few cards and projects. I'm exploring options for Thanksgiving dinner next month. And I'm wondering if I might try a new "theme" for Christmas this year. 

I'm also learning Christmas tunes on my dulcimer, and hoping our group can play together often. It brings us such joy!

Tell me...what's new with you? I love to hear from you!

Be The Good

 

I'm stitching a new pillow wrap from Pine Mountain that I picked up at Always in Stitches in Noblesville. Believe there is good in the world. Be the good. I like that thought.

I want to add a little more goodness to the world. And that has me thinking. How much good is this blog of more than 15 years actually doing? I don't think blogging has much of an impact these days. I am a writer, first and foremost. A homemaker next. And a crafter and hobby dabbler to boot.

I think I need to be a little more choosy about where I'm putting my energies. I sometimes let things distract me...the shiny objects, the newest trend, and so on. I like to talk about things that are pretty and useful and helpful. But I also have only so many hours in my day, helping a parent or volunteering on a church committee, singing in the choir or practicing my music, writing or shopping or cooking dinner. 

So I'll be taking a break for a while, and waiting to see if something better is in store for me.

Good things, café friends! Bless you!

A Pay It Forward Story

 

I recently decided that I wanted to learn to play the hammered dulcimer. I think it's a sickness amongst musicians. If you have one instrument, you start thinking about the other instruments you'd like to add to your collection!

My instructor told me about a program that will loan you a dulcimer for a year, with a small deposit. And then you can decide if you like it and wish to continue. Great! I made arrangements with the coordinator via email, and she came by to deliver last weekend.

"I have an offer to make you," she said. She told me that she'd brought two dulcimers with her. The student dulcimer is a small learning instrument, and I'd probably outgrow it in a year's time. But she also has this larger, beautiful instrument that someone had donated from an estate. Her group did not need any more dulcimers. Would I like it? For free? It comes with a travel case, a stand and two playing hammers.

And just like that, I am the proud owner of a beautiful hammered dulcimer with fleur de lis sound holes!

It has a lovely sound like chimes, perfect for Christmas carols. I'm learning Carol of the Bells, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, In The Bleak Midwinter and more. I'm keeping it in the guest room so that's it's accessible and I will play it often.

My plan is to order a few books and watch some YouTube videos to see if I can teach myself at this point.

What a blessing!

I wanted to be a blessing to someone, too.

My husband surprised me with a new television and sound bar over the weekend as an anniversary gift. He's not a fan of the armoire, but he knows that I like it. He carefully measured and found a SONY that would fit. Perfect! The picture is amazing.

What to do with the old unit that works just fine?

We put it in the driveway, with all the manuals and controls. I was just getting ready to attach a "Free" sign when a young man approached from across the street. He'd been doing some service work at our neighbors and had been eyeing the TV.

"Are you really giving this all away?" he asked.

Yep! It's yours!

What good timing!

Blessed to be a blessing.

Don't you love a good Pay It Forward story?

WCMD Challenge: Christmas and Embossing Folder

 

Today's card is jumping ahead on the calendar, all the way to Christmas.

I used the Penny Black embossing folder of snowflakes as the backdrop, and paired it with these sweet pine tree dies.

A simple, peaceful Christmas card that gives all the wintry vibes.

WCMD Challenge: Flip Card

 

I made a flip card for a World Card Making Day challenge. But as I was making it, I kept thinking there was something vaguely familiar about it. Looking back later, I could see that I'd made a VERY similar card last October, featuring the same sentiment, stamps and paper pack. 

Oops! I guess when you own one Halloween stamp set, you're likely to use it in similar fashion!

 

The question is: who did I send the card to last year? I think I'll give this one to my Mom.

Hope your day isn't too scary!

WCMD Challenge: Anniversary

 

One of the WCMD challenges at A Cherry on Top is to make an anniversary card. This was very good timing, as today is our wedding anniversary!

I made this card for my husband because it has a very sappy sentiment that reminds me of the title of a Hallmark movie...and he LOVES to mock Hallmark movies!

Pumpkin Kisses and Harvest Wishes: starring Mary Rose and Ed ! (with a special guest appearance by Jemma!)

I used Simple Stories Fall Farmhouse papers and a few enamel dots. The Happy Anniversary sentiment came from Concord and 9th.

Here's a fun tip: grass dies do not only have to be used to make green grass! I used a Lawn Fawn grass die with mustard yellow paper to make a more autumnal border...maybe wheat? Maybe straw? Maybe dead grass from the drought?

This one is a 5 by 7 card. I needed more space for all of those pretty papers!

We're going extra fancy to celebrate: pizza at one of our favorite local spots!

Blessings on your Monday, café friends!

WCMD Challenge

 

One of my favorite online retailers is A Cherry On Top. I find great things there, and did I mention they are  a Michigan company? Their store and distribution center is about an hour and a half north of me.

They are having a week of WCMD celebrations and challenges. I made this one for the challenge to use two different die cuts. Two frame dies: one from Hello Bluebird and other from MFT stamps, [paired with Simple Stories Harvest Market papers and enamel dots.

Colorful and fun!

It's been a very nutty fall here. Lots of acorns and black walnuts everywhere to keep the squirrels busy. I'm wondering if that is a sign of a cold and snowy winter. We'll see!