Toolin' Around ...

Is there life after the holidays? Sure there is! We now resume our regularly scheduled programming - birthdays, get well, thank you and sympathy cards, they all have a place in the year-round parade of the expected and the unexpected. My Dad had surgery in December, so this card (above) was dispatched to Australia for him, he's a tool collector so it seemed fitting. While I had the stamps out I made a couple of these (below) to have on hand for other tool dudes as the need arises. I kept them very flat, as much as I love to add hardware and fun stuff to cards, the post office is getting more and more finicky about how lumpy and bumpy an envelope can be to go in the mail. The measuring tape ribbon and twill added a bit of fun without a lot of weight, lumps or bumps.

Stamp Credits: Stampin' Up!

That reminds me, I need to find that stamp that says 'she who has the most stamps wins' - I might be a contender for that award :)

Prince of Peace

Merry Christmas to everyone! We've had a great morning, now we're in that very pleasant space between gifts and food prep - kick back and relax. Thoroughly enjoyed midnight mass last night, we arrived early and found they had a choral performance going on, I have no idea what time it started, but it was a great way to wait for the liturgy and slow down to take in the real meaning of all this hoopla. Several times during the service Christ was referred to as the 'Prince of Peace' - what a wonderful expression.

Watching my favorite holiday films again this season, I stumbled on Frank Capra's "It's a Wonderful Life" and was taken with it all over again. That film is a masterpiece, and young Jimmy Stewart - how cute is he?? The message of the film bears repeating - when you see what the world is like if he had never been born - you make a difference in the lives of those around you, never doubt it.

Wishing you peace, how was your holiday?

One More Sleep

One more sleep 'til the big guy squeezes down the chimney! I'm still wrapping, enjoying a day off work, pulling it all together. My children are teenagers now, and although the years of wonder and awe are behind us, I have to say it's really fun having Christmas with them as partners in the process, I'm loving it.

Stamp Credits: Stampin' Up!
Glitter Embossing Powder - Judikins
Cuttlebug Background, Spellbinders Nestabilities die cuts

Wishing you all a very happy time together with friends and loved ones. Peace, joy, health and happiness to each and every one.

Peace on Earth

Stamp credits: Purple Onion Designs
Spellbinders Nestabilities 'Peony' die cut
Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist, Ranger Distress Inks

My favorite word at this time of, and all year round, is 'Peace'. This is a little banner made for my holiday Secret Sister, I hope she'll enjoy it as a holiday decoration, and perhaps year round. Despite the rising tide of to-do lists, I'm trying to maintain a peaceful outlook and interior. This too shall pass! Secret Sister package assembled and mailed, check. Through the power of the post office tracking system I also know it's been delivered. Now that aids my inner peace :)

I used some pages from an old book of 'French Romantic Prose' - no idea what the pages say, hopefully it's not racy :) I found the book at a local used book store that's closing down, I'm sad to see it go, but you can find them online now 'Encore Books'.


I have a girlfriend arriving today to spend a couple of days here, she's a California girl but now lives in England, I can't wait to see her. She's a friend from way back when, and it seems like when we get together all we do is laugh. It's so good to hang out with an old friend, we have history. Wishing you a weekend of peace, laughter, and reconnecting.

Merry & Bright

Stampin' Up stamps, ribbon and oval punches

Cuttlebug background, Stickles glitter
Spellbinders 'Nestabilities' diecut frames

I'm slowly getting over the 'Bah Humbugs' and getting on board with the holiday spirit - cold rainy days and hot cups of tea are helping immensely. It's not so much that I don't like Christmas, because I do, honest, it's just that this year, and for the past few years, I've been feeling more and more disenchanted with the commercialism that seems to run rampant at this time of year. Seriously, stores and parking lots were decorated for Christmas right around Halloween, what's up with that? I can't even imagine how people who don't celebrate Christmas must feel about all this madness.

A sprinkle of glitter

I'm feeling more like getting back to simple - home cooking, home made, home centered holidays. Less fuss about the shopping, and more effort to spend time together, enjoy simple pleasures, and remember the reason for the season. So, I'm having fun doing a little baking (not much, I'm more a cook than a baker, although I made a pretty good batch of lemon shortbread last week if I do say so myself), a lot of crafting, and a ton of cardmaking. Playing some seasonal tunes, and feeling a little bit of the holiday glow. I've arranged to have Christmas Eve off work so I'll be able to enjoy the day with my kiddos (yes, they're pretty grown up now, we can graduate to Midnight Mass instead of the earlier children's service), and I'm glad the holiday falls on a weekend this year so I won't have to go to work on Boxing Day, since it's not an observed holiday over here.

A little twinkly bling

Hmm, I still sound pretty grumpy and grinchy, must get over that and bring on the merry and bright :) How do you get into the holiday spirit?

Holiday Countdown Projects and Giveaways

Just a quickie here, to say that I finally have to cave and start feeling (or fake it 'til I make it) some of the 'holiday spirit' - time for Christmas music, a little decoration, some serious card and gift making, a little baking. Time to dust off the holiday music playlist from the archives, a pinch of punk, a bit of blues, a sprinkle of swing, a little of whatever else, hope you enjoy it. Luckily for me some very creative people are really getting into the festive spirit and have posted holiday countdowns - tags, cards, gifts, wrapping, images and projects galore - some of them are even giving away crafty swag. I've listed them at the top of the sidebar to the right, and might have more to add as I cruise blogland. Feel free to share links to holiday crafting projects in your comments too, the more the merrier.

Skywatch Friday - Engelberg

Back to Switzerland today, down memory lane to a wonderful summer afternoon in Engelberg. We went en masse to meet up with old family friends Hans and Rita, and their family - a friendship expanded into the next two generations and very happily so. At first I thought my brother was leading us, literally and figuratively, up the garden path. He texted us to keep driving past the sealed road, up the gravel road, park in the forest, find the path, keep walking, just a little longer, nearly there ... I was quite convinced he and the gang were in a comfy pub down in the village, laughing at Jamie, Willie and I trekking up a mountain!! As it happened though, a charming Rosti house materialized and there, as promised, were food, libations, family and friends - we had the most wonderful lunch of Rosti and a mushroom ragout I will never be able to replicate.Yesterday my Dad had a hip replacement surgery. For all my grumbling about the walk and the heat, that mountain climb was far more painful for my father whose hip and leg were hurting much more than he let on. How cute do he and my Mum look with those very Swiss hiking aids? After an amazing meal and great fellowship, we all wandered back down the mountain along forested paths, over the river via sturdy wooden bridges, back to the leafy parking lot to rescue the cars, into the village for tea at a cafe - a little food, a little exercise, a lot of love.

Happy trails to you. To see what other Skywatchers around the planet are seeing when they look up and out, visit Skywatch Friday.