Noah's Ark

One of the most popular projects in yesterday's post was the elephant ornament. I mentioned that it was part of a Noah's Ark series. In uploading that picture, I realized that I had never shared pieces from that set made in 2006 and 2007 (I somehow missed 2008...oops!). So, here are the first four ornaments made in that set. There are five more to go. You'll have to come back at end of the year to see more. (wicked evil grin)

These were the first two of this set, made in 2006...

...And these were the two made in 2007.

Robin K's Card

Robin K's Christmas card -- very hard to tell from the scan, but the right half of the trees is punched and folded back to the left, and then a smaller white tree adhered to the folded back flap of the green tree. Looks very cool IRL. Greeting and stars are all gold embossed.

Sherrie's Card

This is Sherrie's "Borrowed" card. I say borrowed because she borrowed everything except the paper from me. LOL My red ink (Real Red from SU). My red marker (Le Plume). My scalloped oval punch (Marvy). My Harlequin and Holiday Mini stamps (SU). We actually adapted the overall design from a card featured in the 2002 Holiday Mini catalog. She didn't want to do anything fussy or time-consuming like eyelets or fiber, so we simplified the original design a bit. The scalloped punch helped a lot!

Nina's Card

This is from my friend Nina in Sweden, and was one of her first attempts at making her own Christmas cards. Aren't the pipe cleaner trees kind of funky and cool?! Very retro!

Babe's Card

Christmas card from my friend Babe in Australia.

Silent Night?

This is the cross-stitch I made for my friend Kim, owner of two black cats. It is part of a series by Calico Crossroads, which has lots of cute designs. I've been adding to the collection for her birthday and Christmas for the last few years. She seemed to especially like this one and said her boys are the reason she can no longer set out the ceramic nativity set she made about seven years ago. Yup, they're that destructive.

Merry Christmas

Wishing you a very Merry and Peaceful Christmas!

Craft Critique Holiday Carnival

Looking for some last minute ideas for Christmas cards or other crafts? Check out Craft Critique's Holiday Carnival! They are posting links all this week to advent calendars, cards, ornaments and more created by Craft Critique readers. Projects range from those you can make with the kids to those for the more experienced crafter. Hop on over and check it out now!


(Flubbing the date so this stays near the top a few days *grin*)

Christmas Basket

This is the same basket pictured here back in autumn, all done up for the Christmas season.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

A Visit From St. Nicholas

From today's Writer's Almanac...

On this day in 1823, an anonymous poem entitled "A Visit From St. Nicholas" was printed in the Troy (New York) Sentinel. It is known better by its first line: "'Twas the night before Christmas..." Though attributed to Clement C. Moore, it is likely that the original poem was written by Major Henry Livingston. Many of the modern qualities associated with Santa Claus grew out of "A Visit from St. Nicholas," which described Santa as "chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf."

All You Need is a Friend

Yesterday we had breakfast with some friends who are unable to make our annual New Year's Eve celebration. This has become a tradition for a group with whom I've been friends since high school, plus a few others added along the way. The evening always starts with a buffet dinner, followed by presents and games into the early hours of the morning. The event is held at a friend's house and most of us stay over night, then watch the Wisconsin Badgers together in whichever bowl game they have been invited to that year. Between continuous grazing NYE and during the game, there are very few leftovers.

This year our friends from Illinois are unable to join us NYE, so we got together Saturday morning for breakfast at Perkins. This is the project stitched as part of Kathy's Christmas present--which was actually a kit designed by Mary Engelbreit that she gave me last Christmas. I figured it only fair that it go to her for adding to my already long list of craft projects. *VBG*

The hardest part of this project were the panels on either side of the "All you need" section. It is mostly all quarter stitches and, as if that wasn't painful enough, also consists of about a million lazy daisy stitches and French knots. Okay, maybe a slight exageration, but it sure felt like there were that many! The end effect is quite lovely, but fellow crafters are sure to understand what a headache those sections were to complete.

Click on the picture for a more detailed view.

The Mary Engelbreit notecards below were stitched as a birthday present for the same friend and, as with the above, a kit received from her last year.

Finally, the dragonfly by Dimensions that was also a part of Kat's birthday present. And yes, the wings were as intricate a process as they look.

I'll share more of the year's craft projects after New Year's Eve, when everyone has opened their presents. Wouldn't want anyone to wander by and see what they're getting beforehand, now would we? *WEG*

Cross-stitched Cutouts

I realized the other day that I never posted a pic of the rest of the ornaments made this year. These are part of the batch I finished Thanksgiving day by adding hangers to them. The ornaments were stitched throughout the year, and two layers of felt backing make them sturdy but light. More of the ornaments can be seen in earlier posts here and here, and clicking on the picture should give you a larger view.

O Christmas Tree

I received this cute cross-stitched Christmas tree from my friend Melanie the other day and just had to share. It is 12 inches tall and 8-1/2 inches wide, with buttons for ornaments. I plan to add a red ribbon so that I can display it next year. The back is a cute red polka dot material with tiny white hearts and green trees. Click on the picture for a closer look!

Shirlee's Card

My Mom received this cute little guy from friends of hers this week. Isn't it darling? I don't know who the image is by, but the coloring is beautiful!

Were You a Naughty Girl or Nice Girl this Year?

You Were Nice This Year

You Were 35% Naughty, 65% Nice Okay, so you weren't *entirely* nice this year but Santa doesn't expect a modern girl to be perfect. You were good enough--and you'll be rewarded for it

Thursday Thirteen #39: Christmas Quotes

I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.
~Charles Dickens

Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall.
~Larry Wilde

At Christmas play and make good cheer,
For Christmas comes but once a year.
~Thomas Tusser

Anyone who believes that men are the equal of women has never seen a man trying to wrap a Christmas present.
~Anonymous

It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the Air.
~W.T. Ellis

Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.
~Hamilton Wright Mable

What is Christmas? It is a 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

Christmas--that magic blanket that wraps itself about us, that something so intangible that it is like a fragrance. It may weave a spell of nostalgia. Christmas may be a day of feasting, or of prayer, but always it will be a day of remembrance--a day in which we think of everything we have ever loved.
~Augusta E. Rundel

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.
~Norman Vincent Peale

He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree.
~Roy L. Smith

Oh look, yet another Christmas TV special! How touching to have the meaning of Christmas brought to us by cola, fast food, and beer.... Who'd have ever guessed that product consumption, popular entertainment, and spirituality would mix so harmoniously?
~Bill Watterson, Calvin & Hobbes

Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time.
~Laura Ingalls Wilder

Christmas is forever, not for just one day,
for loving, sharing, giving, are not to put away
like bells and lights and tinsel, in some box upon a shelf.
The good you do for others is good you do yourself...
~Norman Wesley Brooks

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

Lia Morgan * Darla * Ember Case * Kaige
Jennifer McKenzie * Regina Avalos * Savannah Chase
Debbie Mumford * Robin Rotham * Paige Tyler
Alice Audrey * Jennifer Shirk * Adelle Laudan
Tempest Knight * Gina Ardito * Morgan St. John * Dane

(leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

CHRISTMAS CAROLS FOR THE PSYCHIATRICALLY CHALLENGED

CHRISTMAS CAROLS FOR THE PSYCHIATRICALLY CHALLENGED

Schizophrenia --- Do You Hear What I Hear?

Multiple Personality Disorder --- We Three Kings Disoriented Are

Dementia --- I Think I'll Be Home For Christmas

Narcissistic --- Hark the Herald Angels Sing About Me

Manic --- Deck the Halls and Walls and House and Lawn and Streets and Stores and Office and Town and Cars and Busses and Trucks and Trees and Fire Hydrants and...

Paranoid --- Santa Claus Is Coming To Get Me

Borderline Personality Disorder --- Thoughts of Roasting On an Open Fire

Personality Disorder --- You Better Watch Out, I'm Gonna Cry, I'm Gonna Pout, Maybe I'll tell You Why

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder --- Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells...

2007 Christmas Card

Since they went out a few weeks ago, I figure I show you what the bulk of this year's Christmas cards look like. Some people did receive different ones, but for the most part, this is what people received from me this year. I initially thought about popping up the reindeer image but decided they would be easier to mail flat. I masked the bottom half of the card before stamping the presents and star bursts, then attached the red ribbon along the seam. The details are as follows:

Stamps: Sleigh Full of Toys (Stampin' Up, retired), Heavenly Swirls (Stampendous)
Ink: Ruby Red, Garden Green, So Saffron
paper: White, Real Red
Accessories: Circle and Scalloped Circle punch (Marvy Uchida), Red Polka Dot ribbon (JoAnn's), Brown colored pencil, Red Marker (Le Plume), Blender Pen (Marvy Memories)

Thursday Thirteen #38: Christmas CDs

Thirteen favorite Christmas CDs.

1. Harry Connick Jr. : When My Heart Finds Christmas (The title track and "What are you Doing New Year's Eve" always get me)

2. Bing Crosby: The Voice of Christmas (2 disc track I can listen to for hours on "repeat")

3. Amy Grant: A Christmas Album and Home For Christmas

4. Sissel: God Jul (A present from my Norwegian host family the December after I spent a summer with them; One of my all-time favorites, and in dire need of a CD replacement as the cassette is wearing out.)

5. Aaron Neville: Soulful Christmas

6. Mannheim Steamroller: A Fresh Aire Christmas

7. Harry Simeone Chorale: Little Drummer Boy (Favorite track: "Simple Gifts")

8. Jimmy Buffett: Christmas Island (Goes great with hot cocoa or margaritas)

9. Gloria Estefan: Christmas Through Your Eyes

10. Mariah Carey: Merry Christmas

11. Vince Gill: Let There Be Peace on Earth

12. Tran-Siberian Orcehstra: The Lost Christmas Eve (sister and I are going to their winter concert in January!)

13. Martina McBride: White Christmas

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

Adelle Laudan * Alice Audrey * Paige Tyler
Jennifer McKnight * Darla * Jana * Jennifer Shirk
Loribelle Hunt * Tempest Knight * Shelley Munro
Deborah * Gina Ardito
(leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well. I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

What Movie is Your Christmas Most Like?

Your Christmas is Most Like: A Charlie Brown Christmas

Each year, you really get into the spirit of Christmas. Which is much more important to you than nifty presents.

What Movie Is Your Christmas Most Like?