Christmas Rewind

*sigh* Christmas is over. Each year the anticipation of Christmas is great yet there is a sigh of relief when it has come to a close. I like to think that the Christmas spirit lasts well into the new year, but the realization that the "deadline" of Christmas is over is a relief. All that running around and stressing over projects finally took its toll on me. I've been sick the past few days, I'm just plain run down. Oddly enough, as I've sat here, mostly in my own company, I find myself asking, what can I do...what can I make? Ugh, cant you just be still?! My body has had enough so I haven't created anything new for the past few days. But, there are still a few things from just before Christmas that I can show you. So here's a recap of what I was doing just hours before the big day...yes...merely hours before. :)
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I already showed you the glitzy Ts I made for my mom to give my nieces, I also made them these little monogram necklaces. I found a bag of various sized wood squares at Michaels that I thought would be perfect for these, and they really were. They're thin and just the right size for little girls. All I did was adhere the paper to the wood chip, sand, seal, add the monogram, seal again, and then add a jewel with a bejeweler gun (more on that later because I think its my new favorite thing!) to the front and a button on the back. Then Max drilled little holes in them for me so that I could loop a jump ring through. For the actual necklace part, I just cut three coordinating ribbons and tied each end to a closure. Tying the ribbons was by far the hardest part. I really dislike dealing with teeny tiny things.

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I think I mentioned in a previous post that I had another tutu to make for my niece. Actually, I made it for my brother to give to her, from his daughter. Sydney is definitely a purple girl so picking the supplies for this ensemble was easy. She's into anything and everything girly and is also taking dance lessons, which is why her shirt says "Dance". She totally loved it and watching her put it on Christmas night was such a hoot! What is it about dressing up that makes little girls so happy?

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Ahh, more glass blocks! This is the one I made for my mom. I found the metal star (which I totally love!) at Target for just a couple bucks and then the floral stem, which I found at Hobby Lobby, was all one piece just bent to fit. Mom loves red and loves poinsettias so I thought this was "her". At least I hope so. I have another one "in progress" for another special lady so I hope to have that one finished soon. It's a belated Christmas gift as well. I still have quite the stash of these glass blocks and I'm really itching to do some shabby chic ones for regular every day use. We'll see...

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So I think that's it as far as projects go. Max and I had a very nice Christmas this year and there are a few things I'd like to share with you. But, I'll save that for next time. ;)

Hail Purdue!

On December 26 we headed to Detroit MI for the Motor City Bowl to watch Purdue play against Central Michigan. We had played them earlier in the year so this was a rematch. Still exhausted from the holidays, we were in the parking lot by 6:15 to jump on the bus. 5+ hours later, we arrived in Detroit. The game was at 7:30 and it turned out to be a real nail bitter. I'll save you the details (that's what ESPN is for!) but I will say that we won by a field goal with 2 seconds remaining on the clock. Wshew, that was a close one!

Here's Max and I as we entered the stadium.
The ever popular Purdue Marching Band.
Coach Tiller accepting the trophy.
After each win, the team sings the Purdue fight song to their fans.

Boiler Up!

After Christmas

'Twas the week after Christmas, and all through the house
Nothing would fit me, not even a blouse.

The cookies I'd nibbled, the eggnog I'd taste
At the holiday parties had gone to my waist.

When I got on the scales there arose such a number!
When I walked to the store (less a walk than a lumber).

I'd remember the marvelous meals I'd prepared;
The gravies and sauces and beef nicely rared,

The wine and the rum balls, the bread and the cheese
And the way I'd never said, "No thank you, please."

As I dressed myself in my husband's old shirt
And prepared once again to do battle with dirt

I said to myself, as I only can
"You can't spend a winter disguised as a man!"

So away with the last of the sour cream dip,
Get rid of the fruit cake, every cracker and chip

Every last bit of food that I like must be banished
Till all the additional ounces have vanished.

I won't have a cookie - not even a lick.
I'll want only to chew on a long celery stick.

I won't have hot biscuits, or corn bread, or pie,
I'll munch on a carrot and quietly cry.

I'm hungry, I'm lonesome, and life is a bore
But isn't that what January is for?

Unable to giggle, no longer a riot.
Happy New Year to all and to all a good diet!

~Author Unknown~

Santa's Workshop

Being one of Santa's elves is really, really hard work! What have I been up to you ask? Well, let me just jump right in and show you! Last time we met I mentioned the long list I needed to tackle and this is it. 15, count 'em, 15 customized frames. Now, to be fair, I've really had about two months to get these done, but did I get them done early so that I wouldn't have to stress? Ohhh no, that would not be my style. I work best under pressure...or so I tell myself.






I started and finished my Christmas cards just last night. That's right, just 5 days before Christmas. Can you say last minute? So, I made all 24 of them last night and shipped them out first thing this morning. They really aren't what I wanted but I didn't have time to be picky. I picked up the colored cardstock yesterday, printed out some sheet music on plain old office cardstock, and punched those out with my giga scalloped square. Its hard to tell in the pic, but they're dusted with clear glitter. In fact, I think my entire house and car is now "dusted" with clear glitter. Then, they're all topped off with a green button. Some were rather large so I pray that they stay attached to the card and that they go through the mail system without any hiccups.
Backing up to earlier in the week, we had our office Christmas lunch carry-in. I threw together some punch and brought these little sweet treats. My mom gets most of the credit for these though. She made the puffs and filling, all I did was re-fluff the filling and fill them. She makes these every year for Christmas and even though they're not my absolute favorite, it's just not Christmas without them.
I've already shown you the cards I made for my mom, well I also made her 50 of these little Christmas tags. Ive had these foam stamps for years. Since Ive never been a stamper I didn't really know what to do with them. Well now I know! They've each been stamped and colored by hand, all 50 of them. I just used some cardstock scraps I had left over from my wedding invitations and punched them with a giga scalloped square. Sure beats the ones you get at the store!
Remember the tutu I posted a few days back? I made another one for my sister to give to a lady she works with. I said I would wrap it all up for her and deliver it to where she works, but I had to warn her that I vowed to use newspaper to wrap all of my gifts this year. She wasn't so sure about that but I stuck to my guns and this is how it turned out. Who can beat free wrapping paper?!
I also made these cute little t-shirts for my mom to give my nieces for Christmas this year. 7 of them, all sparkly and cute, just like their personalities.
And did I mention that in between all these "little" projects over the past two weeks that I also had finals to study for and take? Oh yeah, lets test Jill to the max. But the semester is over so at least I don't have to worry about that anymore. So today, yes today, was the first day for Christmas shopping. *gasp* I know, its crazy. So now Im home from shopping, thought I would stop in for a quick hello, and now its time to get back at it. I have presents to wrap (in newspaper!), a house to clean, another tutu to make (a purple one this time!), some monogram necklaces to make and maybe a few other crafts if I have "time". I guess I'll sleep when Im dead.

Best of luck to those of you with projects to finish over the next couple of days. Warm wishes!

Its Snowing!

In our neck of the woods, its snowing! The rooftops are white, the ground is dusted, and baby its cold outside! But with a warm cup of cocoa and some Christmas carols on the radio, Im enjoying this winter day.

After much cutting, distressing, stamping and inking, my mom's Christmas cards are finally done, all 24 of them. The pictures dont do justice for some of the detail but hopefully you get the idea.

Its hard for me to pick just one thing I love about this card. I love the gold inking around the edges, the beautiful stamped image, and the lacy trim too. I have to say though, I had the stamped images all assembled and ready to be put on the green backing and they looked so lovely all stacked together. With the distressed edges, they were so soft. I thought, what a neat ornament these would make... Do you see where Im going with this? :) Hmm, stay tuned.

Because I have a huge project list waiting to be tackled this afternoon, and I do mean huge, I'll leave you with this image of my recent completed glass block. This one is a gift, although I do wish I could keep it because it would be perfect in our bedroom. 'Tis better to give than receive!

New Poll!

Check out the new polling feature Ive added to the right! The question has no real significance, I just find it an interesting thought to ponder. Now, where's my glass of milk? ;)

Winter Wishes & Snowy Kisses!

As promised, here's a start on my Christmas cards for this year. Sadly, they're not for me but for my sister. Lucky girl, if I do say so myself.
Because I took these pictures at night, their true colors arent really coming through but you get the idea. Im no photographer so its hard to tell the the card front is actually about an inch shorter than the card back, so the snowflake overlaps the front and back. The exposed blue needed a little touch of something so I used my white ink pad and dusted around the edge and corners. It reminds me of a frosted window pane!

Im still working on cards for my mom so hopefully I'll have those to post tomorrow. Lord willing I'll find some time to actually make some cards for myself! But for a teaser, Im thinking that they'll be some sort of an ornament... Oooo, exciting!

Vintage Photo Cards

I seemed to have fallen in love with just about anything vintage or vintage inspired. My cards are no exception. Ive made several variations of this particular type of card but this specific set I made for my mom to give as a gift. I had purchased a lilac patterned box at TJ Maxx a short while back for $6. So I made her two card sets to coordinate and she is going to fill it with other goodies to complete the package.


The vintage photos can be found under my reference links to the right. The sentiments were found on quotegarden.com and were printed on plain office card stock, crumpled and inked up. The flowers were pulled from an old silk lilac stem I had and adorned with either brads or buttons. That's it! Pretty quick really and oh so vintage!

It's been a while!

It has been way too long since Ive visited my own blog page. I guess Ive just been too busy stalking everyone else's! I have been pretty busy with various projects over the past few months so lets get started shall we?

Im going to start first with a little sumtin' I made for my niece Cory, it was her second birthday recently. I saw these in a local boutique and was like, I can so make that! So I gave it a whirl and here's how it turned out.

I think the tutu was a big hit! Once she put it on she didnt want to take it off and she looked adorable in it! Happy Birthday little princess!

We had our first substantial snowfall early last week and this is how our "back yard" looked. I love the peacefulness of freshly fallen snow, there's nothing like it. Of course, that feeling usually changes by the end of the season!

So with all the new snow, it is definitely starting to look like Christmas around here. Here are a few random pics Ive taken from around the house.
These little ornaments were made by printing out Christmas sheet music on ivory cardstock and punching out with my Marvy Giga punch. I then punched a hole, threaded ribbon through, and viola! Super quick and easy, especially on the wallet.

Im going to end this post with a little project that has been a family tradition for 28 years. The year that I was born, my mom put together a "Christmas Wishbook". Each of her seven children had their own page on which they could "wish" for whatever they wanted for Christmas. This helped her to shop for Christmas and we also left it out for Santa to read too. So it has been left to me to make sure that a wishbook is created each year for Christmas. Or maybe I just took it over, who knows. There are 31 of us now so you can sure bet Santa needs a shopping list! I was in such a frantic to get this year's book made that I forgot to take pictures. Im such a bonehead! Well, it was a bit of a mess to make, picture... glue...glitter...31 pages...you get my drift. But, I did just make a book for my sister-in-law's mother and I did take pictures of that one! Never mind that I had to take them in my car sitting outside of Kinkos! Here it is:

This one was pretty easy really and kind of fun! Much unlike the glittery mess I mentioned earlier! This is the first 3x4 book Ive made, they've been 6x6 the past few years and larger than that way back when. I separated each family with a ribbon tag which added a nice touch to the side of the book. There were 18 pages in this book plus a special Notes pages so that they could jot down memories from that year's Christmas holiday. All in all, I think it took me less than an hour and a half to complete. Then I took it to Kinko's to have it bound, which cost about $4+ to do. Well worth it in my opinion!

Ive been working on some Christmas cards for my mom, sister and myself so hopefully I'll have those to post real soon. Until then...!

Halloween Cards Round 2

So I haaaad to go get a couple sheets of new Halloween paper to round out my card collection. The patterned paper on each of these two cards is from Heidi Grace Jeepers Creepers; Dots and Decor Stripe.

The first one was punched with a Marvy Giga Scallop Punch and embellished with two flowers from my stash. I had to spray paint the black one, a super quick and easy trick. It's hard to tell in the photo, but the flower "frame" is on pop dots so it stands up just a wee bit.

The second card is super simple and easy to mass produce. The notch punch is from Stampin Up and is topped with an amber rhinestone. Each card has a white mat on the inside for writing.

Halloween Cards

Im a little slow getting started on Halloween this year but here are two cards that I recently finished. The first was created using an image I found on Google Images. The paper is from my scrap pile so I no longer know who it is by and the notch punch is from Stampin Up. Im new to stitching so dont look too closely. ;)

The second card was also made using an image from Google Images. PP is from Basic Grey and flourish stamp by Autumn Leaves inked in Lavendar ink from Stampabilities. I added a touch of glue and sparkles on top of the ink for a little extra glitz. The inside of the card reads "If the shoe fits..."