December Daily: Day Twenty-Four & Twenty-Five...DONE!

Day twenty-four-We were busy traveling to different family parties.  We started out with brunch at Grandma's house (hubby's side of the family), and then later in the evening we went to my aunts' house for dinner.  I was so excited to get to go to my aunts', as we have not been able to do this in a lot of years!

Day twenty-five-We started the morning off with a visit from Santa! I think it is cute that my sixth grader had the hardest time going to sleep, and was the first one in our room in the morning.  We opened the "Santa" gifts and stocking first, and then they got their presents from Bill and me.  The were crazy excited to open their very own iPads.  I am glad that I will no longer have to share mine with three boys. :)
They were also surprised to find an aquarium with their very own hermit crabs.  The video of them opening the ipads and seeing the hermit crabs is priceless!

Thanks for hanging with me while I completed my December Daily.  I think I am going to take the Project Life plunge, so you will have to put up with some more scrapbooking in the New Year!  I will soon be back to regular blog post with my cards, too!

Emily

December Daily: Day Twenty-Three

Day 23-We were able to celebrate Christmas with my hubby's extended family this year!  We had fun visiting with aunts, uncles and cousins that we normally do not see on a regular basis.  Aunt Cathy had a fun scavenger hunt for the younger kids, and the adults did a white elephant gift exchange.  Max and Luke fell asleep on the ride home! 
I am going to try to post Christmas Eve and Christmas day tomorrow or Sunday.  Once my kiddos are back in school next week, I hope to get back to my normal blogging routine.  It is nice to take a little break.

Thanks for stopping by,

Emily

Heartfelt Creations: Love Lives Here

Hello!  I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas.  I will be busy putting all of my Christmas papers and stamps away until next year!  I have a card to share today, using stamps and papers from Heartfelt Creations Timeless Amour collection.  You can find the product list and instructions for recreating this card below!

HCPC 3506-Passage to my Heart PreCut Set
HCPC 3449-Door To My Heart PreCut Set
HCD 728-Timeless Amour Die set
HCDP1 228-Timeless Amour Paper Collection
Product ID: 159723 – Art Institute Glue
other supplies: Memento Tuxedo Black ink, copic markers, scallop punch (EK Success), seam binding, button, burlap twine from May Arts, Old Paper distress ink by Ranger, kraft card stock, white card stock
Fold kraft card so that base measures 4.25" x 5.5" when folded.  Cut panel from burgundy patterned paper to measure 4" x 5.25".  Distress edges and adhere to card base.  Sponge Old Paper distress ink over edges of card base.  Stamp wooden heart door image in black onto white card stock, and color with copic markers.  Use coordinating die to cut.  Stamp sentiment in black onto cream colored patterned paper and cut to create a banner. (I free hand cut the ends to get the banner look).  Use a scallop border punch and punch a border from the green patterned paper and adhere to left side of a journal box.  Adhere the heart door image to the journal box.  Using foam dots, adhere the sentiment banner over the door.  Run seam binding along the right side of card, and punch a small hole in the lower corner of the journal box, so that you can pull the ribbon through.  Now you can apply the journal box to the card using foam dots, making sure it is centered on the card.  Tie your seam binding and create a loopy bow.  Adhere button with burlap twine to center of finished loopy bow.

Thanks for stopping by! You can find more project ideas on the Heartfelt Creations blog.

Emily

December Daily: Day Twenty-one & Twenty-two

Day Twenty-one-Our first snow of the year! Just a dusting, but snow none the less.  We were also busy with Christmas parties at school.  Super lucky this year that Max and Luke's classroom's are right across the hall from each other.  It allows me to zoom back and forth and see them.  Max is making ornaments in the upper left corner, and Luke and his friends used toilet paper to decorate their friend as a snowman.  So cute!

Day twenty-two-Basketball, Taekwondo, and an evening of looking at our favorite local light displays and Nativity scenes.  We made sure to stop and get some peppermint mocha's and hot chocolates before we started our venture.  Now...let the crazy Christmas travels begin!  We will be traveling to five parties in the next four days. I haven't done this in a lot of years, but now that Max and Luke are older, we decided to give it a go.  Hopefully they will not be grumpy when Christmas actually arrives!

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily

December Daily: Days Nineteen & Twenty

Day nineteen-We went to The Cincinnati Zoo's Festival of Lights.  I always enjoy seeing the lights, and this year we decided to stop and check out Santa.  I am so thankful we did, as the Santa at Bass Pro was kind of a scrooge!  This Santa was amazing, and was very attentive to my guys.  All three boys were excited to see some of Santa's reindeer.  I am upset, because I obviously did not have my flash on for the reindeer and Frosty photos.  Oh, well.  Still memories in the making!

Day twenty-A busy day!  I met my friend Tari for lunch, and then after school we had basketball and another Cub Scout Christmas party.  Max and Luke also brought me home some beautiful, homemade cards and ornaments!  I think the teacher's sent them home a day early, since we are supposed to get some snow, and everyone in this area freaks out at the mere mention of snow!  LOL!

I can not believe that Christmas is almost here! Are you ready? I am!

Emily

Joy...

Sharing another vintage style Christmas card using My Mind's Eye, All Is Bright collection.  It is hard to see, but I added some glitter to the flowers and leaves.  The baker's twine is old looking and also part of this collection.  I distressed the edges of the paper with distress ink in Old Paper and Walnut Stain and tore and ripped it with scissors and my finger nail.

I think I am officially ready for Christmas.  I still have to wrap some "Santa" gifts when little ones are not around, but all of the big stuff...DONE!  It is a yucky, rainy day here in SW Ohio.  It would be awesome if all of this rain was actually snow.  It was actually thundering a little bit ago.  So weird in December.

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!

Emily

December Daily: Day eighteen

Please scroll down for my Heartfelt Creations post!

Day eighteen-I included a photo of Max and his speech therapist.  He took her a gift, and I wanted to include her in our album, as she has done so very much for Max. 
About a year and a half ago, we found out our insurance would no longer pay for speech therapy, because Max has developmental disabilities and not a medical diagnosis.  I remember feeling so sad and angry, as I knew that without insurance our visits to Children's hospital were $200 a visit!  I did some research and found a private practice of speech pathologists.  At $40 a visit, this was a bit cheaper then our co-pay at Children's hospital.  I was elated!  After several months, I knew that it was a blessing.  Ms. Carey is AMAZING at her job, and did more with Max in a couple of months, then the speech therapist at Children's had done in several years.  Do not get me wrong...I LOVE Children's hospital, and they have been wonderful to us in so many ways.  The only thing I have ever been unhappy with was the speech and OT.  It just goes to show that sometimes something awful can really turn into something wonderful!
I also made some cookie cutter fudge for my hubby to pass out to his employees.  In the past, I use the metal cookie cutters, but the colored ones are quite festive.  I just matched my baker's twine to the color of the cookie cutter.

Thanks for stopping by and checking out my album!

Emily

Heartfelt Creations: Merry Christmas

Hello!  Today I have a Heartfelt Creations Christmas card to share.  I just love the Frosty Blanket patterned paper.  When you pair it up with the fabulous poinsettia stamps and dies, you can not go wrong!  I added some glitter accents to the berries and the layered poinsettia.  You can find the instructions and product list for recreating this card below.

HCPC 3415-Petite Poinsettia PreCut Set
HCPC 3419-Holiday Poinsettia PreCut Set
HCDP1 225-Frosty Blanket Paper Collection
SKU:  125156  Spellbinders Layered Poinsettia dies
other Supplies: Mellow Moss cardstock (SU); gold cord, gold gem stone, snow glitter by Stampendous, gold embossing powder, Top Boss emobossing ink, Memento Tuxedo Black ink, Glossy Accents by Ranger
Fold green card base so that it measures 4.25" x 5.5". Cut piece of Frosty Blanket patterned paper so that the large poinsettia image is in the lower right corner. This panel should measure 4" x 5.25". Distress the edges, and adhere to front of card base.  Stamp two poinsettias so that they layer in the Top Boss ink onto white card stock.  Sprinkle with gold embossing powder and heat with heat gun.  Add glossy accents to petals on flowers and sprinkle with snow glitter.  Add glossy accents to the berries on the patterned paper and sprinkle with snow glitter.  Once dry, adhere layered poinsettias on top of the poinsettia on the patterned paper.  Add gold gem to center.  Tie gold cord around top of card and tie in a loopy bow.

Make sure you check out the Heartfelt Creations blog for more inspiring projects by the design team!

Emily

December Daily: Day Sixteen & Day Seventeen

Day sixteen-We traveled to a local farm to partake in their Christmas walk.  The walk, has tons of lights and scripture that walks you through the life of Jesus.  I love doing this with the boys, as it reminds us all what Christmas is all about.  Afterwards, we have cookies and cocoa in the barn and listen to carolers.  This is something they always look forward to.  It is simple. fun. and did I mention free?  Yep.  Not too many light displays like this are free anymore, so big bonus.

 Day Seventeen-We headed to Bass Pro to see Santa! Max and Luke were so excited, and big brother Will was a very good sport about it.  I don't think the Santa was as authentic looking this year, but Max and Luke didn't seem to care!  They had fun writing letters to Santa and sticking them in the mailbox, and doing all of the fun activities.  Of course, we had to go check out the waterfall and the fish and the turtles while we were there. :)

Thanks for stopping by! I will have a Heartfelt Creations card for you tomorrow.

Emily

December Daily: Day Fifteen and a card!

Day Fifteen-We went out to dinner with our neighbors to The Melting Pot.  We usually do this every year around the holidays.  I love The Melting Pot.  Always a fun atmosphere, and it is nice to be able to hang out for a few hours over the many courses they serve.  It gives you plenty of time to talk and laugh.  Now that I am looking at the photo of the layout and typing this, I realize I forgot to cover up the "25" with my "15"!  I have a circle all stamped and ready to go with the new date. Oh, well.  You get the idea...

I also wanted to share a quick and easy Christmas card I made using some of the "handmade holiday" papers from Simple Stories.  Love the homespun feel, and this card literally took a couple of minutes to put together.  Love that!

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily