That sounds familiar Deena, the time anyway! I have picked up things here and there to make and can't seem to find time. Jane sits right down and gets her things finished in one sitting. She made a mirror to go with her box. She was even amazed at how fast she did the box. Part of it with me is the baby is into everything right now. She has discovered how to climb up on the fireplace(we don't use it right now) and it's amazing the mischief she gets into. We've been trying to update our Christmas things. I got some things for as little as $.50.
I love finding bargains like that Jennifer! Jane is impressive! Wish I could sit down and get it all done in one sitting!
I made calendars for Christmas two years ago. I had everyone send me pictures in October (getting people to send me pictures was the hardest part!), and then made collages of them for the pictures-of-the-month. I also put everyone's birthdays and anniversaries on there, and put headshot pictures of the birthday person/anniversary couple on their date. It was a lot of work, but it came out great. Last year I thought about doing another one, but didn't have enough energy to beg for pictures again, so we ended up just making a slideshow of pictures of just us, set to music, and burned a bunch of copies and sent those out as presents/Christmas cards. We're going to do that again this year.
I used Corel Photo Paint to edit the pictures and Corel Draw to actually make the calendars. It was very fun! Each month had a different theme and color scheme. I stuck in lots of different "holidays" - you can see the "International Moment-of-Frustration Scream Day" on October 12th in the picture. I also had a "Take Your Houseplant for a Walk" Day, and "Answer Your Cat's Questions" Day.. Along with all of the normal ones, of course. :lol: (Wow.. I have the Africacam running in the background and I can't see anything moving, but I sure can hear something very close by!!) Here's December's page. That's me and my Charles in the pictures.
I love that, Marylyn! A friend of mine is doing a wooden tray with a collage of pix for her stepmom for Christmas. This is a very big thing for her as she just started doing this type of stuff about a month ago. They had examples in AC Moore a few weeks ago and they were beautiful. I don't remember how many years ago, but I made my mom an afghan. She loves cardinals so I made it red with a cream border. I then took cream color ribbon and tied small bow ties in various spots on the afghan. Each ribbon represented each of us 5 kids and the grands that were in the picture at the time. I then wrote her an instruction sheet and included gum drops and her favorite coffee and bath salts. She was instructed to enjoy a bath while waiting for the coffee. Then she was to sit down, wrap herself with the afghan and enjoy the gum drops and coffee. This way she would always have her family "around" her. I had so much fun with it. My sis was there this past Thanksgiving and my mom told her she needs to update the ribbons. The pattern is just a simple v-stitch baby blanket that I extended to make a larger blanket. I think that is one of my most favorite gifts I have ever given.
oh! I did calendars like those once, each month I made the calendar picture a collage of pics of the lives of the family members that had Birthdays that month. Everyone wanted me to do it again the nexxt year, but the pictures were too hard to come by for some of the people.
We have done many things over the years. My parents will not let us buy them presents but will take anything from the grandchild, things that they have made. This year we are going to make a Dog out of a women's pair of tights filled with rice. It will look my parents dog. But my parents layes by the fire all day and this one will be for the cold country winds. Last year we made a squirel feed (Devin was big in to wood work last year) my parents still use it today. The year before we made a bird feeder out of a 2 litter bottle. One year I got all 5 grandkids together and we made stepping stones with each childs name, year and hand print in it. These line my parents walk way leaning up against the garage and or put up when the wealther gets cold. And they have lasted at least 5 or 6 years. Last year lots of people got homemade bootties. I just had to have a set of those round knitting looms and loved my nice warm bootties. This year I have made one thing so far and it is a sercert so I can not share at this time. I hope how ever gets it won't think it is too cheesey. I love making things and have wonderful ideas all the time. But I only like making them once and usually never do it again. I think I will make some more bootties, I hate having cold feet. OK I have rambled long enough. chow
I cant post the pic again since its on another site, dont want to over load their user or whatever..so here is my link to my gallery on the scrapbook site Im on. Here you can see some layouts Ive done, some cards Ive made(I do sets for gifts), the clipboard(pg 2), the wedding album(pg 3), a small book for my neice and another for a friend. If you want to look http://www.scribblesonline.com/photpost/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=796
You are so creative! I loved looking at your work. Your little girl is so cute. Wish I had the time to learn to do some of those cards. Beth
WOW!!! The calendar idea is AWESOME! I may start the process to have that be the christmas present for my folks for next year! We have 6 kids in our family, plus one unofficially adopted sister (long beautiful story) each family could have a month, and then I could mix it up for the next 5 months. GREAT IDEA!!!! Figuring it would take me that long to get my siblings to give us our pix!!! WOW...you guys are SO creative!!!!
Melissa, Joyce and Madison could pass for sisters! I laugh at my avatar because you can't tell how dark Joyce is. I tease my kids that they aren't just "mixed" but "mixed up" as far as the blends between the families. I want to do a scrapbook so bad. Joyce and I went on a trip to the NC Mts with the PS a couple of years ago and I want to make those pix into a scrapbook. That was a once in a lifetime trip and I want to put the pictures together in a nice way, not just a photo album.
I LOVE scrapbooking! I haven't gotten much done lately, but I love it just the same! Maybe on some of our lighter days, or days off, of school, I can get some scrapbooking in!
Thanks for the compliments ladies I appreciate it, there are alot of talented women on that site and Im blessed to know all of them(even met some IRL). well Im off to finish school and get ready for work..Ive had the last 6days off due to the way the schedule worked..house is decorated, laundry is washed(where is the maid to put it all away lol), and for the most part life is good after having a little rest...now to go make some $$ LOL probably wont be on till friday sometime, never know I might pop in from work. have a great day!
I do Amy, I try to make several different kinds of cookies and give out to the neighbors for Christmas
