Swapping for Happy Holidays

I don't do many swaps, but my unit was in need for someone to do the "I" or they were going to have to cancel the swap. I was under the impression we were doing Merry CHRISTMAS so I was a little disappointed when I opened the finished project to discover Happy Holidays instead. I really like the idea and how it turned out, don't you?






My tree is not yet finished and for the most part decorated by my kids (and undecorated by my cats), but it's not looking too bad!

The Swap (should you choose to re-create) goes like this:

1. Pick a theme (such as Merry Christmas or Happy Halloween or Thank You or even Happy Birthday!) Have an equal number of participants to make each tag. We used a front and back tag along with a Happy on the 1st tag and each letter of HOLIDAY so in this example we had 10 Participants. If you were doing Happy Birthday I would spell out each letter and do a spacer in between. This would take 16 participants.

2. Decide a size range for each "tag." We used 2 1/2 - 3" X 3 1.2 - 4" for the base with no limit on what can stick UP from the tag, but you can't have things stick out the sides.

3. Decide on a color theme or paper pack so that the overall concept stays uniform (or you could get wild and just see what you get back!) We used the Everlasting Paper Pack or the Color Combo represented in that pack.

4. For a successful swap be sure and plan out the details such as when the project is due, how much postage is needed to return the swap and any other factors that are important to you. We included that there had to be something stamped and some sort of embellishment on each piece.

Once I received the pieces back I strung them together by making a large loop of ribbon, tying each end into a hanging loop and taping the top ribbon to the top of the tag back and the bottom loop to the bottom of the tag back. I used the hanging end loops to hang it on the tree. I suppose you could also stitch each tag together. You could pre-determine that each tag needs to have eyelets as 1" and 3.5" on each side and tie them together with ribbon. Your limit is your imagination! If you recreate this, please post back or email me so I can see!

12 Days of Christmas

I am ready for some holiday fun! Invite your friends, tell your blogging buddies, and subscribe your mother! Starting December 10th I'll be posting one fast, simple, beautiful, fun Christmas project for you to make, give, share or keep! Some you can make with your kids or for your kids, others for quick gifts for teachers and friends, all just in the nick of time! If you'd like, pick a friend, neighbor or co-worker and you'll be able to be their 12 Days of Christmas Santa! If you're a subscriber, you'll be in the know, if you're not, you better sign up now!

Times a Ticking. . .

On the first day of Christmas my blog gives to you . . .check back to see!

Crying Towel

Sometimes it's necessary to give someone something, when you'd just as soon not have the need. I have made several of these over the years.I was just recently asked for a copy of my poem so I thought I would post it here. Hopefully you'll never have occasion to give one, but given the nature of life, you probably will. Hope it helps you when the need arises!

Life can be so discouraging..
You wonder “Why now? Why this? Why me?”
Though there is no rhyme or reason,
some purpose, in time you will see.
Don’t give up. . . Don’t throw in the towel.
You’ll see your way through this it’s true.
I wish there were some way I could “absorb”
some of the pain you are going through . . .
And I wish there were more I could do.
Please dry your tears on this crying towel.
Use it as long as you need.
And if you find there is more that you need from me,
please know that I’m here for you! --Rachele

Just Arrived - Snow Babies!

I just love my little snowmen! I found a tutorial here!
I bought the socks at the dollar spot at Target and cleaned out 2 stores to get them! It's hard to see that they have "snow" glitter on them, but it adds a nice touch in real life! Stop by to visit this holiday season and one of these precious babies is sure to be yours!!!

I Just Love a Holiday!

When ever do I get an entire day to just play? Made this to go with Merry Christmas. Not sure I like it as well, but while I had the mess out I decided to give it a try. I was still thinking of one more, HO, Ho, Ho. . . Merry Christmas in the same format, but we'll see. I still have 36 snowman ornaments that I've started and need to finish! Just finished watching The Lake House while I worked. . . wonder what other flick might inspire me today!

First Design Team Assignment

I don't think I ever mentioned that I was asked to be on a Design Team. Being invited was quite a surprise, but I'm looking forward to the monthly challenges! This month's challenge was due today (Black Friday) and of course I didn't get it done until the very last minute! The challenge was to make a gift using my assigned product line (CTMH) dimensionally. So, here it is! I bought the frames at Wal-Mart last year after Kari made some cute little Christmas plaques with them. So, here it is! Merry Christmas!

Happy Thanksgiving!

From our Family to yours!

'Twas The Night Before Turkey

And my turkey's are at it again! Today we were shopping for one last Christmas dress so we can get our family photos for the year (well, maybe 3 years) and in time for our Christmas cards! Mikensee is at an age where she's not a little girl, but not a junior and dresses are hard to come by! Needless to say we found ourselves in stores 2 days before Black Friday and all adorned for the holidays. The twins were mesmerized by all the darling baby apparel and were not content with the fact that these adorable Santa suits, in miniature, complete with fur collars were not sized for them! Everywhere we went and everywhere we looked there were Santa red and elf green outfits in every size, but 5T. I guess that by that size clothing manufacturers assume a maturity above this desire, but they don't know W & W. The conversation went something like this:

"Momma, I want one Merry Christmas, ho,ho, ho."

"Please Momma, please? I used manners."

"Sorry guys, those are for babies and you are big boys."

"Momma, we're not big, we're small. See?!!??"

"I'm little. Just this one, momma, it's pretty, see, Merry Christmas, momma, momma. I'm little."

"These are made for babies, guys. Sorry. . . oh! Look here! Do you like this?"

At this point I spy a clearance rack and on it are some fairly bright, Christmas looking PJ's. Wyatt and Walker are beside themselves! No 5T's, but as soon as I have one remotely close (4T) they are off to the dressing room where they strip and try on the festive apparel. Needless to say, this is what we bought! At $9 they were a quasi bargain. . . Still, I get sucked into the darndest purchases! I don't think a mommy out there could say no to these little turkeys!!!

M is for Making Memory Photo Cube

I promised I would do better about posting and since I'm not ready to post something new, I'll return to my ABC's of Blogging. . . I believe we were on M. So. . . This is a Large Making Memory Photo Cube (my small ones are the ones being published). I made this one for my mom. It was fun and she loved it. I filled it with homemade caramels.

(Ho)3 Card Class

November Card Class was a hit! Here are the 6 projects we completed last night! We had a little Christmas Party to kick off the season right! Ho, Ho, Ho!!!

Cute Little Tic Tac Holder - This was a hit! Perfect Little Snowman from this month's Stamp of the Month!




Stamplifted from Tresa Black published in this month's Paper Crafts Magazine. I had a whole slew of this red paper and it was a perfect match to copy her card!



Vintage Criss Cross Card. I just love this one! Aged with Tim Holtz Antique Photo Ink. . . just love this look!




Joy! I just had fun using little embellishments on this one!


Cute little paper sack card with yummy apple cider slider and message tab!



More than a card, less than gift. . . this cute idea offers gift tags for the receiver to use, but still leaves the card for the receiver to keep!

The Return of the Lost Blogger!

I should have taken a really clever picture to post here, but instead you just get this list!

10 Reasons I have not blogged in almost a month

10. 227 items on my to do list that in the last 10 minutes has climbed to 229
9. Uh, got nothing.
8. Got nothing.
7,6,5,4,3,2,
1. I slaughtered my ankle and have been in so much pain that all of my creativity has been drained from my tiny, tired brain!

Okay, so now that's out of the way, the lost blogger has reuturned!

Fire Chiefs, Policemen, Beauty Queens and Ballerinas

Must be Halloween! Here's my troop all dolled up for Halloween.










I have to say that I DID NOT want to buy the Fireman and Policeman Costumes. I wanted the boys to be a pair of fuzzy dice. They each picked their own costume (which I was sure would be a fight. . . you see, they always pick something different, but then when we get home, they both fight over 1 or the other and it's melt down mode for weeks afterwards, so needless to say I was NOT up to the fight!) The costumes didn't even look cute in the store, but I decided they were old enough not to be what I wanted to be, so I gave in. The second the twins put their costumes on I changed my toon. The $20 each costume cost was the best $20 bucks ever spent on a costume. These little men were instantly transformed and carried off their "costumes" like you've never seen! Wyatt saluted everyone at every house we visited. Walker just said, "Can I help you Ma'am?" Of Course Mikensee is always a pageant princess and well, have you ever seen a more graceful ballerina?

Spooky Sweets

Just a little Halloween Goody for some friends:

Tins can be purchased with Jenn here.
Stamps and paper are CTMH or Papertrey ink!

Oh Mummy!

We made this Mummy Chocolate Bar Slider at Cards, Cards, Cards Friday night. It was a hit! My inspiration came after giving Jessica her history lesson on Ancient Egypt a couple of weeks ago. Her assignment was to draw something she learned in her lesson. . . I should post her artwork. She did a great job! The same day I had seen a candy bar made into Frankenstein. . . too complicated for me, so here is my tada:

Cards, Cards, Cards

Here are some of the cards we made on Friday. I promised I would post them, but I really wanted them to be a surprise. I was thrilled with the class and very happy with how all the projects turned out. . . I'm going to be stretched next month as the class voted for all Christmas cards! I better break out the hot chocolate and It's a Wonderful Life and get in the mood!