Teeny, Tiny Yarn Hats - A Christmas Tag Set

Brandy sent a photo of these adorable yarn hats to me and I couldn't resist a share.  Aren't they just the most adorable you've ever seen?  They are approximately 2.5 inches tall or so.  Instructions are similar to those found here though I truthfully don't know exactly who's instructions she followed.  I love the use of varigated yarn and can think of a bunch in my closet that could be put to good use!

Hope your 2016 is winding down in fine fashion.  We've a bit of excitement this weekend - a last minute planned trip to Las Vegas to see Sting at the Cosmopolitan for a New Year's Eve concert.  I won tickets through my work - thank you work!  We're driving up tomorrow to spend a whirlwind night and day before rushing back to send me on *hopefully* my last work trip for a while.  I will wish you and yours a very Happy New Year in case I don't make it back until next week!

2017 Scrapbook Calendar

Each year for the past five years, I have made a scrapbook calendar for my grandparents and a copy of the same for myself.  I typically used the Basic Grey calendar kit and always, always loved how they turned out.  You can find the posts here:

2013 for my grandma    2013 for myself
2014
2015
2016

It was dismay and shock when I realized that Basic Grey's going out of business in early 2016 meant that the 2017 calendar would need to be made without the help of a pre-layout kit.  Arghhhh!

This meant that I'd have to do without the easy assistance of instructions (something that shocked my Katie a few years ago when she realized I followed instructions rather than make up the pages myself).  So, I turned to Pinterest and followed some keen sketches and examples found there.

I used a 8 x 8 paper pad from Graphic 45 called Time to Flourish which had double sided pages with the calendar and then patterned papers.  I stamped the numbers using a Close to My Heart letter set and brown Archival Ink.  It surprised me how much I enjoyed the repetition of these pages - all 24 of them (a set for me and a set for my grandma).

Who could resist a picture from my grandparents 70th wedding anniversary - a kiss over the cake - for February's month of love...

Or a photo from 2016 - when my grandma turned 89.  This means that March will mark her 90th birthday which seems to me to be a crafting event waiting to happen!

Katie's 2016 prom dress matched the April page like it was meant to be.

 

One of my favorite pages.  We all gathered for the 70th wedding anniversary which gave me a chance at a family photo with my grandparents.  I simply loved this shot and couldn't help making it my favorite of the year.

I don't see myself ending this tradition anytime soon - making calendars is a joy and simple enough when you find the right tools.  I suppose as long as there is a blank calendar I can suck it up and make some creative layouts.  Hurry, it's not to late for you to do the same.  Just a few days left until 2017, but enough time for some scrapbooking fun.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all of you,  this fine Christmas day!  I made the error of sending out all of my Christmas cards without taking a photo so I snapped these over at my mom's this afternoon.   The sentiment and garland stamps were made using my SSS For To Us which I stamped and white embossed onto watercolor paper.   I used my Mission Gold watercolors to color the image.

These cards were some of the most fun in card making I've had this year.  I'm hoping your celebrations were ever so fun,  too.  We're about to sit down,  so I'd better go help.

Merry Christmas to you!

Gifting Cards This Christmas

My good friend Kyle (she of the painted pumpkin ilk at Halloween!) decided to join a gift exchange at the school district.  When she informed me of her obligation to make 16 (sixteen!) gifts and stuff them into a stocking I asked if she wanted to get together and make a set of cards.  So I will admit that the cards stuffed into these pockets weren't all made by my hand - Kyle ends up being wonderfully talented and diligent help.  I have photographed the cards, but getting all those photos edited at once is more than I can bear.  I'll work on it over the next couple of weeks and eeek them out to you all so you can see her handiwork.

These card pockets are very simple - I trimmed a 12 x 12 piece of patterned paper to 9 x 11, then scored it on the 9 inch side at 3 inches.  I scored the 11 inch side at 5 1/4 and 5 3/4, folding all the score lines to make the pocket.  There are two glue dots to hold the folded center up making space for the cards - simple, but effective and at the last minute darling!

On the outside I stamped the sentiment using my Concord and 9th O Holy Night stamp set.  I'm lovin' this stamp for Christmas!  I die cut the sentiment, layering on another die cut and using glue dots, the sentiment holds the ribbon in place to wrap around and close the pocket.

I made these sets (some of my work, some of Kyle's!) for some ladies I'm keeping in touch with - dear ladies whom I've come to cherish.  It is good to have these kinds of connections.  I'm hoping they use up every one of those cards because I mean to make them some more next year!

May your Christmas eve be filled with the wonder of Christmas!

Noel - One Last Set of Christmas Cards

 

Surprisingly - I gave away too many Christmas cards that I made and found myself a bit short.  I whipped these cards up using my Concord and 9th O Holy Night stamp set.  I found the idea on Pinterest and used the MISTI to stamp up a few of these boys to fill my last minute need.

Are all your presents wrapped and under the tree?  I hope so.  Mine aren't - still finishing a bit of projects and need to wrap the remaining tonight.  I'm determined to get them done and with the weekend holiday, find myself with some extra time to do so.

May all your final touches be finished and the anticipation of your festivities fill your heart...

Christmas Treats

Well, it's been a lag in getting posts up.  I've been feverishly finishing Christmas gifts - almost done, though not quite.

I did snap these quick photos of a Christmas treat that I made for the ladies at work.  Nothing overly fancy - just thoughtful to let them know I was thinking of them.  The poinsettia is made using my Heartfelt Creations (ancient!) poinsettia stamp in Moonheart blue Close to My Heart ink and die cut with my equally ancient Spellbinders poinsettia dies.  The leaves are die cut using my Doohickies poinsettia leaves die.  An equally simple sentiment stamp from my W Plus 9 Drummer Boy stamp set finishes the simple front.  I used my paper trimmer to create the kraft paper envelope and stapled a clear treat bag inside, trimming the extra bag top off at the top.

I'm hoping to squeeze in some more photographing and editing for a few quick posts this weekend.  I also hope this finds you joyfully enjoying these last few days before the holiday celebration.

Our Beautiful World - 'Tis the Season

We received an early Christmas present this past weekend.  Our friends we do Bible study with gifted us these beautiful wood trees.  Dale is a wood crafter and he cut and built the trees, finishing them with paint and stain.

I just had to join the fun this week over at Our Beautiful World where the prompt is Tis the Season.  I figured that I needed to share Dale's craftiness with you and those at the challenge.  since it is the season, stop by and see what they have going on over at

A Happy Little Birthday to My Dear Katie

Stopping by to share with you today the card that I made for my daughter on her 18th birthday.  Pink is her favorite color and I couldn't resist pairing this image with some soft, tiny patterned papers.  Its a simple card design, but on purpose to keep my sweetheart the focal image.  I considered adding a bunch of flowers and fluff to the card, but opted for this simple layout.

Time is passing quickly - her senior year is nearly 1/2 over.  I find myself with a curious mix of elation at her growing independence, sadness because the time of having my own in the house is growing closed and urgency to see where then next phase of life will lead for them and for me.  I suppose that characterizes life as a mom no matter what season you find yourself.

At least she's not too old or too hip to miss the opportunity to have her mom create a picture of love for her daughter.

Bringing Tidings of Comfort and Joy

So, I fibbed to you all.  I promised to get working on some of my crafty gift making.  However, I had a little time at the end of my weekend to myself.  I decided to use that time for a little crafty expression of joy.  In this case, that amounted to using my new-to-me Avery Elle Comfort and Joy stamp set.  This sentiment stampe has just the right mix of elegant and simple text to use for Christmas cards.  However, it was watercoloring that I wanted to focus on so I simply white embossed the sentiment onto a piece of watercolor paper.

Some of the card fronts were created with Brusho's watercolor crystals and others were made with my Mission Gold watercolors.  I can't tell you which I like better - they all turned out!

The kraft paper die cut stars were made using my SSS Holiday Shapes dies.  They work really well to keep the design simple (I didn't have a lot of time to myself) so that I could focus on the watercoloring which I find calming.

On the inside, a simple white embossed sentiment using my Concord and 9th Holy Night stamp set.  I think they go well together and I really like my tiny A2 sized Christmas greetings.  They are a little out of my comfort zone making it a wonderfully re-energizing time to myself.

I'd like to encourage all of you out there during this busy season to take a little time to recharge yourself for the efforts that lay ahead of us all.  Enjoy the season - it's meant to be on of both comfort and joy!