White Christmas?

Nope, not this year!

Actually it's been many years since we did have one. Last year we had hardly any snow. Several years ago I found this action online that framed your picture and put it in a snow globe. I neer used it for a LO until now...

I used Cathy Krenek's "Merry & Bright" Kit and matching "Glittered Papers" for my LO

The template is from the Template Challenge #1 at Gingerscraps

Tree Decor - Wood Slices

A casual remark from a friend got me thinking...and playing.

And this was the result :

My friend commented on how perfect a log, in the bucket of firewood, would be for making wood burning ornaments. It did not take me long to ask hubby to slice the 'log' for me! However I found that the soft center of the wood (Big Leaf Maple) was hard to avoid and the darker areas really bugged me.
So I broke out the stamps and although the soft bits are still visible, I find it less obvious. Of course these pictures show them huge. The actual slices are only 1 7/8" tall (46mm), so in reality you have to look closely to see the imperfect bits.
This mouse image is 1.25" tall. (I touched up the black on the eyes and other parts of the image, after I looked at this picture. Now the lines and details are clear and crisp again)

I stamped them using Stazon ink and did the colouring with colour pencils.

I added a bit of glitter glue to some areas as well and embossing powders with glitter. For the puffy details on the birds' hats I used Tulip Puffy Dimensional Fabric Paint.

I'm very pleased with the results and will be keeping eyes open for more suitable logs for future decor items! It would be good to find slightly larger slices as there are so many images that would work very well for these.

Stamps used are all by Penny Black

The mouse is from Holly Jolly

The robin trio from 'Winter Wonderland'

The hedgehogs are from 'Every Which Way'

Warm Winter Feet

These are the snuggliest socks!

I found the pattern here : Bulky Yarn Booty, (the pattern is free btw!)and admittedly, they don't look like much at first glance, but when you slip them on, they are just perfect!

See what a nice shape they have? Also  although the ankle rib fits snuggly, it is not tight and slips over the heel very easily. I was concerned that it might be a bit awkward to pull over, so I was very relieved about that.

The yarn I used is Bernat 'Roving' which I found at my local Walmart. It's a lovely yarn, soft, silky and warm. I bought 3 colours for the main 'boots' (1 skein each) and a neutral grey for the finishing. It worked out really well and with 3 colours, the recipients will have no problem knowing which is theirs when these come out of the wash!

Best of all - with the bulky yarn and the easy pattern, these are super super quick to knit.

Go ahead and give them a try! Bulky Yarn Booty

Fun Gift Bag For Knitting

I'm not sure whether I get more pleasure from making gifts or from wrapping them!

After finishing the knitting - a lovely hat, the pattern for which you can find HERE

Next I stamped a piece of kraft paper, using Penny Black stamps, from the 'Nine Lives' set. This set is a favourite of mine...the heart is from another unrelated set.

Next I folded a gift bag using an empty cereal box that was a good size for the hat.

I folded it flat so that it looks like a gift bag

And in went the hat, wrapped in tissue paper

Some holes in the top of the bag allowed me to tie ribbon through and attach a gift tag to.

For the gift tag I used an image from the Penny Black set 12 Days Of Christmas. This set cracks me up! I could not find it on the Penny Black site, so I think it may be discontinued. The link is to Amazon.

Seeing as the project features knitting, I thought the 'Turtle Dove' perfect for my gift!

I sure hope my friend likes and enjoys her gift!