It's New Year's Eve

What are your resolutions?  What do you want from the new year?  I've decided to spend this evening mapping out my plans for this new year.  It's a good way to get started on the right track.  But, for now, here's a definition of a New Year's Resolution.  Enjoy

 

 

My Day of Rest and Worship

For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not there, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater, So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth; it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing thereto I sent it.

Isaiah 55:10-11

KJV

Mom's Ceramic Creation

Well, my laptop took a dive today.  When I pushed the power on button, nothing happened.  According to my son Matthew, it's either the hard drive or the display thingy but he won't know for sure until he can get here to take a look.  Yes, as you can tell, I'm not literate on all parts of a computer.  Anyway, I'm on my desktop, which I haven't used much since the laptop so everything is taking me longer.

As promised in an earlier post, here is a close up of the ceramic piece my mother gave me.  It was hidden in the photo with the plants and the white church.  I love this Santa and all the detail she put into the whole piece.

Today, my order came with some of the goodies from the new Spring Catalog and the new Sale-A-Bration Brochure.  I can't wait to show you what I've been working on since I started almost as soon as I got them out of their package.

Another Framed Home

This gift is the one I gave me youngest son, Michael and his wife.  While it is the same, it is different than the other one I made in that it goes along with the color scheme in their living room.  The word 'home' is a very pretty dark green with a background that has hints of green and cream.  I can't wait to see it hanging on their wall.  I love how things can be the same but look so different with the change of a color and frame.

Framed Home

It's the day after Christmas, the gifts are all opened and we are all still full of that wonderful Christmas dinner.  I had a great time with my two youngest sons and their families on Tuesday.  My oldest son was unable to be with us but I spent nearly two hours on the phone with him catching up on all that he is doing these days.  It was a great day.

This year I made all of the gifts I gave to family and friends.  I made this one for my number two son, Matthew and his wife. 

It doesn't show up well in the photo but the 'home' has different shades of brown and a bit of color.  The background is cream with hints of the colors found in the cutout.

Joy Ornament

A friend wanted to make these ornaments as seen on page 7 of the Holiday Catalog but her schedule was such that she had no time.  I had the time, so made 28 of these for her and the prototype now adorns my tree.  I love that Silver Glimmer Paper.  Actually, I like them all.  We have Silver, Red and Champagne.  The Red and Silver are in our Annual Catalog but the Champagne is only available in the Holiday Catalog and that will be gone come January 2nd.

Stamp Set:  Joyous Celebration; Inks:  Cherry Cobbler, Gumball Green; Card Stock:  Very Vanilla, Glimmer Paper/Silver; Accessories & Tools:  Snow Flurry Bigz Die, 3-1/2" Scalloped Tulle Ribbon/Cherry Cobbler, Linen Thread, Mini Glue Dots

When the light hits it, the Glimmer Paper really sparkles.  It is a nice addition to my handmade only tree decorations.

Have a Blessed Holiday!

Christmas Eve

May you have a wonderful and fun filled holiday spent with family and friends.

 

My Christmas Tree

I love my little pre-lit tree.  The skirt is wrapper around and looks just a Christmas package.  Each year I add new ornaments that I've received as gifts.  This year I added two cute stockings, a red and while bird and my own Joy ornament.  Now all I have to do is wait for Santa to visit.  I wonder what he will bring me this year?

My Day of Rest and Worship

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  And this shall be a sign unto you:  Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

Luke 1:11-12

KJV

Mr. & Mrs. Frosty

In sharing my Christmas decorating with you, I've come to realize that I've started my own collection of snowmen.  It's a wonderful reminder of my mother and how much she loved them.  This pair is quite musical.  When you press Mrs. Frosty's left hand, it starts them both singing "We Wish You A Merry Christmas" and Mr. Frosty bobbing up and down.  It's so cute and my grandchildren all love them.  It's a treat for them to start them singing.

Family Frame

For this frame I paired the Bravo Burgundy Card Stock with some Everyday Enchantment Designer Series Paper (retired).  The word family was attached with Mini Glue Dots.  Now I'm in the mood to make some new greeting cards.  It will be a nice change from all the gifts I've been making.

It's A Blizzard!

The wind is still blowing at about 30 mph.  They won't diminish until tomorrow early morning and we are still under a blizzard warning.  There is 12 inches of snow on the ground.  The temperatures are dropping into the single digits.  High tomorrow is going to be a whopping 20 degrees.  Go check out 511IA.org and you'll see a lot of roads are closed all over the state.  But, woo! hoo!  The snow predicted for Christmas Day is not going to come our way. 

I wanted to share some photos I took.  The first one is at 7 p.m. last night about an hour and a half into the snowfall.  Notice there is no snowdrift between my car and my neighbor's car.  The second one was taken at 7 a.m. this morning.  Notice the snowdrifts that now surround my car and filled up the space between our cars.  No, I did not go out and clean it off.  The drift can stay on my front step until tomorrow after the wind goes away.  The third photo is just a picture of how much snow was coming down.  At one point it was nearly two inches an hour. 

Oh, and we had thunder snow!  Now that is so cool to see lightning and hear thunder during a snow storm!

Snowball

This little guy is the very first snowman my mother made.  I don't recall the year she gave him to me but he has traveled all over with me.  Where I go, he goes.  Snowball is a happy, jolly snowman and he always makes me smile. 

Regal Rose

The other day, while brushing my hair into a ponytail, I happened to notice the reflection of the design embroidered on the jacket I was wearing and thought what a great card it would make.  In honor of Valentine's Day, I changed the colors from blue to pinks and reds.  So, here is the inspiration and the card.

Stamp Set:  Delightful Dozen; Ink:  Regal Rose; Card Stock:  Regal Rose, Very Vanilla, Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink, Glimmer Paper/Red, Glimmer Paper/Silver; Accessories & Tools:  Bird Builder Punch, 3/4" Circle Punch, Full Heart Punch, Paper-Piercing Pack/Essentials, Mini Glue Dots

Musical Joy

Jaimie made this joy frame.  She and Andrea were surprised they both had the same gift idea.  I love them both as it shows you how the same thing can look so different.  They will both be part of my decorating every Christmas.

Snowman Miniature Tea Set

My mother loved snowmen.  One year she gave me this little tea set and I've included it in my Christmas decorating ever since.  This year I added some poinsettia garland to my little oak chair along with a red and white place mat.  The little chair is the only piece left from a table and chairs set I had as a five year old.  I have no idea where the rest of the set went but I've guarded the only surviving chair like a hawk!

 

Glimmery Joy

Today, I'm sharing another of the great gifts I have received.  It's from my upline, Andrea.  She used one of the ornaments from the Holiday Ornaments Framelits Dies set.  I love how this one sparkles in the light.  The photo does not due the color in this justice but it gives you an idea of what it looks like. 

My Day of Rest and Worship

Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel, which, being interpreted, is God with us.

Matthew 1:23

KJV

New Clearance Rack Items

Many new items were added to the Clearance Rack.  Check them out today.  Just click on the image below to go directly to the store.

Love Frame

Here is the next framed work I made using my 'prize' patterned paper.  Again I used Bravo Burgundy Card Stock to cut out the word and attached it to the paper using Mini Glue Dots.  These are very quick and easy to make.  You can coordinate a whole grouping for your wall or give them as gifts.

Sandy Hook Elementary School

My prayers are for all those affected by this tragedy.

Faith Frame

Last month I submitted a card design to Susan Roberts Rainy Day Challenge and was so excited that I won!  I received a beautiful pad of patterned paper as a prize.  I love the colors in it and they look great with our Stampin' Up!® colors.  I can't wait to finish up the other projects I'm making with these colors.

This is the project that came to mind when I first saw the paper up close.  I used Bravo Burgundy as a compliment to the colors in the paper.  After cutting out the word faith, I attached it to the patterned paper using Mini Glue Dots.  The frame can sit on a table or you can hang it on the wall.

I Love Christmas!

Although I have most of my decorating done for Christmas, I keep adding little touches as the days go by.  I'll get this idea and just have to arrange things to see if it's going to look good.  This is one of the areas I've played with and have finally decided it may just be the way I want it.  It has three of the ceramic pieces that my mother made and gave to me as gifts.

The church is my night light and it looks so beautiful at night.  The Jesus, Mary and Joseph figurine is done in neutral tones so I can put it with any color and it looks good.  The piece in the background is a vintage Santa delivering presents to a sleeping village.  Looks like I need to take a stand-a-lone shot of that one so you can appreciate it the detail.  Yes, the plants are real.  On the left you have Lily, my peace lily.  Lucky is the little bamboo plant that I recently added to my plant family.  He is named such because some believe bamboo is lucky.  Me, I believe it is just an interesting plant that needs little care other than plenty of water.  And, on the right, is Treebeard.  He is named for the eldest of the Ents from the movie, Lord of the Rings.  He has grown about a foot in the last few months.  I have no idea what prompted the growth spurt but I love how he looks.  The little tree in front of him, I'm sorry to say, is fake.  As much as I love the Norfolk Pine, I have a tendency to cause their demise so I can't bring myself to get another one.

Now it's time I got back to finishing up some Christmas gifts.  Thanks for stopping by today.

P.S.  Yes, I do name all of my plants!  :-)

Christmas Charger Plate

Over the next few days, I'll continue to share the gifts I received at my local demonstrator group Christmas get together.  Today's is the decorated charger plate made by Kathy.  I love the colors on this, they are such great Christmas colors.