One more ornament....

I put some of my mother's old buttons and things

inside an empty glass ornament

and

then glued a crocheted snowflake on top...

which is one of many my mother crocheted when she was living.

I gave it to my sister on Christmas Day!

I saw them HERE!

And I'm sure Patty led me there!

Thank you girls!

The Christmas Story

The Christmas Story (2010 version) - as told by the children of St Paul's Church. If you can't see the full screen, click HERE. I got it from Patty, who got it from a friend.... Merry Christmas Everyone!

Gingerbread Houses

BFF Virginia made these for her oldest grandson's Kindergarten Class Party!

They were centerpieces... I believe....

Made from those paper mache houses at Hobby Lobby!

Aren't they great!

She sent me these a month or more ago....

and I keep forgetting to share!

I knew you'd love them!

It's not too late to make some....

Mary and Joseph on Facebook

You need to double click on this video and watch it on You Tube so you can see the entire screen...otherwise you can't see the writing on their facebook walls.

Here is the link if you need to copy and paste it in... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sghwe4TYY18&feature=player_embedded

QB5 Christmas Swap

The QB5 girls did a "junkle ornament" swap for December....

Patty and I (the ones with nothing better to do) got our ornaments sent out into the world... where they have arrived at their destinations.

So I will show you!

Patty did the adorable little bird nestled in tinsel!

Hanging below the little nest is a thimble bell she created!

And it all is suspended from the sweet twisty wires!

Margaret took pictures in the snow of these and I swiped her shot of mine (don't tell her).... Mine is done in a little tart pan.

I bought an ornament from Cari Kraft about 3 years ago that inspired this!

I used some disks I bought at Quilt Festival to glue an image under

and then mounted on a cork I cut down

and glued in the center.

I surrounded it with paper I shredded and even some shredded paper that is so thin and wonderful that I bought from Cari last year.

And the entire swap was inspired by this woman!

Doncha just love junk!

How's Your Decorating Going?

I had to laugh this morning!

I think that pillow says it all....

I don't think I've shown you these.... and if I have, just let me think I haven't....

I used to quilt abit....

I love that I did these.... I pull them out of the rubbermaid boxes this time of year and place them around the house....

Do you have any Christmas stuff that you made 20 years ago that you are showing on your blog?

Tell me so I can come see!

Look at that (not too closely)...

points, log cabin and applique!

Now I mostly use glue.

Music Paper

Do you get the Pottery Barn catalogue?

Or have you been in their store this season?

They are selling bags of puffy stars!

I can't find them on their web site though.

But...upon seeing them... I went home and did a "search".

You should search "puffy stars" and start making them!

They are sooooo simple and sooooo fun!

I used vintage music paper.... that is a key part of them working... using the right weight paper.

I feel like I'm working in harmony with laborers in China

when I sit and do these!

I've also been making wreaths..... do a search .... it's everywhere!

Nathalie got me to making stars a couple of years ago.

Do you origami?

(is that a sentence?)

If I Have Not Love....

First Corinthians 13

~ Christmas Version ~

Author Unknown If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another decorator. If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals, and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family I'm just another cook. If I can work at a soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home, and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing. If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir's cantata, but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point. Love stops the cooking to hug the child. Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the spouse. Love is kind, though harried and tired. Love does not envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens. Love does not yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful that they are there to be in the way. Love does not give only to those who are able to give in return, but rejoices in giving to those who cannot. Love bears all things, believes in all things, hopes all things and endures all things. Love never fails. Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust. But giving the gift of love will endure forever. So this Christmas, be sure to share the love! Merry Christmas to you and yours.