I'm Back to Scrapping and Swapping!

I haven't scrapped or swapped anything in a year!   Well, I did attend a scrapping event for one day in November and I finished a mini album kit which had been sitting on a shelf for 2 years.   I was busy last year making bouquets for my daughter's wedding and planning a bridal shower as well.   On top of this, my husband and I were dealing with some behavior issues in our teenage grandson/adopted son.   Even as I write this post, we're still dealing with a lot of issues with him.  He's currently living in a residential treatment home about 40 minutes away.   That, in itself, is another very long story.

Anyway, I'm now involved in a couple of swaps over at Your Paper Pantry and it feels good to be creative again.   I'm now making three altered file folders for the "Love is in the Air" Pocket for Your Thoughts group at YPP.   I just started altering some playing cards using homemade Gesso for the Artful Inspirations Deck Swap where we alter 14 cards and decorate them, think mixed media, adding a quote to one side and on the front of the card we're to add a prompt--something that will inspire creativity.  My prompt is "alter a page from a magazine and use it on a journal page".   As I complete the projects, I'll post pics with more explanations.

I'm also trying to get my scraproom organized.   It is a total mess!   As the holidays approached, I just 'tossed' everything into the room and pretty much ignored it.  Plus, with the bitter cold we've been having, I don't even want to go into the basement and clean it---it's just too cold.

And, I just realized that I haven't posted since before Christmas!  I think I should share some pics of how we celebrated:

Only a small portion of my snowman collection sitting in front of the fireplace.

Jackie made these Candy sleighs for her ETL group.  

My great-grandson, Bentley--3 months old

My oldest daughter, Valerie, with Bentley

Angelina (Nina) who just turned 10, my youngest granddaughter

Me with Jazmine (my granddaughter) and her son, Bentley (my great-grandson)

My Santas---only a small portion of my collection

Another view of the fireplace with the tree

My mom in the middle with me (on the left) and my sister, Sherri.

My mother-in-law's hutch filled with my Santas I've collected over the years.

My tree (artificial) loaded with an assortment of ornaments that tell a story over 30 years of marriage.

Christmas Eve

Zachery on a home visit on Dec. 22nd, opening his gifts.

My son-in-law, James, with the quiver I bought him.

Jackson, my great-nephew, opening a gift.

Me, playing Santa, because I'm the oldest and had to take the place of my dad.

Valerie and James with a rustic birdhouse made by my sister, Sherri.

Michael (my husband) with the birdhouse from Sherri.

A tradition, playing a game after the gifts are opened.

Results of a storm (one of three) in a week

I haven't participated in a "Meet Me On Monday" question and answer post in a very long time.  So, I decided I should do one now--although it's 2 days late.   This is a weekly 'linky' 'get to know you party' sort of thing done each Monday and hosted by "Never Growing Old" blog.  Normally there are 5 questions that are posted on a Sunday for bloggers to answer and post on Mondays.  This week, though there'll be 15.  wow!

So, let's get to it, shall we?

Questions:
1.Wrapping paper or gift bags?   Both--it all depends on the gift
2.Real or artificial tree?   Real.  Every year, we go out and cut one down.
3.When do you put your tree up?   About 2 weeks before Christmas
4.When do you take your tree down?  New Year's Eve
5.Do you like eggnog?    No
6.Do you have a nativity scene?  Yes--I've had it for 26 years.  I can't imagine Christmas without it!
7.Favorite Christmas Movie?   It's A Wonderful Life
8.Favorite Christmas cookie?   Chocolate Crinkles
9.Where will you eat Christmas dinner?   We have dinner (1:00) at my sister-in-law's and then we travel to my parents and have a buffet.
10.Angel, bow or star on top of your tree?   Angel
11.Most annoying thing about this time of the year?   Rudeness
12.Do you like Fruitcake?   Ewww!  No!
13.What are you most excited about the holidays?  Opening gifts and visiting family
14.Do you open presents Christmas Eve or Christmas Morning?  Christmas Morning
15.Will you still be wrapping presents on Christmas Eve?   Most likely, but I hope not

If you want to play along, head on over to Never Growing Old HERE

thanks for getting to know me.

I've Updated My Christmas Decor

I decided to change things up a bit since Wednesday (see previous post), so here are some new photos of my (now finished) Christmas decor.  Hope you like what I've done.

I added more snowmen, Santas and rearranged a few things. 

This is my hutch before: (very blah)

Then I added some more snowmen, rearranged others:

and then I added some snowflakes:

Below is a tray on my antique trunk that serves as a coffee table.  It's filled with ornaments, a candle and pinecones.

The hearth is updated:

I think that's about it.....for now.  I'm hoping to decorate the kitchen and dining area with a gingerbread theme.  Hope you'll stop by later to see what I've done.

Happy Holidays!

Christmas Decor Photos soon to be posted

I've been so darn busy decorating, shopping, unpacking boxes from our move and just recently feeling blah because of a head cold.  So, I've been taking pictures of our tree and decorated mantel but I'm having difficulty uploading them as I have a new camera that the printer doesn't recognize.  I load the SD card into the card reader and the printer will say:  "Memory Card Error".   Now, it's off to the manual to see what else to do.

So, I hope you'll stop by soon to take a look at our tree and mantel.   Have a great day, my friends!