Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone. Hope you had a few moments of peace and joy. A time when all was quite and you could reflect on the beauty of the Christmas holiday. Because I am organizationally challenged and distractions over-take me (the fun of A.D.D.) I usually have to wait until I am so out of time and the event is actually here....when I can no longer clean a little more, or bake a little more, or shop a little more, then I have to stop. I have no choice but to stop and enjoy the Holiday. So I finally Stopped and rested and enjoyed the music and what is left of Christmas.


Here you will find some Christmas crafts...I re-used a piece of cardboard from a package and covered it in some nice Christmas scrapbook paper. Then experimented w/my own lettering in pencil and went over it w/"Stickles". I also tried pleating the crepe paper (you know I just forgot what it was called and had to go & find the package, I hate when that happens) glued it then applying w/some glitter to the edges. I had been wanting to try pleating the crepe paper--one of those things you see and wish you had more time to try it. But just what is the secret to it, as I am not a pro and it is hard to get evenly pleated...let me know if you have done this w/success.

I made these skates out of fabric for Grace for the Heidi's swap that I posted in last. I am hoping to find a few moments to craft before the weekend is over.

How has your week been mine has been extra challenging for so many reasons. One big one being that my one daughter has been sick since last weekend and another complains once in a while of a belly ache too. There was re-arranging of schedules w/work, school, w/illness and snow that we received last Saturday night. Shopping and cooking and all the last minute things. But we made it to church Christmas eve as planned and then off to family party. Christmas morning was unwrapping most of the gifts with a break for overnight baked french toast and then bible reading of the Christmas story. Finishing of gifts, arrival of oldest daughter & her family...then a quiet evening of our own Turkey dinner & a kids movie. We are still so very blessed by God and thank Him for the hope that the Birth of Jesus brought so very long ago.
Blessings & Hugs, Carol

Christmas Swap 2009

Wow, where did time go? I just had to post before Christmas gets here. This is awful how behind I am. I completed another of Heidi's swaps. She is so sweet and I love to visit her beautiful blog. It puts you in the holiday spirit no matter when you go there! Hugs to Heidi!!! And to my lovely new friend and partner for the swap, Grace. You can find her here at Pink in the City.
The picture above is the cutest vintage window box that Grace made. I will treasure it each year it is very special. She did a wonderful job!
Thanks again Grace for the "Merry Christmas" letters to hang and candy and "snow" to craft with. For the great candle and ornaments and all you sent. And especially thanks for being such a nice new friend!

It is also this girl's birthday. I don't have to say how hard it is to have and to celebrate a birthday so close to Christmas and the activities that it contains! The important thing I think of most about Olivia is that she was given the gift of Mercy and giving. Never had I seen a child like her who would give you her last bite of any treat she had since a small toddler. She is so giving in all ways but it also makes for a sensitive spirit that can be so easily hurt. I know it is her gift because we all try to teach children but some just do it on their own...Happy 8th Birthday Olivia. She is my "baby" but has caught up to her one sis completely (which makes her a bit sad since they are 21 mo. apart!) I think she grew to complete the scene in which she becomes truly a twin to her other sis. They have been so close like I can only imagine twins to be and even their appearance is such that everyone has always asked or thought them to be twins! (although to a momma they are different) She is my shy girl yet has sang little solo parts for the school Christmas show and will do it again tonight with her sis also. Their relationship I think makes their one sister wish she could be a part (a teen tho she is)..me too! In fact, Cassidy wore a shirt for Olivia to school today that says "Happy Birthday". They are only a grad apart and one was home longer for a year.
I would not quit today, even with its hectic pace, before posting and saying hello. Above is a photo of some stars for the swap I am completing today. Blessings for the Season,
Carol

Fall Decor

It is still "fall" mode around here. But I can feel winter coming.

Time to put away all the Halloween decor, but I do love the pumpkins colors of "fall" for Thanksgiving, so I am in that in-between state of feeling like Christmas but mixed w/what is left: bits and pieces of leaves and orange and smells of orange/spice.

And here below is part of what I made for Amy for "Heidi's" last swap. It was a banner for Halloween.

I found myself wanting to be creative in a winter-kinda way but no time on my hands to spare. So, I did what I normally do: I found another swap to join. What better way than to "have" to create by a certain deadline?! I joined another of sweet Heidi's swaps. Have a great night!
Hugs and blessings, Carol

October goodies

Here are a few of the items that I received from the swap that was completed as mentioned below. I say a "few" because I did not get enough photos of all that was sent from dear Amy. She did a beautiful job w/presenting all she made and sent. This acorn box is one of my favorites, I wish you could see it in person. So full of Fall, and glittery.
And, this beautiful Halloween box, all orange and black and full of glitter!! Did I mention full of surprises inside, like notions and thread and little leaves and more.

oOh, and here is what my box looked like inside. Festive for sure. And why are these images out f order? Shouldn't the opened box be first? Of course it should. In a perfect world it would be. You know where this is heading? Since we are not on "Planet Perfect" "our" precious computer is misbehaving and playing tricks. It was all I could do to get these images even uploaded today. I blogging. We have our photos and all we need. We are good to go." SURPRISE...my most tried on day before. I said to myself: "self, let's just quickly post and do our best to keep up with important button on my blog post editing "Add Image" refuses to work correctly and then when it does..I either lose a connection and an image and have to start over or get some different message. It all happened within the last 2 months I suppose. Still waiting for Mr. Genius, my "I can do just about anything I set my mind to" husband to figure this terrible problem out. For now, here you go. To top it all off, I figured out long ago how to cut and paste and manipulate my post photos around my text...and naturally those buttons suddenly do nothing and I deleted a photo and had to start over. All those who have a love/hate relationship w/their computer say: I...IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

A big Thank-You to Amy for all of her hard work and Heidi for hosting (see previous post for her blog info!)

I know I should be doing something else, but....how many times have I said that before? Really needed to blog and post pics of some of what was sent and received in the "Halloween Swap" that Heidi hosted. I am behind, I am not getting stuff done. No, I sometimes get stuff done, but never what I make up in my mind to do. I believe that's another post. For now, a view of a few lovely Halloween gifts that were sent by my partner Amy Bauer. Yep, you already viewed that and as mentioned, I cannot maneuver this thing today. I won't give up. Posting more when I can achieve back my sanity from this dang computer.. off to feed my brood :}

hugs, Carol

October crafting with a teen

A beautiful day in my part of the country. Sure have that "fall" feeling. I am not sure I could live anywhere else as I love each change of season, especially Fall! And, a nice little chill in the air makes me feel like crafting. Too bad there has not been much time lately. But, sometimes a thing will happen and you are totally taken by surprise. Like when this girl:actually took her momma up on an invitation to sit down and do some "Fall" crafting. I had not planned on her accepting my offer. But folks, miracles do occur in many ways and she made this:So, naturally I had to oblige and continue for the next 3 hours to complete this, being driven by bottles of glitter and supplies I had not seen since last October:

And all was well in the happy little land (dining room table) of crafting, and the momma got her creative mindset, which she did indeed need for Heidi's Halloween swap was in full swing. Stay tuned for some fun previews.
A blessed Autumn night to all, and here is hoping you too may have a blissful moment with your ever changing teenage girl. Need I say more?? Carol

I managed to complete my first Halloween swap since last year. YEAH!
These two on the right not only had their baby (second child for DD) but also celebrated their 2nd wedding anniversary this week. AND it was a Happy Birthday to Amanda (oldest DD) on Sept. 11....I will tell you she is 25 but I'm not tellin just how old I might be.

It has been a challenging week, busy and full of lots of re-arranging. I have to catch you all up on what the past year has held for us. This week was a visit from the newest "babe" addition, Ellen Grace. She has my grandmother's first name (her great-grandmother) who loved every child that came along and was full of hugs & love for everyone. A tiny bit of a baby, weighing 5 lb. 11 oz. and 18 1/2" long. In fact this is her at one month old now in the arms of Aunt Cassidy (all of 9 years old).

Here is Cassidy healthy at a picnic this summer,but this week she caught the illnesses going around and it quickly became pneumonia that she is recovering from.




Here is her little sister (her self-made twin) Olivia. Since Cassidy has been ill and missed a week of school (all but one day) Mommy bribed her with a couple dollars to get her to go to school while her one sister had to stay home as they miss each other during the day. Lets hope the 14-yr old does not get word of this because her budget is much bigger...and tell her if she sees this, her photo is coming next post!

This guy had a birthday this week, Happy Birthday Honey!! How come we can't have a day off for our B-day anyways?? These days this guy is always working, working, working. Trying his best to work 3 day regular job and start a business selling custom turntable bases. (don't make me tell y'all what a record player is now, they came right before your cd's, okay? at least that's what I hear, wink,wink)
Don't worry I have done lots more than the above including working, paying bills, house work, baby snuggling, exercising, worrying, yellin at this computer that did not let me post pics in like forever (that's right, I have been at this computer Forever!!)AND more boring stuff. Hugs and blessings for the weekend! Carol

A quick post to say, Thanks to my friend Jules, and you can find her at Whimsical Notations, I Now have a complete "Fall" Blog, all dressed up and ready to celebrate the seasons and my second arrival to blogland all over again! What can I say, some people are really special!!!

Trying to get back

If you happen by here today, a big hug to you and thanks for stopping by. It's been awhile, almost a year. And, if you are happening by, you may feel my confusion as my Banner is still in Christmas mode and hence, I wondered if I should continue on w/Christmas up there since before we can blink....it will be upon us again. BUT WAIT, I love Fall too, so I am doing my best to figure this thing out and get some more appropriate up there. I managed the background, but that is much easier than figuring out how to edit images onto a banner and my good friend Jules helped me out w/all the other stuff last time. I am easing my way back here and I hope you all are well. Some blogs I used to know are now gone and I am hoping to find them again someday, maybe they took a long vacation like me or maybe they moved on. I will post when I can and visit just the same. I never took off my blog in hopes to be back again. I only visited my own blog a couple times as it made me sad not to be there among you all. Slowly I am returning and what better way than w/a new swap right?? Maybe I will see you at here: Heidi's Halloween Swap!
Carol