Christmas Garland

THE PARTY IS OVER

The party I was in charge of for my ward at church was Friday night.

It was really fun and everyone pitched in and help.

The program was fun.

And now I am done with all my obligations and can just enjoy!!!!

 

I haven't had alot of time to make anything.  BUSY- BUSY- BUSY

 

Here is the garland then hangs as you walk into the great room.

Here is a close up.

I don't really attach anything to the garland permanently. 

So next year when I try to do this again it will look different but the same.

Here is the hurricanes that I made at Halloween done up for Christmas

 

 

I used Epsom salt as the snow in the bottom of the glasses.

I love the glitter snowflakes you get at walmart for like $3.

I stick them everywhere for some sparkle.

Speaking of Walmart (UGH)

They have had some pretty cute christmas ornaments in awesome colors for a buck.

Did you see them all????

Well,   Walmart their usual self...

one day there are tons there and the next day....

poof.....

they are gone....none in the store.

What is with that??????

You can not tell me a person came in and bought them all.

SEND WALMART TO UNDERCOVER BOSS

IN MY SMALL TOWN!!!!!

Okay...off my soapbox......I feel better venting...Thanks!!!

I have an elegant dessert to share and a marble tree to show you.

Have a wonderful day getting ready for Christmas day!!

Mauna

CHRISTMAS IN THE DINNING ROOM

When you walk through the door at my house you are greeted by
my favorite Nativity.

I love this set because they have no faces and the clean lines.

This is what Christmas is about!


This is my dinning room.

Here I just turned some ornaments upside down and stuck them in candle sticks.
I love the way it looks.

Here is the view looking in from my entryway.

Here is another Goodwill cloche filled with blingie balls.

I love me some bling!

 

Back to creating for this party on Friday night.

Have an awesome day!

Mauna

UNEXPECTED TRIP

I went on a last minute trip to see these cuties.

Grandkids are God's reward for surviving your own kids!!!

They are so full of energy and fun.

We had a blast and now it's back to the real world.

Here is a quick picture of what is on my kitchen island for Christmas

The Sign and cloche are from previous post.

The red and green plate I got at Home Goods in Houston.
wish we had one in this area...could be trouble though!!

The cups with candy I got at walmart clearance last year..

The cloche is full of green, red and white bells.
The white ones are glittered..gotta have some bling.

What you can't see is behind the sign is a tall black spindle with a star on top.
It has a red ribbon on it.


I am in charge of our church christmas party friday night.
I will be busy making stuff for that all week.

I will be glad when that project is over!!!!!

Happy Creating
Mauna

LOOK WHAT I WON

Look what I won!!!

My friend over at Austin City Limits  had a give away

I love it and it matches my kitchen colors!

 

Go check out her Blog she takes amazing pictures.

And lots of give aways.

I never win anything so this is a first.

What is so funny though is I am very sensitive to chemicals.

Things like perfume, cleaners, candles all that stuff.

Some are worse than others...I just never know.

If  I get a candle I have to put it in the garage for a couple of months before I can bring it in the house.

It's actually not fun to have because I never know when I step outside my house what I will run into...

Or should I say have to run away from.

My throat closes up....

Could be worse and it is something I can live with.

So what do I win.....a Sentsy aroma burner.

I just have to laugh.

Makes a nice night light and I love it.

INSTANT VACATION

I was going to title this

FROM NAKED TO LAUGHTER
You know naked wood...

But then I was afraid I would end up on all the porn searches so I chickened out!

I bought a wooden frame from Walmart.

I think it was close to $4.00   not too expensive.

One like this

And I turned it into this:

I sanded it. 

Painted it black. (and me..I am not a clean painter)

Then decoupaged scrapbook paper on it.

Then I added eyelash yard...you're surprised I did that right :)

And my favorite paper flower...done with the cricut.

I saw the laughter saying somewhere and knew I wanted to put it in a frame.

I am a true believer in laughter and humor.

Life is too short to be gloomy!!!

Spend today laughing and seeing the bright side of things!!!

Happy Creating

Mauna

RECIPE TIME AND A FUNNY

Funny First

Remember when I made this:

I was busy getting ready of a party and wanted to hang it in this spot.

I hadn't put some kind of hanger on it yet so I just took the clothes hanger and stuck it on a  nail that was already there.

Well I proceeded to get busy and forgot all about it until 5 minutes before the party.

So I ran and got a piece of ribbon and tied around it and left it.

Every one thought I did it on purpose and loved it.

So, there is hangs with a clothes hanger and a bow.

Who Knew?!?!?!?!

Recipe time

Here is what I made for the party and it went like hotcakes!!

Warm Chicken Cheese Spread

1 can of chicken
1 cup grated cheese
1 8oz cream cheese, softened
1 cup sour cream
1 can diced green chili
add garlic salt and tabasco to taste
I used 4 drops of tabasco

Put in pie plate and bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes

Serve with crackers.

It is so yummy!!!!!!

Enjoy
Mauna

CHRISTMAS MANTEL

 

Here is what my mantel looks like this year.

It's never really the same twice because I don't attach anything permanent to the garland.

In case you can't tell I like Santa's.

The wooden ones I have painted over the years.

The two stockings I knitted a couple of years ago...did not help my carpel tunnel I might add.

 

This Santa Screen I painted when my kids were little.

I still love it!

I have some more Santa's but they won't fit so I just scattered them.

Did you notice my camera took 5 pictures today and they are clear!

One of you out there must be praying for it...thanks!!

The last of my grandbabies left with her parents yesterday...It's so quiet here.

When they left they took their third dog with them that I have been watching until their house was built.

So I am even down a dog too.

I guess I will just have to create to keep from being sad!!!

Happy Creating

Mauna

Christmas Exchange Ornament

Well, here it is.

Remember my camera battery is bad..can't find another one yet.

Also, The santa is in vinyl so I could not get it to be not fuzzy...all two shots I could take.

I thought I had a good picture but I can't find it.

This is a shaker ornament.

I water colored the santa and cut it out.

Then I sewed a vinyl pouch put the santa and beads in it and stitched it closed (sewing machine)

Then I blanket stitched around the edges with eyelash yarn (fun through vinyl not too fun!)
Most projects are not complete with out the stuff!

Last but not least I added a bell to the bottom.

They are a lot cuter than the picture....trust me :)

I am off to spend the last day with my kids before they head home....not thinking about that part yet!

Happy Creating
Mauna

OH HOW I LOVE MY JUMBO PUSH PINS!!

Remember when I couldn't get a curtain rod in my window so

I use jumbo push pins.

I am so loving it!!!

I can change out my curtain any time I want with anything.

Just with the pinch of a clip.

Here is my Christmas window.

I kept it pretty simple.  There isn't much space there.

I used the super wide mesh, some black ribbon, and black ornaments.

(Had to be careful with the black so family wouldn't think I was in morning or something)

TA DA!!!

I had some cute green and red polka dot plates to hang here but it just didn't look right.

So I left the black plate from Halloween, added a frosty candle ring and

then stuck in a red ornament.

 

 

The orange spot you see on the plate is a reflection.

My camera will take about three pictures and die still.

I am going to try to get a new battery for it.

Hopefully that will work.

Ok, I am off to get ready for my ornament exchange here tonight.

Tomorrow I will show you my whole ornament.

I already have the picture to I don't need to worry about my camera..Ha!

Happy Creating!

Mauna

AND IT BEGINS!

My camera is having issues!!!

I charge the battery and it will only take a couple pictures and die.

The pictures are kind of fuzzy. Sorry!!!!




I wanted a christmas tree in my kitchen.

Being my usual self I didn't want to spend any money.

I did buy a 3 foot tree for $12 the rest of the stuff I had at home.

This is what I came up with.

I made all of the ornaments except the white snowflakes. Dollar store.

I was going to show you the ornaments up close but my camera is being ugly!

You know you can click on the picture and make it bigger to see it better.

Most of them are floating around blog land somewhere.

I did:

Clear glass ball stuffed with tinsel

Cut circles, fold in half, glue them together, glitter edges

Painted glass squares white and then polka dotted them

Tie red eyelash yarn to black balls.

You didn't think I would not use eyelash yarn somewhere did ya?

I had some twirly white glittery twigs hanging around from a couple years ago

and I broke them off and stuck them in here and there.

It looks cuter in person.

If you have a question just let me know and I will answer!

I will post more...I might have to get creative with my flip camera.

I have made videos with it and I need to experiment more...this may be a good time as any.

Happy Creating

Mauna

CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT SNEEK PEEK 2

Here is sneek peek number 2
of my exchange ornament.

I am happy to say that they are finished!!!

DID YOU NOTICE THE EYELASH YARN?

A little more labor intensive than I planned on but I like them.

You have to wait until Dec 2 to see the whole ornament....

Oh the suspense!!I am busy creating but I am not at the point posting them yet.

They have to be perfect ya know.

After Thanksgiving week things should slow down a bit.

Ha! who am I kidding!!!
I am in charge of our ward Christmas party...

At least I think I am my calling was dissolved.

Somehow I don't think they will let me off the hook that easy :)

I do have something I am going to post tomorrow...

Till then...
Have a good one
Mauna

CHRISTMAS SIGN

I saw this sign HERE  and knew right away I had to make one.

(or two)

Something about the NAUGHTY!

Someone asked if I always used black as a background in my stuff.

99% of the time I do.

I think black pops the other colors you use.

I haven't made too much.

I am chasing a two year old and lovin it.

Four more cuties come next week!!!

I do have to get my fanny in gear though....time is flying buy too darn fast for me.

Have a great Friday!!!

Mauna

DOLLAR STORE FIND

Look what I found at the dollar store.

They have so much potential.

They have green, red, gold, and white.

I got white because I can do more with them for other holidays.

I can see bats or spiders for Halloween.

Hearts for Valentines, you get the picture.


I will have to put on my thinking cap and see what I can come up with for Christmas.


Working on the back patio area again.

Had some cement work done.

Pictures to come.



I am feeling the need to put away fall and thanksgiving and get out Christmas.

Changing my mind again about when to decorate.

Getting alittle nervous!!!

Mauna

RECIPE TIME

Yesterday I went to the airport and picked up my Daughter in Law and my grand daughter.

Actually, both Grammies went. 

I have been good friends with Alicia's mom way before our kids decided to marry each other.

It was sooo cute to watch Abbie look at both of her Grammies and then just

grin from ear to ear...

Rates a number 10 one the heart melting scale!

Since I have been playing with Abbie I decided to share a recipe today.

My husband brought this recipe home from work so I gave it a try and YUMMY!

CHICKEN TORTILLA CHOWDER

2 cans condensed cream of potatoe soup

2 cans condensed cream of chicken soup

(both soups undiluted)

2 cups milk

1 can chicken broth

1 can drained Mexican corn

1 can chopped green chilies

1 pkg ready to serve roasted chicken breast strips chopped

3 flour tortillas cut into 2 inch x 1/2 strips

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Additional cheese for  topping.

In a large saucepan, heat the soups, milk and broth.  Stirring frequently. 

Add corn, chicken and chilies.

Bring to a boil.

Stir in tortilla strips.

Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 5 minutes.

Stir in cheese until melted.

Sprinkle each serving with additional cheese if desired.

This is yummy and super quick.

I would even try corn tortillas cut into strips and baked until crisp to add some crunch.

My husband said the lady at work added noodles instead of tortillas.

Any way give it a try!

See ya tomorrow

Mauna

SWAP CARD

I know you're thinking black and red again.  

I can't help it...I am drawn to those colors.

This is not exactly what my brain envisioned but it turned out.

I wanted the red part to be red with tiny white stripes but couldn't find the paper.

And since my printer is nutzo  I couldn't make the paper.

At the end I decided it needed a kick so I added some very fine glitter around the celebrate.

I am not sure if it shows up in the picture.

I made 26 of these little suckers.  Got a few hot glue ouchies.

I am thinking about sharing some recipes with you.

Quick and easy is my motto..get in get out of the kitchen.

What do you think??

Gotta run I have an appointment with some more black paint.

Have an awesome day!

Mauna

I just did spell check...it said nutzo isn't a word and suggested...NoDoz...ha!

(you know the stay awake pills)

CHRISTMAS SHADOWBOX

Okay this was a crazy day!

My computer crashed awhile back

 and I am just now getting around to loading my

cricut design and sure cuts a lot software.

can you say pain in the behind

I had to find all the programs that would match Windows 7.

Then I had to update the firmware on my cricut.

Most of the day later........I finished my project.

Here is the shadow box I promised.....

                                                                                                                                        

It's a keeper

I must give credit to where it belongs....this was not my idea.

I really believe if you copy someones idea

you need to give them the credit.

Go here to see the original that I saw.

I made mine bigger...it's 8x10 and tweeked it a little.

I went to hobby lobby to get my shadowbox.  They had a black one for $24.99

OUCH!!!!

Then I saw this one for 12.99 and they were half off so I ended up paying $6.50.

I did have to bring it home and spray paint it black....but hey...

What I won't do to save a buck!!!!



I had everything else.

The ornament hanging off the bow was a package of three I got from dollar tree last year.

I am working on something else right now...and I have black paint all over me... again.

You can leave me a commnet and tell me what you think. 

See ya tomorrow

Mauna

THANKSGIVING SWITCH

I know I said I wouldn't do Thanksgiving but.....

I have some grand babies coming and I am thinking about all those little fingers.

It might be better to wait to put up Christmas.

Besides the tree goes in their play area....where would they play???

I did switch out my frames.
Nothing fantastic....just a hurry up job.

This one I like.

I have had these transparent leaves forever.

Got them at Walmart when walmart used to be good!

I finally decided to bust them out and

try something and I like what happened!

There is a yellow leaf, an orange one and then red .

I layered them light to dark, top and bottom to middle.

I know...you're not stupid...you can see that in the picture.

Just humor me :)

Okay...I am off to work on the shadowbox that I sooooo excited about!!

Hint:

Spray paint and bells.

That's all you get til tomorrow!

Mauna

I HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN YOU!

Really I haven't!!

I have a shadowbox in the works I am really excited about!

My ornament for the ornament exchange.

My cards for my card exchange.

I did redo some picture frames with Thanksgiving things in them.

And I got some cute, cute trees from the dollar store I will share.

Today  I went shopping with a friend.

Nothing better than shopping with a friend!

Tomorrow I will post some pictures...Promise!

Come back and see....

Mauna



ORNAMENT EXCHANGE SNEEK PEEK

SNEEK PEEK!

DON'T YOU JUST LOVE A QUICK PEEK AT SOMETHING!

Then you get to wonder what it is going to look like finished.




I am in an ornament exchange.

This is the beginning of the ornament I am making.

Watercoloring Santa's how fun is that.


I am really excited about my plans for these little guys.

Can't wait to show ya...but I have too.

The exchange happens Dec 2nd.

will probably give you another sneek peek sometime though.

Back to painting

Mauna