A few more pics

HubbyDoc makes the frames for me, and then I make beaded snowflakes. They sparkle quite nicely. I need to make more of those as well. Oh, well. Not enough time. I've also tried my hand at engraving acrylic with a Dremel engraver. I like the effect, but the workmanship isn't the best. Perhaps I'll have time to practice more some day. Another picture of HubbyDoc's German stars. He's going to make me some that I'll dip in beeswax and then sprinkle a little glitter on them. I think they'll look pretty. These are giant alliums that are in our garden. I just let them dry on the plant, cut them, and then spray paint them either white or gold or whatever my color scheme is. They make a great tree topper. I have to put more on this year's tree but I haven't been able to spray more since it's been so windy outside. Mylittle companion was tired. She works so hard. And, here's part of my banister. It's my favorite thing to decorate. Since it's right in the foyer, it makes a statement as people walk in. Hopefully, it's warm and welcoming. My favorite banister garland was the one where I dried about 60 roses and used them. It was a show-stopper for sure. Thanks again for looking. Tami

And yet, more christmas decorating!

I have lots of crocheted snowflakes that I made about 25 years ago. I really want more, so I need to get busy HubbyDoc makes beautiful German paper stars. Since I have my SCAL, I can now cut paper for him and he's thrilled. He also makes them with ribbon, and I can even cut the ribbon down so he can make tiny ones. I've also made little sculped Santas using Sculpey dough and a toothpick. It's hard to see the face here, but you get the idea. Another Santa. Thanks so much for looking. Tami

More Christmas Decorating

Here is my garland for my wonderfully long banister. I love it. Like all my other decorations, the banister changes from year to year. As you can see, there's a Penny Duncan white poinsettia. I didn't have time to make near enough, but I like the effect. I'll have more poinsettias next year. There are red poinsettias as well. On the lower left and lower central part, you can see embossed starts. I just cut the stars out of aluminum flashing that I got at the hardware store, and then I ran them through my Sizzix embosser. I love the effect, and they shine up a storm! I love shine and bling! Of course, a lot of my decorations have dried flowers. HubbyDoc is the gardener, but I do a lot of cutting and drying. The status is from my neighbor. Thanks Kim! There will be more to come. I'm having a problem with uploading pics and my puter won't let me do more than about three at a time. Check back soon! Fondly, Tami

I just love decorating for Christmas. HubbyDoc and I have made many of our decorations or ornaments. This is a garland that my daughter and I designed this year. I never do the same thing from year to year. This is a very full, fake greens garland that I got for free on the side of the road. Someone apparently didn't want it and put it in a box marked "free". I snatched it in a New York minute! The snowflake garland is one that I made by crocheting snowflakes, starching them, and then I tied them together. There are silk poinsettias with leaves, red shiny ornaments, and a crystal garland (hard to see in the pic but it gives off lots of sparkle and shine). The candles are fake and the best thing about the is that they're remote. So, I can have the ambiance of candlelight without torching up the house. I LOVE it when that happens! This little guy is fun. I just took a planter (that I really don't like), put it in my Grandmother's butter bowl (that was used countless times), put fake greens around it, added some picks (and I made sure some were sparkly!), dried peonies (that I'm sure everyone has just lying around the house), tiny battery powered lights, some tall picks to make it more vertical, and a santa for some holiday spirit. I'm pleased with how it turned out. Probably for New Years, I will take the Santa out and add some sparkler type thingies. I hope this gives you a few ideas as well. Next, I will post my stairway garland and pics of my handmade Sculpey Santas.

Christmas projects 2010

So, I saw someone's project from a Stampin' Up group and I really loved it. I made one from memory and then went back to look at the original to get some ideas, and my project was almost totally different. Go figure. However, I liked the project so much that I made 4 more of them for gifts. I gave the first one away at a brunch with some former co-workers. I stopped working 19 yrs. ago when my first was born, but the "old co-workers" still get together on the second Sat. of Dec. for brekky. In the 23 yrs. that I've been going, I only missed one. It's truly a wonderful re-union. We always laugh and cry and share each others' grief and joys. It's a real treat. Anyway, my one co-worker was the recipient of my gift, which is always a random exchange. She loved it, and even passed around my matching card. I love blessing people! Anyway, here are the pics. Hope you enjoy. The paper is Stampin' Up regals.

This is a piece of grungeboard with a stamped piece of paper on top, finished with bling, of course! The tags were cut with my SCAL, the star is grungeboard, and the J was cut with my Christmas Cheer cartridge.

And, the tree, of which the file was so generously donated by Penny Duncan, is place over am image stamped with Versamark (clear), and then dusted with silver perfect pearls. The tree was also stamped with a swirly background stamp, and then embossed with silver powder.

Another SVG file by PD. She is amazing! Anyway, I love her poinsettias. My garland is adorned with them (pics will be posted soon). I sprayed these using the mini misters and the silver Perfect Pearls (mixed in water, of course). I'm so looking forward to giving all of these for Christmas.

And, last but not least, my companion, Jessie. She's a sweetie, and stays in the cold basement with me. Of course, her crate has several blankets for her. I wouldn't want her to be as cold as me.

On another note, HubbyDoc is taking me to Home Depot today to get a space heater for my Happy Place. I'm so excited!

Happy Crafting! Tami

Cards

OK, so this is my very first attempt at posting pictures of some of my work. While I really like my cards, I see they're not as *stunning* as some of my other blogger acquaintances out there in blog land. Perhaps I will start adding more "stuff", which I really love, but don't know how to use.

A Fresh Start

Hi Everyone. I can't imagine anyone would want to read my blog, but here goes. Perhaps I'll become famous and someone will make a movie based on this. Probably not, but one can always dream, huh? Let me tell you about myself. I am a SAHM who homeschools, although I'm seeing the end in sight this year. Yipee!!! While I have loved homeschooling (most of the time) and have seen how it has benefited my children greatly, I'll be so glad to be done with this chapter and move onto something else. I'm also an RN/BSN but I haven't really worked since my oldest was born. For 2 years, I have sold lia sophia (yes, it's not supposed to be capitalized, which drives this Grammar Nazi CRAZY) jewelry. If you're interested, hop on over to my site- www.liasophia.com/tamihowse (Edit- the site is currently down for maintenance but if you're interested, just let me know). We do have great jewelry, an unconditional lifetime guarantee, and GREAT hostess benefits. Check it out. I love doing several different types of crafts, but lately my time has been spent doing scrapbooking and cardmaking. I absolutely love it. When I go to my basement to craft, I'm truly in my Happy Place. So, my hope on this site is to share a few tips about life and crafting. I hope you enjoy them.