FREE Pocket Planner with purchase! at Studio Calico

**This is an affiliate email

This came through my inbox this morning and it is such a great deal I just had to share it!  If I didn't already have my 2017 Pocket Planner I'd be ALL over this <3

From now through 2/19.

Enjoy!!!

<3 Myria

Mi Vida Loca

Hello My Lovelies,

I'm sorry I haven't been posting much lately!  My life has taken an unexpected yet pleasant turn.  I've been able to spend more time in the village where my mom is from Colonias, New Mexico.  I've been spending a few days each week out there, one day each week volunteering at a thrift shop called Passion For Fashion, and one day working at Antiques and Things.  I spend the weekends with my little girl.

In addition, I posted awhile back about how my new house was really lacking in the art studio department, which unfortunately hasn't been very inspiring.  I have made some improvements to my craft studio's organization, and I've made a few things here and there, kept my planner looking fabulous and fun, but otherwise....meh.  I do post some of the things that I've been doing on Instagram and Tumblr so, for quick updates, please keep track of me there.

Because I want to spend at the ranch, but I also need to make money, I decided to take a job working for some dear friends in the awesome town of Las Vegas, New Mexico.  (Here's another cool link about Las Vegas)  I will post another article that shows why I love this town so much.  Basically all of the buildings and homes are historic because "back in the day" they couldn't afford to tear them down.  What an amazing twist of fate!  The town's poverty has preserved its Wild West history - and I love that!

Anyway, back to The Llano.  I'd like to share a few photos of Colonias, New Mexico and surrounding areas.  I have always loved this part of New Mexico.  As a child I never wanted to leave and I always planned on retiring there.  When you're driving out it looks pretty bland and boring, but when you drive off to the North, the roads take you down in canyons, or up onto mesas.

I love thistles, and though they are a nuisance, I remind myself each time that they are edible!

We call this hill La Questa because it used to be treacherous when it was dirt, and it still can be when it snows

These next set of photos were taken on July 4th, 2009, before and after a huge rain storm that we had.  Water is so precious!

Curiosities everywhere...

Oddities everywhere too...

Waste not - want not

Fun stuff <3  Stay tuned for my next post about Las Vegas, NM.

Love,

Myria

Stampin Up 2016 - 2017 Catalog

Hello everyone!

I've been totally slacking in the blog post department and I'm sorry.  I have been keeping my Instagram and Facebook pages somewhat up-to-date, so please follow me there as well.

It has been months since the release of the Stampin Up 2016 - 2017 catalog and I'd like to share what I consider to be the highlights of the catalog.

I love the cover - very crafty!

Categories on the 1st page.  

I think this really helps break it down for people who are new to SU.

An explanation of the different styles of stamps.  

My personal favorites are the Photopolymer stamps.  They're the only ones I ever buy now but that is a personal preference.

All of the colors.  Maybe I'm biased but the Stampin Write Markers are my absolute favorite water based markers on the market today.  I like them because they are re-fillable and they have both a fine point tip as well as a brush tip.  They're great for journaling because they won't bleed through the pages. 

Kits!  They have now released pre-packaged All-Inclusive Craft Kits!  

It makes it easy for beginners to paper crafting to get started with a very small investment.

Here's an example of the kit contents

Designer Tin Of Cards Project Kit - This kit comes in a tin!  

Now on to my specific favorites!

I'm not sure why but I love llamas!  

They are just so cute - which makes me partial to this Birthday Fiesta Bundle.  Plus, as a New Mexican, the southwestern desert motif is totally relevant.

Biggest Birthday Ever Bundle - I like this set because it comes with coordinating dies and it is also very versatile.  You can use it to make pennant banners as well.

The Sweet Cupcake Bundle - I absolutely LOVE this set!  I ended up adding this one to my kit and I will be doing a blog post to show you the cards that I made using this set.  You can get a sneak peek on my Instagram page

Balloon Celebration Stamp set with matching Balloon Bouquet Punch.  

Again - so versatile!  Plus any time I don't have to fussy cut I'm happy.

Build a Birthday Stamp Set - I really like the little cake plate.  

Note:  you can get the same style of cake and candles by using different patterns and lengths of Washi Tape

Weather Together Bundle - Again, I love that it comes with coordinating dies!  

No fussy cutting here!

Foxy Friends Bundle - Have I mentioned that I'm obsessed with woodland creatures?  Well, I am.  I love them all...foxes, raccoons, bears, deer, rabbits, hedgehogs, owls, etc.  Love love love <3  

So yes, I added this suite to my kit as well.

Seriously. How adorable is this?

Baby Bear Photopolymer Stamp Set - I'm a huge fan of the multi-part stamp system, which uses several stamps for 1 unique image to create a stamped image that is almost photo realistic with very little effort.

Always An Adventure Bundle - This speaks to my forest creature obsession as well as my disdain for fussy cutting.  Plus you can very easily create a detailed mountain camping scene.

Bear Hugs Bundle - Once again, I've added this sweet bundle to my kit, and I immediately used it to make some ADORABLE paper clips for my planner, which you can see on my Instagram page.

Feather Together Stamp Set - this is a 5-part stamp, which creates an AMAZING multi-colored stamped image.

Picture Perfect Stamp Set - I have also added this set to my kit and I am SO looking forward to making a beautiful card using the hummingbird stamps.

In This World Stamp Set - this one appeals to my shabby chic sensibilities.  

It is definitely inspired by some of the Tim Holtz Cling Mount Stamps.

Summer Sorbet Stamp Set - Here's another stamp set that is very modern and trendy.  I especially love the hot air balloon, but that's mostly because I can envision myself making lots of cute cards for the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

Project Life by Stampin Up - I'm a HUGE fan of Memory Keeping aka Project Life.  Stampin Up Project Life makes it so easy to beautifully preserve your most precious memories.

All you need to get started is an album, photo pocket pages, and Project Life card collection.  Then just have your favorite photos printed and put the photos and the cards in the pocket pages.  

Boom!  Done!  Simple.

Check out my website to see all the fabulous crafty items that I didn't share in this post.

Happy crafting!

<3 Myria

SaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSave

Annual Rubber Stamp Show Part 2

Hello all!  

Here is Part 2 of the Annual Rubber Stamp Show!  Read part 1 here.  As I mentioned in my last post I am sharing my favorite items from each booth.

Here is the Stampland booth - I LOVE their style!  

I'm a big fan of Victorian ephemera and what not.

Fainting couches...oh the days when women would LITERALLY pass out from oxygen deprivation from wearing those infernal corsets.

I'm a big fan of Art Deco and fairies too <3

They were doing a really cool demonstration that anyone could do if they have a Big Shot machine using pretty much any die.

In the demonstration that I saw, she was showing us how to use the positive and negative die cuts to create shadows and texture.  

I just loved all of the ink on her fingers

She uses brushes and essentially paints with dye ink pads.

Some of her completed samples.  I tried to get better photos but there were several people crowding around to watch and I didn't want to butt in!

I was able to find a YouTube Video of one of her demonstrations on one of my favorite vlogger's YouTube channel.  Be sure to check it out!

Next is Close To My Heart which is a company that sells plastic photo sheets that enable you to add on to a basic plastic photo album sheet to create a fold-out story that saves space in a photo album.

They are also an in-home party company, like Stampin Up.  Unfortunately, you can't shop online.

I LOVE Craft Fantastic!  This is a local Albuquerque company that has everything you need to make gorgeous jewelry using any image you want.

I learned about them one year when my friend Mia and I won a bundle of supplies at the Lovelace Women's Hospital Girls Night out.  They've started teaching classes to show you how to use their products.

Lovely!

Next up - Waffle Flower!  I am proud to say that I am an affiliate and I love their designs.  I ended up buying some adorable Spring/Easter stamps and dies.

They have planner stamps too! <3

I almost bought the succulent stamps and dies sets...

Thanks for reading everyone!  

Stay tuned for part 3.

Love,

Myria