Christmas Cards

I love handmade Christmas cards! And even though it can be pricey, I love to make mine. I start the planning in Sept or October so I can order paper and /or stamps from my Stampin Up lady. This year I ordered this Top Note die for my Sizzix:









Here is my process for making Christmas cards:

• after coming up with an idea, order or purchase supplies



• decide that none of the stuff you bought is going to work and go buy more



• get a family picture taken (using lots of bribes and threats of bodily harm to keep everyone smiling a decent smile)



• come up with an example of the card you want to make



• decide you still don't have everything you need and make an emergency trip to the craft store



• assemble all your supplies

• cut everything out all at once- My cards are 4 x 8 inches. So using a 12 x 12 piece of paper, I got 4 cards from each piece. I cut patterned paper into 1 x 8 inch strips. And using my Sizzix, I die cut the Top Note shape for my cards. I cut enough of all of the papers to make 60 cards. I also cut the ribbon into 8 inch strips.



• the assembly- First I adhered the patterned paper to the bottom, then the ribbon over that. After making slits in the Top Note die for each corner of the picture, I adhered that. Then I stamped the message, and added 3 punched snowflakes.
  

And here is the final product. Please act surprised if you get one in the mail. :)

We gave thanks

We had a fab thanksgiving. Just our little family and some really good friends of ours.


My 7yr old daughter made these cute signs all by herself.

She decorated the house with them. I love it and have yet to take them down even though all of our Christmas stuff is up now (post to come on that)

I am so thankfulfor:

• my oh-so-patient husband
• 3 wonderful, crazy busy kids
• great friends who keep me sane
• my mom who always listens and encourages me
• my testimony of the Gospel
• Chris's job
• the GREAT health we have had this year
• the dvr - I swear it has changed my life
• magazines and books that always inspire and entertain
• the internet
• my iphone

I'm also thankful to have this blog and the opportunity to trade ideas. Don't forget to check back in 2 days for the 12 days of Christmas ideas.

Vintage

I have loved old, worn things for as long as I can remember. My mom and I used to go to a store called "Finders Keepers" that we literally had to dig through to find stuff. It was awesome! I remember finding a ratty old suitcase there that the owner wanted to throw away, but I rescued. Sadly it died when we moved to Nashville, but I have many collections of other vintage things.

The wagon above came from a yard sale.

A collection of milk cooler boxes

Vintage suitcases (that did survive our move) that store candles, picture frames and all sorts of decorating accessories that I rotate through.

A large, shabby vase thing.

A little vignette of a shelf made with vintage door handles, windows from my mom's old house and some spools.

In my blog hopping, I just found one called Vintage Junky . Michelle just re did her craft space and I am ready to move in. She reuses many vintage finds in funky new ways. Just look at that organizer.

Right now she is doing a giveaway of a vintage scale. I would really like it, so if you go check out her blog, don't enter to win. K, thanks!

12 days of crafty Christmas

Ok, so I'm a terrible blog slacker! But to make up for it, starting December 1, I am going to do 12 days of Christmas. All of the posts will be about easy, do it yourself Christmas gifts or decorations. I got the idea from Edie of Life in Grace. She's did a wonderful 12 days of Christmas a week or so ago and I got tons of inspiration from her. Go check out her awesome blog, then come back here starting Dec 1 for 12 days of Christmas fun!