Kitty in a box, and New Ornaments

Happy last day of 2018. 

We got the tree down on Saturday. Cherokee thinks

she is helping by jumping in the ornament box. 

These are really old cardboard boxes. 

Bought new ones at Big Lots day after Christmas so

now I have them in clear totes with dividers. 

Some new ornaments I received this year. 

This one was on my presents from Emily. It was made by

one of her family members, and is pretty old. Love the

crochet work around the glass ball. I can crochet, but I

never could get it fitted correctly. 

Em also gave me this one made by a family member. It is 

a German star I believe made from wax. Very nice, and so special. 

This one is from Melinda. Love the little crafting bag! Now how did she know? (smile)

This one is homemade by my friend Connie. Didn't get a good shot. Wish I 

had got a bit closer. I'm sure her hand got tired punching all those sprigs of greenery around

the wreath. So pretty! 

Thanks to everyone! 

We had a wonderful visit with Sarah, John, Jason, and Em yesterday. 

Sarah made us a wonderful pork dinner. I have photos to share, but 

I'll post them tomorrow. 

Stamping trails

Karen 

Lots of Snowmen

So for some reason I really got into decorating with snowmen this

season. I've always had a soft spot in my heart for these frozen fellows. LOL

This one is from Hallmark. 

I picked this one up at a local grocery store Marc's. 

Love how he lights up. 

The little canvas one was sent to me as a present from my friend Lisa. 

Thanks Lisa! Love him! 

The stacking cubes came from Basket's Galore. 

These two came from Pier One last year. Got them on 

clearance. The tall on comes apart and is a set of measuring cups. 

Little snowman cookie jar I found at the goodwill while

shopping with John earlier this month. 

Stacking snowmen that my friend Connie made me several years ago. 

I have them perched on the hutch in the kitchen. 

Another one made by Connie and perhaps with Lisa also. 

He has tin wings. 

Candy dish, that I don't remember now where it came from. 

and my newest addition this happy cookie jar that Sarah got

me for Christmas. Love him! 

So I'm wondering how many new snowmen I'll collect for the 

next holiday season. I'm keeping the snowmen up till the end of January. 

Something to make the house happy during the cold winter. 

 

Snowflake trails

Karen 

Butterfly Thank You Cards

I made 16 of these thank you cards yesterday. 

John called and said him and Emily were already

receiving congratulations cards from family members, so

they needed thank you cards. 

Since Emily selected gray, white, and gold for her colors

I kept with that while making the cards. 

Used SU Butterfly, and Adorning Accents thinlits to create the cards. 

Inside view. 

Taking them to Sarah's on Sunday as everyone is meeting there. 

Hoping Em is happy with the cards. 

Big changes with cable yesterday. We cancelled

Spectrum, and got Dish. Using WOW for internet. 

Will take me awhile to get use to all the channels with Dish. 

I miss the days when all you had to do was turn on the set, and

flip through a few channels. Everything is so complicated now.

Or maybe I'm just getting older, and have a hard time coping with change. 

Nope everything is just more complicated now, can't be me! 

Stamping trails

Karen

Pink Christmas Card, Metallic ATC

I've been taking a few days off from blogging. 

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! 

We enjoyed the kids being home on Christmas eve, 

and Christmas day. 

Spending more time with them this coming Sunday. 

Hubby snapped this photo of me relaxing with

Cherokee in my lap. 

I miss Christmas already. I'll be taking down the tree tomorrow. 

This card was done with the help of a swap. 

I received the center section, but it was to large for 

a standard card. Needed to cut it down, and move things

around to get it to fit. 

Since I depleted most of my made cards for the holidays I 

 

now need to re-stock.

 

 

Made some artist trading cards. These were done with

 

new metallic watercolors, and pencils I got in my stocking from "Santa"

 

 

 

I think Santa shops at Tuesday Morning too! 

 

Stamping trails

Karen 

Snowman Globe Card

Merry Christmas to all! 

As we don't have any snow on this Christmas day I'm 

making cardstock snowmen again! 

This is a design from Immediate Media. Magazine called make special cards issue 15. 

 

The pattern for the snow globe was included in the magazine, but it had to be

 

enlarged by 200%. Thankfully the lady working in the reference section at the library was

 

very helpful, and printed it for me. Love the globe pattern. So many possibilities! 

John, and Emily were over yesterday for Christmas Eve dinner. Em has to work today, 

and John is on call. Sarah had to work yesterday, and will be coming over today. 

That's what happens when you work in the medical field. 

So this morning I'll be making everyone breakfast. As Sarah, and Jason will be

going to his parents house. Jason's sister is home for the holidays. I know

how it is. I remember when the kids were younger doing splits between my family

and hubby's family. I'm thinking it would be great if all the families could all come together, 

and celebrate. 

Okay going back the library. We were there a few days ago

when we did have a bit of snow. I took this photo from the room that looks

out over the wooded section. So pretty. 

They have a fireplace that is double sided. Love sitting

there to read on a cold day. So inviting! 

Couldn't help but take this photo. Some kid road his bike

to the library, and it got covered with snow while he was inside. 

Snow didn't last long though. It melted the next day. Wish it would

have stuck around till today. 

Happy holidays! 

Stamping trails

Karen

Christmas Card Tree, and Crafter's Poem

Merry Christmas Eve to all! 

I took some of my received Christmas cards this year

and taped them on the kitchen door to look like a tree. 

The red bow came from a gift Emily's mom Anne gave us during

the "great cookie bake" last weekend. 

I wanted to share a poem that my crafty friend Kathleen sent me. 

 

 

Twas the night before Christmas, 

I'm glued to the tree.

I'm wondering what Santa brought just for me. 

Could it be cardstock, or chipboard or lace? 

Or a Cricut, I said, 

with a smile on my face. 

And that's when I heard him, 

"Hi Santa", I said".

You know...good little girls

Should be in their beds. 

"I know I should Santa, 

and now I've got caught. 

But I was just so excited 

To see what you brought". 

"Well, let's take a look 

In this room where you work. 

He shook his head quickly, 

And left with a jerk. 

I heard him exclaim 

As he put it in gear. 

"You've got enough crap, 

 

I'll see you next year!" 

I had to laugh when I read this! 

So I'm cleaning my room, and I'm hiding some

stuff. Maybe dear old Santa won't see how much crafting

stuff I really do have! LOL 

Merry Christmas to all.....

and to all.....may you get lots of craft stuff!!!!

Stamping trails

Karen 

Ugly Sweater Day...Missed it by that Much

So how many knew that Ugly Sweater Day is a real thing?

It was on December 21st. 

Missed it by a few days, but I couldn't resist making a card to celebrate. 

The Santa sweater is a actually a sticker. 

Used a stamp set for the girl's head, and added

the Santa hat. 

Inside view. 

Now I know that next year when I go to fill out Christmas cards I'm 

going to see this one....smack my head....and say what the heck was I thinking! LOL

Now you know I will send it to someone. Will it be you?

Stamping trails

Karen

Happy Snowman Coffee Sleeve Gift Card Holder

I needed a gift card holder, and had to make one fast. 

Since I always have a stack of coffee sleeves from Starbucks I

grabbed one, and fashioned this cute little snowman. 

This happy fellow was pre-made, but I did cut out the center to

make him into a shaker element. 

 

Used matching pattern paper to cover the coffee sleeve. 

The insert was decorated with more pre-made paper. 

I did add the little ric-rack at the bottom so I could 

slide the gift card in place. 

He just makes me smile! 

So all the shopping is finished. The packages are wrapped.

Hit the grocery store early yesterday as I know they will be packed

this weekend. Went at 10 o'clock, and the store was just starting to 

get busy. Today I plan to make the last  batch of cookies. Then I can

put my Kitchen Aide mixer away. The stockings are hung on the staircase rail

as we don't have a fireplace. 

There are four heading upstairs, and

and two more at the lower level stairs. I have

to laugh at John's stocking. I made it when he was just

a little guy, and I think he has "out grown" the teddy bear! 

Told hubby I really should make him a new one. 

Sarah has an old one as well. Since I did all the needle work on this

little skater I don't think I'll be replacing it! 

Stamping trails

Karen 

Ugly Sweater, Poinsettia, and Fairy Stones

Joined a swap for the New Year, but I finished it already. 

This was an Ugly Sweater artist trading card swap. 

The doll is from a Hero Arts stamp set, called Dress Up Stamp and Cut. 

The set comes with two different doll heads/hair, greetings, faces, 

and die cuts to make dresses. (and before you ask Kym....yes this set

was purchased in November not December so I'm still okay for our challenge)! 

The sweater is from a printed panel that I fussy cut out, and added a little

Santa sticker in the center. 

The base was run through with a sweater embossing folder by SU. Then

sponged red ink, and heat embossed glitter. I think it is pretty "loud" but

still cute. 

The next one for the same swap is a Poinsettia theme. 

The top two flowers were cut from gift tags. The top one

was cut twice and layered. Then added a little gem poinsettia at the

bottom with the word delight. 

Before I added anything I ran the card with a poinsettia embossing folder by Darice. 

Next it was sprayed with Perfect Pearls Mists. Doesn't quite show up in the photo, but

it does give the base card a shimmery effect. 

Didn't have a yellow pearl so I used a yellow Sharpie marker to color in a white pearl. 

I'm thinking that my partner for this swap will be happy with both of the cards. 

Happy Winter Solstice. Tonight is the longest night of the year. 

Don't know about you, but I'm heading for the nearest Fairy stones. (Outlander reference) 

Running away to Skye

Karen

Cold Nose, Warm Heart

I'm really into snowmen this year. Don't ask why. Not really fond

of snow. Only on Christmas do I really like the cold fluffy stuff. 

Looks like this year we will have a green Christmas. They say

there is a chance for a few flakes, but I'm not counting on that. 

This card was made using stuff I received in a swap. I do so many

swaps that I have collected quite of bit of ephemera. With the

"use only supplies you have challenge" I have been using up some stuff that

otherwise would have been in boxes for another several years. (thanks Kym!)

Speaking of my friend you can see her great sweater card here 

While hubby is off to workout, I'll be at home with ice on my knee. 

Went walking yesterday, and it is sore now. Think it is still hurt

from when I fell a few weeks ago.

Stamping trails

Karen 

Vintage Christmas Card

Happy middle of the week. 

I'm still working on Kym's challenge to use only on hand

supplies. This sweet little girl panel was given to me in a swap. 

I added flower flock around all the fur trims. 

Glad I can use the flower flock. I use to think it was messy, 

and I was right about that, but it does clean up pretty easy. 

This reminds me of the old timey cards that had the fake flock going

around trims. Remember those? 

Making another batch of cookies today, and

I need to make seasoned crackers. Make those every Christmas. 

Oh, and I have a few last minute things that need to be wrapped. Other 

than that I'm just going to enjoy the holidays. Christmas is less than a week a way...

how did that happen? This month is just flying by. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Card from old Christmas Card and Cookies!

No post for a few days. Was busy all weekend baking cookies. 

Monday I was really tired.  I did get the last of my swaps, and

Christmas cards in the mail. I did manage to make this card. 

Used an old Christmas card someone sent to me. Just cut the angel

panel from the card. It was mounted on cream cardstock that I 

stamped with crumb cake, and cajun craze ink. 

I did spray it with some tarnished brass stain by Ranger. I think

 

the sprayer is getting clogged as it came out as blotches. I had to use

 

a tissue to blot some of the brass stain off. Still happy with it. 

 

 

You can see by the side view that the angel was layered on the card. 

 

 

Some cookies that me and the kids made on Sunday. Three

 

part snowman. 

 

 

We cut little trees, so I put them on this cookie tray that also had

 

trees going across the bottom. 

 

 

Em, and Sarah busy decorating. 

John saying no more pictures mom! 

Cookie that Em decorated. She is such an artist. 

Not to be outdone Sarah made this one. 

John had to throw down with his own decorated tree. 

Me taking a break with a cup of coffee in the mug Betty gave me.

Love it! Just Hangin' with my gnomes. 

Stamping trails

Karen

She said Yes

So it is official. Our son John popped the question.

He may be gaining a wonderful young lady to 

spend the rest of his life with, but we are also

gaining a wonderful daughter-in-law. Couldn't

be happier for both of them. 

I should have got a closer shot of the ring. It is beautiful rose gold. 

Yesterday was fun, but I was tired! Still need to bake more cookies. 

Sarah, and John are coming over today to bake with me. Looking forward to that. 

Hubby telling Emily how he asked me to marry him. 

Busy, with cookie making. 

Em taking a break from the cookies. Cherokee just

enjoying the lap. 

Stamping trails

Karen