December Photo a Day.....Day 13

I am so excited to share my photo today!!!  We live out in the country in a very rural area so wildlife sightings are not unusual, but seeing this beautiful creature is not a very usual thing.  Since we bought our house 28 years ago, I've been able to hear the hoo hoo's of an owl in our yard.  It is so common that sometimes I might not even notice, but always wonder where that hooing owl is.  Now I can't say that this is the one I hear because there have been quite a few sightings of snowy white owls in our area lately, but I like to think this is the one that I hear.  I was able to take this picture on my way home from town today.  I turned onto Stein Road and, but maybe not even a quarter of the way down I saw him sitting on the shoulder of the road.  At first I thought maybe it was a white garbage bag that someone had thrown out.  I pulled up slowly and was able to take my picture and even talk to him.  I had such an urge to get out and pick him up and hug him because he just looked so soft and beautiful, but hey I'm not that delusional.  You were worried about me there for a minute, weren't you?  LOL!  I just find owls so amazing and such a beautiful creature that God created.  What an awesome Day 13 photo in my book!  I'm calling him my Christmas Owl.  Enjoy!

Is that not the prettiest sight?  I get goosebumps just looking at it.

Now here is my project for today.  I'm still making Christmas cards.  I've been working the last couple of days in my stamp room creating.  First I cleaned the room, which really helps and then I've been creating and catching up on projects and listening to Christmas music or watching Hallmark movies.  It has really paid off that I had my tree up and house decorated this year before Thanksgiving.  I knew I needed to have that done early, what with me having surgery and knowing all the things I like to do for Christmas.  I'm really enjoying myself this year and that's not something I usually say about now.  I will do my baking next week and finish up my shopping and then the week of Christmas I can take it easy and do just what I want and maybe work on some extra gift projects.   I can honestly say that this surgery has turned into a real blessing.  I'm feeling better and I'm more organized, which really makes me feel good.  Thank you God for all your blessings!

Just used up leftover pieces from my pile to make this card.  The snowflake was cut out and used for my Create for Christmas class so the negative couldn't be thrown away.  LOL!

Now for a little sneak peak of something coming up in the Occasions catalog.  The catalog will go live January 6.  If you are one of my customers you should be receiving your catalog along with the Sale-a-bration catalog by January 1, so be on the look out.  They both have Hello Honey colored covers.  I will post a pick of those in the next week or so, so you'll know what to look for.  If you don't receive one and would like one, please let me know and I'll be glad to send you one.  As always, Stampin'Up! has out done themselves with this catalog. 

More info to come on this later, but I wanted to give ya a little sneak peak.  These were so fun to make with a new Framelit set.  The DSP I used is in the Holiday catalog and is still available.  It's called Nordic Noel (135822 $10.95).  Get yourself some before it's gone.  These little bags are so quick and easy to make and there are lots of additional dies to use in the set as well.

Wow!  This had been a long post, but I hope you enjoy my ramblings.  I love sharing with you.  For those who have left me comments, you don't know how much I appreciate them.  They bring a smile to my face every time and mean so much.  Thank you for taking the time to comment!!!

Blessings,

Renee

December Photo a Day.....Day 12

Hey there!  It's Friday!  Are you glad?  I don't have much planned for the weekend other than working around the house on Christmas projects and some baking.  My picture today shows how stressed my kitty is over the Christmas decorations.  LOL!  He is such a mild manner little thing.  Hasn't tried to climb the tree, but does love to lye on the tree skirt and maybe play with the snowman a little, but usually if you tell him no he listens.  I know, a cat listens?  He is just such a special kitty and he has really filled a hole in this family's animal loving hearts.  Oh his name is Sebastian and we call him Sabby.

Here is today's project.  As I've been working on Christmas projects and gifts I've also been cleaning up and I found this piece of burlap that I got from somewhere.  To be honest I think it may have been in a packaged gift of some sort, I just can't remember, but of course I couldn't throw it away.  Well I took it and die cut it with my Star Framelits to give this card a country Christmas feel.  The little stars were stickers from yet again the Many Merry Stars kit that I've been telling you so much about.  I attached them to a piece of Kraft Cardstock.  I then trimmed the piece up.  The little strips of Typeset DSP were punched into banners using the Banner punch.  If you'll remember the star was leftover from my Create for Christmas class card.  I had an extra one stamped so why not use it?  I finished the card off with a little Linen Thread Twine.

I'm really liking my new little photo studio.  How about you?  I feel so professional.  LOL!  Well have a great evening and I'll see you back here tomorrow.

Blessings,

Renee

December Photo a Day....day 11

Here is my photo for Day 11.  I finished up the rest of my stars from the Many Merry Stars Simply Created Kit. (138104 $25.95).  You can order this kit from my store.  Just click HERE  This kit has sooooo much in it.  I still have a few embellishing things left, but I made all the stars and they are on my two trees now.  You get enough to make 26 stars in 6 sizes and everything is pre-cut.  Order today and you would have it in a week.  Plenty of time to still make some for Christmas.

I even used some of the glitter words on my projects for today from the kit along with My Paper Pumpkin kit for November.  If you haven't subscribed to MPP, what are you waiting for?  I think they are just some awesome kits and they seem to get better every month.  The stamp set in this one is snowflakes.  Maybe I can post a card that was part of the kit tomorrow.  You can subscribe to MPP HERE

So what do you think of my new photo studio?  I really like it and think it's a great backdrop for my projects. 

Thanks for stopping by and I'll see you tomorrow.

Blessings,

Renee

December Photo a Day....Day 10

December 10th already.  Hard to believe.  I will start out today with the photo a day and then get on to posting some other things as well.

Here is my photo for day 10

This is my beautiful daughter Brooke.  She is 23 years old and one of the lights of my life.  This is her tree in her apartment.  Of course she matched her tree decor to the colors of her apartment.  Not sure where she would have gotten an idea like that. ;)  Love this girl to the moon and back and then some.

Now onto a new project and then the info that some were looking for on how to make this holder.

I was asked for measurements for yesterday's project so here goes.  The chart below is a suppose to stand for a 8-1/2" x 11" piece of paper.  Ok, use your imagination a little.  LOL!

Mini Cup Holder Pattern

Cut off				Cut off
Cut off				Cut off

Sheet is 5” x 11”

Score at 1-1/2” on all 4 sides

On short ends score at 3” in

Cut on the short ends all the way up to the 3” line, then cut and remove squares as shown.

Fold in 2 remaining squares and then fold over the center flap and adhere in place.  Do this on both ends.

This will hold 2 cups.

This is what your piece should look like.  Fold and adhere as mentioned above.

Here is the pattern for the cup.  I made mine from acetate so that I can have a permanent pattern to trace on my DSP.  I'm not sure how this will post as far as size.  You can take a cup apart and make your own pattern is what I did.  I bought these little cups special from www.webstaurantstore.com .

I'm sorry these photos and directions are so rough.  I really need to start making videos.  That would be a much easier way for me to show you.  I'm hoping Santa brings me a tripod for my cell phone.  If you have any questions please feel free to contact me or post here and I'll try and help.

Blessings,

Renee

December Photo a Day....Day 9

Hey there!  I'm back!  Trying to get back into a routine is really hard.  I'm slowly healing from my surgery, but I just don't have the strength that I would like, but I keep reminding myself that it all takes time.

I have a couple of things to share today.  I have a project and a photo a day.  I know that the project could have been that, but I wanted to share another part of my home with you.

Here are the snowmen that I have had for years.  I believe that they came from Home Interiors.  These are above my kitchen cupboards and I usually leave them up all winter.

Now to today's project.  I have a sleeve of these cute little cups in my stash.  I think I've shown these little cups to you before when I made a hostess gift, but I can't remember for sure.  This time I covered them with the Nordic Noel DSP from the Holiday catalog.  I made myself a little template that helps to cut and cover the cups in a flash.  I used some of the retired sweater ribbon from a couple of years ago to make a little pom pom type bow on top.  The handle was punched with the Star Confetti Punch (also from the Holiday catalog).  I made the tag using the Merry Everything stamp set and the matching punch.  You can still get this bundle through January 5 because it too is in the Holiday catalog.  I will probably fill these little cups with some candy goodies and give it away.

Well that is it for today.  Didn't get a lot accomplished, but oh well, it will be OK.  I have to keep telling myself that.  ;)

Blessings,
Renee

Lots to Catch Up.....December Photo of the Day 4-8

Well the last time I post I was just before my surgery and let's just say that this surgery was a little more than I thought it would be.  I knew I'd have to take it easy afterwards, but I didn't realize how sore I would be and how it would stop me from doing things that I love to do.  I haven't been on Facebook much and I haven't even felt up to watching much TV.  The only thing I've felt like doing is taking it easy and sleeping.  I guess your body knows what you need and sometimes you just have to go with it.  I've made my way to my office for a bit today and wanted to get caught up on my December Photo of the Day.  I'm doing all five days I missed today and then hopefully I can keep up.  I've got some stamping projects planned for other days, but these are just showing you some of the ways I decorate my house for Christmas.  So here goes...............

 This is on top of my refrigerator.  The snowman is one that my Lindsay bought for me back when she was in high school and I really treasure it.  The lantern was something that Frank picked up for me as a little surprise during Christmas time quite a few years ago.

 This is such a beautiful plate that I purchased several years ago from Cracker Barrel.  I loved that Santa is holding a Sock Monkey.

This is a little tree that I keep up year round and decorate it for the seasons.  I put the teeny tiny little stars from the Many Merry stars kit.

 This cookie jar was just purchased in November when Frank and I went away for our anniversary.  I fell in love with it the minute I saw it at Bronner's Christmas World, and after looking at the price I knew why.  I have very good taste.  LOL!  Just before we were ready to leave Frank asks me if we should go back and get the snowman cookie jar.  I looked at him and he looked at me and I told him it was too expensive and he said it didn't matter he wanted to buy it for me.  Aww.....the saying on it is what really spoke to me.  I love to make cookies and me and my girls give plates of them away to show our love for others so it seems fitting that it has it's place on our kitchen island this season.

This last picture is an angel that I purchase five years ago.  It was the Christmas that we moved back into our house after our house fire.  It had been a long 7 months not living in our home and I felt like I needed something new and beautiful to grace the top of our tree that year.  I didn't know what it would be, but when I saw it, I knew it was it.  I was with my sweet friend Vicki shopping in a little store near Bad Axe.  Although it is not on our tree this year (actually it's not even a tree topper, but I made it into one), it does have a place in our living room and it can be seen very well no matter where one sits in the room.

Well I hope you've enjoyed a little tour of some of my holiday decor.  I will try my hardest to get back to posting Stampin'Up! projects as well.  Please be patient with me and I'm trying to be with myself.  I want to heal properly and don't wish to have this surgery over again.

Blessings,
Renee

December Photo a Day 3

I'm writing this on Tuesday night and you will read it tomorrow sometime.  I'm trying to get ahead of the game a little since I will be having some surgery on Wednesday morning.  It will be out-patient surgery, but serious enough that they will put me out and I need someone to be with me for a couple of days.  My hubby is taking time off from work to be with me.  Hopefully I'll do fine and will be able to keep posting, but I'm sure tomorrow I won't be up to it.

Anyway, here is my December photo for day 3.

This is a section on my tree.  I've really loved being able to use the kit from the Holiday supplement to decorate my tree.  The stars were easy to put together and so easy to tuck into the tree.  You will also see one of my hedgies and a favorite Possible Dream Santa that was given to us as a gift quite a few years back by a friend.

Hope you are enjoying the days of the season!
Blessings,
Renee