Feeling Crafty

I have been reading several craft blogs since this summer, and never feel like I have the time to just sit down and make something without neglecting something more important. I've come to realize that making craft projects is something that I should do more often, because I get so much joy out of them, and I come away with such a feeling of accomplishment. I used to scrapbook regularly, I've done soap-making, candle-making, jewelry-making, stamping, and card-making. Paper crafts are definitely my favorite, and I have tons of supplies from my two-year stint as a Creative Memories consultant.

When I am feeling like I want to do something creative, and time keeps me from actually producing anything, I have a bad habit of stockpiling supplies. This summer, I bought a Cricut machine, along with several cartridges, but didn't use it very much at all. For Christmas, I received a Gypsy, and I am looking forward to playing with it.

I really wanted to make some things for Halloween, but this was the semester from Hell for me, and I really don't remember October. For Thanksgiving, I managed to make a banner to hang on our fireplace. It's nothing that exciting, but for me, there was a great feeling of accomplishment.

For Christmas, I decided to make three different projects. First, there was the two-day wreath-making project, then the "beaded curtain", and finally a banner that I hung on my china cabinet.

Sorry about the banner picture; I just realized that I never took a good one. It has four layers, and the lettering says, "Let it Snow". If I get a chance later, I'll write a post with just the wreath, because that was a massive undertaking.

Sneak Peek

Holiday Charms Christmas Card

Make a statement with custom Christmas cards at Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

The End is Near!

I am sure I have written this somewhere already, but I want to see it in writing again, to prove to myself that I have made it to the end of this awful semester, and am going to be 75% finished with nursing school.

As of right now, I have:

•  3 more days of lecture
• 2 more lecture exams (one is a biggie)
• 1 more lab (my last new skill in nursing school-IV starts)
• 1 more clinical day (how happy that makes me!)

I will be a free woman December 14th, around noon.  The madness starts up again January 18th.  Can't wait...

Say cheese!

For years, I resisted the photo card for Christmas.  I didn't have a really good reason, but preferred to send the non-photo type out.  Now that we have kids, I have converted to the photo card.  Sure, most of my friends and family are on Facebook, but not all of them are.  Also, I have been really bad the past year or so about uploading photos to Facebook or here on my blog. 

I am planning to send out photo cards this year, but the problem is that Zoe will not look at a camera.  So, posing both kids together is not an option.  I learned my lesson last year when I dressed up both the kids, set up my child-sized rocking chair in front of the Christmas tree, and had Zach kneel next to the chair with his arm around it.  Zoe would zoom in and out of the room, sometimes sitting in the chair for a second or so.  I had to be ready with the camera, and after about 30 minutes, I did manage to get a decent shot. 

This year, I am planning to use candid shots that were taken separately of the kids.  We don't do family photos outside of the ones that the kids both take twice a year at school, but I am pretty good at taking pictures at any activity that we do. Shutterfly has some gorgeous card designs, and here are a few of my favorites:

I haven't decided which ones I am going to use it; there are too many choices!  Shutterfly also has all sorts of other products that would make great Christmas gifts.  There are wall calendars, birthday invitations, and all sorts of Christmas photo cards.  If you can imagine it, Shutterfly has it.  Be sure to go and check out their website for their full range of products.

Silhouette giveaway at Tatertots and Jello

One of my favorite crafty blogs, Tatertots and Jello, is giving away a Silhouette machine, and I would really like to win it.  Go here to enter, and tell her I sent you!