Christmas means....making crafty stuff!

I don't think Brittany looks at this and if you happen to look Brit - don't go any further!   I love how this turned out and hope she likes it too.  She wanted "joy" letters for her room.   Tried to keep fairly neutral so she can change out the accent colors if she goes another way with her dorm colors.  :)

We are trying to stay more simple this year for Christmas and I have enjoyed making more "stuff."  :)  

Pumpkin spice candle and a rainy day

Love the smell of pumpkin spice, love a fun Saturday with little to do, and love the 15 racks of drying salmon currently housed in my garage to prep for being smoked later tonight.   All I need now is a 24 oz iced Americano and some paper, and I'd be in heaven.  :)

Hubby is out meeting for the first time with a local flickr group, which is really cool and I'm so proud of him for testing it out!  Getting to be this "age" in our lives shows you how nice it is to make time for your hobbies - they definitely increase the happiness quotient.  :)

I'm off to a really awesome local scrapbook store in Lynnwood called Lasting Memories to get some Imaginisce paper.  They are having design team opportunities and I love their stuff.  Why not give it a whirl?

We are having card night (canasta), good pizza and salad finished with some toffee brownies.  I think I'll have time to show my fun sis in law how to make these paper bag books like the one I did three years ago (I'm sensing a common theme - most of my scrapping/crafting I've been posting was done three years ago, when I had the scanner hooked up.  :)   Time to take care of that as well!)

 

Feeling the fall crafty bug...

I love making decorated comp books - so fast, easy and fun, plus people really seem to like receiving them (so they are useful - double score).  I made this teacher-themed notebook complete with big paperclip bookmark for a craft auction at my work to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.  This was made completely from the September kit at Hip 2 B Square in Snoqualmie (link on sidebar) - they have adorable kits!  This October Afternoon apple paper is calling my name....perfect for fall!

The typical "I turned 40 so it is time to reach some goals" moment

I have been simplifying things in our house to achieve the desired effect - determining goals, determining steps and meeting them. No time like the present to just do it - like guitar. I've wanted to learn to play for years, kept saying one day.... Our church has new classes starting Wednesday nights every quarter, and this quarter guitar was offered. So I did it! I signed up, Christopher surprised me with a gorgeous accoustical guitar and off I went. It wasn't too bad. :) I'm so happy I finally jumped into something I've wanted to do for a long time.

Next goal on tap: writing. I've loved books since I was young, so why not put some of these ideas down on paper?

Another goal: design work. I love card making and scrapbooking, really paper crafts of all kinds. I made some decorated journals for a craft auction at work and was worried they wouldn't all sell. They did, and exceeded what I thought they would sell for at that (I whipped up 5 small and 5 large, and brought in $94 for the charity. Awesome!). I love having contributed something as well as using some more supplies in the house to reduce what is sitting in my dining room. I aim to declutter more as well as share my love with other people. Win win!

Work is steadily going well, and I've been enjoying Gossip Girl, season 1, borrowed from my fave barista at my fave drive thru espresso stand close to home. We are so fortunate to have really awesome coffee in Seattle - and the recent discovery of Coffee Mate creme brulee is just an added treat this week! Life is good!