VINTAGE WHITE CHRISTMAS ATC SWAP ARRIVAL

I was so excited with our mail today. The "Vintage White Christmas"  ATC swap arrived today.
I want to say "THANK YOU" to Kim from the blog ArtJoyStuff for hosting.  She goes above and beyond to make this such a fun event.

  Her packaging is always special

 This little tag ornament, is a true delight. There are lots of little details, stitching,sparkle and 5 gorgeours layers of  Vintage lovliness.   I will treasure it Kim.

 And then another sweet ornament she has designed.

 And a sweet Christmas wish..photos don't really do justice to these photo. This one has bits of sparkle

This was make 6 and receive six. 20 of us signed up to play along. Kim has one of each on this link:
Dec 15th    and she has hers listed on this link:Dec 6th  and scrolling down day by day to equal her 6
All are truly beautiful and it was a wonderful "VINTAGE WHITE CHRISTMAS" exchange.

If you are unfamiliar with ATC....they are   Artist Trading Cards are 2 ¹⁄₂ by 3 ¹⁄₂ inches (64 mm × 89 mm) in size, the same format as modern trading cards (hockey cards or baseball cards). So you are working on a small space with small pieces of whatever theme you are creating.   

These are the ones I received in the exchange:

 This adorable little image and sentiment from Amy

So many lovely laces from Cathee 

 Lovely Angel and beautiful wings from Janice

Wonderful white laces for this precious Angel from  Donna

 Lots of sparkle and beautiful layers from Becky

Lovely lace and pearls from Pam                                           

If you are interested, the 6 I made for this swap are on this LINK:  Little Treasures-by Sylvia

THANKS to ALL of  you for your precious ATC's.  They will be a "Little Treasure" for me during the holiday season and beyond.

Again THANKS to Kim for all the JOY she shares with Art  Joy & Stuff ....it's always a delight.

WOYWW #393

 Welcome and Happy Wishes for a fun day. It's Julia's blog STAMPING GROUND that we partake into today, by viewing work spaces from literally around the world.

I am in a "Happy" mood today.Having Christmas music playing in the back ground puts me in the spirit of the season.  I have my Christmas cards and letters done (78)  and mailed, I made mailing labels and updated my address book. Made up a small yearly summary note  to include with our Christmas photo card this year.  Presents wrapped and labeled, some boxes into the mail for my son and family, laundry, vacuuming done throughout the house, all the visitors beds downstairs are with new linens/blankets. and all the decorating done.Over the past 3 wks (8 trees decorated and lit up (one in each room) 2 large Nativities with lights and 6 small ones all in place.  My DH is in wonderment.

We had our Bunco Christmas party last night, with festive foods and gift exchanges. Was a great time.
 I want to make a variety of cookies yet (but I wish that every year). But I think I am ahead of the game this year and with the weather being so very cold, I will not be out visiting several open houses.
 So looking for a unique raisin or mincemeat filled cookie recipe. I buy them at the cheese mart in a neighboring town when I pass thru.Kind of a treat just for me !  But they are 6 for $5  so I need to make them for Christmas

My desk has seen many changes overs of projects this week. I've several December birthdays and now some special thank you cards  I saw a "slinky" project online DIY, so I bought one at the $ store, now I can't find the idea.  Also gathered up "Clips" for a project displaying photos


. I was blessed with Happy mail.....photos from my son a few days ago for our Christmas gift.

Nothing more special than photos of the families, as I watch the grand kids grow up so fast.

Thanks for stopping by and for all the sweet comments last week. I appreciate all of your friendships.  Have a Merry, Merry, week, preparing for the count down.

WOYWW # 392

So glad you stopped by, it's already Wednesday and hosting our desk gathering today is Julia from the blog the STAMPING GROUND.  Pop on over, she has all the details and lots of desks around the world for you to visit.  But I'll warn you it is addictive.

My desk today is portraying my latest mess from making my Son a birthday card. He turns 38 today and shares that with the tragic Pearl Harbor.  He never liked the comparison.

Today I clean up this whole area, still a mess from last week and then on to setting up my Nativities. I have my trees up and in place and have been enjoying the cold nights with their twinkling lights reflecting old memories.
The card reflects his outdoor nature. Burlap deer, a woodsy background and below the pine trees.

We ventured out Sunday to Walmart (not someplace I frequent on the weekends, especially this time of the year) IT was on our way home after a wonderful buffet of Chinese food. But DH needed to replace our VHS tape player to convert the contents of this sons high school baseball games to a DVD. One game he was hit in the head, and knocked to the ground. He thinks his kids need to see this. DH purchased this and was out the door quick as he could be. KAOS, KAOTIC, A MESS, LINES at CHECKOUT, Kids running, being kids in a Toyland or looking for Toyland.
He  Calls me on the phone he's checked out and in the car. No hurry if I can stand the Christmas rush.
I hadn't had time to pick up 1 thing, as I was looking for a card to buy for this birthday. But at $5 to $8 a pop, I decided I'd make one.  The only thing missing is the tender verse some of them contain.  Maybe next year. I headed to the door glad to escape into the frigid wind and cold empty handed.  It was snowing.

So Tuesday I went alone very early to finish up my Christmas list. To some very nice stores. !!!
 Now onto the wrapping and mailing of the other sons family gifts.

I want to say THANK YOU to all who left such supporting and loving comments on my blog last week.  It meant so much. May you all have a great week and remember to do the things you love.

WOYWW #391

It's so nice to have you visit. It has been a hard week for me, but it is part of life. We lose the good ones sometimes way too soon All I know is that God got an Angel when He called Luke home. 

Julia at the STAMPING GROUND has all the info for visiting others on WOYWW.

My desk last week, start of making a couple of sympathy cards  I've done nothing there since.

First idea was the  beige and dots...but remembering his military involvement, I used that theme

                                                              For his Sister & Husband

I had to make an envelope for the odd size

 Luke served his country in the U.S. Army as a 13B10 Cannon Crew Member in Afghanistan. He received the National Defense Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 2 Campaign Stars, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal and the Combat Action Badge, involved with Navy Seals Mission 7,  Following his honorable discharge in December of 2011, he returned to Britt where he worked on the family farm and did construction. On July 20, 2013, he married Brittany Zadow at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Britt. Luke’s greatest passion was spending time with his family, especially with his son, Colby. He had a love of the outdoors throughout his life. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, stargazing, riding motorcycles and playing his guitar.
He was a member of the United Methodist Church and the Britt American Legion.

 For his parents, on top is the envelope.  The card front     and sentiment inside I forgot to photo. 

The wake was unbelievable, So many flowers, military garden statues, wonderful videos and so many photo boards.  No one left tearless.  The church was over flowing into other rooms and again no dry eyes.  He had went to New Jersey for a rehabilitation for PTSD  and drug use, Veterans day Nov.11 he entered the hospital from an overdose. He died Nov.22nd.  Totally unexpected.  He was an organ donor, and a guy everyone liked and enjoyed. He knew how to make people happy and comfortable, he gave his all to any situation and he had an unending smile.  


I started today with getting out my Christmas totes, and playing Christmas music. I so love my Christmas CD's....it is something my 2 sons remember well.  I've had several phone calls from them to help me get through this ordeal.  Of course this photo of Grand daughter Sky( 6yrs old) winning 4 ribbons in her swimming meet. 8 year olds and under made my day a lot brighter.

If you are interested my ATC's for the Vintage White Christmas can be seen here  LittleTreasures and enlarging the photos make them much better.   Thanks so much for stopping by.

A VINTAGE WHITE CHRISTMAS...ATC Swap

Welcome to my post on the ATC swap I joined in on. Kimberly at ArtJoyStuff was our terrific hostess.  Her swaps are always the greatest. Click the photo to enlarge.

Front

                                                                            Back

And I just noticed I did not put my sentiments on the front. "Christmas Blessings"  Totally spaced it off.  I had to leave on Thursday and took them with me to mail from a bigger town on Friday.

I will be so excited to receive my 6 in the mail  early December.  Thanks for stopping by.
May you have a wonderful week.

WOYWW #390

Welcome fellow deskers !  Julia at the STAMPING GROUND our  hostess for this Wednesday event, and you can join in by posting or visiting others. She has all the info on her blog.

What a week last week was...was gone everyday but this week I've no intentions of leaving. Our weather changed last Friday with 50 mph winds and a 20 degree drop in temp.  We lost a few BIG  branches and our TV antenna. Monday/Tuesday here it has been windy and bitter cold, but I am thankful as no ice or snow, it is all staying north of us.

I have had some time to be creative, even have the start of something on my desk this week. Click to enlarge it if you want the "Big Picture" !!  Some have asked where I got the wooden holders for my inks.  Resale shops..I don't spend much on new things, most were cassette tape holders and are now hard to find. My hope is to paint them antique white, but anything with all those shelves is work. So I know it won't be this winter.

Angels, lace, sparkle, antique tin tarts, and more embellishments to make a few ornaments.

I've mailed my ATC's for the swap "A Vintage White Christmas"  I'll have a post by Thursday on these.

And I made a card for a friends 50th Birthday

Has been a fun week being creative.  Plus I've boxed up all my autumn decor and no doubt tomorrow I'll be putting up Christmas.  I do most every room so it takes me a week or so.  Here in the states Thursday is THANKSGIVING.  We will spend time with my Mother, have dinner with her at her Assisted Living.  I enjoyed 2 days last week with my son and his family in Cedar Rapids and they wanted to finish up the new family room and bath in their new home. The kids don't have activities and with  4 days  they can catch up on rest also !  Weather is iffy, ice/snow and I don't like them travelling 3 hrs, with kids and the dog.

My next projects are 2 Sympathy cards for our neighbor gal and her parents. Her brother died at the age of 27, I worked with him a few years back and I am in awe of his death. They are not back in the area as yet so I don't know many details.

Thanks for all who commented/visited last week.  May you have a fun WOYWW today and to all who celebrate  HAPPY THANKSGIVING and enjoy BLACK FRIDAY if you are a shopper.  I will be comfy and safe  in my warm home and shop online!!!  I don't like the mad crowds, long lines and erratic drivers.

WOYWW #389

Welcome,  I am very late joining our group deskers today.  Julia at the STAMPING GROUND lets us visit deskers from all over the world each Wednesday and if you have time and want ideas just hop on over and read the details.

My desk show the results of a thrift store find...the 2 big fish bowls, anxious to store my laces, a few scraps from my ATC's (which I'll share next week) an assortment of glues (dealing with wood and fabric applications) embossing folders for ideas pending in my head.

Speaking of my head, it is spinning. I spent the day yesterday driving 60 miles to the computer shop to have them take off of Group policy error, created when they updated my IP address for their update? My logging on was 40 min  to an hour.  They got that fixed but today I am dealing with frustrations of things being in different places,  Security changes that prevent me from using sites I downloads photos from and the list goes on and on.  I consider myself pretty good at finding electronic problems but lately it is such a frustration.  And most of it has come from me declining Windows 10 and reverting back to my best friend Windows 8.1.
I did have fun visiting some really unique shops in Pocahontas.  Then I had the drive home, stops at the Casino for a quick sandwich and a little game time, stopping to pick up my Mother, a beautiful day to get her out and we came back to our little town and spent time showing her, her old town, and bringing her to our farm for sometime with us.  Took her back in time for her supper hour and we stopped by the Appreciation Night for our Law Enforcement, EMTs and Firemen. Was a busy tiring day.

Have a Happy WOYWW kinda day.  And thanks to all who visited and left comments last week.

WOYWW #388

Welcome deskers, I'm a little late in posting but it is only 8:45 AM here in the states.  We were up watching the elections until  2:30 AM... Our country wanted change, away from BIG business, so we have a new President. Mr. Trump.  I will miss President Obama, and his good family.  But with this change we can only pray things will be as they were many, many years ago. Somewhere before Obama came to office our country became a big mess.  Will just hope for the best.

Over at the STAMPING GROUND our lovely hostess, Julia has lots more places to visit and ways for you to partake. So hop on over.

I have some Christmas things astray on my desk and just to my left is the little table for painting, distressing, etc.  I am still in the process of cleaning in the background and hopefully can finish that this week.

So thankful for some beautiful "Fall" weather yet. Forecast is for 2 more weeks of decent temps.
Wishing you all a great week. Thanks for the visits last week and Happy WOYWW.

Friday's Smiles

Good Morning fellow smilers.  Annie at  A Stitch in Time hosts a Friday Smile event.  Today I have some time and just a new photo in of my little granddaughter Savannah.

Waiting with her teddy for her sisters to board the school bus.

Cool crisp fall day her but will be 68 later today, not to shabby for November in Iowa.
Enjoy your smiling visits, have a wonderful weekend   Thanks Annie.

WOYWW #387

Welcome fellow deskers, so glad to have you stop by.  I didn't realize it was Wednesday until a few minutes ago.  Too busy with the World Series of Baseball  and the TV updates of a shooting of 2 police officers in our Capital city of Des Moines.  I truthfully don't know what our world is coming too.  Disgusting ads on the political process.  Voting is just around the corner.  I've no clue who is the decent person to take the reins of leading our country.

My desk is clean, too clean, but I have been working on my sewing table as the light is so much better. We have had fog, rain, wind, and doom and gloomy weather the past few days.
Making ATC's for an exchange so they are covered up.  I did get into my stash for Christmas craft making. So nice to have it all together in one area.

Our hostess Julia at the STAMPING GROUND  has all the info if you want to join in or visit other deskers who are addicted to this.

Fall has been beautiful, still in the 60/70's with 40's some evenings.  But it is hard to believe it is November.   Thanks for visiting, have a wonderful week.

WOYWW #386

Hello fellow deskers~!  Sure hope you have had some great weather in your area. Here it has been an outstanding fall. I think it is the longest period we have had to enjoy the colors.  Normally our wind/rain ruins the beauty.  This was in my sisters yard in town.

My desk has had a few new items laying there waiting for me try out. Our neighbor girl had a Stampin' Up party and I attended.  I got the punch and the stamps. The pie plate is holding cleaned stamps yet to be put away. And Gear dies of Tim Holtz...they were on a sale table.  Loving the Thank You card our host Julia sent to me...Gives me lots of inspiration.. And you can visit her site at the Stamping Ground if you want to play along.  Does anyone know why her link is not a different color anymore?

Short and Sweet today, DH and I are going to the city...it started raining and likes to take advantage of being gone.  He is chopping corn stocks to finish up his fall work.  So a great break for him. Thinking of good places for lunch..

Thanks for visiting and all the kind comments you left last week.

WOYWW #385

Welcome fellow deskers!~  I am so happy to be here playing with WOYWW, our hostess Julia at the Stamping Ground  has all the info you if want to play along, or just visit other deskers.

I really think I have my life somewhat back to having free time.  In my previous post I even got to make my grand children Halloween cards, and post about them if you are interested.

Today my desk is pretty cleared of things. The big owl was a purchase at the hospital gift shop. They have the neatest things. I mostly bought it for the pattern. This one is wood, but I was thinking of fabric for pot holders or paper for fall displays or greeting cards.

I just took some pumpkin muffins out of the oven and they smell delicious.  While at Walgreen Drug I picked up  a Starbucks can of flavored Green Coffee Lemonade by mistake, I wanted some Coconut Water to make a pumpkin latte. But hey this stuff is great a revitalizing energy drink.  Good thing Walgreen"s is 40 miles away.  I'll stock up next trip.

Also someone (BJ)  of you asked me what a Rubber Maid was.  Here in the states it is a rubber/plastic tote to store things in.  And most people think I have stock in them.  I moved 35 of them from our basement storage to our garage, when the water crisis was going on.  I now have some extra room for a better way to store my crafty items.  Will share photos when I am done with that project.

  It has been a beautiful fall here.  Cold nights, lovely temps during the day and our tress have had such an array of color for a long time.  Certainly my favorite time of the year.  Have a wonderful week.  Thanks for stopping by.

WOW...an Unexpected Post

 I actually have had some time to create. AND my computer allowed me to transfer photos that I can share with you.  I consider this my lucky day !!!   Thanks for stopping by.  We are having a beautiful fall day here in Iowa.  The leaves this year have wonderful color and have lasted through some nasty winds.  My DH is in the field, combining corn, beans are finished except for the ponds that still need to dry out.

With Halloween just around the corner, I needed to make my grand-kids a card and get off in the mail. I sure wish they lived closer, so they could stop in for treats, fun updates and kisses good-bye.

                             Assembled and ready for the envelopes to mail.

                                 Backsides of the little tag. Each tag will hold some money for their spending

Well it was a fun little day, still have a little organizing to do in this area of our family room but little by little I'll be caught up.  Hope you are enjoying a lovely day.  Thanks for the visit.

WOYWW #393

Welcome, sorry I've been MIA.  We were hit by lots of rain, I am thankful we did not have any in our basement. We were surrounded by it, especially in our pasture to the west. It left 2 days ago. 19 Inches in 2 wks.  3 or our neighbors had water in their basements and worked so hard to move out things.  Our little town  was hit hard, most  had between 3 to 8 inches in their basements.

The path to my desk is totally blocked, but all this mess. 

Last week I spent Fri/Sat moving 40 some rubbermaids out of the storage area where the drain is and got other things to higher grounds.  All the photos down there were brought upstairs. So I've had a mess everywhere.  This week I moved the rubbermaids to our garage.  It was a wake up call to clear out, sort and donate. Hoping to use the cleared up area for part of my crafty space, which will give me a more tidy place to work.

Needless to say my DH was frantic, crops were damaged, sitting in water so long. But this past week he was able to harvest beans on the higher grounds and work around the ponds. Corn will be next if we don't get much of the foretasted rain for tomorrow.  I've had lots of photos on Facebook but not really been around my computer to do any blogging.

I spent Tuesday with my mom's care plan review and cleaning her apartment. Today I will take her from the nursing home back to her assisted living apartment. She is much better and anxious to return. It was not a real good experience. EVERY BUSINESS around is SHORT of help. I do have to find no tie shoes for her so trying to order online as her size is a Wide and most don't carry that in stock.  I visited 4x a week as to follow up on making sure they were doing the therapy and keeping her involved rather than sedated.  I am not a believer in medication.

Besides all of this we had at least 6 funerals in our area So it also made me realize my problems were not so bad, just time consuming.  Stop over at Julia's  Stamping Ground  for our weekly adventures of visiting desks. Have missed my weekly visits and hoping I can visit this week.

Have a lovely week and Happy to report we are having a lovely fall since it quit raining.