New adventures await!

Adventure awaits!

Here comes 2017! 

I made these little cards to write something to my girls and husband for the new year.  I am welcoming and ushering it in with gladness.  This year has had so many struggles and changes.  All good and challenging on so many levels. It stretches us and grows us even when we are opposed to what's happening.  

I always look at the new year not with setting resolutions, but stretching myself to try three new things for the year. It can be anything.  Maybe you have always wanted to try hand lettering but haven't or maybe you have wanted to try a new sport or hobby.  

I like to write down a few ideas as to what I want to try and then go for it!   If I do three, then I sometimes add more!   Remember, it doesn't have to be big. Just give something a try, something new.

See where 2017 takes you!  I'm challenging you, adventure awaits!

I found these adorable new year rockets at Tj Maxx that are filled with a fortune, a paper crown and a gift.  Similar to Christmas crackers. They are so cute! 

So here's wishing you a Happy New Year! 

Come as you are

Sharing another piece from the House of  Belonging that my sweet daughter Shelby brought back to me from Nashville for Christmas.

I pray you never forget how wonderful YOU are in God's perfect eyes- come as you are, just as you are and you will always be loved and accepted. 

Always come as you are, at least to my house!

I can't believe I am saying this could possibly be a (gasp!) Valentine's card......

Holiday fun

Happy tuesday!

Sharing my beautiful piece I received from my dear Hubs for Christmas.  Have you heard of House of Belonging?  They sell all kinds of amazing things.  This just being one of them.  I have followed them on Instagram for sometime. 

 While my daughter Shelby was living in Nashville, she was able to find a few pieces there for me and shared this one with her Dad.

Love this scripture!

We had a wonderful Christmas spending time with family.

These are just a few pics from Christmas Eve and Christmas day.

Notice the deer antlers!!!  My niece pictured right brought enough for all 21 of us to wear!   With our family being so big we have a name drawing for gift giving and this year she picked my name.  She gave me the cutest deer gifts! 

 Thanks Traci!  you know me so well.

  She also brought and made these pretty mini cupcakes.   

Merry Christmas!

Dear friends

May your holiday be merry and the New Year be filled with friends, family and adventurous times.  Wishing all of you and your families a Merry Christmas filled with peace, love and joy.

This is a beautiful farm called Dairyland that we visited this week in Snohomish.  They hold weddings and events there and I just loved how they had simply decorated the front doors of the barn.

Such beautiful grounds there.

My girls

Hot Cocoa Bar

Today we had a houseful of teenagers playing Twister, decorating cookies, exchanging gifts and laughter galore!

I just treasure listening to their conversations. 

 You learn a lot looming in the kitchen.  

I made up a hot cocoa bar for them and baked most of the morning before they arrived.

Look at these cute wooden spoons I found and stamped on.

Here's a fun thing to try.  We bought large marshmallows and some white chocolate wafers that you melt.  We rolled the marshmallows in the white chocolate and then sprinkled sugar crystals on them and let them dry.   Then kids dropped them into their hot cocoa and watched them quickly melt. Don't they look like little snow balls? 

Oh the smells today, baking is done!

sugar cookies, magic cookie bars, breads, peanut butter blossoms, coconut shortbread.  What is your favorite cookie recipe?

I used simple kraft wrapping paper this Christmas and some 'believe" ribbon found at TJ Maxx to tie them with. 

 I am sooo behind with the details this season.

 Anyone else this behind?

Hoping your friday finds you relaxed and ready for the Christmas

Christmas Decor

I had good intentions of posting some Christmas decor from around my house much sooner than the last week before the big day.

But, well, here goes.......

My theme right now is Woodland Winter Wonderland.  I have everything on my tree from deer (no surprise there!) to owls, birds, pine cones to birch ornaments.  Anything I can find around my house that brings nature indoors I try to incorporate.

I usually have the chalkboard art out on my porch, but decided to add it to my holiday mantle this year.  Trying to go with white, green and some sparkle.

We've been super busy the last five days with my daugher Shelby graduating with a B.A. in Marketing from Grand Canyon University and then whisking her off to Disneyland to celebrate.

My Hubby's Mom, Dan, Shae, Shelby and my Dad - all smiles!

Taylor and Shelby just after graduation

Merry Christmas from Cars land via Disneyland

How sweet is it that the girls did their hair up in Mickey ears!

Happy Holidays

This card was created with the stamp set from November's paper pumpkin kit.  

I always love to use it in different ways so that I can use it for more than just the kit.  

Handmade Christmas Tags

Do ya'll make your own christmas tags or do you buy them?

Did you know how easy it is to make them?

I cut mine at 2 x 3 1/2" then  stamp snowflakes and a sentiment.

Like some sparkle? add the rhinestones.

My girlfriend gave me this adorable bowl. 

 How cute is this? a "sweet" reminder of our friendship

Christmas Mittens

Well is certainly is cold here!

  Baby it's cold outside in the Pacific Northwest!

I cut out the mittens from the Candy Cane Lane paper and added some baker's twine on top of the Serene Scenery paper.  The background on this paper looks just like linen.  Love it!

Stamp some snowflakes and add a sentiment and your good to go!

Annual Christmas Luncheon

Sunday was my annual Christmas luncheon with friends that have been faithfully in my life for 20 years and their kiddos. All our kids have grown up through the years together.  Pretty amazing.  The only thing that keeps us all apart is distance.  Each family except one lives one a half hours away from me.  So that means getting together gets harder and harder.  I cherish this tradition!

I love that the girls still like to craft!, well, except the older ones.  They were in the living room playing heads up and having some Proseco!

Of course we always have to take the goofiest pics!

Each year we play at least 4 games if not more

This one is for one minute.  You put a pile of candy canes on the table and one in your mouth.  You have one minute to hook up as many canes as you can without using your hands and put them in the bowl.   This was hysterical!!!

Sweet and twisted.  Is that me or a candy cane?  baahaaa!

And look how they have grown!  ready to take on the world!

and then there's the two mischievous elves, never a dull moment!

Frosty

Frosty is here to spread a little Christmas Cheer!

This card is made by using all punches.

I cut my card 4 1/4" x 5 1/2", then cut an inch off the front side of the card so that I could start punching out Frosty.

Want to know how to do this? 

Look below!

Here's the how to video......

Update on my 2340 West Newton towels

They sold out in two days!!!  Thanks to all of you who supported me, sent me encouraging messages and ordered! 

I love you all!

I have placed the order for the next run of towels and the printing which should take place next week.  So those of you who have placed orders since the sell out will receive your shipments before Christmas!   Thank you bunches!

You can still place orders at the top of my blog, the orders for all towels are back ordered at this time.

The Grow Hope Foundation

Today I want to introduce you to a local woman Kimberly Taylor who is making beautiful things happen in Uganda.

 The Grow Hope Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to empowering people in rural Uganda improve their lives through education, skills training and mentorship.  We provide a well on our educational compound "Tusubira Village" which gives people access to clean water and we teach community members how to improve their health through good hygiene and sanitation,  as well as farming skills in order to improve their nutrition.

                                        Visit Kimberly's Grow Hope Foundation HERE

                                  Two of my creative friends Lisa McKenney and Stephanie Ackerman have collaborated with Kimberly and her foundation to raise money to help the community in Uganda.
                              This is where YOU come in!
You too can help, and today, only today if you purchase this beautiful Give Hope gift set you will receive a bonus second set to spread more hope!
                            Bless Grow Hope and bless a friend!

You will receive Stephanie Ackerman's beautifully created print and card as well as the Hope skinny bracelet created by Lisa McKenney.  

To purchase the Give Hope gift set visit Lisa's site HERE