Christmas decorations galore

I love Christmas decorating - just inside, not out.  We've never been ones to decorate outside, other than a simple wreath on the door.  But I just love my Christmas trees and ornaments!!  I've posted in past years but there's always something new to share :)

This year I have a new tree for the family room - it's a 7' slim tree which makes it impossible to layer 2 and 3 ornaments on a branch like I enjoy doing on my big ol' chunky tree.  Well, it's so much work to put up, I didn't even bother to do the chunky tree this year!  I'm really enjoying the slim tree.  I have to share a special new ornament I received from my friend Heather in Ireland.  You may remember I had the chance to visit Heather and her family in May - had the time of my life and I'm sorry I'm not there now to enjoy Heather's fabulous cooking!  Anyway, yesterday a thick package arrived from across the pond - thanks Heather!!! The cross ornament was in the package along with a bunch of other goodies:

It came from Newbridge Silver which is a beautiful shop we visited when I was in Ireland.  Engraved on the cross  is the Irish phrase Nollaig shona duit = "Merry Christmas to you" according to Google Translate.  And on the bottom half it says Nollaig faoi shéan is faoi shonas duit = "December under denied under you happy" according to Google Translate.  Huh???  So I asked Heather and she says that it is a traditional greeting that means "A prosperous and happy Christmas to you."  She assured me there was no denial involved - LOL!

On the left is the Irish angel ornament Heather sent me last year - love it!  When I showed Heather the photo, she admired the red and white birdhouse - it's a Hallmark ornament, so sweet.  And here's the entire tree:

My brother was unloading some of his decorations and I ended up with the crystal angel topper.  You can't see in the photo but she's holding a long trumpet - so gorgeous!  And can you see the umbrella at the top of the stairs?  I had to use it at the bus stop - it was 35F and raining in MN - crazy weather!!

Here's my other new item - a table top ornament holder that looks so old fashioned with its heavy embossed metal base and cookie cutter topper:

My other trees are similar to the past so I won't bother showing them again.  And where's a card you ask?  

Here's another card I made using the fun Hero Arts clear set Frosty Wishes.  It had a matching die set that must've gone like hotcakes since they aren't in the shop right now.  I actually wish I'd bought more die sets - you could really make a bunch at a time if you had more dies.  It's a bit of a pain to cut one twig arm at a time if you're thinking of mass producing.  Of course, if I knew how to do it, I could cut a bunch on the Silhouette....

Hope you're enjoying the holiday season - I certainly am!  Thanks for stopping by!

Secret Santa 2014

Well, despite a busy fall and holiday season, I still found time to participate in a Secret Santa exchange over on the Hero Arts Flickr group.  My friend Heather organized it and Cindy C. helped this year so Heather could still have a Santa. Heather organized the group which included both me and Cindy, then Cindy organized the other half.  I ended up with Cindy's name and, thanks to her, I can share this photo of what I sent her:

On the left, miscellaneous die cuts I made - different labels and snowflakes - I was very into snowflakes this year.  The card used a new Hero Arts background "Winter Sparkle which I overstamped with the Tiny Ink Spots background - so reminds me of falling snow.  The poinsettia is also from Hero Arts and has a die to go with it.  I chose not to use the die and just fussy cut it, also layered it with part of a second one - colored with Copics.  On the ATC I used a couple of bottle brush trees from another new Hero Arts set called Family and Friends.  I stamped the Tiny Ink Spots again - it's so fun - and added lots of gems and sequins (Lawn Fawn).  The stamp and cut set I sent (got with a coupon so I didn't go over the limit, honest!) was a fun label set - bought one for myself while I was at it.... I found these cute linen covered wooden letters at Michael's or JoAnn's - don't remember which.  I had fun decorating Cindy's C by painting the edges in Chipped Sapphire Distress paint and staining the linen with Tumbled Glass Distress stain, then stamping over it and adding - you guessed it, some felt snow flakes from Hero Arts.  In the little sparkly taffeta bag was a bunch of odds and ends - snowflake buttons, some wooden bits, sequins, and ribbon.  I just wrapped it all in tissue paper and then tied it with the stretchy red and white ribbon Cindy so artfully displayed.

Laura Norris ended up with my name and I received my package on Monday (today was the big reveal so that's why I'm able to post now).  Many thanks to Laura for all the goodies she sent me!!  Here's the photo of the ATC and card she sent me:

Don't you just love the darling reindeer in the red sweater?  And the card has the sweetest reindeer brad on it.  I love the white embossed trees on the rich blue!  And here are the goodies she sent:

Some fun Goosebumps, tape, labels, baker's string and a bag of little wooden items - totally different from any I've ever had.  Too bad you can't see the darling owl hiding in there!  She didn't photograph a pile of images she stamped for me to color, along with some music themed patterned paper (she knows I'm a singer!).  Oh my, Laura - you were too generous but I can't wait to get crafty with it all.

Thanks Heather for organizing and thanks Cindy for helping; it brought of lot of crafty fun to the holiday season!  And thanks again to Laura for her generous goodies and lovely ATC and card!!

Another Scramble, another Christmas card done!!

It was Scramble time again, our 99th, over on the Hero Arts Flickr Group.  Natalie had the fun theme of using older Hero Arts stamps.  I should be embarrassed -- I used a set from 2011 that I bought then but hadn't used until today!  Here's my card:

The older stamps were CG466 Be Jolly - such a fun background I've used many times - and CL547 Happy Holidays - that's the one I'd not had a chance to use before and it's sooooo cute!  I stamped Be Jolly tone on tone with Festive Berries Distress ink and then added the JOY from Happy Holidays in Pine Needles ink.  Tied a May Arts ribbon around and popped it up with foam tape onto a green card base stamped tone on tone with the Tiny Ink Spots background - that's not a Christmas stamp at all but a fun one from 2012.  Added some gems and the stamped Christmas tree that I fussy cut and added a gem star from Doodblebug.   Now all I need is a sentiment inside and another Christmas card is done - yay!  I'll never get enough for my card list but I've got more than usual.  I will use Hallmark cards once the handmade ones run out....

Hope you're having a crafty day!  Thanks for stopping by!