Why I was MIA the week before Christmas . . .

 Hello Everyone!

I HOPE SANTA WAS GOOD TO YOU!!!

Like most people, the week before Christmas was a busy one for us mainly because of the idea we came up with for our grandkids Christmas present.  They are both busy with their jobs and each have a little one they are raising.  We remember how it was (back then) when not only was money tight, but there never seemed to be enough hours in the day to cover everything that needed done ... including dinner!

SO ... we came up with the great idea to cook up a bunch of 'freezer meals' that they could put in the fridge the night before and cook up in a little bit of time after they got home from work.  Here's the different meals we made for them:

Chicken Cordon Bleu Bake
Broccoli Chicken Casserole
Creamy Chicken Enchiladas
Sausage Stuffed Manicotti
Taco Stuffed Pasta Shells
Lasagna

 And of course, with winter approaching, we HAD to make soup . . .

Chili
Vegetable Soup
Ham & Bean Soup

I ran out of freezer space so before making up the last set of meals & packages of soup, I drove to my daughter's house (an hour drive one way) and put what we had already made (Phase #1) in her freezer.  She has a couple of freezers so had the open space (thank goodness!).

Phase #1

It was actually my daughter who asked if I had blogged about this idea and I told her 'No, I didn't think about it with so much shopping and preparing needing done' ... so when we made up the last meals & soup I did grab a few photos.

 

The last was the easiest ... LASAGNA!

As you can see, on the top of each meal, I printed up a photo of what was inside along with instructions.  I did this on all the meals but on the soup/chili we portioned it out into quart size freezer bags then after freezing flat, we placed them into a gallon size freezer bag and marked the bag '2021 Christmas - Chili (or whatever the soup is).

All but the Broccoli Chicken Casserole, they received two containers each of all the other meals.  The Chili they received 3 quarts each and the Soups 2 quarts each.

Hopefully this will help them through the cold winter I hear we are to have here in Ohio!

Phase #2

VEGETABLE BEEF SOUP

Our daughter & SIL bought the kids BIG coolers and filled with with other frozen food items from chicken, burger, pizza, chicken pot pies, etc etc.

Of course we bought plenty of toys for the little ones (our GREAT grandsons) but this year with the price of everything going up, we thought a good gift for our adult grandkids would be FOOD ITEMS!  Might not be clothes or jewelry but something we felt they needed more than material things.

And, we can't forget our AMAZING neighbors! 
Since we opted to have an outdoors Octoberfest in lieu of our annual Christmas party, we still wanted to share a little something so we made up cookie & fudge trays for each.  A little tray of goodies is always a welcomed gift (at least in my book lol!).

Nothing Fancy!
Chocolate Chip Cookies, Oatmeal Cherry Cookies & Peanut Butter Fudge
and of course a few holiday chocolates!

Cover in cellophane and they were ready to deliver. 
Was all done in one day and everyone was very appreciative! 

If you've seen my FB page, you've seen that we had a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS with our family and the 'Littles' were just such a blessing to be around!!

 

Now we wish you a very HAPPY & HEALTHY NEW YEAR!!

Peace On Earth Christmas Challenge

 

Hello Friends and welcome back to my blog! 
SO happy you stopped by!

Today I have a card to share for the new challenge over on the PEACE ON EARTH CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE BLOG.  Of course the theme is Anything Christmas and we hope you'll come join in the fun!  But if you need inspiration, here's the board provided for you . . .

I was inspired by the traditional Christmas colors on this board.

 My image is another from the Too Much Fun Rubber Stamps company.  I just love these images and they have quite the collection to choose from.    Check out that little kitty.  Now I'm not a cat person mind you but this scene wouldn't be complete without that little kitty curled up in front of the fire.

 PLEASE be sure to pop over to THE BLOG and check out the amazing designs our design team has created for your inspiration.  What a group of talented ladies!!  Then come join in the fun!! 

Challenges to share in:

Allsorts Challenge #655/6 - Anything Winter
Crafty Calendar December Challenge - Christmas
Taylormade Cards4U December Challenge - The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

 Have a great day and remember ... Christmas is less than a week away!
If you're shopping isn't done yet you'd better get a move on!!!  LOL

As the sentiment on my card say . . .

We (the Peace on Earth Christmas Challenge DT) want to wish you & yours a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!

 As always ...

Make The Cards Challenge #45

 

 

Welcome back friends!

It's time for a new challenge over on  Make The Cards Challenge.

Today we are having a Color Challenge ...

 

This card came together in the strangest way!

I was testing my inks to see if I had the correct colors that I could work with for my project by simply swiping what I thought would work across a scrap of white card stock.  Once I got going on it I thought it would make the perfect backdrop for the image I had cut out from a 6x6 designer paper sheet of this vintage Santa that was laying on my work station.  VIOLA!!

I've added a few snowflake/stars and my card is ready to mail once I've added a holiday sentiment on the inside.  Talk about quick, easy and out of the blue!  LOL

 This will be our last challenge for 2021 ... wishing you a FABULOUS HOLIDAY SEASON ahead!

I hope you'll come join in our challenge fun ... here's the link for you one more time ...

Make The Cards Challenge

 As always . . .

 

Double D Challenge - Lots of WHITE

 
Hello Dear Friends!

It's time once again for a new challenge over on the Double D Challenge Blog!

I'm happy to say I am hosting today's challenge and our theme is:

 

 Lots of WHITE

 

and here's an inspiration board I've created to help get you started . . .

 My first thought for today's card was to do a totally White-on-White ... but after die cutting the Sue Wilson 'Snowflake Mini Striplet' (CED3036) from my white background panel, I knew I wanted a touch of color, so a pale blue was the touch I was looking for.

Other dies used on my card are:

Marianne Creatables 'Ice Skates' (LR0247)

 Sue Wilson 'Peeking Snowflake' (CED3022)

I've popped up the 'boot' portion of the skates using dimensional dots but used white glue on the strings so I could position them under my sentiment.  Crystal Stickles was used to create the falling snow.

I hope you've found inspiration from today's creation!  

 The prize that you'll be playing for this time around is:

Impression Obsession - Dies - Snowman Set

 Remember, it's a random draw for the winner so it could be YOU!!

You'll want to be sure to pop over to the Double D Challenge Blog to see all the details and amazing samples offered up by our VERY TALENTED design team ladies!!

 Thanks so much for stopping by!
Hope to see you at Double D! 

  As always . . .

Perfectly CAS Challenge #22

 

  Hello Friends!

Today starts a new challenge over on the Perfectly CAS Challenge Blog. 
Here's our theme for the month of December:

To create today's card I simply positioned a circle cut of masking medium and began sponging with Tim Holtz 'Broken China' and 'Chipped Sapphire'.  Next I used a heavy bristled artist brush and stippled on a bit of Pearl Finish White Acrylic paint.  Lastly I removed my moon masking circle and added this Pretty Pink Posh 'Encouraging Greetings' sentiment.

I hope you will join in the challenge - just make sure you understand the rules.

For all the rules check out the 'How To Play' TAB under our challenge header.

The challenge is all about helping you stay
within 1/3 of your card to make sure it is CAS.

I look forward to seeing what you create.

 Thanks so much for stopping by!
As always . . .

Two Old Bats Mid Month Reminder

 Hello Friends! 
OLD BAT Darlene here to remind you we are half way through the month and you don't want to miss out on joining in the fun over on the Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge Blog.

I've created a card to help inspire you  ... what do you think??

 

 HOPE TO SEE YOU OVER AT THE TWO OLD BATS CHALLENGE!

Thanks for stopping by!

Darlene

 

Make The Cards Challenge #44

Welcome back friends!

It's time for a new challenge over on  Make The Cards Challenge.

Today we are having a Theme Challenge ...

 

At the Adventures in Stamping back in April of this year, I purchased some beautiful images from a vendor called Too Much Fun Rubberstamps.  My focus image comes from one of the sheets I purchased from their 'Very Vintage!' line.

To showcase my winter deer image I've used the main framing die from the Sue Wilson - Festive Collection - Poinsettia Mini Background Die set (CED3049).  After die cutting it from forest green card stock, I place it over my white card base and adhered my deer image to the center.  

I've colored in the holly leaves with my Dark Jade Tombow marker and, to add a touch of sparkle, I've used Crystal Stickles around the image as well as on the berries section of the die cut.

After adding a holiday sentiment on the inside, my card is ready for holiday mailing. 

I hope you'll come join in our challenge fun ... here's the link for you one more time ...

Make The Cards Challenge

 As always . . .

 

Sisterhood of Crafters - Holiday Gift Tags

 

Hello my friends!

Today I have a card for the new challenge over on The Sisterhood of Crafters!

Our theme, chosen by Sistah Vickie, is:

 

HOLIDAY GIFT TAGS

As you can see, I have created two different versions ... a regular gift tag and a gift tag card.

This tag was created using a scrap of holiday paper and die cutting a tag using Poppy Stamps 'Stitched Main Street Tags' (#1268) die.   I've added a red satin ribbon bow, gold stickles and a Cheery Lynn Designs Merry Christmas die sentiment.

 

 For the Tag Card, I've die cut another tag using the same die set but from a different scrap of holiday designer paper.  The dies I've used are:

Sue Wilson 'Poinsettia Mini Background' (CED3049)

Memory Box 'Delicate Mini Frame' (94031)

Penny Black 'Winter Cheer' (51-255)

My card was finished off with a red velvet bow on the tag.

  I hope you'll come join in our challenge fun at The Sisterhood of Crafters!

My 'sistahs' have created some fabulous creations to help inspire you ... 

be sure to pop over and check them out!

 As always, thanks SO MUCH for taking the time to stop by!

Blue Christmas

Hello Friends ...

Since I had last minute holiday cards to create, I thought I'd share one with you today and excited to see it fit the Anything Goes + Option: A Blue Christmas Challenge over on the A Place to Start Blog.  Check out their beautiful inspiration board ...

My design is relatively simple but when you're working 'down to the wire', simple is the direction you want to go!  LOL   

A few other challenges to share in:

Dream Valley December Challenge - Christmas
UnstampaBelles Challenge #118 - The Most Wonderful Time of the Year - Keep it Simple
Allsorts Challenge #653 - Use a Die

Hope you're having a fabulous week!

Busy!  Busy!  Busy!

Thanks for stopping by!!

Make a Wish

Happy Monday Friends

Today's card share was created for the new challenge over on the (new to me) Inspiration Station Challenge Blog.  Today's theme is Star Light, Star Bright and here is their inspiration board ...

 

 One of their main rules is as follows:

Remember, to be eligible for the Prize, Please **Let us know in your blog or Social Media Post how the Photo Inspired You.

 Well, as you have probably figured out by now, it was that blue & purple star that caught my eye and inspired me for my card creation.  I'm always in the need for birthday cards so that is the theme of my card and while looking through my sentiment dies I thought this one worked perfectly.  I instantly started humming  ... When you wish upon a star, makes no different who you are . . . . .

I've used Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Wilted Violet & Mermaid Lagoon to create my sponged background panel from which I then die cut my stars using the Tutti Designs Nesting Stitched Stars for the main focus of my card.

 

 My sentiment is the Penny Black 'Celebrations' (#51-028) die set

and I've position it onto one of dies from the Sue Wilson 'Stitched Flags' (CED 4317) set.  It wasn't long enough for my phrase so I carefully extended it's length when die cutting then adhered the words.

 

 A little sponging of the Wilted Violet around the edges of my sentiment flag and Viola!

I hope you'll take a break from all the holiday decorating & shopping to relax and play along in this fun challenge.  This time of the year can be so stressful ... I don't know about you but I find taking time to sit and make a card is an excellent mental release for me!

Thanks so much for stopping by!
As always . . .