Autumn is Here -

Hello Friends -
I hope you are having a good week!

I am really feeling fall here in Chicago this week!  Grey sky, leaves falling and cool temps!

I made this card for my mom's birthday this week.  Yes, I like to watch TV and fussy cut out items I stamp - leaves are so much fun!  Don't worry, you will be seeing more.

Happy Day to you -
Mary -

This is a 4.25" x 4.25" card.

Stamp Set {Pumpkins and Gourd} - Iron Gate Stamps

Cardstock - Bazzill Basics (Peanut) and American Crafts (Carrot)

Pattern Paper and Soup Label - Jillibean Soup

Ink - StazOn {Timber Brown}

My Stash - Big Shot, Polka Dot Embossing Folder, Twine, Brown Chalk, Mounting Tape

I have linked this card to the following challenges:

Feeling Crafty Challenge - Autumn Theme - http://feelingcraftychallenge.blogspot.co.uk/
The Cupboard Trilogy Challenge - Fall - http://thecupboardtrilogychallenges.blogspot.com/

Happy World Card Making Day -

Hello Friends -
Hope you get a chance to make a card today!  We are in full swing Halloween at our house.







 

 

Stamp Set - Iron Gate Stamps (Halloween)

Cardstock - Bazzill Basics

Pattern Paper - Pebbles (Thirty One)

Ink - StazOn (Jet Black)

Punches, Mounting Tape - My Stash

 

 

 



I used the design sketch from Mojo Monday #313 - http://mojomonday.blogspot.com/

And entering the Cuttin' and Stampin' Challenge Submission #39 Halloween - http://cuttinandstampinchallenges.blogspot.com/

Happy Day to you -
Mary -

Garden Talk - Fall Container Gardening

Hello Friends -
I cannot believe how quickly this year has gone by.  Here we are - October!

It feels like autumn today.  Leaves falling.  Overcast sky.  No chill in the air, but that will be here soon enough.

Needed to be in love with my house again so I did a little arrangement on the front porch.  It needs a few bright colored leaves around the base but none of those beauties have fallen yet.

{And yes, I did cringe when I put the pots on the new porch.  I was reminded it is just cement.}

The container has Purple Fountain Grass and Flowering Cabbage with white geraniums that are not in the photo.  I plant containers (my favorite thing to do) that are "all around" so they can be pretty from all sides.  I move them around in my yard during the summer for different looks depending on what we are doing in the yard - entertaining or playing children.

If you think about what you plant you can get many seasons out of a container.

I plant my spring/summer containers with fall in mind.  I use Purple Fountain Grass for height and a different color instead of a spike.

I try to find a 3 - 6 pack of Flowering Cabbage or Kale for a few dollars rather than paying $5 - $8 in the fall.  They will not be huge but stay in proportion to the container.

Then I fill in with summer annuals of our color choice.  Sometimes those plants stay on to the fall or if they do not match, I will remove them and replant with plants from other containers to go with the look I want to achieve.

This arrangement cost about $30 total.  I already had the containers.  There are about $12 in plants for and soil mix in the container (3 seasons).  The mum was $11 and the pumpkin was $4.

Hope this gets you in the mood to rearrange and think about how you garden.

Happy Day to you -
Mary -

Halloween is in the Store . . .

Hello Friends -
I hope you had a great weekend!

Ours was busy with all good things {volleyball, Green Living Festival (I got to talk about compost - for hours), our school's Oktoberfest} and all with beautiful weather too!

And now it is time to get to work.  It finally feels like fall with this cooler weather.  I don't know, I just could not get into thinking about falling leaves and pumpkins with the perfect beach weather we have had here in Chicago.

I put new product into the store tonight.  (So exciting!  And I have time to play this week!)

For the direct link click here

Please leave me a comment to let me know what you like.  Thank you!

Happy Day to you -
Mary -

Pebbles Thirty One 6" x 6" Paper Pad
36 Sheets / 24 Designs / Single Sided
$6.00

 

Halloween Stamp Set (sheet size 4" x 6")
$16.00

Pumpkins and Gourd Stamp Set (sheet size 4" x 6")
$16.00

 

 

Pebbles Thirty One Flat Treat Bags - 24 pack / 5" x 6"
$5.00

Pebbles Thirty One 6" x 12" Chalkboard Stickers / 12 stickers
$4.00



Pebbles Thirty One 6"x12" Double Sided Icon Sticker Sheet (side one)



Pebbles Thirty One 6"x12" Icon Sticker Sheet (side 2) / 68 stickers total
$3.00


 

 

 

Mojo Monday #310 - Tree House

Hi Friends -
Hope you are having a good weekend!

Just a little something I made for my friend who wanted a welcome card for a new neighbor.  Such a lovely thought!  And it has been so sunny with a beautiful blue sky this week, I was inspired by nature.

Happy Day -
Mary -

Tree House Stamp Set - Iron Gate Stamps

Cardstock - Bazzill

Designer Paper - Bo Bunny

Ink - Staz-On

My Stash - Watercolor Crayons, AquaPainter



Coffee Talk - New Hobby?

Hello Friends -
I hope you had a great summer!  We certainly did this year.  So many days at the beach, the pool and hanging out at home were just what we needed to get ready for this new school year.

I am sorry I was not posting.  I was crafting.  I was photographing.  But I was not editing or writing because I was living a different life this summer.

As I was expressing my guilt to my great friend, Missy, about my total slacker attitude toward my business for the last several months.  {And it is totally my own fault.  I really need some deadlines and accountability to motivate me!  Or maybe just a calendar would help!}  Missy pointed out, "You have a new hobby."

Yes, I have a new obsession - finding a new home.

That is what I would do online, every day - look for a house and drive up and down streets to write down potential addresses.  Now it is not just any house.  I have this idea and that is some of the problem.  We have 3 main areas that we are looking.  And that is another problem.  It seems like so is everyone else.  So far, no house that I have to have.  No house that I cried over when we were out bid.

A few times we have thought we had a winner, things do look better in photos.  It is the smells that are usually the downfall!  Well that and being in a flood zone can do it too.

So there it is.  Constantly looking for a house on my own and with a realtor to get it first.  My realtor joked that I should get my realtor's license because I know some of the neighborhoods so well.

I have not given up hope but now there is just slim pickings and nothing new to look at.  I will not be as crazed to watch e-mails for alerts 30 times a day (I didn't count but it probably was that).  And I will move back to crafting and trying to love this house.

And laugh with me - I need to make some home decor because I was so sure that we were moving that Halloween and Christmas are packed and in storage.  And I made a little deal with myself that I would not go into storage.  Seriously, we were the ones at the beach with deli containers and a metal colander because I packed the beach toys last year.  Sad, I know.

And that is what I know.  Still waiting for my Halloween paper order to show up.  Cannot wait to get started with all of the ideas in my head.

Thank you for your patience.  There is more to come.

Happy Day to you -
Mary -

Forgotten Treasures Blog Hop -

Please Note:
I am so sorry this is late. We had no power and I tried to launch the blog entry from my cell phone. And from there it looked like I was live but from the comments I am seeing it was not.

Hello Friends -
I know - where have I been?  I hope you are enjoying your summer as much as we are this year!

If you are new to The Tool Shed - welcome! Thank you for stopping by. Please leave a comment and let me know you were here.

Welcome to the Forgotten Treasures blog hop where we are showcasing projects made with a least one item we have had for 6 months, or longer. If you came from  Robin L. ~ http://create-a-latte.blogspot.com you are on the right path, if you started with my blog pop over to Christine's blog to start at the beginning, so you don't miss all the fabulous projects!

We have several sponsors offering gift certificates for this hop. To be eligible for the gift certificates you must comment on each blog and comment on each sponsor's facebook pages. Random winners for each gift card will be selected on July 22 and the winners will be posted on Christine's blog

$20 gift certificate 

Facebook fan page

3 lucky winners will receive a $5 gift certificate 

Facebook fan page

$10 gift certificate 

Facebook fan page

$15 gift certificate 

Facebook fan page

 

So about 1.5 years ago I punched out these pennants and pulled them out to use.  I don't know why I did not use them - they are super easy adhesive paper!  But there was always some new paper to use!

 

 

Sentiment - Birthday Wishes stamp set {Iron Gate Stamps}

Cardstock  and Rhinestones - {Bazzill Basics}

Designer Paper - {My Stash}

Punch - Pennant and Butterfly {Marvy}

Ink - Jet Black {Staz-On}

Thank you for stopping by, the next stop is Claire R ~ http://threewaterscreations.blogspot.com/
 

Here is the complete blog line up:

Christine ~ http://hotberrydesigns.blogspot.com/
 

Cathie ~ http://cathiescafe-scraphappy.blogspot.com/
 

Suzanne - http://www.zannieberry.blogspot.com
 

Katie - http://ktscreativeinsights.blogspot.com
 

Jamie ~ http://craftygirl21.blogspot.com/
 

Alicia ~ www.goldengoddessdesigns.blogspot.com 
 

Robin L. ~ http://create-a-latte.blogspot.com/
 

Mary - http://irongatestamps.blogspot.com/
 

Claire R ~ http://threewaterscreations.blogspot.com/
 

Kathy ~ http://kathyand3kids.blogspot.com
 

Carla ~ http://racincrafts.blogspot.com/
 

Connie - http://conniecancrop.blogspot.com
 

Kathy Jo~  http://carterscraftingcorner.blogspot.com/

Mags Graphics http://magsgraphics.blogspot.com/

Hope you have a Happy Day -
Mary -