A Christmas Story...

BEFORE:

AFTER:
THE END.

Pinch me...

I'm going through the motions, and then it really hits me- Christmas is here already. Like many of you, somewhere in my brain, I still have weeks to get ready. The reality is setting in, and I have to come to terms with the fact that half of the decorations are still packed away, I've done no real baking, and there is still plaster and sawdust everywhere you look. Well Christmas is coming ready or not!

All that really matters are these two little angels, and making Christmas magical for them. I think despite everything, we're already halfway there for this year.


Cardstock: Coredinations
pp: October Afternoon, The Paper Company
letters: American Crafts, October Afternoon
stickers : October Afternoon
Pearls: Dollarama
Glitter: Stix II
I used Diamond Glaze on the candies and cranberries, and pop dotted some of the popcorn and berries.

Have a warm and happy Christmas Eve everyone!
Erin

Merry Little Trimmer

published in Canadian Scrapbooker Magazine, Winter 2010/11

Here he is! Here's a layout to go with the little story I told you about our oldest and his obsession this year about decorating the tree. This is our real tree that we'll be putting the gifts under. He spent forever emptying box after box of ornaments I wasn't even going to put on the tree. ( they all ended up in huge bunches on the bottom branches, but it kept him very busy!)

Products used:
Cardstock: Bo Bunny, DCWV Glitter
PP: Basic Grey
Felt: Fancy Pants
letter stickers: American Crafts, Adorn It
Sticker: Bella Blvd
Rub Ons: Doodlebug Designs Inc.
Die- Cut: (Merry) Cricut
Brads:Dollarama, Doodlebug Designs Inc.
Gingerbread men, candies: Dollarama
Rick Rack : Unknown
pearls: Prima "e"
Glitter: Stix II
Paper floss: Karen Foster
stamp: Autumn Leaves

8 days to go!

Every morning, the first thing out of Ethan's mouth is " Mama? My want to open my calendar!" ( his advent calendar). He loves moving the ornaments from the numbered boxes and hanging them in Santa's workshop, and he especially loves the candies hidden inside. He's good though, if there are 2 mint M&M's he'll share one with me ( one chocolate penguin? I'm not always so lucky :) ). It's due to the calendar though that I am painfully aware of just how close we really are to Christmas day.


I have been a bit productive this week, although the renovations have kept me from really decorating. Ethan loves decorating the tree- so much so that he got mad at us for finishing "his" tree in the playroom without him. The next morning, he insisted on removing and repositioning ornaments- for about an hour! Sunday we started decorating the real tree in our otherwise empty living room- (furniture should be arriving in January). Monday we baked cookies. They were the premade kind, but we had fun rolling the edges in coloured sugar.

The four of us spent time outside in the snow on Sunday. Parker likes it but gets frustrated really quickly because he can't move. It must be because he's a winter baby, but Ethan LOVES the snow; he wakes up each morning, looks out the window and yells "WOW!!... MORE (S)NOW!"
We've also introduced them to hot cocoa - or as Ethan calls it- " Hot Toclate with monsterlows"
(marshmallows). Parker got to taste a spoonful, and it was followed by sounds of "Mo! Mo!" and the repeated sign for "more".

I think we're planning on going this afternoon to get out H1N1 vaccines before the community posts close, so we don't have to trek to the clinic or doctor to get them. It's great that the kids got them already, but Mark and I would be in a bit of a bind if both of us fell sick at the same time with no family living nearby.

Before I leave for today, Here are some ornaments I played around making last week ( for this week's DT challenge on Practical Scrappers) . I used some acrylic ornaments by Clear Scraps, Peel-off's by Magenta, and Sakura Souffle and Glaze pens. I finished the edges using Glossy Accents, and some clear seed beads I found in Mark's mom's sewing box. ( It makes me feel good to use things like that especially on ornaments we'll enjoy as a family).

I hope to post again before Christmas, but you never know how busy things might get. So take time to enjoy the moments, and don't stress about making them perfect.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!