Christmas cards after Christmas?

Sparkle is having a challenge to make 2 Christmas cards per week for the next year so that people like her don't end up making 100 cards all in the month of December and so that people like me don't end up sending out store bought cards.

I've officially made half as many Christmas cards as I did for Christmas 2008. I decided that I don't need 100 Christmas cards but probably about half that amount, so I will probably be only making 1 each week.

For my card, all products are CTMH. I did something that I haven't done before which is to use two different types of embossed cardstock run through my cuttlebug. I also got to play with my new nestabilities that my brother got me for Christmas. He was so sweet and ended up at 3 different Hobby Lobby's to find them.

So I have a big day today. After church, I'll need to study all afternoon so that I can then watch and root for my Broncos to beat San Diego to make it into the playoffs. The Broncos have absolutely blown it the past two weeks and now it comes down to the final game of the season. They win and they're in. They lose and they have nobody to blame but themselves.

I hope your Sunday is a great one, whatever you are doing.

Merry Christmas!

I hope everyone had a very merry Christmas. Our day was really good. I absolutely love Christmas and the spirit of giving. I love to see the looks on people's faces when they open gifts that I've hand-picked for them. The kids got lots of stuff, of course. Some of the highlights were bikes for both kids, and lincoln logs, webkinz,craft items, and Wii games for Christopher. Reynna got scrapbooking items (lots of paper), webkinz, Wii games and a new coat. Everyone was very generous.

I got pink boxing gloves for the punching bag that I got Devin. He knew he was getting it as it weighed more than 100 pounds and I absolutely could not get it out of the car without his help. He also gave me lots of new work clothes along with my most favorite present, a Coach purse. He claims that it's totally impractical, which it might be but I've just been eyeing them for quite awhile now. Luckily for me, the Coach outlet store was having crazy, crazy sales and a very good deal was had. Devin got the aforementioned punching bag along with some clothes and Guitar Hero from me.

My parents and sister came over and spent the better part of the day with us. We played our new game, Ticket to Ride, ate and played Wii. My mom absolutley loves the boxing game on Wii Sports. It was fun to watch her and Hyrum go at it. Hyrum ended up taking 3 out of 5 games.

I don't know about you but I am bone tired. I've been so busy baking, wrapping, shopping and worrying about Christmas. Like I said, I love Christmas but I'm glad that it's over for the most part. Now I can fully concentrate on studying for my next exam, which is in just 1 week. YIKES.

I am very blessed and wanted to tell you all my family that I love you very much.

No more Santa for my baby

Yesterday, Devin called me at work saying that the cat was out of the bag and that Reynna knew what was up with Santa. She no longer believes, due mostly to her finding some Webkinz that Santa was to bring. I don't know exactly how it all went down but she and Devin had a conversation which brings us to comments like these. "You've lied to me my whole life". "I'm not going to celebrate Christmas when I'm grown up because I don't want to lie to my kids". "My Christmas is ruined". The list goes on and on.

I truly feel terrible that this piece of her childhood is now gone. A day later and she is still in the dumpers. She doesn't want a stocking and doesn't want to be with the family when we all go down in the morning. What's a mother to do?

I've tried to tell her that now she can help on Christmas Eve. I've tried to tell her that we didn't want to lie to her but that basically the rest of the world does it, for the most part. Of course, the conversation also steered the way to the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy. I just kept silent then.

Reynna also wants to know why we are going to continue and perpetrate the lie with Christopher. Does anyone feel my pain out there? I told her that she still has to have a stocking and that even though it's Mom filling it and not Santa, that it's okay. She is loved.

Well, I've written this story more for my own sake. I've mentioned it before but this blog is an avenue for my ailing memory. I wish you all a very merry Christmas. I've got a little bit more wrapping to do. We will be going to Outback tonight, a tradition that our family has done now for probably about 6 years. Afterwards, we will exchange presents with my good friend in Loveland. The kids will then get their annual Christmas Eve pajamas.

Thanks for taking the time to stop by at this busy time of the year. It means a lot to me. Take care and I'll probably be back tomorrow to post some pictures of Christmas morning.

Have you missed me?

I can't believe how long it's been since my last post. The only thing I've managed to accomplish in my craft area for the past week and a half is this card. I love the RAK bella image.

So I haven't been stamping but I certainly have been busy. I've made countless batches of english toffee to give to friends, family and neighbors. I've snuck in some studying here and there and I've been shopping and wrapping. Probably like most of your lives. Busy, busy, busy.

Thanks for stopping by and after my test in January, I'm hoping to take a bit of time off from studying and be able to create some more. I'm hoping to maybe make a Christmas card today for Sparkle's challenge but we'll see.

Have a great day and good luck to everyone as they finish their last minute Christmas preparations.

Blog candy alert

While blog surfing, I came across Karen's awesome blog and some great blog candy. Check it out here for a chance to win some great goodies.

A thank you card featuring Bella

So I got this and some other bella images from a fantastic CTMH sistah Jessica. My first stamped bella image to play with. I was super excited. Unfortunately, I don't own any copics or special pencils so I used my regular markers from CTMH to color the image. I think it looks okay but I'm not sure about the presents. I really didn't know how to color them. Can you tell I really don't own stamps that require coloring? Maybe one day I'll get the hang of it.

Colors used are chocolate, outdoor denim, crystal blue, and dutch blue, from Marjorie's color challenge for the week. I don't think you can tell real well in the card but Bella's shirt is glittered. After I had the card complete but before I put the crystal blue organdy ribbon on, I thought the card looked a little incomplete. I'm super happy with it now after having added the ribbon.

So I'm working out of town for the next couple of weeks which is good but I don't get to come home on my lunch hours and stamp then. So that's a bummer. It is nice to get out of our office though for awhile and be out at our client. Always a change of scenery.

So there is only 16 days until Christmas. Are you ready? I almost am. I just need to get something for Devin. He did give me an idea today of what he might want so now I just need to track that down this weekend.

I hope your Tuesday has been a good one. For me, I'm off to bed. Until next time, take good care.

A sweet and very thoughtful gift

So my good friend Cee Cee and her family came over last night to deliver some early Christmas goodies. This was one of the things that she brought over. I've always wanted to make some altered letters and do something like this. It just has never happened.

Aren't these letters to die for? I'm so in love with them. As you can see in the picture, they are the perfect compliment to my chocolate painted walls. I just love all the details on each one of them. THANK YOU SO MUCH CEE CEE. Your are truly a wonderful friend.

Tree decorating

For Family Home Evening tonight, we finally put our Christmas tree up. The kids have been so anxious for us to do this. We don't have a very grandious tree but I think it's pretty. I put on some Christmas music and we had a good time as a family.

Snow fun

We had our first real snow this past Thursday. It left us with quite a bit of snow and bitter cold temperatures. It finally warmed up a bit today so the kids decided to go play in the snow. After getting all their gear on, they headed out to our backyard. I witnessed the making of snow angels, the start of a snowman, and of course a small snowball fight.

Cupcake challenge

Today's card comes from Taylor's weekly cupcake challenge. What a great sketch to work with. I decided to make a baby card as I know several people who are currently pregnant. I might make a girl version of this card as well as I need both blue and pink.

The card doesn't need a whole lot of explanation. All products come from CTMH. The buttercup piece at the bottom was embossed with my favorite embossing folder, swiss dots. The baby carriage and sentiment were stamped on heavenly blue textured cardstock which I covered a thick piece of oval chipboard. The large blue mat on the card is also heavenly blue textured cardstock. I {heart} textured cardstock.

I don't know about you but it's been a long week for me. And cold, cold, cold. I'm looking forward to sleeping in a bit tomorrow and maybe finishing up my Christmas shopping. I'm almost done. I do need to get to the post office tomorrow and get all my packages mailed. After that, it will be time for me to hit the books some more. Only 4 weeks until my next exam. Yikes.

Thanks for visiting and I'm wishing you a great weekend.

Happy Birthday snowman style

So today is the first time in a week that I've had any time or an ounce of energy to get down to my craft area. While surfing Taylor's blog, she had the cutest sketch for her weekly cupcake challenges. I knew I wanted to make a card using the sketch.

I thought a square card would work best for the sketch. I had originally thought of doing a 4x4 card but decided that it would be too small. So I opted for a 6x6 card. A bit larger than I normally do but hey, a little variety never hurt anyone, right?

I used some of the Just Chillin paper pack from CTMH. Love that paper. I decided to make the card a happy birthday card for a friend who has a winter birthday coming up. The snowflake is covered in prisma glitter and I absolutely love that extra touch. Of course you now know what I'm wearing, right? Yep, you guessed it. That very fine prisma glitter.

For now, I will call it a night. Adios.