Happy New Year!

Where did Christmas go?  I can't believe we are already into January 2016!  Time really does feel like it is flying.  The picture above was at the mall- it was so pretty I had to share it!

I wanted to share the Christmas cards my co-workers and I made to send out to other co-workers.  We do it every year and really have a blast making them!  The glue was really flying this year but I managed not to get any glue or glitter in my hair!

 

 

 

 

Here are some pictures during the construction.  Now the wreaths I did make at home.  They involved more stamping and cutting than we really had time for in 1 night.  This is Stampin Up's Wonderous Wreath set.  I love this set!  Below, you can see how it looked on the cards. 

 

The finished card is below.  We used all kinds of different patterned Christmas paper.  I love how they came out.  It was truly a fun night to be able to get together and share the fun - it's priceless!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We also made some Christmas "Crackers" that night.  At least that is what I always called them.  I just learned they are called Crackers because in the 'old' days they used to make a cracking sound when you opened them.  These didn't crack open but they were fun to make.

 

 

 

Well, Christmas is over ...boo... and I am on to other projects.  Bring on 2016!  I hope this year brings lots of Health and Happiness to us all! 

Merry Christmas Tent Card

I can't believe Christmas is almost here!  It doesn't help that we have NO snow here..at least in Southern Maine.  The forecast is for warmer weather!  Ah well, it will still be fun to get together with the family and celebrate the holiday!  I am really looking forward to seeing everyone!

I saw this card on Pinterest- where else ?   I love this easy basic Tent Card.  I am a little nervous about how my friends and family will like it since I gave this card to a couple of friends and was with them when they opened it.  It took them a minute to realize you don't open the card you stand it up.

The sentiment is on the back of the card-

 

It folds perfectly flat for mailing-

 

 

 

 

I made not quite 30 cards to mail.  I got a little bored with making the same card so I used different paper- even changed out the piece that hangs.  I made an Angel and also used my new Stampin Up Wonderous Wreath stamp and die set!  The snowflake above is also from Stampin Up.

 

 

 

Here is a great tutorial from Beate from Splitcoast Stampers.  I changed the dimensions on mine to make more room for my snowflake to hang but the instructions are the same-

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/tentcard/

 

I am going to be busy wrapping gifts and cooking for the next few days as I am sure you are too!   I wanted to make sure I wished everyone a very Merry Christmas! 

 

 

 

Tote Bag Birthday!

Look what my sister, Rochelle, made for me!  So adorable!  She even used Graphic 45 paper to make it!  Since I know I hoard Graphic 45 paper - I know what a sacrifice she made to use it to make my gift! And it's one of my favorite collections - By the Sea!!  Not only that- but I have a twin sister and she made one for her too!  I am speechless!

 

She even gives a link to the  instructions on her blog.  I have her as a link on my side bar but you can click on the link below if you want to give it a try-

 

 

http://creativecornerstudio.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2015-08-21T10:52:00-07:00&max-results=7&start=7&by-date=false

 

Another angle

 

 

Not only did she make this cute bag - she added a gift too!  I love the saying on the charm! I will wear it often!  Thank you, Rochelle!    I wish the same for all who read my blog!

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

The turkey is in the oven, the ham and chicken (yes, chicken) are in the crock pots!  We have 18 family members coming today to celebrate and give thanks for all our blessings!  The centerpiece above is new this year and I can't wait to turn the candles on.  Yup, all the candles are battery operated- so cool!  We don't have to worry about a fire!!

 

 

This is the view looking into the kitchen. I can't believe we had enough room for 18 guests!  But they all will fit!  I hope!

Here is the view from the kitchen into the living room!  Good thing we are a close family!  As I type this, I can smell the turkey!  Yum!

 I have been working on several ideas for our Christmas cards this year!  Also, I have the cards ready to assemble for the office get together next week.  We make about 30 cards to give to co-workers at other offices.  The picture below is going to be the front of the card. When we are finished making the cards- I will post pictures!

Here are several more cards that I worked on for our Christmas giving but may not use them due the level of detail required and the fact that I need to make 30 of them!  These are Diarama cards!  I love making them!  I saw some on Pinterest and have fallen in love with them!  Here is a tutorial on how to make them from Linda Higgins. She does a fabulous job with her instructions.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/256564509997564538/




Manger Diarama card

Here is one I made using Elizabeth Craft Designs ( Karen Burniston cute animals) mice.  I just love this cute critters! 




Well, the smell of turkey is calling me to the kitchen!  I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!  This Thanksgiving is the first one since my Mom died but I know we all will be thinking of her and Dad the whole day.  I am so thankful to have had such wonderful parents and thankful that they gave me such wonderful siblings.  Today, I am sharing Thanksgiving with a lot of love in my heart.   I want to thank my heavenly father for all the blessing in my life!  Have a fabulous day!

Post Halloween 2015

I hope everyone had a fun Halloween!  We had about 18 kids come Trick or Treating to our house!  We saw some great costumes!  When a button is pressed on the Witch above- she twirls and laughs...a really spooky laugh!   The kids loved her!   I love Halloween!  Now onward to work on Christmas cards and treat boxes!

These boxes are the Self closing boxes that I saw on Pinterest! I think they are adorable.   I used the tutorial from Stamping with Dawn located here:

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/188940146844559914/

 

I love making these boxes since they are really easy!  Dawn's instructions are great!  The picture above shows how you can put a sentiment on the back of the box. I made 2 different Santa boxes but not sure which one I like best.

 

 

 

The picture below shows a visitor we had in our back yard on Saturday!  Hope you can see her- she was very brave to come so close to our back porch.  I could have watched her forever!  They are so beautiful!  When she ran off - she looked so light on her feet - like she was prancing thru the woods.  We have seen so many deer around our house - especially in the morning on our way to work.  Fall is my favorite time of  year- except I know what is to come.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Halloween!

 

I have been working on making this year's  Halloween card for the kids!  I love it when I can pull out my Halloween dies and use them!  This year I am using the Sizzix Accordion card to display little scenes on each panel.   I love how this card opens and then can collapse to mail.  

 

I even used some of my Graphic 45 paper to decorate the card!  Here 's few close ups of the card sections. 

 

 

I love the little red gems I used for the cat's eyes - the spider and the bat have them too!  Really gives them a eerie quality- Don't ya think?  The skeleton seems to dance on this card .... creepy....

 

 

 

Here's another view- I actually made 2 of these cards - one for each Grandchild!  I spent the day making them and I can't believe how the time flew by!  It was fun!  I have started working on Christmas Cards !  Can you believe it?  I am doing some sample cards to determine which ones I want to use and which ones we will use for the office!  I will post some pictures when I have narrowed the selection down.

 

 

I did want to thank everyone for the kind messages that were sent to me after my Mom died.  It was so very comforting to read those e-mails.  Thank you for thinking of me.  I hope everyone has a fabulous Halloween!!

 

Laughing with Angels

I am sorry to have been away from my blog and the only posting I have today are pictures of my Mom.   Even though this is a well worn, scratchy photo of her- it is one of my favorite!  We lost Mom on September 2nd.  It is the first time I have been able to write about her without crying.  It never ceases to amaze me that she raised 8 children!  I raised only one and I know it is a very tough job!   I know my parents were strict parents when we were growing up ( I think they had to be) but I always knew they loved us!  My Dad died 5 years ago and I know Mom missed him so much.  

The picture above is Mom and Dad on their wedding day!  Another favorite picture of them both!  They look so young!

This last picture is of them both when my sister, Connie, got married.  I miss them both very much!  The title of this post is "Laughing with Angels" - that is how I want to picture them.   They are both together now with my older sister, Terri.  Knowing I will see them again someday helps too.  Time is a healer and just being able to type this is a sign of that healing.  I have started to work in my Craft room again - being busy does seem to help.  As I talk to people - I know lots of us have to go thru this loss.  I am not alone. My siblings and I were so fortunate to have them as parents.  We do have lots of wonderful memories too!