Jumbo Tear Off Calendars

As long as this is New Year's Eve, and I just went around the house hanging new calendars, and taking down old ones, I thought this was the perfect time to share the calendars I made as Christmas presents! I love the idea of a tear-off calendar. You, know the tiny kind you get this time of year from the corner store or the bank? I had even started to make my own, to fit on a quarter sheet of cardstock. They are much more attractive, and great to stick in with a card! For Christmas, I decided to make a bunch for family and friends. I made them on a much larger scale, however! I made the calendar part using the redcastle calendar printing program. The finished stack of 12 months is about an 8.5 x5.5 inch size. I mounted them on cardstock, added a picture, and embellishments to the base 12x12 cardstock/patterned paper, and added a hanging hole or magnets on the back! They were a hit! Here are a few that I made:

For my younger brother:

For my Mom:

For my Dad:

For my nail girl:

For my neighbor:

My first painting....

So back at Thanksgiving time, my mother in law said she wanted me to paint something for her bathroom as her Christmas present. She had recently redecorated it with a bear theme. I am quite an avid painter, so I didn't really stress until she showed me what she wanted. It was a gorgeous picture from a wildlife calendar. I about fainted...I mean, I was honored that she had that much confidence in me, but wha?? I asked her why she didn't just take the picture to staples and have it blown up, but she said she wanted a painting. Off I went to Michael's with coupon in hand, and got a 16x20 canvas. Lord knows Keri can't say "no" to anyone! So this is what I did Friday...I would get frustrated and leave it alone for a while, then come back to it. Praise the Lord, she loved it when she opened it up on Christmas Day. I am no Bob Ross, but I think it is pretty good for my first shot at a "scene" painting with a whole background and everything! Who knows what she will ask for next!!

Christmas Through My Eyes...

More important than any presents I received, or how hard it is to "keep up" around holiday time is what you see here. These are true pictures that say a thousand words. I hope everyone had a holiday as blessed as mine was!

Our Christmas Decorations

Well, amidst all of the crafting and baking I have been doing, I finally took the time to take a few pictures of our Christmas decorations. This is the big tree in our livingroom. I use green and blue lights, and there is a large array of ornaments on it, from pine cones and homemade dough ornaments, to heirloom glass ornaments and cartoon characters!

This is my Christmas Village. The pieces come blank, and you have to paint them all yourself! I am at a stand-still, though, cause I am out of room, and I can't do anymore!

This is the white tree I put in our bedroom. I have always wanted a tree in my room. And always loved the white trees, so I finally got one a couple of years ago. It has blue and white lights on it, and a ribbon, but no ornaments. I put it in the dormer facing the road, so you can see it outside!

This is a smaller tree I put up in the kitchen. We call it the "Grandma Tree" because it has all of our Grandmother's antique glass ornaments on it. I used old fashioned lights, and tinsel, too. We are so fortunate to both have a few of our family's ornaments!

Accent? What accent?

What American accent do you have? Your Result: North Central "North Central" is what professional linguists call the Minnesota accent. If you saw "Fargo" you probably didn't think the characters sounded very out of the ordinary. Outsiders probably mistake you for a Canadian a lot.
The West
The Midland
Boston
The Inland North
The South
Philadelphia
The Northeast
What'>http://www.gotoquiz.com/what_american_accent_do_you_have">What American accent do you have? Quiz'>http://www.gotoquiz.com/">Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

Okay, so they guessed me to a tee. I live a mile from Canada..what do they expect? I sound half French Canadian/half English Canadian...eh?? No doot aboot it!!

Christmas Card Photos

Even though I don't send out a holiday card with a photo directly on the card, I like to slip a little something in the cards I make, for all the family and friends. I love getting photos in cards, so I like to think others do to! Needless to say, being the only female in the house with DH and DS sometimes has its drawbacks. This was one of those times. Getting these two dressed appropriately and in one spot with me was like pulling teeth. You would have thought they were being killed. Good Grief! You will notice that in our family picture, we all have our sunglasses on. That was intended to be just a cute extra pic. But because DS had his eyes closed in every photo my father took, this is the one we ended up with. I opted for a backup, and it took a few weeks to get around to it. I stuck DS by the tree and used the first one that looked half way normal. Men...what am I to do?? So here are the results. And at this point, I say take em or leave em! LOL!

Welcome, Baby!

This is a very exciting time for my family! My older brother and his wife welcomed their newest edition, a daughter into their family late last week! My new niece is beautiful. I can't wait to see her again! What a wonderful Christmas gift this has been! Her name is Miriam Grace, and she weighed 8 pounds, and measured 22 inches long! In the first pic, my Dad, Pa to all his grandkids, gets to meet his newest granddaughter. Proud Papa? Me thinks so!! My dad also has THE biggest hands I have ever seen, so I thought the hand photo was appropriate...THAT will be a layout, for sure....and a black and white version would be perfect on a welcome baby card!

Beading? Yay or Nay??

So, thanks to my cousin, who makes THE lovliest bracelets, etc, I had to try it out for myself! A good excuse to give it a try and get started was making them as Christmas gifts. I must admit, though, I have made a few for myself! I stuck with the recommended Swarovski crystals, and sterling silver components. I must say, for my first tries, they came out pretty good! This definately won't replace my passion for all things paper related, but they are fun to make, and make great gifts! Between my huge hands/fingers, and my long nails, I think it probably takes me twice as long to complete a bracelet as it should!

Christmas Peanuts!

Okay, so how do I follow up with the ginormous pumpkin patch, or the cute little pilgrim Woodstocks? My SIL said I should be focusing on her wedding favors...okay?? LOL..anyway, after 10 days, a sheet and a half of plywood, a ton of acrylic paint, and nearly a quart of spar urethane, here they are! I was hoping to get a really cute picture in the snow, but alas, it was in the mid 50's today, and I went to the post office in jeans and a T-shirt! The hay bale was supposed to be a snow covered hill. So much for that! Now Shermie just looks like he is standing on hay...All I keep thinking of is the scene from White Christmas where they get off the train to a green Vermont in December. Upstate NY is supposed to be a winter playground...not all green and brown and depressing a week before Christmas! Thanks again to my DH for all his hard work cutting these guys out!

I've Been Tagged!

I have been tagged by Godelieve! The rules say I have to list 6 weird things about myself. This should be easy enough!

1. My middle name is Rae, not Lou. Kerilou is a nickname my next door neighbor gave me! My mom chose the name Rae for two men she admired growing up.

2. I have a mild obsession with Charles Schultz' "Peanuts" characters...

3. I am a smeller...I drive my DH nuts! "What IS that smell?" "Do you smell that?" "I smell something gross." "Something stinks." And I do have a radar nose...I can smell something bad a week before someone else can.

4. I have a hat festish. Baseball caps, cowboy hats, touques/tuques, I love hats! My mom gets embarrassed, because the more unflattering the hat, the better. I am on a quest for the perfect fur lined ear flapper hat to get me through the winter. She says she won't be seen with me if I wear it! A lot of heat escapes from the top of the head, I am just staying warm. It gets cold up this way! She says I go to far when I wear them around the house and to bed. Whatever!!

5. I love to eat plain rippled potato chips dipped in barbeque sauce.

6. I have an issue with chapstick and ponytail bands. I can't keep track of them. They are a main staple in my life, spread from one end of my house to the other, yet one is never to be found when needed.

So there they are. Now, I get to tag someone else! So...

Tag! Tracy, & Kris!

Christmas Ornaments-Keri Style!

I always love to see message board posts, and scrapbook layouts, of everyone's special Christmas tree ornaments. When I was putting the finishing touches on the main tree yesterday, I thought I would take a few pictures of my own to share with you! When everything is decorated and in order, I will post some more pics of the whole tree, etc. I made some of these ornaments as gifts a few years ago, keeping a set for myself of course, and some others were made since then. The angel is made out of wired ribbon, and one glass ball one is a floating ornament. You just stamp on a round cut out of transparency, roll up, and insert into the clear glass ball...the transparency gives the illusion of a floating image! DS and I just made the rolled paper ornaments this week. They are pretty self explainatory! Just roll your patterned paper strips into coils, and insert them into the clear ball! I especially love all the handpainted ones, my mom does her tree in all homemade ornaments, so she hangs her set faithfully every year! My favorite is the sled with the snowman face on it. So cute!! Happy Holidays!

Non-Traditional Christmas

The assignment was an ATC mingle. I little less stress, because you don't have to make a whole whack of ATC's, just one. Send it to the person below you on the list, and the bottom sends to the top! They are so much fun to do. A group I belong to has been doing them throughout the fall, with themes from Back to School, to Holiday Traditions. Our assignment this month was Non-Traditional Christmas. This could include techniques, colors, anything you would not normally associate with a traditional Christmas ATC. I saw a card over at SplitCoastStampers that used non-traditional colors, and it gave me the inspiration for my ATC, which was made for my buddy, Michelle..I like it so much, I may do something similar for my Christmas Cards next year!

I used DCWV Textured Cardstock, Doodlebug Bazzill, and SU! Green Galore Cardstock. Inks were SU! Tempting Turquoise, Green Galore, and Pink Passion. I used the Cutter Kit's distressing tool (SU!) for the edges. Stamps are Snow Flurries from SU's Holiday Mini, and SU's Warm Words. I topped it off with some chalk on the edges, some glitter glue, and a snowflake sequin!

In Memory of Aunt Phyllis

Isn't it funny how a song will bring something to mind instantly?? On the way to church this morning, DS and I heard Vince Gill's song, "Go Rest High". What a beautiful song. The song that they played at my aunt's funeral...The perfect song to play! Her work on earth was over, and she was ready to go meet the Lord. It will be 5 years this week, when she left us all too soon. Her suffering was unimaginable, but she never stopped touching the lives of others. She was such a fabulous Christian, and her faith and love for the Lord is what got her through to the end. She was a spunky little firecracker, a whole 4' 11" tall...but boy, did she pack a punch! You never had to guess what was on her mind, that was for sure! The people in heaven were very fortunate the day Aunt Phil arrived. I sometimes feel sad because she is gone, not for her, but for myself, and the family. But hearing this song makes me so happy to know that she is walking those streets of gold, and "shouting love for the father and the son."

**This is kind of a healing layout. Pics of Aunt Phil growing up, along with the lyrics of the Vince Gill song. There is also a photo of an angel's dress, that I had made for an angel doll I had sewn for her. She LOVED that angel, and now she is one! Thanks everyone, for looking, and I hope this isn't TOO personal!**

Another Thanksgiving Post!

Okay, so I lied! It's something more for Thanksgiving! Here is a Thanksgiving card I made, using Thanksgiving Toile from CTMH. I have a great passion for anything Toile, and have managed to hunt down all the toile sets from SU!....I have seen a couple of Thanksgiving Blog challenges out there, and figured I would tie them in on this post. First of all, I am so thankful this year. I think the older I get, the more clearly I see how important certain things are, and how material things are not so important. I am so thankful for a loving, caring husband, and a polite, giving, helpful son. I have wonderful friends and neighbors, and a great family. Everyone is always so supportive, and willing to lend a helping hand to each other. I am SO thankful to have such a great circle of scrapping/stamping friends, from my Pea girls, to my buds at SCS, Two Peas, Buzz and Bloom, and my own personal group of friends here at home that I have ushered to the dark side! I am thankful that even though times are tough, we have enough to keep us warm, and fed. I am thankful for my new niece, arriving anyday now, along with my other 14 nieces and nephews! I thank the Lord for health and the happiness he gives me every day to go on, and I thank him for all my blessings!

The second challenge was to talk about charities we support. Well, it took a little thinking, but I came up with some that I work with, or support. First off, Samaritan's Purse has a wonderful gift giving program! You can give gifts to impoverished people in different countries, in a loved one's name! From a dozen chickens, to a church, there is a vast price range. Literally a couple of bucks to $50,000.00. The site is www.samaritanspurse.org. Check it out! They will even send you gift cards to give your recipients, so they know what you have given in their name! I am giving in several people's names this holiday season!

Another thing I support, or actually run, is my Wesleyan Church's card ministry! We run off donations of supplies, and money to buy supplies. I, along with my mother and a friend, keep card racks in the community room, and two adult Sunday School Classrooms stocked full of cards. This way if there is a need, it is met! All a person has to do is grab a card, and an envelope, fill it out, and send it! It has been such a blessing to people who are unable to get to church, or have been ill! We have literally made a given away hundreds of cards in the past year and a half!

The last thing the I support, and help with, is a community food pantry. It has really opened my eyes to how hard things are out there. The food shelf is housed in our church, and is run by my mother and father. They feed about a dozen families a week. That includes frozen foods, toiletries, some cleaning products, and food. Usually a box and two bags of goods. The need in the community, and surrounding areas is huge, especially with the holiday season coming up, and the price of fuel so high. People are having to choose between gas/fuel, and food! It is a sad state. So I do what I can to donate, as well as help with pick ups of food at collection sites. Alot of time I am the workhorse, but it really gives me a good feeling, to know I am helping!

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!

More Thanksgiving Day Projects!

Can you handle MORE Thanksgiving goodies? I LOVE Thanksgiving! It is like Christmas, without all the commericalism and extra work! I love to have the parade on in the background, and we always watch The Mouse on the Mayflower! Well, I always watch it! These pics are of a few more projects I did for the big day! I find, at least around here, that there is a really limited selection of Thanksgiving decorations, so I made my
own! Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

One Snoopy, and Five Woodstocks Later!

One more holiday down! These little guys didn't take long at all. About 6 hours from start to finish. The little woodstocks were kind of tricky, with their feathers and skinny necks, but they turned out cute in the end. I got the idea off a computer wallpaper I had! Now to start thinking about Peanuts Christmas!

Christmas Cards Already??

I have known what stamp set I was going to use for my Christmas Cards since before LAST Christmas... SU!'s retired set, A Beautiful Season. Then when I saw the Snow Flurries set in the SU! Holiday Mini, I had to have it. It took me forever to decide on colors, then a design, but this is one I thought of ON MY OWN, not a case! The stamped image is only adhered on the top flap, with a sentiment stamped inside. I am not sure this is the exact finished product, I may attach the punch out from SU!'s word window punch, folded in half, with a brad or eyelet in it, on one of the edges of the card...but I am thinking it does not need any ribbon...I also added a scroll stamp from my friend Michele at Purple Onion Designs, but realized to late that one of the scrolls covers up the image too much, so I will do the smaller image on all 4 corners. I used SU! Chocolate Chip Ink, and SU! Cardstock (Chocolate Chip, Mellow Moss, Cranberry Crisp, and Very Vanilla). So, be honest, what do ya think? Does it need something else? Have a great Monday!

Happy Halloween!

This has been a very UNeventful Halloween thus far! I am off today, have all my Trick or Treats ready to go, and have nothing else to do to prepare! So, here are a bunch of projects I cooked up for today!
Halloween Frap Bottle 4-Pack




Trick or Treat Candy Bar Sleeves:



Candy Corn Bottle:



Stamps used are Purple Onion Designs, Stampin' UP!, & Michael's $1.00.
Staz On Jet Black Ink, Various ribbon scraps, and my fabulous Uni Ball Signo White Gel Pen!

Happy Birthday, Buzz!

Yesterday was my baby boy's 11th birthday! He was born at 7:42 pm, a day I will never forget. Where does the time go? I can't believe how grown up he has become! We had family and friends over for homemade pizza and birthday cake made by yours truly! It was a fun evening. Happy Birthday, Baby Boy!

11 pointer!

The hunter has succeeded! I hope no one is grossed out by the pic, but I couldn't resist posting it here! Please don't post any disapproval comments-- that being said, here's what happened! DH and DS decided to go hunting out back on Sunday afternoon. We have 15 acres, complete with a closed in tree stand. After sitting for about 45 minutes, he came into view. DS was reading a book, but stopped long enough to look for horns! (I have a rule about not shooting does or young deer that DH abides by! ) DH shot, but it hit low, and the deer bolted. After much searching in the pouring down rain, it finally turned dark, and they had to quit. The search resumed, and had results the next morning, about 30 yards past where they had left off the night before. DH called me on the radio, and told me how big he was, and I almost didn't believe him. I didn't know there were deer that big around here! DH was so excited! They had to come back and get the boat and row upriver to get him, cause he was inaccessible by land. I have a feeling I will see another deer mount on my wall in the near future!

Peanuts!!!

I have had such a busy week! Last year, I had a grand idea..after thinking about it for a year, I finally made it happen! Daddy went and snagged me a sheet of plywood, and I went and blew up patterns at church on the overhead projector...After transferring the patterns onto the wood, and whining to my lovely husband about how much harder the jigsaw was to work than my scroll saw, they were cut out, sanded, and ready to paint! I painted them on and off for 5 days, added 3 coats of poly protectant, and DH helped me put them out on Sunday! Now all I can think about it what to do for Thanksgiving and Christmas! I have decided, There will be a Snoopy Pilgrim, with Woodstock and his little woodstock buddies as pilgrims and Indians....but for Christmas--what a dilemma....Do I do Snoopy's doghouse all decked out with Charlie Brown and Snoopy next to it? Or do I do the whole group around the tree, with their mouths wide open in song?? I am so torn! Okay, so I am being dramatic..but you can give me suggestions!

Happy Birthday, Grandma Omi!

Friday was my Grandma's 86th birthday! She has been in the present nursing home since June, and doesn't really have a concept of time. She didn't realize it was her birthday until Mom and I reminded her, and then forgot by the time everyone got there! Not to mention she didn't know how old she was! We all met for lunch after church, then went to the home for cake and ice cream with Grandma...my brother and his kids came, along with mom and daddy...Grandma seemed to enjoy it, but tires easily these days. After her stroke in the spring, I never thought her 86th birthday would come! Here's to you, Omi!

Fall Decorating Done!!

Well, it has taken about two weeks of poking and prodding my poor husband, but I finally got my hay bales and cornstalks! Every year I put up these adorable scarecrows my aunt made, and dress it up with some mums, pumpkins, hay, and corn...along with a few old farm antiques...just finished tonight! The house is clean and decorated, and ready for my SU! workshop on Saturday!

Autumn in the Adirondacks!

It is officially fall here in the Adirondack Mountains! The leaves are almost at peak color, and the views while traveling the back roads are amazing! If the leaves weren't an obvious clue, the dropping temperatures are sure to confirm that summer is gone...I love fall, cause October was the month my son was born, and it reminds me of a very special time! My little pumpkin will be 11 in a few weeks! Cody and I took this shot coming off the Bull Run Road on Saturday...This is the road I grew up on, now just one road over from where I live presently...The Lord painted a great picture for me!