Friday Freebie

New Years Eve 2010!  I can hardly believe another year has passed by so quickly! Time seems to be rapidly speeding up...

Anyway...for this very last Friday of the year I'd like to share a mini cabinet card image I have named "Little Prince". 
Several years ago I used this image in a small canvas piece.

Have a safe and Happy New Year!

(click image to enlarge)

Accountabilty time

Last year I set some goals for myself so I figured I had better fess up and see what I actually accomplished.
I'm rating myself with a stoplight system for lack of a better way.

This is my 2010 list:

ART:

• learn to knit --Need more practice but have the concept down
• use the supplies I have instead of buying new --only purchased garage sale/thrift store supplies
• finish my circles quilt --DONE
• open an Etsy shop --open, stocked and have made 2 sales!
  
• complete my Nature altered book --not yet but am getting closer
• Be Creative Every Day --it's not always art but I feel I do something creative most days

SELF:

• get back to eating healthy --the holidays have been a set back
  
• get back to my exercise routine --not at the level I want to be...goal needs to continue for sure.

HOME:

• paint the kitchen cupboards --nope
• plant more veggies --Yes..will plant more next year
• de-cluttter in prep for a monster garage sale --YES! huge sale
• repurpose and recycle more --hard to measure this one but I think I have

I must be a glass half-full kind of person because I see the goals that I haven't quite met not as failures as some would but as stairs I have climbed on my way to the goal.
Over all I'm glad I made this list. Obviously, I didn't do everything I wanted to but really...who does?  I'm going to think about my goals for 2011 now. I think accountability is a great motivator.

12 Days of Christmas book

Last night I made the covers to complete the 12 Days of Christmas swap book.  It's bound and will be enjoyed for years to come.

I'm thinking that I'll put it away with the Christmas stuff so each year I can take it out and reminisce.

Goodie Prize

A few weeks ago I entered a Christmas giveaway hosted by mixed-media jewelry artist, Diana Frey.  Low and behold...I was actually one of three lucky winners.  The UPS man brought me a nice package yesterday afternoon while we were moving tons of snow off the roof and then again off the driveway and sidewalk... JOY.  I knew as soon as we got done, that package was waiting..made me work a little faster.

Just look at the bounty that spilled forth from the box...


I had to stand up on my sewing chair to get far enough away to get it all in one photo.

Diana must have known about my love affair with pink or else it was just kismet...  Lots of pink fun stuff to use!!

Tea Tuesday

Once again heading out the door... going to go help mom today.


I bet some of my Tea Tuesday friends will have much more interesting things to talk about than myself today. Go check out their posts on Kimmie's sidebar.

Hopefully, I'll have time to stop by later too!

Christmas afterglow

My blog kind of got away from me this holiday season. Luckily, the Friday Freebie post was scheduled or else that wouldn't have happened either.  We had company both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day...in fact we still have a guest sleeping upstairs.

Lets get caught up with the 12 days of Christmas swap shall we...

On the 10th day of Christmas I opened 10 Lords a Leaping by Penny A.  This was very unique since it opens to reveal,

the Ten Commandments. Penny aged the paper which gave it a really nice look.

The 11th day had me opening the fun fabric bag with my name sewn at the top. Very cute...I'm hanging on to that goodie!

Inside the fabric bag was this great 11 Pipers Piping by Jackie.  Love the tartan. For some weird reason I couldn't get the green cardstock to appear true to color...frustrating.

And finally, on the 12th day of Christmas we have Twelve Drummers Drumming by Rita. What a cute little guy to round out our pages.

I now will need to create covers and bind my book. But first I'll need to thank one more person.

 Another art friend sent me a surprise on Thursday.  Isn't this tree so darling! Kat did a beautiful job with this tree!

Here's a view of the other side. I love it. Thank you Kat!!


Have you stuck with me throughout my rambling? I'd be impressed if you have.

Merry -belated- Christmas.

Friday Freebie

Merry Christmas Eve!

I'd like to share with you the man I've dubbed Muttonchops.

Enjoy!

Gingerbread house

As promised...the gingerbread house made at school. There was more sugar than should be legal in a classroom!

The three bears crack me up...

especially when there is a fourth hiding behind a tree.

Wow, I just realized this was my 4th post of the day. I guess I've had things to say just no time to say them. Today was no exception but I did manage to get a ton of stuff done...apparently I work best under pressure. 

Tea Tuesday

Good morning. I'm enjoying some herbal tea in another pretty cup borrowed from my mom. It looked so nice sitting next to the Christmas tree and the wooden Nativity my Uncle Bill made for me when I was a teen.

Hopefully later I'll have a shot of the graham cracker gingerbread house from school today.

Stop by Kimmie's blog to see what the rest of the Tea Tuesday bloggers are doing today. You find the links on the sidebar.

The 8th and 9th days of Christmas

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of opening this page from Patt. It's very clever. Spots for the cow and the frothy milk. Very fun!

The 9th day of Christmas is my page so it wasn't too surprising for me.
I didn't get too carried away with the wrapping, although I wanted to make sure my tag didn't fall off in transport. I used hot glue to adhere the button on the ribbon.

I found the image on Flickr commons, which is an excelent resource for copyright free images.

I used a number of materials on this piece...tissue paper, paint with foam stamp, fabric, instant coffee to stain the cardstock and of course another button.

Hooray! I'm caught up with my swap posts!

I think I'll make myself a cup of tea now...

The 7th day of Christmas

I've been putting this off way too long...

I knew the 7th day of Christmas page would be difficult to write about.
Gina Wise, the wonderful artist who created this page, passed away suddenly before the swap had even ended. She had already completed hers and sent them off.

What a beautiful page! The background has so much depth...more than I am able to show in this photo.

And wait until you see the handmade box she created to house her page!

The box is a treasure in itself.

I miss you Gina...you're whit, you're kind words, you're friendly advice. 

Rest in Peace my friend...

On the 6th day of Christmas

I opened the second of Elizabeth's pages. I love the texture on the goose... 

We ar half way through the pages and I have yet to start the covers of my book. It will wait I suppose.

Today is being spent baking... I've used almost 5lbs of flour and a dozen eggs already!!

On the 5th day of Christmas...

I finally got around to opening this one. The kids may be disappointed that I opened it without them but not likely...we just have to much going on for them to notice! 

This package was wrapped in a pretty napkin and ribbon...both of which I'm saving for future projects!

Just look at the wonderful page Connie made for 5 Golden Rings!

Friday Freebie

I've got another oldie for you this week...  This is a very ...well..interesting looking family portrait.

Enjoy!

2nd, 3rd and 4th days of Christmas

I am falling behind!!  To much to do and to little time I guess.

On the 2nd day of Christmas I opened this clever packaging by Jan of Dandelion and Daisy to reveal...









Two turtle doves. Aren't they sweet in their little nest.

On the 3rd day of Christmas I opened another clever page by Jeanene.

I didn't realize that the little gift opened to reveal....

3 French Hens until today. I had tugged a bit at the gift thinking that it should open but didn't want to wreck it. Today I found the velcro.  Very fun!

Today, the 4th day of Christmas I opened the first of two days that our swap host graciously stepped in and fulfilled other participants obligations when they dropped out last minute. Thanks for doing that Elizabeth!


Hopefully I'm back on track now and will be posting daily as I open these fun pages!

Tea Tuesday

Today I'm treating myself to a fancy cup of yummy tea while I write Christmas cards.

In previous years I've made a scrapbook page then had them color copied to send out as our family greeting. Last year I did a custom photo card.

This year I went in a more traditional direction. I purchased these cute cards last year after Christmas. Then last month I created a collage photo to send along with the cards. I'd forgotten how long it takes to sign each cards, write a little note in some and then address all the envelopes!!  It's worth it though.  I love having all the cards and photos from friends and family hanging in the kitchen.

Head over to Kimmies blog to see what my Tea Tuesday friends are up to today.

I'll be back a little later with the 2nd day of Christmas swap page...