All I want for Christmas is to be with you

                                        It is a couple minutes till midnight... gasp....I am still up!!  So be my life the last couple of months.  That is what happens when you lose a dear loved one.  In my case my Mama.  I have had hesitation in sharing this private aspect of my life right now.  But it affects all facets of my life.  I can't sleep and I am creating to keep myself sane.  I find myself seeing her and being reminded of her in the smallest details.  For instance a little tiny heart diecut that had fallen to the floor in the threshold of my craft room.  I was convinced she put it there for me to see.  I am always looking for signs.  I feel close to her in my little room....she loved to sew and crochet.  I think of her every day and tell her that I love her.  I go to sleep with an old red sweater of hers cuddling it in my arms.  These are the things that at one time I might not find to be normal...but... it is MY new normal.  Taking each day as it comes.  Trying to stay busy.  The day she died I cleaned the house from top to bottom.  Some type of self doubt of her being gone.  Maybe if I clean fast enough and good enough I can change what has happened.  Have control over an uncontrollable situation. 
                                      Tears come at the most inopportune of times.  Being in our local Bi-mart staring at Hickory Farms sausage....she loved to buy that each year at Christmas.  Tears start.   Sausage made me cry....really?  Sighhhh.  It is what it is.  So making Christmas cards come with a bitter sweetness knowing she will not be here for it.  She loved red like I do...so I will deck my house with it!  And I will know I will never get over it.....rather adapt to the loss each day.  So with that .....I hope you will have patience for my posts and projects. 
                                      Tonight I am sharing a simple card.....one that I know my Mama would have loved......the terriers and the red....and all the cheerfullness.  Those sweet dog buddies....telling each other I hope you get what you want....but "all I want for christmas is to be with you".    I share those same feelings for this coming season.   For my Mama.....but I know she will be with us in spirit.                     Thank you my friends for letting  me share .   I have wanted to for several weeks.  As always I hope you enjoy my sweet card!  Hugs, cherry

window shopping

               OOHHHHHHH how  I love the romance of the Dickens era. 
the cobblestone streets , old city lights pooling their glow below., windows full of beautiful christmas goodies...all the while with snow gentley making its way down to your face, hands, and the street below you.  This piece I created with all that in mind. 
                I took a large  mason jar lid and attached diecut paper layers to back along with tinsels.  I envisioned my family in the image walking together looking at all the wonderful windows full of christmas cheer......so I added faux snow , mini banner, mini twigs with glitter on them, tea stained roses and mini carnations.  Of course we had to a have a couple of teas tained aged trees to each side for dimension.  I used ribbons from RRR of  course.    I used both the plaid ribbon houndstooth in black and a bit of lipstick red seambinding.   I love, love. love the colors and the feeling I might just be able to magically disappear into this scene.  It sure would be fun!  I so hope you enjoy!  I will be back with a step x step on the "aging" process.  I have a friend that specifically asked about it.  thanks so much my friends for visiting me.   It means so much to me!!!  hugs, cherry

Time for Christmas...

                  Hello RRR peeps!  Are you all snuggled up this Sunday morning?  Grab your coffee or fave beverage and bear with me....I have lots of photos.  I know Halloween hasn't quite hit yet but I already have a Christmas scrapbook album to share.  I can't help  myself!
                I started with a 7 gypsies photo album and painted it all up with my favorite white chalk paint and went to town distressing my edges.  I love how chalk paint distresses so easy!  I cut all my papers out figuring in my mind what paper I wanted on each page..adding a bit of Raspberry Road Designs gingham paper to enhance each page.  From there it was allllll about my embellies.  Lots of chipboard, borders, stickers etc to pizazz it up.  I added a bit of hand stamping to the tabs.  Hand stamping adds that warm homespun look.  It really adds a sense of handmade to me.
                I also used an aging process on the mini jello mold, jingle bell (which I first painted with chalk paint), my stamped tag, and the ole cow bell on the front cover.  From here I took my ring clips and assembled everything and started adding my yummy RRR ribbons.  The more the better.  I used wired Faux burlap ribbon,  linen candy cane print (which I aged), 2 1/2 inch cotton blend ribbon,  and cherry twine.   This took quite a bit of time but I love the outcome!  Hope you do too.
                                     
                                                                     Hugs, Cherry

Rusty goodness

                  Hello!  Popping in again.   I wanted to share some ornaments I made using these adorable mini jello molds.  I wanted to give them "aging" some how.  They were just too shiny and new.  I threw them in a mixture of vinegar and bleach and let them soak over night.  The next day I took them out , let them dry, and bam.....it was like magic.  Now I am throwing everything in ......my jingle bells, mini clothespins, tags, ribbons.  I am seriously addicted.  It takes a little patience...but it is soooo worth it.  These are in my etsy store if you think you may need to give them a home! 
                                                            Nite nite, Cherry

Through the snowy woods...

 

 

                    Salutations to you! "Through the snowy woods"... I had to use that title for this post.  Even though it is sunny and NO snow in site!  It just fit to well with my mitten!  Also had share a cute photo of Ms. Moops.  She is my official  muse in the craft studio.  She hoards ribbons as much as me!  She has been caught several times with sticky paws.  All I know is....she is too cute to get mad at. 
                     Been playing around with some gorgeous paper from Raspberry Road Designs.  Made a fun art deco style Christmas card and a mitten using a template from Pininterest.  Every year I have to make a few mittens.  Piles of embellishments and layers make me happy.....along with ribbons from RRR.  I used papers from the Countdown to Christmas and Booville collections.  Hope you enjoy!                                                                      

                                                                                 hugs, cherry

Whooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo?

           Well folks it is now Friday....what are you up to this fine evening?   I painted furniture all day and stocked up my vendor booth with handmade goodies.  Next up was some laundry and cleaning.  Now I reside in my chair with a  flannel blanket playing around with a bit of picmonkey.  I created my own watermark.  Wasn't quite as hard as I thought and fun to play with.  I ran across these projects in my files and realized I never shared them.  Not too late for some Halloween goodies!  You know me and my spool creations.  I so enjoy making them and had to make a few more for this season.  Lots of layers and dimension and ribbons.  My last project is a Halloween straw that I added a paper mache pumpkin too.  Added a jaunty little black hat to him.  I will be sad to see this holiday go, just love the colors and nostalgia to Halloween.  Most of my ribbons come from RRR and my stamps are old Crafty Secrets.   If you would like to bring one of these home with you just visit my etsy shop

 I am linking this up with the challenge over at 

http://frillyandfunkie.blogspot.com/

Also linking up with the challenge over at 

 http://www.eileenhull.com/2015/10/art-with-heart-challenge-october-hauntings-and-holidays.html

Nite nite, Cherry 

Thankful for you

                 Thursday already?  October is wheezing by.  It is my son's senior year and I really reallllly wish time would slow.  We have his senior portraits tomorrow.  Seems just like yesterday I was getting his first baby pictures done.  I feel so blessed to be his mother, but yearn for more time before he leaves the nest.  I have a card to share made for RRR.  Simple but loving the colors.  I used an old but sweet rubon from Melissa Frances for my sentiment.  My gorgeous paper, which I drew my colors from is from Raspberry Road Designs.  I paired it with Moss green seam binding , sharon white crochet lace, and burlap natural string.   Other than that I added a few details ..mini hearts, doily snippets, and a bit of copic coloring to my hearts.   Hope you enjoy!  hugs, cherry

RRR blog hop time!

                        A terrific Tuesday to you!  It is time for another blog hop with RRR.  You should have found your way here from Kathy's blog.  If at any point you find yourself lost just start back at the RRR blog.  This month's ribbons are called "Crazy for Christmas".  Perfect name for this sweet selection...I could not stop creating once I started!  I ended up making three cards and embellished some berry baskets for baking this coming holiday season.  I recently found some adorable vintage goodies and decided to pair them with this month's ribbons.  I used old papers from my stash, vintage paper coasters, bells, and mistletoes to decorate my creations.  I love this vintage wreath applique! It paired perfectly with the ribbons.   I also used a bit of Cherry twine to the berry baskets to tie my embellishments on.  Hope you enjoy...your next stop is back at the RRR blog!  hugs, cherry