Monday, November 30, 2009

Days 2 - 8

Days 2 - 8 were set-up days. Getting all of us started and some great digital downloads. Now, I know there is no way I can do every day in Dec., but I am going to try to take a photo or two a day of the journey and holiday fun in Dec. Some days will definitely more fun than others, like when we go cut down our Christmas tree.

So that being said, I know it has been awhile since I have blogged. Well in two days we are setting up for our largest Christmas Craft Fair this year at Douglas County Fairgrounds. We have two corner booths in the Community Building. Love that building.

I will post photos of our booth as we set it up and after it is set up. Lots of new things this year especially made with the Cricut. I hope to take photos tomorrow and I will post...I promise.

Thanksgiving was so fun just with Rod and Me. We cooked a 16 pound turkey which we will actually finish up tonight. We also had dressing, cranberry sauce, green beans, olives, rolls, lots of gravy & pumpkin pie. I also tried my hand at making yams from scratch & they turned out pretty good.

Rod asked if it was worth all the trouble cooking just for two if us and I have to say it was more than worth it.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Day 1 - Family Holiday Values and Goals

I was lucky enough to enroll in Jessica Sprague's Free "Holidays in Hand - 2009" class online.

Day 1 assignment was to reflect in a journal or on your blog about what matters the most and to describe your family's values.

Since this holiday season finds my immediate family back in the "drama" mode with only a few of us talking to each other and being threatened with not showing up for Christmas there will be "no presence, no presents" I really don't have any hope let alone family values & goals for that side of the family.

So I turn to my other family or should I say my REAL family - my wonderful husband & friends (even though that other family say I only have 1 friend).

Jessica gave us some words to think about like:

peace
family
tradition
togetherness
friends
warmth
welcome
magic
glow
spirit
rest
laughter
friendship
food
sweets
stockings
lights
ornaments
gratitude
sharing
sparkle
merry
quiet
wonder
giving
savoring
appreciating
connecting
reflecting
memorable
joyful

OK so which of these words really matter to me? Savoring, appreciating, giving, friendship (Oh, I forgot I only have one friend LOL), laughter, togetherness.

Now I have to make some goals based on those words:

1. I want to savor the holidays this year by appreciating all my friendships & my DH.
2. I want people that I like to be around and like being around me to sit down and laugh (even if it is at me) and to just be together.
3. I want the holidays to be simple but holidayish. You know simple decorations on a tree we will go into the mountains to cut down, playing lots of Christmas music, saying MERRY CHRISTMAS" to everyone I meet.
4. I want to savor the moment with friends and DH.
5. I want togetherness and share the moment with friends, my DH & others.

Now I have to make goals based on my values:

GOALS:
1. Cookie Exchange with friends.
2. Homemade gifts for friends made just for them with them in mind.
3. Buy gifts for 8 kids from the Salvation Army tree as I do every year because those kids need it more than my 8 nieces and nephews.
4. Annual dinner with friends with lots of laughter, good food and kinship.
5. Getting more involved with Christmasy stuff with my DH. I will help decorate the tree. I will wrap more packages. I will watch more Christmas movies. I will not be a Bah Humbug. I really am never a true Bah Humbug, but I really want to savor the moment more than I usually do.
6. I want to make and encourage more people to make Christmas cards for our Vets in the VA Hospital so they will know people do care about them...a LOT!

PS If anyone cares - a Wii would be pretty cool too!

Friday, November 13, 2009

More Creations




These 3 things I call Favors/Ornaments. The plastic cups are from Stampin Up. You fill them with goodies. I bought packages of Halloween candy to fill the cups. Since we are not a licenced kitchen in Oregon we can't prefill the cups to sell. The individual packages of candy are perfect to be included with the favor/ornament and the buyer can fill them before giving them away.

I have designed a Gingerbread man with a hole in his middle to be filled with candy. The Stickles are drying now, but when I finish the sample I will post.

The Cricut cartridges I used for the turkey was Mini Monograms. The Snowman is Doodlecharms, Stretch Your Imagination, Mini Monograms & Paper Doll Dress Up, and the Ornament used Mini Monograms & Joys of the Season. They were all designed using the Design Studio. I am having so much fun playing & designing.

Wait until you see the Gingerbread House Christmas Album I designed.





Friday, November 6, 2009

Sharing

I have been BUSY! The BPW (Business Professional Women's Craft Fair starts tomorrow and I have been designing and making new stuff.

It's funny, I have been doing craft fairs since 1992 & I love coming up with new stuff every year.


So without further ado I will start with one of my new faves. It was inspired by a card The Pink Stamper had done ( www.mypinkstamper.com/2008/10/episode-67-apple-cider-slider.html) and I took it from there:



1. Stamp (Stampin Up) on SU white cardstock. Matted on Clove cardstock (Paper Accents)
2. Leaf wreath printed on acetate and attached with red brads. The wreath is clip art from Print Shop 21.
3. I made mine a card on the slider card.

I have lots more to share over the next couple days. The Hot Cocoa slider card I made using the Cricut's Winter Wonderland cartridge and the Design Studio is my absolute favorite!