Getting in the spirit of the season

I've been busy today.   Sonny and I decided to buy a real tree this year instead of using our artificial one (really didn't want to drag it out of the attic, if truth be told!).   We bought a nice tree yesterday.  Sonny grew up with a long needle Christmas tree and that's what we've always had.  I grew up with the Fraser Fir (think that's what they're called) with the little compact short needles and that's all we could find in the lots we stopped at (which was about 6!).  So, that's what we got.  We decorated it today and it looks really pretty.  So far, that's as far as I've gotten with my Christmas decorations!!  I'll post pictures when my house gets more festive!

I also spent a lot of time working on Christmas presents.  I made this today using SU's Decor Elements, a tile that I got at Lowe's and the red striped ribbon that is in the Holiday catalog.   I really like the way it turned out.  Hope the recipient likes it!

Calendar Obsession

I think I'm obsessed with making calendars.  I have made every type of calendar I believe .... big ones, coasters; CD's; etc. .....  Today, this is the one I made and I think I like it the best!!  I saw it first on Splitcoast and then on several blogs.  The black card base is actually a folded card (8 1/2 x 5 1/2") with winter, spring, summer and fall each on different sides (front, back, and inside).  I made a base for it to stand up on (you can see it in the side view) that can be removed when it's time to flip it inside out and slide it back on to stand up.

I cut designer paper with my Top Note die on my Cuttlebug and used the front and back of the designer paper to coordinate.

This is Fall made with Autumn Vine designer paper found in the SU mini catalog and felt flowers.

 

This is the Winter side.  I used Ski Slope designer paper also from the SU mini catalog and some punched snowflakes.

Here is Spring using the Bella Blossoms paper and the Filigree brad.

This is the Summer page using Summer Picnic paper and a cherry stamped from the Tart and Tangy set.

This is the side view so you can see how it stands up.  I just made a stand cutting the kraft cardstock 4" x 3" and scoring it 1" on 2 sides and slid it in (I didn't put adhesive on the bottom of the page).

Hope you have a splendid weekend!!

Sharon

These cute little boxes are easy to make. Here's the pattern to make the box. Wouldn't they be cute with some little Christmas candy in them? What are you waiting for? Get busy - select your paper - cut out your pattern!!!

Happy Birthday Jeff

Today is my baby's birthday. I don't think he'd like for me to refer to him as my baby, but that is what he is to me even if he is 30 years old (or young) today. It doesn't seem like he should be 30 yet .... it just makes me that old + 30! But, indeed he is with a wife, 3 great step-daughters and a beautiful 2-year old son. He is a great dad and husband. When he married Darcie, he took on the responsibility of raising her 3 girls, Torri, Kennedy, and Cassidy, who has special needs. He never thought twice about it. That is the type of man he is and why I am proud of him. He and I have our difficulties at present, but I hope and pray, some day, we will get past our problems.

For his birthday, I put together a scrapbook of memories for him. I used the theme "Where has the time gone" because that is what I feel!! It seems only yesterday that I was holding him in my lap while he was sucking his thumb and holding fast to his tattered blanket.

Here are a few of the pages from the book.

This is a great quote that I got this summer from Quick Quotes and thought it was appropriate at the beginning of the memories.

I hope he will enjoy taking this walk with me through my memories and remember how much I love him. It was bittersweet making this album. I had tears and laughter all along the way - just like I did when he was growing up. Oh, the memories I have that are not in this book!!

Happy Birthday, sweet boy of mine!

Love, Mom

Joey's Name Frame

Well, I feel like I've been going non-stop for a long time & I'm ready to stop the train and slow down!!  We got back in town late Sunday afternoon and didn't even go straight home!  We stopped off at a local bar/restaurant to catch the Steelers game on tv.  At half-time, I called my sister who told me the game was on our local CBS station, so we headed home to finish watching them LOSE!!  But, I had unpacking, laundry and a lot of catching up to do on the DVR to do.  Monday was bridge day; Tuesday was a Newcomer's event in downtown Charlotte (details later) and Bunco that night.  Today .... was heaven!!  I didn't even get dressed until after noon and just vegged out .... well, actually I worked on a baby gift that I have been needing to get done. 

Our sweet neighbors in Gig Harbor had their first child the day of my birthday party.  Little Joey was born on early Saturday morning, Oct. 18th. 

Joe & Ramey have decorated his room with jungle animals so I thought that would be appropriate for his name frame.  I found some green striped paper in my stash and covered the cardboard backing of the WalMart frame.  Next, I used my Nestabilities and Cuttlebug to cut out the Always Artichoke & Vanilla cardstock ovals.  I stamped the letters in Chocolate Chip and embossed them with clear powder.  The animals are from 4 different SU stamp sets - Wild About You; Unfroggetable; Bugs & Kisses; and Sock Monkey.  The little saying (precious little one) is a SU rub-on.  I added a little ribbon on the side with a round clip from the Hodgepodge Hardware set and a brown plaid button that I found along with a little lady-bug button for accents.  I thought it turned out really cute!  Hope they do too.