Thanksgiving Blessings

Hi Sweeties! Wishing all of my friends in the States a very joyous and blessed Thanksgiving holiday! I am so very, very grateful on this day, and every day, for all of you! Your sweet friendships mean the world to me!

I think I may just be able to pull this Thanksgiving thing off today. After stops at two different grocery stores, I did get everything I need to produce a small feast, and I even managed to make a pie yesterday afternoon. And of course, I have my home all decorated for the big day.

So in honor of the holiday, wishing you many thankful blessings, from my house to yours!

As you can see, I have many Thanksgiving turkeys, pilgrims, and Indians. Many of them are handmade treasures from my sweet kiddos when they were little. How these little things mean the world to me!

I’m back today on the SEI blog with another Berry Melody project. This time, a set of holiday tags.

Gift tags are one of my favorite holiday projects. They are always fun to put together, and I think they make a great gift idea for anybody on your gift giving list. Love giving something that is as useful as it is pretty.

For more details, including a complete supply list, be sure to check out the SEI Lifestyle Blog. And leave a comment while you are there for your chance to win an amazing prize package filled with Berry Melody goodies!

Thanks so much for stopping by everyone! Happy Thanksgiving!

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Happy Fall with Therm O Web

Hiya Sweeties! Happy Friday and happy November! I have to say that I’m feeling a little bit of panic that November is here already. I always hate to see October go, it’s true, but I do love November, too. There are so many wonderful things to be thankful for this month. Just seems like once November rolls around, Christmas will be here before we know it…

and I’m nowhere near ready for Christmas!

But before I get too far ahead of myself, it’s time to celebrate fall this week on the Therm O Web blog. As you all know, I love to decorate my home for every holiday and season, and this month, that includes dressing up a pretty table for Thanksgiving. So to get my holiday place settings started, I made some fun fall harvest napkin holders.

Aren’t those little critters cute? They just make me smile.

And best part is, these guys were quick and easy to put together, and made from recycled toilet paper tubes, they are earth-friendly, too.

Simply wrap the tube in papers, tie with ribbon, and embellish with seasonal die cuts and stamped banners. All the papers and die cuts are from Imaginisce. Sentiments are from a new line of acrylic stamps designed by my sweet friend, Debbie, of the Shabby Tea Room, called Paper Sweeties. Aren’t they fun?

For a complete supply list, and step-by-step instructions for these napkin holders, please visit the Therm O Web blog. And don’t forget…….

Therm O Web is proudly working with Operation Write Home to send holiday cards to support our military troops. Unite with us in making a  Valentine or Love themed card now through November 10th.  Our friends at Operation Write Home have let us know they could use these types of cards… so let’s join together and make sure they have plenty to provide come Valentine’s Day!

Therm O Web will collect the cards made and send them on to OWH. For joining in….we’ll pick three lucky participants to win Therm O Web prizes worth more then $40 for participating! Stop by the blog for full details.

Thanks so much for stopping by, everyone. Wishing you all a wonderful weekend. And hoping all my friends along the East Coast have made it through the storm safely! Thinking of you!

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Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing you all a very Happy Thanksgiving, from my house to yours.

May your day be filled

with family and friends

laughter and togetherness

and most of all

good eats!

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Glue Arts Autumn Splendor

Hi everyone, and happy Wednesday to you! Here we are half-way through the week already once again. Or maybe, since we have Friday off for Veteran’s Day, I should say that we are three-fourths of the way through.  Weekend here we come!

This week on the Glue Arts blog, we are partnering up with We R Memory Keepers featuring projects using their gorgeous Autumn Splendor collection.

I have absolutely fallen in love with this line. Such pretty patterns and colors, and the Scrapbook Pad is filled with lots of extras like glittered chipboard letters, die cuts, stickers, and tags. This is one of those collections that I am going to be turning to over and over. And over.

At this time of year, as Thanksgiving approaches, my thoughts often turn toward all the things I am grateful for in my life. My two kiddos. My family and friends. Our beautiful home and our sweet pets. So many wonderful blessings. This year, I wanted to create a table setting that reflects all these thankful feelings.

This little plaque and matching napkin rings are going to really dress up my Thanksgiving table and add a sense of playful fun to my decor. And better yet, they were pretty easy to make, too.

The plaque is a simple stand made from 2 pieces of chipboard and some paper. I used the textured cardstock from the collection along with several of the pretty patterned papers from the pad. Dressed up the topper with paper scallops, seam binding ribbon, chipboard leaves, and some paper flowers.

The napkin rings are layered die cuts embellished with more chipboard accents. I used a simple ribbon to secure the holders to the napkins.

I added some extra ribbon and flowers for me and Missy Nik. But kept things on the plain side for Pete, which I think he will appreciate.

For a complete supply list and step-by-steps, please visit the Glue Arts blog. Be sure to leave a comment while you are there for your chance to win the Autumn Splendor Scrapbook Pad for yourself. We’re even going to throw in our new Glue Glider Pro+ and a Pro+ Adhesive Cartridge. Good luck everyone!

And thanks so much for stopping by today!

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Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!!

From my house…….

to yours….

I wish you all

a day filled

with the bounty of family, friends, good cheer, and good food.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!

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Happy Things

Happy Sunday, everyone! I hope you’ve been having a wonderful weekend. Been doing anything fun? I’ve been out playing and have been having the most marvelous time. Shopping, dining, and a bit of crafting, too, has filled the old agenda. I’m making the most of things. After all, that’s what weekends are for, right?

Yesterday, my friend and I spent the day thrifting and antiquing.  One of my all-time favorite things to do. Kathy found a whole new set of shops for us to explore, which made the day even more fun. I found a few Thanksgiving things to add to my decor. Because, you know……..

I didn’t have enough.

The turkeys are hand-painted ceramic miniatures. They are my very first miniatures, and I am quite taken with them. The little cuties.

I also found a slightly bigger version that came home with me, too. This guy is now dressing up the tile backsplash behind the stove in my kitchen.

I’ve also been playing in my scraproom, using more of the fun goodies Cherry sent me last week. Just the motivation I need to get working on my holiday cards.

Mystery supplies. I don’t know what they all are, but that’s ok with me. That’s half the fun. I cut the sentiment directly from a sheet of patterned paper and created a banner strip over the chipboard wreath. Toned down the bright white of the lace with a little Antique Linen Distress Ink and added a few buttons from my stash and lots of machine stitched detailing.

With Thanksgiving coming closer and the holiday season upon us, I feel more and more grateful for my many blessings. As I sit and look out my windows at the glorious fall colors in the changing leaves or dream about the upcoming festivities of Christmas which will soon be here, I feel so very happy and so very lucky. I am also so very grateful for YOU, my sweet blogging friends. Your friendships mean the world to me. They really do. And thank you, thank you, Stella, for my lovely blogging award. I’m sending it right back at ya!

Wishing you all a wonderful day. And tell me………

what have YOU been up to?

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Thanksgiving Mantel

Sharing a bit more of my Thanksgiving decor. We’ve seen the dining room and the entryway table. For today, I thought we could peek at my mantel.

A fun mix of new and old, junk store and craft store, treasures from my family and friends and handmade projects.

The carnival glass candlestick on the right belonged to my grandmother. I just love having family pieces like that. The tall amber candlestick and metal one are thrifty finds. The garland came from a craft store, purchased on clearance for a song.

An amber and iron candlestick I received as a birthday present from a friend, a glass spire from HomeGoods, and a vintage turkey.

The wreath is a mother-daughter craft project from several years ago. Every fall, we collect acorns together to use in some way as decor. These acorns still look fantastic, even after 3 years……but the wreath could use a little re-do, in my opinion. I’m keeping my eyes out for ideas.

The mantel wouldn’t be complete without my treasured pilgrims. I have a thing for the Mr. and the Mrs.. I will admit to owning several sets.

Joining in the fun at My Romantic Home Show & Tell Friday and French Country Cottage Feathered Nest Friday.

Thanks so much for stopping by everyone and happy Friday to YOU!

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I’m a Little Teapot

My son gave me the most wonderful early birthday present this past weekend. It was something he made for me in his art class at school. Something he knew this autumn-loving mom would adore. And he was right.

Oh, was he ever right.

Take a peek at my new pumpkin teapot. Isn’t that adorable? Makes me smile! And spurred a new bout of harvest decorating on the top of my writing desk.

Aren’t those turkeys silly? They are one of my favorite crafty projects to make with pine cones.  And as you can see, they are really very simple. Just a construction paper fan turned into a tail, some pipe cleaners, and googly eyes. My friend originally made these as place card holders for her Thanksgiving table. Each guest got to take theirs home afterward as a party favor. In the 5 or 6 years since then, they have gotten a little crumpled in the tail feathers, but are still looking pretty spiffy for a bunch of old guys.

And speaking of turkeys, here is one I recently found at the junk store for only $1. I do love a good thrifty find. I’ve got him propped up in my kitchen next to the stove, supervising my culinary experiments. But he better not be too critical or he might end up in my pot.

For more great thrifty discoveries, check out Thrift Share Monday over at Apron Thrift Girl. A really fun little blog filled with inspiration and ideas for thrifting, re-selling, decorating and crafting on a dime. If you haven’t met Selena yet, you’re in for a real treat.

I’m also linking to the party over at Coastal Charm: Nifty Thrifty Tuesday. Another fun blog to check out about thrifting and decorating.

Thanks for stopping by, my friends! And tell me……….

What did YOU get up to this weekend?

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Welcome November

Time to say goodbye to October.

And hello to November. It’s so nice to see you again.

Hope you’ll stick around for awhile.

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We’re Talking Turkey

Last week, my friend Kathy shared the most adorable vintage Thanksgiving image on her blog that she had recently found at an antiques store. I knew as soon as I saw that cute Tom that I wanted to make something with it. So this morning, I printed it out and whipped up a super quick and simple holiday greeting.

I love it when a project comes together this easily. With such a great focal image to begin with only a few extra touches are needed. I used lots of oldies but goodies from my stash. Patterned paper and die cut from last year’s Amber Road collection from Pink Paislee, along with vintage trim and buttons.

Thank you SO much for all your well wishes and inquiries into my last-minute luncheon on Friday. I’m so glad to hear I’m not the only forgetful person out there. I am happy to be able to say that the lunch was a great success! I managed to clean, grocery shop, cook, AND bake, and finished just as my doorbell was ringing. Talk about cutting it close.

As I was washing round one of the dishes later, I realized that in my haste, I didn’t take any pictures during the lunch. But I do have one to share of the yummy dessert I made, and of course I have recipes for you, too.

These Chunky Streusel Jam Squares were sooooo good. Did you notice I said “were”. I just couldn’t keep away from these. I also made Harvest Pasta from my friend, Laura’s, fabulous cooking blog, Delicious. I cannot recommend this dish highly enough. You MUST try it.

Yesterday, while I was out prowling my favorite antiques stores, I made a very happy discovery. More dishes and serving pieces from the pattern I used at my lunch that were given to me by my mother this past summer. She had dinner and dessert plates only, and now I have some saucers, oval bowls and a small platter, too. How fun is that?

A very happy find, indeed!

And for a little bit of Halloween for today, here’s me hanging out with a few of my favorite things. Have a wonderful day, my friends!

 

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