Tag Archives: Christmas

Mugshot Monday: Fall, Change, December

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Mugshot Monday: December

Happy December. And here we are kicking it off with some Joe-Joe’s.
The shame of it is, I should’ve bought more.

And a bonus mugshot taken the other morning. No snow on the ground… yet.

Mugshot Monday: Fall and Change

Having Thanksgiving late last month is messing with me… we’re closing in on Christmas and I need to accept that the 50,000 projects I have swirling in my head aren’t going to happen in three weeks. I’ll be busy with:

  • Prepping for our cookie party (next weekend),
  • Decorating and decluttering (tidying up, I try to do every day and fail),
  • Teaching a gift wrapping class this week (which I’m really looking forward to).

Then there was my idea of handcrafting all my Christmas gifts this year. Yeah. And I wonder why I get so “cray, cray” at myself this time of the year, every year. I used to really, really, love Christmas. I do still love Christmas. It is my favorite holiday. But it’s different, or I’ve changed.

I find myself doing things that need attention do versus the things I want to do – and that’s because in years past, oh I’d forgotten some bills in the piles of mail on my desk. Oh, there’s loads of neglected laundry to do because I’d been out and about enjoying the sights, shopping, etc.

Gotta say, not big into shopping so much – at least on weekends, and that’s when my husband can go out. I’m finding it harder and harder to go to the malls, the big box places. I would much rather go to art and craft fairs, small stores, or even make things myself (of course, that’s what I really want to do). But, realistically, it’ll be another, “I’m gonna do that next year…”

It has been a good year, losses and all. Wrote more postings, made friends along the way. I did submit my first article to GeekMom (yay!)… link to my pillow tutorial here!

Starting next week, I’ll share some gift wrapping lessons from my class prep, and then after about 10-12 tips, we’ll call it a day. I’m “closing up shop” from the website to focus energy on family, home, holiday activities. I’ll still be active on the Facebook page, and I would soooo love it if you joined me there.

See you all back here next week!

Putting Away Christmas Lights

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I usually wait until the feast of the Epiphany to take down Christmas decorations in our house. It all goes smoothly, especially the Christmas lights. I learned this trick from my sister-in-law, who probably learned it from her parents. Guessing my father-in-law.

Stashing the Christmas lights doesn’t take fancy spools or contraptions. All you need to do is a little back-and-forth, alternating sides with the lights. This will create a nice bundle out of a jumbled strand of lights. The plug side of the strand will be long enough to wrap around your bundle… and then hook up with the other side of the strand. Voila!

How to Store Christmas Lights

How to Store Christmas Lights

Christmas Greetings

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What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace.- Agnes M. Pharo

Greetings from my family to yours.

Warmly, Julie

K&Company Paper Bundle and Sticker Giveaway

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Two giveaways in one post! AH!! Sorry I missed yesterday, but I was finishing a project. Overextended me. Typical. Let’s see what this giveaway is all about.

I love paper… not for scrapbooking (mentioned before) but for just about any other type of paper crafting. These sets from K&Company just get me in the Christmas mood.

They’re cute background for these little gifts for my kids’ Sunday school teachers. This was a Pinterest inspiration, but I pieced together the gift bag. (Teachers, if you’re reading, would you skip the picture or cover your eyes. Sorry for ruining the surprise.) All you need are clear party favor bags. I cut the scrapbook paper into 3-3/4″ x 9″ strips, folded one end twice to make a little bag “bottom”. Stuff into the party favor bag and place your goodies.

Use scrapbook paper and clear party favor bags

Here are the last of my giveaways… two pretty sets of K&Company specialty paper (double-sided!) and accessories, and then two sets of Jolee’s Stickers. All these products are available at art and craft supply stores like Michael’s. Follow the raffle instructions below… and if you would prefer NOT to enter through Rafflecopter, just e-mail me at jtiu(at)comcast(dot)net with “K&Company raffle” or “Jolee’s Christmas sticker raffle” in the subject line. Good luck!

K&Company Paper Tim Coffey Paper Set

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Jolee's Stickers

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Dimensions Felt Applique Stocking Kit Giveaway

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Two weeks until Christmas. I imagine lots of scurrying, baking, wrapping. That’s me. No matter what I do, there’s always something else I want to get done, another project, another DIY gift – which brings me to this. This stocking is so cute! And I can’t wait to pull this together with my daughter… a little gift for our newest niece who will be spending Christmas with us.

Polka Dot Stocking Kit

Love that the kit comes with presorted thread, die-cut felt and a needle. It almost goes without saying that there are easy-to-follow instructions.

Felt Stocking Kit

Felt Stocking Kit

Would you like to give these stockings a home?

Dimensions felt applique stocking kits

Two readers will be chosen at random to receive one stocking kit. Just follow below and do leave a comment. Let me know which stocking kit is calling your name… however, no promises if the two of you like the same one. I know, I know, so difficult. This is a quick raffle so I can mail out the kit as soon as the giveaway is over. Of course, after I verify winners. Good luck!!

**UPDATE** If you would prefer NOT to enter through Rafflecopter, just e-mail me at jtiu(at)comcast(dot)net with “Stocking Kit” in the subject line. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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