Last mad rush before Christmas...

Every year I swear I will start earlier, but it never seems to happen.  I started my shopping yesterday - yes I said yesterday!  I am making some of my gifts as I have said before so I was thinking I did not need to do much shopping - wrong!  I went out again today, thought I got everything and then remembered when I got home some things I forgot - important things like my brother's gift.  We draw names on my side of the family and my hubby got my brother's name, but since he is working long days as a jeweler, it has fallen to me to get  his gift.  So of course I forgot, so now I will add that to my list of things to do tomorrow :)

I just finished work tonight - had a split today because work was slow this morning - and I am so wiped out so going to bed.  Tomorrow I have baking and candy making to do, finish 2 gifts, wrap gifts and shop for a couple of more things that I forgot because I keep  losing my lists!  I write things down and then I lose them! I swear I am becoming senile.

So chances are that I will not be blogging again before Christmas so wanted to wish all my bloggy friends a blessed Christmas!  I hope you get to spend it with people you love :)  Big hugs to all of you!

God Bless,
Becky

Last post today, I promise :)

Still with me?  This is the 4th post today, but it would have been a book if I had done all of these together!  I wanted to make some ornaments for each of the ladies at Bunko.  Although I love the glass ornaments, I wanted something different.

Wow you can really see the hot glue webs on these - better clean them up better.  I can't see them when I look at them, but these close-up pics really show them :)  I saw several tutorials for these snowflakes on youtube - the one I used you can find here.  The papers are from a variety of Christmas packs - some from DCWV and the others from K and Company I believe and maybe some Anna Griffin in there too.  I lost track.  I made 11 of them, but some are duplicates so I am only posting the 8 different patterns.  I think the ladies will love them.  I tried hanging them in my window to take pictures last night and the pics did not turn out great (and you can see how dirty my windows are), but they sure looked pretty handing there - might have to do some more for us!

Ok, so that is everything for now.  I am planning to make card sets for both my mother in-law and by hubby's grandmother who is 101 so will be pretty busy from now on considering I only have a week left and I work Sunday thru Thursday of that week :(  So in case I don't get back here before Christmas, I wan to wish you all a joyous holiday full of peace.  and remembering the reason for the season.  

God Bless,

Becky

Glass ball ornaments

Hi friends.  I told you I have been busy crafting.  Next project is the glass ball ornaments that I filled.  I won these glass ornaments from Amanda at Crick'tn Crafts.  I looked at lots of different ways to use these, but I especially loved these paper "scrolls".  I won 6 from Amanda and sent my son to Michaels to get more, but they were out and not ordering any more.  Will keep looking though.

This one I made especially for my in-laws tree.  When I first met my husband and for years afterwards, they had the most unique Christmas tree I had every seen.  They would get a branch from a tree that had fallen or had been cut - a big branch and bring it in and put it in a stand and string it with crystal ornaments.  I hope I have a picture of that somewhere.  They no longer do that as they are getting too old to go look for branches and a regular artificial pine tree is easier for them now.  But they still do the crystal ornaments along with some white and pink ones - all glass or crystal and very fragile :)  So I decided to make this one especially for their tree.  It is probably my favorite of them all.  This ribbon is from May Arts and I won it in a blog hop with Swirlydoos.  

These ornaments are for my neighbors.  I am hoping to make some cookies and candy and package them together in a box.  As you can see, there only 5 here - one has already been given away.  We had some friends stop by last night and I will have to get the other goodies to them later lol.  I especially love this last one too - I love musical notes in my crafting.  

In case you are wondering, I do win quite often in blog hops.  I would almost feel guilty but it is such a help to me in my crafting.  Budget is getting tighter all the time and I would not be able to do half of my crafty endeavors if I didn't win now and then.  I follow a lot of blogs and not for the candy - I really feel close to these people.  I work at home and sometimes it seems I don't get out of the house at all, but I feel like I have lots of friends :)

So, one more post to go and then it may be a while before I post again.  

God Bless,

Becky

Another mini album

Hi friends!  My next project is a "Snow day" album that I made for a Bunko gift.  I play Bunko each month with 11 other women, mostly Christian ladies.  Each month one of us has a turn to host.  I have been playing this since I was 8 months pregnant with my Kira who turned 14 in October and probably have only missed maybe 10 times in all those years.  I love it.  It is a time that I cherish - most of these ladies I don't see at other times, a couple go to my church, but as I am now working Sundays, I am not making it to church much.  Anyway, this month it is Karen's turn to host - we all love it when it is Karen's turn :)  We call her the Martha Stewart of the bunch and she always goes the extra mile.  Her house is decorated beautifully and she has the table set with holiday dishes and the food is fabulous of course.  So we decided we would do a gift exchange this year - $10 limit and we will play one of those games where you don't know which gift you will end up with.  I decided to make this album for my gift.  Earlier I posted another album for this same purpose, but I like this one better.  (I actually just remembered that I had already made one and posted it lol)  This is a paper bag matchbook album like the last one, but I like how this one turned out better.  This I learned from Kathy Orta from Paper Phenomenon - you can find the link here.  I just realized I did not take a picture with the belly band on.  The belly band has a strip of houses on it and another of those fabulous snowflakes.  The snowflakes I got from Sue at Scrapping Suzie QTT.  She crocheted them along with the flower in the previous post.  I won 10 crocheted snowflakes from her and they are gorgeous!  And she sent some flowers too which was a surprise!  I never know how these matchbox albums are supposed to go so this is sideways I think :)

This is the front cover of the album.  The paper for this album is from DCWV Christmas stack.  A close-up view of that gorgeous snowflake.  

This is inside the front cover and some of the pages.  This has 6 double-sided pages with photo mats inside.

So what do you think?  Do you like it better than the other one?  It is put together better for sure :)  I hope whichever of the ladies gets this, they will like it.  Maybe I will take both and let her pick...  Hmm, that is a thought.

Don't go away, I am just getting started :)

God Bless,
Becky

Still alive and kicking

and crafting like a fiend :)  I have really neglected both my blog and the blogs I follow lately and for that I apologize.  I have not had time to post or to check in on many of you.  I do try to check in, but don't always leave comments.  Just wanted you to know I am still here and to show you what I have been working on.  Maybe I should do each project in a different post...  can you handle that many posts from me in one day?  I hope so :)

First up is the mini album I made for my sister.  On my side of the family, there are 7 children and our families, so we always draw names - the adults draw and the children 20 and under draw.  This year we decided the gifts would either be handmade or a limit of $5.  Well, that was easy for me - handmade is my preference :)  So my sister and her hubby have their first grandchild and I thought this would be cute for her to put pictures in of their grand-daughter.

This album is called a "stack the deck mini" created by Laura from Follow the Paper Trail.  If I did this correctly, you can find the link here.  When I saw this album, I knew it was the one I wanted to make for my sister.  It is made with plain every day envelopes and you make a binding with fins on it that fit into the envelopes.  It is totally amazing and I plan to make lots more!  So far, it is probably one of my favorite designs for an album.  The crocheted doily is from a bunch I won as blog candy  from Ger at Little Snippets.  Isn't it gorgeous?!  The crocheted flower I also won from a blog hop, but this time from Sue at Scrapping Suzie QTT.  These ladies are so creative!  I can crochet, but nothing like this - usually just big bulky things like scarves or afghans.  All of of the crinkled ribbon used in this album, I believe, is from 3 Girl Jam.  The DP is Pink Paislee Snow Day.  The ribbons and card stock are from my stash.  Here some of the pages in the book.

This pages has 2 tags in the little pocket I created.  Plus the tags that are in the envelope.

Each envelope has 2 tags in it, either folded over the edge like these 2 pages or plain tag that pull out, so she has lots of room to put pictures.  

 
This gorgeous lace - both of these is from a bunch of lace that I swapped with Donna from Red Apple Junction.  She had too much lace (can that be possible?) and wanted to swap for some die cuts.  I have her cuts all ready to mail out, just have to get to the post office!
 
This is the last two pages.  I forgot to take a picture but I closed the album with a lobster claw that goes from the back to the front with those little charms on the front.  This was a technique I learned from Kathy Orta from the Paper Phenomenon.

Okay, that is it for that album.  I hope my sis loves it as much as I do :)

God Bless,
Becky

Melissa has candy...

and you won't believe what she is giving away!  Check this out:

That is a gift card worth $150 to Michaels!  (that alone would make me happy)

Copics Air Brush starter kit

Copics

Copics color swatch

Are you excited yet?  You should be!  I am over the top - crossing all my fingers and toes and everything I can think of until January 1st- that is the end date!  Go check this out at Creating from the Heart (Keepsakes by Melissa).  You will want to enter too.  And good luck to us all :)   Hugs!

God Bless,

Becky

Stephanie's new stamps!

Stephanie over at Whimsical Designs has designed her own stamp set!  I have been so excited to see these!  The actual release started yesterday but I was so busy yesterday I did not even have a chance to look at them.  She is having a release party yesterday and today where you can win a set just by checking out her designers' blogs to see how they used the new stamps and then a BLOG HOP tomorrow, December 3rd!  These stamps are so cute and she has some amazing sentiment stamps!  So go check out Whimsy Designs!  I know you will love these stamps as much as I do :)  Congrats to Stephanie!

God Bless,
Becky

Stick pin swap

I was recently in a stick pin swap with Tanya from Scrappy Scavenger.  We each made 24 pins and received some back.  These are the pins I received.  Aren't they beautiful?  This was in the early part of November and she is now doing another one ... we had so much fun with the first one we had to beg her to do it again :)  Not really - she was willing!  So this time we are doing 26, that is 2 for each of the 13 participants and they are due by January 15, but I already have mine finished.  Wish I could show them to you.  I will take pics before  I send them, then maybe I can show you after everybody has received them.  Take care friends.  

God Bless,

Becky

Catching up - picture heavy

Hi Friends!  I did not hit any of the Black Friday, Saturday or Sunday sales, nor the Cyber Monday sales!  I know that is hard to believe, but I am making my gifts this year so I spent as many hours in my craft room as possible this weekend.  I got a few things finished but have not posted anything so here we go...

 
First up are a tag and bag that I made for a gift.  I have a Bunco group that I play with every month and for December, we are to bring a gift for exchange - cannot be over $10.  We play one of those games where you don't know what you are going to end up with.  This is the tag and bag for that gift. For the gift, I made a matchbook paper bag album using a tutorial on YouTube from Kathy Orta at http://www.paperphenomenon.com.  She makes these amazing paper bag albums!  I am not completely happy with this album and may make another, but for now, this is it.

 
So this is the album and then a closeup of the bow and stick pin on the top.

  First page and the photo mat from inside.  That photo mat looks blurry in the pic, but it is not in real life :)  I wish I had thought to mask those snowflakes on the stamp so that they were not black.  Trying to figure out how to fix that...

   A couple of other pages

 And closeup of the belly band :)

Isn't that a fun album?  I am definitely going to do another one of those.  I chose to do just a winter theme for my Bunco group, but I am thinking to do an Christmas one too.  The paper is all from K and Company, I Christmas pack I got last year, except for the solid card stock which was in the my stash.  I cut the snowflakes from my Cricut - can't think of the cart right  now, a Doodle one I think - helps lots huh?  The stamps and the cover sentiment are from SU, very old set, and the other sentiments are from My Craft Spot Winter wonderland.  

I will be entering this into the following challenges:

Whimsical Designs - add texture - it is hard to tell but the snowflake paper on the outside is textured 

Charisma Cards Challenge - snowflakes

Paper Sundaes - Winter Wonderland

Hooked on Craft Challenge # 13 - Winter Wonderland

Craft Your Passion - Winter or Holiday

The Crazy Challenge - Snowflakes or stars

Cricut Cards Challenge - Cricut cut starting with S - snowflake from Doodletype cart

Then we have this cute little card.  This is a House Mouse image that I received in a blog hop prize.  I absolutely adore House Mouse, but have not been able to buy any of their stamps.  I think this is from one of the decoupage sheets, but not sure.  Anyway, I love it!  I added some snowflake brads and then tiny buttons on top of that and some fuzzy yarn round the middle - I thought that was cute with the yarn in the picture.  The sentiment stamp is from My Craft Spot - it is called Winter Wonderland and I Love it!

I used Sketch 143 from Card Patterns for this card and I will be entering this into the following challenges:
Lily Pad - Simon says use buttons
Frosted Designs - use metal - my snowflake brads are metal
Deep Ocean  Challenges #13 - C as in .... Cute and cuddly mice :)
House Mouse and Friend Challenges - Fuzzy and warm 
Kaboodle Doodles - Bundle up for Winter


Okay, I think that will do it for me.  Hope I didn't bore you too much :)  Hugs!

God Bless,
Becky

Candy from the Craft Barn

The Craft Barn has candy!  And lots of it!  Look at this yummy collection of goodies.  I am late posting this as it ends on November 25.  That is tomorrow for me, but I am not sure what their time is :)  So hurry over and check it out.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hi friends,
Just wanted to wish all my friends from the US a Happy Thanksgiving today.  The day is half over, but I have been working and just got a chance to write.  I am so thankful for all of my blessings.  We often forget how many blessings we have in the day to day bustle of life.  So today, I want to remind you to stop and think of all the blessings you have.  I am thankful for my family, that we are mostly healthy and happy.   I am thankful that my hubby and I both have jobs and we have a roof over our head and food to eat.  I am thankful for my husband, Greg, and our 3 children, Louis, Layna and Kira, whom I love more than life itself.   I am thankful for my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who saved me and loves me unconditionally.

And, I am thankful that I don't have to cook today LOL.  We are going to my in-laws home today for dinner.  I only had to bake pies, 2 pumpkin and 1 apple for today's dinner.  Each year we spend Thanksgiving at my in-laws.  We celebrate with my family on the Sunday before with about 25+ in our immediate family with my 6 brothers and sisters and their families.  At my in-laws, there is only our 5, my BIL and my SIL (neither married), my MIL, my FIL, and my  hubby's 101 year old grandmother.  Big difference in the size of the get together but not in the amount of love and blessings we share.

I am thankful for my hubby's family and their love for me and our family.  They do so much for us and I don't think we really give them the thanks they deserve.  Of course, sometimes we don't realize the blessings we have unless they are taken from us.

So, today let us remember and be thankful for our blessings.  Have a blessed and safe Thanksgiving!

Love and Hugs,
Becky

Branching out

I have started branching out in my blog reading.  Having just discovered the world of blogging a few months ago (when did I start?  I wonder if my blogaversary is coming up... ), I was mostly following blogs that only pertained to paper crafting or crafting in general.  Lately I have come across a few other blogs that have caught my eye and held my interest.  One of those is the blog of Becky Povich - a write who has a fun blog full of random thoughts and fun. I have not followed for long but I always find something delightful over at her blog.

So today, she introduced me to Robert Brault.  Now many of you may know who that is already, but I did not.  Does "Enjoy the little things because some day you may look back and realize they were the big things" ring a bell?  This is the guy who said it and a whole lot more.  He has a blog called A Robert Brault Reader and he has lovely anecdotes and  fun stories.  I found one from February that I really enjoyed - "We can go to bed, having earned our night's sleep, but to awaken to a new day is a gift from God."  Isn't that lovely?  


Anyway, just thought I would share this new treasure.  I found his blog to be very uplifting and fun!  Have a great week everybody!  Hugs!


God Bless,
Becky

Baby album - picture heavy

So last Thursday I stayed up until 2:00 in the morning finishing a baby album for my cousin's baby shower.  The baby shower was in Moab today and my parents were going down and takiug my girls.  I have to work tomorrow (starting a new Sunday thru Thursday schedule) so I stayed home.  But I wanted to make a special gift.  And after I stayed up pretty much all night finishing it, the girls forgot to take it with them!  Wahhh!   Which means I shall have to mail it.  I am not too upset as I was wishing I had a little more time to make it better, but don't know if I will get a chance to do so - starting crafting for Christmas - I will probably just mail it out.  So I did take some pictures - the only way I can take a video is with my phone which is not the greatest - yes I tried it - it was sad :) So instead, I have lots of pictures.  So here we go:

 First page - I think it is a little bare with just the girl - will probably add some flowers or something.  Not sure if my cousin does a lot of scrapping so wanted to make this pretty straightforward :)

Second page with the tag and then the large tag pulled out from inside the paper bag. Forgot to mention this was a paper bag album :)  Most of the papers and embellishments used from the Crate Paper Emma's Shoppe with a few other odd pieces thrown in from my stash.  

 

 This is my favorite page - the tag is pulled out to show you.  This was a card - don't have any idea where I got it - it was blank, but I loved this picture so I adhered to cardstock and turned it into a tag - the other side is blank for a picture or journaling.

This is the inside of the back cover.  I just love all of these papers.  Loved this book title paper and did not want to cover it up!  

And lastly I made a little card to go with it. 

But it is still sitting here at my house along with the book...  oh well.  Another thing to go in the mail.  Thanks for stopping by friends.  Big Hugs on this cold and wintery night - at least in my corner of the world. 

God Bless, 

Becky