And the stockings were hung...

It is so hard to believe that Christmas is so close! Wasn't I just handing out candy to trick-or-treaters? Didn't I just make pumpkin pies and roast a turkey? Time, like snow, is flying too fast!



I have had some camera issues - as in, the children had decided it would be fun to play photographers on Safari with Mama's camera - and as a result, there was one time-out, a bit of yelling, and one broken camera. If I hold the lens on just so, I can get a halfway decent photo... but if I lean over too much, the lens falls out and then there is more yelling...

I was able to take this picture of a layout I made for Etsy. The stockings were pretty fun to make - I don't know if you can see it or not, but the red one on the left has a real jingle bell on the curly toe :) I had to get creative with my layering to fit the word "stockings" on the one 12x12 page, but was able to manage it. And let me tell you - so glad that I got back into stamping, because my ink in my printer is out, and I wanted to print "hanging the" on some cardstock... but luckily I have my little set of letter stamps, and stamped them out instead!

Speaking of stamping... If I can get my lens back on my camera today, I will take a picture of my card for the "Once Upon a Wednesday" challenge at Pixie Cottage! I created the sketch for this challenge, and it is simple and sweet :) While I am fiddling with my camera, head over to the Pixie Cottage Blog to see the other DT member's take on this sketch. You have lots of time - until December 20 to enter this every-other-week challenge, so get your sketch on!

Treasure this day...

Good morning! We had the most lovely weather this weekend, and we took full advantage of it. Steve raked leaves (Mikey and I jumped in the piles - Johnny was napping, so don't tell him or he will be mad he missed out on this), we all went to Frankenmuth on Sunday and had a lovely time. We walked around the village, threw pennies in the pond, and found lots of things to add to our lists to Santa :)

We came home, went to the neighborhood playground, and then came home and hung our Christmas lights. I know, I know - it is early. But weather in Michigan can go from 70 one day to 40 the next, and I don't fancy hanging lights in piles of snow :) But I promise I won't plug them in until after Thanksgiving. Not too much.

Today I plan on working on some scrapbook layouts, a couple of cards, and I hope I can get that flower tutorial done as well. I also plan to walk on the treadmill, but now that I am sitting here, drinking my coffee and chatting with you, I might skip that. Listening to the soundtrack to Forrest Gump and sipping my java is making me feel cozy and very un-treadmilly.

Here is a little card I made last week for a few challenges. It was difficult at first, as the challenge at Cute Card Thursday was primary colors. Normally not a primary color kind of gal as I lean towards the faded/muted tones. But that's why it is a challenge, right? :) Pairing this challenge with the color scheme of black and red from Creative Inspirations, I used the sketch from PaperTake Weekly, and made this any occasion card:


Ingredients
Image: Gorjuss Girl from Sugar Nellie
Papers: BoBunny, Paper Pizazz
Embellishment: ribbon from stash
Copic markers, colored pencils, ink