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!

Really?!?!

Has it really been that long since I posted?  Crazy!  As life has been too.  I think that's par for the course this time of year, how about you?  Life's been crazy?  I really have been creating some things, just not many cards...cookies, cakes, fattening things yes; cards, no...  I have about 8 more cookie recipes to create with about 5 doz per recipe.  I have lots of photos to share with you starting tomorrow - cookies, sauces, containers and the like.

But for today, I have an offer for you!  I am a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator, just to get my own products at a discount.  'Cause I LOVE their stuff - high quality papers, beautiful colors, great images, my list goes on.  I am however, short on my minimum orders to stay current...ooops.... so I'm offering my discount to you, 20% OFF but only for a limited time!  Here's the deets:

• Got to the Stampin' Up! website and check out their Current Catalogs.
• Make your list, check it twice, and e-mail me it at krzykramer@yahoo.com.  I will contact you for payment (PayPal).
• Place an order with me by noon December 17th for Christmas delivery OR
• This offer is extended until December 30th so use your Christmas money gifts to place an order with me before noon on December 30th.

That's it!  I'll be posting some of what I've been busy with starting tomorrow.  You're mouths will be watering!