December daily - day 24

Merry Christmas!!

Here are the candy canes (purchased), that I got the candy cane ledgend attached to for tonights worship service:

Ethan thought I added "secret messages" to each of them!  Man! I love that kid!

TTFN

Tracy

December daily - day 23

Baking Up a Storm!!!!!

(and taste-testing too)

Here is my daily photo:

so far we have made banana oatmeal muffins, apple oat bran muffins and oatmeal raisin spice cookies I'm going to give shortbread a try this afternoon...

TTFN

Tracy



December daily - day 22 and some layouts

Here is my picture for today:

Noah playing with his "small" thomas set.  Being home for him has been "a lot of fun, Mummy!"

Now onto some layouts I've been working on inbetween Christmas cards, wrapping, baking etc.:

I can't seem to rotate the photo, so, you'll just have to tilt your head :D 

supplies:  Bazzill cardstock, MME brads, Bobunny Petal pushers pp, Kaiser Craft tiny alpha stickers, zip dry and ez runner adhesives, 7 gypsys circle stamp, prima purple flower and frame, stickels, tim holtz grunge board letters, paper piercer, liquid applique, Martha Stewart black ink, unknown buttons, pearls, floss, ribbon, journalling spot and felt flower

Now for some closeups:

supplies:  Bazzill cardstock, Bobunny pp & buttons, Mr. Hewey white spray mist, 7 gypsys circle stamp, zip dry and ez runner adhesive, tim holtz paper piercer, Kaiser craft tiny alpha, basic grey micromono alpha, unknown ribbon and floss, based on a sketch from Dec. 2010 page maps

materials: Bobunny pp, bazzill cardstock, basic gray and kaiser craft letter stickers, Ashlyn's alphabet and Celbrate with Flourish cricut cartridges, staedtler brown pen, ranger brushed corduroy ink, zip dry and ez runner adhesives; ek sucess corner punch, MME eyelets, big bite punch, unknown felt cutout, floss, button and clip.  Based on a Dec 2010 pagemaps sketch

some close ups:

supplies:  Bazzill cardstock, pink paislee pp, unknown ribbon, sew easy tool and big bite WERMK, letter stickers by Kaiser craft and doodle bug designs, zip dry glue, staples, ranger forest moss ink, pop dots, mme brads tim holtz paper piercer, stickles, this is based on a page maps sketch for a contest I've entered.

and a close up:

TTFN
Tracy

a bit behind on the December daily...

here we go...
Thursday Dec 16

Brad took the boys to a mall in Guelph while I was at my appointment (more on that later).  They went to Kernals, and got themselves each a bucket of popcorn.


Friday Dec 17

Noah after dinner on Friday night

Saturday Dec 18

                            no photo - camera
                             needed a charge!

Sunday Dec 20
(I got two...due to the malfunction on Satruday)

Noah curling (what great form!!!)

Ethan "watching" the curling (cheesy smile!)

Monday Dec 21

Brad got the train track on Thursday in Mount Forest - (It is Thomas) however, the boys thought that Daddy's other train would look good on the track too...and it goes faster!

Tuesday Dec 21:

completed wrapping all of the presents for this year today!!!  I love that the boys enjoy the curled ribbon as much as I do, and they let me do it.

I think I'm all caught up now.  I've also done some layouts here and there in addition to the wrapping, card and tag making.  Planning on what to make for our trip "south" on Saturday (as, rightly so, nothing is open on Christmas day...so I'll have to pack properly)

TTFN
Tracy

December daily - day 14 & 15!

Well, I didn't post yesterday.  Brad had a computer meeting in the afternoon, and then I just forgot last evening!  So here is Dec 14:

Noah helping me do the dishes.  Because he is so particular...he does a really good job of drying!

Today (Dec. 15):

The storm is over - the driveway has been shovelled, Noah went back to school, and the sun has come out!  It is still -12, but we're able to leave the house again!

Happy Mail

I know, two posts in ONE day - but after walking to the council luncheon, and then over to the post office in a snow storm - I had to carry this HUGE pacakage from grandma dee Krist Kringle exchange from the Scrapping Nook back up our hill:

 



So after about 3 minutes of cutting through the wall of tape...this is what I saw...

Isn't that tag just beautiful! (I had started to drool at this point).

Then I opened it:

Now for what was inside:

see those Mini-eggs? - the jar with the H, actually says "Happy Pills", the bag of mini-eggs is the refills!

Grandma Dee really thought of everything!  I am going to have fun playing - and there is a storage box for me to put stuff in!! - Thank you Dee



December daily - day 13

Well, the winter came:

here is the Mittleholtz snow shovelling team ready to conquour the driveway.  Still smiling, as we had only been at it for about 10 minutes...but it really wasn't too bad - nice and fluffy!
Most of the schools were closed today, and lots of roads were too - HWY 6 North...so we shovel, have hot cocoa, make crafts and bake!

TTFN
Tracy

Santa card & December daily - day 12

Today it is the most blustery it has been thus far for the season. (SBP was spared that Southern Ontario storm last week)...but we know weather is never far away.  Anyway, a good day to be inside scrapping!  Today is day 12 of the Scrapping Nooks 12 days of Christmas.  And I've been able to do ALL 12 DAYS! (yeah for me!).  Today, we needed to have Santa on a card or LO.  Here is a card I made a few weeks ago:

materials used:  pp: Fancy Pants; stamps:  G and Stampin'Up!; colouring pencils: Prisma; popdots; stickles; ink: Ranger; cardstock: Staples

For my December 12 daily, I took this:

One of my boys has set this up in our hallway, and I thought, "how pretty!"  So I took a photo, and even with my little point and shoot, it turned out pretty good.  My boys are starting to get really excited about Christmas.  Today we got to light the third candle on the advent wreath at church, and on our log at home, so they know it is getting closer. 

As for the time my Noah woke up today - we're right back to normal!!!  I know it was before 6am that he came for a cuddle, and once it is 6 he is ready for the day to start.  I just knew it was too good to be true! *sigh*

TTFN

Tracy



December daily - day 11

The importance of this, you ask?   This is the time this morning that Noah woke up.  Now for many families this could be an early time.  For some families it could be a normal time...but for this family it ment that I got to sleep in almost 2 HOURS.  I know!  Can you believe it.  That is why this is my photo for today.  Happy morning, and happy Mommy.  The afternoon so far has been pretty good too.

I'm working on a submission for Scrapbook and Cards Today, so I'm not sure if I can post it, or if I have to wait and see if I'm selected.  I'll have to check the rules first.

TTFN

Tracy

December daily - day 10

Today the Christmas tree went up!  There were some lights that didn't work when Brad took them out of the boxes, so I was sent to the Home Hardware, downtown Wiarton for only "400-500 lights, that's all, we don't need many"  (according to Brad).  Off I go, and there was only 3 boxes of mixed coloured lights left on the shelf - 2x100 and 2x50, so I bought them. They also had quite a few boxes of plain blue or green.  So I took a few of those...and then was sent back to the store to return the single coloured ones as "they don't fit with the ones we have".  And then went across the street to the V&S...low and behold, they were even a bit cheaper!  So now, I think there must be over 1000 lights on our tree...

My photo today is this:

two snow people sharing a single branch



Cropping tonight at Karen's Creations!  Hope to get the baggie toppers done for the hotchocolate mix that Donna and I put together this past Monday.

TTFN
Tracy

The Dentist & December daily - day 9

Today I went and saw my dentist.  He said I continue to wear the flossing queen title well.  However, the tooth that I had a root canal done on about 10 years ago broke last week, and the only way to really repair it is with a crown.  The other option I have is to leave it be completely, but there is a "cave" there, and cleaning has been difficult for the past couple of days, so I don't want to leave it like that.  On to more pleasant things...  Here is my photo for today.  I received my Christmas cards from Two Scrapbook Friends.  I participated in a card swap.  I sent 10 cards a while ago, so this was really awesome to get!  Aren't they just the best?  All of the ladies took such great care in their creations.  I am proud to send them out!

TTFN

Tracy

December daily - day 8 and a Layout

Well...I'm doing really much much better at this December daily thing than I thought I would.  (I honestly thought I would have forgotten by day 3...)  SO.....good for me!  HOORAY!!!  Here is today's photo:

This is my mug of really good tea and a hymnal that I used at the WIG Advent luncheon today held at the Wiarton United Church.  We also had yummy sandwhiches and I enjoyed the cream of broccoli soup.  The message was delivered by the new Baptist minister (whose name escapes me right at this moment).  Lovely way to spend a lunch time.

My layout is based on a sketch for the December sketch challenge at the Scrapping Nook.  I believe the sketch came from Scrapbooks Etc. originally.  Here is the sketch:

and here is my take:

materials used:  Scrapbook Adhesives; bulk ribbon; note book paper: Hilroy; pen: Staedtler dark blue; pp: Cosmo Cricket; ink:  Ranger "broken china"; letter stickers: Cosmo Cricket Tiny Type

The journalling reads:  mini-golfing in Sauble with the Parish.  It was quite hot out.  By the 16th hole, there was water found and a really old bench to sit on.  It was a wonderful day.  August 2010

TTFN

Tracy



December daily - day 7

I didn't get any photos from last nights fun...but there was a photographer (so I'm hoping I can get one from him).  On to today...
Today, we put together the gingerbread house.  Here are some photos:

this one is me holding it together for 2 minutes. (Noah timed)



Here is Ethan showing off the gingerbread man and snow man before they were decorated:



It is all together!

Now we have to wait for 15 minutes! (and Noah timed this too!)

still waiting.....

ok - decorate!!!

COMPLETE!

TTFN
Tracy

December daily - day 6

This is Donna Wood.  She is my friend whom I met at PMA.  She is taking care of her two grandsons who are about the same age as my boys (what a woman!)...anyway, we put together about 30 bags of hotchocolate mix to give away for Christmas presents this morning.  We had a lot of fun, and got a bit messy, but it was worth it.  This is my daily photo:

Later tonight we are going to "Saint Nicholas" night.  It is a parish worship event.  As well, we will be singing Silent Night for the Anglican Silent Night Project.  For even more fun, I am conducting a "boom whacker" choir of Silent Night as after dinner entertainment.  I will post a photo of this event tomorrow, as I don't think I'll get back to it today.  It should be a lot of fun.

TTFN
Tracy

December daily - day 5

Here's my baking for curling snackies for this afternoon.  They are oatmeal raisin spice cookies.  My family LOVES them.  I really hope the little rockers love them as much as we do:

TTFN

Tracy

December daily - day 4

posting a day late...but here we are on the Optimist float last night for the Wiarton Christmas parade.  It was so much fun.  It was VERY cold, a slight snow flury - but the boys and I had a blast!


no flash:

 flash:

TTFN

Tracy

Daily photo - day 3

Today, I took a photo of what happens almost every snowy day at our house....

I set out the boys clothes because our entry way is so tiny (and it also serves as the laundry area)

Here is the "barn star" I made at PMA 2 weeks ago, and we hung it on the front door (inside) and you can see it through the window from the outside.  I think it turned out pretty good:

This is our large wreath on the front of our house.  This is the Scrapping Nook day three of the 12 days of Christmas challenge: 

TTFN

Tracy

Cards, cards, cards!

Dee's challenge at the Scrapping Nook is for daily photos in December.  Here's my December 2nd:

address list, hand out list, envelopes, stamps and return labels OH MY!!!  Next step - getting the photos copied from the April installation of Brad to the Parish that Joanne Beattie took (it is the best family photo we've ever had), and getting our witty, yet informative letter done. 

TTFN

Tracy

1st Day of Christmas challenge

I know it is December 1st!  Our computer went into the computer hospital for a while ~ like over 2 weeks! YIKES!  It has a whole new hard drive (so it is basically a new computer).  They were able to save most of the data which was awesome!!!!  So I've been catching up with many things the last couple of days.  Here we are...

The Scrapping Nook is having a 12 days of Christmas challenge.  Apparently, it is snowing at the scrapping nook today, so the challenge is to post a photo with snow in it.  I have no recent ones yet, so I posted this:

This is Noah in Janurary 2008 - what a chubby little cutie!!!  We were shovelling that day.

Grandma Dee is also putting out a daily challenge.  For December, she is challenging us to a daily photo, so we will scrapbook December when January is here.  This is what I submitted:

Today was the first day we opened a window in the advent house.  We found 4 chocolate coins!  What a great way to start the day.  I'm hoping I can do these challenges.  Making a december "daily" book will be really cool.  Maybe if I get good at it, I could do that 365 challenge????


TTFN
Tracy



Dee-lightful Inspiration

Over at the Scrapping Nook message board, Dee is inspiring the ladies with a different challenge each day.  Yesterday it was all about ribbon, and a few days ago it was mitten tags.  So, I thought I would put the two together to make a card:

materials used:  Deffray red ribbon; Little Yellow Bicycle mitten cut out; Brusched courdory & Fire brick  Tim Holtz distress inks; stickles; staples cardstock; Studio G stamp

TTFN 

Tracy 

Karen's Creations scrapbook retreat

Came back yesterday afternoon from Karen's Creations retreat.  It was fantastic.  Great food, lots of laughs, great roomie (thanks Kristie) and lots of scrap booking was done.  It was held at the Super 8 motel in Port Elgin, Ontario.  Great service, lots of amenities and pretty close by.   Here are some samples of what I did complete:

The first two are contests off of the page maps blog:

materials used:  cardstock:  bazzill, pp:  shabby green door; pen: staedtler (black); ribbon:  unknown; adhesive:  scrapbook adhesives and zip dry; letters:  cricut lyrical letters

materials used:  PP- Harmonie, Basic grey, crate paper (fussy cuts); cardstock - prism; frame - Prima; tiny type - Kaiser Craft; Thread - Coats; ink - tim holtz "brushed courdory"; adheasive - zip dry

 The next four are my own designs:

materials used:  pp - bo bunny; letter stickers - fancy pants; pen - staedtler (blue); pop dots; adhesives - scrapook adhesives, zip dry; 

diamond stickles 

materials used:  pp: bo bunny (OLD); flowers - unknown; pen - staedtler (blue); diamond stickles; tiny type - Kaiser Craft; large letters - fancy pants; cardstock - bazzill

materials used:  diamond and emerald stickles; tim holtz "tea dye" distress ink; zip dry and scrapbook adheasive adheasives; coats thread; bazzill cardstock

materials used:  bo bunny pp; bazzill cardstock; taterd angels brown mist; title from sports mania cricut cartridge; walmart buttons; unknown ribbon; tim holts brushed courdory ink; weRmemory keepers eyelets; staedtler brown pen; unknown green thread; pop dots

 This next one is my version of a pagemaps sketch too.  There just wasn't a challenge on the blog, that's all.

materials used:  bo bunny pp; bazzill cardstock; tim holtz distress ink; pop dots and zip dry adheasive; coats thread; wild card cricut cartdridge for title; ek success circle punch (thanks Tara - I borrowed it)

I had a blast this past weekend. Notice the new addiction to stickles!  I am already beginning to save for next fall when we do it all again.

TTFN
Tracy