Thursday, December 10, 2009

Vintage Stocking Stuffers!!

Happy Thursday friends!!  How are you all doing this winter's day?  Are you finished all of your holiday shopping?  I'm THRILLED to say that I am FINISHED with all of my shopping---YAY!!!  The only things left to get are some candy & stocking stuffers--now for the wrapping.  My hubby and I wrap all the presents in one night before Christmas---it's like a wrapping extravaganza, LOL!  We have snacks, watch movies & wrap until we're all done--it's a tradition for us & then we get up off of the floor and we're sore as heck!! But we always have fun :o)

I love having traditions--something to look forward every year ya know.  Like on Christmas Eve, we always go out to dinner--just the 4 of us.  It's a bit of a relaxation present for me since I always fix a huge Christmas dinner for the whole family.  Then we come home and the kids open 2 presents--1 is always new pajamas and the other is a small toy or game--then we get our jammies on, sack out on the couch & watch some Christmas movies and read a new Christmas story before bed!  Then hopefully the kids don't get us up until 7 am, they have to wait upstairs until I've turned on all the Xmas tree lights (all 10, hee hee), turned the Xmas music on and James sets up the video camera.  Then an unwrapping frenzy occurs, James is the lucky "plastic toy getter-outter" (they package stuff like it's gonna go thru a tsunami) and I get breakfast ready which always includes some gigantic, yummy sticky rolls! YUM!  Just a peek into our world during the holidays for ya, hee hee!

What is your favorite holiday tradition?  (If you leave a comment with an answer---some lucky commenter will win a few & new yummy goodies from me that I like to use all the time)!!

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NewsBitz:

-I am happy & so thrilled to announce that I accepted a fabulous position on Gina K's new Card Club Kit's DT!  It will be a fun & creative dt full of inspiring ideas for you, and I can't wait to get started alongside all those talented ladies!!


-You are not seeing spots on my blog, LOL!  That is snow falling (the only kind I like to have around me is the fake kind, hee hee) on my blog :o)  If you too want snow on your blog it's super easy to do--go HERE to get instructions on how to do it (these instructions are for blogger blogs only)

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Vintage Stocking Stuffers!!



So today I've created a fun little gift set for the holidays using a fabulously cute new Holiday Magnolia stamp called "Christmas Eve Tilda" from Magnolia-licious.  There are so many wonderful, new holiday stamps from Magnolia--that it's hard for me to figure out which one's I want to use first, hee hee!  I really like this Tilda though because she can be used for so many other occasions other than the holidays (birthdays, weddings, showers, etc) which makes her uber-versatile!  To go with the card I also made this fun stocking-gift-card holder (you can find the instructions & printable template right HERE)--they're so much fun to make & easy too!  My papers are from Little Yellow Bicycle (red/cream dp), Melissa Frances (brocade ornaments) and SU cs.


For the card I used alot of distressing on this card to go along with the vintage feel---when distressing I use my Tonic Distress Tool (it makes the job very quick & easy) and then I add Ranger Distress Ink (in old paper) to the edges.  Tilda was colored with copics and I added Stickles to her shirt & hairbands.  The music background behind her is a CB embossing folder as is the embossing on the red cs.  I used one of my brand new Fancy Tag Nestabilities for the swirls (I just cut it in half & added it to the edges of my image).  I added some pearls and the sentiment is from PTI's "Stocking Prints" set.

(COPICS USED: Dress-B97,B95,B93,B91/Sash & Cuffs R24,E08,R22,R20/SleevesE41,E42/Hair-E27,E33,E53)  Tip for making NEW Copic Colors--I needed a brick red which copic doesn't make, so to create it I colored with R24 and then added E08 on top to create the red I needed--don't be afraid to layer colors & try color combos out!!  You can add W2/3 to reds also to make them deeper in tone.



This side view shows the paper piecing of the present & then I double stamped her arm/hand to create a raised effect!

This cute lil stocking is actually a gift card holder (see open below) but it also makes a great Christmas ornament.  I like to hand lil gift card holders on the tree for Christmas morning for my kids & hubby and these will look fabulous this year.  So quick & easy to make--just print the template out on your cs (get template HERE), decorate and put together.  I just added all the same elements that I used on my card to the stocking, only change I made to the template was to punch a hole in the corner & thread some cording thru so I can hang it on the tree.


View of it open with the gift card nestled inside---isn't it cute?  The sentiment on the inside is from PTI's "Stocking Prints" set.  So if you're looking for some fun ways to pack up your gift cards--I would highly recommend making these :o) Easy, quick & fun!!

Today is James' grandmother's funeral so I will be out most of the day--thank you again for all your sweet comments & support over the past few days.  I'll see you back here tomorrow!



101 comments:

  1. wow suzanne what a great christmas stockingcard,, so sweet, mm a christmas tradition here in holland,, both the christmas days i must work iam working in how do you say it in english, i come by oldpeople at home homecare, i help them with showering washing help them with ther food ect iam ,some kind of nurse without the injection and big wounds ,, but if i come home we drink choclatemilk with creme, and we eat christmas bread and cookies,, later i cook for my parents a meal ,we watch movies ore play monopoly,i never win grrr,we keep it simple but cosy big hugs christa

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  2. WOW, you guys are busy on Christmas Eve. Our only tradition with our 3 kids (17,19,21) is to open one gift on Christmas eve. Our used to be ridiculous visiting around to different people's houses and then my parents were always at my house waiting for us. They were fun years, but I must admit, I LOVE the quietness!!

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  3. This Christmas card is really cute!
    My favorite things during this time of the year is making all those presents knowing that you'll make people you love smile ^^

    Hugs
    Xxx

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  4. oh so sweet card holder, sounds like your hearth is warm and your room filled with love and family, enjoy. Sandi

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  5. Xmas eve is usually simple with dinner out. Our family has always loved to get up early, our son (now 30+) would pile the presents in front of each of us and we would all watch each other open one at a time. Even now that tradition still goes on. Suzanne our prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time. Congrats on being included on the Gina K DT. Your work is so inspiring.

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  6. What adorable projects today - love that stocking especially!

    One of my favorite traditions is to read "The Night Before Christmas" every Christmas Eve. Even though I'm all grown up, I still enjoy visiting my mother on Christmas Eve and we always read that book before we go to bed. Thanks for a chance to win!

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  7. Wonderful card and stocking!!
    Congrats on your GinaK DT venture!
    Our Christmas traditions sound like yours except I was the one that got to wrap all of my moms presents in addition to mine!! I love to wrap!!
    Now that my child is in her twenties, we don't get up early. Christmas breakfast is a must and then a leisurely gift opening takes place.

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  8. Things are different for the holidays now that our children are grown which takes some adjustment. A lot of our traditions have changed, but one thing that gets me in the Christmas spirit is going to church on Christmas Eve night. It doesn't really seem like Christmas until I'm reminded that it really is all about Christ's birth.

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  9. Thanks for the snow blog instructions, that's as close as I'll have to snow at my house in California. lol. Wow, you're already done shopping? Let's see, a family tradition of ours is to make a Gingerbread House every year. Kids are never too old for this tradition. My daughter loves it, my son doesn't until he gets started and then it's a lot of fun. By the end we've all ate a ton of candy that was supposed to be be used for decorating. I think I might add cinnamon rolls to our Christmas morning, sounds yummy. My thoughts are with your family today.

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  10. Congrats on your GKD DT assignment. I have admired your work for quite some time and look forward to getting to know you better through GKD. I am a past Center Stage Designer and I can tell you the folks at GKD are the best to work with. Your Christmas plans sound wonderful. Our boys are older, but we all still look forward to Christmas morning.

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  11. Hi Suzanne, oh I just love this set. What a wonderful idea with the stocking. The colors are soo great together. I am sorry to hear that James' grandmother passed. My prayers are with you. I would have to say that one of my favorite Christmas traditions is putting up the decorations with my kids. They just love to help me bring it all out and go over all the memories each and everyone brings to us. Then we sit and listen to my music box that Jerry bought me for Christmas after we were first married. I only bring it out this time of year, so it is really special for all of us...Lol..The four of us together making our memories is my fav. thing of all. :D Lisa G

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  13. Very Cute stocking gift card holder! We always bake cookies for Santa, go to Church and read a few Christmas stories on Christmas eve. I think it is my favorite day of the year!

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  14. I love the stocking card holder. cute idea! On Christmas Eve afternoon, my husband would always take the kids out bowling, ice skating, movie or something else fun. this would give me a chance to get presents out of hiding places, wrapped and stashed away. They loved getting out and it got them all tired, so they were eager to go to bed that night. Fun times!

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  15. Hi Suzanne...Love the new Tilda, she is just adorable!! And the stocking card looks great. Sorry for the loss of James' grandmother.
    This will be the first Christmas with no child home for Santa to visit and my baby is 26 so that tells you how much we love Santa. Our tradition has been Christmas eve with my in-laws. When the girls were little I always made Christmas jammies for them and they got to put them at their grandparents house. Then they had to wait Christmas morning until we were up with the camera before they could see what Santa had left for them on the fireplace. Then we would go to my parents house for the rest of our Christmas. It was the best but now we are working on some new traditions and memories that I'm sure we will enjoy as well.

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  16. My husband and I don't have kids, so most years we are traveling cross-country to my family or his. But we try to stay home at least every third year, and our traditional way to spend Christmas is to have yummy hors d'ouevres on Christmas Eve and open our presents (including stockings), sleep in VERY late on Christmas, make a whole chicken in the slow cooker (sort of the "turkey" but more manageable for two) for Christmas dinner, then on Dec. 26 I make chicken soup and chicken stock all day on the stove. It smells wonderful!

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  17. Wow I love traditions too! So nice to hear yours. Some of ours are. We spend a whole day listening to music and baking cookies. Morning till night, plus making lefsa. It is a Norwegian treat. Kinda looks like a large flour taco shell but made with potatoes. Another one we do is all of the family stays home one night and trims the tree. We always buy one new ornament for the tree and place that one on last before lighting the tree. The grandkids are getting into helping with this tradition.

    KymKreates

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  18. That holiday stocking is WAY cute! One of my favorite family traditions is the round robin candy exchange. Everyone wraps up a box of something sweet, and then we draw numbers - first person gets to pick from the cache of candy - second person gets to either STEAL the first person's pick or pick a new gift - and it goes on from there - lots of giggles and fun.

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  19. AH! Traditions! I have recently learned that once the kids get married and move away, you need to recreate traditions for you and your hubby. Scaling down and/or eliminating some sure makes the Season Bright and more at ease to enjoy the holidays. Will still try to do the oyster stew for Christmas Eve and attend church service that evening. Will give my gift of time to altar guild and return home to open gifts or just relax before going to bed awaiting the dance of the sugar plums.
    Blessed Christmas to all.

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  20. Congratulations on the GinaK DT position. I saw that over on her blog. Fabulous news!!!

    Love your card and stocking! Fantastic and the colour are great!!

    Oh, and you asked about traditions. Well, they have changed now since I am a grownup with my own family. Now, my favourite thing is Boxing Day at my parents' place with lots of siblings and nieces and nephews. It is loud and crazy but I LOVE it!! That is Christmas for me!! :)

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  21. Suzanne sorry to hear about James grandmother gentle hugs and prayers headed your way !

    Your card is just to cute I love it !

    Traditions- on Christmas Eve we all go to church, and then I take all my presents to my sons and we put them under the tree after the youngest has went to bed. We relax and enjoy family time. Christmas night we all go to the movies !

    Congrats on your new DT position
    Hugs

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  22. Beautiful, beautiful! I never get off the traditional colors. Love her in the baby blue.

    Right now we have 14+ inches of snow with -6 and -15 with wind chill. It snowed for 48 hours and I never got out of my pj's I just made cards like a mad women. LOL

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  23. My favorite tradition is that our grown son spends the night on Christmas Eve, and we get up Christmas morning acting surprised that Santa has been to our house. We open our gifts and eat a big breakfast together.

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  24. Beautiful card & gift card holder!
    I love EVERYTHING about Christmas, but on Christmas Eve, we drive around town looking at Christmas lights then go home and our son gets to open 1 present, always pj's or slippers or something like that. It's so fun.
    Blessings!
    ~H

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  25. Our Christmas tradition, since our family is so large and my daughters have their own families now is to gather at my house on Christmas Eve and open all the presents and eat. Christmas day we all meet at my Sisters with my family.

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  26. Beautiful set, Suzanne! Love the papers and colors you chose and the layout is wonderful!! Great gift card holder. Thanks for the link. As far as traditions, my favorite is probably Christmas Eve, we always watch It's a Wonderful Life and Miracle on 34th Street (both old b&w versions), with our brandy and eggnog. YUMMO! hugs!

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  27. oh my gosh! These are awesome!!! Tilda looks so cute and I love your stocking gc holder!
    You so ROCK!!

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  28. I love these stocking gift card holders! How do you get your kids to stay in bed until 7! haha. Our tradition, that we carried over from my childhood, is for Santa to leave the stockings on the end of the bed. This is with the intention of keeping Jordan in bed later. It doesn't work for me and it didn't work for my parents, hehe.

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  29. Wow, you really have alot going on, but it sounds wonderful. Our traditions have sort of come from necessity, My sister and I have different mother's so our time is always split. We manage to get together with our Dad on Christmas Eve. Since I am the cook in the family and I always work that day, we order take out so we can spend more time together catching up with each others lives. We don't completely ignore the kitchen. I make cookie dough the night before so my sister and I can make cookies. Even at 28, she is still our "Cookie Monster". At some point, she and I sneak off to my room and watch Rudoph and Frosty that I have recorded for us. On Christmas day she is off to her Mom's and Mother in laws. I spend the day with Dad and make the tradtitional Christmas ham dinner and suffer thru football!

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  30. Again I am so sorry for your families loss. Just know she is in a much better place & she will always be in your hearts.

    Congrats on your new position. They are luck to have you & I am excited to see all of your wonderful work.

    Todays creation was perfect. I might have to try that one for this Christmas. What a fun present.

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  31. Every x-mas eve my dad sleeps over and he used to read dr. seuss the grinch that stole christmas until the last couple of years, now he is the grinch and I or one of the older kids read it to my 5 year old

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  32. There is a traditional Christmas breakfast that has been in my family since I was a very little girl. After opening Christmas gifts my mom would make waffles with whip cream and raspberries to go on the top. I continued the tradition with my boys ... to the point that when our house was a total loss from fire just before Christmas they were as worried about our "special" breakfast as Santa finding us. Last year for the first time my oldest(35) was not coming home for Christmas, so I sent him a waffle iron and recipe as part of his Christmas gift. He was thrilled.

    I am so sorry to hear of the loss in your family.

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  33. Love the card! Congrats on Gina K also. Our family tradition is reading choosing one of Arnold Ytreeide's books, Tabitha's Travels, Jotham's Journey and Bartholomew's Passage each night. It is a wonderful family advent/family devotion.

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  34. Suzanne, I love this set you made! Tilda is so cute (they all are!) and that embossed piece behind her adds a very nice touch, plus the paper piecing you did on her gift also! Thanks for the link to the stocking stuffer pattern! Hugs, Cami

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  35. What a great set. A lot of hard work has gone into this. I love it.
    My thoughts are with you and your family today.

    Kylie xo

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  36. Thinking of you today...hugs!
    Congrats on the new DT!
    Gorgeous creations!

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  37. Beautiful and gorgeous set. How sweet. Congratulations on the new DT Postition! Have fun!!
    Hugs,
    Cabio

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  38. Suzanne, I have been reading your blog for a long time. Your work is exemplary and simply beautiful. Totally amazing.
    Traditions are important for us all. We don't have children but do have two male ten year old cats, brothers. They are a joy to watch with their Christmas stockings and a few presents. Who knew? They love the simple things and the handmades most of all. They like gift cards, too, lol.

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  39. Such a sweet card. Love all the layers and the way you put some of it on an angle. We have cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning also. They are made the night before by the two oldest girls and ready to bake in the morning. Only this year tradition will be broken because the oldest can't come home. So sad. These two always wrap my presents and make them from all sorts of men that I may have met through the year. (no romantic interests just different people) Lots of fun.

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  40. The stocking is wonderful!! Thank you
    so much for all the details. And
    especially the tip on creating a
    deep red Copic. Our tradition for
    Christmas centers around the special
    food preparations. One that I love
    is a cardamom sweet bread that we
    shape into balls then a tree or
    whatever your heart desires:-)

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  41. My favorite tradition is visiting my aunt and cousins on Christmas night. This actually started when I was a little girl...the home has changed, and the relatives are less now, but I still look forward to seeing everyone.

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  42. We go downtown to DC every year and visit the national tree and the tree at the Capitol. They are both so beautiful.

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  43. Congrats on the new DT position!

    Beautiful dress on Miss Tilda; I'd love to find one just like it for our DDs. Awesome gift card holder, too!

    We have several Christmas traditions, but my favorite is waiting until Christmas day to place Baby Jesus in the manger of our nativity set.

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  44. Thinking of you with prayer with your recent loss.
    Our family traditions are different. My family is Norwegian so we have fish on the 23th for dinner, my husband's family is Italian so it a pasta treat on the 24th and we have a roast on the 25th. We open our stockings as we wake up but no presents until after our pancakes with some of the blueberries we picked during the summer made into a sauce on top. Yum. I make both Norwegian and Italian cookies too.

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  45. One of our traditions also is to open 1 gift on Christmas Eve and it is always new pajamas, got to have nice PJ's for the pictures. We always go to my MIL's for Christmas Day dinner so I always make our Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve then we sing Christmas carols. Friends and neighbors stop in for some Christmas cheer and then we go to Midnight Mass, it is always a beautiful service with lots of singing.

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  46. Funny how the one present before Christmas day they get to open is the same as mine for my kids, new pj's for awesome pictures. Only I have learned to pre wash those before so that the chemicals do not give them the hives all over for Christmas day pictures!

    Tradition, Christmas day we have brunch with our childless neighbors and always do a gift exchange! My neighbor started it and the first year you can imagine what a heal I felt like when she had gifts, I jumped up and went oh my gosh I will be right back , my son and I ran grabbed some awesome things I had new in the house wrapped and ran back within 5 minutes! My husband told me later that was awesome!

    Thanks for a chance to win some cool stuff!

    Denise Wells
    mamascollections@aol.com

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  47. We have a couple traditions for Christmas. We all gather to decorate the tree. We put on Christmas music and have snacks and the kids all find ornaments they received as children and reminisce about the good ole days! Out favorite treat at Christmas times are buckeyes (peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate). Since we travel for Christmas we've always had Christmas early at home and the kids were allowed to take one or two of their toys in the car to keep them busy. And then we traveled and had celebrations with both sides of the family for several days. Great fun and great memories!

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  49. Suzanne, what a wonderful holiday tradition your family has! Ours is very quiet - we have dinner, just the four of us. I make Cornish game hens, stuffing and green beans. Then we go to Christmas Eve service at church. Gifts are opened the next morning - no early alarms! My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family this holiday season. Kerry Peasland

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  50. When I was a child, my family's tradition was very similar to yours - we'd all get 2 presents on Christmas Eve (one being new pj's) and sack out on the couch watching movies. Now that I'm all grown up, hubby and I open our stockings on Christmas Eve, and we always include a small gag gift for giggles. :)

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  51. Suzanne, I come to your blog daily, like visiting with a friend. I truly enjoy reading what you have to say and looking at your lovely cards. My husband and I have been married for 27 years and have spent every Christmas vacation with his parents, even after the kids came. Over the years we have sometimes come back home for new years but I have to say I have never cooked a Christmas turkey. Once our kids came I tried to have our own Christmas at our home before we all left for the in-laws. We take a night to go around and see the lights. Sing carols in the car. I start playing Christmas tunes Dec 1 and watching all the Christmas movies. We have a santa float that comes around our neighbourhood and collects toys. I always buy a stack of toys to give them and get so excited when I hear the sirens and see the lights flashing. I am usually the only one that runs outside to watch and wave at Santa. This year I invited my daughter's boss over for dinner with her little girl. It was so great to watch her face light up. I also have a china set in Poinsettia and get it out to have our tea at night with. There are just a lot of little things I do so that the family knows it is Christmas in our home.

    Merry Christmas to you and your family.

    Lorri

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  52. Relly enjoyed hearing about your traditions. Our kids are grown and live in other states, so we enjoy our phone conversations around Christmas, reflecting on our blessings and the reason for the season-Jesus, listening to Christmas music, and watching the specials...a rather quiet time, but enjoyable.
    Jan Castle

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  53. Hey Suzanne,

    Angela here...we met at Marti's alcohol ink class and I've followed your blog every day since. I'm amazed at all the things you create. Congrats on the new DT position and my sympathies on the loss of your family member. I hope your family begins to heal quickly. Some of our traditions are similar to yours..with opening a gift or two Christmas eve, and then with making the kids wait upstairs until we're all ready in the morning...usually by about 7am. Another tradition we have is that we all draw names around the beginning of November, and each person is required to hand make a gift for that person. Anything they want...but it's a surprise. We don't find out til Christmas day who had our name and what they created for us. I've found that it's really turned my kids from "wanters" into "givers"...and what better gift is there than that? Have a great Holiday soon...will tune in Saturday (I'm here every day) to see who the winner is...

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  54. Merry Christmas!! I love the stocking and of course your wonderful card. I was happy to see you have joined up with Gina. Every Christmas Eve we get in the car and drive to see all the Christmas. There is one particular street that we always go down, it is very special and WONDERFUL. Everyone has decorations. People come from all around to see it. We go home, kids go to bed and I finish up the wrapping and get everything ready for morning. I love Christmas. I am hoping for a white one this year (sorry Suzanne:))

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  55. Sounds like a wonderful holiday!!! I wish I were done with my shopping. I'm getting there but I've some that are just really hard to buy for and don't yet have a list for me!!! My favorite tradition is one that we just started last year and probably only have the opportunity to do this year and next but....we are in Hawaii and the ships at Pearl Harbor deck out in lights and give boat tours to go sight see!

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  56. I think right now my favorite Christmas tradition is my husband reading Twas the Night Before Christmas on Christmas Eve. We have no children yet...but for the past 7 years I've still asked him to sit down and read it to me in front of the Chrismtas tree.

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  57. Now that my husband and son are gone, I have created a new tradition over the last few years by spending Christmas Eve at my daughter's house, and we wake up Christmas morning, fix breakfast for her, my son-in-law and me and open presents. It's a different happy, but we realize he and my son would want us to be happy doing those "family things" they would have done with us.....

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  58. hi suzanne!
    cute stuff! i think i have a really hard time around christmas lately because of the lack of traditions anymore. me & the boys always had the same routine while they were little. now they are grown and less interested, drake is gone, plus adding hubby (not to into holidays), and the crazy 3 year old. so we are in the position of trying to establish new traditions i suppose but i am honestly having a rough time with it......

    been thinking of you, james & the kids all week. big hugs of course! oh and i am SO totoally jealous that you will get to meet PW. i was just looking at pics of a recent book signing she did and wondering if she might do one around here.......tho i am a bakerella guru myself......i'd give my right arm to hang with her!!!!!!!!!!!

    HEY be sure to grab the latest cardmaker mag!!

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  59. Your work is fantastic and I love what you do with the Magnolias.
    Our tradition when we were kids was going to church on Christmas Eve and gathering with family afterwords. Christmas morning, we had to be up, dressed, beds made, and have breakfast before opening gifts. A very long wait when you are a small child!

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  60. Suzanne,
    I love your card and gift card holder they are so adorable! Thanks for the link to the pattern for the stocking love it! Congrats on your new DT. I do not know how you have time to do everything.
    We always do Christmas with the kids and grandkids the weekend before Christmas mainly because they have so many places to try and get to it just makes things easier and we can spend more time together. Chrismas eve we go to the nursing home and spend time with my Mother in Law. She is 89 and not doing well this could be her last Christmas with us. We want to make it as special as we can for her this year. Christmas day we always travel to my parents and spend the day with them.
    Hugs,
    Nancy

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  61. I have 2 favorite traditions. The first is we put our decorations up the weekend after Thanksgiving. It's a fun time! The 2nd would be Christmas Eve. We usually watch a movie together & open one gift before going to bed.

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  62. Our 7 yr. old grandson sleeps over, we make & eat :-) cookies and then we all watch Polar Express together. We've been doing this since he was 3. You should see him do the hot chocolate dance with the waiters!!

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  63. I love your trees (all 10 of them). My house has 15 (granted several of them are small). My family has 2 traditions. Every year, I buy my 2 kids an ornament. Even though they are both adults, they still look forward to finding the special ornament. They also open 1 present on Christmas Eve. My pets also receive an ornament, however, my cat, Simba, passed in August and opening the ornaments this year was tough. They still went up on the tree tho, so my kids can have a special rememberance of our 15 yrs. with him.
    Thanks for your great inspiration!

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  64. Wow! Great idea, I never tought of making a card shaped as a stocking!

    I love your work and check your blog every morning.

    In my family, our best Christmas tradition is to go to the movies on Christmas day. There's nothing like it and it allows us to reconnect every year, whatever we are doing, we know that on Christmas day we go to the movies. And there are always great movies to see so it's always perfect!!!

    Michelle

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  65. Xmas Tradition - Gotta be on Xmas morning everyone piles into my bed and we open the pressies there - paper flying - love it, hope it goes on forever though they are now 16 and 13, so not as wild as when they were younger..

    Merry Xmas and thanks for the chance to win

    Sarah

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  66. Every year since we have moved into our home we go and get a fresh cut Christmas tree. My two boys love to help their dad set up the tree. While the boys are awrrubf up the tree and getting the lights on, I am making hot chocolate and cinnamon rolls. Every year the boys pick out a new ornament for the tree and we all pick out a new family ornamant. We put on teh Christmas music and the boys start putting up the ornaments. It is so nice to hear them comment on each ornament. My husband and I sit on the couch while the boys put up the ornaments and act silly. It's a perfect way for us to start the holiday season. Happy Holidays everyone!

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  67. Traditions have been changing, as there have been health problems w/ Grandma, who is 96 now. My family has typically gotten together for a huge dinner, and presents for the kids (who are now teens/ young adults). I do love getting together with family, but everyone is scattered now- my son & his fam in Chicago, can't come because of the new baby due, we'll be in D.C. w/ my mom-in-law who has advanced alzheimers, so it's quite different this year. Just keeping my eyes on the true meaning of Christmas. Thanks Suz!

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  68. The adults draw names and we each have to make a "hand made" gift for that person. It is so funny to see the stress on the guy's faces and to see what they come up with,LOL.

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  69. I love traditions too! As a child our tradition was the same as yours, after we get home from church we would unwrap our Christmas pj's. We have continued this tradition with our own children now. We also always hang up our stockings on the stair steps right before bed.

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  70. Great post today! I have so many traditions...I don't have a favorite. My favorite one today is crafting with my friend Jill. We have made gifts for years. Either paper, wood or sewing with some baking thrown in there somewhere!

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  71. Your creations are always so beautiful! Love the stocking!
    My favorite traditions?
    One is we always watch A Christmas Carol every Christmas Eve!
    Another..and the most important..
    Christmas Dinner. A time to spend with my girls and their families..full of laughter, love, and good food.
    Oh..and don't forget the Black Friday Shopping! I save for it all year! Yep! 10 dollars out of my check in a Christmas Savings account!
    Happy Holidays!

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  72. Your creations are always so beautiful! Love the stocking!
    My favorite traditions?
    One is we always watch A Christmas Carol every Christmas Eve!
    Another..and the most important..
    Christmas Dinner. A time to spend with my girls and their families..full of laughter, love, and good food.
    Oh..and don't forget the Black Friday Shopping! I save for it all year! Yep! 10 dollars out of my check in a Christmas Savings account!
    Happy Holidays!

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  73. Hi Suzanne, holidays are always a sore spots for people like me, foreigners. I called myself an "astronauts", floating in the air but doesn't belong to anywhere. I've left my country since I was at a young age and have since then lived in Houston & now in California. So I do not have any family to celebrate any holidays with and I do not have any close friends to spend the holidays with neither. But I still like Xmas nevertheless ;)

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  74. Hi Suzanne,
    I have a story about how in Bulgaria we spent our time at Christmas Eve and Christmas
    For us is most important the Christmas Eve.
    On Christmas Eve all the family has dinner together. The hostess prepares nine meals without meat. Some of them are: beans, vine or cabbage sarmi (vine or cabbage leaves stuffed with rice), stuffed peppers, pickles, walnuts, apples, honey, ushaf round bread etc. The stuffed peppers could be prepared with rice or beans. According to the old tradition the peppers before being stuffed are dried on the sun. The pickles are made of vegetables- carrots, cucumbers, cauliflower, small peppers, garlic, and celery, tinned in special sauce of vinegar, oil and salt. There are always walnuts for everyone in the family on the table. To predict what the year is going to be, everyone cracks a walnut. If it is good and delicious, the year is going to be lucky, if the walnut is empty- you can expect bad year. The ushaf is a traditional Bulgarian meal. It is prepared by boiling dried fruits. Each hostess bakes round bread. We put a silver coin in it for luck. The oldest man in the family gives a piece of the bread to everyone. Who gets the coin will be lucky during the forthcoming year. An old Bulgarian tradition s not to clear the table till dawn comes. It is believed that the souls of the dead members of the family come back.
    On Christmas morning we open our presents and enjoy breakfast and lunche together, then is time to visit friends and family. It's the most wonderful time of the year for me :))))
    Have a great Christmas time with your family\
    Regards Renkata

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  75. Hi Suzanne,
    I come from a big Italian family and Christmas Eve is our big night. I'm afraid, it's all about food! LOL! We have a huge Italian fish dinner. About 8 different kinds of fish, at least! My mother's traditional linguine and seafood sauce is to die for, if you love fish, that is! lol. Three different shrimp dishes alone. Italian pastries, cakes and pies with espresso finishes our meal off. At that point, we can't move off the table because our bellys are so full! Lots of conversation; loud conversations, my dad, God Bless him is 87 yrs old and loves disputing with one of us over some thing or other! Christmas music playing in the background and just enjoying the togetherness. Around 10:30 to 11pm, my nieces start itching to open up at least one of the presents but we wind up opening all of them before midnight and it's showers of wrapping paper and ribbon flying all over the place! Christmas Day is more low key for us. A more relaxing day. We wake up late and open some more presents and cook a nice hearty breakfast. Go to mass, then we just hang and watch the parades or some Christmas movies. We cook a roast and vegetables and out come pastries again. Just lots of fun and happiness!! Any problems or worries are left at the door at this time. We live in the moment and thank God for everything we have!
    I wish you and your family the best this season and most of all, peace, harmony and good health to all!! :)
    Best Wishes,
    Roe
    roelo@aol.com

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  76. On christmas morning we all get up, Me and hubby and our four kids, we stay in our pjs. open gifts and then drive over to my inlaws, we stay in our jammies, we eat a HUGE breakfast and then open gifts there, we then go to my familys, It is a crazy busy day and i love it!!!!

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  77. Hi Suzanne! As usual, your creations are amazing!
    My favourite holiday tradition is for my family and I to go so a movie together on Christmas Day. It was an annual ritual when all us kids were younger.

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  78. How fantastic your home looks, and I can only imagine all the work you have to put in to it! My favorite tradition is the hanging of the Christmas stockings. My aunt made stockings for my brother and I when we were small - probably around 1954 or 1955. My stocking is made of green wool, and my brother's is made of red wool. They are about 30" long, with fur around the top of the stocking, lined with matching satin, and have the most beautiful stitched decorations all over the front of the stockings - sequins, felt, wool, wood, lace, yarn, pearls, rhinestones were all used. These stockings still reside at my mother's house, and she puts them out every year, and stuffs them every year, even though my brother and I are now 60 and 58, respectively.

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  79. Suzanne, you have such beautiful creations. I wish I was as talented as you, and as dedicated too! A few Christmas traditions in my family start with "black Friday" shopping, then baking cookies with the kids when they are off school, Church on Christmas Eve with a drive after to look at Christmas lights (which doubles as trying to get the kids to nod off), a quiet, relaxing Christmas day at home and after dinner we all sit down to play cards or a new game.

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  80. My favorite "tradition" is making the gingerbread house with my granddaughter since she was three. This is the first year we won't be doing this. I guess Sami and I will have to find a new "tradition".
    Sharon L

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  81. Love your stocking!! that is so cute ~ as are all of your things. My daughter and I have made a gingerbread house since she was very little. it started out just putting icing and candy on a cut down milk carton. now she is 15 and we still enjoy it just as much.

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  82. So many great comments, and your card and stocking are adorable! Oh my, we have so many traditions - the pickle gift, a new ornament for the children each year, the Pickle gift . . . but one of our favorites is a including chocolate mix packets in the stocking and having them and breakfast quiche before opening presents.

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  83. Great card and gift card holder stocking! Really cute! Your home decorating is fabulous! You are a very talented designer! Our family tradition is to watch (or fall asleep through) the movie Christmas Story with Ralphie and his little friend that puts his tongue on the flag pole to see if it sticks.

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  84. Oh Suzanne, I thought about you and your family yesterday! I hope you all find the peace and strength to get through this difficult time hun! Sending lots of hugs and prayers for all of you! :)

    Your creations today are AMAZING! Love the papers you have used and your coloring is absolutely perfect!!! I really wish I was your neighbor so I could come and craft with you! You are so inspiring!!! :) Now I have some more new creations to try!

    As for my favorite Christmas tradition....it would be Dec. 23rd my brother, sister, my hubby and I go to my parents house and we have dinner and celebrate our immediate family christmas. It is such a wonderful time spent together chit chatting. I just love spending time together with my immediate family before all the hustle and bustle of going to the extended families in the following days. :)

    BIG Hugs~
    Kim

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  85. What a great tradition. We have a few that we do if we are staying home. We all gather at my bil's home and play games on Christmas eve. It is fun to get together the night before and have fun together.

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  86. Congrats on your new DT position! I'm new to Copics so I love following your blog for your tips. We have a number of favorite traditions-tree tagging, Christmas caroling, baking cookies, making cards, and tucking the kids into bed in their new matching PJ's on Christmas Eve. Merry Christmas!!

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  87. Congrats on your new DT position! I'm new to Copics so I love following your blog for your tips. We have a number of favorite traditions-tree tagging, Christmas caroling, baking cookies, making cards, and tucking the kids into bed in their new matching PJ's on Christmas Eve. Merry Christmas!!

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  88. HI
    CONGREATS ON THE D.T POSITIONS.
    I LOVE THE CARD HOLDER STOCKING .
    WONDERFULL WORK .
    WE HAVE A WONDERFULL CHRISTMAS
    WE ALL WOULD GET TOGETHER AND BALED COOKIES. AND CANDY.WE DO THIS ON THE 23RD . AND ON THE
    24TH ALL OF USES WOULD GET TOGHTER
    WATCH CHRISTMAS SHOWS AND EAT CANDY AND COOKIES. AND ON CHRISTMAS ME AND HUBBY MAKES OUR ROUNDS TO EACH OF OUR 4 KIDS HOUSES .
    AND EAT A BIT AT EACH .OH YES ON THE 23RD WHEN BACKING COOKIES. IT IS GRANDMA. [ME] MY 3 DAUGHTERS AND 8 GRANDDAUGHTERS BACKING. WE HAVE A BLAST .
    YOU HAVE A WONDERFULL CHRISTMAS .
    HUGS SANDY.O
    littlelou49@aol.com

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  89. my favorite tradition is haveing all the decorations and enjoying it with family and friends.

    hugs,
    Joanne

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  90. Hi Suznne,
    Two magnificent projects here today. What a beautiful card! Love your stocking holders - made some myself to day but they were made far too quickly and don't measure up to yours at all.
    Gosh I tried all day yesterday to get a comment on your blog but our weather kept cutting out my computer so I am just here now!
    Congratulations on your new Design Job with Gina K.
    Our children have been gone for many a long year and our grandchildren don't live close by, so at Christmas it is just DH and I. My favourite tradtion goes back nearly 54 years; when I used to take my little brother to bed with me around 3:00 am on Christmas Morning when he would wake up and be awake. We were not allowed to get our parents up until 8:00 am so I told him stories and cuddled him to death until the time was just right!!!! Wonderful memories :o)
    Be safe on your trip to NY - horrible blizzard and lots of accidents there today and yesterday!
    Hugs, Candy

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  91. Dear Suzanne, first of all congrats on making Gina K's team. She seems like such a sweetie and so do you so you are bound to have so much fun together. Your addition has to excite her as much as you are excited about helping her.
    Your card and stock are beautiful. I always ohhhh and awe at your coloring.
    My life has changed so much in the last few years. Kids growing up, One getting married. My father passing away. Even so my two children save some time on Christmas Eve where our family can get together to celebrate my birthday. It doesn't matter what we do as long as the five of our are together. (That includes my sweet DIL).
    I do miss years past traditions but when you all love each other just being together is what means the most to me.
    Wishing you and your family God's blessings Suzanne.
    Hugs,
    Pam L.

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  92. My favorite Christmas tradition is having a meal with the family. I love the card you made. It's so cute

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  93. My favorite Christmas tradition is having my family all together on Christmas Eve and being with everyone.We have a non tradition dinner.We live here in Texas and love our barbecue so we have ribs and all the fixings to go with it.
    HUGS Linda W.

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  94. What a cute stocking card!! My mom always wanted to keep us home around Xmas, so our tradition was to eat crab legs on Xmas Eve. Yummo!

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  95. Christmas is my favorite holiday and I simply LOVE to spend time with my family and friends.

    One of my favorite things was always to see the smiles of the faces of my boys each Christmas morning when they made the dash downstairs to see what Santa had left them. A favorite tradition I have is one that we did back when I was a child. It's that ever popular picture that so many parents take of their kids sitting up on the staircase..."anxiously" awaiting for the perfect picture to be snapped, so they can race down to see their if Santa had made his visits.

    With my boys now grown now, I find that I really miss those "younger" days--and wish they had lasted a little longer! But,I will always have those adorable pictures and memories and cherish them.

    Merry Christmas and Happy Crafting!

    Lisa

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  96. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  97. Deebi27 said...

    A very Merry and a Happy New Year to you and yours. It's obvious your traditions are on firm ground.
    My husband Randy(2 years)and I go to his sister's for a family (40 - 50 family & Friends) get together. The funny thing is I have been going to these get to togethers for much longer than my husband and I have been married. Luck me, my best friend Jennifer (husband's niece)invited me every year for about 15 years. You see I celebrate Chanukah and Jennifer didn't want me to be at home by myself. The kids were always with the Catholic side of this ex-marriage. So as you can see life makes many unusual turns and if you are lucky like me, you get to carry a BIG smile!
    PS...thank you for the stocking template AND I have yet to see a Tilda stamp I didn't just love. Thanks!!

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  98. Love the stocking card holder! One of our traditions is going to my husbands family for Christmas dinner, then we play games all afternoon! Great fun.

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  99. We would place all the neices and nephews on the sofa every year and take a picture of them so excited after opening all their gifts and smiling or drooling so big. Awesome memory! Carol M in TX / carolswingster77@aol.com

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  100. So gorgeous creations Suzanne! I love Christmas time. we love to gether together for dinner and than we love to talk about year that is finishing.We laught a lot and love to open Christmas gifts! Hugs,moni

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  101. I just love all your cards. They are so layered and dimensional. As of our christmas traditions. Well, I love to take the kids to pick out our christmas tree then come home and decorate it. Another one is decorating a gingerbread house with kids. Not all the candies end up on the house but in their bellies. TFS!! FRiday

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I appreciate all your lovely comments and taking the time to stop by! hugz,Suzanne

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