approaching holidays + crafting

Getting excited about the upcoming weeks. Its a time I have a lot on my mind and plate, figuratively and literally :),  but also a time that gets me excited to make stuff.  An excuse to have a little (ok, a lot of) excess paper crafting paraphernalia and tools scattered around the house. Not so much yard or outside work, more time indoors, etc. makes me a happy girl. So soon I'll be gathering some favorite pictures in my software to make a 4x6 holiday photo collage. Much like the one I am using (update:was using) as my Blog Header right now. I make those in google's PICASA and then print them at my local drug store or Wal-Mart. Have also begun going through my supplies to make another December Journal for this year. Over the years I have seen this or something similar to this idea blogged about many times.  I first heard about them from the ali blog and was hooked right away.

(left) (former blog banner; photo collage done with picasa software; simple & fun)

I've said this every year for the past two or three, but ...."I'm starting early" and "I'm going all digital" and I really mean it. You know for the time being. But inevitably something - something like crafter's guilt comes over me and I feel totally like I am cheating. And so out comes the pretty paper, punches, glitter.  Buttons and ribbon spill forth from their containers and visits to wonderfully creative and inspiring blogs increase.

I thought I'd found them all...but then I find more. So many talented people crafting + blogging out there.

Some new favorites from my blogsurfing adventures this week....
cards and scrapbook trends   
(from here you can view their blogs (Four of them) -- grab a cup of something, relax, and read. have a napkin handy because you will drool over the projects. you have been warned.
zakka life
(same as above -  swoon!)
the bright side project 
scissor variations  
(I have ordered from their shop before, papier valise, just never read the blog - many good ideas for small, vintage trinkets, labels and pretty paper, naturally, I was in love :)

and
because I am a font lover
fontcapture


I don't know about anyone else reading but.....doing anything else as long as it keeps me away from my household chores is a welcome break...why I have missed these gems?

The other thing that happens is this, I get off on a totally new tangent, depending on how many links you follow you may end up in a totally new direction. I feel like I'm on so much time I start to feel so guilty.  I stayed focused though.  I didn't say much about the bright side project blog above because that is what spun me off into a new thought and also brought me back to a project I have started gathering materials for: a December Journal. So I'll mention it here. The blog is great collection of handmade/artistic offerings from the web.  A lot of new inspiration and new artists shops to check out.  More too - you have to simply go over and visit.

I left a comment on their blog - something I don't do very often - but their prompt was to leave a comment about a favorite holiday ornament or decoration. It stirred a memory, about a treasured snowflake ornament I made with mom a long time ago.

And it made me want to blog again after a nearly 3 month break. Inspiration to blog again is good.   

my comment on newly discovered blog – the bright side project – blog surfing + my morning coffee the morning of the 11^th

[The post asked us to comment on our favorite Christmas ornament.  Not something I was thinking about at the time I was surfing. There is also a chance to win a 2010 calendar from a talented photographer.  Even if I don’t win, what a great journaling prompt. Once I had the memory jogged I started thinking about an old, slightly worn with age, favorite ornament and all the memories that are attached to it.  Now I’d like to get this ornament out of storage and take a photo of it. Might fit nicely with the December Journal I am once again attempting.]

here’s the journaling: "I think about all the tree decorations I have purchased over the years and then I have to say my one most treasured (I know this bec I would cry if I ever lost it or it was damaged) is a handmade blue and clear beaded snowflake ornament that my mom and I made one year when I was about 8 or 9. In the mid 70’s this came as a kit — a small styrofoam ball, pretty stick pins, sequins, and the beads. I think all my future visions of snowflakes are based on this lovely yet simple creation + the memories of me and mom are attached."

[must find ornament and snap photo!]

here's to happy seasonal crafting and handmade goodness!

   

discovered: finishing something makes me giddy

my craft table around 30 minutes ago

For the December Journal/Scrapbook (actually the official name is "December Daily") I chose to do a numbered tag for each day 1-25 but I didn't want to leave out days 26-31 since so much goes on that week with the kids off from school etc. I plan on just making a page/place to put those end of year reflections. I find the last week of the year always puts me in a kind of mood where I like to relax, enjoy the kids being home, clean up after the holidays and start fresh.

The whole idea was not to run out and have to buy a whole bunch of products....good thing I didn't have to. Plus, I like tinkering with digital to make my own journaling boxes or number tags. My two minor purchases were binder rings -- a box of 12 and 3" red vinyl number stickers in helvetica font. Office Depot has them on clearance this week. I was lacking in some christmas-y paper until I found my basic grey Figgy Pudding paper that I had purchased last year after the holidays. In fact, it was a little like Christmas as I uncovered a bunch of stuff I had stashed and forgotten about. Clear stamps I had forgotten about. Lots of number stickers I had yet to OPEN. gasp.

One thing, the best of all things I enjoyed, was finding out that I am totally in the mood for all this. Getting the supplies out for this project and the Christmas cards put me in a good creative flow that I haven't had in a while.

oooooh, look, pretty tags I forgot about (gotta love the toys, keeps little guy busy so I can glue things together)

yep, more stuff I forgot about. uncovered in an unlabeled brown box.
sheesh, why do I hoard?

Also tonight I printed off some penmanship paper to use as one of the pages for the journal. So I'll end the post with another very cool site to visit. Here. You can download and print out all types of papers or calendars for free. It gives a nice place to record thoughts, you can print them in smaller sizes for another element in your journal or use them as background paper on which to stamp an image on. When I print these I like to use heavy matte paper specially made for printing brochures and such (I use Epson)

more cards

I mentioned in an earlier post that I used stamps from the angel company for some christmas cards...these are some...{the set, "christmas joy" is not in the new catalog though there are new beautiful sets available}. I just loved the old fashioned look of the christmas stocking on this set - and the detail on the wreath is very delicate, I loved how each pine branch was so perfect. Glad I bought it when I did.

Knifty Knitter Makes a Card; Loves a new book

Happy 2008!

Just enjoying that "its a brand new year" freshness that comes with every January. I love the start of a new year, the new calendar, the renewed sense of purpose, and the chance to reflect on the end of a year and make goals for the coming one.

I always spend the last week of the year and the first week of January in that kind of reflective mood. Did fun things with the kids, went to our most fav place, Strong National Museum of Play, bought our yearly membership as a family present to ourselves. Can't wait to go again with just the little guy.....he wanted to linger and explore things waaaaay deeply....not bad, just that the other two are like butterflies. They flutter from one exhibit to the next with too much speed for a weary mommy. Its definitely a two adult trip. One takes slow and easy guy and the other takes the speedsters.

Wanted to come update the blog but really was liking the break. Towards the middle of December I remember putting alot of little things off until "later" {until January} And now that January is here....well, I felt a bit overwhelmed and needed to regroup my priorities. Kids were home so we had alot of fun-together time. Made a few cards. Went through the stash of craft supplies and found something I hadn't tried out yet. My mom had given us the "knifty knitter" Flower Loom {by provo craft} in a goodie bag for Halloween so we decided to try it out. I made the flower that is on the card with a little bit of yarn and tada a cute embellishment for a card or scrapbook. Okay, so maybe this loom's been around a while but I thought it was a cute idea I hadn't seen anywhere.

I've also been looking over all the photos from the past year, burning them on cds is the next step -- {they number in the thousands!!! OMG!!)but sadly most of my favorites haven't even made it into an album or anything...gotta work on that. It does start to seem overwhelming but I know it doesn't have to be. So many stories, memories and wishes for the coming years......so that will be one of my creative goals in 2008.

One of the Christmas presents I gave to myself was the latest book by Ali Edwards "Life Artist:scrapbooking life's journey" In it a multitude {its brimming} of motivation and inspiration to get working on my creative goal. It was apparent in the first flip through the pages that I had made a great purchase {always love that feeling}. Almost like she could read the mind of this scrapbook challenged mom of three, saying now-what-do-I-do-with-all-these-pictures? I single out the words "huge project" as I randomly stop at page 135 and read these words {regarding a huge project} "....I reminded myself to stick with the basics and focus on the photos and the story." Yes! That is exactly what I needed to hear. This is by far one of the best creative juices book out there. Again, I'm really pleased with this purchase...so happy:)

And Because I usually start reading from the back of books and magazines, this means, really, just a few pages in I was already in love with it :)

the photo shoot-07

Every Christmas ever since 1999 I've {tried} to get all the kiddos in the shot....some years went better than others. The results are usually hysterical and I can bet on one good shot in 50 to be usable for the traditional card.....but lately I've seen the beauty in the not so posed shots because they show the side of the kids that is "real"and so fun. Well, I can tell that they are either getting used to the whole "mommy needs to take a "nice" picture idea" or they are simply growing up {gulp, no way} so they are more apt to play along. For a little bit at least.

So this year marks the first year that I only took a limited number of shots {probably like 14 instead of 50} and on the very first try I actually have all three looking at the camera!!!!! That is so major cool!!! So, I've neglected blogging for a while this week to finish up the cards....having a little trouble with walgreen's quality and cvs prints.....finally just did them up here at home with our Epson printer. I'm a little behind as usual :)

Slide show below......I converted some of them to black and white on my software...then there is the last one...of my two oldest just cracking up at lil'guy. I'm sure he will get his revenge some day.

Christmas Card Illustrations

"What Girl Elves Dream About"
by maria

Shoes of course, duh?
I bet she gets so tired of wearing green and red. Red and green. Good thing for that touch of black on the belt buckle. Oh, and everyone knows that good elf shoes are sooo hard to find.
Give the girl a break.

ooooh, I get to add to one of my new categories, Today's Doodle....the doodles were actually done over the course of several days {and evenings.}
This is the first year I have tried this.....putting the "doodles" to good use that is.
I just always put my doodles away in a personal art journal. Okay, I decided not to this year. Instead it will be on some of our holiday cards. But I'm so chicken of my own work :}

I finally had the chance to sit down and finish the doodles that lead to the idea for this Christmas card this morning while keeping little guy {just turned 4!} busy with his own set of pencils and paper.
I Love to bring out all the colored pencils and color!
Because I tend to doodle on different sheets or scraps of paper I have to clip my favorites from the various pages and get them together in a cute arrangement. The next step is to then scan in the artwork.

The December 2007 issue of Good Housekeeping has a ton of holiday planning guides and lots of tips and ideas for this cheery time of year. One of the articles {pg. 141, if you have it} rates the 5 Best Sites for Holiday Cards. On the list is this site I've never visited {might try it this year} It says that the site, zazzle, will let you scan in your artwork or your child's to have printed as part of your card's border or background. Sounds interesting...going to check that out later. Also, if someone else wants to use your design, zazzle will pay you royalties. That's new, don't know of another card site that does that.

Handmade Stamps

It has been a joy to watch my husband's latest project, for his graphic design class, Hand carved Stamps. This is the same guy who cringes when he sees me online at addicted to rubber stamps, the same one who sees the bag from one of my favorite local craft stores and says "oh, not again." So for his final he has to study a famous typographer, he chose Frederic Goudy, and copy one of the fonts onto a stamp which they craft themselves. "This was actually fun" he says later.

These photos show what he calls the "rejects" --- I was like "WHAT?, People pay good money to have that distressed, grungy look on big honkin' letter stamps!" and I quickly stole them to add to my stash. I love how they look!!!! He's looking at me, thinking, exactly how much money have you spent? The kids are having a ball with the rubbery material {made by Speedball} although it is a bit messy while carving. And since they aren't allowed to use daddy's carving tools they are using various sharp pointed pencils to achieve their look. Yea, its been a little messy. Our daughter his making one that looks like a cow. Its still in the production and manufacturing stage :)

This week we are getting the Christmas tree up and preparing for little guy's 4th birthday, I just can't believe its that time again! {Sunday} so its time to return to decluttering the house for our December guests and activities. Once the house is clean for the small simple gathering it tends to stay that way much of December because of more guests or neighbors popping in. See, for me its a nice motivator to keeping it semi-tidy knowing that people might be over. {we go back to slacking in January, heehee} Christmas music will be on in the background to make it go faster :)

I do love this time of year so much, even for all the extra stuff we do "just because its Christmas" ..... for all the pretty-glittering-Christmas-tree reasons as much as the getting together with family and friends reasons and always, always trying to keep the true meaning of Christmas tops around our house with just little touches of Santa and more about the spiritual side of why we have so much to celebrate this particular time of year. Keeps it real -- not material or fabricated. I wish there was one day {or all} without all the ads and marketing promoting the buy buy buy, shop shop shop mentality!

This December I would like us to do more together, just simple things, just the 5 of us, and start bringing some new traditions into our little {now complete} family. We'll keep visiting the large toy train display that starts every December {little guy's favorite} and I am on the lookout for what else to do in Rochester.

The start of {toy} shopping season! Scary!

This year's shopping will be so much different than previous years....now more than ever I really am going to go the handmade, artfully {thoughtfully} crafted route. The information on unsafe toys has given me plenty to think about this week as I start looking for that special something to put under the tree. Our kids know that they will get maybe one or two of their most special "wants" even though their lists are usually very long. This year the older two went through the all the "toy" books that have been delivered to the house. I was flipping through it the other day and was like, "No, probably not, nope, probably has lead, oooh, maybe, oops, that's been recalled...." and so on.

This will probably be my one post this week now that the kids are home for vacation. I had to check a few things off my to-do list for my son's cub scouts group. One of which was to prepare for next weeks collection of Toys for Tots. I set out to do a little research so I could put together a reminder flyer....the official website and other communities across the country clearly put emphasis on toy safety this year more than ever.

I discover that the list for recalled toys is incredibly scary! More so than I thought. So as I am reading through the various recalls when I notice one of our polly pocket toys is on the list {that one's gone from the toy box}. One statistic I read was that 80% of the toy market is in China. Not everything from China is bad news of course, but that number is way higher than I ever thought.

So I think my "reminder" flyer ended up sounding more of a public service announcement for the parents of our cub scouts. {I just hope no one thinks I am being preachy}

I decided on including a list of resources and links they could go to for more information and I also added a little blurb about what not to get.

With this year’s growing concerns over unsafe toys for our children we ask that everyone continue to be diligent in carefully selecting appropriate toys. There is a huge amount of information on the internet regarding unsafe toys and what to look for. Here are some of the tips:

Sometimes the toy will show the following labels that indicate the product met testing standards. Look for signs that the toy met standards...American National Standards Institute (ANSI),ASTM International (ASTM)

Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

Choose from responsible companies; those doing a lot of quality assurance. Stay away from toys with small parts, magnetic pieces, Aqua Dots, and toys containing play jewelry or charms. After reading the lists on several recall websites I would also recommend you check labels of craft kits very carefully and stay away from “dollar type” stores or discount toy stores.

Who are the responsible companies, I thought? Brands I trust? Two of the names I didn't see on those recall lists were Hasbro, and Playskool. Well, I hope this is a serious wake-up call for the toy giants. There are those being extra stringent now, but what about during the production and manufacturing process??? I also hope that this opens up more doors, somewhere in the future for the folks here in America and Canada who are making wonderful handmade toys.

Helpful Resources for Parents [The following helpful resource is from lists that were already complied on several of the websites below. I found it very useful and I added my own at the bottom.]

Federal Govt. Recalls | Recalls.gov

Toy Hazard Recalls | CPSC

American Academy Of Pediatrics Recalls

Lead Poisoning: What It Is | WebMD

Toy Information | ToyInfo.org

Toy Directory Recalls | TDmonthly.org

Mattel (Fischer-Price, Barbie, Hot-Wheels)

RC2 (Thomas) Recalls

About.com Toy Recalls

Toy Safety Tips | Toytips.com

Toy Safety Tips | Dr. Toy

Spot Lead Posioning Signs | Parents.com

Oppenheim Toy Portfolio

Toy Wishes Magazine

Toy Industry Association

Some additional sites I found useful:

www.toysfortots.org

www.greenlivingideas.com

www.thebostonchannel.com/toy-troubles

www.wbztv.com/consumer

christmas tree craft

Help, little foam trees are overtaking my table.....and naked quirky tree is growing on me. I think he looks good white. He will need to be white of some sort. Entirely too cute. Okay, after quirky tree I'm done. really.

Incidentally, walking through the mall the other day I noticed a lot of shop window displays using big cone shapes, all decorated a little differently. Lerner New York had sequins and the Gadzooks' tree was made with recycled magazine pages slightly rolled up at the ends. A grunge look. I'm thinking that could work with scrapbook paper or pretty wrapping paper.

night.

Almost done....

Loved how the sequins overlapped nicely to fit the little tree shape.

Seriously, as I am doing these I start to think of all the different embellishments that could work on these cones.....reeeaaaally addicting.

buttons, buttons, and more buttons

At this point I was starting to worry that it wasn't looking too good {not looking like the picture}, but one by one as the buttons are added it starts to take shape :) Lots and lots of buttons! oh my! I went back to the website after this to check some details.











I tried trim from the sewing department -- but the ribbon it was attached to just wasn't happening with the little tree shape. So I detached all the sequins and began pinning them to the tree without the ribbon. This was too much fun.


















This......turned to this {below}.........had to save the tiny beads for the top of the tree. I had various pins to use -- but ultimately, I liked the tree with the white pins instead of the mix of different color ones. Way too fun and the kids enjoyed it too. No pin injuries either.

christmas decorating

I finally rotated some of the out of season decor items to make room for a more Christmas holiday look. I've never done the christmas stuff this early...partly to blame may be the cinnamon scented pine cones from the craft store. Since I have been smelling them all week I decided it was time to give them a proper home. Various sized glass jars are on top of our TV cabinet....each has its own color. Very neutral this season -- lots of browns and beige and whites.











These Styrofoam cone tree ideas are from 2peasinabucket

I first saw the cones on Ali's site, then after I realized I really needed a little more visual guidance I found the original post on the 2 peas website. The designer {tia bennett} has several ideas to work with. At the store I decided to get one tall cone and several small mini sized cones.




















I stacked 3 of the small to get a "quirky" tree look. Haven't put any thing on that one yet. But I have a sizzix die that cuts tiny button shapes. That's one I bought last spring and haven't even used yet so I am going to try it.

2007

This will be the first post of the new year! Happy New Year!

And to begin...why these two pictures are so precious to me in this moment.

I normally don't make resolutions like "lose weight" and "eat healthier", though I should,but this year there are few things that I would like to stick to. One of them is the defeat of the clutter monster that has taken up residency in our house. I actually started this process at the end of last summer and little by little boxes get carted out, clothese get packed up and donated, so I know I can do it. But I still have such a hard time parting with some stuff. Even though I know if I haven't used it in like a gazillion years its time for it to go. Its still not in my nature to just chuck it. The challenge here, every year, is that I have to make room for all the "new" stuff from the holidays and after christmas is the time to purge. Right? oooh, so many other things I'd rather be doing. But it will get done.

The night of new year's eve I really had a wonderful thought to post -- but family life and the seemingly round the clock calls for "mommy" interferred. We have been used to staying at home with the kids and watching movies and just having fun until they crash around 10:30 or so. Naturally the "baby" who is now 3, so maybe not so much a baby anymore, sees big sibs wrestling on the couch at 11pm and he has no desire to go to sleep. Okay so the excitment of staying up waay past bedtime was there and then -- fireworks --- "but mom, its not July 4th?"

Since they have always crashed before midnight this was the first year they were up to watch -- we can see the local fireworks from our living room window {or out in the yard, but it was wet}-- it was darling to watch the three little bobbing heads looking up at the sky from the windows. Everyone was up past midnight, my husband and I realized that the years of settling down to a grown-up movie and a few hours of quiet time leading up to champagne & midnight snuggling might be over, for a while, until they hit the teen years and want to go out with their friends {sob. I'll deal with that when it gets here.}

I'll just enjoy 2007 for now. one year at a time. one day at a time. :)

the waiting....

waiting for snow...
waiting for santa...

Look at all that green in the background....hmm? white christmas anyone? Please.

Okay, fake glittery snowflakes will do. For now.

Finished last of the cards and still want to do some baking. Kids are off for one week. Both came home with sugary rushes from school parties.

...visions of sugarplums danced in their heads....

alot like christmas

Its been busy.

The last two weeks of November were filled with Thanksgiving preparations, school activities, tree trimming, early christmas shopping, finding more tree goodies to match the color theme of the tree, more shopping for our youngest's 3rd birthday celebration, and the final, big outside clean-up of the yard before winter really starts here in my part of upstate new york.

And yes, then taking time to reflect on the true spirit of the holidays upon us and taking care of others who need it more. Not in that order-- as I get older I feel that all this frenzy between Thanksgiving and Christmas is really nutty. I always feel a little rushed this time of the year. Its no wonder. Sometimes, without thinking, while I go about the normal buzzing that has made this last month of the year so crazy I stand back. I decide not to go early morning christmas shopping or go crazy looking for all the sales and coupons. Or, I don't bake the fancy stuff or put on an elaborate light show for the neighbors. My husband and I purchased new lights for the tree -- the box came with 3 sets of 150 lights -- so we have like 300 tiny lights on our tree, I say -- gee, that seems a little excessive? Then I ponder - what if all the excessiveness is really what we are all guilty of accepting. Opting out of the "fluff" that has become christmas makes me so much more relaxed. Who needs that?

This year our girl scout troop is adopting a family for the holidays, which means our families donate all the food and other necessities for a nice holiday meal for as family that really needs it. Last week boy scouts collected for toys for tots and in my son's religion classes the children of the 2nd grade have picked a local charity, Bethany House, to donate items too. There are opportunities everywhere -- I like that. It reminds us of not getting too excessive with the frivolous and paying more attention to the stuff that matters.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Up until a few days ago we in Rochester were treated to very nice 60 degree plus weather -- at the end of November. It was just too nice to stay in to do the normal "wintery" stuff. So we were out in the yard doing what most people probably did in October. Grabbed the camera hoping for some good pics to use for the upcoming Christmas cards -- but no one was in the mood to pose. But the roses were.............I don't think I have ever seen this one of my roses bloom this late in the season. December roses for sure.

It was good for the procrastinators like us because it gave us one last chance to winterize. Though it felt like an early spring day instead of late November.

Some photos of yard "work", planting the garlic {first year we are doing this} and getting ready for the winter months, last chance to swing carefree without a jacket on our swing, last chance to throw sticks and rocks into the creek in the backyard before it freezes, one last backyard fire in the fire pit.


....Hibernation....winterizing whatever you call it.

Okay, I'm ready for a Rochester winter now. Come on, Bring it on!

:)

about two weeks behind

went to my digital stash for a quick post-halloween layout. sometimes i play around with the pictures, digtal papers and fonts as a way to help with the paper version. on paper i might doodle the arrows in.

font:depressionist3 and journal, downloaded from the internet
paper:part of the robyn england "my roots" kit from scrapartist.com
pumpkin: oogeleyboogely kit, also from scrapartist.com
cool overlay: from a site named "tasty tattoos" that I just stumbled upon one night, {not sure if that's the full name. going to check it out again later.}

A Mother's day

Just had to post quickly...as is the case everyday for the past few weeks I can always count on someone booting me off the computer. This morning I knew that if I didn't just buckle down and go right into the blog, that it would never get done. See, I always think that I'll get to it later in the day, or when the kids are in bed however, something (or someone) always needs attention first. So my poor bloggi I've so neglected you....

Here is a cute picture that came about by accident (which are sometimes the best). I was trying to take a picture of the lilac bush out front -- the flowers smell so good and there are tons of blossoms throughout, I think its a great year for the lilacs -- anyhow, it was windy and so I had to wait in between shots to get it just perfect you know {?} While I was doing this my youngest son was running around in his jammies. Running around me saying "cetch you" , which is his way of saying "lets play catch-you" {where I chase him and say "I'm gonna to catch you."} Bumping my arm and getting his nose in the camera lense. I snapped the picture as he was going around me - with his little legs running as fast as he could -- he turned around with his little sweet handsome grin to see if I was running too. Its a blurry shot of him, some of the lilacs are blurry too but I think it reflects a certain charm. A feeling also of how a mom's day feels at times -- A Blur -- things moving too quickly, activities crammed into short spurts of time, mom being pulled in a million different directions, life happening without waiting for us to catch up.

Catch You - if only we could. If only we could "catch" that moment in time and savor it whenever we needed a little more time. A picture I can savor forever because this moment in time has been "caught" -- but you my sweet little darlings I have to let you guys keeping moving and growing and getting big -- even if I tend to want to keep moments like this frozen in time.



Happy Mother's Day.