Advent TREE!!

Helllloooooo!
I am still here...if you are interested in my health and my recovery, check the bottom of this entry.
So two years ago I made some pretty awesome advent calendars...(check here for full entry)

and I still haven't made one for my boys...mostly because they love those crappy chocolate ones (because they get chocolate every day, Hello-o! They are getting the Trader Joe's chocolate advent every morning, yup - I send them to school high on chocolate. I am an awesome mom! Duh! ;)

So, I decided that I didn't really want to give them more stuff...I want to lean away from that kind of Christmas. I saw a flat version of this on Pinterest made with envelopes and foam core background. I wanted a paper calendar, one I could make, and useable for my lil' dudes. So I made a list of activities and borrowed some from  All Things Simple.

Here is what I came up with, an Advent Tree:

with important family activities that we can share together. And before some of you wise-guys ask (Leanna)...no, I didn't make the tree...it's from Target. What I did make, are the envelopes and filled them with an activity for each day.

For example:
 day one is: Read "Elf on the Shelf" together
day 2: Make teacher gifts
day 3: Pick mitten from mitten tree for foster kids
day 4: Watch "The Grinch"
day 5: can you believe it...I can't remember!

Luckily, I made a master list, with the dates all assigned and even some alternate days for the outdoor activities. I made each envelope out of a 4" square of scrapbook paper, scored on all 4 corner diagonals, folded in and rounded the upper corner. I then decorated the fronts and put numbers cut from my cricut. I can't fit them all on the little tree..so I'll pop them on as the others come off.

Hope you are enjoying the season of Advent!

and as for my health...
Here I am folks....recovering from my first treatment, which was both not as bad as I expected and much worse.
I didn't get as sick as everyone told me I would...bone aches for 2 days were actually endurable. However, the bone aches were like twinkling Christmas tree lights and would go on and off constantly...for 48 hours straight. And I couldn't sleep with the pain. And the worse part: I know I have to do this two more times. But, it could be worse and I could have to do more than 3 treatments...and there might not be hope for recovery. So I will take the aches and try not to complain about the pain...or groan out loud. Too often.
Thanks for the cards and love! I'll post more as I can...

Christmas Bag

Hello! I've been makin' plans and lists! I have been making lists of all the items I'm making for a Christmas Bazaar and here's one of the items I'm making. No, it's not too early for Christmas...not 'round here! Only 18 weeks left 'til Christmas!

One of the things I've noticed from the years I've done a Bazaar, is that people will buy paper crafts if they are affordable or if they don't have time to make the item (or they aren't the type to copy).

This is a fairly simple decorated bag, with a glazed clothes pin to close it up. I think it's too sweet, and I've got 10 more ready to be glued/assembled.

I have more crafty-items on deck waiting to be photographed and posted...I can't wait to share!

Hope your day is SUPER!

linking to:

I Heart Naptime

"...A Bright Red and Green..."

Here it is...my last class of 2010. I did it up a little over-the-top with the Christmas colors, but they look spectacular!
This class has 2 cards and 4 tags (2 each of 2 different designs.) All materials are prepared and provided along with colorful, easy-to-read directions. In-person instruction is Tuesday December 14th, but kits are available for delivery/mailing. Kit cost $10; 14 kits available at this time.

Card one has a stamped image of a Christmas tree dotted with glitter ornaments, framed with shining ribbon and poinsettia paper: Card two has a multi-colored stamped image, dazzling gems and glittery paper: The two tag designs are simple but fun, with glittery paper ornaments and stamped sentiments. I hope to see you Tuesday...enjoy!

Teacher Gifties

We have 3 teachers to give a big thanks to, so we are big on creative-and-thoughtful-on-the-cheap.

I made these cups and the boys made cookies to fill them with and we tucked a $5 coffee card inside. I debated on giving more, but then realized that if every kid gave a coffee card (and most will) then there is no way they'd be able to use them all up in a year. Oh, to have that problem!!

I used Dixie hot cups and some scrap Christmas paper. I used Scor-pal tape to secure the paper on the weird foam cups (no Styrofoam here in Portland-not sure what it used in it's place.) I glued a layered tag on the lid then embellished the cup with a ribbon and glitter snowflake. I glittered the snowflake with ultra fine glitter and Mod Podge. I LOVE the little snowflakes with the buttons. Very cute!

Enjoy the last 9 days of Christmas!

Tree of Joy

I wanted to share one of my favorite things during the Christmas season. My boys have so many ornaments that they get their own tree. And being very short on room in a home of 5 people in a 3 bedroom ranch house, we gave them a tree at the end of the hall.

This will be the last year for this tree. It's too small and can't hold all the ornaments and it's only 2 years old. I've told the hubby that we're on the hunt for an after-Christmas sale 6 foot skinny tree. I don't want to spend more than $20 so hopefully I'll find my bargain. If I don't I'll look in the "off season". :)

Bazaar goodies

I've been busy making things to sell at my church's Holiday Bazaar. Here are the few note pads and matching cards I made to sell. I also had about 20 bags of home-made dry dip mix and various gift card bags made up from last year-but I didn't get a photo. A few little suitcases made from altoid tins.

Hope you're busy with Holiday Crafts and celebrations!

Christmas 2 Class

I made the cards for this last class over the weekend. I was pressed for time and so I didn't get a high quality photo, but for those of you who have ordered sight-unseen, I thought you'd want to see what you're making. 3 Cards made with My Mind's Eye paper on shimmery card stock. 2 Cards have rub-ons and the 3rd has a snowflake medallion. The "Happy Holidays" card is a gate fold with a band and the other 2 are traditional cards.

It is so bitterly cold here in Oregon, so bundle up and stay warm.

Today's high: 30!

More Advent Calendars

I made another and I think I'll stop now....here are two photos of the last one made this year. I used SEI paper and chipboard accents, and mixed in a few K Company numbers and a few things homemades as well.

Cards for the last class of the year to be posted tomorrow/late tonight. Drop me a line and let me know what you think!

Christmas Advent Calendar

Happy first day of Advent! I have been gone a'craftin me some Advent Calendars and I have two more to make this week. These take me about 8 hours to make but they are fun to do. The biggest challenge is lining up all the boxes and figuring out which paper goes with which decoration better. That seriously takes about an hour and a half of my time, because if you know me, then you know how serious the details are to me. And they are even more important when making a gift.

This first calendar is made for my "phamily" for part of their Christmas gift. It turned out really well.

I made some of the decorations, added some wooden numbers but most came from the "Mistletoe" and "Fa La La"collection by Making Memories. I really like the paper and chipboard colors. Then, when I was bragging on it to another friend, she casually asked if I would mind making her one...or two. So I made one up for her and I'll be trying my hardest to make the other this week. This one is similar but I made a few different decorations like a glitter star and a big poinsettia flower.

Drop me a line and let me know what you think!

The last class of the year, a 3-card class, will be posted tomorrow. And by-the-way, ANOTHER SOLD OUT CLASS!!!! Thanks guys!

Christmas 1 Class: SOLD OUT!!

Here are all the items in the Christmas 1 class/kit. The class will be held December 1, 2009 or you may purchase a kit with all materials provided and pre-cut. You will just need adhesive and a paper piercer. Please contact me at ladyjcreations@comcast.net if you're interested in ordering by mail.

There is of course the one card that you can view here, as well as a cute 2 1/4 inch box with a punched snowflake in the front. I made a little tag for the box, but didn't think you'd be able to see it so I didn't glue it on the lid, though that is the idea. I left the box open so you could see the pretty stripes inside! And of course, I made the great little notebook, just like this one, but in the pretty coordinating "arctic" colors. Here is another photo:

There are only 16 available, so order soon. The last class has already sold out!

Update November 27th: This class/kit is sold out. Thank you!!

You guys are just too awesome!!

Joyful Card

This is the only card in this class/kit. The other two items will be a treat box and a notepad, in coordinating colors of course!

Today I am posting just the card and should have another something from the kit to share Thursday. This card is on a shimmery white cardstock with a metallic silver and metallic light blue accent paper. It really gives this card an Arctic feel to it. The snowflake has a rhinestone at the center and is lifted with foam dimensional tape. Don't forget to enter the Thanksgiving give-away... Enjoy!

Notepad Madness

There seems to be an abundance of notepads out in Cyberland, so I guess I felt the calling to make my own and post 'em. The were fun and easy to make. I went to Office Max-the only place that was willing to cut the pads. I bought a 12 pack of Jr legal pads and took them to the printing/cutting counter and had them cut in half. Since there is a printed margin on the left, the cut left-sides are not useful if you were to make these as gifts or to sell, but they work great for your phone message area, the car, for kids or donated to your local kindergarten class or preschool. Kids love pads of paper!

Anyways, back to the project...

I made a pattern out of cardstock and decorated the cover with My Mind's Eye paper. Inside there is a small pocket for your receipts or anything else you'll need to tuck inside. Voila! a little holiday notepad. I think I'll make a few more (11) and give them as gifts and maybe even add the project to my last holiday class. I'll have to think about it a little while.

As for today, I am so done with Halloween...and candy. Isn't that something? I'm sure it will pass. ;)

Winter Ensemble

These two cards and treat bag are the 3 items in the Winter Ensemble class I'll be teaching and have available for purchase in kit-form through the blog. I had fun pushing myself to make cards and a treat bag using not the typical Christmas colored paper, but a little retro and hip colors: turquoise and purple. I also used stickles and "glitterfied" some clear Heidi Swapp snowflakes.

Each item has a different size snowflake, but they ALL have glitter. I decided to keep this simple since our class is a little less than a hour and we need the time to chat and make the treat bag. This would be a nice coordinated treat set to give to a teacher or co-worker. Enjoy!