Days After Christmas

The hustle and bustle is over, the packages are unwrapped and the Christmas celebration is over for another year.  The house was filled with family Christmas Day.

Our little family shared gifts before the others arrived.  Having little ones to share this day with is always fun.  The photos and video from the day are still on the cameras.  I may get the chance to share a few in the next post.

We will be heading up to the Wisconsin north woods tomorrow.  This trip has become a tradition the week between Christmas and New Year's.  There's sledding, skating, snow shoeing, and snowmobiling to do.   There is also just the beauty of the surroundings that make this trip worth it. 

Merry Christmas

This card was made by Sue Arendt. This is one of many old handmade cards.

It has arrived ... it is Christmas morning.  It arrived quietly here with a fresh coating of snow on everything outside.  As I sit and write it is peaceful and still.  (Later the house will be filled with family of all ages, so we won't have much "quiet".)  So I will send wishes to all my family and friends and blog readers for a  MERRY CHRISTMAS today.  If I was able to send you all a gift I don't know what to choose.  We all know that we could all use more understanding, more love, more hope, more faith, more caring for one another.  During the crazy rush that always seems to be a part of the season, what many people need is more patience.

So now take some time to be patient with family and friends to help you be more understanding, more loving, more hopeful and more caring of those that touch your lives everyday of the year.

From our house, and family, to yours - Merry Christmas Everyone!

The Eve of Christmas Eve

Christmas time's a coming!

Hand cut, painted and stenciled blocks stacked into a tree

Here I sit, taking a break from dozens of little odds and ends that need to get done.  The music is playing, listening to Andrea Bocelli's - My Christmas - right now. The Christmas lights are on throughout the house.  It won't be long now that all the preparations for the biggest holiday of the year will be complete and with the snap of our fingers another Christmas Day will be history.

Handpainted butter knife by Dorothy Egan

The house is ready for the most part.  Shopping is done!  Food prep is beginning by getting as much cut, cooked, grated and mixed before Saturday morning.  Pulling out serving pieces for the buffet and working on how to fit everything for our "on-going" buffet on the counter and around the family room.

Quilted Santa card by Chris Malone

I had hoped to write posts each day till Christmas, unfortunately everyday life seems to always throw me a curve.  What a person to do?  Best to just not worry!

Sculpted Snowman by Rebekah Meier

It's such a pleasure sitting and enjoying the decorated house during this time.  The scents of pine and spices in the air say Christmas ... wintertime.

Just finished making homemade Hot Fudge Topping and Caramel Topping for Christmas Day.  Dessert will consist of Homemade cookies and ice cream sundaes with these luscious toppings.

Heavenly Hot Fudge Sauce
1/2 cup butter
4 oz. of unsweetened chocolate
3 cups sugar
1 (14 1/2oz.) can of evaporated milk
Melt butter in top of a double boiler.  Add chocolate and stir till melted. Add sugar and milk to  chocolate mixture and cook over low heat for 20 minutes, stirring constantly.  Store unused sauce in refrigerator. Heat slightly before serving.

NOTE: Photos are all handmade decorations.  Just a couple of holiday items around the house. 

Hope

Christmas time can exciting, overwhelming, frustrating, depressing for some and memorable.  I'm sure we all can add our own adjectives to describe our feelings about the holiday and time of the year.

This year I am feeling such a  mix of emotions during this season.  I'm anticipating the holiday with my grandchildren.  To see and feel their excitement makes me feel like a kid again.  It can be overwhelming trying to accomplish all you plan to do, to be ready for the holiday.  It's easy to get frustrated when  you realize it can not all get done.  I realize that the whole celebration  of the season can cause some to feel depressed.  No matter what, each Christmas that passes brings it's own memories.

I have found that I want this time of the year and Chirstmas itself, to be more about the reason behind the day.  This is one reason that I am pleased that the exchange of gifts has  changed for our family.  It means more to me that we are giving in different ways to causes that can help others, and we are spending time to be together.

There is a Christmas song (My Grown Up Christmas Wish) that makes so much more sense to me these past years.  It makes me hope that people would truly learn to live and act as if Christmas time is everyday of the year and realize life on earth is more about helping, caring and sharing with everyone.

There is sadness mixed in with thoughts of the upcoming holiday.  There is a family that we know that is facing a difficult time right now.  Sarah is a 38 year old wife and mother of two young boys who has fought a valiant fight for several years, but is now at the point where the fight is ending.  They have had hope along the long road they have traveled dealing with this situation.  Each time they hit a wall there was hope for something else to try.

Though the fight looks like it will be over, my hope is that Sarah will find peace, that her family will know that she will be at peace and within time they too can be at peace with their great lose.  I am hopeful that they will know that many people care and will be there to help them.   Feeling hopeless does nothing ... it's so much better to have hope!

Sarah, you have touched many people and been an example to many.  I am hopeful that we have all learned from you.

In all things it is better to hope than to despair”   -   von Goethe


Hope is grief's best music.  ~Author Unknown

Christmas Shopping

Well a day passed by without a post.  I had hoped to post something each day till Christmas Day.  This is sure a hectic time.  We were up and out early yesterday and started shopping.  Yes, I did say "Start".  More about that in a bit...

With large families, we made changes to gift giving many years ago.  We have gone from "grab bags", to choosing a needy family to give to, and now, someone chooses a charity in their area, then the entire family can donate to the chosen cause.  With family living across the country many causes are helped.  This year the family is donating to a Veteran's Outreach Center in Rochester, New York, where our niece is attending school and our nephew is working.

I little information about this center follows:
The Veteran's Outreach Center "provides a collaborative approach to treating the ‘whole’ veteran, enabling them to receive the breadth of services needed to restore their mental, physical, emotional and economic well being and to reunite with themselves, their family and community to resume productive lives." The Center has many functions, ranging from physical and mental clinical assistance, to employment and training guidance. The center also has several offshoot programs such as ‘Operation Welcome Home and Recovery’ and ‘The Richard’s House’ which houses Vets coping with chemical dependence. I would encourage everyone to take a look around the website to learn more about the organization- http://www.veteransoutreachcenter.org  


So, our Christmas shopping is for our children and grandchildren.  

The Chicago area family will be gathering here on Saturday for time together sharing a meal and being together.  Isn't that what Christmas is about?

Sizzix Triple Play Blog Hop Week 7 - "Treat Toppers" Three Ways

This is it ... the last set of dies brings us to the end of this amazing blog hop. Thanks to Brenda, Eileen and Karen for the opportunity to participate along with all the other very talented designers - this was fun for me.  The last die is by Eileen Hull and it is called "Treat Bag Topper".

I wanted to challenge myself to use as many of the pieces that came with this packet.  At this time of year, I knew that I could have used the toppers for several treats that are being made in the kitchen the past couple of weeks.  Instead I came up with three other ideas.

The largest topper was covered with some decorative holiday paper, inked and glittered and embellished with a Christmas flower.  The topper holds together an album of Christmas photos that we receive every year from family and friends.  I hate to throw away these photo cards after receiving them, by keep them in a fun album that can be added to every year.  A clear cover, recycled from Sizzix packaging, was embossed with a Sizzix Impression Folder just along the bottom.  Adhesive letters cut with a Sizzilit alphabet die make the title.

The next topper was painted with Fired Brick Distress Crackle paint by Ranger and inked with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  Heavy cardstock and papers make a back and a piece of clear acyrlic make the cover.  Small binder rings hold everything together for the collection of cookie recipes that can be made for a cookie exchange.  A Sizzix Gingerbread Man was decorated for the front and snippets of ribbons are tied to the rings for simple embellishments.

The smallest topper was painted with Adirondack Gold Acrylic Paint.  A small length of gold ribbon was tied to the top.  The extra cut-out hearts were painted and coated with Glossy Accents for an added embellishment.  I made a slit into the top so the bag could be pushed through. The cellophane bag holds a paper ornament made from a Sizzix die.

These little toppers can be used in many gift giving or keepsake projects.
So get yourself hopping and see how everyone has "topped" themselves for the final hop!

Sizzix Materials:
Sizzix Big Shot Machine
Sizzix Scoreboard XL Die - Treat Bag Toppers by Eileen Hull
Sizzix Scoreboard Mat board, white

For Photo Holder:
Sizzix Flower Layers #6 - Basic Grey
Sizzix Holly & Berries
Sizzix Tim Holtz Alterations - Scallops Edge
Sizzilit Wingo Zingo Alphabet
Sizzix Impression Folder - Snowflakes

For Cookie Recipe Holder:
Sizzix Gingerbread Man
Sizzilit Skittle Dee Do Alphabet

For Ornament Bag:
Sizzix Ornament, Circle 3-D
***Note from Brenda, Eileen and Karen***
Thanks for taking time to check out the Triple Play Blog Hop.  You can visit - www.tripleplay.typepad.com, for more ideas from Brenda Pinnick, Karen Burnison, Eileen Hull and friends.  Also, if you have enjoyed being inspired by the ideas during this blog hop, please "like" Triple Play on Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Triple-Play/125068950891362

Christmas Movies

Just like Christmas music, there is a number of Christmas related movies that find their way center stage at this time of the year.  I realize most of them are shown on television but usually not without commercials.  If there is anything I dislike, it's watching a Christmas movie that is setting the holiday mood and it stops for a commercial.  Now that makes me say "Bah Humbug!"

I like to watch them late in the evening while the house is lit by only the Christmas lights, snuggled on the couch with a cup of hot chocolate or chai tea.  I work my way through them all, usually ending up just before Christmas with "It's a Wonderful Life" or the original "A Christmas Carol".  I love them all and could watch them over and over, and since Christmas comes but once a year, why not enjoy it while you can.  I guess there is still a lot of kid in me!  A few years back when Polar Express was released before Christmas, I was just as excited about seeing it as my grandchildren were.  It was a delight going with them to see it.  The season would not be complete without watching "Christmas Vacation" usually with my youngest son, who can recite most of the lines in the movie verbatim.

Christmas Cookies

It was a perfect day to bake yesterday.  I wasn't planning on getting anything in the way of cookies made this year, so I was pleased with what I finished the day with.

Normally the baking would have been done by now and between myself, Amy and Ali we would have cookie tins stacked with over a dozen different kind.  I ended up with five.

Two were family favorites: "Jimmy Cookies" and "Chocolate Spice Drops".  Tried a twist to the usual cut-out butter cookie recipe from my grandmother with a cinnamon cut-out.  It's  has just a touch of cinnamon and cut small gingerbread men shapes and trees that are dusted with cinnamon sugar.  Then I dared to try two new recipes in hopes that they would turn out and be good.  Thankfully they are!

One is just titled "Italian Christmas Cookie", the other "Pecan Crisps".  Both very good and both yielded many cookies.  Great for a cookie exchange!

The recipe for the "Jimmy Cookie's" will follow.  Actually they are an icebox cookie that came from my mother-in-law.  They received the title because Jim would devour both the cookies and the dough.

Chocolate Shot Cookies (alias "Jimmy Cookies")
1 cup butter
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 cup oatmeal
Sprinkles

Cream butter and sugar well, until fluffy.  Add vanilla. Add flour and baking soda, mis well.  Add oatmeal and mix again thoroughly.  Chill dough about 30 minutes.  Shape the dough into 1 1/2" rounds.  Roll them in sprinkles to coat.  Roll them into wax paper and chill well.  Slice rolls into 1/2"  rounds. Place on parchment lined sheets, 1" apart.  Bake at 325 for 15 to 20 minutes, or until lightly browned.

Christmas Sounds

One thing I love about this time of the year is the music.  It's only around for such a short time that I don't mind hearing it play at home, in the car, at the stores all day long.

We have been collecting various forms of Christmas music since our very first Christmas together.  Each year would would add a new album to the collection.  There are several 33 1/3 albums packed away that I would like to find someone willing and able to get them transferred to CD's.

The sweet sound of "Silent Night" or "O Come All Ye Faithful", the wishful sound of "White Christmas" or "The Christmas Song" or the hopefulness of a newer song like "Believe", it's difficult to pick a favorite.

Many of the songs bring back memories of Christmas's of being a small girl, decorating the Christmas tree with family and so many other remembrances.  Then I can remember songs sung while part of my high school glee club.  I remember sing-a-longs when the family would gather on Christmas Eve.

Christmas Countdown

Two weeks till the big day!  The decorations are up inside and out.  The weather is telling us it is winter.  The Christmas music is playing in the house and car.  The favorite "Holiday" movies are sitting near the television.  The cards have been sent (early this year).

This old chalkboard hangs on the wall in the entry way.  The greeting on this changes throughout the year.
On the chalk ledge is a tiny strip of wooden houses. This dates back some years.  Made these for a gift shop
and gave as a tiny addition to gifts many years ago.

My idea for the next fourteen days will be to share something each day about what goes on here in preparing for Christmas.  As most families, we have some traditions we try to follow year after year, but it's best to say "nothing is written in stone".  Things change and if there is one thing that I have learned in life is sometimes you need to "go with the flow".

For the past few years I have baked cookies with my daughter and daughter-in-law.  Because life throws us curves, we had to take a pass on that this year.  Next year hopefully we can get back to our marathon baking session.  Because the winter weather is going to be a bit bitter today and tomorrow I have decided to bake ... only a few.

So come by when you can ... I'll be sharing a number of different things with you... recipes, decorations, ideas, thoughts.  It will all lead up to Christmas Day when we will have the "Chicago" area family here at the house.

Triple Play Blog Hop Week 6 - Little of This, Little of That

Here we are at week 6 and only one more after this.  It's a crazy time here but I surely enjoy this "push" each week to do some quick creative thinking.  So this week we have another die by Brenda Pinnick.

You can see here the pieces that I received for the hop.  I have a variety of dies in my collection that are part of Brenda's collection.  My first thought was to combine the pieces I received with some of the those dies.  I wanted to use all the pieces in my package in some way, but it just didn't happen.  So now I'll share the two pieces that I did finish. (At some point I hope to get to the third project, along with several other almost finished Sizzix projects that I have been playing around with, when I do, I will be sharing them.)

For the Valentine hanger, (which could be mailed as a Valentine) I began with the square frame pieces.  The cardstock pieces (2) were covered with a lightweight gold foil, by ironing on a small piece of heat-n-bond.  Once they were covered, they were glued together, then embossed with a texture folder.
The front frame was cut from Brenda's fabric line.

The fabric was backed with an iron-on interfacing.  For this project I wanted a different color.  I diluted Adirondack Acrylic Raisin paint and the metallic gold, and spread the colors onto the fabric, both printed side and opposite side.  This photo shows how the diluted paint changed the color of the fabric slightly with the design still showing through.

Two squares of clear plastic were cut slightly smaller then the frames.  Glued the plastic to the backs of the fabric and embossed frames.  Two "Salvage Stickers" were placed
back-to-back.  On one sticker place a small dot of Glossy Accents to the corners and center onto one of the plastic inserts. Using FabriTac, glue a narrow lace around the outside edge of one frame. Glue the two frames together.  Trim the front edge with narrow red metallic ribbon.  A gold metallic wire cording was glued inside the front edge.

Formed flowers out of quilters vinyl and canvas.  Die cut leaves and small flowers from a lamented coupon card that I received in the mail.  Colored these with alcohol inks and metallic paint.  Positioned flowers and leaves onto the frame. Added a length of ribbon for a hanger.  Added another bit of embellishment to hang from the bottom.

Dream Angel

For this pendant, use the smaller inside pieces from the die cut frames.  Used two cardstock pieces and glued them together. Glued on the tan canvas piece for the back and the burlap piece for the front.  I inked the edges of the "sandwiched" pieces with Vintage Photo and Black Soot Distress Inks.  Crocheted a necklace from ribbon yarn.  Attached  a gator clip hanger to the piece and threaded the crocheted necklace through the hanger and pinched it closed with pliers.

 Then the angel was created with "bits and pieces" of found stuff.  A "dream" quote was printed on the backside.

Materials:  (Valentine Hanger)
Sizzix Bigz XL, Album Brackets
Sizzix 3D Flower
Sizzix Original Hearts
Sizzix Texture Folder - Hearts & Vines
Sizzix Big Shot
Gold Foil
Heat n Bond - ThermoWeb
Clear Plastic
Tim Holtz Salvage Stickers - Holidays
Ranger Adirondack Acrylic Paint - Raisin
Delta Gleams - Metallic 14K Gold
Adirondack Alcohol Ink - Raisin, Cranberry, Pesto, Lettuce
Kreinik Metallic Ribbon, red & gold
May Arts Metallic Gold Wire Cording
Scraps of Lace and Ribbon
Gold Heart Charm / Clear Heart Beads
Beacon FabriTac
Ranger Glossy Accents

(Dream Angel)
Sizzix Bracket Die
Beacon FabricTac
Ranger Glossy Accents
Ranger Stickles - Frosted Lace
Ranger Perfect Pearls - Blue Smoke, Perfect Gold
Ranger Distress Ink - Vintage Photo, Black Soot
Lion Ribbon Yarn - Crochet Hook
Clip - 7 Gypsies
Pewter Legs & Arms
Molded Face
Plastic Wings
Letter Tiles
Lace Scrap
Piece of "Tortured Felt"

NOTE: Please continue to hop through the blogs by following the "Triple Play Blog Button", by clicking forward or back to see the other wonderful ideas.  Thanks for stopping and please leave me and all a comment to tell us what you think!

Sizzix Triple Play Blog Hop Week 5 - For You, From Me

This week we are using another of Karen Burniston "pop up" dies.  Another die with may possibilities and I can only create one right now.  It can be used in many clever ways to give gift cards for all occasions.

I chose to use the recent anniversary that my husband and I celebrated a couple of weeks ago as my inspiration for a different version of a gift card.  A small, black and white copy of a recent photo was printed and becomes the focal point on the "pop up" billboard inside the card.  The die-cut pieces, of Karen's  die, that I received in my package were shades of grey, so I stayed within the hues of black and grey for this project.

The phrase "for you" was cut from one of the two pieces that I received and used on the front of the card along with a strip of satin ribbon. A small bow was created using the "create a bow" die by Eileen Hull and black and silver paper. These two elements were layered onto a glossy black piece of card stock that was embossed with the "dots" impression folder.

The inside of the card was completed according to the directions that come with the die.  NOTE: You can watch a video by Karen that shows how to assemble the card by clicking here.

Besides the photo, include a hand written note. Eyelets were added to the center bottom of the card, both front and back. Short lengths of the same ribbon are tied into the eyelets to form a ribbon closure.

A super, simple, all-in-one "gift card" to wish a special wish to someone special!
This is another very versatile die, just using it once I can see very many possible ways of using it.
Materials:
Sizzix Bigz XL Gift Card with Phrase Die
Sizzix Bigz Bow, Create-a-Bow Die
Sizzix Textured Impressions Folder, Dots
Sizzix Sizzlits Easy Peasy Alphabet Die
Sizzix Big Shot Machine
Metallic Card Stock, dark grey
Glossy Card Stock, black
Colored Paper, flat black, metallic silver
EK Border Punch
Photo
Wonder Tape
Beacon Zip Dry Glue
May Arts Satin Ribbon, 3/ 16" black&silver
Silver Star Paper Brad

Now take some time to sit down and get loads of inspiraton.  Check out all the other designers version of this project.  All you need to do is click "forward" or "back" on the Triple Play button that is just right of this post.  If you click on "Sizzix"  it will take you to a master list of all the designers who are participants.  Take some time to leave a comment, short or long, it will be appreciated to hear from you. Any questions about the project or product, please ask.

Flurries

How appropriate to wake up this morning with snow flurries flying and seeing patches of white on the ground.  The calendar says - December 1, 2010.  I may be getting older but I guess I'm a kid at heart.  I could sit and watch the snow come down.  I love the first snow and even the second and third.

I'm sure many are going "ugh" and that's alright.  There's something about winter that I just happen to like.  It could be the holidays, it could be my birthday, it could be just that it's a time that has a way of telling us "stay in, sit down, think about things, try to relax".  All easier said then done, especially during this busy holiday time.  Families will be celebrating Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa.

I'm going to take some time each evening to sit down with a holiday magazine in my hand, and watching a holiday movie or listening to holiday music quietly playing, with a cup of hot chocolate or steamed vanilla milk or hot cider, while the Christmas tree twinkles with lights next to me.

Take the time!