almost 2011

Sorry for such a long break. I've just been trying to take it easy the last bit of the year :) It doesn't usually work though lol. Tomio's birthday is January 1st, and Leah's is the 9th. Two cakes and a party, right after Christmas. But, I really do try just to make it fun and not stress. You know, just have a simple party where the kids can have lots of fun :) I haven't really made any "New Year's Resolutions" yet for 2011. Have you? I think 2010 was  the only year I can acutally remember that I made some resolutions and actually accomplished them. One was to make and have Tomio eat breakfast everyday. I know how it sounds lol. But when we first got married I made these great breakfasts every day, and he wouldn't really eat them. He always wanted to sleep longer and have a massage....long story, but he didn't really eat breakfast for the years....BUT, I changed that this year. I made it for him every day and he actually ate it :) Mind you, he always eats rice with something Japanese-y, while the kids and I always have things like toast, oatmeal, cereal, pancakes... you get the idea :) Anyway, I was happy to have accomplished that. The other goal of mine was to get published---both a card and a layout. And I did :) I was SO proud of myself. I actually got one card in Paper Crafts magazine and 2 layouts in Creating Keepsakes. It felt really good :) Anyway, I haven't totally decided what I want to achieve this year, but I plan to make just a couple of goals that are a little challenging, yet attainable if  I try :) What are you planning for the next year?

Sorry nothing exciting to share today! Just a couple of shots from our cookie making this year. I hope you have a wonderful New Year!!

merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!! And Boxing Day to all of you that it's already the 26th for :)

I hope you really did have merry, fun Christmas! We had a wonderful Christmas Eve and Christmas. Chicken and cake and a movie on Christmas Eve. Then stockings and presents at home on Christmas day. Followed by yummy Christmas dinner at Nana and Papa's, with lots more presents there too. Sorry no photos yet--hopefully tomorrow? But I hope to take the next few days v-e-r-y slowly :) Hope you can do the same!!

possibly...

my favorite Christmas card I have made this year. And I have made quite a few lol. I'm not quite sure the photograph really captures it, especially since the snowflakes are blue too. I finally used the hanging snowflake stamp from this set that I mentioned before. Then I just added some bling  to the center of  each snowflake. I stamped the sentiment in black. I really like this blue cardstock from Papertrey. It goes so well with my favorite chocolate brown :) This card made it into my choices for Tomio's card this year. As of right now, I think I have 3 I'm choosing from....we'll see :)
 Only a couple more days till Christmas, so I've started rotating my Christmas CDs more  frequently. I'll listen to one a couple of times and then switch to another. heehee:) Thanks for stopping by today!

closer and closer....

 to Christmas! That's what my kids keep telling me :). We had another relaxing day today :) It started out super cloudy and rainy (so much so that I overslept a bit since it was so dark). But then it got really nice and warm.We all took a walk to the store and got some ice cream. I got some cross stitching done too. I've been scrapping and stamping so much that I forgot how much I enjoy it. I cross stitch something new each Christmas. I've made all our stockings too. I've made wall hangings and lots of pillows for the sofa. I thought it was enough pillows, but everyone seems to like those best, so that's what I'll keep making I think. Oh, and I made some last minute tags too. I actually have a couple more presents that I ordered that should be arriving today, so I needed some tags for those. The kids joined in today because they wanted to make the tags for their cousins' presents. I like that they enjoy making things with me. Miss Emma tries... as long as she doesn't get ink everywhere, I think she does well :)

This is another quickie tag I made, using, yes, Holiday Tree again. At least I know I got my money's worth, right? :) But aren't the snowflakes so cute?!
Thanks for stopping by! Hope you are enjoying your Christmas so far!

time for a break.

The kids officially started their Christmas break from school. They were excited, to say the least. But I must say I'm rather happy myself. Definitely in need of a break. So my plans for the day include stamping, scrapping, and cross-stitching, while listening to Christmas music :) I'm excited:)

Seriously, I think this is my most used Christmas stamp set. I just can't help it.  I embossed the snow man and snowflakes and then applied some distress ink on top. I love how he just pops out from the background once heat embossed. I used my woodgrain stamp on the kraft for some added texture. I love how subtle it is while still adding interest. I've had this baker's twine for awhile, but I think I've kind of been hoarding it. I love how Christmas-y the red and white looks though :)
I'm being paged by Miss Emma, so I'll have to end off here. Thanks for stopping by! Hope you have a relaxing day!

Christmas time~yay!

I think our Christmas tree is actually getting full of presents now :) And I don't think Tomio is even done with his shopping yet heehee:) I think I enjoy Christmas time as much as my kids do! We do make sure that they really know and remember and celebrate the real Reason for Christmas. They love the advent calendar I made with Scriptures we read each day about the birth of Jesus.

I've got one more Christmas card today. Really simple. I love how just adding some jewels can make a simple card really pop. These stamps I used today are all from Fancy Pants. I have one of those big 12x12 sets they released before, but I never use them much anymore now that I have my oh-so-fun Papertrey, Verve and Unity stamps. But I thought I would dig them out when I was trying find a BIG snowflake (which I didn't have). Anyway, I just kind of whipped this card out really quick when I was just playing.I love light blue  and brown together :) Thanks for popping by! I hope you are having a lovely weekend. We are planning on going out for a fun family dinner tonight!

tag time.

Sometimes I have trouble coming up with good titles for my posts...:) But since I'm sharing tags today, it works, right?

I really liked how the card I shared a few days ago turned out, so I thought I would make a similar tag. Kind of with a rustic feel. Music stamp is from Impression Obsession, while all the others are from Holiday Tree.
Lots of distress ink again too :)

I decided to make another rectangle one. It was really quick, just stamped and colored a little with Copics. Mat it, punch a hole and add some twine. With this kind, I write the "to" and "from" on the back. These stamps are from Friendship Jar and Holiday Filler sets.

Miss Emma seems to be re-thinking her napping schedule. I'm afraid she might be trying to stop napping all together(!) like Leah did. Hopefully not, but we'll see... As it is, she IS napping right now, so I'm off to be productive :) Thanks so much for stopping by!!