Buon Natale e' Buon Anno Nuovo

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

I've spent a significant amount of the last month in and out of the hospital for pneumonia and bronchitis infections.  It's been a rough month for getting crafts done so I'm thankful for the times I was able to work ahead and for the fact that blogger lets you post ahead of time.  My DH has been my superhero, taking care of me and helping me get things posted. 

We get to move back to the U.S. in 2011 so there is much to do to get ready for an international move.  I will be sifting through all my craft stuff to get it ready for shipping and I'm looking forward to the projects I will do with the stuff I "find" while cleaning.

Last year's craft resolution was to try 12 different folds to use on cards.  I did that.  Yay~  I can't decide what to "resolute" this year.  So that's my goal for the next two weeks (along with getting well).... figure out my Crafting New Year's resolution.

What's yours?

Deck The Halls Crawl WINNER-Fantabulous Cricut

CONGRATULATIONS 

Lisa's Creative Niche said...

I love finding new ways to use my scraps up, thank you so much! Lisa

I sent Lisa an email and she has until New Year's Day to get back to me or I will draw again. 

I hope you all  have a VERY Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year.  Be sure to check the Fantabulous Cricut Site for all the winners, there were LOTS!  THANK YOU for spending the year with me.  I look forward to visiting your sites and spending the new year with you!

Deck the Halls Crawl by Fantabulous Cricut

Our Merry Christmas to you!  Crawl along with us as we deck the halls at each of our sites.  Then show us what you have decked the halls with, there are lots of prizes to be won along the way and at Fantabulous Cricut.

I can't believe that I get to follow Michelle!  She's so talented! 

My project is a simple chain.  Every year in August and September I start saving up my scraps in a big tub.  At the end of November, I start cutting them to make a chain,  Going through them is a trip down memory lane of the wonderful projects I made during the year.

 Little pieces of projects I never got finished like the Once Upon a Princess elf.  I was going to do a candy land, but all I got done was her and the candy pole.  One lonely poinsettia that was left over after another project.  Snowflakes.

The chain made it all the way around the room and then some.  It brings me such joy to remember and the little kids just love it. Tip: We make one chain of 1-25 and they tear one off every day till it is time for Santa to arrive.  On the inside of each chain link is written the treat they will get, a cookie, a candy cane, a small toy I have hidden away. Nothing about the chain is perfect.  The links are not the same sizes, the colors aren't always Christmas, but all together it is so festive and means so much more!

Now onto the next stop in your journey:  Our Fantabulous Cricut Leader, Robin.

I am giving away a $20 gift certificate to Custom Crops.  Leave a comment.  You don't have to become a follower, but it would be nice to have you.  Just leave a comment to be enrolled in the drawing.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

1. Andrea: http://divinedomestic.blogspot.com/

2. Angela: http://simplecreationspapercrafts.blogspot.com/

3. Angji: http://sweetpineapplescrapping.blogspot.com/

4. Brenda: http://brendasscrappyblog.blogspot.com/

5. Candace: http://www.scrapadoodledee.blogspot.com/

6. Cathy: http://sniptuck.blogspot.com/

7. Elsa: http://cricutlvr.blogspot.com/

8. Erin: http://spantastikreations.blogspot.com/

9. Helen: http://craftingcricutmom.blogspot.com/

10. Jamie: http://cutecardsandcraftsbyjamie.blogspot.com/

11. Jean: http://jeanscraftycorner.blogspot.com/

12. Jennifer: http://ascrappinaggie.blogspot.com/

13. Jill: http://thescrapoholic.blogspot.com/
14. Jordan: http://cutecuteworld.blogspot.com/

15. Joyce: http://1ashjoy.blogspot.com/

16. Kate: http://smallbitsofpaper.blogspot.com/

17. Leigh: http://www.myscrappyjourney.com/

18. Leinad: http://scrapsticklepop.blogspot.com/

19. Lori: http://livingorganizedchaos.blogspot.com/

20. Melin: http://cookingwithcricut.blogspot.com/

21. Michelle: http://scrappinwithmybug-scrappinwithmybug.blogspot.com/

22. Penny: http://lightwhimsy.blogspot.com/

23. Robin: http://robinscreativecottage.blogspot.com/

24. Saundra: http://luvscrappingtogether.blogspot.com/

25. Sharon: http://ladybug820.blogspot.com/

26. Sherri: http://sherrisllc.blogspot.com/

27. Valerie: http://craftygolucky.blogspot.com/

Similar, but different........

Practical scrappers had a challenge to use digital stamps from Stitchy Bear and they are giving away some great prizes!!!  I used the ornament digital stamp and clear dollar stamp to create this card.

It is similar to the one that I created from the cricut machine, except of course, it is digital. Stickles, Ribbon, Martha Stewart branch punch.
And I did this Snowman, also from Stitchy Bear digital Stamps:

I cut the image out close to the edge and mounted it on the poinsettia decorated gift wrap paper I had.  Added the Cheers sign, Martha Stewart Branch punch, snowflake, ribbon, buttons and the Christmas tree.  For this digital stamp there is a bunny at the bottom of the snowman, but I couldn't seem to color him right...... at least, I didn't like what I did, so I made the cheers sign, cut his arms with an exacto knife and slipped the sign under this hands and broom.  This added some nice depth to the project.

Give a gift - altered frappuccino bottles

The little girls upstairs are from Japan.  They are learning English in school here.  Their mother is learning Italian and speaks little to no English.  The husband who works with my husband speaks Japanese and English but travels.  You see the dilemma.  I started giving the girls little gifts on holidays they would celebrate but are not celebrated in Italy.  Like Halloween.  We have a sweet friendship where the girls get to practice their English and their mom gets a little break.  Here is a picture of them at Halloween:

So these are my gifts to them at Christmas.  And my entry into the Cricut Circle Blog challenge Black Friday.  Use black and at least two cricut cuts.  I have snowflakes, circles, squares and rectangles from Joys of the Season and George.  I love George, you can do anything with George!  Cricut Papers and some stickles.