Happy New Year

We are spending the evening with Aaron and Jenna at my parent's house. The kids have packed their pyjamas and favourite board games.

Wishing you all a Happy New Year.

May 2008 bring you health and special people to share it with.

Our Family Christmas Photos

Ever since even before my kids were born we always take

a family photo at Christmas time. My Mom and Dad have them proudly displayed beside the kitchen table and all the kids look at them each time we are there for a meal. With the exception of 2 years the setting is the same. The painting will be etched into everyones memories. We have been extremely fortunate that there are very few photos where someone is missing. This photo is as much a Christmas tradition as the wrapped chocolate intial that everyone receives.

January Page Maps are avaiable

January Page Maps are available
http://www.pagemaps.com/
12 X 12 ones and horizontal 11 x 8 1/2" ones

Christmas Cat

This is my brother's cat Tiger. What a perfect Christmas photo. Our cat Kally would never sit long enough. Everytime I get the camera out to get a shot of her she looks away. If I sit and wait she get up and walks away.

Photo clock was a huge success

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. We sure did. Its so nice to be able to have everyone in the family together. We had lots of laughs, good food and shared some lovely gifts.

The gift we gave that got the biggest reaction was the Photo clock for my mother in law and put photos of her 13 grandchildren in it. Aaron came up with the suggestion of putting a photo of him and his cousin Jamie in the same square because they were born the same year. It brought tears to her eyes.

We're having a lazy day at home today so maybe I can do some creating after I get our Christmas pictures done. Enjoy your day.

Just a quick Merry Christmas wish from our house to yours. May all the sights, sounds, aroma's (I can smell cheesecake baking at my house) and feelings of comfort and joy surround you.

Feed the reindeer

One of our many Christmas traditions is to put out Magic Reindeer food to help guide Santa and his reindeer to our house. There is a science involved according to my children. You have to figure out how the reindeer are in their harnesses and make sure the food is spaced accordingly so that every reindeer will have a chance to have a snack. I'm not sure where they are going to land at all this year because we have a mountain of snow on the front lawn as a result of the snowstorm last week.
But in any case I have the page ready. I did this page while working at Memories on Main in Lambeth the other day. Paper and chipboard "believe" die cut is from K & Co.'s Peppermint Twist Christmas line. "feed the deer" was cut using my Wishblade. I used a paper crimper to add a little texture to the reindeer paper on the right page and cut out some crimped reindeer to add to the left page. I added one of the Magic Reindeer Food Containers we made this year.

Directions can be found here:

http://apageatatime.blogspot.com/2007/12/magic-reindeer-food-containers_13.html (I've added a couple of recipes and verses to this post)

Mamma Mia

What a fun show! Arthur and I went to see Mamma Mia at the JLC in London last night and the only reason he was sitting during the show was that there were people on both sides of us. I'm sure he wanted to get up and dance.

If you haven't already had the chance to see it I would highly recommend going.

Animated Greeting Card by Jacqui Lawson

Every year someone sends me a link to an animated greeting card by Jacqui Lawson.
This year is no exception. This is the one I received this year. They are always interactive.
Enjoy,
http://www.jacquielawson.com:80/viewcard.asp?code=ER13610552
Go to her home page for more previews.

Card for Hubby's work

Arthur asked me to make a card for his boss at work so I took 2 elements I have previously shown on my blog and put them together. The lace poinsettia I cut with my Wishblade and the spirelli flower, also cut with my Wishblade. I even used one of the Christmas brads I've been collecting. Add a little Basic Grey Figgy Pudding paper and here is the 6 x 6" inch card with lots of room for his co-workers to sign.

Santa's key

Santa mailed us this special key a few years ago and each year we attach to our door on Christmas Eve, with a note that reads something like this:

We don't have a chimney for you to climb through,

But if you don't visit our house we don't know what we'll do.
Some say you are magic and can use any old key

As long as we hang it out in a place you're sure to see.
So we're leaving this old key right outside our door

Saying our prayers, jumping in bed, and we won't worry anymore.

Blog candy winner

Jenna drew the name from those of you who commented on my blog candy post. Thanks to everyone for sharing your stories.
The winner is Cheryl and here is her favourite seasonal tradition
"HI! My favorite tradition is going Black Friday shopping with my mom. We go every year...get up way too early in the morning and shop all day. But, we get our shopping done all in one day! We look forward to it every year!Cheryl KVD"

Gingerbread Friends Title Wishblade/Silhouette/Craft Robo

Today's scrapbook page is just waiting for photos. I didn't take my camera to our Gingerbread decorating day at Carolyn's. I'm sure she'll have some great shots she'll share with me to finish this off. Especially when I cut a title for her page too.

Thanks Eliz for the paper and inspiration.

DOWNLOAD .gsd FILE

If you would like the Gingerbread Friends title .gsd file email me and I'd be happy to send it to you directly.

Altered Glass Ornaments

I brought some flat glass ornaments to Eliz's today and we decorated one with 3 different colours of alchohol ink plus pearl and copper dropped onto a piece of felt and dabbed on. Stamped a snowman and snowflakes on with Stazon, tied a ribbon and it was good to go.

The 2nd one we put a short burst of spray adhesive in and then a blue and a gold Pearlex. Swirled it around. Dumped out the excess and voila it was ready to stamp with the same stamps and Stazon. Note: not all of the ornaments were exactly the same shape and the snowman stamped better on some than on others. Perhaps a smaller image would have been more effective. Again a ribbon finished it off.

Gorgeous Vellum Tea Light Holder

We made these gorgeous vellum tea light holders at Eliz's stamp/scrap day today. She even supplied the battery operated tea light so they could glow safely. Thanks Eliz. Had a great day!

To download the pattern go here

http://stampingmathilda.blogspot.com/2007/06/votive-holder.html

Magic Reindeer Food Containers

I can't take credit for these adorable little reindeer faces. We did them at Heather's fundraiser.

http://stampwithheather.typepad.com/stamp_with_heather/2007/10/fundraiser-proj.html

We thought they would make perfect Magic Reindeer Food containers so created a pattern to share.

We added a bag of Magic Reindeer Food complete with a tag with this poem and voila we are ready for Christmas Eve and our annual tradition of making sure Santa's Reindeer can find their way to our house.

Magic Reindeer Food Sprinkle on the lawn at night The moon will make it sparkle As Santa's reindeer fly and roam This will guide them to your home

Or
Be sure to take this magic foodand sprinkle on the lawn,On Christmas, Santa's reindeer travel miles before the dawn.The smell of oats and glitter pathwill guide them on their way -And you'll wake up to Santa's gifts next morn on Christmas Day!
pdf tag versionhttp://http://www.theideabox.com/ima...indeerfood.pdf

Here are other recipes:

#1Colored crystal sugar (cake decorating sugar)Dried apple slices Nutmeg Cinnamon sticks Cloves Put ingredients together in a bowl and mix.

#2RECIPE FOR MAGIC REINDEER FOOD #2 Mix bird seed, dry oatmeal or cereal (such as cheerios, rice krispies, or grape nuts flakes), and red or green colored sugar crystals

For pattern and instructions
DOWNLOAD .doc FILE

DOWNLOAD .pdf FILE

Scrapbooks and Cards Today

I have in my hot little hands the new edition of Scrapbooks and Cards Today.

Again I wasn't disappointed. The girls do a fabulous job with this and the best part is its a

Canadian magazine that is available to consumers at participating scrapbook stores.

Its well worth a look. I'm sure I'll be doing some scraplifting of at least a few layouts and cards.

You can download your own free copy at
http://www.scrapbookandcards.com/

I may even take mine to our Stamp/Scrap Day at Eliz's tomorrow.

Remembering a Christmas past.

I keep looking at the high speed modem sitting here waiting to be installed.

{Post script: I was dreading the installation process because invariably something goes wrong and I end up spending hours with a technical support agent but this was not the case. It virtually was plug and play.)

It was supposed to be a Christmas gift. Unfortunately the surprise was ruined by our parcel delivery man who delivered the box from our internet provider while we were all in the living room watching Shrek the halls last week.
Must have been a long day for our parcel carrier (the one who stopped me in the middle of the road last year when my Wishblade arrived). I plan to install it tomorrow.
Anyway, it reminded me of my first Christmas I spent with my husband. He bought me a modem (which looks a little like this one) wrapped in gold paper. He was so proud of the wrapping he did. I didn't really know at the time what it was or did. Nor did I really appreciate it for what it was. Little did I know what a world it would open up for us. It was before the days of the internet as we know it. It was in the days of bulletin boards or what we now know as message boards or forums. Looking back it was probably the most useful gift anyone has ever bought me. I guess he was just a little ahead of his time. Thank you Arthur for making that Christmas and every one since so special.

Wow I'm blown away

Look my counter is over 11200. So many in the past few days with hits coming from all over the world. I would like to thank my regular viewers and all the new ones. I hope you find something interesting or useful during your visit.

In any event, I think this calls for some blog candy: I'll pull some things together and post later.
Leave me a comment telling me about your favourite seasonal tradition and be entered into a draw. I'll draw the lucky winner's name on Friday evening so you still have a little time to add your comment.

Santa Claus Parade Title Wishblade/Silhouette/Craft Robo file

I created a Santa Claus Parade title for the layout I was working on yesterday at a friends. If you have a Wishblade, Silhouette or Craft Robo and would like to download the file it is available free here.

It has cutout areas to add snow. For this one I added liquid applique but some a little glue and glitter would be pretty too.

If you would like the .gsd file for the Santa Claus Parade title please email me and I will send it to you directly.