I Spy With My Little Eye

   Another super-easy Christmas ornament for the grandkids to make were these little "I Spy" ornaments.  Instead of the regular clear glass ornaments, we used the plastic, unbreakable clear ornaments to make them a bit safer while being played with.  The plastic filler beads are from the flower section of the craft store and are meant to use in vases to help hold the flower stems up.  We had to remember to leave a gap of space at the top of the ornament, so there would be room to roll, and twist, and just generally get the inside moving around to find the different items hid within.

We added a tag to list the things that were inside the ornament to find.  Then we added a few extra items to find that weren't on the list.

My granddaughter enjoyed making these quite a bit.  My grandson, at almost twice the age wasn't as impressed, but he was still a sport about it and made a couple, then helped his sister out in making more.  Until finally, we had a whole "tree" full.

Are you getting in the holiday spirit yet?

Winter Birthday

The Clean and Simple Challenge over at Outlawz is "A Winter Birthday."  Immediately, I thought of Ann's birthday at the end of November.  And I came up with this card for Ann:

Time For Tea

Copics Used:

Hair:  E59, E57, E55, E51

Skin:  R00, R11, E00, E02, E21

Shoes:  E49, E47, E43, E42, E41

Socks:  E41, E40

Skirt:  E47, E43, E42

Hoodie:  BG99, BG96, BG93

Hoodie Trim:  E43, E42, E41

Ground:  YG91

Outline W1

But this card, is NOT clean and simple.  O.k, it may be simple, but it has too many layers to ever be a true CAS design.  So, when at first you don't succeed, try, try again.  I looked at my calendar of birthdays in winter and saw that there were oodles of possible recipients -- but most of them were male.  So, now I wanted a CAS card for a guy.  Hmmm.  One layer of dark blue cardstock, a Cornish Heritage Farms stamp and a Hampton Art sentiment, and some white embossing powder.  Then I went crazy with my trusty hole punches and punched away to simulate falling snow.  Here it is:

Cornish Heritage Farms

"The snow itself is lonely or, if you prefer self-sufficient.

There is no other time when the world seems composed of one thing

and one thing only."

                                                                                            - Joseph Wood Krutch

Whipper Snapper Christmas

   The Color Challenge over at Outlawz this week is "Anything Goes with an Optional Christmas Twist," so obviously, I HAD to get in on that!  This image, I believe is from Whipper Snapper.  The large snowflake, I've had in my stash since the 80's (so I am equally dubious about it's maker); it is stamped with glittery embossing powder.   "Candy Cane Wishes" is definitely from High Hopes and is embossed.

Copics Used:

Hat and Boots:  110, C7, C5, C3, C1

Nose:  110, C7

Vest:  G28, G24, G21

Red on Candy Cane and Hat Band:  R89, R39, R37

Holly Leaves:  G07, G00

Berries:  R37, R35 and White Gel Pen

Hat Buckle:  Pentel Sparkling God Metallic Pigment Gel Pen

White on Candy Cane:  N3, N1

Snowman:  B00, B000, Colorless Blender

Buttons:  W7, W3

Ground and Outline:  Blue Pearl ProMarker

May You Never Run Out of Challenges!

The Shores of Galilee

 

  With little time for crafting this past year, Pinterest became my haven for whenever I could squeeze in 5 or 10 minutes of pure "me" time.   I pinned many projects for "one day" and several for "the next time the grandkids visit."  This is one of the later.  A super easy Christmas ornament made with a clear glass ornament, some sand and tiny shells.  The tag reads:

"When you see this ornament hanging from your tree, 

may you remember the One,

 who walked the shores of Galilee."  

The card making supplies had to be broken out to add a grommet to the tag -- which was cut with a Spellbinders die on the Cuttlebug. 

I have one tip for making this ornament:  The sand will come back out of the holes in the cap.  We put a dab of hot glue inside the cap to prevent this from happening.  After all, there is enough to clean up after Christmas without adding beach sand to the mess.

May we all remember Everyday "the One"  -- Jesus Christ, Our Lord.

WHERE DID THE TIME GO?

   What do you mean it is November all ready?  It seems like just yesterday I was welcoming in the spring and now it is fall and cold and summer is gone.  Although, I am not working as many hours as I had been the past 3 years, it seems I have less time for myself, because I have been trying to get things caught up, cleaned up and fixed up.  I am a long way from done, but I am at a spot now where I am hoping there will be more time for hobbies and fun.  (Keep your fingers crossed for me!).
    I want to post the Christmas ornaments that the kids and I have been working on, but before I do that; there are a few cards that I made earlier in the year that I want posted here, so this diary of all the cards I have made will be complete.  Yep.  It's been a while...


For Claire, who doesn't really care for yellow:

Hanglar and Stanglar

Copics Used:

Pants:  V99, V95, V93

Headband:   V95, V93, V91

Shirt and Stripes on Socks:  RV95, RV93, RV91

Shirt Collar and Socks:  C5, C3, C1

Bench:  E57, E55, E53

Hair:  E25, E23, E51

Skin:  R00, E21, E00, E11

Ground:  YG91, YG97, G94;  Dots:  YG95, E23

Outline:  Blue Pearl ProMarker

For Mary G., who doesn't seem to mind the color yellow:

Hanglar and Stanglar

Copics Used:

Same as above, except RV colors are replaced with:

Y08, Y11, Y000

and the Cool grays are replaced with more:

V99, V95, V93, V91

For Bridget, who likes yellow, but I used my favorite green instead:

Hanglar and Stanglar

Copics Used:  

Tag:  E55, E53, E51, E50

Hair:  E25, E23, E51

Shoes:  E57, E55, E53

Jacket and Bows:  YG95, YG93

Dress:  Y26, Y23

Brooch:  E29, E27, E24 and 

Gold Gel Pen

Sending Prayers Up for You!