This will be my last post for the year. I will be back, after a small break from the computer, the first week of January. Can’t wait to see you again in the new year.
Wishing you the warmest wishes for Winter Solstice, Holiday Season, Christmas and the New Year.
Big hugs and Peace,
Maybe next year I’ll make some of these incredibly awesome holiday crafties. I’ve been favoriting them on my flickr to help me keep track and remember.
1. vintagechristmas07, 2. kid/mom scrap ball collaboration, 3. gingerbread mobile, 4. Christmas Stockings, 5. christmas tree patchwork, 6. Glass box, 7. Flashy Glitterboard Cottage!, 8. gumdrop wreath, 9. Soft Trees Forest, from the Purl Bee, 10. Day 12: Christmas Peggy, 11. Peppermint garland, 12. Full Moon Forest patchwork tree, 13. decking the studio, 14. Advent garland, 15. My Christmas Trees, 16. is it time yet?, 17. Advent stocking garland, 18. garland swap - sent, 19. Molly’s Star Ornaments, 20. Christmas Tree Deco, 21. detail, 22. Gum Drop Balls. Much better than Schwetty Balls, 23. fabric chain garland, 24. Decorated table top holiday trees, 25. candy cones
On another note, I’ve finished all of my shopping. I still have a few gifts to make for my little guys (and maybe the big guy too). I was 95% loyal to my Handmade Pledge. I have a 6 year old. That is my excuse. He had a couple of things on his list to Santa that just can’t be handmade. We didn’t indulge him in all of his requests, but a couple couldn’t hurt.
A huge order was made from Amazon (books were the exception), and then there was ETSY. I have to say that hitting that “add to cart” button was quite satisfying. Not only are you buying very cool handmade stuff, but you are supporting others in their handiwork. Quite an amazing feeling. An added bonus was crossing off several names off the list and not stressing about making more stuff (next year I’ll try to be more prepared –ha ha).
*********Sisters and Mother Do NOT Read beyond this point!!!*********
I bought THIS and THIS from Alison Stine.
These very cute hooded towels from Tiny Bubbles.
This really great felt soap from Spider Felt.
And this really great felting kit from Garland Cottage Needle Felting.
It’s not much, but I feel loads better about it having bought handmade.
This little Christmas Mouse is making his way to Great Grandma Glennys. She is always saying that a little mouse must’ve been eating her cookies (cake or other goodies) when they are running low. She, of course, is the real little mouse, but Super-E thought this little yellow guy could keep her company while they munch away on all sorts of sweets.
These were such a treat to sew up (the original pattern HERE) that another one appeared shortly after the first. Then right after that, a certain little I-guy came in my room demanding a bed too. I know a third little mouse will need to be made and quite possibly a forth (filled with catnip for kitty).
Some of these bird cards were sent out with my bird ornaments. I’ve also been making gifts cards sets with them too.
These house cards were made up today, also for gift cards sets. The stamps have been used to decorate envelopes and also the packages for my little house ornaments that were sent out.
I love notecards. They can be so handy when wanting to send a message or add to a gift. I always try to have several different cards on hand at all times, just in case. They just make the gift or message a little more special. Which reminds me that another notecard swap should be in order (maybe Jan, Feb?)
These will be sent out tomorrow. I just loved the collage of my guys on the last post, so that’s how I printed them up. I love how they turned out. I also did a little tree/ornament illustration for this year’s card.
I’m wishing for a long magical life of believers. That the children of the world believe in you longer than they seem to be lately. That this belief is sprinkled in with lots of the other meaningful holiday traditions.
It’s just more fun to believe and keep that childhood imagination soaring for as long as we can. It’s that imagination that flames a long fulfilling creative life.
My Little guy spent a good portion of Tuesday writing a letter to Santa. I love the “I try to listen” part. He does try, which is so, so hard for a 6 year old. He added a few questions at the end. “How do you get your mail?” and “How fast does your sleigh go?”. We’ll be working on a return letter just to keep the holidays a little more magical for him. I love that he believes in Santa. He is usually a little more skeptical (like his father) about most things. I think The Polar Express helped seal the deal a little.
How fast does Santa’s sleigh goes anyway?
Do you love my Santa collection. I do! They are “vintage”. My lovely mother-in-law gave them all to me I think. I’m not sure about the one on the far left. I have a growing collection of Santas and of snow globes. I always look forward to pulling these out of the closet every year. They make me smile.
Tomorrow morning I will announce the ornament winners!! The cut off for leaving a comment is tonight at midnight.
We really just went thrifting to find jackets for the kids, the kind that you don’t care if they don’t make it home because they only cost a few bucks. Or the kind, when stained with blood you don’t care about the jacket, just the nose, arm, chin (whatever–boys!). Yep, we found a few that are pretty decent actually. Perfect for school. I also found a bunch of other stuff because it’s nearly impossible to stay away from the fabric section…and the dishes…and everything
Aren’t those mugs cool! Another lady was eyeing them and asked if I was REALLY going to get them. Absolutely, I am! I also got more pillow cases, fabric, napkins, a few holiday goodies and a fairy lady that I’m giving to my sister.
When we got back home, I made muffins to warm up the house a bit. It’s been quite rainy lately, unusual for these parts.
(see the pretty thrifted napkin underneath?)
They are pumpkin muffins from VWAV. I like nuts in mine and my guys don’t, so I added a little bit of fresh cranberry sauce to the tops of mine to tell them apart. These muffins were super tasty and incredibly moist, but I think I can officially say that I am done with pumpkin until next year.
Thank you for all of the ornament love. I love thinking about my little birds and houses adorning the trees in other warm and cozy homes. You still have time to get a comment in for a free ornament, so hurry on over to my last post.
My grand plans for merry making seems to be falling way short of what I had originally dreamed up. I am announcing now, that it really doesn’t matter. I’ve cut my list in half and I’m just gonna wing it. Whatever happens happens. No shop update, no handmade gifts for everyone, no excessive baking. I’m going to chill like a penguin. I’m saying this in hopes that it REALLY will stop bothering me. Like, maybe getting it out there will make it all okay. Really okay. And I’ll stop silently and internally stressing about it. Deep, deep breath…Ahhhhhh
Now on to better things.
These are the ornaments I made for the Holiday Ornament Swap and for Amy’s ornament swap. I know I said I’d only do two swaps, but I thought I’d just make a bunch of ornaments (which I had been planning to do anyway). Plus, I can’t resist a swap hosted by Amy. I always try to do her swaps–they’re the best.
These ornaments are somewhat similar to the ones I made last year. Painted metal, different subject. This large group of little houses are only halfway finished. I had to take a picture before I lost my light. They didn’t take as long to paint as you’d think, maybe because I was enjoying myself and not rushing. And of course they have glitter. Love, love, love sparkles!
AND because I love the birds I made last year so much, I made more. I had originally planned to have these done over a week ago and put them up on etsy. But, I just can’t imagine spending all that time listing them. So, I’m giving a couple away. One house and one bird. What am I going to do with the rest you ask? Well, if anyone wants one, you can buy one from me through paypal. Six dollars for a house and 8$ for a bird (shipping included for US and Canada orders) add $2 for international. Please send me an email to regina AT creativekismet DOT com and let me know if you would like one. There are 8 birds and 5 houses available. Thanks!!!
Don’t forget to leave a comment to win one of these ornaments. I will pick two names on Thursday night (Dec. 13th) so I can mail them on Friday.
Here is what we made with our salt dough.
It was such a great family project. Everyone played, even daddy.
See the little Yoda in there. It’s a mommy/daddy collaboration. Daddy did a fine job sculpting and I painted. The force is strong with him, don’t you think?
Here is the recipe in case you want to try this out. Very basic.
2 cups flour
1 cup salt
1 cup warm water
Combine all ingredients and knead for 10 minutes (really work those arm muscles). The dough should be soft, elastic and not sticky or too dry. Add more water or flour to get correct consistency. Allow to rest for 30 minutes then roll, press, twist, smash, form, shape– whatever suites your fancy. Place on cookie sheet and bake at 250 degrees for a long long time (2-4 hours, depending on how thick your ornaments are). They are done when they are brown on bottom and very hard. When cooled, paint, paint, paint.
TOMORROW: Ornament GIVEAWAY!!!!!
The tree and half of the decorations are up and some salt dough was made for ornament making. Having a wee bit of spiced rum and silk-nog helped, especially when a certain person(me) was getting bunged up about dumb stuff. It’s all goooood now. 
Cheers!
These ornaments are made from polymer clay and took way more time to craft than I care to admit. They aren’t even for my ornament swaps, which I should have been working on instead. These are gifts for friends and babies of 2007. I had meant to buy clear crystally glitter but accidentally bought this snowy stuff instead.
Tomorrow has been set aside for last minute ornament swap making. I know what I’m making so it shouldn’t be too bad.
Lastly, Chara tagged me with listing 5 random things about myself. So here I go. You can read on and be completely bored to tears or skip right on to the five lucky gals I am tagging (insert evil laugh).
1. I have two tattoos (small–shoulder & ankle) that I got on the same day.
2. I ALWAYS eat breakfast. You don’t want to see me without it.
3. I haven’t put any Christmas decor up yet (slacker). Big plans for that this weekend.
4. When Harry Met Sally is my favorite Christmas movie. I watch it every year around this time.
5. This song is my favorite Jingle Bells version. My grandparents had the record when I was little and my middle sister and I would play it over and over trying to sing just as fast. Then we’d fall on the floor laughing hysterically.
