12 Traditions of Christmas

Christmas is always a busy time of the year.  Holiday gatherings, school plays, gifts to buy and wrap, cookies to bake, trees to decorate and lots of self-inflicted expectations of "the way things should be."  I try my best not to get literally "wrapped" up in those expectations and try to put things in perspective and remember why we celebrate Christmas. 

Not only is it a time to be with and enjoy time with family, it is also a chance to celebrate and refect on the greatest gift God has ever given us....Jesus.  With two young children is easy to get caught up in the commercialism of Christmas and the ever so exciting anticipation of the arrival of Santa.  While that can be fun and shouldn't be overlooked, it is always important to try to bring Christ and the spirit of service and giving into many traditions throughout this special season. 

I have decided to try to post 12 fun traditions our family participates in throughout the month of December.  Some may just be for the sake of fun and celebrating, while others will incorporate a special lesson and bring meaning to this holiday season.  I hope you enjoy the traditions and can try some yourself.  I would love to hear about your traditions, please share.  Tradition #1 coming soon. 

Happiest of Seasons to You and Yours!
~Amy 

"Hand Made" Fun

With our first real snow this morning, it IS beginning to feel like Christmas.  As Thanksgiving approaches, the hustle and bustle of the holiday season always sneaks up on me and goes by way too fast.  I try my best every year to get as much done as I can before Thanksgiving, but even so, it still seems like there is not enough time in the day to do all I want to. 

During the month of November, I always make a point to make and finish our "Hand Made" Ornaments for our homemade Christmas tree.  Ever since our daughter was a baby I have created hand/foot print ornaments.  It is fun to see how big both kids hands and feet have gotten.  This is the first year their hands have been too big to combine in a joint ornament.  I think next year I may have to use thumb prints to keep the ornaments at a manageable size.  Here is a Studio J layout I created talking about our tradition. 

Drum roll.....here is this year's ornament.....SANTA!  I saw an adorable porcelain hand print ornament similar to this and just adapted it to paper and to my kids' hands.  Aren't they adorable?  I am tickled with how they turned out.

 The hats noses and mustaches are just paper pieced on. The kids helped me put on the eyes and added the fluffy paint to Santa's Hat.  To make fluffy paint, simply combine equal parts shaving cream and Elmer's glue.  I let the kids use their fingers to decorate.  When the paint dries it has a spongy consistency and looks and feels pretty cool.  Would be great for a snow scene painting too. 

Here's to the first of many holiday posts!  Happy Crafting!

~Amy

Grateful for YOU!

As many of you may know, I am holding my 1st Annual Christmas Card Extravaganza Christmas Card Workshop this Saturday.  I became a Independent Consult with Close to My Heart in May.  I signed up really just for the good discount, but after holding a gathering at my home I found a few faithful scrapbookers who wanted to join a monthly club.  Now I hold a class once a month with a handful of friends who enjoy getting together to scrap, chat and enjoy some time away from their "Mom" roles. 

I am by no means a "big time" consultant and am happy with my few fellow scrappers that encourage me to be creative and enjoy the same hobby as me.  I am thankful to be able to share this fun hobby and hope to continue to for some time. 

As a momento of thanks and appreciation, I created these cute gift/candy bags using CTMH Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge to give to those attending my workshop.  Don't you love the the AP Cartrige oval snowflake tags?  Plus the Silver Glitz Gel gives them just the right amount of sparkle. 

Can't wait to share these little treasures! 

~Amy

P.S.  Please check out other gifts/cards of appreciation at this weeks Heart 2 Heart Challenge.

A Quick Tip

Tip of the Day:  Aluminum disposable pans with lids make the best package to deliver treats in. 

 Right before Halloween, while searching for cute bags/containers to deliver cookies in, I found these great pumpkin cake pans.  Because they had a lid, I knew they would work great to carry cookies.  Tie a bow around it and it makes a super cute gift.  I am keeping my eyes open for holiday style pans....regular square and rectangle pans would work too.

~Amy   

Juniper....more than a tree.

Juniper is more than a tree if you scrapbook using CTMH products.  It is also a beautiful blue-green color used in a variety of cardstocks, B&T papers and in exclusive inks.  In this weeks Heart 2 Heart Challenge, we were asked to create something using the Autumn color combinations of Autumn Terricota, Juniper and Bamboo. I really like the pop of Juniper with the Autumn Terricota, they look beautiful together.

 In addition to the beautiful color combination, I also uses this month's Stamp of the Month, Cherish the Day.  It is a very versitile stamp set that I know I will be using a lot to personalize birthday and annversary cards as well as add to layouts to document specfic dates.  Plus by using The Cricut Art Philosophy, I was able to cut out some nice fall shapes and the ticket shape to make this simple Thanksgiving Day card. 

Purchase the Stamp of the Month for $5.00 when you purchase $50.00 dollars or more in Close to My Heart products.  Just visit my website to get shopping. 

~Amy

A few spots left!

Don't miss out on my 1st Annual Christmas Extravaganza Card Workshop, Saturday, November 19th at 10AM.  Make 10 cards for $10.00 and enjoy an early holdiay celebration.  Fun door prizes, holiday treats and a morning of relaxing and crafting.  I have about 4 spots left, so let me know if you would like to come. 
~Amy

Dirt and Feathers!

 For some reason, this year for Halloween, the kids decided on costumes that were a little unconventional and different.  I don't know how they came up with them, but once they decided, they were pretty much set in their ways an could not be swayed.  So for much of the week before Halloween, I was surrounded by all things boy and lots and lots of pink feathers.   Simple supplies around the house went from this......

......to this!  I love my continuous shoot camera, as it allows me to get an array of emotions and faces from my kids.  I think my little flamingo and bulldozer loved their costumes.  Best thing about them is that they were no sew and fairly easy to put together.  Enjoy! 

~Amy

Dem Bones

Just one last Halloween post to get your creativity flowing for the big day tomorrow.  Costumes to come in a few days. 

Want to spruce up plain old chocolate cupcakes.  Add a marshmellow and pipe on some white frosting to make these cute little skeletons.  I am not a cake decorator...as is obvious, but these turned out pretty cute and were really easy to make.  Yet again another fun idea from Family Fun. 

 Your little goblins will love them too!

Happy Hauntings!

~Amy

Christmas Card Workshop

Christmas Extravaganza Card Workshop

Saturday, November 19th at 10AM

Please join me for a fun morning creating these beautiful cards using exclusive Close to My Heart Products. 

Get a start on the Christmas Holidays.

Create 10 cards for $10.00

Enjoy of a morning of crafting, listening to carols and tasting a few holiday treats.

Holiday give aways each hour. 

RSVP by November 3rd to make payment arrangements and ensure your materials will be ready for the workshop.

Whooo's Ready for Halloween?

Who wouldn't want to receive a nice little treat like this for Halloween?  This year my daughter and I made a handful of these special treats to give to neighbor children and friends that come trick or treating to our house.  I think they are a "HOOT" and can't wait to give them away.   

When I first saw these adorable little critters in BHG Scrapbooks Etc. Magazine, I knew I needed to make them.  And what better tool to use to make these little guys, than CTMH Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge.  

Here is a quick picture tutorial on what you need to create this owl.

  

1.  Cut the following shapes using your CTMH Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge.

* 1 pillow box size 5 1/2 inches (Color Cardstock or B&T)

* 2 circles size 1 1/2 inches (Color Cardstock or B&T)

* 2 circles size 1 inch (Colonial White or White Daisy Cardstock

* 2 1/2 inches by 3 inches rectangle (B&T of your choice) with paper cutter

* Cut a small diamond shape for the beak. (this is done free hand) 

 

 2. Fold and crease the perforated lines of your pillow box as shown below.

3.  Cut off about an 1/2 of inch of the bottom right hand side.  Cut slightly above the perforated arch.  This helps to make the bottom flat part of the owl less bulky. You don't need to do this step, but it makes a nicely finished box if you do.   

 4.  Glue together the side of the box, as well as the bottom.  Fold the curved side up so you have a nice flat closed bottom.

 5.  Take your 2 1/2 x 3 inch square and cut out a curved wing. 

6.  To make your wings symmetrical, flip your first wing over and cut around it. 

7.  Take your 1 1/2 inch circles.  Snip some fringes around the outside to give your owl character and dimension. 

 8.  Glue together all the parts of the owl.  It works great to use brads or opaque pearl gems (both licorice gems or mocha gems ) for the owls eyes.  Of course you could also use a tiny piece of paper. 

 Any paper combination using CTMH's Mischief paper pack makes for a very cute owl.  Don't you think?

 9.  Fill with treats.........

 .....and maybe even a trick. 

 These little owls are stuffed and all ready for the big night. 

WHHOOOOOO wants to stop by?

Happy Halloween!  Make sure to stop by the Heart 2 Heart Challenge Blog to see more Halloween/Autumn creations.

~Amy

P.S.  These would also make great favors for a woodland themed party.