Noel

Katie and Mandy saw this Tin 'NOEL' sign, from Target, on Pinterest and Instagram, and told me about it....so you know I had to stop at Target on my way home from work and get one!!  Mandy also got a 'NOEL', and she and Katie each got one that spells 'JOY' too.  I love how Target's packaging displayed the word in a window box, but I wanted to use mine inside.

 

I'm delighted with how it turned out!  I also love the 'chalkboard' looking wrapping paper that I used to cover the (not very festive)picture in the large frame.

 

Slowly but surely the decorating has been getting done.  In fact, everything that I'm going to do is completed...except for one thing. I STILL haven't put any ornaments on the Christmas tree!!  Maybe tonight!  At least it looks pretty with the twinkly lights. : )

 

"Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel. Born is the King of Israel."


 

 



Bringing Home The Tree

 

Red cars & trucks with Christmas trees....they are so festive and fun!  I have several of them driving around my house right now.  Here's a peek at three.

 

This one is cruising along on the kitchen window sill.
Kind of looks like Santa (giant) is going to step right on it!!

This is my favorite one.  Those ornaments might be a tad too large for this tree!

I sure hope this car moves along slowly...that tree looks a little precarious!

Trucks and cars with trees are everywhere this year. 

Take a peek at Joyce's Pinterest board called "Trucks" ....she's pinned

some cute ones!

 



1500 Posts - Giveaway!!

Yesterday I shared my 1500th post on this blog!!  I've enjoyed writing my blog for almost 5 1/2 years...it's an awesome way to keep track of some of what's going on in my life.  Goodness knows I wouldn't remember most of it on my own!!

It's also been a wonderful way to meet women I wouldn't have met otherwise. Women like Joyce, Shelley, Ann, Becky, Lorraine, Linda, Sue & Dawn.  I've emailed, snail mailed, or swapped with them, we've commented on each other's blogs.  I've even talked with one of them on the phone! 

(Hi Joyce!! We will meet someday soon!)

Plus I have a whole long list posted on my blog, of all the other blogs I like to visit. 

So many neat women, so may fun ideas.

I really love having this blog and I really appreciate those of you who visit it.  Thank you, thank you, thank you, for making time in your busy day to stop by and see what's going on in my life! 

 

As a small gesture of gratefulness, I'd love to have a GIVEAWAY.  Everything in the above photo will go to the winner. The goodies include several things I made and a couple cute items from Target's dollar section. 

I love the little pick-up truck that's 'bringing home the tree'! 

The little tree on the spool is fun...I love making these!

A candy cane in a mitten ornament, and paper candy cane striped straws!  A matchbox with a little surprise inside, and a wooly sheep to hang on your tree. Plus a little snowman bottle!

 

How about a gingerbread man wound up in baker's twine...I had to buy one of these for me too!

Actually, I think there'll be two winners....because I put together two groups of goodies.  Nine items in each group!!  Two winners!!

All you have to do is comment on this blog post...maybe you could share what you put on top of your Christmas tree!!!

 

I'll be announcing the winners on Monday, December 9th!!

 

PS. I have a little star on top of my tree.

Update ~ Giveaway has ended.

 



A Few of my Favorite Things

These are as few of my favorite little creations for this year's craft shows.

I'm very partial to red & green, Christmas trees, and snowmen!

These photos make me happy!!

 



 

Sure hope you have a wonderful day today!

My plan is to decorate, shop online a bit, and (maybe) venture out into the
madness that is called "Black Friday"!

 

How about you?  Will you be joining in the "madness"?

 



Christmas in July

Welcome to a Christmas in July Party.

My contribution to the party is "the Christmas Tree"....actually many Christmas trees!

 

I've gathered together some tree creations I made last year, and
a few new pieces as well.

Of course, you need snowmen to help with the Christmas trees!

A shiny red pick-up truck is great for bringing home the tree!. 
But a vintage vehicle is even better!! 
 

Spools & Trees & Sheet Music & Baker's Twine...some of
my favorite crafting supplies. 

Of course, I like to throw a couple non tree creations too. 

Jingle bells & glass glitter are a nice touch with the tree in the shadow box.

These little shadow boxes are leftovers from last year's shows.
I think I might distress them a bit for this year's.

Last year I found a big bag of trees at the thrift store.....quite a deal at $1.91!!

Time to get busy trimming the tree(s)!!

 Now, it's time to get busy visiting all the other blogs

participating in the Christmas in July Party.

The party is being hosted by:

 

Betsy at My Salvaged Treasure

Bliss at Bliss Ranch

and

Angie at Knick of Time

 

Head over to their blogs and you'll find

links to fun Christmas creations.

A big thank you to each of them for hosting this fun Link Party!!

 

 

P.S. There's only about 162 Days

until Christmas!!!

Snapshots - Bringing Home The Tree

I've seen several red trucks hauling Christmas trees, as I've browsed through blogs and Pinterest. So I went on a search for some little red vehicles to haul some of my tiny trees.  Lucky me...I found three!! 

The trees still need to be "tied down"....I'm thinkin' that Baker's twine will be perfect for that.

Aren't they so cute!!!  The pick-up truck is my favorite. 

Maybe I'll print up some notecards using that one.

 

 

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree,

how lovely are your branches.......



It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

 

Christmas crates have invaded my living room...it's looked like this since Sunday night.  Hopefully by Wednesday evening all the decorating will be done and the crates will be packed away. It was hard to get much done at home because I worked until 5:00 PM last night, and then did grocery shopping and some Christmas shopping until 8:00 PM!  The plan is to get back to decorating tonight.  It's a good plan.......but you know what they say about plans!! 

 

The tree got decorated Sunday night.  I broke three ornaments this year. That's more than I've broken in the past three years!  I also managed to break the clip off of my tree top star.  We've had this star for over twenty years and I love it and I wanted to use it! 

So I tied it to the top of the tree!!

Don't you love the string?! 



 

This little angel hides the tangled mess perfectly. 

Plus there's something sweet about a crooked star.  : )

 

I'll leave you with  a peek at my tree.  No themes on this tree...actually there is a theme...it's called "all the ornaments that I love".   I like a lot of different ornaments and a really full tree...you can probably tell!

 

 

Stay tuned for more decorating adventures...

 

By the way...do you see that Santa with arms and legs made from gold beads? Bill bought that ornament for his mom when he was 8 years old.  That Santa is 56 years old! 

 

 

 

Turn On The Twinkle

The past three days have been busy...I got our Christmas tree up and decorated and I went on a shopping trip with my daughters and a dear friend.  Here's a peek at the tree and a peek at where we went shopping.  Sure hope you're enjoying your Christmas preparations!   



The Skinny Tree

I must admit ~ the skinny  slender tree fits into the corner nicely and all the plastic and other non-breakable ornaments fill it right up.

  

 

This is Mandy's new ornament this year.  We found it at Pier 1. 
Isn't it the best purple bird you've ever seen!?

This is Bill's ~ he likes bird ornaments.  I think this fluffy little owl qualifies.  He came from Pier 1 as well.

I buy an ornament for Ronny every year ~ Mandy and I decided this sparkly train ornament was the perfect choice for 2010.  It's another Pier 1 find.  
Below is the ornament I bought for Ronny in 1975. That would have been his first Christmas.  Hard to believe that this little airplane is 35 years old!

It looks like there's plenty of room beneath the skinny slender tree for ALL our Christmas packages...

...and look!  It has room for the sweet little 2 1/2 year old who woke up Christmas morning at Gramma's house.  What a special blessing that was!

I guess the slender tree was definitely the right choice this year!