Valentine House Cross Stitch Freebie

Here’s a really quick and cute Valentine’s Day house that I stitched last year, but never posted it. I used leftover linen and Turkish Red Floss by Weeks Dye Works. I then bought some red felt and made a little pillow out of it.

I found this pattern on Pinterest, but couldn’t trace it back to its original owner. I did a reverse image search but couldn’t locate anything. There are many freebies like this floating around, and if anyone knows of any copyright infringement, please let me know in the comments below.

Otherwise, I guess it’s free to use, and I’m so glad that I found it because I think it’s a really cute and quick pattern. I’ve included it below for your convenience. The quality isn’t the best, and the top is cut off, but it was pretty easy to figure out how to continue the pattern.

Wishing you a wonderful and creative day! 

Bright Baby Blanket & Pouf

My best (and longest) friend’s daughter is having her first baby this spring, and I’m going to her baby’s shower in February. I already bought a store-bought gift from her registry, but really wanted to make her something handmade as well.

After finding out that there was a mural of a flamingo painted in the nursery, I came up with this east and fun baby blanket. It’s a simple single crochet back-and-forth in three bright colors, with a small smaller white strip in between. I think what I like most about it is the bubble border at the edge.

I used Herrschner’s Cheerful Fleece yarn in the colors, Tango, Lime, Flamingo, and Polar. The bobble stitched border is made with a much thinner #4 white yarn that I got at Walmart.

Since I had a little bit of each left over, I attempted to make a small pillow, but it got out of hand and I ended up with a big “pouf.” It’s kind of like an ottoman but smaller. I think it will be perfect when the baby is older. She can use it as a pillow or a cushion.

I’m so pleased with how both of these came out. I don’t have a pattern for the single crochet. I just made that up as I went along.The same is true for the pouf. But I did use a YouTube video for the bobble stitched border. You can find that HERE.

A Flamingo For Three Challenges

There are 5 layers on the card stock, which is the "layers"
part of the Pick 3 Challenge. Also, there are 3 "squares."

Today's card was made for my best friend's daughter. We have been friends since 2nd grade, and now she's going to become a grandmother for the first time. I'm invited to the baby shower and  have made an adorable blanket and matching pouf (I need one more day to finish it then I'll post it). But I wanted to make her a special card. 

Grandma told me that she's having a girl, and that there is a flamingo mural painted on the nursery wall, so I went with that theme.

For my three challenges, I'm playing along with a brand new challenge called Pick 3. From the six choices shown below, I'm using a Square, Texture and Layers. Next I'm entering this over at Triple B's January Challenge where you have to use a bloom, bird or butterfly, and I've used the first two. And I'm also playing over at Time Out Challege #305. They want you to use a favorite card making technique, and I'm going with Ephemera. I love stamps and have so many, but I love ephemera for several reasons. First, when you want to use an image just once or twice, it's so easy to buy a pack of stickers as I did here. Also, it's so quick and fool-proof.

Here's my complete supply list:

And there are 3 layers on the
flamingo as well! 

• Papertrey Ink Hibiscus Burst Card Stock
• Stampin' Up! Pumpkin Pie Card Stock
• SU! Granny Apple Green Card Stock
• SU! Basic Gray Card Stock & Ink
• SU! Swirly Embossing Folder (the "texture" in Pick 3)
• Doodlebug Designs Stickers
• Sizzix Scalloped Round Die
• SU! Scalloped Square Die
• Paper Smooches Welcome Die & Stamps

Well that's all for now.  Be sure to check out these wonderful challenges and play along! Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you have a wonderful day!

Stamp Simply with Word Art Wednesday

Today over at Word Art Wednesday we begin our 2nd challenge of 2026, and this time there's a $25.00 gift certificate to spend at Stamp Simply! You'll love their whole line of wonderful stamps and dies. And our challenges are always "anything goes" so feel free to link up with us at you'll be entered for the prize!

My card is made using the Stamp Simply Sunflower Season Stamp Set and the Vintage Seed Packet Bundle. I just love the vintage feel of this set and how you can use the seed packet for any season or holiday.

In addition to those two Stamp Simply items, I also used:

• Speckletone True White Card Stock
• Speckletone Oatmeal Card Stock
• Doodlebug Designs Yellow Dotted Paper
• Paper PIzzazz Brown Patterned Paper
• Memento Black Ink
• Stampin' Up! Dots
• Copics in E37, YR21, YR23 and YG63
• Raffia that I've had so long that I forgot where it came from!

And if you'd like to use our Bible Verse for this round, you can download it right here below. But you never have to use the verse or supplies from our sponsor. 

I'm really loving this seed packet and can't wait to pair it with other images in the future. Be sure to check out their site, and we'd love it if you played along with us at Word Art Wednesday!

Sunday Stamps & Welcome Back Retro Rubber!

Today’s card was made for two challenges. First of all, I followed the sketch over at Sunday Stamps  (SSC377). And second, Retro Rubber Challenge blog (#RRCB263) is finally back! As many of you know, Typepad closed last year without giving anyone much notice. I’m so glad that they were able to save all of their old challenges and bring them over to a new platform. 

Right now it’s cold, even here in Florida. It was 38° last night. And now that Christmas is over, I have spring on my mind. So today’s card is an Easter card. The bunny is standing in front of a sunrise, and there are two eggs on either side of him. I’m hoping they look enough like Easter eggs so that the person who gets this will understand and not wonder what those weird blue ovals are.  😅

Here’s my complete supply list:

• CTMH Spring Critters Stamps and Dies (2016 release date)
• Memento Toffee Crunch Ink
• Micron Pens (to trace the ink that didn't do a good job!)
• Various Copic Markers
• Newton's Nook Patterned Paper in "Springtime"
• Big Box Rhinestones
• Gifted Yellow Ribbon
• White Card Stock
• Stampin' Up! Daffodil Delight Card Stock
• Spellbinders Dies for Sun and Scalloped Edge
• DCWV Glitter Blue Paper

And lastly, today’s happy thing is that it is my wonderful husband‘s birthday! He has the day off of work and is relaxing, but I wanted to share his picture here too.

It may seem like he’s got a ton of gifts, but they are all books, and thankfully, he’s fine with used ones.
He did however, get some Moon Pies, which our dog Bella tried to claim for herself!

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

A Prayer Shawl Finish

You may see the Christmas tree in the corner. We keep it up each year
until hubby‘s birthday, which is January 16!

This month I finally got back in the swing of attending the Prayer Shawl Group that I attended years ago. A local church that a friend used to attend has a ministry where we get together and crochet (or knit) prayer shawls and other items for nursing home members. I want to make it a point to try to make at least one item for them every two months. So far, I’m off to a good start!

This is called the Mesh Cluster Stitch and I learned how to do it HERE on YouTube. It’s really easy to stitch, and because there are distinct squares on it, it’s very easy to work on this while you’re having a conversation or watching TV.

I started with one skein of

Lion Brand Mandala Sparkle Yarn that I bought at Walmart. You can see the screenshot for that on the right. I had intended to use it for a different purpose, but changed my mind. After going to the crochet group, I got a very large skein of gray yarn. I thought these would go fairly well together. I was able to make a really nice shawl for not too much money.

The Mandala yarn that I bought at Walmart was purchased at two separate times, although from the same store. One seemed thicker and less shiny and the other was thinner with more sparkle. I knew that die lots could vary colors, but I didn’t think that the actual quality would be different. I learned something new!

The ends are finished in the gray to tie it all together.

Here are a few more pictures of this piece:

You can fold it to make a large snuggly scarf!

It looks nice folded too! 

I did find time to squeeze in some paper crafting today, but not with making cards. I was able to help my mom who’s putting together a scrapbook. That was a lot of fun! It was great to spend the morning with her. Here she is with one of her finished layouts.

Thanks for stopping by, stay warm and have a wonderful day!

2026 Blessing Sampler

I just recently heard the term “blessing sampler.” Apparently, it’s a cross stitch piece that you start, finish and frame all in the month of January. Its original intent was to bring blessings, or luck, to your home for that new year. For me it was just a fun challenge and a way to do something new.

In my mind, a “sampler“ is a cross stitch piece that has the letters of the alphabet stitched, usually across the top. I always thought this was a way for somebody to make something custom for somebody else, and all they had to do was follow the letters. My piece doesn’t have letters across the top, but according to AI, that’s not necessary for a blessing sampler. For my first one, I didn’t wanna mess up and not be able to make the deadline. This piece however, was so easy to stitch that I finished it by January 10th.

You can find this pattern and many other wonderful Christian pieces over at my My Big Toe designs on Etsy. I’m so curious as to how she got the name of that shop! Either way it’s a wonderful place for large or small samplers. For the link directly to this pattern, you can click HERE.

I also loved this piece because the finished size fits easily into a 6 x 8 frame. I picked one up for about $10 on Amazon. Click HERE if you’re interested in that.

One last note, I did not use the floss colors that she recommended because I didn’t have them. I used something that I had on hand. This pattern only calls for four colors, which is really nice.

Next year, I’m going to have all my supplies in place so that I can start on January 1, and I plan on making something a little bit more intricate. But this was a great first start and I’m so glad I did it.

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you have a wonderful and blessed 2026!

Word Art Wednesday's First 2026 Challenge!

Before we begin, I have to announce the winners of the word art Wednesday annual blog hop challenge. They are Donna in Florida who won the Pink and Main stamp set and dies, and Cynthia in Alaska who won the Picket Fence and Simon Says Stamp stamps. Wow, we have really covered the whole country here! Congratulations to each of you! These winners are just from my blog, so if you played along with others, be sure to check them out as well.

So today over at Word Art Wednesday we have our first challenge of 2026! The prize this round is from a UK company called Bramble Fox. They have lots of really fun stuff and I believe some of it is downloadable, which is perfect for us here across the pond!

My card is made using our Bible Verse from Romans 12:2. It's a scripture that I memorized years ago when I was a young Christian back in the 1980's, so it's very special to me.

I recently discovered how to change our scriptures (or any black image) to color. I use Canva Pro and "Edit" the image. Then I click "Effects" and choose "Duotone." From there you'll see color choices and you can type in any hex number to make your image any color. I was so excited when I learned how to do this! 

Anyway, here's my complete supply list:

• Word Art Wednesday Bible Verse (below)
• Paige Evans Patterned Paper
• Stampin' Up! Balmy Blue Card Stock
• SU! Azure Afternoon Card Stock
• Pink & Main Arch Dies
• SU! Bloom & Gorw Stamps & Dies
• Copics, B21, B95, Y13, YG13, R85

Even though it's not one of my favorite colors, I chose blue this time because it reminds me of snowy days in Pennsylvania in January. I do miss the snow, but hubby is happy here in Florida, so that's good.

We're looking forward to having you come on over to Word Art Wednesday and play along as we kick off our first challenge of the new year!

Guest Designing At Color Hues!

Today I am so honored to be the guest designer over at The Color Hues Challenge. If you’re not familiar with them, it’s a great challenge that chooses two colors for you to work with each round. In addition neutrals, which are defined as white, black, gray, kraft, brown, cream, gold, and silver, always welcome. This round the colors are red and gray. It’s a beautiful combination that has so many possibilities, but I chose to go with a Valentine’s Day theme for it. In addition, I chose a more masculine theme rather than things that are frilly. 

I started with my very favorite Valentine’s Day stamp set, called Heart Happiness from Stampin' Up! I’ve had it for years and I just love The variety of hearts. To mix it up just a little I used several different colors of red ink and threw in a few gray hearts as well.

Here’s my complete supply list:

• Stampin' Up! Heart Happiness Stamp Set
• SU! Wonderful Favorite Stamp Set
• Recollections Red Denim Paper
• Gray Striped Paper
• Gray Dotted Paper
• Black Card Stock & Ink
• SU! Red Red Ink
• SU! Cherry Cobbler Ink
• SU! Poppy Parade Ink
• SU! Smoky Slate Ink & Card Stock
• SU! Basic Gray Ink
• Memento Love Letter Ink
• Memento Rhubarb Stalk Ink

This was a really fun color combo and a perfect way to get thinking about Valentine's Day.

Two more fun facts about this card. One, The large circles with the gray dots and black border were made by tracing cereal bowls and hand cutting them. I have circle dies, but I wanted something bigger. They're not perfect, but I'm glad to have achieved the look I was hoping for. And two, the black circle was a last minute throw-in. When I went looking for black card stock to use as a border for the sentiment, this pre-cut circle popped out of the folder. I thought it gave it a little interest so I went with it. I love how that happens so often when making cards!

Thanks so much to Nancy for inviting me to be their guest this time and to and everyone over at the Color Hues Challenge who always put on great color challenges! Be sure to check them out at HERE!

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a wonderful day!