Lumbersexual Thank You Cards

So have you heard that metrosexual is out and lumbersexual is in? Well it is. I actually just learned this myself the other day. So no more skinny jeans and smartly tailored shirts, it is all about the flannel and beards.

While my facial hair is way too white these days to sport a beard longer than the 1/8th inch setting on my trimmer and I don't have any flannel (though I do like a good plaid shirt), I did decide to use a rustic cabin theme to my Christmas thank you cards.
I used a set of two-part basket stamps that I made awhile back. These may be one of my 2015 releases, but I haven't decided yet. I need to get busy with that though as I usually introduce my new stamp sets in April at the State Line Friends basket retreat.

I also used my Sizzix Eclips to cut out the layer frames. I kind of wish I had cut out the inside of the back most green layer even though it would have only been a small hole. The thank you stitched banner/flag was die-cut using a Lil' Inker Design framelet and stamped with Tim Holtz' Simple Sayings. The two background stamps are ones I think I picked up at Michael's. I used a combination of Ranger Distress and Adirondack Ink, with the pad I used for the basket was one I made myself using two colors of Distress Ink refillers.

While the red and green color combination would typically be very Chirstmas-y, I think with this design it just looks like a warm and cozy winter by the fireplace.

Sleepy Supervisor

My supervisor is either bored with me or my flurry of crafting has pooped him out.

What I have been up to so far in 2015

I have actually had a small burst of creative energy which fortunately corresponded to some free time. Typically as I walk to my car after work I have all these ideas and creative excitement running through my head, but by the time I have walked into my house my only thought is about dinner and sitting on the couch, and then the next thing I know it is time for bed.

This holiday season we were given two extra days off, so had a nice long break between Christmas and New Years. While this seemed like the longest time in the world it flew by so fast it made my head spin. Fortunately on the Friday after the first of the year I spent the day in my craft room paper crafting up a storm.

My supervisor keeping watch over my output. Today's project, working on restocking my embellished journals.

I love the big work table my Dad built for me a few years ago. I can spread everything out and use each side of the table as a separate work station. The downside is that I can spread everything out and make a big mess which I don't always clean up in a timely fashion. I wish my helper/supervisor was better at putting stuff away, but his idea of helping is to knock things off onto the floor.

A sheet of freshly cut squares from my Sizzix Eclips stamped with my custom basket stamps using Ranger Archival Ink.

I love my Sizzix Eclips cutting machine. These aren't very exciting shapes, but they are perfectly sized to layer on larger squares and/or scalloped boards that I also cut.

Journals embellished using my line of custom basket stamps that I produce and sell.

I was kind of stuck on a theme, but when you are embellishing a dozen journal covers it is much more efficient to come up with a design and repeat it a bunch of times. I sell these guys when I vend at basket conventions. I take spells of selling these and I had let my stock get really low, so this set will help replenish my stash.

Hope everyone is having a crafty and productive 2015 so far.