It's the RV Life for Me

by Angie Quantrell @AngieQuantrell

We live in an RV.

That's recreational vehicle for you wondering about the abbreviation. Our tenement on wheels is like the Big Green Rolling Turd in the Robin Williams movie RV. Without the backed up sewer, ripped off awning, and Class A drive-and-walk-around feature.

Our RV is the type you drive in, unhook, set up, and drive away.

The Quantrells are on an adventure.

Phase 1: Complete - The house is sold. Closed. Done.

Here's a chance to say "Thanks" to our 2 fantastic realtors, Stephanie Blehm and her son Kenny Blehm! They did a fantastic job. And they survived Kevin. I mean our process. Wink, wink.

Sorry, Kenny. Mabel thinks your card is tasty!

Phase 2: In Process - Live full-time in RV. Settle cats and selves in for the winter. Learn to grocery shop often for not much at all (no space). Wear the same clothes all the time (no space). Store rubber stamping supplies (no space). Eat outside with guests (no space).

Search for property and research choices.

Phase 3: In the Future - Build small home (tiny is too minute) on out-of-town property.

Our lives in a nutshell.

It's been great so far. Things did get a little tense every now and then (sorry, honey). We relieved ourselves of many possessions. That felt good. Now we can see what we really need to survive.

An outdoor catio is a definite NEED. Poor kitties have adjusted well, but opportunites for exercise in the RV are limited. And, well, I just need them-who-love-outside-time to be out in the fresh air. Soon, babies, daddy will have it all done. It's going to be great! I'll post pictures when it's complete.

Pumpkin season is here, and despite the lack of space indoors, the big beautiful world beyond the RV walls has plenty of space to display my favorite seasonal produce.

Anyone else out there living in an RV? Who else loves kitties, pumpkins, and fall? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Love is Spoken Here

Are they more than just words on a card?

Love is spoken here.

These words could be trite, overused, or just a pretty saying.

Are they more?

Maybe those who send or utter, "Love is spoken here," are well meaning and sincerely offer encouragement, love, and affection.

Do words speak louder than actions? Or is it the other way around?

Do my actions shout in agreement with my quiet words or engage in battle between what I want to do and say and what I actually do and say? Sometimes the answer is both.

Love is spoken here.

Love is shown here.

Love is experienced here.

Love grows here.

Love is here.

Love is.

Love.


These thoughts remind me of the often used love verses for wedding ceremonies, though I think love is not just for marriages. You can read them in 1 Corinthians 13.

What do you think of when you consider love?

Home

Home. What a big word.

Home is . . .

where I reside
the body I wear
the spouse I adore
my family of love
the animals I adopt
the nature that surrounds me
the future I hope for
my faith that centers me
friends who nuture me
fellow writers who encourage me
the city of my residence
the state and country of my belonging
the planet I inhabit

Home is a big word.

What does home mean to you?

Fun Friday

Hey, all. It's Friday!

Regardless of work schedules, deadlines, piles of laundry, dirty dishes, abundant garden produce that needs attending, I have decided to make it Fun Friday.

Even if I only have a small amount of space in my schedule, I choose to do something fun today.

Our paper birch trees in the front yard provide plenty of peeling paper. I've been experimenting (I shall have to change my middle name to Experimenting). The super thin - paper thin - bark is perfect for stamping! I am so excited to find a use for these sheets of beautiful white.

Sneaking in a little stamping today for my Fun Friday. How about you?

Here is a new way to dry cards if you are short on counter (and kitty-free) space. This works very well.


What to do with all those cards you make (talking to myself here, I have a stash going)?

bundle and give as gifts
send as actual greeting cards - people love real mail
give a set to your child's teacher as a welcome-back-to-school gift
donate a bunch for a charity auction
build a collection for your husband to use in his work
send to neighbors, friends, and family as notes of encouragement or invitation
trade a few with another stamping buddy to build variety
pin favorites to Pinterest (mine are all on a Rubber Stamping board under Angie Quantrell)
make new friends by swapping technique ideas and visiting stamping stores
mail cards to missionaries, family, and friends who are living overseas
display favorites as little works of art
if your coffers overflow (mine have not made it there yet - I enjoy giving them away too much I guess) rent a table at a bazaar and sell a few
sell cards at a charity event and give the proceeds towards a special project

Yes, I do love hobbies with a purpose. Happy Fun Friday!


You are welcome to share this blog post and ideas. Thanks for sharing!

Rubber Stamping Fun - Two Day Marathon = 113 Cards

I'm back from my weeklong hiatus.

Besides the dirty laundry, groceries from Trader Joe's (which we do not have in the Yakima Valley, so I stop in Issaquah whenever I can and race home with the cold stuff under the AC), business cards from new connections, piles of notes and information, and bags of stamping supplies, I also returned with a very special bag.

That bag contained 113 handmade rubber stamped cards. Two days worth of creativity, brainstorming, and tireless work (I might add that my tireless work now begins to run down about 10:00 PM, as opposed to midnight or later when I was younger) was carefully packed into a small bag.

What do we do? Eat, visit, listen to music, walk, eat, sleep a little, and stamp cards. Stamp, fold, cut, trim, glue, tape, glitter, color . . .

It makes me happy. Now I have plenty of new cards to mail to friends and family. And Kevin, compliments of Alyson, has his own box of specially made greeting cards that he can use for his own personal correspondence.

It wasn't long, but we made every minute count.

113 is a good number.

P.S. I will be posting the cards on my Pinterest page, so if you would like to see my creations and perhaps glean an idea or two, go check it out. My Pinterest handle is Angie Quantrell. Look for the Rubber Stamping board.

Make It Yourself - Handmade Rubber Stamped Cards

I got together with college friends and roommates last weekend. What a refreshing and creative time! We, of course, ate too much, talked too much, visited too much, and generally made too much of a creative mess. Wait. Is that even possible? We ate, talked, visited, caught up, walked, shopped, and made cards. What a perfect time!

(above) Love using old library cards in card making - add ribbon, a brad, stamped images, and colored ink. And glitter glue. NEVER forget glitter glue.

Our new discovery was glitter tape! Excitement! This copper tape was repeatedly used in many different card designs. Add colored paper and a very awesome brad.

This card features a different and wider color of glitter tape. We experimented with finger tip daubers. Too easy and fun.

Ink, glitter glue, twine, and colored pencils came together just right in this card.

Old books, especially falling apart dictionaries, are perfect for card backgrounds. We utilized a borrowed stamp, glitter tape, gel pens, and colored paper to make cool crow cards.

If one is clever, the actual words can be torn out of old pages. The definition of crow stands out in detail on this card.

This bee card is filled with lots of sources - paint swatch, glitter glue, wax twine, embossed cardstock, patterned paper, and glitter tape. Not much else to add!

Another favorite is to reuse beautiful wrapping paper. I carefully clipped out pieces of fancy French paper and made each a centerpiece for a new card. Add jute ribbon, glittered sunflower, brads, and colored paper for a "Wow!" response.

Yet another use of wrapping paper and library cards. This card has a little parchment paper pocket and the collage stamped library card is actually a removable bookmark! My French themed cards are truly favorites. Maybe I will not give them away...


And a great time was had by all. See you next time!

Pinterest: AngieQuantrell
Twitter: @angiequantrell
Facebook: AngieQuantrell

Valentines Day is Coming - Rubber Stamped Card

Valentines Day will be here before we know it.

I took advantage of a Sunday afternoon and whipped up some cards. Rubber stamping is one of my favorite hobbies. I'm always searching for the next great idea, product, technique, or time to put them into action.

How I Made "Be Mine" Stamped Card:

1. Stamp large jar on white cardstock. The best paper for most of my projects is a speckle or stardust white cardstock.

2. Stamp small hearts inside the jar.

3. Cut out the jar.

4. Choose background papers. Cut to fit and layer on folded card. Again, I used the speckle for the card. Printed paper in shades of teals and blues was my choice for the card.

5. Adhere papers and jar to card with double-stick tape.

6. Tie bakers twine around the card.

7. Stamp sentiment on outside of card (Be Mine), inside of card (XOXO), and back of card (Hand Stamped With Love).

8. Add glitter glue dots and heart doodad.

9. Dry. Ready for Valentines Day!

The only problem? My Valentines may see the card I made for them when they read this blog. Oh, well. Be Mine?

Angie Quantrell writes, blogs, takes photos, drinks coffee, and creates rubber stamped greeting cards in Washington State. Yes, she is a Seahawks fan and can't wait for the Super Bowl. BOOM!

A Month of Thanks - November 28 - Rubber Stamps (& Hobbies)

Today, November 28, I am thankful for rubber stamps. And all things hobby.

I have several favorites when it comes to crafting and hobbies. Rubber stamping is at or near the top of the list. But I also enjoy

crocheting
water color painting
reading
decorating
baking
cooking
making pottery
photography
blogging
writing
sewing
eating (hey - that can count as a hobby, right?)
looking at Pinterest (yes, now I have to count this, since I spend so much time doing it)
thrifting
walking (I really need to move this one to the top of the list)

oh, I could go on and on,
but not enough hours in any given day
or year
for me to enjoy all of the
things I love to do

So, let's just say, hobbies are an excellent outlet for creativity.

And at Thanksgiving dinner, rubber stamps and a create station occupied three very energetic children after the eating-of-the-turkey was complete.