Sawyer's Gift

When I was wrapping up gifts to send out for Christmas' Sawyer was busy in the living room wrapping up something for me....
My vacuum! bubble wrap and one roll of tape later...even put ribbon on it.

I asked him if it was for me and he said "Yes, 50 bucks!" I told him no it was too much,

so he said "2 bucks!" So I said Sold! Beautiful isn't it.

Taking down Christmas Decor 09

It should read "the ordeal of taking down Christmas Decor."

I need to rethink my New Year's strategy-I end up spending the first day of the year- cleaning! Ugh! I like having all the pretty trees up, and the lights on at night-but I avoid taking them down once Christmas has passed. I end up exhausted because I want everything down immediately, and all other life stops while I'm in take down mode. I think it will be one tree per day. Living room tree -last.

Here's some pic's of my trees before they go bye bye.

Living room
Living Room Tree glass -(Click on photo to see it up close-cool!)

Dining Room-White Tree


Hallway Tree-Homemade Ornaments from everyone

End of Hallway...

Boy's Room

Boys tree- Soldiers, cars, & airplanes

Lily's Room Tree

Pink-Pink & Butterflies!

Master Bedroom Tree- all Non Glass Ornaments & vintage

Master Room

I love them all for different reasons and rooms feel empty when I don't put them up -but the taking down part is yucky. I always forget about this -come 11 months from now!

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!