The Creative Cottage

My Picture Mantel

2012-02-04T08:38:00.000-08:00

I thought I'd share my fireplace mantel because I'm linking up to "52 Mantels" which I discovered through "5 Days....5 Ways". This is the link, if you want to browse through some wonderful mantels--Click Here. I just LOVE the blogging world! It's like a game of dominoes. You click on one blog only to discover tons more fantastic blogs and when you view those blogs, there's more....and more....and more! So, this is just a short post to share my Picture Mantel.

I have a 12 foot long mantel---yes--12 feet! I've tried to only decorate the center of it, but then I go crazy and I'm decorating the whole length of it! I need to add more books (or something) to raise some of the pictures a bit higher. I don't know what it is, but it's missing something. Is it too much, maybe? If you have any ideas, whatsoever, I'd love to hear them. Also, I need a bigger wreath, I think, but I'll wait until it's closer to spring. For now, this will do.

Thanks for looking, my blogger friends,

Thoughts of Spring...

2012-01-16T08:59:00.000-08:00

It seems as though this blog gets neglected quite a bit and that's because I spend most of my time on A Scrapmom's Musings. Today I thought I'd post on this blog because Etsy is having a blog party. Yay! I LOVE blog parties!

Etsy Cottage Style is having a Cottage Garden Party (http://www.etsycottagestyle.blogspot.com) right in the middle of January. Now, I can't even begin to think of planting a garden right now as I look out into my backyard that's covered with 8" of snow with a thin layer of ice. But, I do know that Spring will be here before I know it. Of course, those of us who are sharing in this blog hop are showcasing photos of our gardens or garden inspired projects from last year.

Here are some pictures from last year. We don't live in this house anymore as we finally bought our own home just 2 months ago. Can't wait to create a new garden (or see what will bloom that the previous owners planted).

We had beautiful Morning Glories growing up our lamppost.

The landlord planted these Irises several years ago and each year they multiplied. These were growing on the side of the garage.

Petunias on the side porch

I think this is a Gerber Daisy plant. My daughter bought this for me for Mother's Day. What a beauty!

Hummingbird feeder hiding in the Morning Glories.

And, for a Spring themed project, I made this mini album:

If you want to see more of this mini, click here: http://scrapmomsmusings.blogspot.com/2011/12/another-special-order-mini-is-complete.html

Thanks for looking at my little garden. It wasn't much, but we enjoyed it. Looking forward to Spring!

Christmas Blog Hopping----

2011-12-18T18:51:00.000-08:00

I have totally neglected this blog.   It's just been a busy year for me and I've been more dedicated to my scrapping blog (A Scrapmom's Musings) than to this one. I've done very little decorating or flea market shopping as well so I felt I really didn't have anything to blog about.   But, now that I finally have my own home again after 5 years, I'll be more motivated to share my love of thrifty decor, eclectic decorating and whatever else I feel like blogging about.

While browsing some blogs, I came across some wonderful Christmas-themed blog parties! And, I LOVE blog hops. It's such a great way to be inspired. I just hope I can inspire others as well. So, read along and well.....blog along as well!   Enjoy!
I just recently re-visited Etsy Cottage Style blog and discovered the "Holiday Edition of the Cottage Colors Party".  I thought I'd join in on the fun.
   Click here: Etsy Cottage Style to link up or visit other blogs. The Cottage Colors for December are RED and GREEN. I hope you enjoy my Christmas decor and collection(s):

Here is our tree. It's the smallest one we've had in a long, long time. We down-sized into a ranch home and our living space is much smaller than before. Our tree is 6 feet tall and about 4 feet wide. My tree is an assortment of ornaments that I've collected over the years or have sentimental value to me. It's not a fancy tree and isn't a 'showroom' type tree. I do not have a 'themed' tree unless "eclectic" counts--LOL!   Still, we love our tree. When I open the boxes of ornaments each year, and pull out each one, I remember moments of my past and it always brings a smile to my face.

Here are some of my favorite ornaments:

I bought this bread dough ornie for my daughter when she was 3 years old.

And at the same time, I bought this one for my youngest daughter who was just a baby at the time. They're now 26 and 23.

This is the first ornament my husband and I bought as an engaged couple.

This is the fireplace. Pretty big, huh?

Here are some close ups of the hearth:

I've been collecting snowmen and Santas for many years. Considering that I have a much smaller place to display my collection, I did manage to put out every one of them--some on the hearth, some on the mantel and others on the hutch:

And this is the display on my 'coffee table', which is actually an antique trunk:

Different angle, different setting on the camera:

Close ups of the Snowmen on my hutch:

And of course, we can't forget the Reason for the Season--the birth of Our Lord, Jesus Christ: This nativity set is 26 years old. It was given to us as a Christmas gift all those years ago. The paint is wearing off here and there, but it's a treasured family heirloom:

I'm glad you stopped by to see my Christmas decor. I'll post more tomorrow or Tuesday of my Gingerbread kitchen.

I'm also linking up to these parties:

Help Save My Christmas Spirit at A Fish Who Likes Flowers
Creative Bloggers Party Hop at Homemaker On A Dime

Wow! It's been tooo long!

2011-04-03T07:51:00.001-07:00

I've been spending alot of time over at A Scrapmom's Musings and have neglected this site. I am in the process of finishing up swaps and have been invited to create a home decor project over at Mini Album Scraps. Once it's completed, I'll show it off here. Please come back soon.

Gloucester's Haunted Castle

2010-10-15T22:25:00.000-07:00

In celebration of Vanessa's Haunted Halloween Party over at A Fanciful Twist --http://afancifultwist.typepad.com, I thought I'd share a place that I've once visited, used to drive by several times in a week when I lived in Gloucester, Massachusetts.

Gloucester's Haunted Castle

Hammond Castle was built in the 1920s by American Inventor John Hays Hammond Jr. Hammond holds the second largest number of invention patents next to Thomas Edison. He was a very wealthy man. His fascination with historical European culture led him to include many artifacts from old Europe in the furnishings - he even incorporated ancient tombstones inscribed in Latin and had them made parts of the walls. There are many ghost stories about Hammond Castle. Some think that Hammond brought spirits into the house along with the artifacts he collected. Others think that Hammond and his Wife summoned the spirits through their experiments with Spiritualism.
Even if you don't see a ghost during a visit to Hammond Castle, the site has plenty of eccentric features to entertain. Among the features are a working drawbridge, the tomb of a child from ancient Rome, the skull of one of Christopher Columbus's crewman, an eighty-five foot tall pipe organ (the largest ever installed into a private residence, an indoor swimming pool complete with facades taken from Medieval European storefronts and many, many historical artifacts.

The Cats of Hammond Castle

During their lives at Hammond Castle, John Hammond and his Wife, Irene had dozens of pet cats. Whenever one would die, Hammond would preserve the cat in formaldehyde. He would then lead a slow vehicular funeral procession around Cape Ann that would start and end at the castle. Ultimately the preserved feline would wind up in the master's future burial vault, much like an Egyptian pharaoh taking his pets with him into the afterlife. The burial vault is on the property.

John Hammond expressed a wish to be reincarnated as a cat. Some believe that Hammond did indeed return as a black cat that lived on the grounds in the years after his death. The stray chose the place to live and frequented the stone Bishop's Chair that Hammond liked to sit and smoke in.

The Dead Spot

There is a section of floor in the main hall of Hammond Castle that is bleached lighter then the rest of the floor. This is the result of the Hammond's experiments with Spiritualism. John Hammond created an elaborate Faraday cage that surrounded psychic mediums with an electrical field during seances. The concept was that the electrical field would keep out psychic impressions of the living around the medium and only allow in the spirits. The electrical field bleached the floor where the cage once stood. Some say that the "Dead Spot" has focused the energy of the castle's spirits into this small area.

The Supernatural at Hammond Castle

Items have been known to disappear, reappear, or be moved by unseen residents. There is a spectre who sometimes appears in the organ loft. Workers at the castle hear voices when nobody else is around. A ghostly red-haired woman occasionally appears amongst guests at weddings held at the castle.

Castle of the Damned

During the Halloween season, Hammond Castle is transformed into the haunted attraction, Castle of the Damned. The annual Halloween haunt is put together by an interactive theatrical group that aspires to provide more than the traditional haunted attraction. The attraction varies from standard methods of scaring its guests and relies on more visceral means (through haunting images and scenery) to leave a more lasting horrific impression on those who pass through.

Sometime soon, I'm going back down to my old stomping grounds and visit Hammond's Castle. Another stop that's a must for anyone at Halloween----SALEM! The home of the Salem Witch Trials. But that's another story for another day. I hope you enjoyed this post and hope you get the chance to visit this truly unique castle.

Prepping for a Craft Fair

2010-10-14T20:19:00.000-07:00

I'm gathering supplies and doing my best to get some papercrafted items ready for a craft show that I'll be doing on November 14th. It'll be my first craft fair and I'm a bit nervous. I've got lots of ideas brewing and want to make so many things, but I have so little time left. I didn't find out until 2 weeks ago. But, this is one item I'll be making:

An Altered CD Case

When opened it reveals an accordion album!

Psstt....I'm still in the process of creating the pages on the inside.

I also plan on making mini albums, altered journals, paper pinecone ornies; and so much more!

This is a short post, but I'll be posting again soon.

Home-Made Applesauce

2010-09-27T10:48:00.000-07:00

Ahhh, Fall----the time of year when apples are picked and I get to make apple pies, apple sauce, apple crisp and anything else that calls for apples!   Yesterday, the kids and I met up with my father to go apple picking at McDougal's Orchard. It was cloudy and started to drizzle near the end of our venture, but we picked quite a bit.

This morning, my daughter and I decided make Home-made Apple Cinnamon Sauce. Right now the house smells sooooo good! This is an easy, simple recipe.

Slow-Cooker Applesauce

         Ingredients:
Apples--4 medium sized
Brown Sugar--1/4 Cup
Cinnamon--1 tsp, ground
Nutmeg--1 tsp, ground
Water---1/4 Cup

           Directions:
Peel the apples, then cut using an apple corer
Mix brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and water in slow-cooker
Add apples, stir, then cover
Turn cooker on high and cook for 1 1/2 to 2 hours
Stir well, breaking up the apples (I used a potatoe masher)
Cover, reduce heat to low and continue cooking for another 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
Check the sauce occassionally and break up or mash to the consistency you want
Let cool and serve warm or store in the fridge to serve cold

Makes about 5 servings

Nutritional Info:
Fat: 0.6 g
Carbs: 28.1 g
Calories: 110.0
Protein: 0.3g

Enjoy!

It's That Time of Year!

2010-09-04T09:30:00.000-07:00

Well, it's that time of year when the weather gets cooler, the leaves change color and it's time for.....CRAFTING! I'll be doing more crafting as the holidays approach. I've also been invited to participate in a craft fair to be held in November. Matter of fact, I need to look into other craft fairs as well. So, check back and see what I've created!

Okay, Enough of Ignoring This Blog

2010-08-22T07:52:00.000-07:00

I have been so neglectful of this blog because I'm giving so much of my time and energy to my Scrapmom's Musings Blog. I was considering putting everything into one blog, but felt it would be too overwhelming. Oh well. So.....today I vow to keep this blog updated at least on a weekly basis with things such as recipes, crafts, and living my life in Maine. I hope you'll come back often and enjoy what I'll be offering. Thanks!

So, where to start? I think I'll share some of my yard sale finds.

This is a dresser that I picked up for $3.00!! I need to repaint it, but I might keep it white. I'd like to add some flowers or something to it. Not sure yet.

This is a wooden shelf and a metal "thinga-ma-jig" that I'll use somewhere in the house. I always buy stuff when it strikes my fancy, bring it home and then wonder what I'm going to do with it! I think the wooden unit will go in the kitchen. I'm not sure if I'll keep it as is or paint it. I collect all kinds of country goodies, so I'll use this to display them.

And the item below I bought for a $1.00 and plan on keeping this in my scrap room. The items inside were also purchased at the yard sale. I like it as is as my scrap room has a Rose theme.

This will be used to display little odds n ends that appeal to me. They might not be scrap-related--just things that make me smile.

And this is an old jewelry box that I thought would be perfect on my work table in my scraproom to hold small embellishments. I definitely have to change the color!

Thanks for looking and come back soon!

Sorry I haven't posted

2010-05-19T07:44:00.000-07:00

I'm doing my best to post on both blogs--this one and A Scrapmom's Musings. I've been blog hopping---again---and have discovered some more great blogs! I just found The Thrifty Home and grabbed her button. Check her out--she has a wonderful blog! I also found Hope Studios. Still blogging along in search of some more great blogs.

Anyway, today is quite rainy and a great day to stay inside, but I have to go to work later. The last 2 days were gorgeous and I spent them planting my flowers. I still have a few more to plant, but 80% of it is done. I'm a bit nervous though that they'll survive the next 2 weeks as we still have a chance of getting another freeze. My fingers are crossed. Wish my flowers luck!

I'm also preparing for uploading some more crafty stuff. I'll post when they're completed. For now, I thank you for stopping by. Have a wonderful Wednesday!

My Creations from the last few months

2010-05-08T10:36:00.001-07:00

I haven't done any crafting since Christmas. I've been scrapping and creating mini albums--a new obsession of mine. I belong to the TWS (Trade Wind Scrappers) on Life on the (Scrap) Beach and we swap a mini album that we've created with a swap partner. I've been involved for 4 months now and love it! Here's a pic of my mini's.....so far.
Above is the album I created for Dawn Edwards for the month of February. The theme, of course, was Love.
This is the album I made for Charlene Gibson for the month of March. The theme was "What makes me happy".
The above is the most recent mini I finished for Pat in the UK. The flowers on the this cover were created by me, except for 3 of the 'flatter' ones, which I believe are Primas.
This is a paper rose that I made a month or so ago--so easy to do!
Here's an altered box that I made for a swap in February. Below is the inside of the box:

This is a toilet paper roll mini album for the Go Green swap over at Scrapper's Delight back in March. This was made entirely from scraps and of paper and packaging materials as well as odds n ends found around the house.

That's about it for now. I'll be working on other items, so check back!

How Could I Be So Neglectful?!

2010-04-02T14:25:00.000-07:00

I have been so busy with my blog, A Scrapmom's Musings, that this blog has gone by the wayside. I just haven't done any other type of crafting other than scrapping, so I've just ignored this blog. The beginning of February found me becoming a DT member to two sites: Scrapbooking and Crafting Friends and Creative Scrapbooking Divas. There's alot to do on both sites and I've just been busy!

I will do my best to keep up with this blog. As a matter of fact, I'm just putting the finishing touches on an Easter Basket that can actually be used for birthdays, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Graduation, baby showers, bridal showers, etc. just by changing the paper! I'll post the finished project within the next few days.

So, that's about it for now. If you want to see what I've been up to, hop on over to A Scrapmom's Musings.

Have a Wonderful Easter Weekend!

I've been neglecting this blog

2010-01-21T13:46:00.000-08:00

Sorry I haven't been here. I've been so busy updating my scrapping blog and just creating for challenges, swaps as well as making layouts for DT challenges, that I've sadly neglected this blog. I haven't really been crafting since Christmas. I did find some interesting blogs that I listed to the right but that's about it. I'm going to be creating a lovely gift for a Valentine swap and will post that as soon as it's complete.

Keep Creating!

I Sold Two More Pinecone Ornaments!

2010-01-06T17:35:00.000-08:00

I just sent off two more of my paper pinecone ornaments! I sold them for $10 each, but I should've charge more due to the time it takes. The supplies are not expensive at all---it's just time consuming. If you've never made one, I'll provide the tutorial below. I also have this uploaded to my other blog A Scrapmom's Musings. They were ordered by a co-worker of my daughter's and she loved them! I'm thinking of making more and uploading them to my Etsy store (which has been sadly neglected).

Here's the other one:
Here is what the top of the ornaments look like:
The above is the top of the red ornament. Below is the top of the green/white one:

Okay, now as promised, here's the tutorial if you're interested.

Materials:
* One (1) 12x12 sheet of patterned paper
* One 3" styrofoam egg
* 18" length of ribbon to match (not shown)
* Dressmakers Pins--also known as bridal or lace pins or even 'common' pins
* Glue Gun
* 12 inch cutter
* Assorted greenery, faux berries, faux pearls, or other embellishments (optional)

1. Start by cutting your pattern paper into 1" strips (1" x 12").

2. Trim those strips into 1 inch pieces. Each piece should measure 1"x1". You will use most, if not all, these pieces depending on how tight you layer your pieces.

3. Next, take your 1 inch squares and fold in the two edges of one side to create a triangle. There should be about a half inch, perhaps slightly less, on the opposite side. I fold all my squares so when I start layering, I'll have plenty.

4. Now you're ready to place these triangles onto the styrofoam egg. Tip the egg so the narrowest part is facing up. Place two triangles with the tips touching at the base and pin in place using the dressmaker pins. You want to place the pins near the very edge and at the corners so they're hidden by the next layer. Next, add two more triangles at the tip to create your first 'row'. See photo below.

5. Continue to layer the pieces, overlapping the triangles as you go around the egg. Make sure you're covering up the pins from the previous row.

6. Keep layering the pieces, as in step 5, and continue in this circular movement until you reach the 'bottom' of the egg, which once decorated is actually the 'top' of the egg, but for layering purposes, I'm calling it the bottom....for now.

This is how it should look:

7. The top might be a bit confusing, but just pin the triangles on until there isn't any white showing. Don't worry about the pins being exposed on the top--these will be covered up by the ribbon and embellishments.

8. Cut your length of ribbon into one 8 inch piece and two 5 inch pieces.

9. Make a large loop using the 8 inch piece and pin the ends to the center of the egg as shown. This is the loop that will be used to hang the ornament.

10. Make 2 smaller loops with the 5 inch pieces, criss-crossing them in the center of the loop and pinning in place.

11. Using the glue gun, add your greenery, faux berries, and other embellishments if you choose. I do this because I think it adds more elegance to the ornament. Have fun with creating your ornament and make it as personal as you like. Put your personality into it.

Here is an example of the finished ornament:
I plan on uploading more crafty tutorials as time allows. I should have another posted over the weekend, or beginning of next week. I need time to get the project done in order to photograph it in steps. Thanks for understanding.

Enjoy!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2010-01-01T07:12:00.001-08:00

I'm wishing all of my followers and visitors and very Happy New Year! May it find you healthier, happier and prosperous. I'm not one to make resolutions because I always feel guilty if I don't follow through, but I have made some 'plans' for the upcoming year.

One plan is start uploading more craft tutorials on this blog because, afterall, that's what this blog is all about. So, if I'm not here for a few days, it's because I'm creating and looking for great crafts to share with you.

I'm heading off to work today but for the most part, my morning will be spent taking down the tree. It's a melancholy experience and as I pack the ornaments away, I think back to the day I unwrapped them to hang on the tree several weeks before. But, I'm also looking forward to having my house back to where it was and getting back into my usual routine.

So, my friends, again I wish you a Happy New Year!

It's Just Not Perfect Enough!!

2009-12-22T08:28:00.000-08:00

I do this to myself every year. I need to create the perfect Christmas for my family. I feel this need to decorate every corner of my home, I need to bake the best cookies and wrap my presents in colorful paper and bows. My tree must outshine the tree of the previous year. And I just discovered yesterday via a radio host what I'm suffering from: HPS. Sounds deadly doesn't it? It's not. It's treatable. If we want to treat it. The choice is mine to make. What is "HPS"? Most women suffer from this from Thanksgiving to Christmas and then it just goes away. It's known as "Holiday Perfection Syndrome". Do you have it? I know I do!

And yet, the other night when I was wrapping presents in front of the Christmas tree and watching The Nativity Story, I realized what Christmas was all about. It's not about the the size of the tree, or the number of presents under the tree. It's not about creating the perfectly decorated room (or rooms). It's about love, about giving, about sharing and....it's about reflecting on our blessings and the Reason For The Season.

I've made the choice that in these last few remaining days, I'm not going to worry about creating a perfect holiday. I just want to ENJOY Christmas and savor all that comes with it. Yes, I'm still a bit stressed, still have a few more gifts to buy, but I know in my heart it will get done. It will all come together just as it has all these years before.

Last weekend, we had Christmas with the grandchildren because they're not able to see each other on Christmas Day. These kids are brother and sisters, torn apart and living separately due to the bad choices their mother made. My husband and I adopted Zachery, my step-daughter's son, the same year that my oldest granddaughter was adopted by my step-daughter's mother. The youngest girl lives with her dad. For many, many years, I hardened my heart towards my step-daughter, but accepted her into my home this Christmas season to enjoy the holiday with her children. We had a wonderful time which I hadn't expected and it felt good!---That is one of the reasons to celebrate!

And in anticipation of their visit, I did everything I could to create a beautifully decorated home. Of course, it wasn't Better Homes and Garden material, but I still wanted to create a perfect Christmas environment for my guests. And everytime I turned around to place a decoration here, a decoration there, I said to myself--"It's just not perfect enough!" And guess what? It didn't matter. The day was about being together and having a good time.

So maybe next year, I'll keep it simpler. For now, I just keep telling myself--"It is perfect, just the way it is!".

Wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas!!

I'm linking up with Deck the Halls at Thoughts From Over The Rainbow

Christmas Traditions

2009-12-18T15:26:00.000-08:00

Today is the last day of the Holly Bloggy Christmas Bash and it has been so much FUN! I've found so many great blogs to visit time and time again and I hope that these gals will visit me as well. I've been so inspired by the array of ornaments--simple to elaborate; the assortment of crafts for all ages to enjoy; unusual handmade gifts; gorgeous trees and lastly--stories of traditions---those things that keep us rooted, that remain in our memories for many years to come and what we leave to future generations.

My family has many traditions, one of them being how we open our gifts each Christmas morning. When I was a child, the oldest (me) opened one gift and then went in order of birth with my dad being the last to open a gift. We continued like this until all the gifts were opened. This way we could all experience the joy of the recipient as well as seeing what they got. If we all opened our gifts all at once, it would be over in a matter of minutes and no one would know what anyone got. When I had children, I carried on the same tradition and we still do it. As a matter of fact, now that my parents have grandchildren, and we go down there for Xmas day, the youngest grandchild goes first and it goes "up" the line. Of course, because there are so many of us now, it can take quite awhile to open gifts, but we love it that way!

Another tradition we started about 10 years ago (maybe more) is cutting down our own tree from a local tree farm. We've always had a real tree, but once we moved to Maine and found out we lived so close to a Christmas tree farm, we took advantage of it. And although my girls are grown, they still want to participate. Once the tree is home, it's my husband's job to get it situated in the stand. Once it's exactly where I want it, it's my job to put the lights on. I put Christmas music on while Michael looks on. I already have my boxes and boxes of decorations sitting in the livingroom ready to be opened and put on the tree. My grandson, now adopted son, and my youngest daughter, sit back waiting for me to tell them that they can start. My husband always puts on a #8 fishing hook. Why? Because he loves to fish and that's his favorite hook. As we pull out each ornament, we think back on the story it holds, some of which I've already posted about.

On Christmas day, we open our gifts and then we put them aside to change and head down to visit my husband's sister in New Hampshire for a Prime Rib dinner. We've been doing that for 25 years now. We spend a few hours there and then we head down to Massachusetts to my parents home where the rest of the family is already waiting for us. No one opens gifts until we are all there to enjoy the magic...and mayhem!
All the grandchildren open their gifts from youngest to oldest and then they're off to play leaving the adults to enjoy a little bit of quiet and linger over our gifts. My sister and I are snapping pictures like crazy, trying to listen to a million conversations (I come from a big family), drinking wine, talking and ooohhing and aaahhing over the gifts. I love spending Christmas at my parents house.

Every Christmas, I create homemade gifts, scrap related of course! I also bake cookies and put together baskets for my sisters with an assortment of goodies. For years I've made ornaments as well, but not sure if I'll get to it this year.

Before we know it, the day has gone and we wonder where it went. So much preparation and stress and then it's over! I so wish the day would move slower. It's such a melancholy feeling for me as we pack our gifts into the car and drive back here to Maine. I sit back as Christmas carols, perhaps a few hours left until I have to wait 10 months to hear them again, play in the background and I think of what will happen in the coming year. And I thank God for giving me another great Christmas.

I'm wishing all of you and yours a very merry and blessed Christmas!

Michael pulling our tree (this year) through the lot.

An explosion box I made for my brother Andrew.

My mother and my sister, Sherri, last Christmas

I'm linking up with Cheryl at Tidy Mom who is hosting today's event. Thanks Cheryl!

Yum! Chocolate Trifle-A Christmas Food Tradition

2009-12-17T00:00:00.000-08:00

Hello Bloggers!
Today is Day 4 of the HOLLY BLOGGY CHRISTMAS BASH and the theme today is Christmas Recipes. This event is hosted by SIMPLY SWEET HOME. If you haven't done so already, stop on over and check out all the bloggers that are participating. There are so many wonderful trees to peruse, crafts to create and recipes to cook.

I am listing my recipe for CHOCOLATE TRIFLE. This has been a tradition for many years in our family. This dessert is delectable, delicious and fattening! But, who's counting calories at Christmas time anyway! If you're looking for something rich and tasty and a chocolate lover's dream, this is the recipe for you! Read On and Enjoy!

CHOCOLATE TRIFLE RECIPE:

INGREDIENTS:
1 (18.25 ounce) package chocolate cake mix
1 quart cold milk
2 (3.9 ounce) packages JELL-O Chocolate Flavor Instant Pudding & Pie Filling
1 (8 ounce) tub COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, thawed
4 (1.4 ounce) bars chocolate-covered English toffee bars, crushed

COOKING INSTRUCTIONS:

* Prepare cake batter and bake in 13x9-inch baking pan as directed on package. Cool completely on wire rack. Cut into 1/2-inch cubes.
* Add milk to dry pudding mix in medium bowl. Beat with wire whisk 2 minutes or until well blended.
* Layer half each of the cake cubes, pudding, whipped topping and crushed chocolate bars in large glass trifle bowl. Repeat all layers. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Yield: 18 servings

An Elegant Pine Cone style Ornament

2009-12-16T10:44:00.000-08:00

Do you need a teacher's gift? Are you looking for something special for a friend, a neighbor or need extra gifts for a last minute gift? Then I believe this craft would be perfect! I'm linking with Blue Eyed Blessings Day 3 of the Holly Bloggy Christmas Bash. Today's theme is Christmas Crafts. So I thought I'd show you how to make a Pine Cone Ornament. Have Fun!

I made this ornament for a swap about a month ago and got rave reviews for it. It's fairly simple once you get going, but can be a bit time-consuming. I'd say it took me about 2 hours, maybe 3, from start to finish. Click HERE for the post on how to do this. This will show you pictures to along with the step-by-step directions. Thanks for looking!

Embellish the top with greenery, berries, faux pearl, etc.

If you have any questions, just post.

Our Christmas Tree

2009-12-15T12:06:00.000-08:00

I'm showing off my tree as part of Holly Bloggy Christmas Bash and today's theme is "Christmas Trees", hosted by Jerri at A Baby Changes Everything. If you're not involved in this FUN holiday bash, stop on over and enjoy the fun for the rest of the week!

Every year, we go to a local tree farm and cut down our own tree. It's been a tradition for many years. And, even though my girls are grown, they still look forward to going as a family and choosing that perfect tree.

Over the years, I've collected many ornaments that just speak out to me. No, they're not collectibles by any means, they hold no value to anyone except me (and my girls perhaps), only sentimental value. They are precious, timeless and hold a story unique to itself. Our tree isn't the fanciest, nor the simplest either, but it suits me (although I do wish I had added more lights). As I browse through blogs and blogs of gorgeous trees and exclaim over the beauty of them and quite honestly wish at times that I could have a tree "just like that", I always glance back at our own and am satisfied.

I'm putting on the beading as we speak, but it's not shown in these photos. These were taken a day after we put the tree up on December 7th. Okay, I've been a bit slow in adding the garland. I have an eclectic array of ornaments on my tree--some going back to when my kids were little (they're now 21 and 24) and one very special ornament is still with me--one that I created when I was 11 years old (41 years ago!). Take a tour of the tree and enjoy!

This is a bread dough ornament purchased when my daughter was a year old. She LOVED her blankie and this was a perfect remembrance of it.

This ornament is from 1983 and was mine and my husband's first ornament as a couple, although in 1983, we were engaged, not married. It's a bit scratched and tarnished, but, hey, that describes our marriage!

One of many hand-made ornaments created by the girls when they were in elementary school.

Jaclyn's (now 21) handprint santa made when she was 5:

This Santa is made from a paintbrush! Quite different I thought.

Valerie's snowflake ornament made when she was in first grade:

The girls each made one of these years ago while attending a children's Christmas Party:

This is my most beloved and oldest ornament on the tree. He was created by me 41 years ago when I was 11. He has moved many times and adorned many trees and yet, he has come through unscathed--not a scratch or break! He's made from a hollowed out egg, painted eyes, a cottonball for a beard and the trim and the cut off piece of my brother's hat (a baby at the time).

My husband makes one contribution to the tree and that is his #8 fish hook. He puts it in 'just the right spot', so when he's sitting on the couch, he can see it.

Valerie's bread dough ornament:

And then I have the more "elegant" ornaments. These were acquired through a swap and created by Susan Kyser. I'm a scrapper and paper artist and am always joining swaps. This was through Etsy Cottage Style and although we were to only swap one ornament, she sent me several! I love them and I display them proudly on my tree.

Thanks for looking at our tree.

Gingerbread Men Ornaments

2009-12-15T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today is the 3rd day of the Holly Bloggy Christmas Bash (see button to the right of my side bar) and today it's all about Christmas Crafts. If you'd like to see other ideas, head on over to Blue Eyed Blessings and catch the fun!
I started making gingerbread men ornaments last night after discovering that most of the ones I had made last year were busted up and falling apart. I needed to make more for my kitchen which always has a gingerbread theme. I'm also going to be making a wreath later. I keep my 'men' simple. I just make a dough (recipe follows), dry them for a few days and hang then as a garland in my doorway between the kitchen and DR/LR area. I don't have a photo of the finished project yet as they're still drying.

GINGERBREAD MEN RECIPE:
EASY GINGERBREAD MEN
(Makes 6 ornaments)
1/2c Applesauce
1/2c Cinnamon
2T Household glue

Mix all ingredients together and roll on wax paper to 1/4-inch thickness. Using a cookie cutter, cut out the shapes of the intended ornaments. Poke a small hole in the top of the ornament using the end of a straw, knife, chopstick, small dowel, pencil, or similar object. Allow ornaments to air dry for 1-3 days. When ornaments are ready to be decorated they will be completely dry and very hard.

I doubled the recipe because I needed more than 6. I did get about 13 ornaments.

**If you plan on using them as a garland, don't forget to poke holes in the 'hands' instead of at the top of the head. When adding the ribbon or fabric, insert from the front of "g-man's" right hand (your left), pull to the back (being very careful) and then come up through to the opposite hand. Continue in this fashion until you have the look and length you want.

I let the gingerbread men sit on a cookie sheet overnight and then transferred them to a drying rack so the air can circulate around them and (hopefully) dry them quicker. Be VERY CAREFUL transferring from cookie sheet to the rack as they may crack of fall apart. Good luck!

I did have two small garlands of gingerbread men salvaged from a few years back. Not the greatest pic, but it shows what you could do with them.

Good luck creating your own "G-Men".

A New Way To Present A Gift

2009-12-14T10:46:00.000-08:00

Wouldn't it be nice to receive a gift or in my case a few small gifts in a box that is a gift within itself? As part of The Girl Creative Creative Christmas Blog Fest Day Four "Creative Gift Wrapping", I thought I'd submit my little idea.

This is a MAGIC BOX. It's not done in Christmas Paper for this particular posting because I had actually posted it several months ago when I first created it. I just thought I'd save time and re-upload it. Hope you don't mind. Anyway, this is a paper crafted box designed to look like a wrapped gift and when opened, reveals 4 smaller boxes that you could put small gifts into. I did find one fault when I was making this. The template does not have a way of keeping one of the sides closed tight. The cover holds all four sides together so as not to open up, but if you make one, you might notice that one 'seam', might peek open just slightly.

A MAGIC BOX

I am a scrapper and paper artist and so most of my gifts are paper-related. This is perfect using Christmas themed paper and then hiding a small gift in each 'drawer'. Enjoy!

I found this tutorial at Life as Lou blog about 9:00 last night and thought: "Hey, I can do that!". It's not that difficult, either. I used the Blossoms and Butterflies stack (DCWV) and followed the directions on her blog. It probably took about 1 1/2 hours to make--not too bad. I'm sure as I make more, it won't take so long. She also has a great tutorial on Explosion Boxes. I have made those in the past and they make beautiful gifts. Her blog is wonderful! Hop on over and check it out. Here's the LINK If you make one, let me know-I'd love to see it!

Below is what the box looks like opened up. There are four 'drawers'(my word) to store goodies.

Looking down to see the inside of the boxes. I cut a 2 3/4" square (which is not mentioned in the directions) to dress it up a bit. Leah (Life as Lou) did the same in her examples.

Oh, the only thing I would've done different was to use a two-sided sheet for the outside of the box. This was a 'learning' experience. Also, the purpose of the ribbon is to help keep the box closed. When the box is closed, there is an open 'seam' that is somewhat noticeable if it's not tied closed with a ribbon.

This was such a FUN project! Have a great day! Thanks for stopping by my blog.

Christmas Tour aka Christmas Blog Hopping!

2009-12-13T09:11:00.000-08:00

Ahhh, my favorite time of year! I just LOVE Christmas and all that comes with it, including the stress! Okay, I could do with a bit less stress, but other than that, I love decorating my home in anticipation of the big day! I'm linking up to Julia of Hooked On Houses "Holiday House Tours" and The Nester "Christmas Tour of Homes" on December 14th ; and Melissa's The Inspired Room's "Holiday Linky Friday". I'll probably be joining more, but for now, I'm happy to be joined up with these great ladies!

So, without further adieu, here is my simple home, simply decorated for Christmas. I hope you are inspired in some way. Thanks for stopping by!

This Santa is the oldest and beloved of all ornaments on my tree. Why? Because he was made by my simple hands when I was a girl of 11. He has moved many times with me over the years and is still unscathed! It's a miracle! He is made from a hollowed out egg, a cotton ball for the beard and trim and a chin piece from my baby brother's hat at the time. I look at this and remember the day that I created him so many years ago....

The tree isn't quite complete. I need to add my beaded garland and more ornaments. I wish I had added more lights as well, but it's too late now.

A recently acquired ornament that was handmade by Sharon Kyser. I just LOVE it!

The next two paper ornaments were also created by Sharon for a swap in which we were partners:

Below is a Santa standing by an antique coffee cart on which sits my vintage nativity set:

Ornaments in a cut glass bowl:

An antique side table covered with my collection of Snowmen. Below the table are my soft dolls--santas and snowmen--each of them holds their own story as well.

My Santa collection:

A snowflake garland in my dining area:

My Nativity Set is 25 years old. My mother bought it for me and my husband for our first Christmas.

This angel watches over me in the scrapbook room:

My husbnad loves to fish and this is his contribution to the tree every year!

This ceramic tree and angels were made by my sister years ago. They sit proudly on my hutch in the dining area:

This gingerbread house sits on the dining room table proudly made by my daughter.

The Gingerbread House my daughter made. The gingerbread people or non-edible and purchased at the dollar store.

Here's the kitchen. I'm still decorating this room. I plan on making a gingerbread garland to go between the kitchen and the DR/LR area. These gingerbread men hang between my two kitchen windows above the sink:

These g-men hang from my kitchen curtains above the sink:

And here is a ceramic pie plate, bowl and 'steam' bear (you put him in the center of the pie to release steam is what I've been told). I don't use it for actual baking. Any ideas on how I could 'spruce' it up? I also hang my Xmas mugs along the wall:

That's it for now. I'll be posting more soon. Thanks for stopping by,

Lori

Last Minute Lori Here!

2009-12-11T06:12:00.001-08:00

I just, just found this blog hop on-The Girl Creative. It's a Christmas Tree blog hop and I just LOVE blog hops! It's such a fun way to meet new bloggers! Stop over and visit some of the other blog hoppers as well! So without further adieu, here is my tree:

Happy Holidays, Everyone!

Found some new Crafty Blogs!

2009-12-11T05:42:00.000-08:00

In hopes of finding some great crafts to make as gifts for Christmas I came across two blogs that I absolutely LOVE! They are: Craftaholics Anonymous and todays Creative Blog. These blogs are wonderful and Linda's blog, Craftaholics Anonymous has tons of tutorials. As a matter of fact, I'm being featured on December 16th! Pop on over and have a peek at what I created for Reader's Tutorial Week. I can't say now, so you'll have to wait until the 16th.

Have a wonderful day!

A Handcrafted Ornament for Christmas

2009-11-30T10:37:00.000-08:00

I created this Pinecone Ornament for a Christmas Swap and thought I'd share the tutorial here. It's a bit time consuming, but not difficult at all. If you have any questions, just email me. Enjoy!

PINECONE ORNAMENT

Materials Needed:
2 or 3 inch styrofoam egg
1 sheet 12x12 patterned paper
Ribbon
Dressmaker Pins (aka lace or bridal pins) *I call them "common pins".
Glue Gun
Optional: Springs of holly, pine, berries

Start by cutting your pattern paper into 1 inch strips. Next, trim the strips into 1 inch pieces. You will use most, if not all, of the 12x12 sheet of patterned paper, depending on how tight you layer your pieces. Next take your 1 inch pieces and fold in two corners to the center to create a point. The opposite end of the 1" square is left straight. Do this to all the squares before applying to the egg.

Now you're ready to start placing the pieces onto the styrofoam egg. You want to start at the narrow end of the egg. Place two trianges with the tips touching (one opposite the other) and pin each piece down using the dressmaker pins. You want to pin it along the straight edge opposite the point. Place two more pieces on either side of the first two, overlapping the edges. Keep layering the pieces, overlapping as you go around the egg. You want to make sure you're covering up the dressmaker pins as you layer each piece. Continue in rows until you reach the top of the egg.

Don't worry about the top pins showing They'll be covered with ribbon. Cut 2 pieces of ribbon 5 inches long and another one 8 inches long. Make small loops with the 5 inch pieces and hot glue to the top of the egg, covering the pins. Make a large loop with the 8 inch piece--this will be used to hang the ornament. You can also add berries, greenery, etc to add more sparkle to your creation.

It's Time to Craft for Christmas!

2009-11-05T13:45:00.000-08:00

I'm just starting to find ideas of what I want to make for gifts for family and friends. It's a lean year (budget-wise) and so I'm creating alot of home-made gifts--but, you know, even if I had alot of money, I'd probably still create something as it seems more personal with more thought put into it. I LOVE handmade creations and treasure more than I would any store-bought item. I'm browsing plenty of craft sites and blogs and just went to the library to grab some books that gave me several ideas as well. Just a short post today ladies and I'm feeling a bit 'icky', but will post anything I create as soon as it's done.

Halloween Crafts

2009-10-21T06:50:00.000-07:00

With the Halloween holiday quickly approaching, I thought I'd share some crafts for those last minute decorators (like me!). I found these ideas on DIY--lots of great ideas on their site. Here are a few that I thought would be great to share:

The instructions are too long to post here, so you can go HERE and read them.
Here's another favorite of mine!

Materials and Tools:

old glass jars
black spray paint
wax metallic finishes
rubber or plastic toys, stuffed animals, knick knacks, etc.
water
food coloring
measuring cup
stir stick
tags
pen
ink pad
twine or string
scissors

Steps:

1. Wash the jars and lids thoroughly. Spray paint the lids and, once dry, apply wax metallic finishes to them for an aged look.
2. Fill a measuring cup with water. Add a drop of food coloring and stir. Add more food coloring or more water to get the intensity of color that you want.
3. Place a toy or knick-knack into the jar and fill the jar with water. Screw the lid on tightly.
4. Using the tags, write out a label for each jar. To antique the tags, gently pat or rub them on an ink pad.
5. Tie the labels onto the jars with twine.

And I'll leave you with one last decorating idea:
Glitzy Candles:

Materials and Tools:

pillar or taper candles
Candle DecoPaint (by Marvy Uchida)
ultra-fine glitter
manila folder

Steps:

1. Use the Candle DecoPaint to add Halloween-themed drawings to the pillar candles. Crazy stripes also look spooky.
2. While the candle DecoPaint is still wet, sprinkle ultra-fine glitter over areas that you wish to highlight.
3. Work over a manila folder so that you can easily funnel any stray glitter back into its canister.

Allow the candle to dry for 24 hours.

Spooky Candles
Materials and Tools:

three tall glass enclosed candles
4" wooden letters, spelling "E-E-K," or "B-O-O"
craft paint
paintbrushes
Perfect Pearls embellishing pigment kit (by Ranger Ink)
spray bottle filled with water
8-mm jump rings
E6000 glue
chain
needle-nosed jewelry pliers

Steps:

1. Paint the wooden letters with craft paint and allow them to dry. An eerie mix of green and black paint or a ghostly white works well.
2. Rub the pad of Pearlizing Perfect medium on each letter.
3. Use a paintbrush to dust the patina powders included in the kit on each letter. Spray with water from the spray bottle to set the pigments, and allow them to dry.
4. Use E6000 glue to attach an 8-mm jump ring to the back of each letter in the center and at the top. Position the jump ring so that approximately half of the ring is exposed at the top of the letter.
Note: Allow the glue to dry for at least 8 hours.
5. Wrap chain around the lip of the candle glass. Link the chain together to form a loop of chain around the top of the candle with a tail of chain.

These projects I downloaded from the DIY site. They have lots and lots of great ideas!

Happy Haunting!

I've had a busy month

2009-10-04T08:53:00.000-07:00

It's been nearly a month since posting here. I'm working on my doll for the challenge at CDA as well as creating for the DT at SCF (Scrapbooking and Crafting Friends). I also had a procedure done last week and felt crappy for a few days afterwards. I've also spent the last two days creating buttons for my various blogs. Look to the right and scroll down to where it says: You Can Find Me At. Click on a button to my other blog(s).

Creating Patterns Isn't Easy

2009-09-10T13:07:00.000-07:00

I've been trying to creative my own cloth doll pattern and it's not that easy. I have a very basic design and am going to try and make something from it, so wish me luck. I'm also in the Halloween Challenge over at Cloth Doll Artistry. I know that I can use a store bought pattern, but I'm trying to come up with my own. So, stay in touch and see what I come up with!

Wow! It's Been A Long Time!

2009-08-14T05:45:00.001-07:00

I haven't been posting on this blog for a long time! Sorry. I am pretty much on A Scrap Mom's Musings or Treasures of the Past. I do need to keep in touch with this blog as well.

Well, I've been creating---layouts that is--a few here and there. I haven't been creating any other crafts for awhile yet. It's time to get back in the grind.

All for now....

Bought Some Goodies

2009-06-21T06:38:00.001-07:00

I went shopping at my local craft stores (about 45 minutes away) and bought some items to make for my Etsy shop. I also scoured some yard sales and flea markets. I didn't find much, but did get about 3 items that I can re-purpose. I'll post pics when my projects are complete. That could be a week or so away though. I appreciate your patience. I'm a bit overwhelmed with lots of scrapping projects and creating items for Etsy as well as the usual things to do around the house. I'm just trying to stay calm and tell myself that it will all get done. I'll post my discoveries soon.

Looking forward to Yard Sales

2009-06-05T13:23:00.000-07:00

Well, it's that time of year. Yard Sales and Flea Markets! I just love them! Last weekend, there were so many in town, that I couldn't get to as many as I had hoped because of errands and having to go to work. I have this weekend off and plan on digging and finding some great loot! If I find anything of interest, I'll take pics and post! Have a great day.

It's Been Awhile.....

2009-05-23T12:30:00.000-07:00

since posting here. I am so caught up with my first and foremost blog "A Scrap Mom's Musings" that I practically ignore this one. I do apologize. Once I get a bit more organized (yeah, right!), I'll be posting some crafty items and ideas here. I'm perusing the web, looking for inspiration from other crafty blogs. I'll be back.......Promise!

Found some Great Stuff!

2009-05-08T18:18:00.000-07:00

I found some items at Marshall's today while out shopping and can't wait to be able to purchase a few things in order to alter them for sale. Found some great hatboxes, a mini mannequin, some great frames---just alot of items that are nice without being altered, but I know I can "dress them up", repurpose them for some great decor. I wish I had pics to show you. Most of the items were vintage style which I really like. I'll keep posting with my ideas.

Two of my Bunny Creations

2009-05-04T06:08:00.000-07:00

Thought I'd share some of my own soft doll creations. I made these several years ago and love them! I love stitching up these bunnies and seeing the finished product. The "lanky" bunny has hand painted shoes with quilting thread for shoelaces. She wears an underskirt of mauve calico and a dress of blue calico and flowered fabric. She's also wearing a faux pearl necklace. Her face is hand drawn with quilting thread for whiskers. She is a one of a kind. The other bunny wears calico pantaloons, a blue calico dress and an apron to match. Her nose and mouth are embroidered. Her eyes are created by using the French Knot. These bunnies are for sale on my Etsy site.

A Work In Progress

2009-05-03T09:54:00.000-07:00

This blog will showcase all the other hobbies I enjoy---sewing, collecting, etc. Keep checking back....