I made a promise to myself this year that I was not going to stress during the holidays. I would take each day as it came and get done what I could and just enjoy it.
I am happy to say that it worked!
My cards were mailed on December 1.
My shopping is done.
Everything that needs to be shipped is wrapped and packed and sitting by the door to go out tomorrow.
My tree went up last night.
My house has been decorated since the weekend after Thanksgiving (inside and out).
The only things left on my list are to bake the Russian Tea Ball cookies my husband loves and to make the Chex Party mix. Oh yeah, and make a Christmas card for my husband (let's hope I don't forget that one lol)
With 10 days left to do them, I think I am in very good shape! :-)
I hope everyone else is fairing as well as I am this year.
AND....I made a few things over the past couple weeks. I make sure I get lots of art room time. I think that makes a huge difference in my stress levels. :-)
When decorating the inside of my house, I had to put away my Autumn glass block and wanted a to replace it with a Winter one. I searched on etsy to see if I could find a file that jumped out at me (nothing I put together from Design Space was really rocking my socks).
I found SparkelDigitalDesign. She has lots of wonderful glass block designs. I chose this one. I had planned on using navy blue but didn't have enough so opted for dark red. I love how it turned out.
I think it is adorable and fits in with my decorating style, of vintage and antique toys, really well.
She offers a deal of buy 3 designs get 1 free so I see some shopping in my future. :-)
Vinyl is an addicting thing. You start seeing places all over your house that could use a little bit of sprucing up or just a touch of whimsy.
Vinyl also makes a very nice stencil.
I used my Explore to cut out vinyl stencils for use with Amour Etch.
I always regretted not buying the glasses that matched my Christmas dishes. Each year for Christmas I have to use my everyday glasses (or a set of maroon wine glasses...don't ask).
I was in Dollar Tree and they have glasses.....green glasses.....for Christmas.
I light bulb went off and I now have a set of green glasses that look beautiful with my dishes.
Each glass is etched with a different image. (I etched 4 but only had 2 done at the time I took the picture) I wanted them all etched but thought having them all the same would be boring. Besides, my dishes are fun not serious with a big Christmas tree and train and gifts (Pfaltzgraph Christmas Heritage) So why shouldn't my glasses be fun too?
The images are from Anna Griffin's Christmas Kitsch cartridge. (I will try to remember to get a picture of the other 2 lol)
And finally, I finished up my last Christmas present on Friday night.
My mom collects little boxes. All types and shapes and styles. I search for cute and different ones for her all the time. I don't think that I have ever made one for her. Although she has been collecting them for over 30 years so I probably have made her at least one or two over the years but cannot remember lol
I took an old mint tin, lightly sanded it then sprayed it with Rust-Oleum's white Clean Metal Primer.
I sponged alcohol inks on the edges to create a nice finish.
Does this door make you want to look inside? I hope so because this is the front of the tin.
I used the Explore Print Then Cut to make the door. I added a fancy glass bead brad for the door knob and mounted the door on chip board so it stands out a bit.
I found a stone wall image online and used that for my background on the front and back of the box.
I used Distress Inks (Tea Dye and Walnut Stain) to darken the edges.
This is the back. I added the little dandelion growing at the bottom. It leaves no hint of what might be inside.
Everything inside was cut with the Explore, including the blue background pieces. I wish I had thought to measure and cut them this way with my first tin. It was such a pain trying to get a good fit just eye-balling it!
There is a lovely rose trellis on the left. I used a grid background cut from the CTMH Artbooking cartridge.
The roses came from Picturesque.
One the right we have gorgeous sunflowers and fuchsia tulips from Walk In My Garden. The purple tulips are from Create a Critter.
There is a little white picket fence separating the sunflowers from the tulips. The full image has a rooster sitting on the fence. I used the slice feature to remove him. The fence is from Wall Décor & More.
And finally there is grass growing behind the fence from CTMH Artbooking.
I needle felted the bunny using some tan alpaca fleece with little bits of merino for his tummy, nose and eyes. He looks very happy in his flower garden home.
I hope she likes it. I finished it Friday night and packed it up Saturday morning. I must have gone and opened that little tin a dozen times to take 'one last look'. I finally kissed the bunny good-bye and wrapped it up. :-)
Just in case I don't get back here beforehand...
Merry Christmas to you all and happy crafting in the New Year!
