Oh yeah! It's that time again!

Ah, bottlecaps.... I, personally, have always found them to be a really cool "thing". Some collect them, some toss them, some wonder....what could I ever do with them? There are so many fantastic ideas out there, so many creative ways to use them...
Well, whaddaya say, let's try this....
From BLAH... to BLING! Let's make charms! Funky, personalized and fun! Transform and embellish to create as many as your heart desires~or time allows! :)
I must admit, the process is addicting, I only hope that you'll leave inspired to make more!

Please come join in the fun ~~hope to see you there!
Cost: $20.00
Date: January 4th, 2009 (First Monday!)
Time: 7 ~ 9pm
Where: Cottage of the Seasons
515 Commercial
Downtown, Atchison, KS.
913-367-6171

With very special thanks!

My dear, sweet deer from my evil twin, Pam @ One Gal's Trash, *teehee* and just a couple of goodies from my sweetie @ Junque Drawer Chick... you both made my week! Thank you sooooooo much for my gifts!! I'm just in love with them all!! This Christmas was better than I even imagined, I found the perfect quote to sum it all up.

“The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.”

―Burton Hillis

After recovering from being sick all week with the flu, I was finally feeling better on Christmas afternoon, perfect timing and that was a blessing. We had a 3 day blizzard, got snowed in and we all enjoyed our quality holiday time together.

I JUST LOVE MY FAMILY!!!!!! OXOXOXOXOX

trying soooo hard to get into the Christmas spirit here...just piddling...

well, this is a sampling of what's been going on in my... looks-like-a-bomb-went-off... art room! i've been trying to keep busy in the evenings and have been sticking to my handmade holidays pledge. take a looksie...

i'll post some more work in progress pictures later, it's off to a winter band concert now! yippee! hooray for Beth~ happy early birthday, baby girl!
oxoxoxoxoxo

It took me three posts to tell the story and upload pictures! Keep reading! :)

*********SCROLL ********** KEEP GOING!!!! Lots more pictures and details to follow!
Hugs,
Christina

SHABBY HATTIES...the sweetest place ever!

FUN, FESTIVE...Frigid in Parkville, Mo. I love that town!

We had THE best time ever!!!! Here are some photos of the family all bundled up~ it was 21 degrees, so we weren't too worried about looking that fashionable. :) An evening of fireworks and the most wonderful choir of children entertained us and it was such a magical, Christmas~sy night!!!
I have been feeling a wee bit like a scrooge recently and am having a hard time getting into the spirit... this was just what I needed. A big thank you to everyone for attending Cory, Nani, Papa, Brendan, Katie, Beth and Ryan... it really was very special! I love you ALL! ox :)
While strolling the downtown, I stumbled across my new favorite shop!!! Trust me, you mix COFFEE with SHABBY and I'm in heaven! The sights and smells in this shop were absolutely breathtaking and the pictures just don't do it justice... I promise! Get a load of these shots from our visit.... Marsha is the owner of this FAB place and she is just the sweetest! She was sooo cute~ letting me snap photos~ knowing that they would be shared right here...blog bound! I was so in love, I just HAD to show and tell! Making her cameo appearance, we have Kristie by the assortment of teas and Angie (who I told to make a silly pose!) behind the counter. Marsha actually has her back turned in the picture, she's the one in the cute striped shirt! I'm so happy to have found SHABBY HATTIE'S, if you are local, you've got to stop by for a treat!
113 North Main St. Parkville, MO. Tel. 816-587-1044!!!
Here we go...

Here's what I've been up to!

A little bit o' this... a little bit o' that.... ornaments, necklaces, cupcakes... what's new?! ;)

I have been creating like crazy this weekend! I will definitely have to take some pictures to show and tell today!
I also received the most beautiful packages in the mail this week... Suzette and Melissa really spoiled me rotten with a gorgeous bracelet, and ornament! Thank you so much and I will get some snapshots up soon!
I am really feeling the Christmas spirit now (I'd better be, it's right around the corner!) and trying to stick to my handmade gift giving plan! It's a wonderful sense of the true spirit of the season~ give from the heart... and hand! :)
Hugs!
Christina
xox

What do you think of these Christmas lights????

Wait, those are not Christmas lights... but, the glowing eyes of another one of our CATS!!! Surprise, surprise.... whatever will I do? Nothing is sacred in this house, our pets obviously, just LOVE getting into mischief way too often!!!! The tree was shaking and about to fall over, thank goodness it wasn't decorated yet, huh? It's like a playground in here...tinsel vomit, breakage, you name it!! UGH!
Have a blessed Thanksgiving!
HUGS,
CJ

my kinda bling...

just thought i'd share with you what i've been staring at all day! :)

christina
xo

HEY!!!!!!! Who put THAT decoration there?

Nacho is not part of our Christmas decor... she just thinks that she is! She wants to nibble on my icicle garland soooo bad, I can see it in her eyes! Oh, and she's not supposed to be on the table!

The colour of a dear friend...

My sweet Lorraine, I am truly blessed. Thank you for being you!
Hugs!

My white tree that graces our dining room...

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas...

Oh, and another cupcake! :) I've been putting out Christmas, little by little this week. Yes, I know that it seems as though I am totally bypassing Thanksgiving ... I'm just adding holiday touches here and there. Okay, you want the truth? This weekend... look out! I have made the command decision to start celebrating early this year. I want the spirit of the season to last~~ Christmas will be here in the blink of an eye and nothing sounds more festive right now than sitting around a Thanksgiving table with carols softly playing in the background and our trees aglow. I hope to get most of the decorating done on Sunday... even though my tree "collection" has become quite large. :) When I'm finished making this place look like a winter wonderland, I'll be ready to focus more on creating. I would like to give some handmade Christmas gifts this year and I really should get a head~start on that because it's right around the corner...
Happy weekend!

Been busy... and cupcake crazy!

Magnets, ornaments, etc. I've been trying to get a few things done this morning. Soon, I'll be taking a break to have an early dinner out with Cory and Mom and Dad...
Awww, I was on a roll!!! :)
I'll get back to the studio later!

I've been feeling queasy for most of the day today. YUCK! Tried to sleep it off... didn't work. Ate a bagel, didn't help. Hanging in there but I'm just not feeling myself, pretty sure that it is stress. Maybe Cory and I need a vacation... HA! :)