Merry Christmas

Loving God, we open ourselves to you this Christmas season.
As these candles are lit, light our lives with your imagination.
Show us the creative power of hope.
Teach us the peace that comes from justice.
Fill us with the kind of joy that cannot be contained, but must be shared.
Maginfy your love within us.
Prepare our hearts to be transformed by you,
that we may walk in the light of Christ.

Merry CHRISTmas Everyone!!!

Christmas Window Boxes

This is what my window boxes look like this year:



Next year I would love to have these window boxes:

image from Martha Stewart

Trees

When I was out and about the other day, I noticed all different kinds of Christmas trees. So, I had to share with you. Can you just imagine the ones below, all decked out with decorations. I would love to see how some creative person would decorate the black tree. Are you thinking about it, too?

Yes, they even sell a Charlie Brown tree!

This would be the tree I would love to have in my classroom. I just love it! Just look at those huge erasers. I'm thinking the kids wouldn't have a problem finding these.

And last, but not least. My little tree.

Thanks for stopping by today. Have a great weekend!

Grinch

Last year I went down south for a Christmas gathering. After, everyone left my cousins, myself, and my friend went out to a local small town bar. It was fun, we had drinks and popcorn and played some pool. As we played pool, we started talking about the Santa that was sitting at the bar and how funny it would be if he would come over and sit on my friend, Becky's lap. Well, to my surprise when he turned around he had a Grinch mask on. Kind of strange, and not to mention scary looking. Non-the-less we got him to come over and we took this picture with him. So, I have been trying to figure out how to use the pictures I took that evening.





Thank goodness I like to stalk Ellen's blog, because she created a Grinch in punch art form. I consider myself extremely lucky to have found her blog, because this is one woman that is truly blessed with a talent, and I consider myself to be truly blessed to be able to CASE her creations. LOL


So, here he is. I made up a 6 x 6 page for my punch creation book. So, friends I can say that I'm finally one step closer at getting my page done in my scrapbook. Yay! Have a good day and don't put your Grinch face on. Ha, ha, ha!

Peppermint Bark Popcorn

I believe making homemade goodies is one of the best ways to share my love for friends and family. So with the holiday season already upon us, I wanted to show you one of my favorite gifts from the kitchen, and hopefully more to come. This is a recent discovery, a friend made something very similar for me earlier in the season.


I think this might be the perfect Christmas treat because:
1. It's yummy.
2. It's e.a.s.y. So easy! And quick too.
3. Just one batch makes enough to fill up lots of goodie bags.
4. It packs well. It's dry and in small pieces, so it's perfect for filling any type of container, or throwing it in a big bowl for a party.
5. Did I mention it's yummy?

Recipe:

16-20 C popped popcorn (fresh, or about 2 bags microwave popcorn)

1 lb Almond Bark

1 6oz box candy canes, crushed. (About 1-1 1/2 C total)

2 tea. peppermint extract

3/4 C semi-sweet chocolate chips

*one bag microwave popcorn has about 10 cups in it, so if you're air-popping, do about 20 cups.

Okay, I have to admit unwrapping the candy canes and crushing them is the most labor intensive step of this easy-peasy treat. I put my candy canes in a large zip-lock bag and have a whack with a hammer, but a heavy marble rolling pin would work.

Thanks for taking a look and who knows, maybe this will become a new tradition for you and your family.

Here Comes Santa...

Laughing all the way! Well, okay maybe he isn't but you probably are. Right? What on earth is he doing anyhow? Doing the "Robot Dance"? I'm not sure, but I'm kinda attached to him. For some reason he pulls on my heart strings. Don't ask. I don't know why. LOL

I can tell you however, that I'm crazy for punch art. Gasp! It seems that lately I just can't get enough of it. I just wish that I was the one that was bright enough to design the creations I will be showing on my blog. Yep, nope not me. I stock Ellens blog and she is the real deal. She makes me look like a baby in diapers. Good thing that I majored in Copying...um I mean Elementary Education. Of course I added my own details, so then is it really the same? I'm not sure, the verdict is still out.

Enjoy and have a great Wednesday!

November Card Class

Last night was our November Card class at JaNells. Yvonne and JaNell put together some fabulous cards for us to make. For the first card we used Stampin' Up's new stencils. Have you seen these yet? This was the first for me. I have to admit that at first I was a bit sceptical about them and then Yvonne should us this card. I feel in love with it! We used brushed gold CS for the card and the top of the ornament. I had not used this paper before, so that was a treat for me. I like!

The second card we made was all about Dasher. We used gold ink on this card. I loved the colors on this card. I also loved the the polka-dot grosgrain ribbon. I will have to add this to my ever growing wish list.

Our last card was made using the Merry Moments paper from SU. I felt like a child again, because it reminded me of wallpaper my parents had in their bedroom. It was not the same color, but the print was similar and it had the same soft texture to it. How fun to travel down memory lane. Our second technique we learned was about embossing. We first stamped our image in VersaMark and then we stamped it in Real Red Classic Ink, we finished off by adding clear Embossing Powder and then we set it using the Heat Tool. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.

We received the cutest little gift. It was filled with candy corn. Yum! I love the stuff and of course I already ate mine. *)

Thanks Yvonne and JanNell! I loved all the projects. Job well done!

Merry Christmas...

A gentle, humble couple
had traveled long and far.
To a little town called Bethlehem,
and a stable beneath a star.

There among the cattle,
God sent His Son to earth.
With only an angel chorus,
to celebrate His birth.

Yet shepherds heard their message
and knelt there in the straw.
Amazed and filled with wonder,
at the Baby whom they saw.

Then wise men came to worship
with precious gifts to bring.
Knowing that before them
was their Savior and their King.

Christ came to us from heaven,
and did not count the cost.
Yet behind His humble manger,
stood a waiting, rugged cross.

Merry Christmas to all of my blog friends!

Be safe in your travels, hug your family and friends more than usual,

and take time to enjoy the laughter around you!

P.S. Thanks Jenna for helping me with the photos. =)

O Christmas Tree...

From the minute I saw this cute little tree, I knew that I had to make one. Since seeing him a couple of weeks ago, they have been popping up every where. So, I think a lot of other fine folks like him as well. This must mean I have good taste. =) So simple to make, just grab a scallop punch and punch a few circles and then cut your circles like triangles. I didn't have a star punch, so I just cut one out of yellow paper and then the trunk is made out of a piece of brown paper cut into a rectangle. I added brads for decorations. I think it turned out great. I'm planning on making more and putting them on my goodie trays. Speaking of goodie trays, I best get busy. No school today due to the weather and extreme cold. Yuck! So, one more day to play at home and make the best of it, as I can. I hope you have a great Monday.

It's Beginning to Look Like a Winter Wonderland!

I spent a lot of time looking out the window today and enjoying the snow coming down. What a beautiful wintry sight. I loved it!!!! Yes, but only because I had no where to go and could stay home and enjoy it. =)

Friday was my first Christmas gathering of the year and it was SO fun! All of us stampers had a blast, the food was delicious and the company even better! I just love this time of year!

Today's post is the tags that we made at Janell and Yvonne's Holiday open house. They are so cute. I'm not sure which is my favorite, cause I love them all. If you would like to make some you can go to http://mercedesweber.blogspot.com/. This is the wonderful site that they got the ideas from. She has lots of neat ideas. Check her out.

Hope you are enjoying your weekend. See you next time.

Mrs. Mouse....

I just had to show off Peg's mouse she made. I think she is beautiful! Don't you think she would be the perfect spouse mouse for the little guy I made awhile back? =) She also made the calendar and the little bag to hold Post-it-Notes. What wonderful little gift's. Thanks Peg for sharing, your projects turned out great.

Thanks for stopping in and have a great day.

Here Comes Santa....

Brr...it is freezing out, that chill sure is in the air. I think winter is here to stay. So, if winter is here, you know what that means...yep the holidays, too. I really look forward to this time of year. I can't wait! This year I know, some people are really stressed out over not having much money...so I say make it a homemade Christmas y'all. I LOVE receiving gifts that people put their time and sweat into...it's the BEST!!!! So, starting out I made some tags to put on my presents. Don't you think he is going to look GREAT on the gifts under my tree?
I used Laurie's nestabilities to make his face, hat, and beard. Then added circle punches to make his face and then the Three for You flower punch to add fluff to his cap. Finished him off by adding stickles to his cap. I think he is sweet. Thanks for looking today and have a happy Friday.

Merry Christmas, Baby...

About a month ago the Cabala's Christmas catalog came in the mail and memories started flooding back to me. I started to recall how I spent hours as a child studying, circling, and wishing for toys from the Sears and JcPenney Wish Books. Were you one of them wishers, too? So, I paged through the catalog and started noticing some things that I would like to have. Of course, I circled the wanted goods and placed the size accordingly next to the product. After finishing I thought it was kind of fun reminiscing about years past. However, not much more thought went into it. So, about a week and a half ago I came home to find a small brown box on the kitchen floor. I figured Mack must have ordered more stuff for himself and left it at that. The next day he asked me if I got my package from UPS. I said "no, cause I'm not expecting anything". He told me to look again, cause the package was mine. So, I went and looked at the package and this is what I found.



My friends, this is huge. I couldn't hardly believe my eyes. I was speechless. The pair of sneakers that I had wished for, showed up at my door.



What a thoughtful jester. I think I'm going to have to start circling more items in catalogs and leave them laying around. Wink, wink. =) Have a good day everyone.