A big Christmas wish in a little tiny box

The count down to Christmas has officially started at our house. The kids had their last day of school yesterday and the excitement is high! I remember those days. Now it seems that it was Christmas just a blink of an eye ago. Someone once told me that it makes sense that the time is faster. When you are 5, one year is 1/5th your life time. When you are 50, one year is 1/50th of your life, a much smaller chunk of time. So, from that perspective, each year is faster. It's kinda like watching a movie with time travel. It makes sense until you stop and try to analyze it. But, onto the project.

I saw this project at first on Gretchen Barron's blog. She is so kind and always provides directions. Then, I saw a very old-fashion version of the tree in a box on Carla's blog. I loved it! I HAD to replicate it. No, it wasn't that I wanted to...I HAD to. (This is why I refer to my "hobby" as an addiction! The rest of you out there waiting for that box to arrive from Stampin' Up and who know the sound of the UPS truck, and who know the name of your driver...you too, my friend, have an addiction. Ain't it great!!!) Here's my box.



The bow was made out of the same paper as inside the box. Go to Splitcoast stampers and look for Paper Bow tutorial and you can make them too. They are easy-peasy. When you pull the lid off the box....wa-laaaa!



I know! Beautiful! Carla did a great job. I just copied hers with a little variation. I made four boxes all together. I made one and had to make more. Yes, HAD to! Each one was different inside. Here's a picture of the other three.



All four boxes were made out of ONE Simply Scrappin' kit. Yes, I did say all FOUR! Those kits are the best deal out there. This kit is called Christmas Jingle and is $19.95. That's $5 a box. Super deal! I still have stickers left from the kit plus some paper. Enough to make a scrapbook layout.

I must thank my friends...Nancy Wong who loaned me the Christmas Tree Die, and Mary Cargill, who is a fellow nut...uhh,... I mean demonstrator, for loaning me the clear cutting pads. I have to pace myself in ordering, or I'll be broke. So thanks for making this happen for me gals!

Thanks for stopping by!
Kristine

Pumpkin patch and some overdue scrapbooking

It's been a wonderful day. I did most of my chores yesterday, so today I had some time to stamp! I spent time making Christmas cards. I'm not gonna show you those, though! I want the recipients to see those first. But, I do have two things to share today. Olivia and I made desserts for Thanksgiving. We made two pumpkin pies, one cherry (with cherries from our tree!), one apple (with apples from our tree!) and some pumpkin cheesecake squares. We felt the need to doll up the cheesecake squares, so we made pumpkins using the wide oval punch, some chocolate ink sponged for dimension, a wee little stem and a leaf (a Martha Stewart punch). It kinda looks like a pumpkin patch! Olivia was tickled with the results. I have to admit that I was smiling too!


As I was making Christmas cards, I came across a Simply Scrappin' kit that still had some stuff. So I made a double page spread for last year's pictures. (Sad isn't it that I'm still working on last year's pictures!) This is what I call very simple. That's the best thing about the kits...the pages almost put themselves together!





Here are the pages individually.





I still need to work on my photography. I had to use the stove light to get it so you can even see these! lol. But, I'm learning. I marvel at some peoples' blogs. OMG, they must spend hours!

Tonight is movie night at our home. Tuck Everlasting is showing. Do you suppose I'll cry? Yup, probably.

Take care, and thanks for stopping by today.
Kristine