Christmas is Coming.....

Good morning and happy weekend to you all!  I want to thank you for all of your prayers and well wishes regarding Cortney.  All of your prayers worked.  : )  We had good news from the doctor yesterday and now we just have to wait for her little body to get back to normal.  Last night she was singing to Christmas carols and was happy.  Something I haven't seen in over 2 weeks.  With all of this going on Christmas has taken a back seat here.  Some of our traditions of cookie baking and going downtown haven't happened yet.  Sometimes other, more important things get in the way. 

Fortunately, I have still been able to sneak into my craft room and regain a bit of my sanity.  ; ) So I've been creating my own holiday spirit in the craft room using Crafty Secret's stamps.

I used the Christmas Express stamp set to stamp the children in Versamark.  I embossed it with a verdigris embossing powder.  I stamped snowflakes with Tim Holtz Distressed Linen ink.  As a final touch I added a bit of glitter for the snow. 

I should have taken a picture of the frame "before," but forgot! (Shame on me!) It was just a typical silver frame.  Pretty, but not distressed enough for the look I was going for.  So I used paint from Ten Second Studio to create this beautiful Verdigris look.  I even applied it to my mini clothes pin. : D

I was taking pictures of my cards when the pup decided she wanted her picture taken.  She just plopped her little self down on my backdrop and this was what I captured.  Love.  She is almost fully grown, her curly hair is starting to come in, she is finally potty trained, and she has the sweetest disposition.  She and Skippers are best of friends, and it is warms my heart to see them play.  When I think of the life she would have had, I am so glad we saved her from it. 

Well, so far I've made good on my resolution.  I've visited everyone who has left a comment here.  I will continue to do that.  You all have been so good to me, and I want to reciprocate.  This blog, this hobby, has saved me in so many ways. 

I am thankful.

Have a great weekend my friends!

XOXO

Beach Inspired Ornament

I love making Christmas ornaments, and especially ones that have a specific theme.  I created this beach inspired ornament in the Holiday Issue of Cricut Magazine.  I used the Cricut Craft Room Exclusive Seashell images. They were all cut around 2 inches.  Once they were cut, I added sand, glitter, and pearls to them.  They were each assembled using dimensional foam circles.  

I added Spanish Moss to the inside of the ornament and tied a piece of burlap and twine around the top of it.  

Cortney went to the GI doc yesterday.  He prescribed a regimen for her that requires me to stay home with her over the next few days.  I am hoping that very soon, my happy chatty girl is back.  The poor thing hasn't been herself these last few weeks.  

Have a great Thursday!

Christmas Table Setting.....

 Every other year I host Christmas Eve at my house.  I like to dress up the plates with a little something, and this year decided on red stockings for the girls and Christmas trees for the guys.  I used my Cricut Expression, Winter Lace, and the Winter Frolic cartridge.  

I dressed up the stockings with a bit of lace, glitter, jingle bells, tulle, and a computer generated name tag.  

I slid the candy cane through the snowflake and tied the stocking on top of it.  

For the guys, I did the same thing, but used the Christmas tree cut from the Winter Frolic cartridge.  I still used my glitter (LOVE) and some jingle bells that had been sprayed with suede spray paint.  It gives it a cool rustic look! 

Some pearls were added along with a bit of twine.  

I am off today, and could use a few prayers.  Cort is going to the doctor for some issues she has been having.  I am hoping he can shed some light on the situation and get things under control.  

I appreciate your visits immensely, and I know I am a total booger about reciprocating.  I don't mean to be a slacker......it's just life....getting in the way.  I am going to try harder to visit each of you.  That's my early New Year's resolution.

Have a great day my friends!

XOXO

Crafty Secret's Design Team Challenge!

It's the beginning of the month and you know what that means don't you?  It's time for the Crafty Secret's design team challenge.  Since it is the first week of December, we were to make something Christmas themed.  Easy enough!  I love these St. Nick images from the Christmas Express stamp set.  I colored him with Copic markers, inked the edges a bit and punched them out with a circle punch. I added them to bottle caps.

I added a heavy dose of Crystal Effects, a bit of black string, and a pearl.

I painted the clothes pins red and added a strip of designer paper printed from the Crafty Secret's Retro Christmas Digital Papers. 

And of course, I added more glitter to the clothespins.  What am I going to do with these clothespins, you ask?  I think I am going to add them to the top of my little gift bags that will have a Starbucks gift card inside. I am going to add a magnet to the back, so the recipients can then use it as a festive magnet for the fridge. 

Be sure to pop on over to the other designers'  blogs for more inspiration!  

Crafty Secret's Blog

Vicki Chrisman

Michele Kovack 

Darlene Pavlick

Melissa Bove

Have a GREAT Day!!!!

: )