It’s the day time of year to dig out the Christmas lights and get into the spirit!
This set with the Christmas bulbs is so fun! I love that the light stamp is separate from the wire so you can be creative as possible with the colors— I chose the real red and the lemon lime for the lights and the wires are garden green. Super bright and cheery.
Head on over to see what Anne and Cheryl have for you today!
Speaking of, Christmas lights— are you pro color or pro white lights? I have to say. I think I prefer the white lights. Boring, I know. but I just love a brightly warm lit Christmas tree.
Head on over to see what Anne and Cheryl have for you today!
It’s the season of Thanksgiving, again. I am grateful for a dedicated holiday because it’s a reminder that I am to give thanks— in all seasons. I wish my brain would default to thankfulness. It often does not.
This has been an incredibly difficult year, and sometimes it is hard to be thankful. But this is what we are commanded to do. Because it changes our perspective. If you want to follow our story, go see @heart_for_aaron on Instagram, @aaronkondo on Facebook or can read our little blurb here. This year we have been overcoming many challenges and are thankful for the progress we have made.
I just love this simple reminder to have a spirit of thankfulness. I absolutely love this stamp set: Courage and Faith. And the crushed curry and pecan pie ink works very well with the Cajun craze paper— gives us all the fall vibes.
I sincerely hope that as the holiday season starts to ramp up— that you can slow down and just take a look at all the blessings that are around us.
Stop by Anne’s and Cheryl’s pages today to see what they have planned!
We are still in the mainland and I have all the feels as the weather starts cooling off. It’s been nearly 25 years since I got to have a fall! I’m trying to resist the urge to buy all the decor and sweaters! But it’s hard-
As October rolls in, we will welcome this month with this little guy— the happiest Dracula I’ve ever seen! This is from the Tricks and Treats stamp set.
Highland Heather, basic black and smoke slate are a super simple color palette to make it a ‘non-traditional’ October color scheme! I love to do something different when it works out!
Happy October to all of you! And I hope you enjoy some happy tricks and treats!
Head on over to see what treats Anne and Cheryl have for you this month!
If you’ve been following our story regarding my husband’s medical adventures, you would know we are currently in the mainland while he is receiving treatment. One of the unexpected treats is that we have gotten to experience all the seasons! And currently summer is slowly melting into fall—. And these flowers from Inked and Tiled remind me of the fall grasses blowing in the breeze.
Moody Mauve and lost lagoon give the fall color feel—
We got to go to the Sunflower Market today, and enjoy some food and vendors as well as the field of sunflowers—. The hallmark of the beginning of fall.
I am ready for the weather to start reflecting the season— but I think we are getting close. Hahaha!
Head on over to see what Anne and Cheryl have for you today!
If you’ve followed my blog for any amount of time you know that if we have a firefly set, I have to use it. I positively love fireflies and that is something I miss living in Hawaii. We don’t have them!
They also bring special memories cause when the kids were little they were enthralled with them. It was so fun to go out and watch them
So, when SU put out this set, Lighting the Way, it was ‘add to cart’ without a second thought.
And. I used the misty moonlight and wild wheat (get it?? Wheat— Kansas??!) because what would be more appropriate for a dark summers night in the middle of the breadbasket??
A bit of wink of Stella on the firefly’s butt adds a subtle sparkle to the firefly!
Hope your summer has fabulous outdoor evenings spent under the stars, enjoying fireflies (if they live where you do)
Head on over to see what Anne and Cheryl have for you!
You knew we couldn’t go too long without a plants post- right??
This page is the page that inspired the cover of the calendar this year. Just changed the background color (like how I made it seem intentional— when in reality it’s just that I didn’t have that much paper of one color. Hahaha).
The stamp set is called Plentiful Plants and I just love all the fun plants. And the colors include misty moonlight, old olive lemon lime, garden green. Pecan pie and crushed curry.
Hope your summer is happy! Go check out Anne and Cheryl today!
May Day in Hawaii is a BIG DEAL (we’ve discussed this before) but this year it is extra special for me— it’s my son’s last May Day performance at Emmanuel. (If you know my son, you will know he is thrilled to be in the May Day program 🙄—. But let’s face it. The performance is for his mama and not him.). The fact that it lines up with the same month as Mother’s Day gives me all the feels.
I chose a super sweet stamp set called Inked and Tiled. It’s an extremely versatile stamp set that can be used for just about anything— changing colors will make it work for any event.
I chose to keep this super sweet and subtle so I used the soft seafoam, bubble bath, and gray granite.
So— wishing you a wonderful May Day— go buy yourself some flowers to celebrate. And hug your mom— be it your mom, auntie, sister, grandma— hug the woman that has breathed life, wisdom, and humanity into your life—. And enjoy May.
Head on over to see what Anne and Cheryl have for you today.
How have we finished January already? I swear it flew by in a BLUR. And, here we are in Feb, looking ahead to spring–
When we think about February, we imagine valentines– so of course when I saw this set, I thought it would be the PERFECT set for a cute little valentine.
Smoke slate makes the flirty flamingo just POP! I love using pinks and grays together… it works for bold and pastel pinks… This little set comes from the 2023 Spring Mini Catalog– so you may have to look on the retired lists to find it if you decide you need it (and you do need it…)
Head on over to see what Anne and Cheryl have for you this day!
Every year I am stunned by how quickly another year rolls around— and this one is no different! I feel like I just got used to writing 2023 and now I have to change it—
Of course the new year means another new calendar—. I need to go back and count how many years we’ve been on this journey together—. It’s been a long time. Thanks for sticking with me-
Of course, my love of plants REQUIRED that I use this set and these images to be my calendar cover (you’ll see it again soon too— 😁). Plants are just so cheery!
So, I thought we would welcome the new year with festive party blowers—
I mean— who hasn’t had a celebration were these weren’t part of the whole shebang?! I thought they’re perfect to ring in the new year.
These are from the Year To Celebrate stamp set in the Christmas mini catalog. But. Don’t let their name fool you— they don’t have to be limited to the new year— they’re pert for any party!
I used melon mambo, lemon lime twist, daffodil delight, and costal cabana to make these festive snappers.
Well- Happy 2024 to you.
Head on over to see how Anne and Cheryl are ringing in the new year!
It’s that time of year where we again take stock of the things and people of who we are thankful. It seems silly though, that we cannot make this more of a daily occurrence and have to rely on the calendar for us to remember it. At least, I have this problem more often than not.
This year hits a little different– If you follow my Instagram (@hanniejoyandco) you will know that we’ve been dealing with some health issues with my husband. (You can read up on his story at @heart_for_aaron on Instagram). The short of it is that he needs a new heart. We were prepared to start this process in August and there were setbacks and challenges and changes. And, we learned in late Sept he was able to return to Maui to be with us as we wait for a heart for him. So, I am thankful. It’s bitter sweet in some respects— the type A in me wants to hurry up and get it done so we can put it behind us. But, I also see this gift of more time simply as a gift–and for that I am extremely grateful.
Of course, I knew NONE of this when I created this November calendar (back in November of LAST year—I make these to sell in December, so, they’ve got to be completed a year ahead). But, The sentiment perfectly describes my heart at this time. I’m so grateful for my family and that we are able to stay together at the moment. I’m grateful for the incredible support we have received from the community around us– in a time when that same community is mourning the most devastating fire Maui has ever seen. These past months have been surreal.
I love the softness and non traditional look of these colors. And, the images in the Soft Seedlings stamp set brings back nostalgic memories of playing with the ‘helicopters’ or whirly-birds in the yard with the fall leaves. I’m a little sad my children don’t get this experience here on Maui (but, hey— It’s 80 degrees at the moment that I write this and my family is dealing with below freezing highs today–so I get over it pretty quickly).
I used Petal Pink and Gray Granite to color the images. Ink the stamp with pink and then sponge gray around the edges. Simple stamping at it’s finest.
Hug your family and keep them close— we don’t know what tomorrow will bring us. But, for today, we will enjoy the moment and be thankful.
hanniejoy&co 