It's So Pretty

Have you checked out this weeks' Moxie Fab Trigger Tuesday?

Oh, it's luscious...I love brown and grey together.  It's so chic and classic at the same time.  Like this dress ...the 3rd one in the photo montage...from my secret obsession show, The Fashion Show on Bravo.  The back is even prettier, but they don't show it on the website.  Anyway, I digress...

When I saw the inspiration photo I knew I had put the kleenex aside and get craftin!  I used the color palette for my inspiration on both, but the first one is more of a direct interpretation of the photo.

This was my first...and favorite of the two...creation this afternoon.  I really like the grey on the suede, very pretty! And now the second, and least successful creation

I don't think I like the the addition of the Sahara Sand to this card.  I may have to rework it later.

Achoo...

Ahhh....Sinus infection, bronchitis, phlem.  What my days are made of, as of late.  I spend yesterday morning at urgent care and the rest of the day in bed.  A whole day lost.  At least I'm 90% done with my crafting spot re-furbishment, I just need a trip to IKEA for some shelves and storage pieces.  That will have to wait a day or two, the roads are pretty bad.

Now onto one of my exciting announcements today! ...the other one will be later today...  I have joined my first design team!!!  I am SO very excited to be a part of Our Creative Corner's team.  They have a whole new team and a whole new look.  I missed being able to create something for this weeks challenge...you know, illness...but will have something to contribute to next week's post!  If you haven't been there in a while, come check us out!

On a housekeeping note...I will be announcing the winner of my giveaway later this afternoon!  Sorry to keep you waiting...

Where does the time go?

I can't believe that January is half over...so much to do...  Finish organizing my craftin' spot...yes, I'm on day 5...  magazine calls, challenges, clean my bathroom, send out PTO stuff; at least the laundry is washed, folded and put away...for now...  I did just get some very exciting news that I'll discuss with you on Friday, my giveaway is awarded that day too!  Make sure you enter here...

Here is a cute little project I did for the last PC call, it didn't make the cut, but I thought it was cute!  The theme of that call was 'girlfriends', and this card completely represents my BF Cristy and I.  Can you tell we're fun?

The Perfect Pair
Cardstock: (Daffodil Delight, Whisper White) SU!; (Waterberry) Bazzil

Patterned paper: (DeLovely Elements) Cosmo Cricket
Stamps…rubber, foam, clear: (Hangin’ Out) Taylored Expressions
Ink…dye, pigment, solvent, watermark, chalk: (Basic Black) SU!
Sticker: (Cintronella Drinks Grand Adhesion) K& Company
Fibers: (orange grosgrain) SU!
Embossing folders: (polka-dots) PTI

Finished size: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

Instructions
1. Cut and fold card. Emboss Daffodil Delight and adhere to card front. Cut strip of Waterberry and adhere to card front. Cut DeLovely element and adhere.
2. Add ribbon and sticker embellishments.
3. Stamp sentiment on Whisper White cardstock and adhere with foam dots.

Thick or Thin?

If you've been following for a while, you know I have been busy trying to loose weight.  Everyday is a struggle, I mean, if I was naturally thin, I wouldn't have to change my eating habits, would I?  I joined Jenny Craig in September and am now down 40 lbs...yea, only 40 more to go... and my girlfriend joined Nutrisystem 2 weeks later.  It's been a struggle for both of us these last 5 weeks, with the holidays and trying to get back on track.  We've been each other's supprt, so I thought this could be the perfect card for her...

Now, don't forget to enter in my giveaway!  The deets are HERE.
Thick and Thin
Cardstock: (Whisper White) SU!; (Soft Sky) SU! - retired

Patterned paper: (Rock Creek Gardens – The color of Memories) American Crafts
Stamps clear: (Family) Stampology; ( ) PTI
Ink…dye: (Soft Suede) SU!
Color media…markers: (yellow, green and brown) Copic; (Rose Red) SU!
Accent: (Diamonds, Pink) Stickles
Other: (tape measure)
Finished size: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

Instructions
1. Cut and fold card. Cut 2’ strip of patterned paper, adhere at bottom of card. Cut and adhere tape measure to card.
2. Stamp 2 women symbols. Stamp sentiment on separate cardstock, cut out and adhere to Soft Sky frame. Color in selected words. Attach with foam dots.
3. Ink cupcake stamp with markers and stamp. Cut out and embellish with Stickles. Attach with foam dot.

Wanna hang?

Who has a quirky sense of humor?  Well I can...sometimes...so I made this card to celebrate it!  How silly and fun is this?  Wouldn't it make a great invite for a small party with your best girlfriends.  I think I may have to whip up a few more and host a party myself...

Girls Hangin' Out

Cardstock: (Soft Sky) SU! – retired; (Barely Banana, Blushing Bride, Wild Wasabi) SU!

Patterned paper: (Spring – Growing Green) American Crafts; (Olivia & Oliver) Basic Grey
Stamps…rubber, foam, clear: (Hangin’ Out) Taylored Expressions; (Places Please, Place Card frame)PTI
Ink: (Basic Black, Soft Suede) SU!
Color media…markers; (red, yellow, green) COPIC
Accent: (teal buttons); (red rhinestone and white pearl)Kaiser Craft
Fibers: (white string); (hemp twine)
Dies; (place card die) PTI
Tool: (ticket corner punch) SU!
Finished size: 5x7

Instructions
1. Cut and fold card base. Cut cloud patterned paper to 4.5x6.5. Cut coordinating cardstock frame and adhere to card base. Set aside.
2. Tread buttons with hemp twine and adhere to card to create a clothesline.
3. Stamp and cut out 5 bra images. Adhere along clothesline.
4. Die cut place card and stamp frame image. Use ticket corner punch on the corners. Stamp sentiment and flower image. Color in flower with markers.
5. Adhere place card die to card with foam dots.

Friend to Friend...

Hello, how are you?  My dear friend, I thought I would make you a little card.  It has a great little gift attached!  That cute little flower is removable, wear it in your hair, or on a cute blouse, perhaps on your purse?  The oportunities are endless.  I hope you enjoy it, I really liked making it for you!

Friend to friend
Cardstock: (Soft Sky) SU! – retired; (Whisper White) SU!

Patterned paper: (Savor – Kitchen Medley) Little Yellow Bicyle
Stamps; (Teeny Tiney Wishes) SU!
Ink; (Soft Suede) SU!
Accent: (red button)
Fibers: (white felt and green satin fabric) ; (white thread) ; (yellow polkadot ribbon)
Font: (name) website or source
Dies: (hot air ballon, leaf) PTI
Tool: (sewing machine) PFAFF; (corner rounder) SU!

Instructions
1. Cut and make card. Cut patterned paper and attach to card base. Run a stitch along pattern. Set aside.
2. Die cut 6 balloon shapes from felt. Using fabric glue, fold each in half and pinch at the bottom. Trim the basket off each petal and assemble in a flower shape. Attach a hair clip.
3. Die cut leaf from green satin and adhere to the back of the flower.
4. Adhere the ends of a strip of ribbon to the inside of the card along the patterned paper. Attach embellishment to the strip of ribbon.

Designer Tips
• Attach a hair clip to the back of your handmade embellishment and clip to a strip of ribbon on the card.

Flashback

It's been a while since I've gone back in the archives.  It was fun to see how my style has evolved!  There is a great new challenge blog out there called Flashback Friday.  Instead of creating a card for this challenge,  you go back into your archives and pick one from a previous post on your blog!  This is a fun site for the time-challenged - just re-post! 

This week's challenge is for glitterific cards.  I used to use glitter on every creation, in one way or the other.  This one has lots of glitter, the problem is that it didn't photograph well...does glittler ever photograph well?...  I made this when I was pregnant with my youngest.  Here is the original post from May 2008.

Phelm...

...that's how it's spelled, right?....I think my entire body is filled with the goopy stuff.  I've been very fuzzy for 3 days now, and now have some good pharmacuticals to make me better.  I did spend the day in bed and my dear sweet hubby brought me Chicken Noodle Soup from Bob Evans...the best for curing what ails you...  I'm just waiting for them both to kick in.

Here is a little something I submitted to Paper Crafts Magazine for their last call.  This was for their Girlfriend Gifts and creative use of a die categories.  These are the Hot Air Balloon dies from PTI.  I thought it was pretty ingenius!

Book Page Earrings

Other paper: (Antique book paper) MFR

Accent: (black pearls) Michaels
Dies: (Hot Air balloon die) PTI
Other: (earing and 2’ head Pins) Jewelry Essentials by Horizon; (rounded needle nose pliers) SU!
Finished size: 2 ½” long

Instructions
1. Die cut 24 small hot air balloons. Score and fold each one in half.
2. Assemble 12 balloons together side by side so all folds are stacked one upon the other. Adhere the ends together to form a 3D shape. Repeat resulting in 2 forms.
3. Slide a black pearl on 2’ head pin, then slide on the 3D shape, follow with pearl. Using pliers, create a loop at the top. Attach to earring form.

Where o' where...

has my Shabbiness gone?  I am missing you, my shabbolocity, you fun and fabulous little spirit of mine.  I need you back, you are a part of me.  We worked so well together.  Don't you remember?

Look at what your absence has done to me....

See?  Please come back...quickly! 

This is for the Play Date Cafe's current challenge, using grass green, gold and silver.  I was really excited about using this fantastic green draon fly I picked up, isnt it cute?  Trying a little Melissa Phillips type creation?  UGGGHH, not even close to the fabulocity of the reigning shabby gueen.   Perhaps next week.

Shabbiless thank you
Cardstock:  Whisper White, Wild Wasabi
Other Paper:  White Vellum
Ink:  Encore Silver and gold, Wild Wasabi
Ribbon:  Offray silver satin
Other:  Tattered Angels Alpha frames; white button; gold wire; dragonfly ornament (Walmart)

Oh what fun!

1/11/11 - oh what fun!  Ok on to the real stuff...

The cleaning of the craftin' spot isn't done yet.  I guess 2 days wasn't enough.  Don't they say a messy desk represents an orgainized mind? ...or so I'd like to think...  I did break through the paper and fabric sea long enough for me to get my craft on!

Continuing my New Year's goals, I am submitting some items to be a part of the Our Creative Corner Design team!  I have never been a part of a DT ...yet... and am eager to share all things paperlicious through my lil' ole blog. 

Now, I have to explain why I created what I did for their challenge.  This is the photo inspiration for their challenge.  A little white and black bird with red berries.  Adorable, right?  Well, not to me.  I am creeped out by birds...let me clarify...real birds.  I love graphic, adorable little birds that are mearly a representation of the real thing.  But real birds, the feathers, the pecking, the crazy leathery feet ....bleeeaaccckkkk....  I get the shivers just thinking about the real thing!  I'm weird, I know...  As I started pulling my black, white and red out, I couldn't get the image out of my head and again ....bleeeaaccckkkk.... I started to get creeped out!  So I scrapped doing a close representation of the photo and came up with these cards, with cute, non creepy little chickadees.  Perhaps I'll have to pull up my pantyhose and tackle it again tomorrow...

Sky Limits
Card stock: (Regal Rose, Rose Red) SU!
Patterned Paper: (City Park Royal Gardens) American Crafts
Ink: (Soft Suede, Baha Breeze) SU!
Stamp Set: (Up, Up & Away) PTI
Dies: (Clouds, Mat Stack 4) PTI
Ribbon: (olive grosgrain) SU!

Thanks Birdie

Card Stock; (Whisper White, Craft) SU!

Patterned Paper: (Linen Closes)DCMC

Ink: (Soft Suede) SU!; (Pretty in Pink Marker)SU!

Ribbon:  (teal seam binding) Me!; (pink lace ribbon) May Arts

Stickers: (Dear Lizzie) American Crafts

Other: (pink button); (doily) Wilton

My favorite colors...

Have I told you about my favorite color?  It is so fresh and wonderful.  I am lucky the paper industry has embraced my favorite color and it is now EVERYWHERE!!!  I'm talking about the most beautiful shade of blue.  Some call it Federal Blue.  SU! had Soft Sky a while back and now a darker hue of it called Baha Breeze.  PaperTrey Ink called it Aqua Mist.  I call it lovely...  This is why you see me use a lot of it.  Although, I am running out of my Soft Sky reserves...sob...and will have to use it more spareingly.  Anyway, when Our Creative Corner announced their challenge last week I was swooning to get the chance to make a lovely creation featuring this wonderful color, however, life got in the way of my crafting.  As did the pile of fabric, papers, stamps and exciting goodies that have been shipped in from my various publication wins! ...I don't mind that mess...  So here is what I would have made for their challenge last week.  They are having a DT call at the moment, did you know?  Have you gotten your creation in for them to consider?  Well, come and join me!

Lovely Thank You

Cardstock: (Baha Breeze) SU!; (white velum paper) SU!

Other paper: (Doily) Wilton

Stamps… clear: (Everyday Treats) PTI

Ink… pigment: (White craft) SU!

Embossing powder: (Winter White) SU!

Accent: (white buttons)

Fibers: (silver cord) SU!; burlap

Dies, embossing: (Mat stack 1) PTI ; (Swiss Dot) Cuttlebug


Don't foget to enter my drawing for $100 in free product!  Click on the link at the top!

Busy with paper?

What fun I have been having cleaning my craftin' spot....not really, I'm trying to be postive...  I've made it into a bigger project than it needed to be.  Moving my Mary Kay business things upstairs to the family office,  moving my sewing supplies downstairs to my craftin' spot.  It's been a very big undertaking, which has put my paper crafting on hold.  Bummer.  I am committed to having this space done right after my girlfriends leave tomrorrow morning so I can get my creativeness on!
Here's what I looking forward to doing this week down there:

• Finishing the current Paper Crafts call...did you get your creations done yet?...
• The Moxie Fab Gray is the New Black Challenge, and of course Trigger Tuesday
• A DT call at Our Creative Corner ...2 challenges, wish me luck!...
• My favorite challenges; Just us Girls, Mojo Monday, Color Throwdown , 2S4Y and Playdate Cafe, just to name a few.  It's been so long since I've been to any of these sites and I'm eager to join them for a fun time.

So, keep hangin in there until Monday, when the paper will start flyin'!

A year in review...

So I guess it's a time of reflection, the start of a new year.  It's been a good year all and all!  My family and I are happy and healthy, my husband has a good job, and I'm able to stay at home to care for him and the girls.  We are all very blessed to say the least!

I've had some great acknowledgements this year too!  I reached my publication goal - a card of mine in the Paper Crafts July/Aug issue and have had several more creations gracing the glossy pages throughout the year and more to come!  It's so exciting, it makes me so giddy every time I see them there!  I've also won a few online contests and magazine contests!  The highlights being Paper Crafts Stampin' Royalty Contest and the World Card Making Day contests.  Both have been such an honor, and gives me being locked up in my craftin' spot for so many hours validity.

I have also been much more diligent with keeping up here - occasional lapses, but on average at least I'm posting over 50% of the days each month.  I'm sprinkling a few of my favorite projects from this year, and items I won contests with. 

 

This is from the fundraiser I coordinated for the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life.  All the ladies participated in a Craft Camp and we were able to raise $1500!

 

I have also been working on my health.  Since I was pregnant with my youngest, I have been having lots of arthritic pain in my hands, feet spine and shoulders.  Generally I would just write it off as a bad night of sleeping, but this summer I had many days when my hands and feet would swell, I wouldn't be able to walk or able to carry things (like my young daughter).  I was diagnosed with Psoratic Arthritis, a condition very similar to Rheumatoid, but a tad different.  My doctors recommended some very scary meds I didn't like, so I took matters into my own hands.  I began to actively loose weight by joining Jenny Craig on August 29th.  I am now down 40lbs - which helps with the arthritis pains, and on a new...less scary... medication that is helping with that and my psoriasis.  It's great to finally start to feel healthy and I'm looking forward to loosing the rest of my weight so I'm a hot little number!

So here are my crafty goals for this year:

• Be a part of a Design Team - I'll be working hard at this!
• Participate in more weekly challenges - I'm thinking at least 2 per week.  I'm really eager to get more time in the craftin' spot.
• Participate in more magazine calls - I missed a couple at the end of the year, so I'm really focused on getting
• Define my sense of style - I tend to go all over the place with my crafting so I want to really define my asthetic.

Well, that's it!  I hope you have all been working on your resolutions - keep focused - keep going.  I look forward to a year of crafty fun!

PC Announcement

Have you seen Paper Crafts Connection today?  Check out the announcement here!

Have you seen it?

The new Color Inspiration Issue from Paper Crafts Magazine?!  I was really excited to have been a part of this inagural special issue!  If you haven't picked this one up yet, it's REALLY inspirational...hence the name...  The call for this was kind of 'hush-hush,' as they wanted to make a big splash with it hitting the stands.  PC asked for card creations with 100+ color combinations I think I made about 15!  I am honored to have 3 of my colorful creations accepted for this issue! 

To keep the color consistant, they gave us Bazzil colors to work from.  You didn't have to use their paper, but the colors had to match - perfectly.  They had 6 different categories with many combos within each.  This one was my favorite combo, I actually use it all the time so it easy to whip up a fabu card for it.  The colors were Whirlpool...Baja Breeze...Tropical, Petty Cash...Certainly Celery.... and Nutmeg...Soft Suede.  Isn't it pretty?  These are also colors I use my my house. 

This is a cute little card!  I just adore it!  In the magazine, the ballon must have shifted in shipping, the hole of the button is showing, but it's still cute that way too!  I love the burlap...  The colors were Petty Cash, Champage...the burlap...Lily White...Whisper White....Vintage Pink...I had to use a combo of Copics to get this color.  Thank goodnes I had a button the right color1

Some combos were out there for me, like this one.  Who'd a thunk?  Black, white, Pansy...Elegant Eggplant... and hot pink?  I thought this was a stretch, and almost didn't send it in for consideration.  But, there it is!  On the glossies!  I just goes to show you that you never know what they are looking for when you submitt - so don't give up!

BIG News and BIG Giveaway!

Here it is!  The big news!  Well, it's big news for me, and a BIG giveaway for you! 

So do you remember the contest Paper Crafts Magazine was hosting for World Card Making Day last year...I can't believe I need to say 'last year'...  I had made some cards that I shared with you in November.  I had quite a few that I really loved that I submitted, like this one

Isn't she adorable?  She reminds me of Lily when she was 2.  Golden curls, cute little dresses...  But I digress...

I had a card that won in the contest!!!!!  Yes!  Little ole' me!  I was bouncing of the walls when the e-mail arrived from Kelly Smith at PC in November!  She made me promise not to tell you until the new year.  I have to wait until March to show the card that won - it was really cute!  It has been really hard not to share my groovy good news!   I was even more excited when a very large box arrived on my door step the week of Christmas with this inside

YES!  ALL of this was inside!  $600 worth!   I am heading down to my crafty spot this week to play with some of these wonderful goodies - I'm so blessed!  I thought I would spread the blessings by giving away a goodie bag of FANTABULOUS items to have you ready for spring in no time!  Here's what I'm giving away:

Stamp It Issue Paper Crafts Magazine

The Paper Studio Fabric Designer Brads

2 - 12x12 pieces of natural burlap

Seam binding ribbon:

   5 yards tea stained white crinkled ribbon

   2.5 yards tea stained pink crinkled ribbon

   2.5 yards pink stained pink crinkled ribbon

   2.5 yards tea stained aqua crinkled ribbon

   2.5 yards blue stained aqua crinkled ribbon

Verve Stamps Some Bunny and Blossom Stamps

Posi-Bendr Bow Easy bow maker

Inque Chipboard Shapes:

   All Frills

   Swirls and Flourshes

Generations 12x12 zip closure storage

Lil' Davis Designs Secret Garden Invisible Alphabet

Glitter Modge Podge

Art Accents Micro Fine Sparklerz Glitter

AIC Ultra Fine Pastel Yellow Glitter

Stampin' Up! 2009-2010 Bold Brights Paper

Pink Polka Dot Chipboard letters (55ct)

Stickapotamus Vellum Heart Stickers

Marcella Sticker Sheets:

   Super Bright Label Word Stickers

   Trend Jumbo Die Cut Alpha Stickers

   Super Bright Blocks Alphabet Stickers

Daisy Hill School Year Die-cut Alphabet Stickers

Cosmo Cricket Lil' Man Sticker Sheet

American Crafts Mini marks Celebration Rub-ons

Hallmark Shamrock stickers

Bo Bunny Sticker Sheets:

   He is

   Winter Gems Alphabet

   Heart Throb

   Super Sweet

   Home is Where

   Sweet Baby Boy

That's it!  Over $100 worth of new fun products for you to play with!  Now, to qualify for this amazing prize, you need to do the following: THIS INFORMATION HAS BEEN CHANGED - PLEASE PLAY ALONG!

1. Post a comment at this post - your name goes in the drawing
2. Post a link back here on your blog to help me spread the word! - your name goes in the drawing
3. Become a follower - your name goes in the drawing (please let me know you are by leaving a comment here)

That's 3 chances to win!  I will be picking a winner on January 21st!  I'll be showing you some great items I made with my new goodies - I can't wait to get crackin' on it!

Ready for the new year?

WOW!  Did you have a fun filled holiday season too?  We all had a great time, but I'm REALLY glad it's back to normal here.  The holiday decorations are packed away, waiting to be hauled into their attic home; the gifts are organized and available for the girls to play with; family is home safe and sound. 

Now that the parties are thown, handmade gifts are given, cookies eaten, pounds gained, and school is back in session; it's time to get my craft on!  It has been WAY too long since I was able to have fun in my craftin' spot for things non holiday related.  Since Thanksgiving, I've only been able to make these gift bags filled with Homemade Pecan Caramel Sauce...yummy ...

and gift tags for teacher gifts...these are the only 2 paper carfts I got to this season ;(...

and make a bulb garland, wreath and new signage for a couple of  Cameron Mitchell's Restaurants...only the best restaurants EVER...

I also repainted and repaired my childhood doll highchair..can't find a photo of that... and cradle, and made it a custom matress and blanket...the original had long since disapeared...

Made a new canopy, mattress, and blanket for Lily's new American Girl doll to match her bedroom...the wood bed was great but the canopy and 'blanket' were HIDEOUS not like the photo...

bake a bajillion cookies, pizzelles...old family recipe...and plan the winter parties for Lily's elementary school.

So as you can see, I have been busy being creative, it just hasn't been focused on paper crafting.  I am getting my next post ready, big news and and even BIGGER giveaway!  Keep your web ears peeled - it's coming soon...perhaps today!...

Recovery...

Have you recovered yet?  Me either.  Which is why I haven't posted, well, one of the reasons.  Consulting with Cameron Mitchell Restaurants, hosting family and parties have taken up a lot of my weel-intentioned time.  I do have photos to post for you, the are on a new camera we have in the house and I still haven't had the time to figure out how to get them off.  I'll have DH help me tomorrow. 
ALSO - I have some exciting news and a BIG GIVEAWAY on the 1st to share!  So make sure you come back here for a chance to win a paperific prize!
See you then!

Glitter everywhere!

Have I told you how much I love glitter?  I's just so fun and sparkly!  Not only do I love using glitter in my paper crafting, I also use in in my holiday decorating.  Some might call it cheezy, but not me....although, perhaps I'm cheezy and don't even know it?  No...I have great taste....that can't be it.

Any way, I promised to show you some photos of one of my favorite parts of my house for decorating, my mantle!  I use every glittery, shiny, eye catching thing I can get my hands on to make it spectacular!

First a couple close ups of the glittery, shimmery fabulouseness!  I have been collecting some of these ornaments for the last few years.  The big blue snowflake is from...none other than...Walmart this year!  They have a section of MY color there right now!!!  Is someone else out there decorating in my colors?  Not in my neck of the woods, it seems I'm the only one buying it.  More for me the day after Christmas to buy!  The big gold one in the corner...I've had those for over 20 years now!  They were the first ornaments I ever bought for my own tree...ah nostalgia.

Those white snow flakes were new last year, I wish I could remember where I got them.  I would love to get a few more!  Those used to hang from my chandiler in the dining room, but alas, that room was moved and the new dining room doesn't have a chandelier yet.  See that 'L' on the stocking?  That is how we designate who's stocking is who's...was the grammatically correct?...  Every year when I unpack our decorations, I mean to get them embroidered by my 'adoptive mom' Kathleen,...She owns an adorable shop in downtown Perrysburg, Ohio that has gifts and specializes in creative embroidery - she's so amazing....But I always forget...darn ADD...  So we have these initial letters to help until I get my head on straight.

Now, here's my crowning glory of the house, but please pay no mind to the ugly brown chair.  It's pair is currently getting a slipcover made...when I have time before Tuesday...and it will get it's new clothes soon too.

Here is the over all look!  I just love it.  I took this photo before the other touches to the room were done, boxwood in some of the pitchers and chochkies on the tables.  The 'Believe' sign is getting a makeover too, I'll be adding some snowflakes and yummy things to it.  I'll post that finished project after the holiday...since I won't find time to add it before....  The fuzzy white stocking is for our cat Oscar.  Have I ever shown a photo of him?  He's a white American Persian, so this fit's him perfectly.  The bookcases on either sides of the fireplace?  I have to brag, my hubby and I did them, as well as the moulding around the room.  I love how we work so well together!  I come up with the design, he installs it, I paint it.  It's a good system.  Currently we have to leave the lower shelves empty, little hands LOVE to pull things off shelves!

That's it for today.  I'll show you the last 2 rooms on Monday as well as that paper craft I promised you.  I actually have a few to show you next week!

Stay warm!

Untradtional, tradtional Christmas

Do you remember me telling you I LOVE Christmas?  The tree, the snow, the laughter, family get-togethers, baking ...lots of baking..., visiting Santa, church on Christmas eve, ornaments, watching my daughters' faces when they see the presents under the tree on Christmas morning.  It's all so magical!

The one thing I DON'T like about Christmas is....red and green.  I can't stand that combination!  Red and white perhaps, not green...ick!  Perhaps is stems from my mother's decision to decorate our Christmas tree in pink and blue to match the house at the tender age of 13.  Not only did she make this decision, but we went from a real tree to a ....gasp....fake one!  For the first few years, I was appalled!  We were the only house that had a 'designer' tree, and to top it off it was fake! ...how embarassing for a teenager...  Later in high school, I began to appreciate it...a little...and would help out.  Then, when I became a florist, I had the sole responsibility of getting the tree decorated.  Every Wednesday before Thanksgiving up it went, and mom would find some new beautiful set of ornaments to add and phase out the old.  It soon became a navy, white and gold tree.  They moved last winter, so unless they fly me to sunny Florida to do it...no complaining here...they will be on their own.

So, after that long back story, I would like to show you the decorations I put up for the holiday's!  Yes it's untradtional, like this beautiful card I made for the Paper Crafts Stampin' Royalty Contest and won!  Those are the same colors I decorate my house for the holidays.  Green, federal blue, white, gold and yellow, complete with snowflakes!  I just love how fresh it is!  I try to decorate my entire first floor and the girls rooms.  They each have a little tree they decorate themselves, they love using them as their night lights.  I'll show you a few photos.

This is the chandelier in the kitchen.  My only wish is that I could get a string of lights up there...

This is our family tree.  The ONLY spot that red is allowed.  It has all our collected ornaments on there.  I LOVE ornaments!  Rob's mom even brought down his from when he was a child to add this year.  My decorator tree is usually up in the living room, but not this year.  We have converted that into our dining room and with my huge table, there is no room for a tree anymore.  I'll show you what I did in there next week.

This is my favorite ornament.  It's the first one Rob and I got for our first Christmas together.

The bureau I have in the family room.  I made this wreath for a call in April.  The details are here.

This is our tv area...can you tell...  Yes, we are still in the dark ages, no surround sound.  Just these hideous speakers my hubby insists on having.  Yes, sometimes I do make decorating consessions, I don't like to, but I do.  Like our fireplace.  I'll show you that tomorrow.  Along with some cute photos of some paper crafting I was able to do!

It's nice to talk to you again!