Family Christmas

We celebrated our family Christmas on January 6-7-8 2023.

We rented a ranch house so most of the out of town folks could stay for the weekend.  

The weather was great for driving - the sun shone and the highways were dry.  The place was still decorated for Christmas.  There was a large tree and fire place mantel had seasonal decor.  The house has 6 rooms with their own bathrooms.  We visited, played outside, prepared and ate food, enjoyed our potluck supper on Saturday evening. There was enough time to touch base with my siblings that were there.

I believe we were just about 30 for supper which was wonderful. 

Mom was not able to leave hospital to be with us. She was close so with the use of Face Time and 2 Ipads we were able to each have a bit of a visit with her a few at a time so she could recognize those she was seeing.  Thanks to those who made that possible.

There was turkey, brocolli salad, pyrophy (perogies), holopchi (cabbage rolls), tourtiere (meat pie), brussels sprouts and asparagus. Homemade buns made by nephew.  Wild cranberry sauce which is what we grew up with.  Baked and mashed potatoes. Yummy gravy!

A chocolate torte, fruit salad and much more.

I brought my famous Caramel Popcorn for snacks.

It was a great weekend and the first with out Dad who passed in May 2022.

We have been so blessed to have our parents for so long and be so constant in our lives.

I received food gifts for Christmas which are always appreciated.  I  have come to appreciate linen tea towels so those will be great.  Watercolor paper will be used in my family cards this year.

The yellow sunflower bowl will live on the dining room table for a while.  The silver trivet fits in really well with  my silver tea pot and accessories. This beautiful teapot ornament was part of my gift with the sunflower bowl.

I was limping around that weekend because on my way to wash my car on Friday, Jan 6th something happened to my right knee but more about that later.

Set of Cards and Greetings

I made a set of cards for my niece as a gift.  I chose designer paper and coordinating card bases.

The first 2 are the paisley paper with Kiwi Kiss, Soft Sky and Chocolate Chip bases with strips of Early Espresso and Choc Chip.

The bottom left and right are Basic Gray card bases with a coordinating designer papers. Featuring punched white card stock panels.  The punch is the Martha Steward Arche Lattice.

The top right is Old Olive card base with a coordinating designer paper with a ripped white card stock panel.  

The right is Groovy Guava card base with designer paper in soft warm blues and a ripped panel matching the card.

The bottom left took a while to figure out but found the card base needed to be Summer Starfruit. The designer paper is the same with the left strip turned to the other side. 

Middle right is a burgundy card base with a coordinating designer paper with a ripped white card stock panel.

The bottom right is Old Olive card base with striped designer paper with a ripped navy card stock panel.

The greetings included birthday, thinking of you in the colors of the cards I had made.

I added a pack of 3D foam tape to adhere them where ever on the card front she decided to use them.

The shapes included tags, circles and banners.

I hope she and her family will enjoy giving these cards throughout the year when special occasions arise and time is short.

This allows for a handmade card on a quick turn around.

Small Gifts - Car Cup Holders Coasters - Bunch 1

A bunch of 3" car cup holder coasters - V2. 

I chose thicker felt or fleece scraps for this bunch of car coasters.

For the top left hand set I resized a bird post it  note I have used on cards before. I cut the wing by hand. The background is a very textured caramel colored fleece.  I chose light blue felt for the bird, a dark blue for the wing and a light blue grosgrain ribbon. I chose a yellow denim fabric for the cotton piece on the back.  

The top right hand is a thick teal fleece with a yellow start felt accent. Yellow grosgrain ribbon and a teal cotton flannelette on the back. 

The middle right hand is the same caramel fleece as the first set.  I cut small mushrooms from orange and brown felt. This set has orange grosgrain and the same yellow cotton denim on the back. 

Back to the left center. This set feature red fleece with grey tuques. The tuques were cut by hand with a hand drawn pattern.  I sewed the ribs on the body and the rim. A grey grosgrain ribbon and a cotton tshirt fabric on the back. Bottom right set. I loved this scrap of plaid fleece. The colors are great so I just matched the colors with grosgrain ribbon. I chose Stampin Up colors More Mustard and Rich Razzleberry and stuck to the plaid geometric pattern.  More Mustard grosgrain ribbon tabs and black cotton backer fabric. Bottom left features royal blue fleece for the background and die cut hearts in white and grey felt. The back is jean denim. These are Christmas gifts for my sisters and niece. 

Birthday Cards for Mom

I made some ready made birthday cards for my Mom as a Christmas gift. She usually makes her own but it's nice to have a few ready to give cards.

I chose a warm dark blue which matched the bird nicely.  I added the blue bird (it's a post it note). Put a bit of white behind the eye. Added a wing which was cut with the Cricut and embossed with the Cuttlebug Devine Swirl folder.  Added a branch cut with the Stampin Up Little Leaves sizzlet. Added a SU Modern Label/Word Window greeting.  Designer paper by Karen Foster.

With the bird in the middle of this card I chose to just add a greeting in the bottom left hand corner.  I chose a medium pink card.

 

This one received a blue greeting instead of a pink one. I just love this paper.

The paper is Indigo Dreams Gypsy Stripe by Recess Carson-Dellosa.  A warm dark blue card base with a SU Word Window greeting.  I changed the orientation on the second one.

 

 

 

I am mailing a parcel to my parents this year.  That is a first time in twenty years.  I have almost always with my parents for Christmas.  Makes me sad!