Wreaths and Berries

Nothing says 'Welcome' like a beautiful display..or wreath on a door. Wreaths come in all shapes and sizes..can be elaborate or beautifully simple. Just a little inspiration on this Friday for you. This is a picture of the wreath on my front door.
Here is Beautifully simple...A crisp white door and a small wreath made with spruce,boxwood and cypress branches.
This wreath is beautifully snowy... you can make this yourself using a wreath wire form, attach the silk berry garland and spray with canned snow! Yes, that's right, canned snow...here in the WI., you can just go outside but if you want your snow to last..well it's the next best thing.
(These two wreath photos courtesy of Country Home)
Now..to the berries..The lovely Kari and Kijsa have a post about using cranberries as part of your Holiday decorations..http://kariandkijsa.blogspot.com/
I have seen these... Cranberry and pepperberry luminaries! Since I seem to have put everyone to sleep with my 'Bella Colle' challenge..well, here is something you can make yourselves! Easy and fun.
Fill a metal vase or plastic glass with water. Place cranberries on the bottom and pepperberries on the top. Place a small paper cup weighted down with marbles inside the vase or glass, making sure some of the berries end up along the sides. Freeze over night. Unmold the ice block, peel out the paper cup, and insert a tea light or votive candle! Voila!
Have a happy Friday!
hugs.

Country Christmas

Getting closer and closer..Christmas.. Thought I'd show you around some. This is the wreath on my back door... Made it from goodies I found at Hobby Lobby.
This is actually right across the road from me.. This family owns quite a bit of land and their house is set waay off the road. This is how they mark their driveway! If you look closely you can see the house number on the side.
This is the other house on the road that is like ours.. What is the style? Greek Revival? American Farm House? Anyway, the porch on Miss Linda's house is always dressed for the Season!
This is another... Caught it on the fly! I love the garland. I think next year we will put some garland on ours..maybe even with twinkly white lights!
So, here is my new... I know you guys are getting board with this..hang in there with me, almost over.. something new each week day till the 20th! This is an Etsy store banner..
Hope your week has been going well..maybe even festive!
hugs.

OOh..Look what I found out!

Okay..Yes, I am very busy today... but I just had to share what I've been learning about!! I'm soo excited! "Digital Scrapbooking!" Well, I took the picture I had for yesterday and added these elements I just found!! There are soo many sites to get your hands on free templates and alpha's and elements!! One place I found is http://www.scrapgirls.com/
Isn't it the coolest?!!! I think so anyway!! I'm sorry for all the exclamations!!!But I'm soo excited...I have to work on my shadow placements..working with colors too! Brown was the only color I could get this bow pieces to change to... but oh my goodness! There is a whole world of incredible things you can use to add interest and give a little pizazz to your photos!
I want to progress into web design and banners...button and the lovelies that go along with that and now, it is soo neat to find a step up to reach that goal!!
I pray all you guys living in those area hit with those ice storms are okay...and warm!! Oh, I do pray too that your power gets turned back on qucikly, it really must be soo frustrating and scary to be with out power for soo long! Let me know!!
hugs.

Two for Tuesday

Hi!
Hope everyone is staying warm! We've been blasted with some form of snow everyday now for about a week!
I'm going to be really busy tomorrow and I figured I better post two new pieces today to stay on top of my challenge! One new creation each weekday till the 20th of December.

This is actually only the 3rd round charm that I have ever made! There is a split at the top...and there is a wrinkle on the back due to the tape separating but other than that it turned out lovely.
It was fun..I'm going to have to pull my grinder out and see what other kind of shapes I can make!
Here is number 2.. The word peace really isn't smeared, the bevel of the glass makes look that way. This is the first charm that I have ever used fabric, some of the vintage fabric I brought home from my trip! Vintage feed sacks really do come in so many pretty patterns.
Here is the other side of the charm.
The sides are smooth... shiny shiny!!lol
This little guy is 1/2 inch by 1/2 inch.. Peace and Joy and Love..That's what I hope you guys find this Christmas.
Oh yeah..I just received a coupon from DSW.(They really do have great deals there! DSW stands for Designer Shoe Warehouse if anyone doesn't know)..It's my Birthday month..and well, mom was in need of some slippers! Elvis would be proud!! Blue Blue..Blue suede shoes..LOL!
hugs.

Christmas Bling.

Happy Monday Everyone! The washer is fixed...all is well with the world again...
Well, just thought I'd share our tree today..May look like a jumbled mess, but it actually turned out nice. I added white pointsettas and white ribbon, I'm thinkin' we need a new topper though, I love the hand made star but I want to see if I can find a more "Blinged" out star for the top.

Here is one of our collection of 'Shiny Brite' ornaments. We have some from when DH was young and some from his Great Grandmother. I found a set of 12 that are for sale in the store! I think those ornaments add a bit of nostalgia.
Each year, we add some ornaments that commemorate that year. Some are hand made like this foam one others are some bought on vacations...a bit of our family's life each year..I love it! As we put on each one, it brings back fond memories. I haven't figured out what to put on for the this year.

Here is a close up of the pointsettas..and #3's train. Each child has a special one for that year, so when they are grown men, they will have quite the collection.

Here is the shipping labels I had mentioned awhile back. We took labels and wrote on them some of the different names of Christ from the BiBle..Simple, lovely..tied up with red raffia. What are some of your special decorations?
Now to my Bella Colle challenge post.. A little Christmas Bling! I made this bracelet with Swarovski Crystals..silver..
Sorry for the blur, but you can see the color combinations..
Shiny..sparkly..This bracelet would be a special gift for someone! Maybe even for yourself!
If you love it, just email me..or leave a comment. My email is over there to the right. It is a bit pricey but that is because of the elements used, a truly unique bracelet.
Have a Happy Monday!
Hugs!

Hmmm...

Hi everybody! What a day!... I was able to make this lovely to keep up on my Bella Challenge...since I had technical difficulties this past week, this is my Friday "New" for the Challenge.

If you are just tuning in, I have challenged my self to create something new every weekday till Dec. 20th. I kinda like this..everyday my creative juices have been flowing..This charm is the tiniest! only 1/2 inch in width and length. 'Sparkly Frosty' behind a wee piece of beveled glass.
Smooth smooth sides! I just love how the colors of 'Frosty' accent his background. On the front of the charm I used a 'Christmas Toile' and added the words 'Merry Christmas'
A very festive little charm! The price is $13.00, since I'm still having trouble uploading to my store..(See below picture) If you like this little guy and would like to buy him, leave me a comment or email me at my address listed to the right in the picture frame.
Yes... I'm mad... I am amazed at how 'technical' our society has become. Is it a good thing? Hmmm... I guess I'm old school..computers are great but my goodness one thing can cause a huge SSLLLOOWWW down..The less 'fru fru' items I have on my car..one less thing to worry about! I love upgrading don't get me wrong..I would love to have one of those 'Black berry' phones..a dishwasher...a computer with a faster processor...a dishwasher. Oh yeah,..did I mention I want a dishwasher?!LOL!

But the more up grades I get, I become dependant upon them and when they break..my whole world turns upside down! Is that really an upgrade? Or more stress?...Hmmm....
So, my point.. My clothes washer! We have only owned this thing for 1 year and 4 months and it has died AGAIN!!! We bought this cow brand new from HomeDepot and this is the second time it is going to have to say 'hello' to the Sears repair guy! I want to pull my 9 year oldy but goody out of the barn right now...

We live out in the country and have our own well and septic..no problem on the water supply end, just on the drainage end. See, we have a holding tank and have to monitor our output. The oldy but goody was using waaay too much water so... "upgrade"

This General Electric washer uses half the water... spins at 1500rpm...the clothes come out almost dry! I can stick a queen size comforter in it and I know it's gonna come out clean...IF THE THING IS WORKING!

This is the second time now that it wont spin...and leaves way too much water! ACKKKK!!!

I hope Mr. Sear's Repair man can fix it with out going over his service fee...

Guys..my point to this is, This family is soooo buying from Sears to begin with! "Oh yes please! Can I have your extended warranty!!"

Sorry to complain...I'm just starring at this huge mountain of clothes now!! If you don't hear from me Monday..send reinforcements! LOl!

hugs

Cookie Exchange

Happy Friday! Yay..It's Friday...goin' out to eat night..movie night with the family.. Thought I'd visit Blogland early today.. Last night, the ladies of our church had the annual cookie exchange. You make 6 dozen, bring it to the exchange and it is split between the ladies there..you get a variety of cookies without the hassle! Fun. Well, we also make the craft that is handed out at the nursing home we always go to closer to Christmas.
We sing Christmas carols and visit with the residents who live there. It really is fun, my boys enjoy it. Well, these three pictures are what we made last night. They are little foam snow men puppets that you can decorate. I made some into Angels...(paints not dry on this one..) You can doll them up with mittens, buttons..etc!
See, here is one dressed like a snow man. #1 actually got into the act!

So, what is this you are probably wondering..Well, it is a Etsy store banner I designed Monday and sold yesterday...YAY! This is a scrumptious store! http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=16240 she makes awesome body care products!

Here is my new for the BellaColle challenge...A banner for an Etsy store. It's a bit elementary..I hope to get better! I want to learn how to cut and place ephemera better.

Anyway... busy day today.. Hope your week was fabulous! Thank you for stopping by for a visit.

Hugs.