Well..... It's over....

For a little bit.... 

I'm just taking a week off - then I'm hitting it hard - and by DARN! I'm going to reach my goal this year... well in 2012 that is! 

Here is a peek of what I spent the last 2 months doing ... while sleeping on average 3-4 hours each night - 

and in between hospital stays / visits / home nursing / working full time / doing homework and attending basketball games ..... and being a mom... sometimes fixing dinner, doing laundry and cleaning the house...

I thought I had taken pictures of the "garage" and "kitchen table" during all this... but they are no-where to be found... that's probably just as well.... it would stress me out to have to see them I'm sure! LOL! 

Being that I do a homemade Christmas (for nearly everyone on our list) 

.... although it is really fun ... it is exhausting as well!  

BUT.... I have chosen to do it that way... and the reason being.... 

Well, let's just say, I do not like having a PRICE tag attached to my gifts!  

Simple as that... 

I like to put thought into my gifts and I really like STRESS!  :)  

It's true! I do so much better under stress!  

BUT.... I don't work nearly as fast as I use to - so thus the reason why my Homemade Christmas WILL be done by Oct. 31, 2012!!!  I'm so super excited too!!! I love setting goals! I love CHECK lists!!!! 

(I'm already making my list for next year - and we haven't even drawn names yet!) 

Anywho...

Here is what I was loosing my sleep on..... 

My married kidos are always complaining that they don't have any "decorations"... so... I decided to help them out - my goal... to have SOMETHING for every month... but... I didn't quite get there - but I did get REALLY close!  

Here is January 

 Baby! It's cold outside!

 

  

(I just LUV this little guy!!!)  

February 

BE MINE!

 and 

XOX!!! 

Lots of HUGS and Kisses!!!

March...

Feelin' a bit LUCKY are we?!?!?

and then...

APRIL! 

 EASTER!

  

 And of course we have to have a little 

CHICK....

 and a BUNNY too!

 I made these blocks "flip-able" 

(is that a word?) 

One side is EASTER 

and the other is 

SPRING! 

Which HOPEFULLY will take us right into MAY!

 I drilled a hole in the "I" to add the umberella,

but it comes out when using the blocks for EASTER

Then into JUNE.....

(and my ANTS are still in progress...the pesky little things!)

Then JULY! 

 I have 3 fireworks that go with the flag... 

but... where did they go???? 

I already did the OCTOBER blocks

And then... at the last minute decided to make these for December...

I think these are my favorite! 

 A "chunky" nativity

The 3 Wise Men

Angel

and...

 Baby Jesus. 

The nice thing about these... they don't break! 

I can't tell you how many nativities I have had through the years and they always end up "broken" ... and not always because of little curious people around :) 

THEN.... 

I had 3 of my nieces for Christmas as well ... 

And again... I was going for a entire year - but due to all the "EMERGENCIES" going on around here... 

I only accomplished these.... 

Sorry girls - maybe next time it will go better.... 

 I just LOVE these little 

"SNO-CUBES"

(I know... some of them look a little angry!...

Heck - you would be too if you were that cold! RIGHT!?!?!)

Then I made a SIMILAR "XOX" for February 

I was trying to get a "CHUNKY" heart done... 

But didn't quite get to them either... 

Talk about CRAZY! 

I hope that they liked them.... 

And now for the SAD SAD PART.... 

I didn't get ONE THING done for me! 

Agh... you feeling sad for me??? :) 

Now, I just have to do August, September and November... 

BUT there are a few others I'd like to do for December as well, 

and I'm SURE that they won't complain if I do.... 

Well.... time for bed.... 

Sweet Dreams everyone! 

Be sure to visit Making Christmas Count as we get ready to count down to Christmas 2012!

Aren't you sooooo excited!?!?!?!

Here's what I've been doing this last week.... and then some.....

And my house will TESTIFY to that!!! agh!!!!  I wish I just had a place to LEAVE it all - so I didn't have to CLEAN it up - GET it out - CLEAN it up.... CONSTANTLY!!! I think I spend more time doing that then actually working on the projects.... but there is still more to be completed.... better get a move on it!!!

First.... I decided to join up with a ornament exchange ... 

THUS requiring ornaments to be made.... 

So... Here are my little "SNO-BALL Men"..... 

I was just "goin' with the flow" so there is no rhyme or reason to them... 

Just trial and error.

Don't look toooooo close... you'll see my flaws....

But then again... every SNOWMAN is perfect in his own way right? 

Normally I would just cut my own wood, but due to time I choose to purchase 2" pre-cut circles, and use 1/4" flat plugs for their nose.... I tried the "carrot" looking nose, but that just didn't work for me.  Drilled a hole up top and made a "curly" wire hanger.  Oh, and of course, added some holly and berries just to make him a bit more festive... pretty simple. 

I started originally with this glass ornament with a mylar print of the Savior that I placed inside... 

BUT when I got to the postoffice and they told me the POSTAGE... I opted out of mailing them...

NOTE TO SELF: Remember to keep SHIPPING in mind when making ornaments for ornament exchange... :)  Mailing cost $7.15 YIKES!

Then, on my Christmas blog I've been doing a give away every week, just happened that this week also ended with a "ORNAMENT" as the giveaway.. 

So.... I put together MR & MRS Gingerbread... 

Again, no pattern in mind, just trial and error. 

These I did cut out and decided to just "experiment" with different colors for their "icing" and "bows".

I think my favorite part is their "eyes" it just adds "character"... again... not perfect by any means.... but I sure do love watching a piece of wood come to life!  

And then.... 

I needed a wreath in my kitchen.

Here is what I came up with at about 2 am... 

Surely is not anything like LIZ over at Savvy Seasons

She is a PRO at these wreaths... 

Maybe in 10-15 years I'll get it down,,,

But for now, It will just have to do... 

I have a few other things under my belt.... but they will have to wait.

I'm not sure who is checkin in here and I don't want to ruin a Christmas surprise... 

:) 

Stay tuned.... MORE to come!!!! 

O for Craft Sakes!

It's that time of year... and I'm just BURSTING with sooooooo many crafts that I want to do... need to do... should do..... ok... really WANT to do!!!! Why is it that there is just NEVER enough time in one day to do all that I want... well.... for that matter! There is just never enough time in a month to do it all... ok! The YEAR!!!! Seriously!!! Thus the reason I have resorted to LESS sleep time... much much MUCH less EAT time ... and STILL!!! my CRAFTING is still FAR FAR FAR behind!!!!! 

I had a craft weekend back in November... at the request of my LOVELY sisters and daughters!  I failed to get pictures of EVERYTHING that we made... and yes, it was a CIRCUS of things being made!  My house was in SHAMBLES for DAYS! WEEKS!!! (ok... still is... because NOW I need to finish MY crafts! LOL!)  But it was SOOO much fun!  I think that I will be doing a CRAFT NIGHT every month with whom-ever would like to join us.... and there will be a few changes... NOT SO MANY CHOICES!!!! LOL!!!! Although it was GREAT to have lots of FUN things to make.... it was overwhelming at the same time... I' think I will try and just do about 3 different things that will pertain the the month ahead... so we can be AHEAD of the crafty-ness and not so stressed.....

Anyway.... Here is just a peek at a FEW of the things that we did last month - I had SO much fun!!! I hope everyone had a good time too..... 

 just a over-view of all that was there.... 

up close and personal.... 

These fun little block heads, I got the idea from this amazing TALENTED lady! 

You'll have to swing in her bloggity-blog shop! SO amazing!!!! 

I think I kinda SLACKED off in the THANKSGIVING craft dept... 

Not so sure why..... 

Meet Mr & Mrs Sno and Family! 

 These blocks reverse over to "GIVE THANKS".... not sure where my pic is of that.... 

Cute little CHUNKY TREE! 

And... 

I think this is my ALL TIME FAVORITE! 

Sants's Sleigh and Reindeer!

 Yes... I know... missing the reigns... I'll get them on... I promise! 

I LOVE this ribbon... 

Cute little Santa hats with HO! HO! HO! 

 (again, I got the idea for this sleigh from the ever talented Wendy... she gives you a pattern... but I had to make my own.. it just would not print for me... agh!!! so yes, hers is much cuter... but HEY! I TRIED!) 

I did see this idea... but can't remember where - so I apologize for not giving credit where credit is due... but let me know if you know WHERE the credit is due and I'll be sure to correct! 

And... my disappearing JOY jars.... 

Yep - I fill them with candy...

And the candy is gone...

"POOF!" Just like magic! GONE! 

So, I don't know that I would recommend them to you...

 but they are CUTE! 

If I do say so myself! 

Thanks everyone that came! 

I wish I had gotten pictures of EVERYONE'S projects! 

Next time I'll be SMARTER! 

And perhaps get "ACTION" pictures as well! 

So much fun!