Since we’re still in “reminiscing” mode, I thought I’d share another time span page.
Did this page recently about the two kiddos. Taken about 3 years apart. Probably pretty darn close to 3 years now that I think about it. July 2010 & Spring 2007. It’s always fun to look at the differences as they grow. But neat to see that they had the same relationship then as they do now. They love each other so much!!
Supplies: My Minds Eye (paper, title, journaling), Prima flowers, Distress Stickles.
It’s the end of the year. Time for everyone to reminisce about the last year, and make goals for the upcoming year.
I thought I’d take this time to show a page I did recently that had two photos, taken one year apart. Photo on the left is Aly in Sept 2009, right is Sept 2010. The journaling told the story of how much she’s grown in the last year and how proud of her I am.
Supplies: Cosmo Cricket paper, American Crafts paper & Thickers.
Now I’m off to town on a bitterly cold day! Hope you enjoy the rest of yours :)
Lately Cody has been asking me to take a picture of he & Peppers anytime I have the camera out. Doesn’t Peppers just look so happy to be in a “smoosh” pose???
Just another amazing mountain sunrise.
This was a project the kids did. We cut the manger and baby Jesus with the cricut & SCAL, the stars were punches.
The Legend of the Candy Cane
A Candymaker in Indiana wanted to make a candy that would help us remember who Christmas is really about. So he made a Christmas Candy Cane. He incorporated several symbols for the birth, ministry, and death of Jesus Christ.
He began with a stick of pure white, hard candy. White to symbolize the virgin birth and sinless nature of Jesus. Hard candy to symbolize the solid rock, the foundation of the Church, and firmness of the promises of God.
The candymaker made the candy in the form of a "J" to represent the name of Jesus. It also represented the staff of the "Good Shepherd".
The candymaker then included red stripes. He used three small stripes and a large red stripe to represent the suffering Christ endured at the end of his life.
The candy became known as a Candy Cane - a decoration seen at Christmas time. The meaning has faded, but still gives joy to children young and old, whom Jesus loves and treasures.
Disclosure first: **Juliana – if you happen on this – DON’T READ! :) **
I made a journal for a member of the family. Did a digital design cover, printed it and then laminated it. Used my handy dandy Bind It All to bind the journal together.
But, inside there is more fun. If I give money as a gift, I like to do something more personal with it. Unfortunately, we couldn’t afford to buy the whole item for Juliana, so we sent her money. I went to the bank and got multiple bills for the total. I slipped one of them into each of several packages. This journal with a little note, a scarf, some Old Navy gloves and more but I can’t remember. Makes it more fun for a pre-teen to open her gifts and makes me feel better because I feel like I put more thought into the gift.
Have a Merry Christmas!
Every year, I try to find a project for my kids to do to share with others. I knew I wanted to do something local. One day we were listening to the local radio station and the chaplain for the jail was on. He was making requests for some items for Christmas. Socks and candy primarily.
He shared a story about a female inmate. He writes birthday cards to each of the inmates. Well, in this particular card he wrote something to the extend of “I love you (as God loves you).” She responded to him that “it took going to jail to finally have someone love her. Wow. What kind of statement is that. It broke my heart. Yes, they are there paying the consequences for the choices they’ve made in their lives. But, let’s face it, I’m still a sinner myself. I still make bad choices. Inmates are no less a person who needs to be shown love. And for some people, it’s an amazing turning point in their lives.
This year, the kids and I put a personal (made with love, even though we don’t know the person) on some socks and some hard candies. We are off to deliver them to the jail tomorrow.
I challenge you, take these last couple days before Christmas to spread the Christmas cheer to someone who you might least think about, but who might so need it.
Have a Blessed day.
Tip #1 – Add color! In our house, we add sprinkles to lots of stuff. A little color just makes life more fun!! And it’s an inexpensive way to make food more appealing to my picky kiddos!
Alright – I was finally able to get the banner links for the freebie up. I had to stick to 4shared.com, so even though it seems to be giving me trouble, I’m going to try it again. Please let me know if you can’t download the files.
Banner Link 1
The kids have had such a wonderful week. Grandpa was in town to visit. I think they all had a fabulous time. And to make sure Cody had a momento to keep forever, we stopped at the train cars (where we took our family picture) and took some pictures of Grandpa & the kids.
I am *still* working on the freebie upload, we’ve had such heavy fog I can’t get the full 6 MBs to upload at a time – thus trouble! I’m hoping to have it up tomorrow though before I announce a winner for the giveaway. Here’s the link if you haven’t already entered.
I also have some handmade gift ideas and some more freebies coming up the next week! So be sure to keep checking!
I want to be a professional blogger. Can I just say that I love blogging? And I’m so happy that you all read this! To think this started as just a backwards way to outsmart a message board. But now, I’ve found a delight in it!
Anyway……I know it’s been a while since I’ve shared anything scrappy. So I just wanted to share this simple page. I have lots more Christmas stuff coming, but I had to go back to my roots, at least for a day.
“Fly” I did a lot more distressing on this page than I normally do. Well, considering that I usually do zero, it doesn’t take much to be more! LOL
Supplies: Making Memories Chloe’s Closet. American Crafts cardstock.
Oh me oh my!!
Thursday. Thursdays are often adventuresome days around here. We get our lumber delivery then. During the summer, the semi-truck comes up to the ranch. But winter is a totally different story! We have to go downtown to unload into our trailer.
Well, this Thursday was no different. We went to town to run some errands then meet the truck. One problem, he was delayed. And we had already eaten dinner. We decided that with only an hour (and having already been to Safeway, Walmart & Home Depot), there was only one thing we could do. Go find some dessert. We went The Breadline Cafe. Remember this?
Robert ordered an apple pie ala mode. YUMMM!!
I ordered the chocolate mousse cake. Super yummy! Although, next time I think I’ll have no raspberry sauce. But it was incredibly yummy!!!
And as the perfect way to burn off some extra unnecessary calories, on the way home, the tire blew out of the very overloaded trailer! Thank God we had a real jack and a real spare with us! One tire change later (with no raised voices or daddy words :) ) and we were safely on our way home with happy mouths & bellies!
My goal every Christmas season is to have some projects for the kids to do. They love crafts, as do I, so it’s fun to do these together.
Yesterday, we did some applesauce ornaments. I’ve seen a few different variations and recipes, but here is what we did. They smell SOOOOO yummy!
Mix 1 cup applesauce and 1 cup cinnamon (I used part cinnamon part cloves) in a bowl. I’d probably start with about 3/4 cup applesauce to be sure it’s not too liquid. Add cinnamon until a dough like texture.
Put ball of dough onto a piece of plastic wrap (this is about 1/3 of my batch). 
Place another piece of plastic wrap on top and press to about 1/4” thick with your hands.
Remove top plastic wrap piece and use cookie cutter to cut shapes.
Using a straw, “punch” a hole in the ornament, about 1/4” from all sides. 
Place on cookie sheet, if desired, lined with parchment paper. (To transfer them to the cookie sheet, I picked up the bottom piece of plastic wrap and flipped them into my other hand, then put it on the cookie sheet). Be very careful as they are very delicate.
Bake in 200 degree oven for 2 1/2-3 hours. Turn oven off and leave in oven until the oven is cool.
Gently remove from parchment paper and string with ribbon.
I pretty much let the kids do these themselves. They are not perfect, but I’ve learned to love the kids imperfection! I enjoy it while I have it, I know all too soon, their childlike imperfections will be gone!
