SWAP-BOT

I found a new obsession, er, ah, I mean, a new playground. SWAP-BOT is a hosting site for swaps. I signed up and browsed around. I saw these adorable little matchboxes that were decorated and then filled with lovely little goodies.

Naturally I signed up for one. I found a Favorite Color swap. You send your partner a matchbox decorated and filled with goodies in their color choice. My partner likes highlighter yellow and electric blue. Here's what I came up with:

The matchbox is a 32 ct in size. I had NO idea what that was, but there is a template available on SWAP-BOT made by the founder, Rachel. It is roughly 1.5 inches by 2 inches by 1/2 inch. It was easy to make. Felt good to cut it out and glue it up. I printed the pattern onto regular paper and traced it onto the pretty papers I used. My partner has a well filled out profile, so I was able to send her some of the things she liked. They aren't really in the highlighter yellow or electric blue category, but I think they worked well anyway. The wire and fruit used on the outside of the box can be taken off and she can use them for other crafts if she wants to.

And here are the contents of the box.

I sent things she wanted and things I thought would work.

I also sent some shells because I am in Virginia Beach.

Thanks for looking. I am working on my Holiday Fun Matchbox swap today.

Maybe I'll see you in one of the future swaps.

Ready for Christmas

"Ready for Christmas," she said with a sigh,

As she gave a last touch to the gifts piled high.

Then wearily sat for a moment to read,

Until soon, very soon, she was nodding her head.

Then quietly spoke a voice in her dream,

"Ready for Christmas, what do you mean?

Ready for Christmas when only last week

You wouldn't acknowledge your friend on the street?

Ready for Christmas while holding a grudge?

Perhaps you'd better let God be the judge.

"She woke with a start and a cry of despair,"

There's so little time and I've still to prepare.Oh Father!

Forgive me, I see what you mean!

To be ready means more than a house swept clean.

Yes, more than the giving of gifts and a tree.

It's the heart swept clean that He wanted to see,

A heart that is free from bitterness and sin.

So to be ready for Christmas - be ready for Him."

Myrtle Haynes

Christmas weather we want it or, nah, we want it...

I grew up in sunny, warm San Diego. Christmas was warm. Sometimes we would play with the hose or have water ballon fights. (yup, we fought on Christmas. But it was all good.)

Fast forward many, many years and here I am in southern Virginia. While we are considered the south, we are north enough to get snow some years on Christmas. (Okay, so I can only remember snow ON Christmas one time.) Usually we only get a bit of a chill on Christmas.

Today, it is chilly and rainy. The kind of rain that soaks to the bone and refuses to leave. So, what is a girl to do????

Why, take the girls to a bookstore for a book and a cuppa tea.

Oddly enough, we are ALL reading Vampire books. And we need the next one in the Morganville series.

Christmas colors are red and green. There is red in the blood, and green in my face when I think about the blood.

So that makes these Christmas-ey books. No????

Gotta go. There are about a hundred more books calling to me too ......

Journal MY Christmas - Declaration

I am riding along with Shimelle this December/January in her Journal Your Christmas class. It's a GREAT deal. Why? You ask. Because you pay for one year and get, are you ready,

ALL FUTURE YEARS FREE.

Yup, you are buying a life-time membership to the Journal Your Christmas Club. How stinkin' cool is that!!!

So, here is my Declaration:

I am going to enjoy Christmas, and all of the pagentry that goes along with it.

That's it. Oh, yeah, and along the way I am going to create an awesome little album about Christmas and all of the pagentry that goes along with it. I won't be stressing about getting the perfect picture. Or worried about getting the words down on paper well enough to impress Mrs. Brown from high school. (really I can't remember her name, but you know what I mean.) I also am not going to stress/worry/feel inadequate for scrap-lifting. No one who sees my album will know, and if I ever get a prize for it, I will acknowledge all the great, creative minds I can remember.

So, there it is. My December 2009 /January 2010 Declaration.

(note: By posting this a day late, I have already proven my commitment to my declaration. Just incase you were wondering how serious I was going to stay about this.)

Mama's Holiday Wish List Meme

Mama’s Holiday Wish List Meme TodaysMama and Provo Craft are giving away a sleighful of gifts this holiday season and to enter I’m sharing this meme with you.

1. What 5 items are on your holiday wish list this year? New digital camera, more Copic markers, gift certs for some on-line classes, personal trainer sessions and a new coat.

2. What is your favorite handmade gift you have received? The Christmas ornaments my girls make for me.

3. What handmade gift have you always wanted to tackle? I want to learn to knit and make a scarf. Doesn't sound too daring, but it's what I want to do.

4. What was the best Christmas gift you received as a child? A winter coat with a fake fur collar. I was 10 and I REALLY wanted that coat. It was really odd because I grew up in sunny, warm San Diego. But I LOVED that coat and it made my day. I wore it all that day. I'm sure I was hot, but I LOVED that coat.

5. What items are on your kid’s wish list this year? M1 wants a guitar and lessons, M2 wants books and gift cards to Barnes and Noble, and M3 wants Matchbox race tracks, Barbie houses, a TV and gift cards to Toys R Us.

6. What is your favorite holiday food? I love my Grandma's Stuffing and green bean casserole.

7. What will you be hand-crafting for the holidays? I made advent calendars for my Mom and Sister and girlfriends, AND I will be making some more goodies. Totes, more advent calendars (gotta get busy this weekend) and a Daily Scrapbook from the season.

8. What is your favorite holiday movie? I have two. It's a Wonderful Life AND Ernest Saves Christmas.

9. Favorite holiday song? I can't pick just one. I love a lot of them.

10. Favorite holiday pastime? Candy cane consumption.

Holidays in Hand - Day One

Jessica Sprague is offering a free class to get the Holidays going.

There's still time to sign up. I think today is the last day though, so hurry and get over there.

Go on. I'll wait......

Signed up and ready?!?!!??? Good.

This year I hope to not get caught up in "the girls have got to have this" frenzy, like I do most other years. I really want to reign it in and be more practical about the gifts they get from us. I want them to grasp the concept that Christmas is more a Spirit than a gift receiving fiasco. I want them to appreciate what they have and be grateful that other people think enough to get them ANYTHING at all. My girls are not bad girls. Just over indulged. I would love to turn this into the Homemade gift year. But that isn't practical now is it?

So, I will try to ease up on the shopping and get more into the "doing".

You know, making cookies, hot chocolate, stringing popcorn for the tree, maybe make bird feeders for the yard (pinecones, peanut butter and bird seed).

I would like to take more meaningful photos too. I want to capture the feel of the season.

If you have ideas, let me know. If you have examples, leave me a link.

Wish me luck with my journey.

Christmas 2009 Overlay Freebies

Here's a Christmas one with snowflakes.
(click to enlarge and then right click to save)

Here's another one with out the snowflakes.

These are so easy.