Merry Christmas to all our Military and Thankyou!!

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.

My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.
The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,
Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.

My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!
"For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,

I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night.
Sleep without fear as you turn out your lights.
"It's my duty to stand at the front of this line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one has asked or begged or implored me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,
"Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembered."

My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.

"I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother.
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall.
"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."

"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you some money, prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."
Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us.

Chocolate Tins

Thought I would post a couple of these. SU designer paper was used to cover the nuggets and rub-ons were used on the lids. Wired ribbon was wrapped around the lid. SU DP was also wrapped around bottom of tin.

Sunflower Clipboard

Here is another clipboard I did. I really like making these. SU designer paper was used.

SU ribbon and fall stamp set. Rub-ons from Michaels.

Clipboard

This is a clipboard that I did recently. All of the paper & cs are from SU. The ribbon is SU and the felt snowflake. I also used a chipboard snowflake covered with DP and edged with SU chunky glitter. Rub-ons are from michaels and stickers are Jolees.

Gift Card Holder

Learnt to make this at convention, my upline Mary had a gathering and this was one of the projects we made. I changed it for Christmas.

Stamps: SU Scandinavian Season - holiday mini

Paper: Ski Slope DP, Pink, Whisper White, Baha Blue

Ink: Baha Blue

Access: Window Punch, Scallop Edge Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, 2 Circle Punches, Pop-dots

Jolliest Time of the Year

I made a few of these, changed out the ribbon and hardware to give it a different look.

Stamps: Jolliest time of the year and Big on Christmas

Paper: Almost Amethyst, Bashful Blue, Confetti White & DP

Ink: Basic Black, Pacific Point, Craft White

Access: Ribbon, Hardware, Pop-dots, SU Punch, Glue dots, Sizzix, Cuttlebug folder, Pompom, SU EP Detail white, Sponge, Irridecent Ice EP( on let it snow piece).

Thinking of Father

• I made this a while ago and thought I would post it. I really like to watercolour so it is a favourite of mine. It's a very simple card for me I usually like more bling.
  
• Stamps: Thinking of Father
  Ink: Stazon black
  Paper: SU Watercolour Paper, SU CS
  Access: HP Hardware, Watercolour Pencils

Test Tubes

I had a couple of people ask where to find these. I got them from Michaels, they were Martha Stewarts' brand and they are plastic so very safe for kids. Thanks to all for your interest.

How to for Re-inker Glass Ball

I had a few people ask how to do this.
It is very easy and lots of fun. Get glass ornament (Joannes or Michaels), pick out your re-inker colour and pour some into your ball. Roll around until all the inside of the ball is coated. I then drain for about a minute to get rid of any extra (on a paper towel). Pick a matching glitter and scoop or pour into ball then shake it until all inside is coated. You can then tap out extra (this can usually be put back in glitter container). Let it dry for an hour or so, then put hanger back in and decorate.
Have fun !!

Re-inker Glass Ball

I also did these for the craft fair. So thought I'd post one. This one is all SU except for the stickles on top. The SU rub-ons worked best on the balls, the ones from Michaels didn't want to stick so I made most of them using SU rub-ons. All were made using SU re-inkers. I did use glitter from both SU and others.

More Test Tubes

I am doing a craft fair next week so I made a heap of these, here are a couple. I just love making these they're so easy and look so darn cute.

I used SU Ribbon, Chunky Glitter on the corks, the rub-ons are from Michaels but you could use SU ones and the little dangle things (don't ya like the technical term) are from Wallymart. I also put stickles on the bottoms which took about 48 hrs to dry.

SU paper pinecone

I love blue at christmas. The new ski slope paper is beautiful. I really like how this came out.

I used Ski Slope Paper, Foam Ball, SU Felt Snowflakes, Gem Brad, SU ribbon and some from Michaels and pins to hold it all together.

I found the tutorial at SCS but not sure where.

A Cardinal Christmas

Another new set from the SU Holiday Mini. If SU keeps this up I will have to mortgage one of the kids. The new holiday mini catty is wonderful.


Stamps: A Cardinal Christmas, Best Yet( Level 1 hostess set).


CS: Kiwi Kiss, Ski Slope DSP, Rose Red, Whisper White


Ink: Assorted SU ink pads, Real Red, Stazon Black


Access: SU Cutter Kit, Coluzzle, Vanilla Hodgepodge, SU Snowflake Punch, Crystal Effects, Pop dots

What a Hoot !!

I coloured this image months ago and thought it was time to do something with it. So here it is.

Stamps; Gina Ks - Owl always love you

CS: Barely Banana, Regal Rose, Basic Black, Whisper White

Ink: Barely Banana, Regal Rose, Assorted SU ink pads

Access: Little gems (I found these in the wedding isle at walmart), SU white gel pen, Prima flowers, SU vanilla brad, Ribbon, SU scalloped punch, SU corner punch (used to make scalloped circle), Pop dots

Snow Dudes

I just think this set is too cute. I cased the layout from SCS, don't know whos it was but thanks for the idea.
Stamps: Holiday lineup
CS: Bashful Blue, Whisper White and SU DSP
Ink: Stazon, Assorted SU ink pads
Accessories: Sizzix, Cuttlebug Folder, Filigree Brad, Felt Snowflake