Monday, December 19, 2011

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas...

It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas...all through the house! I love all the warmth and colors of Christmas.  I have taken hundreds of pictures--although you would not know it judging by the "no pictures" here.  I was fascinated with some stockings and a cute mantel I found on the website:positivelysplendid.com.  I knew I would be insane to try to make the stockings with all I had on my list to do, but I just could not stop thinking about them.  You know what I did?  I broke down and made them, and I love them and I am glad I took the time to make them.

This was my inspiration picture. 
This is my mantel.
I had most of the items on top of the mantel, and made the NOEL sign from letters I got at Hobby Lobby.  I just added Christmas scrapbooking paper to the front of them.  I wanted to have the word JOY, but they were out of those letters.  Others must have thought of the same thing, so I did NOEL.  I do like the word NOEL which means "Jesus' birth" in Latin. And isn't that what Christmas is all about?

Next, I experimented with getting the lights on our Christmas tree to look like stars using a photo technique.  I wanted to have Warren in the picture, but he was busy with a heating pad on his leg, so there is only the stars.  I will try again later to get this picture with a person.  
Wish I had a person in this picture.
Up close of the Noel. Left side of my mantel.

Up close of the right side of the mantel.
When it came time to get out our Christmas tree, there was discussion about maybe getting another one.  That was quickly nixed, because we both love our skinny, flocked tree.  Warren did most of the tree decorations while I tackled the house.  He did a great job too.  Naturally, he did it differently than I would have done it, but I like the change.  Sometimes, change is good!

I have a couple of dear friends who have become wonderful prayer partners with me.  Early on, our motto became: Clean hands and a pure heart.  Consequently, a lot of our gifts to each other have something to do with hands and hearts.  I love this heart ornament.  When I hang it on the tree, I think and pray for my friend.
Heart ornament from my friend Pat.
Talking about pure hearts, I have another friend who really does have the purest heart I know.  One Christmas, she gave me this snow scene ornament.  At the time, it was the biggest ornament I had ever seen. I like the cross on the house or church or whatever that building is. It is another of my favorite ornaments.

Ornament from my friend, Marisha. It is made in Poland.

When Warren and I were first married, we had no ornaments.  I found a salt dough recipe in a magazine with pictures of homemade ornaments, and thought they were so cute, so I made us some.  They were so whimsical and were a delight to both of us.  Through the years, they have gotten broken, and are no more.  This is my last one...and you can see that the top of his scarf is missing its end.  When Warren pulled this ornament out of the box, he brought it to me, and said, "Do you remember this?"  How well I did.  I am so glad he remembered too, because men do not always remember things we women do. Maybe I will make us some new, "old" ornaments one day.  But this little guy is a treasure to us.
Ornament from Our first Christmas as a married couple.
Thank you for taking a trip down memory lane with me this morning.  It has warmed my heart which is wonderful, because today is rainy and dreary...but I am thankful for the rain!  Be warm and blessed.

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Shutterfly coupon

Shutterfly has something wonderful for those of you who use it a lot.  You can post your Christmas card, sent them the link and you will receive a coupon.  Well worth the effort.


Stationery card
View the entire collection of cards.
 
© Rob's Blog