My 2010 In Review

I was a little surprised when I went back to look at my creations for this past year at how many I didn't like at the time I posted them and after a second look, I think they look pretty good..LOL... Must be something seriously wrong with me.  Anyway these below are my favorites from the year. 

The first one I didn't color, my Miss V, age 5, "painted" with chalks and this is my most favorite out of all the creations on my blog. I'm sure you will agree...LOL

Wishing you all A Very HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I Just Need To Vent and Need Some Recommendations Needed...

You don't have to read this... I just need to vent and first and foremost I would like to say I nothing against any country...I truly don't mean to hurt anyone's feelings.....Just against companies who insist that you try to speak to someone in a foreign country where you don't understand the language and have difficulty understanding their English with an accent.  Some of us do have hearning problems.  It's as bad as trying to understand those automated voices. 

Anyway today I wanted to buy a laptop computer from Dell.  Not that I can afford one, but mine has been acting wonky.  The fix-it techs tell me it is not worth fixing so if I want to continue to be on the internet I need a new computer.  Granted the one was I was considering buying wasn't thousands of dollars, but it is what I felt I could afford and I have been a long-time Dell customer.  After trying to talk options with someone in India, then the Philipeans, then back to India I asked if I could speak to someone in the USA and was told no... they don't have the capability to forward my call to the USA, however they could and did forward my call back and forth from India to the Phillippeans.  Can't figure that  one out.  I have decided if I can't buy from a company here... then I might as well deal with a company headquartered in another country.  I might get to speak with someone in the US?? Thus I told Dell in an email that I would not be buying from them but would look to purchase from a company not headquartered in the US... Not that it will make a bit of difference to them, but at least they know they have lost a long time customer also I will not be buying Dell.  I truly do believe in buying from companies in the country in which you live, but I also feel if these companies want your business, they should also provide customer service/sales staff  from your country.  Seems simple enough to me.  If any of you have any suggestions on an inexpensive laptop I am open to all suggestions.  All I have had for the last 10 years is a Dell so I am not familiar with other computers other than an apple, but software for that computer is non existant in our area.  My computer is 6.5 years old so I really think I have gotten my money's worth.  LOL... Can you help me?  Again I did not intend to offend anyone.  Maybe I am the only one who has had this problem?

Merry Christmas From Our Family To Yours!

Merry Christmas

From All Of Us

To

All Of You

And

From Dottie Too!

A Not So Traditional Christmas With The Jones Family

Merry Christmas

I know  each of us have so much to do at this time of year, that it seems impossible to get everything done, but somehow we always seem to manage to do the impossible.  If you are like me, you realize at the last minute (too late) that you forgot to send a dear friend a Christmas Card or you forgot to buy a gift for an unexpected guest and it stresses me out, (we don't do gifts anymore)  But I'm learning that is not what what I want to teach my granddaughter about Christmas. 

 

Today (day before Christmas Eve) my  granddaughter asked me what I was buying for my parents this year for Christmas.  I told her "nothing" . She was so shocked.  She couldn't understand why I would not buy my parents "anything" for Christmas especially when they are my mommy and daddy.  I sat down and tried  to explain to her that I give my parents (her great grandparents) the gift of family and memories.  Sharing old one and making new ones.  So in the Jones Family we don't exchange gifts, but Santa always leaves a gift under the tree for each member of the family.  It could be a tube of toothpaste each, a bath towel, hand lotion, etc.  It is always something useful and always small in cost and one item only.  My family looks forward to finding out what "Santa" has come up with this year that is outside the box..  Sorry I digress.  Anyway as my parents and my hubby and I are getting older, their is nothing we need or really want.  We are finding material things are just that...material..., so I plan this big meal for Christmas Eve, that is very eclectic.  I cook a favorite dish for each member of the family along with some of the traditional Christmas meal.  I then have my entire family (if they are in the area) over for dinner, laughter, sharing old memories, remembering family that cannot be with us for whatever reason, discussing the present and our wishes for the future and yes we have even shared a few tears along the way.   My mother is not able to do all the family cooking anymore so I have tried to carry on our family tradition of Christmas.  We do have gifts for our granddaughter.  After we have dinner,  she becomes the center of attention and opens her gifts from Nonnie and Poppy and my parents.  There are not many so it doesn't take long, but through her, we relive the spirit of Christmas through the eyes of a child.  She is one of the many blessings in my life.  She has faith that will knock your socks off if you listen to her.  Just last Sunday the minister at church said at end of his sermon, if you have a need in your life or the life of someone you love and would like to talk to God about it, I invite you to come to the altar.  Our sweet little 6 year old went to the altar all on her own.  Later that day she told me she asked Jesus to make her Daddy well for Christmas.  She believes with all her heart that he will be able to walk without a cane or walker for Christmas and believe me because of her faith... I am praying so hard that God will grant her the Christmas Miracle she is anticipating.   I have digressed again.  Anyway our door is always open not only to family but to friends as well who want to stop in for a meal and laughter without having to feel they have to come bearing gifts.  If they are here at the time we open our "from Santa" gifts they too will receive the gift of the year (BTW this year it is scented antibacterial foam hand soap for the ladies and spicy sweet onion relish for the gents).  See what I mean.  Useful!  LOL.  In all of this I tried to stress to her it is not always buying a present that is the gift, but it is what you do to make other people happy that is the true gift and most of the time it doesn't come wrapped in pretty paper.  What makes my parents happy is spending time with their children, grandchildren and great grand.  I often sit and watch them as they look at each of us, when they think we don't notice and see the sparkle and pride in their eyes, but mostly I see unconditional love and  that truly makes Christmas for me. This is what I want to pass on to my granddaughter... Not worrying about the meal being perfect, the right gifts, of if my house is decorated perfectly or even as clean as it should be or if I forgot someone that is important to me.  If they are truly friends, they will know the situation in your life and love you anyway.  My dad always says prayer before our meal and he is one of the most humble men you will ever meet.  He is always so thankful for all the blessings God has given him and especially for his family.   The love of my parents has always been unconditional and always will be. At the end of our conversation she said, "Nonnie what do you want for Christmas and what makes you happy?"  I told her, hugs from her and being with my family and friends.  I hope you have enjoyed spending a not so traditional Christmas with the Jones Family this year and for all of you We Wish you could be here with us, but since you can't

WE WISH YOU A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS THAT IS FILLED WITH LOVE AND LAUGHTER AND WISHES FOR  WONDERFUL BLESSINGS FOR THE NEW YEAR.

Calendar Stand That Caused Blisters On My Blisters

I have been wanting to make a yearly hanging calendar but needed a stand to hang one from. So I though just how hard can it be to make one. Well let me tell you, when you have NO tools or woodcrafting skills it can be pretty hard. I have blisters on top of my blisters and bruised hands...LOL... Was it worth the effort. In my opinion...YES.... Would I do it again? Not sure... Anyway I thought I would share my creation with you and I am pretty pleased with it,  especially since the only tools I had to work with were a hand screw driver, sandpaper (all hand sanded) a dremel, paddlebit and a screw driver (hand not electric). Thankfully a very nice man at Home Depot cut my wood to my measurements. When I got it all assembled I stained it with a light cherry stain (the wood is pine) and finished it off with clear glossy polyurethene. It will hold a calendar or picture page up to 6.25 x 7 inches.

Tell me what you think and be honest...I can take the criticism, especially since I know I will not have a career in wood working.

I made 6 of these and have 3 left.  If anyone would be interested in purchasing one please contace me using the contact information in my side bar.  They would come with 2 one inch rings.  They are very sturdy.  I used screws and not nails. 

Miss V and I Had A Craft Day

My son was having a really bad day today, so hubby and I picked Miss V up this morning and kept her all day long.  She decorated the Christmas tree with her great grandparents and it is all her decorating style.  I may post pictures of it later.  LOL.  We made ornaments, cards and went shopping.  Needless to say my dogs are barking and my butt is dragging.  I don't know where she gets all that energy. 

This card is one of my favorites because I love snowmen. 

It fits these challenges

C Inspirations  ... design papers must be white

YNS Challenges   ... CAS Christmasy

A Spoonful of Sugar ... Christmas Card

These are the baubles we made ... I hope I can use these for the Belli Challenge... I used peel offs that I had tucked away in a box.  I thought I had gotten rid of all of them but found these the other day.  Isn't that snowman ornament to die for?

Belli Challenge  ... Christmas Embellishments

Alphabet Challenge  ... G is for Glitter.. These are filled with glitter and mica powder

Christmas Blog Challenge ... Bauble

Scrappy Frogs Challenge  ... Holiday Decor

Allsorts Challenge ... Last minute Christmas projects

Creative Card Crew   ... Anything Goes

Cutie Sunday  ...  No Christmas

Papertake Weekly  ... Red and green must not be seen

Let's Ink It up ... Sparkle n Bling
Catch The Bug

Decorating The Christmas Tree Miss V Style

We spent the whole day with Miss V today and loved every moment of it. Since she began school full-time in September we don't get to see her like we once did and I have to say hubby and I truly miss her. Since early summer her daddy has not been able to play with her, and she misses that so much. We do try to make sure she is kept active. Since Thanksgiving she has been asking if she could decorate our Christmas Tree all by herself. I finally gave in and told her certainly. I invited my parents... her great grandparents to come over and give her a hand so they did. I don't know which of us enjoyed it the most, hubby and I? mom and dad? or Miss V herself? LOL.. Anyway this is not exactly how I would have decorated the tree, but it is how Miss V wanted it...so I am not moving one ornament. This is HER tree this year! I thought I would share a few of my pictures with you.   We truly made picture memories today.  It was so much fun watching her interact with her much loved Great Grandparents and her Poppy.  I wonder if she really understands just how much she is loved and how much joy she has brought to our family?  This is the easy way to decorate your tree... Let everyone else do it!  After decorating the tree and having gingerbread cake with coffee for the adults and milk for Miss V we took her shopping to buy gifts for her mom and dad.  Of course she had to buy herself a gift too!  (hummmm... that sounds way too much like her Nonnie).  We finished off the day with dinner and an aggressive game of Aggrevation.  She had never played that game before but found out she loves it and was so happy to find out that Nonnie has several of her daddy's old board games on hand.  I think we will be playing a lot of board games this winter.

Giving Poppy pointers

Showing where the next ornament should go.

Peeking around the tree

 It's a Family Affair

Practing on Grandpa on how to place the angel on the tree!



Whistling Jingle Bells

Finally A Few Cards And Some Challenges Too!

Before I post my pictures I have to say that Thanksgiving Day was wonderful.  It was the first time in 2 1/2 months that our son walked without the aide of a cane, walker or wheel chair.  God truly did answer our prayer for that day.  He has had his ups and downs since, but Thanksgiving Day gave him a much needed renewed spirit.  Thank you all so much for your prayers and kind thoughts.  It has been a rough summer for all of us. 

Now onto my cards... Yep... I had some time to myself and I made good use of it. My mojo is a bit rusty but at least I was CRAFTING!

I needed a simple decoration so I sat down and came up with this idea for a tree.  Not sure that I like them.  It seems something is missing, (suggestions anyone?) but it will fill my corner unless I find something else better. 

It fits the challenge for:

Creative Inspirations   decorations--no cards
Christmas Blog Challenge  Shape It up

Miss V needed a gift for her teacher.  Since I had several of these pails (they had flowers in them).. I decorated it for Christmas, added some candy and it is the cutest little idea ever.

I will enter this in the following challenge:

Creative Card Crew  treat boxes or goodie bags... (I hope this fits)

Top Tip Tuesday   Anything Goes

Paper Cutz Challenge  #69 anything goes

Love these white cards with just a splash of color. 

Fits the challenge for:

Crafty Card Makers   White and a splash

I stamped the background on my cardstock, then embossed the tree from a cuddlebug folder in silver mirri paper and added a mat, gems and a ribbon.  It really is stunning IRL...

Entering in:

One Stitch At A Time   Bling it up

Alphabet Challenge  E is for embossing

/crafty Catz Weekly Challenge  Christmas nice and simple

My favorite card this year is this simple one.  These are the ones I made to send out to family and friends. 

I stamped the card with a holly image...colored it with copic markers.  Then printed the recipe on the card.. It fits in the pocket so you can take it out after Christmas and add it to your recipe box. 

This fits the following challenges:

Paper Play Time  Christmas Carol Inspired.... Deck the Halls (my holly image)

Belli Challenge  #105 R's   Red, Ribbon, Ric Rac...anything R.. Also using old and forgotten things.  I have red, ribbon and a recipe, plus my paper is so old, I don't even remember who it is made by... It was wrinkled and dog eared. 

For some reason teal appealed to me this week.. Love the simplicity of my card and with all that has been going on...I am all about simple...

This fits the challenge for:

ABC Challenge  Ice and Snow.. My card's snowflake has glitter all over it to give the impression of ice.  Wish you could see it IRL

Made this adorable little tag to go on the pail pictured above.  I stamped it on acetate, colored it with slick writer markers.  Glued the back with glossy accents, sprinkled it with glitter then added scrunched up tissue paper, punched a hole added some butcher twine and this was the result.

Fits the challenge for:

Lil Red Wagon  Christmas tag or bag

Our Creative Corner  Tag, you're it

One Stop Craft Challenge  Christmas Cuties

Do you think I made good use of my time?  Even if they aren't my best work it was truly just what I needed to be doing.  Thanks for looking.