Mug Rug Swap

I was in Aunt Pitty Pat's Mug Rug Swap

and I received the most beautiful package from my partner Donnely.

I am so late in posting this and I apologize to Donnely

a thousand times over.

I don't know where the time has gone.

Donnely sent me 2 beautiful Mug Rugs. The detail is amazing and I love all of the quilting she did. She also sent some yummy Pumpkin Spice Hot Cocoa in a cute cup, candy canes and then a really nice sign that says "Peace" and an ornament too.

Thank you so much Donnely for all of the time you put into making my swap package beautiful!

You did an amazing job!

This is the mat I made

I also made a coaster and a napkin
and sent some hot cocoa and candy canes and some hard candies.

Thanks Aunt Pitty Pat for a fun swap and

Thank you Donnely for a wonderful and most thoughtful package!

Day 18 and a Trip to Visit Santa

Day 18 and Christmas is coming way to fast for me.

Francie from The Scented Cottage

sent me this precious little box.

There is a kitty on the outside and

a kitty sitting on a windowsill charm on the inside.

Thanks Francie!

You made a precious little box!

The Day 18 box I made has a little Christmas tree with lights in the background

and then little light bulb ornies on the inside.

Here are a few more of the ones I sent to my mom.

and here are my last two Believers sitting with Santa today

Jace wasn't scared this year and went skipping right up to Santa and jumped on his lap. He was so excited and new just what to do this year. Mallory has been a really good girl this year so I hope she gets what she asked for!

14, 15, 16 & 17 Plus Some Extra Ones

Sorry I'm running behind again! I've been in La-La Land lately....busy making gifts and then both of my parents have had some major health problems this week so I have been mentally distracted. Please keep my mom and especially my dad in your prayers. Mom had a stint put in the other day and my Daddy found out his cancer is getting worse and he has to have surgery on Monday. My parents being sick is really hard on me and quite frankly, I am not the least bit prepared for the inevitable....so please keep us in your thoughts. Thanks!

Day 14 box is such a heart warming little box.

It's from Heidi of Queen for a Day

I Love the box, but the photo warms my heart.

Thanks Heidi for this charming little box!

My Day 14 Box is of a poinsettia

and there's a little ornament of a poinsettia that I made for the inside.

Day 15 is from Linda of Lambs World.

The box is so pretty!

Linda made the tiniest little ornament and it says

"See the Artist Within"

and has an eye on it.

Thank you Linda!

Your box and ornament are so sweet!




The day 15 box I made has some Christmas Candies

on the inside and outside of the box.

Mary from JMP Pastimes

received this little box.

Day 16's box is from Peace of The Art of Peace.

Peace made this "Angelic" little box. It is so pretty!

Inside Peace made a little button ornament.

Thanks Peace!

I LOVE the box and little button treasure!

The day 16 box that I made has a picture of the

Eiffel Tower on it and a little postage stamp.

On the inside I made some little tiny Christmas cards

and put them on a string for garland.

I thought these turned out pretty darn cute!

Tracy from Daily Bubbles received my box.

Day 17 is from Elena of The Life of a Traveling Princess.

Elena made this little box with a snowman charm on the front

and then attached a breast cancer ribbon charm to the top with a pink straight pin.

On the inside Elena painted the word "Hope"

and then there is a pin and

the cutest little beaded bee charm.

Thanks Elena your work is beautiful!

The Day 17 box that I made has a little Christmas tree

on the front and a yo-yo with a Christmas tree button

on it made into a tiny ornament.

Mrs. A from It's an Alien Life

received my box.

I finished 34 ornaments to send to my mom and here are 5 of them. It has been really nice seeing everyone's matchboxes and coming up with some new ideas. I used photo's and stamps on the outside of these boxes and then added some little handmade Christmas Cards and some prepurchased ornies in some of the boxes.

10, 11, 12 and 13

Between my stupid camera not working and just being busy I got behind on posting my little matchboxes. I received some really nice ones that I am excited to share with you!

Day #10 is from Valarie of Glittery Daze and Nights

I love this Santa picture! He looks like a jolly old soul!

Valarie included a little stocking ornament.

Thank you Valarie!

Here is my #10. It is a little snowman jumping for joy and

then a yo-yo ornament with a "joy" button on it.

My #11 box is from Linda of a Swap for All Seasons,

the hard working host of this swap.

I love the this box with the lace and jingle bell

and the little earrings that were on the

inside are really pretty!

Thanks Linda!

My Day #11 is a Gingerbread man with

some cut out gingerbread garland and a little candy ornament.

Here is box #12 in all it's beaded glory from

Ruth of Through My Gardens Gate.

Isn't this snowflake pretty?!?!

The earrings that were in the box are really nice too!

I love the color and can't wait to wear them!

Thanks Ruth!

My #12 is a stocking a with a little felt stocking that I made for the inside.

Box #13 is from Kathy McElroy.

The box is so beautifully decorated and then on the inside

there were three gorgeous little treasures

A Santa magnet, a little piece of pretend candy and a handmade tiny cloth ornament.

Thank you Kathy for all of the little treasures!

My box #13 is of a Christmas tree

and then I made a little piece of mini garland for the treasure.

I've been crocheting like crazy and my Mom ordered 30 Matchbox ornaments from me.....so that's pretty much what I've been doing for the last week. I have some really pretty ones I've made and I love all the ideas and inspriation I've gotten from all of the other bloggers. Have a wonderful day! I'm off to crochet again.

Day #9 BBBbbbbbrrrrrrrrrr!

Today's box came from Michele at Something Special.

It is so cold here and this is the cutest little Eskimo!

Inside is a tiny little basket.....

maybe for the eskimo to put his fish in?

I wish I could get a better picture because this one really doesn't

show how darn cute this little guy is.

My box for today is of a Snowman Family

and on the inside I made some earmuffs and crocheted a little scarf.

Have a wonderful day and stay warm!

Here's Day 8.....A Day Late!

I didn't get a chance to post yesterday....oops!

The box I received for Day 8 is from

Michelle of Wood and Fabric.

Michelle made this little box to look like a book.

It is so cute and very creative!

Inside there is a beautiful little treasure.

A tiny bottle with magical snowflakes in it and a charm attached.

Thank you Michelle!

I love your creativity!

My Day 8 is a Snowflake box with what else, but snowflakes on the inside.

The box is all glittery and I like the cool blue color.

Day 7 and Reindeer and Happy Birthday to my Sister Robyn!

Today is Day #7 and it is a special day because it's my sister Robyn's Birthday!

Today's box is from Erica from Zunky Chic and it is so pretty. There is a little snowman ornament on the inside of it. I really wish my camera worked better because this box is so much prettier than the photo shows.

and this is my sister Robyn with Mallory last New Year's Eve.

They are both kinda crazy and always fun to be around!

Happy Birthday Robyn!

Here is the box I made for Day 7.

I made some little mittens out of felt to put on the inside

to keep Santa's hands warm!

Finally, here is the Reindeer stuff I made for my YOE monthly swap.

I made a little felt reindeer ornament, matchbox ornament, cards and tags and then a little hanging reindeer out of felt.

Have a wonderful day and stay warm!

We had some snow last night so Jace wanted to know if today was Christmas because snow means Christmas! I love 4 year olds and the magic they see in the littlest things!

Day 6 and Dear Santa I Really Need a New Camera

We had little snow flurries today, not enough to build a snowman but my Day #6 box is of a Snowman. Today's box is from Sandi at Musings of Samiam and it is a cute snowman box with the prettiest little pair of angel earrings inside.

I collected angels as a child and I still love them.

Thanks Sandi!

As you can see my camera takes terrible pictures. My camera has been dropped a few times and is literally held together with duck tape. It only works when it wants to and I really would LOVE Santa if he could bring me a new camera for Christmas.

Here is my Day 6 box. This is one of my favorite boxes that I made.

Sherry from Sherry's Simple Blog received it all the way over in England.

She said she laughed when she opened up the box

and found the little snowballs for a snowball fight.

Yay! I was hoping whoever received it would enjoy it!

Have a wonderful day and if you see Santa please tell him I've been a good girl this year!

Thanks!!

All Dressed up For Day #5 and Another Favorite Recipe

Shawnee from Shawnee's Tangled Tales made these

very clever, unique and elegant tuxedo matchbox ornaments.

There is a pretty little ornament on the inside.

I love this idea!

Thanks Shawnee!

Here is my day 5 matchbox.

I made a stocking box and then made a little felt stocking for the inside.

As a little girl my mom would make spice tea at Christmas time and I always loved it. The orange, lemon and spice flavor. MMMMmmmm! So as part of Cathy's Countdown to Christmas Sharing I thought I would share this recipe with all of you. It is a pretty popular recipe so many of you might already have it, but I'll share it anyway.

1 Pkg of Lemonaide mix (or I usually just buy a container and put whatever is equal to a

package)

1 Cup of Tang

2 teaspoons Cinnamon

3/4 Cup Sugar

1/2 cup Instant Ice Tea

1/4 teaspoon Cloves

Mix together. Store in jar. Stir 1 Tablespon into a cup of hot water or to your liking.

I also started adding some Red Hot Cinnamon Candies and Lemon Drops to mine for some added color and texture. They will melt in the hot water and make the mix look really pretty in a jar.

Enjoy!

CountDoown to Christmas Day 4 and Cathy's CountDown to Christmas

Today's box comes from Hope of Pixies Ponderings who lives in England.

She sent me this glittery little box with a super cute bottle top ornie inside.

It is so cute!

Thanks Hope!

Here's my day #4 that someone out there received.

It is a little Rudolph box with a "Nose cover" and extra red light bulb inside the box.

Cathy has been having a monthly Christmas ideas and projects blog-a-long going to inspire everyone to get an early start on Christmas. I can't really show any of the things I've been making because most of my family sees my blog......so I thought I'd share a recipe with you.

I started making Emerils Baby Bam several years ago and sending it to my family back home using it for as part of teachers gifts and giving it to my older kids in their bags at Christmas. It's easy to make and everyone really seems to enjoy it.

Ingredients needed:

3 tablespoons paprika
2 tablespoons salt
2 tablespoons dried parsley
2 teaspoons onion powder
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon celery salt

Place all the ingredients in a mixing bowl. Stir well to combine, using a wooden spoon. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Yield: About 3/4 cup

I make it in huge quantities because I give it to so many people. I usually go to Sam's to get the bulk spices and either save and reuse old spice jars from the year or buy plastic salt and pepper shakers at Wal-mart to bottle the Baby Bam in.

Enjoy!

CountDown to Christmas Day 3

Today my beautiful little mathbox came from Jan who lives all the way in England.

Jan covered the box in fabric and added some dainty lace and a red button.

Inside is the prettiest little angel.....a treasure indeed!

Thanks Jan!

I love the matchbox and angel!

Here is my Day 3 box.

I have snowflakes on the outside

and on the side I put a couple of little snowflake ornaments and snowflake sequins.

Have a wonderful December 3!

CountDown to Christmas Day #2

Having a little present to open everday is so much fun!

Today I received this very pretty little matchbox from Michele at Scrappy Cats.

I love the box and then she made this stunning button ring.

It is so pretty and such a clever idea!

Thanks Michele!

This is my #2 box. I crocheted a little scarf for the present and then put 2 mitten brads in as well. I'm not sure who has it yet. I hope they like it though!

Have a wonderful day full of surprises, sunshine and smiles!

CountDown to Christmas Blog-Along

Finally I got to open the package from Linda at A Swap for All Seasons with all 25 matchbox ornaments and a wonderful goodie bag from the amazing Linda. Linda had about 75 people participate in this swap. So 75 people each sent her 25 ornaments and she made sure that we each received 25 ornaments back from 25 different people.

What an undertaking!

Thank you so much Linda!

I received my package a couple of weeks ago,

but I didn't open it because I knew once I did I'd want to peak at all of the pretties.

My Day #1 Ornament is from Pam at Treasures-n-Textures.

I love it!

It's so pretty and my photo definitely does not do it justice.

I love the little guy that she put in for the surprise!

Thanks Pam!

Here is the Day #1 Matchbox that I made.

Sophia from Blue Chair Diary received mine.

I can't wait to see what beautiful little treasure I get tomorrow. Thanks Linda and Pam for bringing joy to my heart today!

If the Pot Fits

If the pot fits....make soup!

Earl has 2 big pots and the Jace and Anthony were playing in them so Jake put them on the stove for Jace and Anthony Soup.

I think they are cute enough to eat!

The She in Me

She sits in the house, the space that is her world. She has very little communication with anyone and has become lost in her own mind. She wakes up every morning and wonders what she is doing here, in this life. What is her purpose? Why is she so lonely when she has such a wonderful family around her? Why? Has she lost her mind? Her spirit? What?

I look in the mirror and wonder who the person looking back at me is. Who is this person and why isn't it my own reflection looking back at me? This persons hair is a mess and she doesn't wear any make-up. Her face is wide and she has a couple of double chins. I try to look at her, but .... she can barely look at me. She tries, but her pride won't let her. She is ashamed for me to see her. I feel like I should know her, but who is she?

As she sits reading or crocheting she can feel something inside her stirring. She can hear a voice deep down and feel something ...... like a little spark. What is it? She tries to listen and sometimes she can hear it and sometimes without warning ..... she disappears and I am the person in her body. I feel energetic and inspired. I fix my hair and put on some make-up. I go exercise and make plans to start eating healthier, I feel like me, the me I used to be. Suddenly though, without any warning at all ..... I disappear and she is in control again. She has me inside of her .... lost. Lost and I can't seem to find my way out ..... so I sleep, she sleeps.

She sleeps so much lately. She feels like she could sleep forever if the world would let her. She would sleep even more if I didn't struggle to resurface. I have to get into the guilt part of her brain to make her wake up and start moving again. Guilt .... Guilt seems to be such a big part of my life. So she wakes up and I can feel myself waking up too. I do the dishes and laundry and clean up a little and then I'm lost again ..... back in her world. Her small, self-absorbed world. I think she wants me to find me and to let me take control, but she doesn't know how. She has been in control for so long now that I have forgotten what it is like to be the dominant person. I have to find a way to take over though or I'm afraid I will be lost forever.

Some of What I've Been Up To

I am in Val's monthly Year of Enchantment Ornament Swap and September's swap was mice. Here are the mice I made for my partner.

I even stamped a little bag with a leaf and then colored it in with marker and outlined it with glitter glue. I am NOT a stamper so I was particularly proud of this little project!

October's swap theme was Owl's. So I made up some felt owl ornaments, an owl hot pad, and some different paper owls. I had to stick some Tootsie Pops in because of the old commercial

"How many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll Center of a Tootsie Pop?"

Then I made 154 Christmas Stockings for my mom.

This is only part of them.

The place my mom works at are going to have kids paint and decorate the stockings.

I've been working on a couple of other big projects,

But,

they're for Christmas gifts and so I can't post them yet.


Well, I'm off to do some more Christmas stuff!

Have a wonderful day!

Fall Basket Swap

I am so far behind on blogging. I've just been in my own little world....pretty much keeping to myself and just doing my own piddling around here. I have been busy, yet feel like I'm in a rut. Weird, I know, but that's just how it has been.

I've really needed to post the Fall Basket Swap and apologize to Michele (the host) and Carol (my partner) both for being so late in doing so. It was really a fun swap and Carol sent me the nicest basket full of goodies.

Carol sent me this basket and it was filled with goodies. There is some ribbon, cool Halloween fabric, tea, a coin purse, scrapbook stuff, a wreath, post-it-notes, flowers, a gorgeous bottle, etc...... My absolute favorite thing though is the "Orphaned Clip-On Earrings". They are so pretty and in fall colors. They look just like ones my Nana and Grandma wore. They are such beautiful little treasures!

Here's the stuff that I sent to Carol. I made her a two little bags. One has cinnamon sticks and anise stars and nutmeg in it and the other is to hold some of the other goodies. I also crocheted her a dishcloth and tawashi in fall colors and made some yo-yo's and clothes pins in fall colors too.

These little squares and leaves can be used for scrapbooking or hung up on a banner. I made the leaves out of some collage paper that I made out of scraps of tissue paper, napkins and scraps of other paper. I think they turned out really pretty.

Thanks for a fun swap Michele and Carol!