Merry Christmas

Lucas is loving his new toys! We're enjoying our day at home and the fact that we don't have to go anywhere (except maybe outside to do some sledding)!

SUPPLIES: Adobe Photoshop CS4 |  patterned paper: Echo Park Paper Co. Hybrids Everybody Loves Christmas @ JessicaSprague.com | fonts: Screengem and Scriptina | kraft banner & photography: Valerie O'Neall (me) 

Sugar Cookies

I spent the majority of my morning decorating these:

They're not my best work, but they will have to do. I thought I would try Martha's recipe this year. She hadn't failed me yet. Now wishing I would have stuck with my original recipe. I like it a lot better. My frosting wasn't as shiny as usual either.

My husband tonight asked me at dinner why the snowman had a broom. I said I don't know, I thought Frosty had a broom—my dad always made his snowmen hold a broom. I handed him the cookie cutter and asked him what he thought it was supposed to be. He thought it was supposed to be a scarf. It totally could have been a scarf and I felt extremely dumb for a second for making Frosty hold a broom—"like a witch" as Matt said. Then I started singing the song in my head and redeemed myself when I told him it was in the song. "Down to the village, with a broomstick in his hand…"
I win!!  …Although, next time I may draw scarves instead.

page #2

Three days until Christmas!? Really?! I only have two pages done.

software: Adobe Photoshop CS4 | font: Kingthings Typewriter | stitching (recolored): Katie Pertiet Messy Stitches @ Designer Digitals | all digital elements are by Katie Pertiet @ Designer Digitals: wooden mitten, snowflake, frame, snowman, label | patterned paper: Echo Park Paper Co. Hybrids Everybody Loves Christmas @ JessicaSprague.com

time for some Christmas music

My sister-in-law, man can she sing! This is a clip from the Christmas concert at the church she attends.

She lives in Nashville and you can check her web site for shows if you're in the area.

December Album

I had fully planned on doing a December Daily album again this year. I set all my supplies aside in a separate box, and then the first week of December rolled around—and I had not touched any of it, but I had been taking photos. I think I've finally settled on doing an 8x8 digital album this year. Some days we are just plain boring and not even an ounce festive around here—and on those days, I don't know what to make a page about. Therefore, I'm not going to stress about it or force some Christmas spirit. I'm going to try and make a page a day from now on, but some of that will be documenting days I've missed. Here's my first completed page about our first big snow and how Lucas was not thrilled—mainly about having to wear his boots.

software: Adobe Photoshop CS4 | font: Kingthings Typewriter | tape: Pugly Pixel | paper: Katie Pertiet Good Day Paper @ Designer Digitals | stitching (recolored) Katie Pertiet Messy Stitches @ Designer Digitals | tag: Ali Edwards Winter Celebrations Element Kit for Shutterfly | photo frame: Rhonna Farrer Mini Birthday Frames @ House of 3 | snowflakes: Heidi Larsen Glittery Flakes @ Little Dreamer Designs

Keeping it Simple

Yay for new photos! I'm done going through all of Lucas photos, and received the first batch from Color Inc. about a week ago. It felt so good to scrap for fun again, but I find it's always a little difficult to find my "groove" again after a break. So here's to an easy, simple, clean, effortless looking layout to start things off.

cardstock: Bazzill Basics | patterned paper and alpha stamp: Studio Calico | ink: Stampin' Up | chipboard accent: American Crafts Thickers | pen: Copic multiliner | border punches: EK success (bracket) and Stampin' Up (scallop) | other: thread, sewing machine

Check back later today for my first December Daily post (I know.... crazy late, huh? I have some explaining to do).