Christmas Cards

So, I finally got my Christmas cards done last night.  Wanna see? 

Aren't they pretty?  I just love them!  Honestly, they are my favorite Christmas cards EVER!  Wanna hear the best part?  They were FREE!  My friend Tracy @ Welcome To Our World had a Shutterfly giveaway back in October and I won!  WOO HOO!  Twenty-five free cards.  The best part is that I got to personalize the inside and even the back of the cards too.  LOOOOVE THEM! 

Wanna see what else I won at Tracy's? 

They are stickers from uprinting.com.  Aren't they cute?  I thought they would be great to put on my plain ole paper bags when I am at a craft show or something.  I love them! 

Thanks so much, Tracy!  I love them both!!! 

My Big Ole Stocking....A Tutorial

So, do you remember when you were little and you went to Wal-Mart with your mom and while walking down the Christmas aisle looking at all the decorations, etc., you stumble upon one of those big ole stockings about three feet tall and they have toys spilling out of the top of them?  Yeah, me too.   I always wanted one of those, so I thought I'd make myself a big ole stocking this year.  But, I'm not stuffing mine with cheap toys that will break in the first ten minutes you play with them.  Nope.  Instead, I'm stuffing mine with washcloths.  Is that weird?  Yeah, I know.  Wanna see?

So wanna know how to make your own? 

I knew I wanted mine to hang on the door, so I used a heavyweight duck cloth, which I got at Wal-Mart.  You can get it almost anywhere.  I was semi inspired by the ones from Ballard Designs. 

Aren't they cute?  BUT, I wasn't crazy about the shape.  They kind of look like when you have on sweaty crew socks or something after a workout and you pull them off by the toe and they get that weird pointy stretched out thing going on.  I wanted something a bit more whimsical.  Not even to mention that mine was not $25.00.  It was more like $8.00.  That's MUCH more to my liking. 

So, like I said, I chose white duck cloth.  I washed, dried and ironed it.  Then I got a large piece of craft paper and drew out my pattern and cut it out.  Then I doubled my fabric, laid my pattern on top

 and cut out two stocking pieces at once. 

I decided that I wanted a "crown" part for the top so again, I drew out a pattern, making sure the top of the stocking and the crown were the same size.  I had just a little bit of the green dot I wanted to use for the crown foldover,

so I opted to use some lightweight cotton for the back and inside of the "crown" part.  So,  I cut on green piece and three white pieces for my crown. 

Obviously, if you have plenty of fabric for the crown, you can cut four pieces of the same fabric.  Pin the right sides of your crown fabric together. 

Stitch, using 1/4" seam allowance down the sides and up and down the points.  See the silly pictures below where I drew in the black stitches.  Yes, I'm a dork.

Anyway, clip your seam allowances in the corners of your crown points, being careful not to actually clip the stitches.

Now flip your crown pieces inside out and iron flat.  You should have two crown pieces now.  Pin together, right sides together and stitch down the sides.

Can you see my stitches?  Stitch down the sides were it's pinned.  Put your crown aside and pin your stocking pieces together and stitch all around except for the top.  Clip carefully around the toe.  Turn inside out and iron.  So sorry I forgot to take pictures of this step.  ***This is the time to add a hanging loop if you want one.  I fogot to do this step.  DUH!  If you do this, take a piece of ribbon and double it.  Line up the edges with the top of your stocking, with the loop part down in the stocking and stitch in place so it will be in between the inside of the stocking and the crown piece you are about to sew. 

Now, get your crown piece, right side out, points down, and slip inside of your stocking, doing your best to line up the side seams of the crown with the side seams of the stocking.

Pin in place.

Stitch all the way around the opening using 1/4" seam allowance.

Now, flip your crown to the outside of your stocking and iron in place. 

So, of course I wanted polka dots.  I had planned on ding applique dots, but didn't have the fabric I wanted to do it.  Being the impatient person that I am, I decided to go ahead and just paint on my dots.  I just used acrylic craft paint.  After it was dry, I WAS going to stuff the toe with polyfil so it didn't flop around, but because my daughter used it all on her latest sock monkey project, I opted to use papertowels and washcloths.  Weird, right?  Like I said before, I am impatient and didn't have time to run to Wal-Mart. 

Wow.  My rug looks AWFUL.  Oh well.  I still love my stocking. 

I'm linking this project to the following blog parties:

Hookin' Up With House of Hepworths 
Strut You Stuff @ Somewhat Simple
Chic & Crafty Party @ The Frugal Girls
Weekend Bloggy Reading @ Serenity Now for Amanda.
The Doors and Porches Party @ At The Picket Fence

Holiday House 2011

What a great weekend!  On Saturday, my mom, sister, my oldest, C, my niece, K, and I went to the big Christmas shopping extravaganza known as Holiday House.  It's a large craft show put on by the Junior League of Little Rock.  My mom, sister and I LOVE to go, but this is the first time our girls have gone with us...BIG MISTAKE!  UGH!  They are sooooo staying home next year.  Anyway, I just thought I would share a few pictures I took.  I know it is probably strictly forbidden frowned upon to take pictures of the booths and I probably should have asked instead of totally sneaking shots snapping photos, but I just couldn't help myself.  So sorry.  I promise to never to do it again (until next year).  Sometimes it's better to apologize afterwards than to ask permission, ya know?  Especially if you are pretty sure they're gonna say no.  Hee Hee!  So, because I was totally sneaking shots with my iphone, some of them are a tad bit out of focus.  Again, so sorry. 

This is what greeted us when we walked in the door.  Isn't it fabulous?  Love the flocking with the red and green.  So pretty!

Love this tree!  Some of my favorite colors - red, green and aqua.  LOVE!

Okay.  Weird shot because the little green tree is in front of the big tree I wanted to show you.  That's what happens when you're trying to be sneaky.  Aren't the colors fantastic?  Purple and magenta. 

But, it wasn't just Christmas decorations, there were also lots of gift items. 

This wine bag cracks me up!  After all, I do love my Jesus, but I also enjoy beer with my pizza.  Hilarious! 

Aren't these beaded serving pieces adorable? I love them!!!! I think my SIL knows how to make them. Gotta get with her on that. 

This is the sock monkey booth.  So many cute things and...

even a Thanksgiving sock monkey.  See his pilgrim hat on that one sock monkey?  And the lunchbox?  So cute!

There were also several booths with wonderful clothes and home decor.  I forgot to take pictures of all but one booth though.  Wanna see the one I managed to sneak?

I love that mirror in the back!  Hello gorgeous!  And those pillows!  Wanna closer look?

Cute, right? 

So, we concluded our shopping day by eating at On The Border.  I always vote for Mexican food when we go out.  YUM!  White cheese dip and tacos (again, with a beer - MMM!) - one of my very favorite meals!! 

Thanks mom and sis for an awesome day together!!! 

Getting Ready for Christmas Already

Well, I saw my first Hallmark Christmas commercial this morning.  Let the tears begin.  Christmas is less than two months away.  Time flies!  My week has been filled with preparing for our school's annual silent auction.  Each class is responsible for making a themed basket.  I am room mother, so I was in charge of making our basket.  Our theme this year....CHOCOLATE!  MMMMM!  So, I collected money from parents went shopping and begged for a few donations from local businesses.  I even made a small kitchen towel for the basket. 

Why zebra in a chocolate basket?  Well, I was looking for a big beverage tub to put everything in, but I couldn't find one big enough that wasn't a TON of $$.  So, I went to Gordman's where I found a big basket with a zebra liner.  So, our theme became "Wild About Chocolate", and therefore the zebra towel.  I also found a green giraffe insulated cup.  I secretly wanted it for myself.  I gotta go back and get me one of those.  So cute!


This is what it looked like:

Also this week, I've been preparing for a craft show this weekend.  I've been crazy busy trying to get some things sewn up and watching over the new puppies.  I'll let ya know how it goes and I'm hoping to have a new tutorial up next week.  See ya then!  Gotta get back to sewing.

Christmas Memories 2010

Well, it's now a few days after Christmas and things are starting to get back to normal, well, our normal anyway.  We had a wonderful, semi-relaxing few days together.  Everyone's schedules were a little off kilter this year so we opted to change our celebration schedule.  We went to Hubby's dad's house in Dallas a few weeks ago and celebrated there.  The kids had a great time with their grandparent's.  I'll tell ya more about our trip there later, but did want to share our one family picture that was taken during the Christmas season. 

Hmmmmm.....not great.  Obviously, we didn't send out Christmas cards this year. 

Christmas Eve was pretty fun.  My oldest daughter was at her dad's so the rest of us hung out and tracked Santa on NORAD and watched White Christmas.  The plan was to sleep as late as the kids would let us Christmas morning because is this the first year I remember when we had no specific place to be on Christmas Day.  So, I fully expected the kids to wake us up at the crack of dawn, but instead it was the doorbell that woke us up at 7:30.  I got up and peeked out the window to see two policemen standing at my door.  When the cops wake you up first thing in the morning, it can't be good news, right?  "What's wrong?" I asked as I opened the door.  He explained that apparently someone had taken out our mailbox.  The neighbor, who shares our bricked formation, had called to report it. 

Nice, huh?  Merry Christmas to me! 

Anyway, we spent the morning letting the kids open their presents and playing.  We spent the whole day in our jammies.  We did go over to visit my MIL for a few hours, but we went in our jammies.  I love pajama days!

The morning after Christmas, my daugher came home and we all left to go to my mom and dad's house for Christmas with them.  Mom made a ham and we brought a turkey to fry.  The kids were playing, the girls were in the kitchen and the men were in charge of the turkey.  Hubby had injected and seasoned it and it was ready to go.  Only problem was, there was a little problem with the turkey fryer.  It wouldn't get hot enough so they finally decided to put the big pot of oil on the grill.  It took a little while, actually a long while, but the turkey finally got done about the time everyone was finished eating.  Luckily, my mom had a ham cooked too.  YAY Mom!  The food was delicious! 

The kids were semi patient while waiting to open their presents. 

Everyone has a great time opening their presents, me included.  My parents got Hubby and I a wonderful gift......a trip for two to our favorite getaway cabin for two.  No kids allowed!  I was so excited that I cried. 

Why, yes, that is a huge jacuzzi tub in the corner of the cabin over looking the lake.  GORGEOUS! 

So, how was your Christmas? 

**I apologize in advance for my lack of blogging the next week or so.  My kids are all home until the 6th, which means my days will be filled with the joys of motherhood, ya know things like breaking up arguments, filling cups, making snacks, playing their new games, making reservatuions at the crazy house, begging them to take a nap every once in awhile, doing laundry, stuff like that.  Ah, motherhood.  Gotta love it!

Merry Christmas To All!!!

Well, it's Christmas Eve.  Tomorrow as we celebrate with our families and open presents with the ones we love, let us all remember the reason we celebrate.  Christmas is celebrated because God gave us the ultimate gift, his only son, who would save us all.

This is our Christmas card picture from 5 years ago, pre-E. 

Happy Birthday Jesus!  Merry Christmas everyone!

Getting To Know You Thursday....Christmas Music

Hello Friends!  Wow, how I have missed you.  It's been one of those weeks!  As I mentioned, I am having computer problems.  I hijacked Hubby's work computer for a few days until he can figure out what's wrong with mine (say a little prayer, please), but then yesterday something else broke.  I was just about to finish my last Christmas present when my sewing machine broke.  BROKE!  As in, doesn't work anymore.  As in, it won't load my thread.  As in, B.R.O.K.E.  I seriously called my Hubby almost in tears.  I feel like I lost an arm.  UGH! 

Anyway, please forgive my absence this week and tomorrow also.  We are heading to visit Hubby's dad and stepmom in Big D.  We are pretty excited to see everyone.  YEA!  Usually a car trip with six people is not a good time, but one good bonus at this time of year is that there will be no fighting over the radio.  Why?  Well, because it's Christmas time, which means Christmas music.  That's the kind of music we can all agree on. 

We love all kinds of Christmas music.  I think my favorite Christmas carol would be O Holy Night.  I love that song.  The kids love all the usual favorites....Jingle Bells, Frosty the Snowman, Up On the Housetop, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, etc.  There are also tons of great old favorites such as, Bing Crosby's White Christmas, Brenda Lee's Rockin Around the Christmas Tree and Jingle Bell Rock.  I also love Gene Autry's version of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.  I played my Time Life Christmas Treasury so much that I literally wore it out. It had everything on it, including The Chipmunk Song, which is definitely one of their favorites.

Another one of my favorites is from my teenage years.  Yes, I grew up in the 80's.  One of my favorite songs is Do They Know It's Christmas by Band Aid.  I mean, Duran Duran, Bono and Bananarama - how could any self-respecting 80's kids not love that?





Then there is Amy Grant's Breath of Heaven, which is in a class all by itself.  The youtube video is below and it's amazing.  It's a wonderful partner to Mary Joy's study on Mary.  I don't think you can hear that song and watch that video and not celebrate the true meaning of Christmas. 



So, what's your favorite Christmas carol or song? 

Applique Christmas Towel

So, as I mentioned yesterday, Hubby was sick this weekend so we didn't get to attend his Nannie's 85th birthday party OR his cousin Amy's Christmas party, as we had planned.  We really hated to miss it.  Amy had mentioned that at her party, we were to bring White Elephant/Dirty Santa gifts.  Y'all know that game, right?  Where everyone opens a gift one at a time and then you can trade depending on what number you draw?  Y'all know that game?  Anyway, lots of people bring silly gifts, like rolls of toilet paper or a Slinky, but I always want to bring something nice, maybe a nice candle or a cute mug with a Starbucks gift card.  I decided that I would make something this year.  This is what I decided on.

An applique Christmas tree towel.  Isn't it cute?  I got decent reviews for the DishWitchy Towel I made for Halloween, so why not a Christmas one, right?  Anyway, since the party was last weekend, I thought it would be plenty of time to display it for Christmas.  Too bad we missed the party, but I still love the towel.  Wouldn't they make great gifts for teachers or neighbors or just anybody who has a kitchen?  I always cook for teachers so this would be great along with their cookies and candy!  I gotta get busy making more.  Christmas is just around the corner. 

Okay, friends, gotta go get ready to see Michael Buble tonight.  WOO HOO!

I'm linking up to Thrifty Gifty @ Homebody Holly, Frugalicious Friday @ Finding Fabulous, Maggie's Grown Up Crafts Handmade Holidays and: