Christmas in the City

I took the kids downtown to see the outside displays and to check out the trees in the county building.
Inside the city hall building...

taking lots of pics...

Checking out the trees..

outside saluting..

Santa Hawaiian style!
Aloha from Hawaii!

Wreath winner!

Yes -that's right! I won something again! I entered Honolulu's City and County wreath contest. I wasn't the grand prize winner, nor the 1st, 2ND or 3rd place winner-but I did win Judges choice in the adult category...and $25 is fine by me!

I purchased silk, tropical flowers, leaves, and a grapevine wreath from the Ben Franklin craft store.

Then I started shaping it into a circular shape...

I printed out vintage images from Hawaii in the 1930's and cut and decoupaged them onto chipboard...

Then I added Martha Stewart glitter around the edges-add some sparkle!

I added the images all around the wreath , the saying "Mele Kalikimaka" and a red cardinal.

Finished product with 31 images from around the island...

On the wall...

This is the winner, 1st place Holiday Theme adult division...

Here is the Grand Champion...Adult Division...

Things from her yard...
Youth division...



1st place Adult Theme... Quilted!

2nd & 3rd place wreaths...below Grand Champion

There were over 84 entries-I was very pleased to win anything! I think I'll enter next year!

Gingerbread winner!

I am so happy! I found out yesterday that I won a Gingerbread man contest! Without having to cook a thing!

A local scrapbook store had a wooden, gingerbread man, decorating contest, and I entered two cards. One was a traditional Christmas theme card, and the other was a Hawaiian theme card-I got the most votes after 10 days for my Hula girl-so I won! $100 in store credit.

Entry 1..

Entry 2...

There were 5 other entry's - all very creative. (Mine E & A)

A Cowboy Gingerbread Couple,

Dad, Mom and baby gingerbread,

and a coffee mug with a gingerbread man.

I went and picked up my prize -then selected a ScorePal, some chipboard frames, a new watercolor brush, and some Valentine charms. I still have $20 left to spend! What a great day.

I love Glitter

Yeah -I do.

I've been using it on alot of cards and projects!... I have a lot of posting to catch up on, -for now I'll show you what I was working on last night.

Our MOPS group has an ornament exchange and I wanted to make them this year. (Although I almost bought some beautiful glass ornaments!)

My supplies..

I had a snowflake die cut for over a year that I hadn't even opened! I also used my star die cut with my Sizzix Big Shot machine. I had some white chipboard I had purchased with my 40% off coupon from Ben Franklin, I got out my thrift store, cream colored, crepe paper, my little rhinestones, and my wonderful glass glitter! (Again bought using my 40% off coupon!)

After I cut out the chipboard shapes , I glued and glittered,.made crepe paper rosettes and stamped "Merry Christmas " on some paper.

Then I adhered them all together and "Wa-La'! A perfectly good "snowy" snowflake in Hawaii!

Just in time for Christmas!

Recycling fringe...

I think if cans, wood, and plastic can be reused-recycled to make new items, then all beautiful fringe should be reused as well!
That said- this is exactly what I did last night. My pillows on the love seats were old, worn, torn and faded. I hated them. I did however, love the fringe that was around the edges of our pillows.


A couple months age my hubby brought home a bolt of leftover fabric, from a job. It was outdoor fabric -so I never gave it much thought and stuck it in the garage.

This weekend when we were pulling out Christmas decor boxes, I saw it and looked at the colors in the fabric, and the stripes, and thought that it would go perfectly fine in my living room! So I removed the fringe on all my old pillows...

and at 9 pm last night, after I had cut out the fabric, I sewed until midnight and made it my goal to finish them before bed.

This morning I admired my new indoor/outdoor pillows. I like the fabric because it will resist the kids finger prints and hold up real well.

Easy book clips

I've been helping out with some sweet 4-6Th grade girls on Sundays, and I had told them I'd bring something if they remembered to bring their bibles...
I was going to get some book clips at the bookstore-but hadn't made it there during the week, so..this morning I made my own. Very simple.

I got these paper clips out of the desk...


then I got out these felt flowers ( from Pier Import Easter time)...

and I quickly glued them onto the paper clip with my glue gun. (back to back)

I also got out some Kraft paper and my paper cutter...

and cut little cards to attach them to.

Here's the finished product. Very easy-less than 20 minutes!

P.S. The girls loved them, and the little "bling" on the flower.

Unexpected protection

Can you spot the sword?

If ever you need to protect yourself from an intruder-look no further than my fridge!

Sawyer seems to think the best place in the house to keep all items of importance is in the fridge.

You've got mail!

Woo hoo! I got a box in the mail , from my friend and it was full of goodies!! I so want to stop cleaning and go play in my craft room right now!

I also got two orders of scrapbook paper I ordered, with birthday money from my mom and sis.

I love getting craft supplies in the mail, or after I forgot about ordering them. I also love

hearing "Mailman", when I'm in the kitchen, and see my mailman walking up holding boxes for me!! I know I know paper makes me happy.
Aren't those little Christmas accents cute???