Christmas is over for another year....

Well, Christmas has come and gone.  Wow, what a wonderful time we had.  We decided to open gifts on Christmas Eve because some family members couldn't be there for Christmas day.  

Remember my post here about things I 'wished' for.  I actually received one of those wishes, a Kindle Touch. So, if anyone tells you that wishing doesn't work (and a lot of HINT dropping), tell them they are crazy.

So far, I have been reading one book but adding TONS of free books from Amazon.com.  I want to get a power cord and a cover with a light as soon as I can.  Anyone else get a Kindle/Nook/Sony e- reader?  Let me know how you like it and what all you are doing on them.  

On another note, two days after Christmas, I dropped my phone, a HTC Merge in a glass of water.  Don't ask.  Anyone that knows me well, knows it's not that hard to do....for me.  So, I had to go to US Cell and make out an insurance claim. I had gotten it for my birthday back in September so it was just over 3 months old.  I am SO happy we took out the insurance on it. 

I am waiting for my 'new' one...or replacement to show up any day.  In the meantime, I am using my hubby's old Motorola and it doesn't keep a charge for more than a couple of hours and everyone sounds the same when they call.  I am embarrassed to keep asking "WHO IS THIS".  I am sure they are a tad bewildered, too, till I explain.

 I received some other really wonderful gifts, too.  I won't upload them, but, My Granddaughter got me this mug.  

She also got me this plaque and I literally broke down crying.

I guess we must be doing something right ;-)

My older Granddaughter gave me a darling bear with a T shirt that reads "Friends Forever".  I love it!!

Hope you all had a great Christmas spending time with loved ones.

Here's to a fantastic 2012!!

Hugs,

Char

Two More Days!!!!

Well, it's just two more days till Christmas.    And, actually, if you want to be technical....I am sure it's just a day and a half....considering it's afternoon.

Talking technical, my DH gave me my Anniversary gift, today.  It is a digital photo frame.  Now, I have to learn another 'technical' item.  I got it pretty much set up but the clock runs realllllly fast....the second hand runs so fast that it makes the time go a lot faster.  Hopefully, I'll get it figured out.

Our granddaughters had a hard time waiting for today to give us our gift.  They went in on a GC from Red Robin for the two of us.  We'll have fun using that one of these days.

I am DONE making Christmas cards!!  Now, it's on to finishing baking and cleaning house!   Most of it is all done but I promised to bake pies with my Granddaughters tomorrow.  Today, we'll make New England fruit cake cookies.  My hubby loves them.

Tomorrow, we plan on just lazing around the house playing games and then we'll go to the Candlelight service at church, tomorrow night.

I just had to share a few more cards I have received.

This is a gorgeous card from one of my former down line and forever friends, Pam R.

 This card is from Claudia Gates, one of my former down line....but forever friend.

 An Anniversary card from Harriet!

 An Anniversary card from Kris.

 An Anniversary card from Lynette.

 An Anniversary card from Sheri.

 A Christmas card from Joyce.

A Christmas card from Cynthia in a one on one swap on Stampers_Life.

Hopefully, after the New Year, I'll have some time to start making Valentine's cards!!

Hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year.

Hugs,
Char

Are you ready for Christmas??

That HAS to be the question that is asked the most about this time of the month!  And, my answer is YES....or Ready as I'll ever be!

The tree and house have been decorated since Thanksgiving, my gifts have been bought and wrapped and have either been sent or waiting to be given to the recipients at Christmas.  My cards have been sent and I even put all my rubber stamps away so that I wasn't tempted to just make a 'few' more.

I made a few snacky type foods and they are all put in containers.  I have a couple of cookie and candy items to make but, we are waiting to do it this weekend.

But, then, WHY do I keep browsing Amazon.com or making little side trips down other aisles, just 'looking', when I am at the store?

Because I love to give!!!  And, it's just plain fun!!!  I just love to shop at this time of year more than ANY other time.  I don't know why, but I do.  They key, though, is staying within our budget and we have.  We saved a little each month... all year long, and we said we would stick to that amount....when it's gone...it's gone....NO CREDIT CARDS!!!  And, we have stuck to that promise to one another.  It is so FREEING.....to have fun shopping and know that when January comes around....there will be no bills coming in.

The other thing I love about this time of year is the Christmas movies on Hallmark, Lifetime and other channels. I know by Christmas Day, I'll be SO ready to move on to something else....but I have really enjoyed all the movies.

The only thing I don't do much of is listen to Christmas music.  I am not sure why but some of them just put me in a 'downer' mood.  As long as it's upbeat or lively....I do OK for the most part....but play "I'll be home for Christmas", "Silent Night" or anything like that.....I get all teary eyed.  I just can't DO most of the music!  It brings back memories of my parents and I miss them so much!

Talking about Christmas music, what is your favorite Christmas carol?  I love the Carol of the Bells and the Hallelujah Chorus.  And, anything by Manheim Steamroller.  Oh and there are a few I like by Trans-Siberian

Orchestra.  A little 'out there' but cool!!  And, some of my favorite singers would include Michael Buble`, Johnny Mathis (oh swoooon), Josh Groban to name a few.

It's just 8 days till Christmas.....Whooohoooo!!!!

Have a God Blessed day!!

Hugs,

Char

What's on your WISH list?

I thought it would be fun to share things that we would like to see under the tree on Christmas day!!  I don't expect to receive ANY of these, lol, but thought it would be like a Christmas Bucket List.....

So, with that in mind, here are some things I would LOVE to see on Christmas Day.  Hey, we can dream, right??

I have been dreaming of owning a 57 Chevy for years and years.

I thought this was so beautiful!!!!  A Mother's 'ring' Necklace.

This clock wakes you up and then starts rolling across the floor....so you HAVE to get up to turn it off.  LOL  Actually, I would love to get this for DH.

 Beautful candle set!!  I love candles.

I realllllllly want one of these.  They aren't too awfully spendy right now if you don't go for the Kindle Fire.  I love books but I think this would be so cool to take with you in your purse with a TON of books on it.

 Then, of course, if I had a Kindle, I would love to have a little light to go with it for reading at night, in bed.

 I actually owned this lunch box duo back in the 'day'.  I don't know why, but I WANT one to display in my kitchen.  It just brings back memories.

 Ok, now, we don't go to many games but I think this would come in handy almost anywhere.  I hate sitting on bleachers or hard surfaces.

 Another beautiful Mother's ring necklace.

And, last byt not least, a vacation to Australia to see my friend/pen pal, Gwen.

Here is where I went to get some of these ideas

Google.com

http://www.gifts.com/

Amazon.com

And, I found some other links, while on my journey, that I want to go visit.  I don't buy from these stores but it's fun to check out what they carry.

Bradford Exchange

Brookstone

Williams-Sonoma

Crate and Barrel

Pottery Barn

Perpetual Kid

Discount Card stock

Hope you have found this helpful and hey....anyone that has a 57 Chevy laying around they really don't want, you know, now, where to send it ;-)

Thanks for joining in on my silliness, today.  What's on your list of things you would love to own some day or just fun things you think would be cool, but you'd never buy for yourself??

Have a GREAT day!!!!

Look what I received in the mail

I recently received an adorable Anniversary card.  I love the way Joanne used buttons on this card as the flowers.

The background paper, the eyelet edging....it all goes together to make such a great card.

And, here is a great embossed tree from Vicki.  I love the way she embossed the tree and then added those tiny red jewels to look like ornaments.

This one is from Lynette, a simple embossed card.  LOVE LOVE the simplicity!!!

More Christmas Cards

Well, I have to admit, I am about done making Christmas cards.  I have so many more stamps that I wanted to try out and make cards from, but I am ready to move on to another theme, now ;-)   Of course, as I say that....I am thinking of more I could make.  Eventually, though, I need to start thinking of birthday, Valentine's day....oh...wait, I could do WINTER cards and that way could still use my snowmen :-)

Here are three of the cards I sent out this year for Christmas.

 This card I used a stamp set from Eureka Rubber Stamps.  It's called 17302 Sm Winter Scene Circle.  I just stamped it with Palette Starry Night ink pad.  I added some Icicle Stickles to the little snowflakes around the scene.  Added a white organza ribbon and finished.

  For this card, I used a Cuttlebug embossing folder on one side of my white card stock and then placed a punched circle on the right side and used Palette Starry Night ink pad and a sponge to sponge the sky.  Then, I stamped the tree from Embossing Arts Co. onto the card stock.  I added some Stickles to the snowflakes on the embossed part and also on the tree.  

This was a stamp from Hero Arts that I bought from a friend, Vicki, who sells Hero Arts.  I basically did that same thing as I did with the Eureka stamp.  I stamped the image onto a square piece of white card stock.  I added the ribbon to a piece of glimmery (although you can't see it here) blue card stock and then placed my image on to of that.  I added a tiny bit of Icicle Stickles to the star.

I probably won't use the glimmery paper any more....one...it's gone....and two....it didn't stick well to my card stock with the ribbon underneath.

These cards show that you CAN make Christmas cards in the month of December and get them sent off (as of yesterday).....although, now I can think of so many other ways I could have used these sets, time was of an essence and I needed to do quick easy cards in order to get them out by my deadline.

Have a God blessed day!!!

Char

Blogging Pet Peeves

I have a question and maybe I am just in the minority here but I wonder if anyone else finds it a little irritating when you discover a blog you would really love to subscribe to but, they only offer Google as the one and only option to subscribe.

I have contacted a few bloggers and asked politely if they would consider adding 'subscription by e-mail' and the people that I have asked have gone out of their way to do just that.  So, if any of you happen to read this...THANK YOU!!!!!

I guess I could do that on every blog that I enjoy reading, but it just boggles my mind that these bloggers don't think of it themselves.  I understand the blogger, like myself, that are small so they don't really think that many people are actually reading their blogs.  BUT, for those bloggers that are trying to sell their products whether it be rubber stamps, books, e-books, and other items... why wouldn't you offer as many ways as you could for someone to subscribe to your blog so that they keep coming back each day?

I am old hat, I guess, but I like to have the posts come to my inbox.  I don't remember to read the blogs if I have to go to Google Reader or worse yet, bookmark it.  I do have some that are attached to my blogger.....that I can read, but usually when I log into Blogger....I am writing my own blog and don't take time to read the ones in that list.  :-(

The other pet peeve having to do with blogging is MUSIC!!!  Why oh why do people put music on their blogs??? Now, I like music as much as anyone else, but I like MY kind of music.  I don't always like someone else's kind of music.

I hate it when I am browsing blogs, late at night, when I can't sleep....and come across one that blares out music.  I know, I know....someone said "well, turn down your sound".  YEAH?  Well, I am not expecting music to blare out at me in the middle of the night so didn't think to turn it down beforehand.  And, by the time I can get it turned down....it's already woke up half the house.  So, then I am looking for their music player so I can turn off the sound.  OR I have to click on sound on my desktop and lower the volume.  I don't have knobs on my speakers....so to me, it's a little inconvenient to have to stop and click off the sound.  THEN, I have to actually remember to turn it back on....later.

I want so badly to tell that blogger.....I left your blog because I don't want to have to listen to your music playing while I am trying to read.  And, yes, I know I could turn off my sound....but I shouldn't have to.

I have tried to figure out WHY they have music playing on their blog.   I mean, they aren't listening to it when they are writing their blog.  It would only play when they go to their blog.  How many people sit and look at their blog and listen to the music?

If someone can answer that question.....I'd love it.

Anyway, that's just a couple of my pet peeves.  What's YOUR biggest pet peeve.

One of the things we did last Saturday, were to make gift tags.  We were given boxes of embellishments and cut outs and told to just be creative.  Oh gosh, I wasn't in a creative mood that day.  But, I forged ahead and made a few blue gift tags to go with the blue Christmas wrapping paper at home.  I made a lot more than this, but they were tans and browns (and I think I liked them better) but I didn't take photos of those.

 We also made a masculine birthday card.  This one says DUDE.  Most of the ones we made on Saturday were Christmas and I showed them in a previous post.

Now that Christmas is fast approaching, I guess it's time to get busy and get my cards finished.  I haven't really even started them.  I don't know why I procrastinate every year.  Last year, I think I ended up sending out a few store bought cards.  I was tempted to do that again, this year, but I really DO have time to sit down and make a few if I hustle my bustle.

I think I'll start a new tradition of making xx amount of cards each month...so by November, I am done with my Christmas cards.  Somehow, I don't think I'll follow through on that idea, though.  After Christmas, I am usually ready to get onto other things.

Hope your day is productive and you are taking time to enjoy the Reason for the Season!!

Have a God blessed day,

Hugs,
Char

Getting Ready for Christmas

I had big plans of having everything ready to go by December 1st so I could just bake a little and enjoy the season.  We did get our tree up the weekend after Thanksgiving and also a few decorations.

I took on a project over this past weekend of making small calendars and it was a little bit more time consuming than I had originally thought.  But, the good thing is, I finished them this morning!!!

I am almost finished with my shopping, having done most of it online at Amazon.com and ChristianBooks.com. I did venture out on Black Friday with my family at 9pm and we got home at 7am the next morning.  We probably won't do it again but it was, for the most part, a fun experience.  We'll probably NEVER go to Wal Mart's event again....it was a ZOO.  The other stores we ventured to were a lot more organized and the crowds a lot more 'civil'.

My granddaughter wanted to 'experience it' so that is what we did.  She said that she wasn't sure she wants to do it again.  We still have a tiny bit of shopping to do so we'll venture out sometime this week and finish it up.

Then, my other granddaughter comes to visit just before Christmas and we always have a 'shopping' day, just the two of us.  That's all she's been talking about for a month or more.

I came across this video of a group of high school students performing the Hallelujah Chorus as silent monks.  YOU HAVE TO SEE THIS!!!!

Hope you enjoy it!!!

Hugs,
Char

More Christmas cards to share

As promised, I am sharing three more cards that we made on Saturday. 

 This little note card used the Peek a boo frame and the SU stocking die and a snowflake die to create a reindeer.  We added a couple of strips of patterned paper, some thin wire with a little jingle bell and a bow, a glittery circle for his nose and DONE!!

 Cute snowman with glittery flakes inside his tummy!

A very simple card using a tulip embossing frame, a few trees stamped on a piece of white card stock over a  red label.  Quick and simple.

More to follow....tomorrow!

Hugs,
Char

2012 Calendars

I took on a project late in the season.  BUT, I was able to get four complete sets of these calendars done for this year's gift giving.

I'll share one each month, if I remember!! That's the hard part, remembering to do it.

I attended another stamp day and made some more Christmas cards.  Here are just a few of the ones we made.

 The mitten card was made from a template.  We put the 'stitching' on with a gel pen and added a snowflake with a brad.  It was a fast and simple card, yet so cute.

 This card used the Treat Cups filled with Mica flakes. This was my first time making a card using these cups and it was fun!!

This card was another fast and simple card.  YET....it's a cool card.  We used a scallop that had the middle punched out and added some red dots to look like berries.  Then, a little brad for a doorknob.  How cute!!!

I'll share some more tomorrow!!

Hugs,
Char

Calendars

One of my friends, Lynette, features a calendar page on her blog and she has the files to download.  It so enjoyable to see what she comes up with each year.

I decided to try it this year.  OH MY GOSH...how much fun they are!!!  They are not big, so you only have this little area to decorate and I've been using a combination of stamps and digi stamps to do the images on the area I have to work with.  I have also been using my Cuttlebug embossing folders to emboss the area I am going to decorate.

I hope to have them all done by the end of this weekend so I can start sharing them with you.
The only problem is, I forgot to keep track of where I got the free digis, so am not sure I can share those.  I'll have to see if I can relocate where I grabbed them.

Does anyone have a simple way they organize their digis so as to give credit for the free digis.  I just was having so much fun 'collecting' them that I forgot to make a folder for each designer.

I have to say, although I love stamping, I am getting hooked on these digis, especially the colored ones as when I really don't have time to do much coloring or it looks intimidating....I can just print off a colored digi and then design the rest of my card.  :-)

Since I am not sure I can share the calendars that use digis, I'll send you over to Lynette's blog to view her calendar pages
.
I have a few calendar pages that don't use digis, so I will upload those at a later time.

Anyway, while you are at Lynette's blog, download the files to print off your own little calendars and have FUN making some for your friends and family.

Have a God Blessed day!!!

Hugs,
Char