Sharing Christmas Advent Calendar

I know I am posting this about 13 days late.  If you wanted to do a 12 days of Christmas, you still have time! Or maybe you can 'pin' it or put it on your to-do list for next year. I know I already have a list of things that are just going to have to wait until Christmas 2013. I did feel that this project or idea, was so important this year, that we are sharing Christmas with 3 of our loved ones.  For more details on creating this Advent Calendar, you can read my article for Fiskars here. Thanks to my friend Shannon, for sharing this idea last year. Since we live so far from all of our family, I knew this was something that I wanted to do for loved ones at Christmas.

This is how I make cards. Cardstock, patterned paper, embellishments, etc....all in a row. Assembly-line cardmaking. It goes quick and it works for me.


After I made my first set of 25 cards, I decided because of circumstances within our family that this needed to be shared with a few more people that could use some Christmas cheer. So I made another set using Cosmo Cricket's Jolly Days paper, chipboard, etc. I love the card pieces on the kraft cardstock. Mmmmmm my favorite color cardstock! Enjoy!

This post is sponsored by Fiskars.

12.12.12

I didn't take 12 photos today.
I only took 3.
So I was thinking I would try something a little different to celebrate.
Sydnee was upset because we really didn't celebrate anything today. I tried to think of something.
We could read 12 picture books.
Or we could eat 12 Peppermint Hershey Kisses.
We could run around the block 12 times.
She just wasn't going for any of my ideas.
I think this is the best idea of all.
My 12 favorite pictures of 2012.
Here they are:
#12

One word: Skype.

#11

Our first visitors in 2012.

#10

Anniversary photo. 17 years.

#9
 
Trying something new.

#8

Going home to Iowa. What a quick week!

#7

Lasting friendships. Through good times, and bad.

#6

Frameworthy? Look close.

#5

Family adventures.

#4

Exploring Texas with favorite friends.

#3

My mom and dad should be proud of this picture after putting up with our fighting in their home for 18 years. Now we are best friends.

#2

This should have been our Christmas card photo. Ella's baptism.

#1
 
Grandma & Craig. Such a tender mercy. Craig's travel schedule gave him the opportunity to go to England to see his Grandpa and Grandma. Unfortunately, his Grandpa passed away just a week before his scheduled trip. He was still able to spend a few days with his Grandma and all of his other family in England. This was a true blessing.

Christmas Ornaments

I have 2 new articles up on the Fiskars blog this weekend. I really enjoyed finally finishing the revamp of my grandma's cross stitch ornaments. My mom gave them to me a few years ago, and I really wanted to change them for my christmas tree, but didn't really have any ideas.
When the yarn wrapped wreath craze hit Pinterest, I knew what I would do with the frames. I love how they turned out and cannot wait to put them on my tree!


 I also created some new photo ornaments. I love to see photos on the Christmas tree. It really shows the passage of time and how my kids have changed. This year, I also had them write what was the top item on their wish list. I think as I am posting this, some have already changed their #1 priority Christmas wish. Kids!
If you would like more information on how to create these ornaments, you can check out the Fiskars website here and here.

This post is sponsored by Fiskars.