Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas to all and best wishes for a fantastic 2011!!!!  I'm signing off until January 2nd to do a little resting and relaxing.  Hope you all have a wonderful week and I'll see you all very soon. :)

Blessings to all of you,

Candlelight dinner

Here's a quick and wicked easy festive tablescape (minus the dishes).  I've been meaning to post more pics since this post and I've finally gotten "tuit" as my grandfather would have said. :)

 

Side view of my centerpiece.  The red votive is one of three bargain items scooped up at Homegoods this season. :)

 

Five different canning jars of various sizes I had layin' about in my basement.  Can't even remember where I go this idea from, but I know it was one of you out there.  This isn't an original idea of mine by a long shot, but I'm so tickled with how it turned out!

I used flour in the jars instead of sugar or salt.  I had way more extra flour than of the other two.  I've actually since added some old fashioned crystal glitter to the top of the flour to give it a little sparkle.  The ornaments are dollar store and clearance items I've acquired over the years.  Usually I have a variety of colorful ornaments like these in a trifle bowl, but this year I changed it up. :)

The platter is one of the few pieces left of my mom's good china.  The white candlesticks also belonged to the good china set.  The wooden candlesticks are from my DH's grandparents (at least that's what the two of us think- Barb any thoughts?)

This actually puts out a great amount of light!  The whole family (and our friends Jeff & Erin) ate by this candlelight this weekend.  The nephews had some initial concerns about the fire (very sweet and safety conscious little fellas), but once reassured that safety came first (we have a fire extinguisher in the kitchen) a great meal of Havana Moon Chili (me and DH) & homemade pizza (DSIL- Thanks Beth!) was enjoyed by all. :)

I've set this table and invited folks over from:
Between Naps on the Porch-Tablescape Thursday

Thanks for stopping by and please leave a comment.  I really enjoy hearing from all of you. :)

Have a very merry time with your loved ones this weekend!

Gingerbread, Gingerbread-Yum ,Yum, Yum

Every December (so far) I have taught reading to my students through various Gingerbread Man (or at least gingerbread themed) stories.  I take photos of each student reading their favorite story and send them to their parents as a first grade keepsake.  Last year the cards looked like this and here are this years versions...

Being the great visionary, I had the general idea of what I wanted to make this year.  Being the poor planner, I didn't buy all the supplies I had planned on using.  Being dumb lucky, I had a variety of brown scraps, ribbon bits, embellies, and glitter to "get 'er dun" on Sunday afternoon.  So this is the variety pack that I came up with this year. (Thanks to my MIL and FIL for making dinner happen on Sunday so I could make these gingerfolks happen!)

I used this Tim Holtz die cutter to make my 20-some gingerfolks.  It was probably more fun because I used scraps than if I had made them all from the same papers. :)

Here are most of them drying after I added liquid pearls, Stickles, or just glue & Martha Stewart glitter (she really does have the best glitter).  Some of the gingerfolks had some sad looking faux icing that needed repair so they missed the photo shoot. LOL!

I stuck with the same basic sketch for all of these cards and then "spiced" (pun intended- I crack me up, hee-hee) each card up with different ribbon, paper, and assorted embellies from my stash.

 

Here are a few more close-ups...

 A couple more...

The quadruplets...(poor #4 got cut-off).

The twins...

The other twins (it is the age of fertility you know ;) )...

The "Age of Aquarius" fellowship...

Last, but not least, is my new ornament!  This was made and given to me by my former student mentioned here.  I have it hanging on my workroom tree.  Yeah, I added another tree to this.  It was $5 on clearance at Target.  I simply adore Christmas lights!!!!  I may leave this up all year with Fitz and my Christmas donkey photo (no his name isn't Dominik).

I'm cooking up some fun with these cards here:
Papertake Weekly- Anything Goes
The Shabby Tea Room- #41
City Crafter- Vintage Christmas
There She Goes- Button it Up

 

My Buddy Fitz

For the Top Tip Tuesday card and challenge scroll down, otherwise start here and mosey down as you like. :)

Remember when I went down to NYC to check out the Martha Stewart Holiday Fair?  Well I picked up this little fella down there. :)

This little guy is made from gloves!  Some strategic clipping of fingers, stuffing said fingers (or not) and select sewing gets you "Fitz the Reindeer".  Isn't he sweet?!?

I'm not entirely sure what his antlers are made from, but they are so cool!  Quiling/sewing at it's most awesome. :)

This is the view of Fitz's tushie!  Fitz is the creation of Anduin, Martha Stewart's Emmy winning art director, so this guy was made by hands that have touched an Emmy!!!!! (I'm a dork, I know). 

I put another antlered fella with Fitz for the Top Tip Tuesday challenge this week.  The theme is embellishments.  How easy-peasy is that! :)

I adore monochromatic cards.  I also come to realize that I adore red.  Not as much as grey and brown, but gosh there's nothing like a red Christmas card.  It just feels a holiday in your hands. :)

 

Not sure if you can get the bling embellishment on this card.  I added just a hint of Stickles on the tips of the antlers and the fun little ribbon for a quick and easy Christmas card.

Hope you have everything all set for this weekend.  Don't forget to take a moment from time to time the next few days to really enjoy all that Christmas is really about.  It's not the stuff folks.  It's time spent with the ones you love and who love you.  Treasure this time with family 'cause you never know what tomorrow will bring.

I'm galloping over here with my paper creation:
Paper Playtime-Challenge #30
Craft Your Passion- #37
Critter Sketch Challenge- Challenge #45
Stampin for the Weekend- Christmas

Easy Gift from a Cardmaker :)

This time of the year is when we stop to think about who we like to say "thank you" to in the form of a little something.  Folks like teachers, postal workers, newspaper delivery folks, and all those people who make life run easier than we can imagine.  Last year I made a few sets of cards with matching memo pads for my fellow teachers to give as a "Christmas thanks" to their room moms and to their own child's teacher.  This year is gift set 2.0.

First up is a Christmasy style decorated box.  I had fun adding some bling in the form of a glittery lime green BB chipboard sticker, some yummy MB paper, and two ribbons.  The thank you card you see is part of the 8 card variety pack included in this box.

This is the back view.  I wanted something cute to peek out the back and, rather than the embellied envie, I went with a Christmas card.  I thought it would also hint to the recipient that this is a variety pack. :)  If you have visited me here before, some of these cards will look a little familiar. LOL! :)  There were two of these Christmasy card sets, but when I downloaded the pics I realized I forgot to take shots of the other one before I delivered it to the buyer!!! (U-G-H!)  For a better pic of the St. Lucia rabbit click here.

This one has a decidedly less Christmas feel, but it's good for all occasion inspiration. :)  Went with good ole BB glittery lime swirly chipboard stickers, some designer ppr, and two ribbons for this one too.

Version 2 of this design- I remembered to take pics of this one. LOL!

Here's the back of both of these.  Eye candy from all angles. :)  For a better look at the MFT birthday girl click here and for the birthday daisy click here.

I've boxed these up for delivery here:
craft ENvy- Holly Bloggy Christmas
The Creative Crate- Christmas Party
Top Tip Tuesday- Christmas Inspired
Creative Friday #32- Gift Box
Todays Creative Blog- Get Your Craft On!

Christmas Gifts and Thanks

I'm sending this thanks to a former student and her parents.  The whole family is uber artistic and talented!  Both parents are artists/teachers and they invited me to their Christmas pottery sale. :)  I *heart* pottery and this stuff is "the stuff".

Here's a kinda sketchy pic of one of the chip/dip platters I bought.  Better pics of pottery goodness can be found here.

On to Top Tip Tuesday!!!!  This week Vee is hosting a cool tut showing how to make this cutie-patootie gift box from coasters. 

Sponsors for TTT this week:
Digital Delights

Creative Treasures
Sunshine and Giggle Stamps

There are lots of ways to win, so hop on over to find out more!

I'm "tweeting" this card here:
The Artistic Stamper- Christmas
Dutch Dare- Christmas Card/Tag/Ornament
Sundays with Crissy- Christmas is Coming
Crafty Cardmakers- Lastest AND Oldest (the oldest part was painful!)
Raise the Bar- SNOW (silver- the button have silver glitter, no ribbon- it's string, one designer paper- the other pattern is the actual base, wording- just a Christmas note. :)
Sugar Bee- Take a Look Tuesday

My Gal Martha

As if, but a gal can wish. :)  I told you earlier this week that I had been to the Martha Stewart Holiday Craft Fair.  Here are some pic's from the day.  Only a few.  We're hosting my husbands office party at our place this weekend and I really need to get this place cleaned up! LOL! (Actually it's more like crying out loud- I really hate cleaning)

After getting up at 5:15 am (or as I refer to it "the time God hasn't turned on the lights yet, so I shouldn't be up) to catch my very first ever train at 7:20 (also in the a-period-m-period) my friend Lynn and I got to the line outside the MSLO offices at 11:15.  Within 10 minutes the line had tripled!  No kidding.  I can tell you it was WICKED COLD OUTSIDE!!!  We waited the 45 minutes and were number 99 and 100 to get in the door. :)

Moments later it was shoppers delight!  Most of the folks selling wears were employees, but we met some wonderful vendors who had won the chance to take part in the fair.

This gal was one of them!  She sold some great felted baskets that looked like acorns and some of the cutest little felt acorn ornaments.  Of course I had to get a few of those precious ornaments.  My friend Lynn got one of the acorn baskets for a friend and it is so stinking cute!!!  The card I picked up from this gal lists her website as Baskets At Home and she was simply lovely in spite of my terrible photo. (It was a hopping place people!  I had to snap quick.)

I'm probably remembering/spelling this wrong but Sullivan Street Bakery was there selling bomboloni and they were AMA-wait-for-it-ZING!  Lighter than a doughnut and vanilla creme filled goodness. YUM!

I snapped this shot of some homemade jam for the Jammin Crew at my church (BTW they had The Holiday Bazaar this past Saturday and the gals sold $4,100 worth of jams and goods.  Whoo-hooo!)

Lest you think I only took photos of food... This is my friend Lynn holding Bad To The Bone, a stuffed animal made of knit gloves.  He's the creation of Anduin (an Emmy winning employee of MSLO).  I got BTTB's stinkin cute reindeer brother Fitz (photo coming soon).  Lynn got fingerless gloves made by Anduin.  We spent the train ride back being little kids excited that the hands that touched an Emmy made our goodies. :)

There was a make-your-own booth hosted by Martha gals too!  We were afraid of breaking anything we made so would took a pass and just watched the goodies folks were creating.

When we left at 1:30 pm the line to get in looked like this.  You see that goldish colored boxy thing sort of at the base of the street light?  The line went FURTHER than that.  But wait there's more!  Let's look back at the building I just left...

The line went to that Just 4 truck and wrapped back toward the door.  Holy moly!  It was like getting into a night club!  There were only so many folks let in at a time.  I've never seen that for a craft fair before.  It was kinda neat. :)

I'll post some pic's of the Macy*s windows this weekend.  Before I go, I want to give a great shout out to some of the FANTASTIC folks who were there, I *heart*, and was so distracted admiring/buying their wears I forgot to get a photo of their booth.  In no particular order...

Blondies Southern Sweets and Savories (in spite of the fact she is an Auburn Tiger and not a Clemson Tiger, I adored her tasty goods and she was a true southern gem. LOL!)
The Feisty Redhead (great scarves and shoulder shrugs)
little alouette (awesome teething rings! I'm getting a custom one for a friend as a shower gift!)
handmade stuffed PET PORTRAITS (exactly what they look like and AWESOME!)
LaLa Laurie (her card reads crafter, writer, kitten wrangler- nothing more to say.  I'm in! BTW she posted some great shots of craft day on her blog.  Whatta gal!)

I'm already thinking about