MERRY CHRISTMAS

I just wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas!!!

Hope you are all saying safe, warm and enjoying family and/or friends and celebrating the true meaning of Christmas.



Hugs,
Char

Fun with Granddaughter

We have been having so much fun with our Granddaughter. So far we have made some Folger Cookie 'tins'. I found the link for the template here. All you need is a plastic Folger 'tin' and full sheet sticker label paper. You can either print off a colored version of this template or print a black and white version and color it in yourself. This is a fun project for kids!

Of course, we could have dressed it up more with ribbon or whatever but we chose not to. I wanted it to be fun and simple. We added Liquid Applique to the bottom for 'snow'.



We even used some Stickles on another one she made her Dad....with a Raider theme. Here you can see how the sheet prints off. Then, all you have to do is just color them, cut them out and apply them to the 'tin'.

She wanted to use green Stickles on some of the trees and add red Stickles to the other trees. We colored the scarves and hats with Metallic Gray and a black marker.


Last but not least, she worked on her gifts to her Dad and Mom. She made her Dad a set of Raider tile coasters.
And, for her Mom...Christmas coasters.

I normally use the tumbled tiles for these but I didn't have any on hand, so we used some tiles out of a box of regular ceramic tiles that I had gotten who knows where.

She spread Mod Podge over the tiles and then adhered squares of wrapping paper to the top. Then applied two more coats of Mod Podge. After they were dry, she put felt pads on the bottoms to keep them from scratching furniture.

We have spent the last four days making crafts, baking cookies, watching Christmas videos and reading Christmas books. Since we both love snowmen, I checked out a couple of snowmen books.

Snowmen at Night by Caralyn Buehner

Snowmen at Chrirstmas by Caralyn Buehner



And, this morning we are enjoying a cup of Snowman Soup!

Have a great day!!!!

Char

Happy Christmas Eve

We took a trip up to WA to pick up our Granddaughter and I wanted to share some of the photos I took of our trip. They were predicting a storm coming in on Saturday so we left on Friday and just got home before they shut down I-84. We drove in snow all the way to and back.
Here is one photo of the Gorge on Friday morning.

Another one of the Gorge looking across the Columbia River at WA state.
The trip up, altho it was on packed snow all the way to just after Cascade Locks, really wasn't all that bad. We were able to drive without putting on chains.
THEN.....it started snowing more that night.
So, we left around 9am Saturday morning, as we heard that there was going to be a storm coming in over the Gorge. We decided to take another way home...Hwy 26 over Mt Hood.

I took several photos of the trip up and back. The trip over Hood was a little iffier as we had to chain up and by the time we made it over Hood, we had broke both chains and had to go the rest of the way without chains.


The trees were beautiful ......
This is going over the pass. Thankfully, we still had chains.

Almost Home!!!
There's no place like home!!!
Annie enjoying? the snow!
Hope you are all staying warm where ever you are!

Happy Christmas Eve!!!

Christmas Cards

I finally have a few Christmas cards to share!!!  I got in the 'zone' one day and worked till the wee hours of the morning.  I hate it when my 'muse' comes late in the afternoon and then I can't STOP the ideas from flowing.  It makes for a short night but it was worth it!

I didn't get as many cards made this year as I intended to but I was beginning to think I wasn't going to get any done, so I am happy!

I had fun making use of the Cuttlebug embossing folders and, combining them on cards.  There are just so many ways to use them.  The first card, I used the snowflakes and Holly folders.  Cut out my snowman and colored him in with Prismacolor pencils.

Another easy one is made using the Ornament and Swiss dots embossing folders a few rhinestones and a ribbon.   I have to say that the Swiss Dots folder is one of my favorites because it can be used for any occasion.  You can emboss the entire front of your card or just one of the layers!  I am totally addicted to the embossing folders, as if you couldn't tell :-)

And, getting tired of the same ol colors for Christmas, try blue and pink ;-)  Why not?  Who says we have to use green, red, gold, silver??  I like using different combinations of colors for Christmas.  I like the tried and true traditional colors, too, but like to have fun combining different colors together for something fun and unusual.  You can add those cute little button brads to match.  

Last but not least, have any sports fans on your Christmas list?  Try doing their card in their team colors like this one.  

My Son is an avid Oakland Raider fan...win or lose....so hope he will enjoy this card made just for him.  The Stickles on the verse isn't really pink, it just showed up that way when I took the photo.

The snowman isn't TAC but a cute little snowman that a friend sent me.  She had two and she found out that I loved the snowman from Great Impressions Stamps.  I love him!!!

Here is another using the Lace Tree and Prismacolor pencils.  So easy and fun to do.  I also used EK Success punch, Iron Eagle to punch the corners.  Add a little Stickles, if you like and you are done!    I am thinking that you could also add rhinestones to the tree, as well.

I'll have more to share after this weekend.  We are headed up to get our older Granddaughter for Christmas vacation.

I am not looking forward to the drive in this nasty snowy weather so hoping we are hoping for a window of opportunity to get over the pass and back.

I didn't get as many cards done this year as I would have liked to but at least I was able to get some done.

I'll share more next week.

Have a great weekend!!!

Hugs,

Char

Still challenged but.....

Ok, after playing around with this all morning.....I went through various stages of panic! I took off my ' cat' photo and then I uploaded a Christmas photo but it wouldn't go in as a banner....but a photo.

So, then I tried to go back and just start over by choosing the template again and starting from scratch but then the directions that I had used prior....to get my cat photo up there.....didn't work to get the Christmas photo. So, then I clicked on something that said go back to original template (forgetting that the template I had wasn't the ORIGINAL...but the one I picked a year or so ago) and so it took me back to a bare minimum blog....and all my sidebar stuff was GONE!!!!!! YIKES!

I PANICKED........then figured....'oh what they hay, I'll just start over" So, I chose (THANKFULLY) the template I must have had a few days ago....because when I clicked on that to save it....ALL my stuff came BACK!! WHOOOHOOO.

My Cat banner isn't stretched like it was.....but how the heck I did that, I can't remember now....and I am done messing around with it cause at least the kitty banner is back and all my sidebar stuff is back.

One of these days, I just might figure out how to do all this stuff....but not two weeks before Christmas :-)

....here are a few things to share.

This was a birthday card I did recently. I have also done Christmas cards like this only using a snowflake in the circle and changing the wording to "Magic of Christmas".

Here is the little scalloped ornament we made at Stamp Club, on Wednesday.


And, I gave them their CD case and the calendars and decorative papers to make their CD Calendars. They are supposed to bring them, next month, so I can see what they created. I still haven't finished mine but will upload it when I do.

So, now I am going to go have a cup of Snowman Soup and finish the rest of the things on my list for today!

Have a great day!!!

Char

HTML challenged

Well, after seeing everyone changing up their banners to reflect Christmas, I thought I would give it another go. I got rid of my precious cat banner.....can't even remember where I got it now and decided to give my blog some Christmas spirit......but.....even trying to follow Vickie Todd's instructions, I somehow messed it up.....and now all I have is a photo up there....not a banner.

Anyone html savvy....and can help me? I hate it when I try to 'fix' something that isn't broke... :-)

Anyway, I will try again in the morning and upload some pictures of what we made at Stamp Club

Hugs,
Char

Stamp Club today

Today is our monthly meeting for the Happy Stampers stamp club. This will be our Christmas get together, so we are to all bring something for a potluck. I am taking a veggie tray.

I was asked to do the projects for today so we are doing a simple Christmas card and an ornament that I found here.

And, although they don't know it.....I am giving them the 'basics' to make their own CD calendars. They will each get a little packet that includes the decorative paper, calendars and empty CD case....and all they have to supply is the card stock and embellishments and ink. I'll have them bring their creations to the next stamp club meeting in January.

I'll upload the card later today.

Have a great Wednesday!!

Hugs,
Char

A gift from Germany

I received this darling gift today!

My friend, Peggy, took a much dreamed about trip to Italy, Germany, Austria and other places, last month with one of her friends.

She sent me some photos of all the wonderful things she saw and did. It was so much fun to SEE those places through her photos.

One of the photos that caught my eye was this darling little wooden angel ornament. She had held her up outside of the shop that she bought her at. I couldn't wait till she got home so I could see her in person.

After Peggy arrived home and got settled in, I got this same photo in an e-mail, addressed to me, with this note...

"I am a dear little angel that needs a home. I traveled all the way from Garmish, Germany :-) I look a lot like you and hear that you have a lot of other angels. Please give me a home."

What else would I say but YES YES YES!!!! She is even cuter in person. How can you resist this adorable face??

She is going on my tree till after Christmas and then I will find a special place for her.

I named her Garmish....after the town she came from.

Thanks Peggy!!!!

Oh.....and she also gave brought us some Italian coffee! Tomorrow morning....guess what we are having?

Fun Day at K9 Karnival

We took Annie to the K 9 Karnival, this morning. We all had a great time. Annie had never seen so many dogs all in one place at one time or people. She had fun meeting new people and getting treats from various vendors.

One of the fun things they offered was to try out an agility course. Annie had never done anything like this before and she had a blast!! Of course, it helped to have treats at the end of each obstacle ;-) On the agility course, she went through a tube at the far right back and then jumped over several hurdles, jumped through a ring and also walked on a up a plank over and bridge and back down. For her very first time, ever, we thought she did really well.

Hubby took the photos so he didn't get her IN the act but me giving her treats after the fact.

What a fun afternoon for all three of us. We also walked around and checked out the vendors and bought a few 'treats' for Annie's stocking for Christmas.
These are actual dog biscuits with all natural ingredients.

I decided to get some for my Son's dog and my Sister's dog, also...as they will be here for Christmas.

It was the first event like this that this particular kennel club had put on and I thought they did a great job.

If you are a dog lover, here are just a few of the vendors we visited, today:

Healthy Paws

Oregon Pet Expo

Redmond Pet Care

Polkadoodledogbakery

Woofsandroofs

There were a lot more but sadly a lot of them didn't have websites.

Although I make my own doggie treats, I thought it would be fun to pick up those cute ones above for something a little different.

If you would like to try the treats that I make for my dog, here is the recipe. It makes a lot....

Newf Breakfast Bars

Contributed by Martha Taylor-Young, RNC, Dragon Rest Newfoundlands

I love this recipe because it makes a lot & it's so easy, you just throw everything into the bowl, mix & pat onto 2 greased cookie sheets, no rolling or cookie cutters.

12 c. oatmeal

4 c. whole wheat flour

8 eggs

3/4 c. oil

2/3 c. honey

1/2 c. molasses

2 c. milk

Preheat oven to 325. Grease 2 cookie sheets

Dump everything into a VERY large bowl. Mix this whole mess together (I use my hands, AFTER I take my rings off, another story), pat onto greased cookie sheets & bake at 325 for 1 hour. After 1 hour turn oven off, crack oven door & allow cookies to cool in oven. Break into whatever size you want (mine like LARGE).

These freeze really well.

I have given these to even finicky dogs...and they loved them.

If you give them a try, let me know how your dog enjoyed them.

Hugs,

Char

FREE and Inexpensive FUN!

This card reminds me of Central Oregon with it's few trees, spacious skies and mountains.

This was one of my first attempts at a Michelle Zindorf technique. I can't quite get the hang of the brayer, so I used sponges.

If you haven't tried this technique, yet, give it a try. It's addicting!! And, you just keep getting better and better. Although, I have to admit, I seem to stick with trees!! :-)

We have decided to go check out the K9 Karnival in Redmond, today. We'll be taking Annie with us for the day and see all they have to offer. She is an Australian Shepherd and she has LOTS of energy and we thought this would be a FUN way to spend part of the day.

We are on a mission to try to find fun, different and inexpensive things to do on the weekends. It's been really fun perusing the newspapers/online resources and asking around trying to find things that we would enjoy, yet something that maybe we hadn't done yet.

We don't go every weekend but we like to have options other than sitting and watching the boob tube.

What are some of the fun activities that you do during the weekends? Remember, we don't have kids at home so we are trying to find inexpensive/fun ideas just for the two of us. And, I hate to use the term Sr Citizen...as I still can't wrap my head around that one!

Before we head out, I would like to share another card with you. This one was so simple using DCWV cardstock and the leaves Cuttlebug embossing folder. (Not sure if that's the correct name for it, but you get the idea) I also used Ivory card stock strips (from TAC) and a coordinating color of DCWV card stock strip. Then, I just used my sanding block and sanded it to bring out the white core of the card stock. EASY!!!! And, shock....I didn't use Stickles!! :-)



Have a fantastic Sunday everyone!!!

Hugs,
Char

Such a slug!!!

Good morning and happy December 6th!!!

I can't believe it's just 19 more days till Christmas!

Although, I DO have all my shopping done (have to admit, we bought gift cards...so easy and just what they want) and the house decorated, I haven't decided whether or not to send out cards.

Part of me wants to stick with tradition, the other part says.....just keep it simple this year ;-) It's getting too expensive and I would rather CALL my friends and family! So. that is just what I might do this year......take an hour each day and call several friends or family members and catch up on our lives.

The card above was made using:

"Ornamental Joy", The Angel Company
Cobalt card stock, The Angel Company
Raspberry 1 card stock, The Angel Company
black card stock "
white card stock "
Cote d' Azure Palette ink pad "
Stickles, Icicle "

Of course, I have to stick with 'some' traditions and that would be making Snowman Soup when my Granddaughter comes to spend the holidays. We make up several to take to family members and friends. She loves doing this.

If you have never done this before, it's so easy! Just find some cute snowman mugs (you can usually get them at the $1 store)

Below is what you will need to make the snowman soup!

1 individual pack hot chocolate mix
5 Hershey's chocolate kisses
12-17 mini-marshmallows
1 small candy cane

Add a cute tag:

When it's so cold that
you holler and whoop,
It's time to bring out
the Snowman Soup!

Pour the packet in a mug.
Add the snowballs too.
And throw in the kisses
from the snowman to you.

Now add some hot water
and use the cane to stir it.
Sip slowly and soon you'll
feel the warm winter spirit!

Here is another version:

Was told you've been real good this year.
Always glad to hear it!
With freezing weather drawing near,
You'll need to warm the spirit!

So here's a little Snowman Soup
Complete with stirring stick.
Add hot water, sip it slow.
It's sure to do the trick!

This is such a fun project to do with kids!!! And, it really brightens the day of whoever receives them.

Have fun and let me know if you try this fun project!

Hugs,
Char