Beautiful Christmas Card, and Happy New Year's Eve

Happy New Year's Eve! 

The holidays are winding down, but I wanted to post a few more Christmas

related items. 

Just received this beautiful card from my friend Ceil who lives in TX. 

So many layers and textures. I just love it! Big thanks Ceil! 

How many of you know the words to Auld Lang Syne?

The Scots poem was written in 1788  Robert Burns, and was not actually

intended to be a farewell to the old year. It is stated that it is an old song, about olden times. 

Auld Lang Syne means "for the sake of old times". It refers to our oldest and dearest friends

in which we must always remember. I'm posting the words so if you'd like to sing

it at midnight you can impress your friends with your understanding of the song. 

This is the English version of the song. 

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and old lang syne?

CHORUS:

For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

And surely you’ll buy your pint cup!
and surely I’ll buy mine!
And we'll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have run about the slopes,
and picked the daisies fine;
But we’ve wandered many a weary foot,
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have paddled in the stream,
from morning sun till dine;
But seas between us broad have roared
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

And there’s a hand my trusty friend!
And give me a hand o’ thine!
And we’ll take a right good-will draught,
for auld lang syne.

If you like to see the original version of the poem you can visit

this site where I found the information.

To all my dear friends, new friends, family, and my readers I wish 

you a very happy New Year. May you find health, and peace in the New Year. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Wildflower Thinlits

Well the room is still a mess due to the shoe bag falling from the

wall with all my punches. I ordered two new bags, so I'll

have wait till they arrive before I can get all the punches off the floor. 

So cold yesterday. Got up to a whopping 12 degrees. Brrr!!!! Okay

I'm counting the days till Spring, and have not even thought about counting

the days till next Christmas. My friend Kym will be doing handstands over that. 

Speaking of friends. My friend Kat got me the Wildflower thinlit dies by Tim Hotlz. 

Thank you Kat!!!! I used the new Gemini die cutting machine to cut the flowers out

with watercolor paper. Then I colored them with Tim Holtz distress crayons. 

The decorative edge on the side of the card was made

with SU Finishing Touches Edgelits. 

So the plan for the day is to keep warm....then find a dessert recipe

that I can make that goes well with Asian food. Sarah and Jason

invited us to dinner this weekend, so I thought I would bring dessert. 

Got any ideas about this? Let me know. 

Stamping trails

Karen

New Things, and Broken Thing

Okay going to start with the new things. 

This is a rolling cart by Recollections. Picked it up at

Michael's using a gift card that Sarah got me for Christmas. 

Using it to store the Big Shot, and misc supplies. 

I had to move some of the stuff I normally keep on my desk because.....

Dear hubby got me a Gemini electric die cutting machine for Christmas. 

So happy with it, but it weighs 15 pounds so it has to sit on my desk as

I'm not strong enough to move it from the shelve to the desk. The 

reason I wanted one is because turning the crank on the big shot was hurting

my neck and shoulder. I'm still keeping the big shot as the Gemini will

not accept the large foam mounted dies, and there are several of them

that I use and still want to keep. 

And now for the broken. One of the hanging shoe organizer that I keep

my punches in broke from the weight, and hit the floor. I wasn't in the room at the time. 

So now I have to get another shoe organizer, or find a different place to store them. 

Lets face it....I really need a bigger craft room. This one is bursting at the seams, and just

between you and me I'm not going to stop buying craft stuff! LOL 

Stamping trails

 

Karen 

Fall Theme Photo Frame

Hope everyone had a nice Christmas. We

had a calm day at home. John was at Emily's, and

Sarah was with her hubby at his parents. 

Since is was snowing I wanted to go take a walk in the snowflakes, 

so we walked on the Brunswick Lake trail. So pretty, but a bit cold! We did see three deer

dash across the woods kicking up snow in there wake. That was nice to see.

This is a little flip frame that I made Skip for Christmas. The frame is by Tim Holtz. 

Photos were taken in October. 

me on the bridge. I added very few embellishments. 

Didn't want them to overwhelm the photos. 

hubby looking over the lake. He didn't even know I took this photo. 

and I had to add a photo of a duck because we see them all the time.

Last page. I have a few more photos from this day, so

I might go back and add some more. 

Went down to a very bitter 17 degrees last night. Very windy. 

I'm going to be hitting some craft stores today. Need to see if I can find

some after Christmas sales. 

Stamping trails

Karen 

The Christmas Story House

Since I'm getting older I don't remember if I posted 

these photos or not, but I thought since it is

Christmas Day and The Christmas Story is being

played all day this would be a good time to post. 

Back in March me, hubby, Sarah, and friend Kathy went to 

visit the Christmas Story house right here in Cleveland's Tremont area. 

 

 

Me and Kat. See the leg lamp in the window? 

Closer view of the lamp. Or as Ralphie would say....electric sex in the window. 

Sarah and her dad standing in front of the tree. 

There is that bowling ball. 

In the kitchen...now where are those bad hound dogs? 

 Skip under the sink. 

Stove....I bet there is red cabbage in that big pot, and

meatloaf in the oven!

Time to bast that turkey! 

 

 

On the steps. 

Calling to tell Schwartz's mom that her son taught Ralphie to say the "F" word.  

 

Well I have a ton more photos that were taken that day, but

 

it is 1:24 am, and I really should be in bed or Santa will never get here. 

 

Looks so pretty outside as we are getting some snow. 

 

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas!!!!

 

Stamping trails

Karen 

Malley's, Spring Snowman, and Snow

Happy Christmas Eve to all! 

Remember that walk me and hubby took the other day in the 

rain? Well we did walk to Malley's Chocolate store, but

 

I forgot to show you photos of the haul. 

 

Hubby said I made out better than he did. Was there ever any doubt?

 

 

I got a box of dark chocolate covered pretzels, and a box

of dark chocolate soft centers. Skip got something also...

two bags of Malley's chocolate mini Santas 

Big thanks to my friends Lisa and Connie for sending

me this cute snowman they made. His body is a vintage bed spring. 

How cool is that! Perfect since it snowed here yesterday. We didn't

get a lot but it sure did make the trees look pretty. 

Here is a photo of our pine tree in the backyard. 

There is more snow on the way, so yay we get a white Christmas this year! 

Hope everyone has a blessed Christmas. Enjoy being with family, and friends. 

Treasure them all! 

 

Happy birthday to my dear mom in law Kate up in Heaven. She would 

 

have been 84 today. Miss you!!!!!

Stamping trails

Karen

Going Box Happy

Okay so I've made three boxes and posted them to my blog

 

three days in a row. I'm done now. No more boxes....at 

 

least for a bit anyway. 

 

I love how this little box opens. 

 

 

Here is a side view. The sides fold in like a milk carton. 

Here is a view of the box open. I used red tinsel trim that

Kathleen sent me. Great that is has a wire in it. Lets me bend it how I want. 

After I took the photos and closed the box back

up I put the tinsel on in a different way. Not sure

if I like this better, or the first one. What do you think?

Me and hubby to a walk to Malley's yesterday. Even though

it was misting rain we walked anyway. Not complaining as I got 

dark chocolate pretzels out it! 

Today I have a few last minute things to do before

Christmas Eve. I think I could use another week! 

Stamping trails

Karen

Freeze Dried Snow, At the Movies, and Cat Pin

Happy Friday! 

I did this box a little different. Instead of using a darker contrasting

background with a white snowman I went with lighter designer paper

and kraft cardstock for the snowman. Did 

I mean to do this? Not really, but I saw the error of my

ways after I had the designer paper on the box, so I had

to use the kraft cardstock, or Sam the snowman wouldn't have

shown up very well. At any rate I think he is pretty cool looking. 

Used blue designer paper for his vest so he does have a little color. 

Inside the box holds some hot chocolate packets, and mini marshmallows. 

Used the Dymo machine to print up "freeze dried snow"

Went to the movies with my friend Betty yesterday afternoon.

We saw The Greatest Showman. It was such a great musical!!!! 

I'm going to have to look for the soundtrack. 

Betty gave me this cute little kitty cat pin. 

You are so right Betty! "Friends are the greatest gift"! 

Big thanks! 

Stamping trails

Karen

Candy Boxes

I have been making some last minute gifts, and stocking stuffers.

These cute little boxes will be filled with candy. 

They are 4 inches by 1  1/4 inch. Made with 

one 6x6 piece of designer paper. 

Used a retired SU set called Best of Christmas to make the tag. 

The box is just wrapped with a piece of cream colored pearl cotton thread. 

Me and hubby went to Bob Evans for brunch yesterday. Then we took a long walk, 

and stopped at the library. I also had to stop at the post office. Melody, and Kym you

packages are in the mail and should reach you by Saturday. 

And I also found time yesterday to make one more batch of cookies. 

 Busy, busy!!!!!

Stamping trails

Karen

Stitched Cards for Christmas

I received a package in the mail yesterday from my friend Kym.

She was so sweet to make me some stitched cards for Christmas. 

Love the initial note cards! 

and look she embossed the flap of the envelopes! How cool. 

And I just love the stitched vintage sewing machine cards. 

Going to frame one for my sewing room, and also one

for Sarah's sewing room. Thinking of getting a small shadow box, 

and including some vintage spools of thread, and buttons. Oh

that means another trip to Catan's to check out the framing dept. 

Thanks so much Kym!!!! Love them! 

Stamping trails

Karen

One more Making Spirits Bright Card, and Cookie Party

I have one more card to share with you using

the Making Spirits Bright stamp set by

Inkadinkado. The kraft layer was 

already embossed with a tree folder and was

sitting in my scrap bag. Tree

was inked with green, brown, and yellow. 

After it was stamped I did color in the logo on the cork

using prisma pencils. 

Didn't do much yesterday. Ran a load of towels in the washing machine. 

We went through a ton of dish towels on Sunday with the cookie baking. 

Also had to wash the tablecloth. Didn't have to cook dinner, as

me and hubby cleaned out the fridge eating leftovers. 

Won't be so lucky today as I think I'm going to bake a meatloaf. 

I did post photos of cookie baking day on FB, but for those who may

not be following me there I wanted to post just a few photos to the blog. 

Melinda decorated the snowman, and gingerbread. All the kids had

fun making the sugar cookies. John and Emily did the work of rolling out the dough

so it could be cut. 

Em always takes a good photo. I couldn't get one of John looking at the camera. 

You can see on my hutch the banner that my crafty buddy Kathleen made me this year. 

Everyone loved it. 

Speaking of taking a good photo so does Melinda. What a beaming face! 

Sarah and Melinda. Sarah is another one who always takes a great photo. 

You can see in the back of Sarah the snowman frame art that my friend Kat

made me a few years ago.

Sarah working on her famous white chocolate cranberry blondies. They

are so good! 

The overflow cookie table. I had to set up the card table in the living room so

we would have a place to let the cookies cool. 

Here we have the happy bakers at the end of the day.

Ann, Emily, Sarah, me, and Betty. Melinda had to leave

earlier as she had to work. 

It was a fun day! 

I'm thankful for all my family and friends. What a wonderful

group of people they are! 

Stamping trails

Karen

Mailable Monday # 221

Happy Monday. Can you believe that Christmas is just

one week away?! Don't know where December went, but

it just flew by. I'm hoping the rest of Winter goes by just as fast.

(I know....wishful thinking!)

Back today with another card made using Making Spirits Bright stamp set by

Inkadinkado.

I love red, and kraft cardstock together. The wine cork

reindeer was popped up on the base card. 

Had fun yesterday baking cookies with family and friends. I'm so exhausted as

I'm typing up this post. Remember I'm setting up the post the night before. So

I'm sitting at my desk yawning away! 

Maybe I'll be more awake tomorrow! 

Stamping trails

Karen

Reindeer Teapot Card, and Frozen Lake

Well I got a nice surprise in my mailbox yesterday. 

My crafty buddy Kathleen sent me two Christmas cards she made. 

I just love the reindeer teapot! How fun is that! 

Not only are the flowers on this card all glittery they are also

puffy. She used glitter fun foam that she got at the kid section of 

Michael's. 

Thanks Kathleen! 

Me and hubby went hiking yesterday afternoon at Brunswick Lake. 

The lake as you can see is freezing over. 

Leaves are trapped in the ice. 

We had two days worth of snow. Thankfully yesterday was warmer so

the snow started melting. Going to be in the 40's today also. 

Looking forward to baking cookies all day with friends and family.

I'm sure I'll have photos to post later about the day. 

Stamping trails

Karen