Today is the Day!

Yep, today is the day to get started on your advent calendar!  I've picked out a few of my favorite ones to show you.  Click on photos to be taken to shops!

 

From the Metropolitan Museum of Art is this wonderful advent tree:

From the Vermont Christmas Company comes this jumbo Santa advent:

Check out this cuckoo clock advent!  From Bronner's Christmas Wonderland:

If you hurry, you can still purchase this one and catch up!  From OhHelloMagpie:

And want to do it yourself?  Here's some printable ones!

From LuckyLadyPaperCrafts is this beautiful countdown calendar:

And this one from printyourparty:

And I want to add these two items.  Vintage style Christmas cards!

From TheRetroChristmasCardCompany, take a look at the wonderful cards you can get!

From Great Greeting Card Company:

Again, please click directly on photos to be taken to shops!  Hope you enjoy the images and find something you just can't live without!

Stay tuned to the blog!  Next week we'll start decorating the tree!  Can't wait to see what each person contributes!

Have a great day!

VS

A Mother's Day Cake to Decorate ♥

 

    doodlebeacards

Mother's Day is next Sunday so lets make a cake!

First find a recipe...this recipe  book looks like it might have some good ones...

                                              MySeriousSide

What about a plate for the cake?  I think this one will work...

                                       OldCrowAntiques

Where is the cake Baker??????  Oh here he is, whew....

                                        cranberrylake

Now to decorate the cake...click on the link below...when you are done decorating your cake, please come back!

                      Decorate your cake

All done?  The next thing to do is.....

                                                  peppercorns2

Enjoy!  VE

For the Love of the Irish

If I were given a free ticket to fly anywhere in the world, I would choose Ireland. I've always been fascinated by this beautiful country. It is a mix of the soft and beautiful and the hard and difficult. I love the art, music, dance, and culture as well as the landscape and people.


http://www.etsy.com/listing/69050237/4-green-claddagh-ring-irish-language
So....as I was thinking of Ireland and St. Patrick's Day I did what I usually do, I did an Etsy search. This time for the artists of Ireland.


http://www.etsy.com/listing/68709047/seafoam-pearls-and-fish-scales-a-mermaid
Here is a little gallery I put together to honor the artists and their wonderful talents. I hope you enjoy it.


http://www.etsy.com/listing/60998235/white-chiffon-silk-shawl-with-handfelted


http://www.etsy.com/listing/69741805/cream-silk-shoulder-bag


http://www.etsy.com/listing/68351567/art-pendant-songe-dune-nuit-dete-glass


http://www.etsy.com/listing/58165893/handmade-notebook


http://www.etsy.com/listing/67365053/baby-girls-st-patricks-day-hat


http://www.etsy.com/listing/64156804/felt-necklace-with-wooden-beads-merino

There are so many talented Irish artisans on Etsy that I'm sure if you do your own search you'll be pleasantly surprised.  Have fun and have a very happy St. Patrick's Day.....

pepper/Helmet Head

Make It Personal

Handmade items at Christmas are always extra special, and cards are no exception. Two years ago I decided to try my hand at making my own Christmas cards and found I thoroughly enjoyed it. I admit I didn't have time to make them for everyone on my list, so I concentrated on family members and my closest friends. I had so much fun that I did it again last year.

I love to paint, so I did original paintings, took a picture and made the necessary adjustments. Then I simply ordered the number of prints I needed online using Walmart's Photo Section. It was quick, easy, and best of all...it didn't cost much.

                                                 Painting

Craft stores have an abundant supply of cards and envelopes in every color, size, and quantity you could want. I used white because it just seemed to look better, and attached the photographs to the front of the card with double sticky tape. This enables the recipient to keep the picture if they wish. Because I used original artwork, I did sign, title, and date the back of the picture, and also made a note inside.

I then wrote a Christmas wish and printed out the number I needed on white copy paper using the computer, cut them to size, and glued them to the inside of the card. I then signed each one personally, of course. No shortcuts on that.

                                                                                            Seeded Paper

                                                                                                                                                                                                      Stamp

If drawing and painting isn't your thing, you can use pictures of your family, stamps, Christmas decorations, a child's drawing, and even something different like attaching another little flat card with seeds that can be planted. If you like to sew or do needlework, make a little ornament and attach it to the front. Have fun with it, the possibilities are endless!

pepper

Our Shops!

Picture slideshow made with Smilebox