Good to be back online!

Golly! I can't believe I have posted in almost 2 months...that's a new record for even a slacker blogger like me! I have a multitude of reasons why...first & foremost, I've been w/out my puter. *sniff sniff* I've had trojan after trojan...that my virus ware couldn't get rid of. It turned out to be a trojan that got past my virus ware, then disabled the virus ware & left me wide open for any other trojans that wanted to come in. I finally got my puter back but I'm still having issues w/ it...it might be time to buy a new one. :(

I was too busy to post most of my Christmas decor so I'm determined to share my winter decor w/ y'all...even though it's all down & packed away & Valentine's has taken it's place.

My winter wish for all of you is that you stay safe, warm & happy! Hang on! Spring is right around the corner!

I LOVE the all white Christmas decor that is so popular right now but I've been collecting vintage Christmas "stuff" for many years & it's almost all in the traditional red & green. I know that as soon as I get rid of it, I'll tire of the all white & wish I had it all back. I also have a large collection of snow peeps & when I tried to fit it in w/ all my Christmas stuff it was wayyyyy, wayyyyy too much stuff. Drove me nuts trying to display it all & have it look good too! The solution to both problems is to decorate separately for Christmas & winter...I've been doing it for several years now. So as soon as Jan 2nd rolls around, I put up most of the Christmas stuff (pine sprigs, etc stay out for both seasons) & replace it w/ my winter white lovelies.

Not sure I'm as happy w/ my decor this year as I was w/ last year's. (you can see last year's here) I've been able to take pictures but had no puter to upload them to & pictures always enable me to fine-tune my work. I have the ability to see things as I envision them, not as they are. A big aid in being happy w/ what you got but a huge hindrance for decorating. ;) Pictures force me to take off those rose-colored glasses & see things as they are. I almost always take pics, load them view them; rearrange & fine tune & take pictures again to blog.

This is my faux mantel.

One of the tags I made last year. LOVE it's quote, "Kindness is like snow...it beautifies everything it covers".

My blinged out wire snow princess (made her a couple years ago).

Another tag I made last year.

The china cabinet in my living room. (I don't usually do seasonal decor in any rooms but the big main room downstairs...used to but with as much as I do, it takes FOREVER)

Thsi was a project from Beth & Karla's Romantic White Christmas tut. I didn't make any of them for Christmas (no time!) but did convert several into winter projects. This one was meant to be for winter anyway, wasn't it?

Beth shows how to make these rolled "roses" in the tut.

I covered my "mitten" w/ lace from a tattered tablecloth instead of using cardstock or decorative paper & I used a sweet, wintry image instead of the Christmas one Beth used.

This was my coffee table arrangement.

Remember this snow peep doll I made last year? You can see my post about it here.

The top hats I made last year made a reappearance. (I don't know what those purplish spots are)

And this hutch was my Christmas present....2 years in a row! LOL We bought it off craigslist right before Thanksgiving, year before last. But it was dark mahogany w/ scratches all over it (got a deal on it!). I really, really, really wanted it painted before Christmas but of course, didn't. When Christmas rolled around again & it was still in the garage, I decided "nuh-uh! I WILL get it painted before this Christmas. And I did...just in the nick of time. ;) Spent all day on Dec 22nd & 23rd painting & all Christmas Eve, putting it in place & decorating it but I got 'er done before Christmas. Now I just need to paint the table & chairs.

This is another project from teh Romantic Christmas tut...a sweet tag made from an old picture frame border.

Beth & Karla give lots of tips...like shadowing the image w/ a marker (or brown map pencil, like I used)

The winter cottage I made last year.

I filled this tiered wire basket w/ lace, brush trees, snowbabies, old baby shoes & tiaras. Say "Hi!" to Sonny! ;)

This feather wreath is yet another project from the Romantic Christmas tut. I've replaced the wintry image w/ a Valentine one & it's still hanging up. (The wreath is hung on an iron piece that I use as a room divider over my sofa.)

I'm really not at all happy w/ the centerpiece on my table. I still ADORE the snow peeps I made last year but I think the arrangement itself needs some fouf'ing. The candy jar was full of silver-wrapped chocolates but those didn't last too long & I smartly decided not to refill it. LOL

LOVE my snowmans on a stick! Still can't believe I made them myself! You can see the post about them here.

Inevitably, I'm asked for an image when I share projects I make so I'll share the images I used now. The picture frame border that I used on the tag was from Karla & Beth's tut though so I can't share it w/ you. You'll have to sign up for the tut yourself to get it but I promise you won't be sorry!

I don't remember where I got any of the images but would like to give credit where credit is due, so if it was your's or you know whose it was, let me know & I'll be happy to give credit!

I'll share my Valentine's decor this week. I know most of y'all will be taking it down by then but I leave mine up all during the month of February. Have a happy Valentine's day everybody!

Hot! Hot! Hot!

Oh my gosh...I don't know about y'all but I'm ready for some cooler weather! We've had temps over 100° for 2 weeks now!

Even my decor is protesting the heat. *grins*

Jodie from everythingvintage asked for a copy of Jolly Josie Jolly (she resides at the top of my fridge, in an attempt to keep me from overeating) so I thought I'd share her w/ you all as well. Not sure where I bought her but it was about 10 years ago & was the first cabinet card I ever purchased. Love the little doggie in it! Be sure & click on the picture & then click on it again, to enlarge it so that you get the best quality copy possible.

Stay cool! I'm trying but w/out much success.

Happy Mother's day!

In honor of the occasion, I thought I'd share a couple of images. Don't remember where I found them but it was probably from one of the sites listed on my sidebar, under vintage images.

(Don't forget to click and enlarge to get the best quality image)

I hope every one of you Mothers gets a hug, a kiss & an "I love you" today...you deserve it!

Show n Tell Friday...winter altered tags

I'm a little late for today's Show n Tell but I'm playing anyway.... it's hosted as always, by Cindy @ My Romantic Home. Today I am sharing my creations from last month's art group gathering. We are supposed to meet up again tonight but w/ the snow we've been having (a record setting 15"....in DFW!!!!), it'll probably get canceled. :o( The group is so much fun though...to hang out, create & laugh w/ people who get you is just the greatest! I am very fortunate to be part of such a talented group.

Anyway, believe it or not, I haven't made an altered tag before. I've been planning on it but haven't gotten around to it until now. They're lots of fun to create though & I plan on making many more. I incorporated several ideas, I saw a few people do so if they look somewhat familiar, that's why (I didn't copy any designs exactly but I did "steal" a few ideas). One of the ladies I borrowed talent from is Carol @ Queen Be's Altered Needs. I also used her methods of grunging up the tag, prior to embellishing it. She uses coffee, vanilla & cinnamon & at art group, everyone kept saying "who brought cookies?" When I showed them the "aged" tags, they realized the source of the wonderful aroma. LOL I won't go into the how to's here since Carol gives such detailed instructions in her tut...you can find it here.

I think this first one is my favorite. Love the wonderful, wintry image ( I don't remember where I got it...sorry) & even more, I love the quote.

Kindness does beautify everything it covers...spread it around as much as you can. ;o)

I may have taken this one a bit too far over the top. Not sure if the faux pine sprigs I added, are really bringing much to the table.... what do y'all think? Yay or Nay on the pine sprigs?

It's another beautiful quote though....LOVE it!

Thsi one is sweet & w/ all the snow we have now...is a question I keep repeating over & over.

PLEASE don't let Spring be too far behind!

I'm including the images, just in case y'all like them & want to do something w/ them. Wish I could give credit as to where I got them but I don't keep track...sorry!

Hope you all have a wonderful, warm weekend!

Halloween Bingo Card Images

I've been wanting to scan & share these cool bingo cards I bought, w/ y'all but thought I'd wait until I used them in a project. Still haven't done so (maybe this week!) but I wanted to go ahead & share them w/ you, so that you still had time to make something w/ them.

They'd be great as background of a shadowbox, as altered tags or string them together as a garland.

I found thsi Haunted ticket online but can't remember where...sorry! They're nice all piled up in a crystal bowl & of course would be great for a project too. I cut them all out & then stacked them & used a paper punch for the corners.

Enjoy! And if you make something out of them, please let me know so that I can copy admire your creations!