Wishing you a Merry Christmas

This is NOT my fireplace, I wish I had one, especially considering how cold it is getting. It's my daughters fireplace, with her collection of houses, and Nutcrackers. She sent it to me, and gave me permission to post it on my blog.

We usually go to my daughter's house on Christmas Eve, she cooks us a lovely dinner, has her fireplace going, soft Christmas music playing in the background. So nice, we are so fortunate.

But this year, we still don't know what we will be doing, it depends on my Mother's health on Christmas day, and what the weather is like. Taking it one day at a time right now.

Merry Christmas

My daughter actually made this ornament. I thought it was a great idea, obviously it was made out of puzzle pieces.
My daughter, also made this wreath, It is special to me because she used buttons from my Mother-In-Law's sewing box

My poor angel is looking a bit ragged, I made her many years ago using a yarn pattern that I found on the net.

I made my Mother a gift one year using a PANSY theme, I made her a cross-stiched towel with a pansy on it, a pansy cross-stitched wall hanging, and put them in a basket with other pansy items, lik Pansy soap, Pansy writing paper, and this Pansy doll that I made. I cross-stitched her face, sewed her body, dress, apron, and pantaloons.

I made the afghan for a friend, the cross-stitched pillow for me, and the dress I crocheted for my granddaughter, It was one of her favorite dresses

With all the snow we had today, it really reminded me that it is winter and Christmas is coming.

Am I ready? Absolutely NOT! I have not had much opportunity to go shopping (and a very small budget to do so---like so many others I am sure)

I wanted to share with you some home made ornaments and gifts from years past. I had hoped to share more but (so far) I have not been able to find photographs of some of the things I have made...If I do find them, I will post later...

Are You ready for Christmas?

Thank You, Penny, Stacie, and Carol

It's always so nice to get cards and letters in the mail..

but it is especially nice, when it's a hand made card...

First card is from Penny, (who made her own 3d sheet for this card)

The card arrived in a clear envelope so the postal employees were able to enjoy

this beautiful card too!

Second card is from Stacie, I don't know how she made the really neat sea shell in the

center of this card...but I hope I find out...

And the third card is from Carol, from Our Little Inspirations,

Carol always makes lovelycards, and shading is done so beautifully....

Thank you all, they are so appreciated...

Thank you Marie, and Janet

I received these beautiful home made cards from Marie and Janet.

Marie's card is rubber stamped, and Janet's card is a plate card.

Janet, I saw this technique before, but never tried it myself,

after seeing your card, I know I want to try and do one...

Thank so much ladies...

and Thank you everyone for your lovely comments, on my blog. I feel so blessed!

blog award

I received this award from a sweet blogging friend, Rita.
Thank you, Rita…

(I hope I do this correctly)

Rita is very creative…she has a lovely blog to visit.

http://ritaloyd.blogspot.com/

- Some rules to keep it growing:
1. Copy picture and post on your blog2. Thank the person who gave it to you and link to their blog

3. Write 7 things about you we don't know:

1. I am adopted.

2. I met my husband when I was only 4 years old.

2. I am highly allergic to Tomatoes.

4. My favorite food is Peanut Butter (and chocolate).

5. I watched my granddaughter being born.

6. I fainted when my daughter had her teeth pulled.

7. I enjoy card making the most, but in the past I have done sewing, plastic canvas,

knitting, embroidery, crewel, smocking, crocheting, and cross-stitch.

Card made for My Mother

This card did not turn out exactly the way I wanted it to, but I hope My Mother knows I did try and make a special card for her. I liked the woven ribbon technique so much I wanted to try it again. The problem is that I have very little ribbon in my stash, and what I do have would be too short to make the wreath. So I used some Gold ribbon that I found (the only thing is it looks like brown ribbon in the scan. This card also does not scan well. I think for one of my new years resolutions ....I should make one for learning how to take pictures of my cards with my digital camera!

See the previous card I posted for a link to the UTube where I found the instructions for making the ribbon wreath.

Christmas card with ribbon weaving...

I saw a card done at Split Coast Stampers done by Lynn Pratt...

The U tube video is posted on her blog...it is done En-May

http://stampndesign.blogspot.com/2009/11/ribbon-weave-wreath.html

After 4 tries I think I finally figured out how you do it... (I'm slow...smile) and I do like the look...

Beautiful Christmas card from Carol

Carol, from http://ourlittleinspirations.blogspot.com/

Sent me this beautiful card, thank you so much...It's lovely,

Take a look at Carol's blog she is so talented!

Do you like to do Jigsaw Puzzles?

As many of you know, I am mostly staying at my Mother's house now. My Mother lives in an apartment that is in a 55 and older community, and almost right outside her door is what they consider to be the social center for her building. It's where they meet to chat and do their number one pastime...putting together Jigsaw puzzles. Since the puzzles are almost right outside her apartment door, I can go out and work on them while she is napping. It's been years since I have done puzzles, I forgot how much fun they can be to do...especially when you have other people to them with. (Now, if I could only convince some of her neighbors to start making cards with me....smile)

Do you like to do Jigsaw puzzles?

More Christmas cards

My Mother wants me to make her some cards and get them out this week, so I'm trying to make the cards FAST and Simple...so I can get them in the mail...Hope everyone is having a good week..Jill

Christmas cards

I did get to make a few cards this week...

The shoe card and ornament card came from Jak's website which can be found here...
http://crafterskitchen.blogspot.com/2009/10/poinsettia-baubles-free-download.html

http://crafterskitchen.blogspot.com/

Card from Connie

I received another beautiful card in the mail. This time from Connie...her blog is here...

http://stampinfrogscreativejourney.blogspot.com/

Her picture of her card is a nicer photo and you can find it here...

http://stampinfrogscreativejourney.blogspot.com/2009/11/special-xmas-card-for-friend.html

The pictures do NOT do this card justice...it is so beautiful with the flower soft...awesome, and I am still trying to figure out how she did the wonderful easel technique with this card...very nicely done...Connnie, thank you so much...I am so fortunate!

I am so thankful

Thanksgiving day

My Mother's tree

Jan Hagara Ornament

My Craft room



I am so thankful that my Mother was able to enjoy thanksgiving with us at my home...

I am now staying at her home so I drove her to our house where my husband cooked us
a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner. I was so surprised when I walked in the door to our house and saw the wonderful "table scape" that he had set up. He gets a gold star...He's a keeper!

I put up a Christmas tree in my Mother's apartment for her, it's the first time in the six years that she has been living there that she has had a tree in her apartment. It's a small one but she likes it. I put her Jan Hagara Victorian dolls on the tree. I used to give her a small doll ornament every year for Christmas. Even if my Mother didn't put up a tree she would still
put out her doll collection.

I'm also posting a picture of my craft room down at my Mother's apartment. If it looks like a "sofa" it is. I literally do my crafting in my lap! My score Pal has come in really Handy.
I showed the picture to my husband, and his comment was...."It's a lot neater than your craft room at home!" Needless to say, I can only cut and paste with my cards. No rubber stamping, no ink to get on her couch, No embossing powder, no chalks, etc. No messy fun stuff!

Candle card

Cindy from http://just-crafting.blogspot.com/

very kindly sent me several candle images that she rubber stamped for me...

but so far, I have only managed to make one card...

Her cards with her candle images so pretty...here is the link to her cards...

http://just-crafting.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2009-07-22T07%3A11%3A00-05%3A00&max-results=7

Thank you, Cindy

Happy Thanksgiving!

Two more Iris folded cards for Christmas, and a Thanksgiving card (I actually made last year) made at stamping night.

Some more cards

These are some cards I made while at my Mother's house...

Another beautiful card from Rita...

I came home for a few minutes to find another beautiful card in my mailbox from Rita. I am one very fortunate lady. Thank you, Rita. You definitely have a gift for card making...

Thursday's cards

Two cards I did last night...One with an image from Crafty Nikky and the other made with scraps from my scrap book...

Have a good day everyone, and I'm sorry that I don't have a lot of time to visit blogs right now...

Card from Christina

I am a very fortunate person to keep finding lovely cards in my mailbox. They're even more special when they are homemade cards, sent by such "thoughtful" people.

The above card is one made for me by Christina...It is so pretty and the scan does not do the card justice. Thank you Christina...

Christina's website can be found here....
http://christinalytle.blogspot.com/

Also I have an update to this post...

http://ribbonchallenged.blogspot.com/2009/11/butterfly-card.html

I posted a link to where I found the tutorial to make my butterfly card...

Also Circle of Crafters forum is up and running again...

http://www.circleofcrafters.com/

Christmas Card

A card I made last night at my Mother's house, I only have a few supplies with me...so I am limited to what I can make...Image is from crafty Nikky

Card from Stacie

I'm staying at my Mother's house right now, but I came home today to look at my mail, and found this lovely card in my mailbox...from my Stampin Up, Rep.....Stacie...

Butterfly card

I finally made a another card today...I'm not too happy with the card ...but I like the technique...embossing on vellum, and I like the image from Monica...I found the directions on a blog and I am going to email her and ask if I can add the link to her blog showing how she

dry embossed on vellum.

Edited to add a comment and a link...

Thank you Niki for Allowing me to add the link to your tutorial. It's wonderful so many possibilites with this Technique and it's easy to do...

http://mypapercreations.blogspot.com/2008/07/papertrey-blog-hop-vellum.html

Another card that I received today...

I am so fortunate to receive such lovely mail lately. Today I'm posting a card that Rita Made...I met Rita through a card forum at Yahoo. Rita makes such lovely cards.

I'm sorry that it's been so long since I visited my blog. I haven't had a chance to make a card this week, so I don't have anything new of mine to post.

I think some of my friends and family can't understand why I enjoy making cards so much. In the last four years or so, I have definitely lost count as to how many I have made. I know it's in the hundreds. Yes, Sometimes I do sell some for pin money. But I would never show a profit, I have too much money invested in paper and supplies. It's more fun to give them away, anyhow!

Today when I opened my mailbox and saw Rita's lovely card (by the way, my scan does not do the card justice) I realized why I make cards....

I so enjoy getting cards in the mail myself...but seeing Rita's homemade card (and remembering some of the other beautiful cards I have received recently) brought tears to my eyes. Getting a letter or card from someone is special, but getting something someone took the time to make and send your way is even more special. Thank you everyone. and God Bless.

Three beautiful cards that I received...

Aren't these cards just lovely? The first one is from Patti, from the Crafty Card Creators group. Patti used her cuttlebug, some punches, and sponging....very nice. The card is so appreciated.

The second card is from Jennie, also a member of Crafty Card Creators group, Jennie's card had some lovely hand embossing, and and I also believe, "stamped" flowers, outlined beautifully with a gold pen. This card really helped to make my day.

The third Card is from ex-neighbor, Cherie. Cherie sent out change of A' dress cards...she borrowed one of my favorite rubber stamps to stamp the image, but I have never been able to cut out the image on the stamp as beautifully as Cherie.