One more off the list...

This was the result of my work yesterday at the crop

and this afternoon as well...

I also finished the Reindeer Noses candy bags

but forgot to photograph those and they are boxed for tomorrow's delivery...

The Santa bags are cut using the

Close to My Heart Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge

aren't they adorable?!

I filled them with a small ornament I made

(cut using the AP cartridge) and a Mo Manning digi stamped image

I colored with copics and then copied

(coloring 30 ornaments by hand for preschoolers

was not going to happen in this Santa's workshop!)

Then added a bag of Magic Reindeer Food

Again, I stamped, colored and copied---

added red Stickles to the nose

Instead of glitter I used colored sugar

as the edible glitter was a small fortune for an even minuscule amount

and after one of the kiddos decided to sample the birdseed treat for the birds

well, I decided to play it safe! Lol!

 I was busy finishing these up

when hubby came home and said he had a project he was working on

and came to finish up with me.

Seems he thinks cat whiskers are good luck

(although the documentation to support this theory seems

non-existent...)

so he had purchased small cello bags

and pulled out his collection (saved with the shark's teeth...!)

and will be including cat whiskers in our Christmas cards this year...

and he calls ME the crazy cat lady?!

Off to get a HOT BATH and hopefully warm up!

It's cold outside, baby!

Until next time,

Happy stamping and scrapping!

Blessings,

Signs of Christmas...

 are slowly showing up around our house!  I put the Nativity up last week-end and didn't like it's location-it was visible-but it just didn't pop out-and for us, THAT's the real meaning of Christmas-Christ came, lived and died for our salvation-so that we might have life in its fullest. It comforts me, when I am struggling, to know-that not only did HE struggle as well, but He's walking with me and, as the footprints poem goes, often carrying me when I can't.

Anyway-inspiration struck! We have three shelves of photos on one of our living room walls-so I rearranged pictures and placed the creche along the bottom shelf.  It looked a little bare and the figures looked a little lost (even tho they were all headed for the manger!)--so I went to Kristin's blog and plugged in a search for her FREE Christmas printable art-and wha-la: I had the perfect pieces in a matter of minutes to add to the scene--two beautifully done scripture verses telling the Christmas story. I already had the red frames so I just popped out the pics that were in there and put in the printables.

This nativity--is at least 51 years old. It was my grandmothers

(Brook's mother had one just like it!)

Some pieces are showing their age

and a camel took a nose-dive last year thanks to

one little black cat who was in turbo-kitty mode...

but I really hesitate to try and touch up or restore any of it.

There's a story in the bumps and bruises as well

so I am going to leave well enough alone!

I added some moss  and then decided that a string of little white lights

would be the perfect final touch

I won't tell you how many times I took this whole thing up and down

or how much moss I swept up

before I got it just right!

The tree...will be our next battle

as this cute little guy

who thinks a

CHRISTMAS CAT CENTERPIECE

is ideal...

likes to eat the tree...really.

So not good.

It does not digest well. Nope. Nada. Zippo.

The outcome

isn't pretty.

Hubby is working on how to make it tall enough

so said cat cannot reach it...

should be interesting!

Momma saw the next idea at the craft show she was in

with Theresa last Saturday.

For the record

I bought two--they were done much differently-

lined with Christmas fabric

(out of the question since my sewing machine died)

and had no bows or bells...

I spruced them up a tiny bit

and the lining in the hat itself worked just fine!

I have TONS to do today-more of these-

a room to clean so my goddaughter can sleep over tonight

so I can help her with her Christmas swap cards

and she can help me prep for the preschool kids goodies

I want to work on at the crop on Sunday.

We may put up the tree tonight

or go to the awesome Christmas musical at our church tonight-

and have her take a picture for our yet to be ordered Christmas card...!

Whew.

I need more coffee just thinking about it!

Better get cracking!

Until next time,

happy stamping and scrapping

and please-don't forget

THE REAL MEANING

of the season-

keep Christ in CHRISTmas...!

Blessings,

Makin' a list and checkin' it twice...

got my Santa Hat On

and don't it look NICE?!

I saw this Santa Hat

complete with a TIARA

at our local pretend Wal-Mart!

I couldn't resist!

It is PERFECT

for the OKIStampQueen!

I wore it at Saturday's craft show

and will wear it this Sunday to a crop--

just need a t-shirt that says

OKI StampQueen

I can make that simple enough-

did I remember what I needed

in my mad dash to that pretend WM this morning?

Of course not!

Too busy to make a longer post--

will show you some Christmas decorations

in a day or two.

I was just thinking...

our nativity set---

is at least 50+ years old!

It was my grandmothers...

a camel ended up with a chipped nose last year

and there are a few other pieces showing their age as well

but I really, really hesitate to try and repair them

in any way.

Interestingly enough, darling hubby's mom

had the exact same set!
Fond memories...

Until next time-

happy stamping and scrapping!

Blessings,

Last Christmas Craft Show!

It's all over for one more year!!!

Unless

Theresa and I figure out how to do a little

home shopping showcase...

Yesterday

we returned to a church-sponsored craft show

2 hours away!

Here's what I went through

trying to pack up to go...

of course

this is the CATNIP container!

Bad Cat is the bestest catnip co-creator/seller!

This guy could really care less about it-he just likes containers!

I picked up Theresa at "o-dark thirty" as we call it

and we traveled for a little under 2 hours.

The sun was up by the time we got there!

Hubby loaned us his truck

(I don't like to drive big vehicles)

but I did ok!

We didn't even get lost!

Last year

this church had the youth

along with these nice huge carts

to help us unload...

so I didn't take the handcart my husband asked me if I wanted/needed...

mistake # 1.

No youth in sight-

very few carts and all in use!

So we loaded and lugged most of it hand.

Theresa discovered that the key to her bank box

was at home...

and

her money was securely locked in her box!

mistake #2...

We have the same one-and MY key was no where to be found

(I usually leave it in the box itself)

but my money was in my purse and so we were good to go.

This is why we do these things in tandem!

I then discovered for whatever reason

my calculator wouldn't print.

mistake #3....sigh.

I needed coffee-desperately!

At least I had a backup calculator..

We got set up and here's what my table ended up

looking like...

Only after posting these picks did I realize

what the pretty satin green ribbon was that I found on the floor-

it went around this little item-

so it was displayed "naked" all day---

 While I had lots of little "girlfriend gifts" as I called them-

cute and adorable (from all the comments I heard all day--)

for well, girlfriends and coworkers, say under $ 2.25--

not much sold...?

I usually can't keep enough

catnip

on my table! It flies out of there-

not this year-not this show.

I sold very little.

Made sure I had neckwraps this year

(last year I didn't-so naturally, that's what everyone asked about...)

didn't sell one--here or at Holly Days...

Other vendors were saying sales were down also.

The economy?  Not the right stuff?

(What sells one year sits the next-it's a tough call to make!)

Your guess is as good as mine!

 We did ok-it wasn't a bust

and we really, really enjoy it!

That's the bottom line!

You meet some really nice people

and it's heartwarming when someone chooses something

you put your blood, sweat, tears and creativity into...

Here's Theresa helping a customer at her table...



After a looooong day yesterday

I came home to discover that hubby

had done all the laundry AND folded it-

and made my favorite crab soup

So-

today it's off to church

then unpack, repack and recount it all.

Then a nap.

A much needed nap.

Until next time,

happy stamping and scrapping!

Need a little Christmas...take two

Oh boy-today is going from bad

to worse...

I started this post-was 3/4 the way through

and lost it.

The post, that is

(my sanity may be next, tho--another coffee, please!)

Sigh.

Here's what I think I had...

Still didn't sleep well

(anyone have any homeopathic sleep remedies they want to share?)

can't kick this cold/sinus thing

and stomach upset

(ulcer? gall bladder surgery gone wrong? both/and?)

Work this week

was flat-out frantic

(church secretary)

as it was the regular stuff

plus newsletter

plus Christmas is upon us...

(translate: TONS more to do--

early in and non-stop).

Need to do that flylady thing to the house

and haven't even thought of decorations

(other than how to keep the kitty from eating the artificial tree

which leads to vet visits

for unmentionable procedures to "unstop" said kitty--

two for two-not going for three-literally!
(pun intended!)

So gotta get creative here...

(any ideas?!)

Did  I mention  I need to be getting ready for a craft show tomorrow?

And I am about to be burned at the stake for my opinion

on a bulletin board...

(it's hard when someone disagrees...

sometimes we have to learn

it's ok to agree to disagree---breathing...)

Sigh.

Feeling a wee bit overwhelmed to say the least

and need some Christmas spirit.

I did some blog-hopping

and stopped by

KRISTIN's blog-A Simply Classic Home

and saw this:

I absolutely love

the simplicity

of this!

In my high school days

(eons ago, it seems!)
I had a daycare class-

where we taught 4 year olds for 2 hours

and another class took over for 2 more.

At Christmas,

(back in the day when you could actually mention God in a classroom!)

we performed

A Charlie Brown Christmas

and moi got to be

Linus.

It was a special memory

and this always touches me when I see it.

The REAL meaning of CHRISTmas.

Kristin also has a free printable about that very thing

and after tomorrow is over

I look forward to making it a part of my

holiday decorations.

For now, I better get in gear

and get something done!

Until next time,

happy stamping and scrapping!

Blessings,

PS.

I just went back and looked at my post

and took the time

to watch the video clip one. more. time.

And I've decided to do this--

take time, before you add anything to your "to do" list

this season...

to pray about it--is it something you really

WANT/NEED to do--

and why?

If not-----let it go.

Do only

what's pleasing to HIM

and you...

Give the gift of simplicity, peace and tranquility

not

the frantic, cram in one more thing

and one more great aunt twice removed to buy for---

does it really, REALLY matter?

Think about it...

PEACE. ON. EARTH.

PEACE. IN. ME.

May HE dwell---in my "inn"...

as well as yours...

A layer of protection!

"Stamps are tools-not jewels-and are meant to be used..."

-Carolyn Hurst,

THE Stamp Queen

                      
   I have to confess

I am not, by far, the best about taking care of

my toys!

When I was little, I always wanted friends to come over and play

and when it was time for them to leave

I never made them help clean up...

And, some never-mind-how-many years later...

I love to play---

and not clean up...

For example

my great friend Theresa was HORRIFIED

to learn that I never really clean my stamps!

Once in awhile
I would run the ones I used under the faucet

(yep, even the wood mounts!)

and I really wasn't careful when inking them in the first place

if ink made its way from the rubber to the wood-

well, so what?

As a result

THERESA'S STAMPS LOOK LIKE THIS...

(and yes, she has used it!

Check out her adorable

REINDEER FOOD in her post here...)

while mine, on the other hand, look like this...

Hmmm.

Not a big deal to me--I really don't mind...

but then came the day...

that  I found I needed to borrow a stamp from Theresa.

I needed a reindeer to make these

that I found HERE...

UH-OH!
I know, no matter how very hard I try

I just KNOW I  will end up with ink on that pristine wood

not good.

What to do, what to do!

I was inspired by a small piece of stuff my husband

left on the counter...

LIGHTBULB MOMENT!

I *KNEW* INSTANTLY

what to do!

Here's the tools:

Now for the trick!

I cut a piece of foil larger than the stamp

and started molding it around the rubber side of the stamp...

then I very carefully REMOVED the foil form from the stamp

and cut a few small slits in the center of the raised image

DO REMOVE THE FOIL BEFORE CUTTING THE SLITS...

 (don't worry, Theresa-I did this!  It was not a "oh poop, I should've moment!)

Once the slits are cut, place the foil back over the stamp.

Very carefully start peeling the foil back until you expose the rubber image

and then push the foil back in to mold it around the base of the image

see how its smooshed in there and nicely covering the wood--

except for that little gap...

not a problem!

Just cut a small piece of foil and layer it over the other

and smoosh it in there.

When I was all done, a few of those smaller pieces

wanted to fall off.

No "regular" tape on hand--but yet another lightbulb moment!

I just made a strip of foil and wrapped it around the edge of the entire stamp!

It held those pieces in snug as a bug in a rug!

This is the nice, neat little PROTECTIVE COVERING I have

hopefully to keep Theresa's stamp pristine!

The (stamp) image itself is raised enough

that the foil should not interfere with my stamping!

And hopefully

I can return her stamp after using it

with it looking like new!

That's it for today.

I still don't feel great

(gotta call some new docs and putting it off!)

and a craft show coming up on Sat. 

Praying my motivation and energy

will kick into high gear tomorrow.

In the mean time,

 if you are looking for some more great Christmas ideas

like the Reindeer Noses...

Check out this post at CHEF IN TRAINING

then this post at I Naptime

or, last but not least

this post at Fireflies and Jellybeans

I may not feel like much else

but I sure can sit and blog hop!

Until next time,

happy stamping and scrapping!

Blessings,