Happy New Year from Omaha, Nebraska

Crafty Creations 100th Sketch Challenge Celebration

It's a Crafty Creations Challenges 100th challenge BLOG HOP and CHALLENGE celebration!!  And here's my take on their 100th challenge:

Here's the sketch:

 

And here's the color combinations we were to use:
We were also to use a recycled element in our creation, and I repurposed a holiday card I received several years ago - I had kept it because I liked the image so much.  And the little dash of cherry red is the little bird in the print.

I haven't done many sketch challenges but find I am truly enjoying the challenge!  You can check out all the other creations at their blog (see label below to link).

Thanks for stopping by and Happy New Year everyone!

Relaxing in my craft room on a post christmas night

Good evening everyone. Hope you and yours had a fabulous holiday ... and my goodness, didn't the past 24 hours just fly by!  We had a fabulous time.  My son and daughter-in-law are in town from Colorado, so we had them over as well as my daughter, son-in-law and grandson, Jonas, for our traditional Christmas breakfast and gift exchange.  Jonas spent the morning enjoying his aunt and uncle and they quickly learned how to translate the Jonas dialect.  He had them running all through the house and the rest of us in giggles.  While still not sure of who Santa really is at 2-1/2, he quickly grasped the concept of gift opening and enjoyed each and every gift he received.  Between the family and the grandparents, he was definitely spoiled.  I made both my daughter and daughter-inlaw sets of all occasion cards for them to use throughout the year.  My daughter-in-law, Chrysty, casually mentioned that should I find some time during the year, could I please make her some note cards for her horse people (she has a beautiful horse named Rowdy).  Well, after everyone left this afternoon, (and after a quick cat nap), I sat down in my craft room and put together a set of 8 cards for her to take home with her.  This horse set is from Clear Stamps, and I just taped off the card to make a square in the center, and then sponged blue for the sky and green for the grass, and then just simply stamped the images in black.  They turned out so sweet and I think she will be pleasantly surprised when I hand them to her tomorrow night at dinner.

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

I ran across this holiday photo of my grandparents (my dad's parents) taken back in the 1950's. It brought back such a wave of nostalgia.  Anyone remember tinsel?  You know, those silvery strands of shimmer that adorned every holiday tree. I remember my mom telling us kids to put ONE strand at a time on ... which we did for the first half of the tree, but by the third box of tinsel my brothers and sisters and I were taking several at a time and literally throwing them on the tree to see where they would stick.  The holiday stencils that we would sponge onto our frontroom windows.  We would spend hours stringing popcorn and cranberries onto string and making paper garlands. In the background my mom would be playing her favorite holiday tunes from Andy Williams, Dean Martin and Rosemary Clooney (you remember, George's aunt)!

And you always knew that under the tree there would be packages wrapped in white tissue paper tied up with yarn from Grandma Ollie - and inside were her labors of love that she had worked on all year long - handmade aghans, scarves, gloves and sweaters.

Our holiday activities way back then always included taking our sleds up the hill from our house and seeing how many times we could go up and down before our hands and toes were numb from the cold.  And ice skating on the creek in our backyard with all the kids in the neighborhood from ages 3 to 18. Making snow angels in our front yard.  And dad driving us downtown to the civi auditorium to see Santa and we all got a bag of treats, which always included a piece of fruit, some nuts and a candy cane.

So on this day before Christmas eve, I hope you are making your own holiday memories and wish you and yours a very, merry Christmas!

2010 Family Baking Day!

There were only 7 of us, but we managed to frost and decorate about 12 dozen cookies for our family event on Christmas eve (which is only five days from now - ohmygoodness).

Here's my sister, Shari, and her daughter, Danelle, busy at work creating artful images on top of snowmen, stars, trees, gingerbreadmen, and even some Christmas fishes (grin).

And would you take a look at the grin on my grandson, Jonas' face?!!  He adores the train we have running around the holiday tree.  And while he still not quite sure of the man in the red suit that's coming on Friday night, he can definitely feel the excitement in the air and really enjoyed the day.  He wasn't into decorating any cookies this year, but he did tell his grandma what sprinkles she should use and what colors should go on the cookies.  So maybe he's going to be a director when he grows up. LOL

And here's a pic of Jonas with his mom (my daughter), Laura.  Notice the bare feet on Jonas.  He immediately takes off his shoes whenever he's not outside.  He LOVES being barefoot - which he gets from his mom.

Hope everyone is ready as the holiday is approaching very quickly now.  Hoping my son and his wife have a safe trip - they are driving in from Denver and it looks like there is snow in the forecast.  So DRIVE safe - can't hardly wait to see you guys!

Happy Birthday Dear Sister!

This post is to wish my sister, Gloria, a HAPPY BIRTHDAY.  She turns 50 today ... she used to be my younger sister, but lately she's catching up and will soon be my older sister (grin).  We've shared giggles and belly laughs, we've fought and made up, we've been there for each other and have shared in family joys and sorrows.  Gloria is a breast cancer survivor and is our family's health matriarch.  My dad has been in and out of the hospital the past several weeks, and Gloria is the one who makes sure the doctors treat him right and that he gets what he needs.  Gloria also LOVES family, and will drop whatever she is doing to spend time with her nieces and nephews or ANYONE else that might call!  Just this past summer she became a grandma for the first time and is having the time of her life with her granddaughter, Avlyn.  She loves to garden, papercraft, is the secretary to a local hot air balloon association, and she and her hubby, Luckie, host the family's Thanksgiving dinner every year!  This past year she organized a monthly family dinner event for all cousins, aunts, uncles, etc., and it's been such a great event for all of us. I could go on, but I don't want her to get a big head so I'll just close by saying HAPPY BIRTHDAY, sis!

Lots 'o Cards!

It's been a card making kind of day today.  I'm making a set of all occasion cards to put in my daughter and daughter-in-law's stockings this holiday and this is a good start!  I was hoping to have more done by now, but my dad has been having major health issues so my crafting time has been limited.  I still haven't gotten as many holiday cards done that I normally send out, but I know my friends and family will understand if I just give them a call or hug this holiday season in lieu of a card.  But do so love Christmas and all the festivities that go along with this special holiday. 

Santa Baby!

Every year my company offers a morning with Santa for the kids of employees.  Jonas went last year but was still a bit young to appreciate what Santa is all about.  But this year, he was ALL about waiting for Santa to arrive and when he did Jonas got so excited.

Santa asked everyone to sit, and immediately Jonas found a seat front and center.  No way was he going to miss out on anything Santa was going to say.

He got up on Santa's lap and told him he wanted an R.V. ... not quite sure what that's all about, but if it has wheels, Jonas will love it.  He wasn't into the whole "give santa a hug" in this pick ... maybe his beard was ticklish.

Each child got a gift box filled with candy and toys.  Oh yea, now we're talkin!

Jonas is alway so easy to please and even thanked Santa for the fun gift box.

Here mom and dad are helping him eat the "right" candy so he doesn't choke.  He was definitely on a sugar high by the time the morning was over.

All in all, it was a grand time and all the kids enjoyed themselves. 

Bookreading 101

My grandson is now wanting to read to his favorite dinosaur when he comes over for dinner.  I just love listening to him read to his pal.