Don't peak if you are my friend.....

You peaked! It's okay. I just didn't want you to get a glimpse of your beautiful present I wrapped today...

Actually, this is a gift that Grace and I made for her friend's birthday - BUT, you may still have one like it with your name waiting under my tree.....

So you guessed it - I finally got my own Cricut machine and I have been putting it to good use this holiday season. It cuts the beautiful letters, to my specifications, perfectly! If you haven't seen one of these suckers - head over to http://www.cricut.com/ and check it out!

Overflowing with Chritsmas Cards

Such a simple use for all those photo holiday cards you get year after year….

Although every January I donate all my Christmas cards to St. Jude’s Children Ranch, I keep the ones that have my friends and family’s photos on them. I have several years’ worth of each family’s Christmas photos in a bowl on my living room coffee table. It is such a wonderful thing to look through a see how the children have grown, pets that people have include and all the wonderful friends that share their family with us. My bowl is almost full and I plan to place all of these in a scrapbook in the next few years, but for now, I just love “visiting” with my friends every time I pass the table.

I do the same thing at Halloween with the girls in their trick-or-treat costumes….

Counting Down the Days Kid's Craft

Last week my neice and her son came over so we could make our Christmas cards. Being the teacher that she is, she brought along a craft for the kids to complete while we were working.

Kids at work - yes my OCD was kicking in......

Meg at work:

Kids finished product:

My finished products:

To make your own "countodown to Christmas" ring chain you will need:

1" strips of green and red construction paper (we had 6 of each color b/c there were 12 days left)
One piece of yellow construction paper (to cut out a large bell shape for the top)
Glue or staples
Stickers

The kids deocrated the "bell" with stickers, then created a chain by stapling the rings together to form a chain. Every night before bed, we take off one ring to represent how many days are left until Christmas.

To make you own cards (like mine) you will need:
Card stock paper in multiple colors. I used kraft color, light blue and red on mine.
Holiday stamps and stamp pads
"pop-it"  - found at Hobby Lobby. These are mini pillowed squared that give a 3-D effect
Glue pen
Glitter.

Starting with a standard sheet of card stock, cut it in half and fold in half to creat a note card.
I cut out a swirl "snow" and glues to the bottom of the page. I then stamped a plain tree on the front and used glitter to "draw on" the ornaments and stars. I used the pop-its to create a layered 3D effect on the front.

The Plaster Boy In The Manger

My favorite holiday decoration, next to my Holiday ABC book, is this lovely little manger scene of hand-painted plaster figures.


Why do I love this so? When I was little and money was tight, my mother went out and bought this do-it-yourself manger scene. She lovingly painted each figurine and put them out for my brother and me. I don’t remember that first year, but I do remember the years that followed that it was set out for us to enjoy. Times got better and the little scene was eventually replaced with finer things. Years later, I married and had two beautiful little ones of my own. We were young, money was tight and somehow I found that little manger scene. Just like my mother before me, I put it out for my little ones.


Those two little ones are almost grown now, but I have a new little one who gets to enjoy now. The little figures are aged, chipped and flaking, but Grace loves to play with them (I was never allowed to even touch them!) I’ve changed out the original wooden manger but the figurines will never be replaced.

It just goes to show that love goes a long way. No matter what something costs. No matter what you have or don’t have – the love will come through in the end. Give your children those kinds of gifts and they will cherish them – just as I cherish my little plaster baby in the manger…..

Freebies In My Mail

This pictures is actually about 2 1/2 weeks worth of freebies. I had a couple of weeks where I didn't sign up for freebies as much and boy could I tell when the freebies arriving in my mail slowed down!

Here is a list of what I've received in the past 2 weeks:

I received my THREE $5 Sc Johnson Rebate checks - yeah!

SheSpeaks sent me a cute littel gift bag of 5 Ghirardelli peanut Butter Sqaures (YUM) and (6) $1.50 off coupons to share with friends
VocalPoint send a free jar opener for Del Monte's new Sun Fresh Fruit, along with (5) $1 off coupons and (1) B1G1 Coupon
Wal-mart Samples sent me: Garnier Skin Renw Eye Cream, (2) Prilosec samples, and (2) packs of DenTex Flossers
Loreal sent me Revitalift AM/PM Eye repair and a $1 off coupon AND Smaple of Everpure Shampoo and Conditioner
JLO My Glow perfume Sample
Dove - Heat Defense Shampoo and Consition, plus $1 off coupon
Caress - 2oz. Skinwear Body Wash - which I LOVE
Breathe Right - (4) Strips plus $1 off coupon
Always - Liner and pad sample, plus $1 off coupon
Aveeno - Nourish shampoo and conditioner, plus $1 off coupon
FREE Little Debbie Cupcakes - A WHOLE BOX!
Plexus Slim Sample
US Army - Free T-shirt
Free Issue of Family Circle

Not bad for just signing up online huh?!