SWAPPING CRAZY!!

I've completely lost my mind over swapping!

I'm constantly looking for something or someone to swap with.

I'm always expecting mail, you know the good non-bill kind that comes to your home.

Really, you don't get any?! Want me to send you some???

I'm in love with crafting and making things, and my hubby is constantly saying well what is that for?

Well, now these things are mostly for swapping.

I've decided to do the unthinkable and sign up for EVERY swap this year on another blog site:

http://thealteredpaper.blogspot.com/

Tee, that lady who's blog this is hosts all these awesome swaps is more then willing to be a true swapper by joining in all her swaps and "Angel" anyone who doesn't get their item from the person that was supposed to swap.

I so far in about 6 months of swapping have not received 2 items I swapped for. That's not too bad considering how many I've been doing as of late. 

One was a mini Halloween spell book I can't remember where it was swapped through though so guess I just lost out on that one...

The other a fall themed matchbox, and Tee made me one to comp. for the one that I didn't get. What a great lady, she even sent me some great Christmas goodies with it.

 I opened my package and here's what I found!

 My Fall Matchbox Tee sent

 Wow, look there's goodies in there!

And who would have thought that all this stuff could fit in one matchbox!

Here's a close up of that super sparkly Santa ornament:

Thanks again Tee, I can't wait to show everyone our birthday's swap.

Make sure you head on over to her site, and sign up for some swaps! She's hosting quite a few right now that are open, such as: Monthly TAG swap,

12 Tags of 2012:

• Jan-Winter-New Years

• Feb-Hearts- Valentines- Groundhog Day

• March- Spring-St. Patrick's

• April- Showers- Aprils Fool-Earth Day

• May- Flowers-Mothers Day

• June-Summer- Fathers Day-Flag Day

• July-Red,White & Blue

• Aug-Sun-Bathing Beauties

• Sept-Fall

• Oct-Halloween

• Nov-Thanksgiving

• Dec-Christmas

Then she's also hosting other themed swaps, such as:

Mystery Envelope #8 Challenge/Swap

Vintage ATC Swap

Winter Stick Pin Swap

And that's just for January! She has the list for February up already too:

Pin Cushion Swap

Valentine ATC

Mystery Envelope Challenge/Swap #9

Tag A Month Swap -Feb

 Make sure you fly on over and send her an email if you'd like to join!

Also make sure you let her know I sent you, that said if you do join make sure:

 your committed to making them and to sending out your swaps on time!

Great holiday season!

 As I said before my birthday was on December 17th, and having arrived home on my birthday we didn't do to much that day. We just ordered in some take-out and relaxed, enjoying our space and TV, LOL.

 My hubby arrived home a couple days later with these flowers, just before we headed to my Dad's place for a great birthday supper!

What a great wintery bouquet!

This cute guy was peeking out just waiting to say "Happy Birthday!"

 And why was this flower in such a wintery bouquet one would only know...

Guess someone designed it just for me?!

I hope you all have been having a great holiday season, filled with Black Friday shopping, MERRY CHRISTMAS GIFTS AND DINNERS, and of course BOXING WEEK SALES TOO.

Between all these I'm sure you've gotten quite a hall, and if not I know you can stop by the SCRAPIN' WITH FLAIR site to see what's on sale there too!! I know there's a number of kits and papers on clearance to make room for the new stuff that will soon enough be filling the shelves from CHA.

We are currently taking a break from our monthly kits and design team duties to relax over the holiday season, but will be back with a Valentine's themed kit for February.

So, I've been doing some of my own things around the house. I absolutely love decorating for the holidays and this is one of my favorite home made accessories:

I actually created this Christmas arrangement using freebies!

I was given this crazy green vase from a friend... it didn't do anything for her she said, it just made her think of me, so she figured it would be best if I had it, LOL.

I was also given a shopping bag full of mixed faux flowers and Christmas crafting stuff from an acquaintance.

Frankly most of the bag was junk, but I did manage to salvage the streamers, poinsettias, and the adorable bird house with pine cones and berry accessories.

All for a cost of FREE! 

I have seen approx. the same things while out and about shopping and am sure to make something similar would cost approx.:

Vase at thrift store $5.00 - $7.00

Flowers at dollar store: $5.00 - $7.00

Streamers at dollar store $2.00

Still a very cheap center piece or great thrifty gift! I also made a thrifty door wreath, but have yet to take some photos. I promise to try to get those up soon.

I also thought I'd take the time to show off how great my tree looked this year. 

We decorated it before we went on our trip, so it was ready and waiting for us when we got home.

Man was I glad to see that tree, LOL.

 This ceramic tree was made by my hubby's Bubba, since she is no longer with us his Mom passed it on to me. It is something I will always treasure.

 And no Christmas is complete without dancing Santa. He sits on top of one of our speakers in the living room, just behind the couch so our kids can turn him on. He plays "Have a holly jolly Christmas".

 This sweet snowman chair covers were given to us by my hubby's secretary. They make me smile!

And my flower arrangement ended up hanging out beside my money tree in the kitchen.

How festive!

That said I had a great Christmas, surrounded with family and spoiled by my DH who was not supposed to buy me anything (since we went on that crazy trip). *THANKS AGAIN FOR THE CRICUT HUN*

I also came home from my holidays to find a mount of mail waiting for me:

But that can wait until tomorrow. Unless you were the one who sent me a package I had to sign for, then message me because by the time I got to the post office they had returned it....

I'm Back! AND MISSED YOU ALL!

I'm back and managed to survive over driving 7078 kms in 13 days with my family of 5, averaging a whopping 6-ish hours of sleep per night! MAN AM I HAPPY TO BE HOME!

We made it to Las Vegas NV in 2 days, then spent 4 days there.
We spent time taking in some free attractions, went to see the
 wax museum,

and enjoying all they had to offer the CIRCUS CIRCUS HOTEL.


Then headed to my Mom's trailer in Apache Junction AZ for 4 days, spent time with family, investigated the area including spending the day at GOLDFEILD'S ghost town. The kids LOVED it!

And I even managed to sneak away for 3 hours for some shopping with my Mom. (As well as did a bit with the family, not much though with having all 3 kids.)

Then we headed to the "GRAND CANYON"! My oh my was it grand!

We actually ended up spending an extra night just so we could see it more, and man was that worth it!

Jase and I even went and investigated a cool Indian watch tower along the rim!
 
He told me it was "like a dream come true!"

Then it took 2 more days and a last very horrible night in Havre, Montana, USA. (I feel sorry for anyone who calls that shit-hole town/ city their home). NOTE: NEVER STOP THERE, unless you like the smell of dead bodies in your hotel rooms. 4 different rooms, and 2 hotels later, all at 2 or 3 times the price of staying at the CIRCUS CIRCUS in Las Vegas, we just decided to sleep in our van.

That said I was SO happy to drop off my overly chatty step-son yesterday night and get my kids and hubby home to MY OWN HOUSE here in Saskatoon SK CANADA



Man do I ever need sleep, but there's still allot to do before Christmas including some birthdays to celebrate (2 nephews, a niece, and my own included). Plus there's still some last minute Christmas crafting and work to get to. Oh yeah and the laundry, LOL

MAN HAVE I MISSED YOU ALL!