Good Afternoon!

Welcome to all of my new followers! I can't wait to stop by everyone's blog and say hello, but it may take a few days, as my schedule has taken a twist. I managed to fit in an hour or so yesterday to do some blog hopping, plan to do more in the next week, since Vicki will be keeping the blog list up.

I thought I would be staying in SC at least until the first week of Feb. Well, guess hubby just can't be away from me that long, and has come to take me home! Hmmm, he thinks it's easier for the teenager to be alone, 800 miles from home, in a motel with no kitchen, keeping up riding, schoolwork and laundry by himself. Sorry, a little too much venting? Since my plans changed unexpectedly, we are trying to get the boy set up. Did major grocery shopping for him, lots of laundry and today one of his bikes is being rebuilt-good thing dad was here for that one, turns out the bike wasn't safe to ride. My books and stuff are all packed for tomorrow afternoon's drive home. And I am not looking forward to that one! It was middle 60's here today, so pretty. With the wind chill, will be twenty below at home tomorrow, not even pretty new snow with it! Yes, I do love winter, but really, why do I want to stay here?

When I get home, I will post pictures of how much I have accomplished with the IHSW, I am happy with the progress I've made in the last couple of evenings. But I don't want to sign out without posting a pretty picture I have come across, another of the Christmas gifts I made for 2012. This one was for my mother:

This is three different shaped wooden crosses, covered with paper and screwed together. The crosses were all purchased at Hobby Lobby last summer. The papers are all from the retired Roxie paper pack from Close To My Heart. The rolled flowers were made using the Art Philosophy cartridge from Close To My Heart, I love the way this turned out, and so did my mom. Hope you enjoy looking at it also!

Please keep hubby and I in your prayers, that we will have a safe journey home!

CTMH Avonlea Bracket Frame

Even though it doesn't look like it outside, and the temps don't exactly show it, it's beginning to look and feel like Christmas around here! It took me a while to get the tree put up and finished, but that is done, and the stockings are hung. And I've been busy making Christmas cards and a few Christmas presents. I have one gift that I am extremely excited about completing, and I have been anxiously trying to share it on here! When I went to Close To My Heart's annual convention in July, I won a bag full of new products, including the display tray, My Creations star, and the My Creations bracket frame. It has taken me until now to finally assemble the bracket frame, but I think it was worth the wait.

This was created with the Avonlea paper pack from CTMH. I love the way the brown on the outside of the frame, brings out the little bit of brown on the interior paper! This frame was created at the St Louis training this fall, but Colonial White paper was used on the outside, instead of the Chocolate paper. I think I prefer my version a little bit more. The rosettes on the bottom corner were created with the CTMH Art Philosophy cartridge. The alphabet at the bottom is the Houndstooth alphabet, sponged with Slate ink to bring out the pattern. I wish this wasn't being retired in the spring, but maybe that means something even better is in the new idea book! Bakers twine and sparkles complete the look. With the "Together" sentiment, I envision adding a family picture, a newly married couple, or even 3 generations of family that get together every Christmas. I can't wait to see what picture my friend puts in this frame! I have another one of these dimensional frames that I'm going to finish as a gift, and I'm thinking I'm going to use paper from the Stella paper pack. I have it all worked out in my head, just need to squeeze in the time to complete it. I need to finish the wooden crosses I am embellishing with the Roxie paper pack, then I'll get back to these frames. Thanks for stopping by, have a great day!