Peacock Feather Snowflake LTC

All of my practice cards

I am participating in live4thepast's "Snowflake Flurries" LTC swap.  I started looking on Google for some kind of unique snowflake and found the peacock feathers.  I carved it up right away.  I knew I wanted to use Distress Inks for my background but I looked on Pinterest to narrow down the technique.  Then I found THIS.  It is beautiful and I had to try to copy it.

It took me forever to make this set of cards.  I don't think I have ever worked on one set for so long.  Tip of the day: don't work on a set of cards during Black Friday or other Christmas sales.  I ended up buying a lot of stuff with this card in mind.  I bought 2 Distress Oxide pads, ink daubers and case, a pad of Mixed Media paper, and the Tim Holtz drying tool.  The final card used none of these items.

Distress Ink on card stock

I started off rubbing Distress Inks on my craft mat, spraying with water, spreading my card thru the ink, and letting it dry.  I tried card stock, Bristol, and Mixed Media paper.  That didn't get the results I wanted.

I switched to rubbing the ink on the paper with felt and my new daubers.  I tried both inks and oxides on card stock, Bristol, and Mixed Media paper.  Again, I wasn't happy.   But I liked this better than the first try so I was going to stick with rubbing Distress Inks on card stock.

I decided that while I was working on this I would watch/listen to some Distress Ink videos on YouTube.  I guess I have never watched Tim Holtz use Distress Inks.  I just watch videos of other people using inks on their blogs.  The video was from 2008 and he rubbed the ink on his craft mat, sprayed with water, rubbed his card through the ink, dried the paper with his heat tool and tapped the card in the ink again, dried the card, and repeated the process until he was happy with the card.

Finished card, before the rhinestone 

I have never seen this with Distress Inks!  On the blogs I have only seen people rub the ink on the mat, spray with water, rub the card through, let then dry and they are done.  This 9.5 yo video was mind blowing.  So I tired this and was happier with the outcome.  I asked the Princess which background she liked best and this was the winner.

I stamped and embossed my stamp.  I also stamped the stamp around the edges and punched the corners.   At the last minute I decided to add a gold rhinestone.   I worked on this set of cards for two months and they are finally done!!

The Princesses LTCs

Special Present & Super Rainbow

Every now and then The Princess really gets the urge to carve stamps and make cards.  She was asking me about it back in the fall and I posted a kids Christmas swap.

Daddy's Favorite Princess made this LTC all by herself; she picked the background paper, the image, carved the stamp, made the bows, and assembled the cards.  She did a pretty good job.  I just wish I could talk her into using the #1 gauge instead of the #2 on everything.

Then she came to me again earlier this month, asking about making cards.  I suggested that she make some for Marjorie's Potpourri.  This swap requires only 5 cards, it is a monthly swap, it has no theme, etc.  She carved up her stamp and made the shaving cream background.  She loves this background technique and has made it a few times before.  If you are participating Marjorie's Potpourri this month, you may get one :)

Silly Road Signs

Silly Road Signs: Speed Limit

This is my card for the "Silly Road Signs" LTC swap hosted by Gypsy Fiddler.

My card is pretty simple.  I carved the road sign and printed off the background.  When I assembled the card it looked really plain.  I had carved the Woodstock stamp to plant on Spring Break but never got around to it.  I stamped, colored, and added it to the card.  It looks much better now :)

Back to the Ark and a Look at 2017

Light show on the side of the ark

A few days after Christmas we went to the Ark Encounter in Williamston, Ky.  The high was 15 degrees and we were happy that the ark was nice and warm.  You may recall that we went to the Creation Museum and Ark back in March.

Elephants :)

I follow them on Instagram and saw that they were having a big light show/display and I wanted to go.  We found an ark theme letterbox just before going to the ark.  I would like to plant one too.  Maybe I can find a good place right in between the Creation Museum and Ark Encounter for a box.  Something to think about in the new year.

Inside the warm ark

I usually take a minute to make a blog post about the past year.  2017 was a pretty good boxing year for me.  One of the highlights was that I found my 1,000th box.  I also boxed in 2 new states. 

Looking at my AQ stats, 2017 was my second highest year for finds.  I found 207 traditional boxes.  My highest year is 2015 with 225 boxes.  I credit these large numbers to the events in Greenville, Oh.  They put on great events with lots of boxes to find.  I also get away from home so there are other boxes to find in the area or going to/from the event.

My traditional plants were down in 2017.  I hid 28 boxes.  I hosted an event in 2016 so my plants are huge.  I planted 42 in 2015, 19 in 2014, and 40 in 2013.  So, my numbers are all over the board.  I started 2018 off on the right foot by planting my Secret Santa stamp yesterday :)

I participated in 2 postal rings in 2017.  I can't stand the wait for postals and I think I am going to stop doing them.

I made 33 sets of LTCs in 2017.  This is pretty average.  My highest year was 2013 with 35 sets and my lowest year was 2015 with 20 sets.  I will stick with LTCs because they are lot of fun and most hosts are good with getting cards back quickly.

I don't have any boxing goals for 2018.  I plan to attend the Great Lakes Gathering (GLG).  It will be about 30 minutes away from me.  I am also thinking about going to the Homerdoodle event this year.  I would like to make it back to St Louis to box.  And my boxing buddy and I have been talking about going to Casey, Ill where they have a lot of large things (Worlds Largest wind chime, rocking chair...) So we will see how it goes :)  Happy New Year to you <3

Secret Santa Stamp

This year my Secret Stamp Santa is Brandy.  She carved this cute penguin stamp.  I'll look for a place to hide it this winter :)

I mentioned before about getting a tree for my letterboxing ornaments.  I dug around in the basement and found one.  It had shot gun shell lights on it but the Princess stole them.  This tree has ornaments from 2 years of participating in the swap.  I am signed up for next year and already have an idea I want to try.

I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year <3

Socks & Stamps

This year I am participating in some sock & stamp swaps.  I was a stay at home mom for 13 years and now I am working at a day care.  They sent out a flyer about a sock swap.  It said to buy a pair of Christmas socks and fill it with things that make you happy.  I got some chocolate Kisses, Burt's Bees goodies, a Star Wars spatula, and carved a stamp.


I am also in a sock swap on AQ.  After making a sock full of fun stuff for work I couldn't just send a pair of socks.  I sent Christmas socks, Kisses, another Burt's Bees, and I carved a stamp.  My sock buddy made me socks!  She also made an ear warmer and a fancy candy cane holder. 


This is my 6th year to be in the AQ Secret Santa stamp swap.  After looking at all the colorful Christmas socks I had to send some in this swap too.  I send Christmas socks, Kisses, LTCs, and a stamp.  I am still waiting on my stamp from my Secret Santa and I'll post about it when it arrives.

Christmas Ornament Swap Part 2

Here are the ornaments I got from the Christmas ornament swap, hosted by Moose on the Loose.  They all look great!  I think I am going to buy a small pre-lit tree to put my boxing ornaments on <3