Stitching Sensations! @ Little Red Wagon (And Craft Area Reveal)

This week at

it's my turn to choose the challenge and I'm saying, "Stitching Sensations!" which just means that I want to see stitching on your project.  So many ways you could get that sewing on there....die cut, faux, actual machine or hand stitching, even patterned paper with stitches on it.

I do love stitching on cards.  Back some time ago I used to almost always machine wonky stitch on my cards.  While I still do love that look, my sewing machine has been pretty much unused since stitched dies starting coming out.  So much easier, so much quicker, and so much less bulk!  Since I don't have as much time to craft these days, I don't think I'd have any stitching on my makes if it wasn't for dies.

Anyhoo, this is what I did....

As you can see, I've used a couple of stitched square dies and a stitched tag.  Originally, I had planned on using a stitched snowflake in the upper right corner there, but it turns out I don't have any stitched snowflakes....or if I do, I couldn't find them.  I'm actually glad, I do like the tag/twine/bells combo.  Digi is from Tiddly Inks and is one of my faves.  I think I've done a least one Christmas card with this image for many, many years now. 

So, why not give our challenge a go this week and join us?  And, if you'd like more inspiration, be sure to check out what the Girlfriends have made. 

So, that was the card portion of our post....on to the craft area part!  I don't know if any of you will remember this, but I've been in the process of redoing my craft area/office since late December when my daughter and I painted the room.  (Gawd, it's been, like, seven months and I still make an awful ugly face when I think about painting it.  Safe to say I still hate painting.)  Efforts to get my craft area glam-up done were severely hampered by supply chain issues with getting the furniture and just a lack of time for me to get everything in place.  I was going to wait until I had everything 'just so' before sharing but I've come to realize that could possibly be never.  In truth, I could have taken photos a few weeks ago but my desk was absolutely piled with supplies from quick-'n'-dirty craft sessions.  On the weekend I finally got my desk cleared and snapped some photos before I did any crafting...though glancing over, it's actually not too bad right now.  Shocker.

Okay, so here are the before pics, you'll notice I didn't bother to tidy up before taking these....

And this is what it was turned into....

Had to include that closer up of my desk as it really never looks that clean.  Yeah, so aside from adding some more things to the pegboard, figuring out where I want to put some of the stuff that's just shoved into the cubbies for now, and hanging a couple of pictures, that's my craft area sorted.  Needless to say, I have way more room and storage options....and a lot less found-at-the-side-of-the-road-with-a-free-sign-on-it desks.

One thing I want to point out, see that cube with the circle in it on the bottom row of the shelving unit?  It's actually a cat bed, that's made to fit in this storage system.  My older cat, Daisy, doesn't want anything to do with it, but my younger cat, Ollie, likes to nap in there when I craft.  It's looks very cute when he's snuggled up in there.  (:  

So, that's pretty much that.  Really wish I could stay and craft today but it's off to work I go.  To the office where there's something wrong with the temperature controls and it's usually about 15ºC in there.  One of these days I'm just gonna break down and wear socks with my sandals.  Hey, if the 45 and up male crowd can manage to get away with black almost-to-their-knees socks with shorts, I could get away with short socks with sandals, couldn't I?  You're right.....I won't do it.  (:

Also for:

Aud Sentiments:  anything goes

ABC Christmas:  O is for old - Everything is old, old papers, old digi, old twine, old dies, old bells, person who did the crafting (;

Addicted To Stamps:  any occasion

Crafty Gals Corner:  Christmas in July

Fab 'n' Funky:  anything goes

Simon Says:  anything goes

The Holly & Ivy:  anything Christmas goes

TTCRD:  anything goes

Unicorn Challenge:  Christmas in July

Christmas With the Cuties:  Christmas + cute + not just Rockin' Robin

Cutie Pie:  little cuties

Double Trouble:  Christmas in July + bling it on

Dream Valley:  Christmas in July 

Alphabet Challenge:  H is for holidays

My Time to Craft:  Christmas in July 

My Time to Christmas Craft:  cutesy Christmas

Christmas Craft Creations:  patterned paper