Matchbox #4

Matchbox #4 is from Angela W all the way from the UK!  I was hoping to get a matchbox from out of the US.    Angela ... what a lovely name! 

I was tickled to see that not only do we share the same first name but we also used the same papers to decorate our matchboxes with!   Neat!

Thanks for the lovely earrings Angela!

I'm loving getting to see everyone's matchboxes and blog hopping around.  Thanks for all of your wonderful comments, too!

Just letting you know that I am putting up a small tree so there will be a tree up for Christmas.  

Matchbox #3

Matchbox #3 is from Patty P

I think something came off of this matchbox.  I will have to look for a loose decoration.

Oh what a sweet pin!   It's very important to me to keep Christ in Christmas.  This is a lovely reminder.  I also like Patty's sentiment as well.  Set your angel free to bless others...

I've been all over the blogs in our swap and cannot find my matchbox #2 so I have no idea who received it.  There are a few swappers that do not have a blog and a few that have not posted pics yet.

I did find my #1 box though.  Stop by and visit Kim's blog Blackberry Crow Prims!  Have a great day!



Matchbox #2

Matchbox #2 is from Amy D.  She's reminding me to deck the halls with red, green and bling!  Not a problem!  I love the bling bling and sparkle!

Ohhh more sparkle on the inside.  What a cute pin!  I've actually never seen a little wood tile to embellish.  Thank you Amy!  So cute! 

Matchbox #1

Matchbox #1 was made by Valarie.  Don't you just love the happy Santa and sparkly mica flakes?

Inside is a cute reindeer!  thanks Valarie!



Displaying My Matchboxes

I was out antiquing and looking around Fremont, NE with my mom last week and found a pretty retro style garland that I think I'll be using to display my matchboxes.  Park Avenue Antiques has the perfect mix of old and new stuff.   I can spend  hours ohhhing and ahhhing in that place!
I especially like to go there at Christmas-time and with my mama, too!
I originally thought about a mini tree but 25 boxes are quite alot!  I also thought about a metal tray or baking sheet to put them all together with magnets like a true advent calendar. 

All photos from this post are by me

The picture doesn't show the rustic red and bronze tinsel garland very well but you get the idea.    I now need to go back to JoAnn's and grab the mini hooks I saw there during their grand reopening (a bigger store!).   Don't you hate it when you just don't get soemething the minute you see it?  I tend to get distracted and unable to decide if what I'm looking at a good deal or not! 

Then I end up going back and the item is long gone!   Doh!  ... Please tell me other people do this as well! 

Wanna see another cute garland I picked up last year?  I think it was at a TJ Maxx or Marshall's.  Can't remember!

Love it!  You know, I haven't put up my tree yet.   I have a beautiful large pre-lit tree that my parents gave to me a few years back.  I love Christmas.  It's a favorite holiday of mine.  I love the Lord and celebrating His birth.  It's not that I'm feeling like a scrooge it's just that the tree I have takes up a lot of space, I have to move furniture, I'm not entertaining for the holidays this year etc etc.

Poor excuses?  

I have A LOT of Christmas decorations and will be pulling them out for my enjoyment but there is something about the ambiance of twinkling Christmas lights in a dim room ...  Hmm I still have time to rethink this decision. 

Just A Few Short Days

In just a few short days I'll begin posting pictures of the 25 Christmas matchboxes I received.  Kicking off the Countdown to Christmas Swap!  I can't believe it's here already!   I am so glad to be a part of this swap, my very first one.   It's been fun and I have generated a lot of interest from my family and friends.
They all think it's a unique and terrific idea!  I hope you all will follow along and visit the other participants blogs as well!  

Blessed Thanksgiving

Design Wash Rinse Repeat

I'm stopping in to wish everyone a very blessed Thanksgiving today.  There is so much to be thankful for!   Have a wonderful day and don't eat too much turkey!  Gobble gobble!

Chalkboard Charm

I don't know what it is about a chalkboard that emits warm fuzzies in me. I always liked how it felt to write with chalk on the boards.   I reallllly should have been a teacher.   Between my love of kiddos and teaching others I don't know why I never walked down that path in college. 


Now this is not feasible for my home but I still love it

Cottage Living Heather Chadduck

I like how large this chalkboard is and how charming and welcoming it is in this kitchen

                                                           Frugal Farmhouse

The one below is hanging on the right of the room.  It's small and discreet but I like it!  I think it's the scallops on top.  Feminine and sweet.

                                                         Lola B's

Vintage French Hen

Rose's Petite Maison via The Old Painted Cottage 

As you can tell I have a variety of different chalkboards that appeal to me!   I have a very special Christmas memory that involves a chalkboard.  Maybe that's why I like them so much? 

One Christmas morning I woke up to see what Santa left us.  The very first thing I remember was seeing a big green easel style chalkboard, which made me smile.   I've always loved art.  I was only 6 1/2 and my mom was expecting.

I went into their bedroom to find them gone and a baby-sitter in their bed.

Well, a chalkboard wasn't the only thing I received that Christmas so long ago...   I also got a sweet baby brother, too!  My life changed forever!!

Getting Excited!

Won't you come blog along during my Christmas matchbox swap hosted by Swap For All Seasons?  I'm thrilled to be a part of this group and I'm so very excited to see the package of 25 decorated matchboxes at my doorstep!

http://aswapforallseasons.blogspot.com/

Check Linda's blog in December as she will be listing all of the bloggers who participated in the swap!  And be sure to check mine every day in December as well! 

Click on the link under the picture above and it will take you to the blog of our wonderfull hostess with the mostess!

Inspired Ideas -Amy Powers

Are you looking for some new and fresh holiday craft ideas?  Please stop by my friend Amy Power's blog and check out her free (which is sooo generous and appreciated) E magazine issue full of inspiring ideas!   

I've mentioned Amy and her son Alfredo in my blog before and just love her heart and seeing her little munchkin's pictures.  It's a blessing to see him flourishing in their home!  

There's so many great ideas in here that I have no clue which one to try!  I'm really really interested in the snowman gift tins and trying my hand at paper clay.   I have a package just laying here on my craft table wondeirng when I'm going to open it up and make it into something!

I Won!

Yay!  I won my first blog giveaway!  I'm excited to get this great Jenni Bowlin stuff in them mail!  Thanks so much to Becky!  Can't wait to get started crafting with these red and black papers and products from the line. 

Mmm makes me think of red and black licorice!  LOL

Never Alone

Just had to share this beautiful song.   Jim Brickman is one of my favorite artists.  I especially love his Christmas albums.   I plan on checking out tickets for his tour that stops in my town.
If you are feeling alone today I pray that God surrounds you with his love and gives you peace in knowing you are not alone! 

Finding Some Holiday Inspiration

Well I can't believe it's November already!  Can you?   I'm enjoying a beautiful Autumn season but realizing how fast one month can fly by.  So I'm thinking ahead about some cute crafty Christmas gifts.

I keep all of my Christmas mags and like to go back to old ones for holiday inspiration.  I especially like the old Victoria mags.   They went all out at Christmas-time! 

Last year I made my mom a vintage framed postcard complete with some embellishments adorning it. 

She loved it!  That meant a lot to me because my mom is so talented and passed alot of her skills on to me.  However, the sewing gene skipped my generation.  So sad since I do so admire all of the creavity that goes into making quilts, clothes, purses, pillows and now - cards.    

This year I hope to do something that will make my mama smile when she opens up her gift!  Nothing like something hand-made with love ... 

Craving Candy Corn?

Something has come over me this season... I'm getting a little too excited over all the cute candy corn ideas I'm seeing out there! 

Which is funny because as a kid I ate myself sick on candy corn once and didn't want to touch again for many many years.   To this day the only way I can really eat it is to combine it with peanuts for a delicious salt/sweet combo!

Here's some of the fun stuff I'm seeing out there on the net ...

Amy Atlas

Salt water taffy!  Yum!  Makes me want to take a drive to Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO.  They made the best salt water taffy on site.   If you've never been there you should consider it sometime.   Check out Aunt Ruthie's blog Sugar Pie Farmhouse.  She recently featured it on her blog.

Amy Atlas

Yeah I want to be Amy Atlas when I grow up.  Honestly, I don't know if I'd have it in me to be an event planner but it sure would be a rewarding job!   I do live in a dreamworld at times!  Don't you wish you can do different jobs per week just to get a taste of everything? 

                                                                Recipegirl.com



Getting hungry now?  Got some ideas brewing in your heads?  Why are the colors yellow, orange and white so inviting you think?   Bright?  Fun?  Fun - Yes!!

                                                     Nanaluluslinensandhandkerchiefs.com

Now I just saw these cupcake liners at my local craft store for $3.99 yesterday.  They look identical and you don't even have to put them in a muffin pan or grease them!   They were huge and I wasn't convinced I was committed to any mega muffins anytime soon.  Gotta be realistic!  I'm not a great baker.   I think I've mentioned that one before! 

Olde Country Cupboard Etsy

Oh those wooden candy corn fillers are so cute!   I almost bought something similiar at a craft boutique recently.   I have to tell you that when it gets around the holidays and starting into Autumn  - I tend to gravitate towards primitive crafts, folk art, and warmer tones.  

I love the shabby chic, lush winter and summer whites, crisp light linens... but come Autumn I love macintosh reds, kelly greens, maize yellows, and earthy tones.  

I like oranges, too.   Some of my favorite photographs consist of kids frolicking in pumpkin patches and having a great time.  

How about some lil punkin hats, too?

Oops I Knit It Again - Etsy

Matchbox Sneak Peek Number 2

Tomorrow is Friday!  Hurray!   I love my weekends!  I'm home watching "Project Runway" and wondering if Mondo will win?   I like his quirky style.  Reminds me of the Barbie clothes I loved so much as a kid. However, I love Michael's heart, his humbleness and his gratitude.   We shall see.  ** Update ** Oh man!  Michael's gone!  I'm a little teary after seeing him bawl his eyes out after being "out"!  :(

So here's one of my favorite matchboxes I made as a hostess gift for the 25 Days of Christmas swap I'm in.  It's got me into the Christmas shopping and crafting mood!

I used a lot of Graphic 45 papers because they had beautiful vintage images.  Linda was such an angel to let me in on her swap being that I'm a newbie and never participated in her earlier swaps.
I sure hope everyone will be pleased this December when we start revealing and posting about our cute altered matchboxes!