News Flash Valentine!

Just after Christmas and New Year's Day, I become  some what lack luster in my creative process. However, with Valentine's Day right around the corner...I'm going full steam ahead in my pursuit of creating cute cards to send to friends and loved ones. This one will be for my sweet hubby (not to worry about keeping it a secret, as he never reads my blog ♥_♥) This is the first time I have used the technique of paper piecing, where you fill in your stamped image with designed paper. I think I will be doing this very often, as I'm pleased as punch with the results. Isn't this little girl a hoot? She reminds me of myself as a child. My dad was a avid newspaper reader, so every day we were surrounded by four daily papers. There was the New York Daily News, the New York Times, The New York Post, and the now defunct Long Island Press. Some were delivered to our home, others were to be purchased at our corner candy store. Of course, as a small child, I would immediately navigate to the daily TV listings, horoscopes, and comic pages. As a tween I progressed to reading every printed word. Evening dinner time became quite the heated discussion about the day's printed current events...in between forkfuls of food. Newspapers are just as delightful to me today, as they were those many moons ago! Do you get the opportunity to read any of your daily newspaper? 

Supplies Used: 

InLinkz.com

Smile...and Look at the Bright Side

My addiction to card making is taking front stage this New Year.  I love taking the time to figure out exactly where I want to place the various elements.   I'm obsessed with any stamps having to do with cameras and typewriters, so I was thrilled last year to purchase this vintage camera stamp.  The expression "1,2,3 ...say cheese!"  are words deeply etched in my mind, as they were constantly uttered by my photography loving father, right before taking multitudes of pictures during my childhood.  

Supplies used:

InLinkz.com

 

Here my son holds one of his grandfather's well loved, old Polaroid cameras.

 

 

On a more personal note...I haven't shared this information here before, but my 83 year old dad suffers from Alzheimers.  He was diagnosed several years ago, and has been slowly declining.  Thank goodness, he is blessed with round the clock care, while living with my brother and his family in Connecticut.  The hardest part for me is physically being so many miles away, here in Texas.  We do thankfully speak daily, but those conversations are becoming more and more difficult for him.  I must strain to fill in the words, that he can not push forward.  I must interpret his phrases, such as "I just dropped it" to mean he forgot what he was saying midstream.   My children make sure they say a few things to him each day.  We passionately pray my father never gets to the point that he no longer can speak, as that would be devastating to us.  However, it would be a lifeline severed only in one direction, as I shall then always insist that someone hold the phone upon his ear...to hear my far away words of love and encouragement.  Just like the gifts of supportive words he endlessly bestowed upon me, growing up and in my adulthood.  So, I struggle to "smile and look at the bright side," no matter how dim.  I truly hope none of you have been, or will ever be touched by this most difficult of diseases.

Christmas Clean Up

The glorious gifts have been open, the delicious cookies eaten, and with everyone exhausted....the cleanup begins.  Bows, wrapping  paper, boxes, and ribbons must be swept up and bagged.  Above, sweeping was my task after the Christmas of 1966.  I was three years old here, and anxious to tidy up.  A new wooden high chair for my doll can be seen, behind me to the left.  I spy my brother's new football and car race track behind me to the right.  Of course, everything became more fun when you were able to slide around the floor in your footie pajamas!

A five foot tall stuffed Panda arrived for Christmas that year.  See him, behind my head!  We named him Mr. Pops, and he became the grandfather to the dozens of other beloved teddy bears.  Many years later, my brother and I rescued Mr. Pops from the trash, having been banished there because he was considered too dirty to get clean.  Well, after he had a long soak in the tub...all was well.  :)

A big wooden cradle (on the right) arrived for my doll that year, too.  Mind you, it was real wood back then, not that particle board stuff you see so often today.  It was so well made, you could probably safely put a real baby in that.

I'm so happy that I can cling onto memories from a Christmas past.  Finally, in keeping with the latest trends, I just had to make one of those homemade snow globes, using a vintage baby deer, and a vintage Santa Claus.

Hope your holiday cleanup goes smoothly!

Sleigh Ride Wreath

  Howdie All!  Just finishing up with the inevitable last minute projects.  I wanted to take the time to share some photos of the paper wreath I created.  The charming and talented Elizabeth, from Creative Breathing, totally inspired me to take a chance on making one of these.  She skillfully describes exactly how to piece together this project on her blog.  Click to see both her City Sidewalk and Peppermint Wreath  posts.  This craft is truly well worth the effort, and such fun to make.

 

Looking for the paper to use, is the delightful start to this adventure.  I chose Crate Paper's, Sleigh Ride tag cuts.  Adding each tag made my smile become bigger and bigger, until one of my children commented, "Mommy, I didn't know you had dimples!"  :)

I added a couple of friendly and glittered owls, just for a hoot!

Adding all the bits and bobs will make you squeal with delight!

Ribbon choices are endless...in a good way!

Snowflakes, buttons, brads, and a final jingle bell, are all icing on a paper cake.  I can't wait to make one of these for a Valentine's Day decoration.  Oh, the possibilities are endless!  :)  Hope you are staying warm, and soaking up your holidays with joy!

 

Crate Paper Sleigh Ride Tag Cuts

InLinkz.com

 

Advent Calendar in Christmas Rush

Weeks and weeks have passed, preparing for Christmas has become like a full-time job.  My favorite time is when I steal a few moments to complete a task, while listening to cheerful Christmas tunes from long ago.  I can get lost in the wonder of it all!

I'm finally making a post on my oh so neglected blog.  I have so many crafts and stories to share, but so little time to post them.  Well, I'm hoping most of you are finished with your decorating, and are now deep into holiday revelry. :)  I made this advent calendar using paper tags, fabric ribbons, and papering tiny matchbook covers. 

Finding a place for them was easy.  We have a stone archway standing in the foyer of our home, so I place each day's tag on vertical rows on opposite sides of each other.  The children take turns, alternating the opportunity to slide open the matchbooks to reveal the tiny treasures inside.

I think I have painted and glittered about 50 of these huge wooden snowflakes.  Lots of fun seeing them hang in the most unusual places throughout the house.  Love those old fashioned glittered nativity scenes, too.

My Christmas owl happily stands guard over our white Christmas tree.  Aren't owls delightful any time of the year?  My very favorite bird, for sure.  Do you have a favorite bird you love all year round?

Hope your Holiday season is a very relaxing and blessed time!



Children's Nimble Hands

Have you ever been sideswiped, by a surprise act of kindness, from your very own children?  If it is not the month of May for Mother's Day, or June for my birthday, I don't ever expect to receive something of the material sense.  No, I've become accustomed to just a sprinkling of kind words spoken, after I grant them a favor, or make one of their wishes come true.  So, I was beautifully bewildered the other day, when my 9 year old son, and 11 year old daughter presented me with this homemade card and little plushie....just because.  They just wanted to let me know how much they appreciated my devotion to them.  My face must have looked shocked, as they said to me, "Mommy, are you alright?"  Well, I certainly was more than alright...I was walking on clouds.  I was so proud of them for using my crafting stash to both create the card, and make the cute plushie. 
 Darling daughter made the card, and would you believe, cutie pie son made the plushie.  He LOVES felt, and he loves to sew!  Both of them know how much their mommy likes to lose herself in blog land, that they copied the design of one of the elements on my blog header photo and icon.  I think that specific part of their special thoughtfulness, really put me over the happy edge! :)  To acknowledge their mommy's part-time obsession.  What memories of kindness can you recall from your children, or special nieces and nephews?