Sharing some homemade gifts

Happy Day After Christmas!! I hope everyone had the most fabulous day ever!!

This was a wonderful Christmas in our house. Last week my 10 yr. old announced that kids at school were telling her there was no Santa but she didn't believe them. She just knows there has to be a Santa. Her reasoning went like this - "Mom, there is NO WAY you could stay up that late or get up that early to put out presents and not be crabby on Christmas day. And you are NEVER crabby on Christmas!!" I will treasure that thinking forever!!

Ours was great even if it did start at 2:15am!! Yes my 10 year old couldn't sleep any longer since Santa had come and she was dying to open presents. She would come into my room every 15 minutes and announce she couldn't sleep.  My 7 yr old woke at 4:15am and we opened presents. Needless to say we were all in bed at 8PM!! I have to say even though I was exhausted, I really enjoyed the excitement my 10 yr old showed for Santa!! It made this a very special Christmas!!

I figured I would share a few of my Christmas gifts I made for my girls teachers. Since Natalie had a list of 7 people to make gifts for, I'll just share a few at a time!! 

These gifts all used the same template from My Time Made Easy - Keep It. There's whole other story about my creating these gifts that I'll share later this week. On with the gifts -

I made this one for the secretary at Natalie's school. She is a card maker so I set it up as a card organizer and address card organizer. I also threw in a notepad!!

This is the one I made for Kendra's homeroom teacher.  I filled it with a notepads, note cards, and other general teacher supplies.

 Cards and notepads included above.

This is the organizer I made for Kendra's second teacher. She has a team of 2 teacher this year.

The cards and note pads I included in her box.

Supplies:

   Template - My Time Made Easy - Keep It

    Stamps from the following companies - Unity, Just Rite, Papertrey, {ippity}

Thanks so much for coming by!! 

Blessings and Hugs,

Just stopping by to wish everyone a MERRY CHRISTMAS and a NEW YEAR filled with many blessings!!

I hope today and every day is filled with joy, happiness and love!!!

Blessings and Hugs!!

Another Basket

Can you tell I'm on Christmas break? :-)  I actually have time to post! 

My girls still have school today and tomorrow but my DH and I are off. So we are planning to try and finish our Christmas shopping today! I'll still have to get him something but I have no idea what to get him. Suggestions?? 

I am really working to remember the importance of slowing down and listening and following the Lord. Today he spoke to me about just that in today's devotional in "Jesus Calling" by Sarah Young. She states  "DO NOT BE WEIGHED DOWN by the clutter in your life; lots of little chores to do sometimes in no particular order." and then goes on to remind me - "Remember the ultimate goal is living close to Me, being responsive to My initiatives."   I often get caught up in creating and completing my to do list rather than pausing and asking God what he would have me do. So today that is what I will do my best to do. Keeping in mind -  Matthew 6:33 "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." 

On with the craftiness.  Here is another basket I made for my friend's fundraiser.  

I made the coffee shop from the Shop Around template at My Time Made Easy and the stamps are from there as well!! I filled with coffee shop with Kcups.  I thought I had more pics but nope I don't.

Hope you are having a blessed and not stressed day!! 

Blessings and Hugs!!

Christmas Basket

I can't believe next Sunday is Christmas!! I still have SO much to get made, bought, and wrapped.  I have been so busy running the girls here, there and everywhere and making lots of gifts, I haven't had much time for blogging. I did want to share a few of the projects I made for a fundraiser at the beginning of the month.

The good news is that I'm on Christmas break from school. Let me tell you it didn't come soon enough!! 

 I am ready for some time to slow down, reflect and prepare for a new year. I am also ready to focus on the coming of our Lord and Savior - the real reason for celebrating Christmas.  I have so much to learn and am so grateful that our Lord is always there to show the way - my life is truly blessed!

The first one is a Christmas themed basket of cards and wrapping goodies -

Sorry this next picture is so out of focus! I should have checked before I gave it away! I thought it would be fun to have a place to keep all your Christmas card addresses.  I used the Card Catch All Template from My Time Made Easy. 

I included a set of 12 cards - 4 of each design below. I used Gingham Christmas and Kissmass and Mistletoe from{ippity}.  Remember my dear friend Aletha sells {ippity} here.

I also put a note pad in there - everybody needs to keep lots of lists during the Holiday season right? I used notepads and the cover template from Papertrey Ink.  The images are from My Time Made Easy.

I finished off the bag with a few gift card holders, hand made tags, gift bags, ribbon and bows. 

I really had a great time putting this together! I'm sure many of you feel this way as well - how wonderful it would be to be able to create as my job. :-)

Hope you have a wonderful day! Blessings and Hugs!!

Don't miss the Get Hippity with Ippity Challenge #11

Yep it's time for another sketch challenge at Get Hippity With Ippity!! I don't know about y'all but I just love Aletha's sketches and the {ippity} images are just perfect for them!! This will be our last challenge for 2011 so be sure to play along!! Remember the winner gets to pick a free set from Aletha's sales blog and let me tell you there are some awesome sets!!! :-)

Here's the sketch:

Here's my card:

I used the butterfly from the Devoted set and the sentiments are from Unity's Kit of the Month.

But I have to tell you I wish I owned (and will be buying this week) the Cuppy Cakes set which would have been just perfect!!

I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges as well:

Cooking It Up With Katie - Anything Goes

Divas by Designs - Anything Goes

Paper Shelter - It's a Celebration

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

I am so grateful for each of you that stops by to see my cards and projects!! I really enjoy sharing them!!

Blessings and Hugs!!

Amber Ink Blog Hop Winner!!

I'm a little late on announcing this but the winner of "Praying Elf on the Shelf" is Erika Owens!!! Since the gals at Amber Ink are so quick in getting out the downloads Erika should have her elf already!!

Thanks to all of you who stopped by and left a kind comment!! 

Amber Ink's 2nd Annual Holiday Hop

I am so excited to be part of this annual event with Amber Ink!!! This year's theme as you may know is Elf of the Shelf.  If you aren't familiar with him then you can go here to find out more.  

Our family has been doing this tradition for about 5 years now.  My girls named our elf "Elfie" and each year he returns to our house on December 1st.  This year my 7 year old is the one who is most excited about his visits. She comes running  down stairs each day to find out where Elfie landed!! Here he is on our family room window treatment -

Now on to the wonderful Amber Ink images. I was blessed to be given Praying Elf on the Shelf!! I just love this little guy!! 

One lucky winner from those of you leaving comments on my blog will be chosen to win this wonderful image.  You will also then be entered in the grand prize drawing to win and Elf on the Shelf gift package from Amazon.com!!! You have from today (December 5th) through tomorrow (December 6th) to leave comments for your chance to win!!!

Here's the list of all my Amber Ink Alumni Torchbearers who are participating this year -

Many blessings to each of you and your families during this Holiday Season!!