We're a LITTLE Nuts About...

When it comes to decorating for the Holidays, my boyfriend and I go a LITTLE nuts around here...

Let me explain.

I have read that the average Christmas tree in your home is decorated with 75 ornaments.

OooKay...

We have something like 2x or MORE than that JUST ON THE TREE!

And then we start decorating other stuff.

...we decorate the lampshades... and the speakers... and the slats on the cupboard doors, and the hinges on all the doors in the public areas and the light in the hall has one hanging from it... and there's a big snowflake hanging off the blinds over the one window... almost forgot, there are ornaments covering the top of the big blinds over the french doors and we put garland and an ornament over the big framed art behind the couch... OH, and I found a NEW place for an ornament this year! - I wedged the hanger thingy between two books on the bookshelf bolted to the wall and dangled the ornament past the bottom of the shelf...



Hhmm.. did I forget anything? Probably...

OH, I know...and some of the 'usual' places (like on top of the TV, found a picture).

Like I said, it's a little nuts around here with Holiday decorations!

We have collected so many things over the years and I love to GIVE ornaments too.

Why am I telling you this? Well Gen over at 'Quadville' wanted to know (and there is a GIVEAWAY involved) which inspired me to type this all up... I KNEW I'd figure out what to do with all those pictures I snapped this year! ;)

Are you a conservative decorator, do you go a little (or a lot) nuts like we do or are you the person who puts up the 'Ditto' sign & points to the neighbor with the crazy decorations? You can tell me... LOL

Pam Hoffman

Crops: Recap on the Last Two...

I've been to two different crops of late and I kind of missed telling you about the one in Orange so I'll catch up on both of them right now!

First, The Crop in Orange on December 5th, 2009 was WONDERFUL!

There was...

*Crafting
*Swaps
*BINGO
*Catered dinner
*Fun prizes
*Holiday Spirit Galore!

Here are a couple of pictures from the crop...

Our crop organizer Laurie!


My friend Diana was able to be there this time!


Overall room with the swap table in the forefront

Then the Cookie Exchange Crop yesterday was quite marvelous too!


The Cookies!

Five of us participated which meant that all of us could be at the same table crafting.


WCC* organizer Michelle, she also hosted the crop!

Some of the newer members were there and getting to know new people is always fun.




Newest members, Morgan (top), Jaime & Bea (L-R) who was with us for the first time!

I actually had a list of projects I was working thru and I got some of my list done!


Shhh... something for my bf for Christmas, don't tell him!


I'm working thru a tutorial to make a snow-globe Card for my sister - she LOVES snow-globes!

OH, and Michelle gave us supplies and taught us to make an ornament. She got a picture of me with mine so I'll go find that and post it too!

Thank you for sharing my crops. What are YOU doing creatively with others or on your own? I'd LOVE to see what you are making.

Pam Hoffman

tinseling the tree!

*West Coast Croppers, a meetup.com group

Glitter Ornaments

At the Crop in Orange, we learned about a process of creating beautiful ornaments with some very specialized items...

Then our organizer, Laurie, sent some links for some great ornaments using a similar, less expensive way to create ornaments a bit like them.

Here are the ones from the crop:


They Are SO Amazing!

Here are the links to the pages Laurie sent us...

http://cricutchristmas.blogspot.com/2009/11/week-18-crafty-gift-glitter-ornaments.html

http://stampersquest.com/2009/10/15/holilday-blizzard-project-glittery-glimmering-christmas-ornaments/

And our results...



I made these and I'm showing off various sides of them...



The first three turned in this video are kind of special. The first one has all microbeads (my friend Diana created that one!) the second has ultrafine pink glitter & Pearl X and the third has the ultrafin pink glitter, a few microbeads and Pearl X powder swirled around inside.


Spotlighting the one with the ultrafine glitter & Pearl X


This one has the microbeads in it too...

I know they aren't as beautiful as the ones in the first picture. I think they are pretty darn nice and very glittery.

Some pictures...

Diana did the one in the lower left, I did the other one


I did all but the microbeads one and the blue one in the corner I think...


Diana made all of these and I think they will be gifts this holiday!

Super easy, fun and darn nice results! Give it a try.

Pam Hoffman