It's A Snowmen Family Reunion

Most every year this is how I do my fireplace mantel. This is my Snowmen mantel --

Some close-ups --

I just love this Snowman topper --

Some of these have been gifts --

And, some I couldn't resist --

It all came together once I found this snowman mantel scarf --

Of course, we need a "Snow" banner.  This was made quickly and using materials already on hand --

The large Snowman in the middle was bought at a craft show many years ago.  It is stored separately (because of its size) and the branches come off.  It had been wrapped in bubble wrap and placed inside a large QVC shopping bag (from my visit to its store connected to the studio in PA several years ago).  I didn't realize that Lucy was such a QVC fan --

I am linking to this Christmas Mantel Party - Christmas Mantel Party @ The Lettered Cottage

please check them all out --



Tool & New York Yankees Trees

It all started with these lights -

See the lighted saw, screwdriver, etc.?  I found those at 'Tis the Season which is a year-round Christmas shop in Berlin, OH (Amish country).  This store is fantastic - is 3 levels - and if you see something you'd better buy it because it might not  be there next visit.  Anyway, our youngest grandson has always been fascinated with and loves tools.  So, I bought the light set and thus began a tool tree for him (but keeping it at our home, of course!!).  This is a 3' tree - can't remember where I bought it - and it must be kept indoors (don't know why? so we don't store it in the garage attic with the rest).

Here is the topper -

Some close-ups --

The base of the tree -



Here is a full view -

We couldn't leave our oldest grandson (Tool Tree's big brother!) without his very own tree.  So, it was natural that we do a New York Yankees tree for him since that is his favorite baseball team.  This is a 6' corner tree. (love these corner trees - it's an easy way to fit in a tree when you think you don't have room)



Here is the topper -

Some close-ups --

Here is the base of the tree.  This is fleece material I found on eBay.

New York Yankees Tree (sorry Cleveland Indians!) -

Here are both the trees.  They are on each side of the fireplace.

Lucy loves our grandsons.  In fact, she is really family to them.  Their cat is Lucy's mother!  Lucy was from the first litter - a litter of 1!!!!  Just Lucy!!  She is 1 1/2 yrs. old now, but when she was little she would be very tired after the boys visited us!  (they live near us so we see them all the time!)  This was Lucy at 2 1/2 months old after the boys went home after a visit here.  She was soooooo tired.....

Linking to -

Happy Thanksgiving & Breakfast Goulash

First of all - Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!!

This is a good breakfast to start any holiday.  "Breakfast Goulash" is hearty and something different than the breakfast casseroles we usually make.  This should feed 4 people.  I make this even though there are only 2 in our home and just microwave any leftovers so I can have a nice breakfast later without the work!!

3-4 large baking potatoes
1/2 lb. bacon (I now just use the microwave bacon and use about 8-10 pieces)
6 eggs
7-8 strips Swiss Cheese

Fry bacon and drain.  (or microwave)  Set aside.  Slice potatoes fairly thin and fry in bacon grease till soft.  (If you microwaved the bacon, then just add a little butter in place of the bacon grease.)  (Frying the potatoes will take the longest so allow enough time for this.) When potatoes are soft then add bite-sized bacon bits and eggs.  Stir all together and cook on low till eggs are done (stirring like you would with scrambled eggs).  When done - place strips of cheese over all and cover briefly until cheese is melted.

Delish!!

All this talk of breakfast -- Lucy says "isn't it 5:00 somewhere????????"

Linking to -





Tulle/Netting Christmas Wreath

This is a super easy and inexpensive wreath to make for Christmas and any other holiday, too.  All you need is a wire hanger and some netting.  The netting I used for this wreath was from Pat Catan's (regional craft chain) and came in a roll 6" x 25 yards.  I used just a little over a roll of each color.

Take your wire hanger and shape it into a circle (as best you can).

Next cut some netting.  I have been cutting mine at about 11" (I have a magazine nearby and just stretch it along the longest part.).  I usually cut about a dozen of each color and work with those and then cut again.  This breaks it up for me.  I alternate my colors.  I take a piece of netting and fold it in half and put it under the hanger.

I then loop it around as I hope you can see in these next photos:

Make sure you pull it fairly tight.  Keep on doing this - alternating your holiday colors - and push together so it is all snug.

When you are finished you will notice that you can see all the imperfections of the "not so round" hanger. 

All you do is "fluff" it up --

You can do these for any holiday.  I did one for 4th of July -

I used some rolls of tulle that I found at JoAnn's for a lovely Fall wreath -

Normally, I do one of these wreaths in one sitting.  But, with the Christmas wreath I had Lucy "trying" to help me.  Needless to say -- I called it a night and continued the next day -- alone!

Linking to this party -

Purse & Beach Trees

The next trees have themes that are important to me.  I have had a love of purses since I was a young girl.  I have and have had so many purses you would faint if you knew the count.  I had a garage sale a couple years ago and reduced the number.  But, there were still soooo many that I couldn't part with that the number I still have would make you faint!!  But, I have not purchased a new purse in 1 1/2 years and still have quite a few that I haven't used.  Love love love my purses!!  OK - back to the tree and it just was a logical theme when I saw purse ornaments at a department store about 6 years ago.  So, I scooped them up and planned the tree for that following year.  I have only added a few ornaments since that time -- but in looking at how bare the tree looks in the photos I will definitely be on the lookout for more purse ornies. 

This is a 4' pink prelit tree from Big Lots purchased a few years ago (same time as the red tree).


















Here are some close-ups -

Here is the topper (my grandson said it looks like a "Charlie Brown tree" (a little top heavy)-

This is the skirt I used for the tree plus I have some decorative purses and some purse photo holders at the base -

Please don't tell the men in the Cardigan Family that their photos were being displayed with purses!!!

This tree is in the Master Bedroom.  Here is the entire Purse Tree -

Now, for my Beach Tree.  This has been a fun tree to do.  Last year we spent the week of Christmas with my daughter and her family in Florida.  They live across the street from the beach and we collected shells each day.

I found this wall tree at Goodwill this summer.  It is about 2 1/2' and is fiber optic (operating on "D" batteries). It was approx. $3.50 and I was so excited -

A friend suggested that I put some sand and shells on the basket.  So, when the weather was nice that is what I did - spray glue, sand, hot glue & shells and a spray sealer.  This tree is on the outside door to the Studio.  Here are some close pics -

Here is the topper - a starfish bought from the "Best of Everything" store in Florida - then sprayed with adhesive and sprinkled with Martha Stewart red glitter -

Here is how the basket of the tree turned out -

My Beach Tree (all the shells were from our Florida trip - Bonita Springs area) -

Lucy is bored with my Christmas decorating and wants me to play hide & seek with her.  I love to play this game with her -- you know why??

Oh, Lucy!!!!  Where are you????

Linking to Funky Junk's SNS party -