Lots of Thanks and I’ve Still Got Boxes

Many, many thanks to Charlotte, Sue, Eddie, Pat, Tammy, and Kathryn. They’ve contributed lots of beautiful cards to Karen’s Card Shop this year. I thank you, and my church thanks you! Many of the cards are packaged up and ready to add to shop. This bin includes all the birthday cards we’ve received, plus ones I’ve made. As you can see, we are set for quite a while with birthday cards! 

I still have three grab boxes unclaimed. See previous post for details, but every box has at least 20 clear stamp sets and a bunch of dies. Email me at susanraihala at iCloud.com if interested!

Today’s card was specially made for my pastor and his wife. In fact, I bought the set just for them. I dabbed Stickles on the embossed snowflakes and created “snow” with the Stickles on the church as well…subtle accents that sparkle well in real life. 

Mercy, grace, peace, love, and HUGE gratitude,

Susan

Grab Boxes Ready to Go

I have four medium size, flat rate USPS boxes full of goodness ready to go. 

Contents are mostly stamps (at least 20 sets per box, including some combo die and stamp sets as well). Most of the stamp sets are complete, though a few sentiment sets are broken up, combined with others, etc. 

Each box also contains quite a few stand-alone dies and die sets.

Other miscellaneous contents that may be included in your box: random embellishments, ink pads, Arteza markers, three Copic markers, a few wood-mounted rubber stamps, stencils, ribbon, sequins, washi tape, etc. 

Each box costs $100, including shipping within the United States. First come, first served. 

Payment may be made by check (shipped after check clears), money order, or by Apple Pay (shipped within two business days). 

To claim a box, email me at susanraihala at iCloud dot com. 

Thanks in advance for furthering my stamp budget for 2026!

Mercy, grace, peace, and love,

Susan

More Simon Says Flower Dies and Grab Boxes for Sale Soon

Simon Says Stamp has become my go-to brand lately, and their flower dies are part of the reason why. I now have 10 of them and love every one. 

I also have one of their sticky mats, almost all their inks, and the full color set of blending brushes—large and small—in a Simon brand tool holder.  These helped with cards #1 and #3 today. Card #2 was water colored. 

These larger flower dies work so well with embossing folders! And bling. Is there anything that doesn’t work with bling?

Some months ago, I mentioned that I needed to offer some grab boxes to clean out my crafty space. I’ve now got quite a stash to sell. It’s mostly clear stamps (a few wood mounted though) and dies, with a few fun ink pads and other miscellaneous stuff. I’m going to stop by the PO tomorrow to pick up some small and medium flat-rate boxes and bubble envelopes. Once I have them packed, I’ll post how many of each and what costs. 

As before, I’ll ship to U.S. addresses. I’ll accept checks/money orders by mail OR I can accept Apple Cash. I will ship out packages within a day or two of the funds clearing. 

More to come!

Mercy, grace, peace, and love,

Susan

Inky Stamps and Bling

I love heart stamps, and last year I bought an old Simon Says Stamp set of graduated sizes of hearts in solid and outline forms. 

It’s a new favorite and so very useful. 

Cards like these give me a chance to use my many Simon Says ink pads. I find at times that dies have somewhat taken over my crafting, and as a result I bought the Simon blending brushes in all the colors to make coloring die cuts easier. 

While I certainly enjoy the variety of techniques we can do with ink, there’s something to be said for old-school stamping. With bling. Always with bling.

Mercy, grace, peace, and love,

Susan

Shimmer and Sparkle

Last year, I bought a new product to replace an old product I used up. 

__________________________________

May I rant for a bit? I’m going to rant. If you prefer to keep your new year positive, skip down to below the second line. I don’t want to yuck on anyone’s yum this year. But I gotta say this. 

When companies come out with a product I love, say, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist Dazzling Diamonds, they should never, under any circumstances, discontinue it, be bought out, or go out of business. Such losses disrupt my bliss, and I need my bliss. We ALL need our bliss. And if we can’t find bliss in our crafty spaces, well, then how the heck are we supposed to find it?

Outside these sacred creative spaces, people can be mean, crazy, or act like the whole world revolves around them and their petty tragedies. Check out this video of a woman being schooled by a restauranteur: Funny Video. What the video shows us is that people get upset about the most ridiculous of things and blow them out of proportion. After all, the lady could have just informed the staff politely that she got the wrong order and the staff would have replaced the problem fries with the correct fried. Seriously! Why get so upset?

Waaaaaait a minute. 

Am I being like the lady in the video? Am I assuming the whole world of paper craft products should revolve around me and my needs?!?!? Oh no.

Oh, no.

Oh, noooooooo!

Six months ago, I realized that my bottle of Tattered Angels was basically empty, and I tried to order a replacement. None to be found at any of my regular suppliers or brick-and-mortar shops, and the Tattered Angels website didn’t work. (I’ve since learned that you can buy the old Tattered Angels products at Canvas Corp Brands, if you’re interested.)

After sitting in a fit of pique for a few weeks—but no angry emails to thetatteredangels.com defunct website—I found Imagine’s Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray in Sparkle at Marco’s Paper brick-and-mortar store. 

Bliss restored.

And the moral of the story is this: don’t get mad. Find a substitute. There’s always a substitute. And if there’s not, say a prayer for the people who lost their jobs and move on with your life because there are things way worse than losing a crafty produce. 

And the second moral is this: on occasion, you’re going to get mad, fall into a pique, feel irritated or whatever you want to call it because we can’t necessarily control what emotions bubble up from our subconscious. You may not be able to control your emotions that bubble up, but you CAN and SHOULD control your words and actions because you are a grown-a** adult. Don’t be stupid. People have video on their phones, folks, and you’re gonna be embarrassed forever if your stupid ends up on the internet and random bloggers keep linking to your stupid. Sheesh. Was it worth it?

_________________________

Added some higlights to my ancient holly 
And berries punch with a Sakura Stardust pen.

So the Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray works great as a substitute for the Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist. The new snowflake embossing folders I bought at Marco’s work great, too. 

So I made this year’s Stephen Ministry ornaments (handed out at church to remind people that the holidays aren’t always jolly for everyone) using the new spray. Worked great!

Mercy, grace, peace, and love in a season of hope,

Susan

Another Year, Yadda, Yadda

 In the past, I’ve waxed poetic on the new year, resolved to achieve all sorts of idealistic goals, chosen a word, embarked on fitness and nutrition “journeys,” yadda, yadda. 

Not this year. Nope. Expectation is the mother of disappointment, and so I’m lowering my expectations for the year. 

Lower. 

A bit lower.

Almost there.  [Said in the voice I use to tell George he’s halfway through a marathon. He usually wants to unalive me when I say that.]

Keep going lower.

Any expectations left? No? 

Good.

I’ve always been an optimist, but a few years ago, I read a book on stoicism and decided that while I came out of the womb a “glass is not just half full but refillable” optimist, I might want to temper that optimism with a spot of realism. 

So here are my “realistic” resolutions for 2026:

I will do some stuff. Some stuff will be useful, some frivolous, some fun, some not so fun, some likely rather painful, but there will be stuff done.

I will write some stuff. Some stuff I write will be useful, some frivolous, some fun, some not so fun, some likely rather painful, but there will be stuff written, even if it’s just grocery lists.

I will create some stuff, even if no one cares. 

I will love some stuff and some people. I will offer grace, peace, and a sympathetic ear because I’m wired that way. 

I will hate some people and some stuff. I will hate myself for this, but as long as students turn in AI-generated essays, I will hate. I will keep open the possibility that quitting teaching is a good thing, and I will hate myself for that, too. 

I will say yes to some stuff. There will be consequences, some good and some bad. 

I will say no to some stuff. There will be consequences, some good and some bad. 

I will do my best, even if my best isn’t the best because I’m a human. I will beat myself up, but not as badly as before because I’m learning.

I will continue to learn, unlearn, be right, be wrong, get excited, get frustrated. Because life is that way. 

I think that’s enough. Can you relate?

And now for birthday cards. Karen’s Card Shop is critically low on birthday cards and somewhat low on sympathy and get well cards. I pulled out some pretty designer paper that’s been gathering dust in a closet and made a bunch of cards. Here are a few. 

I have found that my style of cards doesn’t sell well in the shop, so I’m trying to stretch into more colored card stock and less white space. But not always. These made me rather happier than I thought they would!

Last night, we celebrated with friends as usual, only this time I won the Fruit Ninja tournament handily. The tall guy in the middle usually wins. 

Aria the friendly kitty photo-bombed us.

This morning’s mood,
despite the opening of this post.

And as for New Year’s Day, 2026, I wish you a peaceful one full of love and compassion and crafty goodness. 

Mercy, grace, peace, and love,

Susan

Wildflower Cuttings in Three Cards

A few months ago, I splurged at Simon Says because my husband had splurged on something or other, and I told him we needed to keep things fair. He agreed. 

He knows what’s good for him. 

Included in that order was Simon Says Wildflower Cuttings, which I liked because of their loose, sketchy style. My first two cards have a very similar vibe, very LateBlossomy. 

The third card takes a different approach, which I adore for its monochromatic harmony.

I have a bit of a problem. Perhaps one of you might help?

Several ladies at church are downsizing their craft supplies and have given me boxes and boxes of stamps. Most are wood-mounted rubber, rather old and not at all my style (think early 2000s cutesy). I won’t be able to mail them anywhere (so many heavy boxes!) and need to know what to do with them. I live in the Dayton, OH, area, and do not have time or energy to sort these stamps. 

I am considering taking them to Salvation Army and being done with them, but what do you think? Any other suggestions for my area? 

Thanks in advance!

Mercy, grace, peace, and love,

Susan