Enjoy It: Santa's Plane

santa's plane
Originally uploaded by udandi.

My mom and aunt saw this inflatable and said it had their brother written all over it! We all chipped in and my aunt bought it. Then one night a few weeks ago, dinner plans were made with the uncle and aunt who were to receive this. One cousin claimed to be late so he could stop by and set it up so they would see it when they arrived home from dinner.

As our aunt tells it, our uncle nearly sent her through the windshield when he slammed on the brakes after she exclaimed there's a plane in our yard!

I took this photo Christmas Eve when our aunt and uncle hosted the whole family for Christmas!

Makes It: Advent calendars

advent calendars
Originally uploaded by udandi.

Because it will probably be another week or so before I post again, here's a shot of the advent calendars I made for my nieces and nephews.

I had the memo boards that I had cut from sheet metal, filed, punched and put eyelets in the top so I just used them to create the advent calendar rather than go out and buy cookie sheets.

I had most of the trinkets or put together the other pieces from stuff I had in my stash (because I collect a ridiculous amount of stuff).

Merry Christmas!

christmas plates
Originally uploaded by udandi.

My sister gave me these plates a couple years ago and when I pulled them out and put them on my newly made table runner, I realized how well they coordinated!

The table runner is made from two dish towels. A couple of years ago after Christmas my mom bought bought these towel sets for future gifts. I raved about the look and ended up getting a set last year! Then this year when I was talking about sewing them together to make a table runner, she said she had another set of towels. I took the two white towels, butted the seams together and sewed a red grosgrain ribbon over them and hung up the two red towels!

Decorate It: Christmas

christmas decorations
Originally uploaded by udandi.

I hung ribbon from magnetic clips (which I made from bulldog clips glued to magnets) and then taped my Christmas cards to them.

In the middle is my advent calendar, which I love! Behind my stocking is where I keep the rest of the magnetic pieces that go on the calendar. As I said previously I enjoyed making this calendar so much I two more for my little buddies, which they are getting for Christmas gifts.

I am so grateful for metal doors and magnets!

$5 Magazines Subscriptions

Last year I cashed in some MyCokeRewards and got a few titles free from Hearst Magazines, so now I get notices for cheaper subscriptions (click the link for the list).

These are our lowest prices of the year — but they won't last long. At just $5 these are terrific as main gifts or stocking stuffers. Click here to start shopping now and don't forget to pass this offer along.

Personally, I am not much for magazines because the lack of quality reading in relation to the volume of advertising. Any long-time readers of Fitness notice its content has been going down the tubes? More magazine blurbs direct readers to go online for content and sure fitness videos are great, but it seems they are sacrificing print content for online content. If I wanted to read an online fitness site, I would find a free blog, not pay for a magazine! I only have the subscription because I was hit up by the neighbor kid fund raising for the same grade school I attended and I could not weasel out of it.

"If you are chilly, here take my sweater"

You know you have cool coworkers when you've known them all of five weeks, you tell them your birthday party will be at a bar, the suggested attire is Christmas sweaters and they are not afraid to go ALL OUT in public these holiday beauties! The same cannot be said for the long-time friends who showed up in blah daily wear - for shame!

Hopefully every one who came out to celebrate had as much fun as me because I certainly enjoyed blending new and old friends!

Ingrid Michaelson - The Way I Am (video)

(blacked out eyes for privacy purposes)

Don't forget: thank you giveaway!

thank you giveaway!
Originally uploaded by udandi.

To enter, post a comment by Friday, December 7 of what you are thankful for!

The goodies include a blank lunchbag album for you to fill with your own photos, a caterpillar or exploding book, little package of paper bits for decorating it to your liking, an empty CD booklet, wine glass charms, marble magnets and a blank stamped card.

Post on the original post, here.

Congrats to E.C. of Not Living on Ramen!

Make It: Stamper Sweater Cards

Bundled Up Cards
Originally uploaded by udandi.

I copied this card design a couple of years ago from the gallery on splitcoaststampers. I like that the person used a pop tab a buckle on the ribbon embellishment.

Now is an appropriate time to share this card since Friday night is my birthday-Christmas sweater party!

Christmas Decorating!

Santas
Originally uploaded by udandi.

At Thanksgiving, my little buddy took the lead in decorating Gramma's Christmas tree, which was a nice treat for all involved because Gramma got her tree up, it gave girlie something to do and Gramma says she thinks of girlie when she she looks at it.

I am certain mom will feel the same way when she passes her fireplace mantel of Santas - ha! I stood on the stoop and helped arrange them for her. I tied the same stockings we hung as children on the banister. Then, I sat around while mom went through more boxes of decorations deciding what will work in this house since this is the first year for Christmas in this house. It will be fun to see what else she puts together! I am going to take photos and keep them on flickr so my sister can see since I do not think she will be down for a visit and so next year mom remembers where she put stuff!

As for my place, I will unpack my little pink ceramic Christmas tree that Gramma painted years ago. Last year when she thought she was on her last year (she's dramatic some times) she was unloading stuff so I called dibs on this kitschy little baby pretty much knowing I'd be the only one and it's all mine now! It probably only will be plugged in for a photo for this blog and if I have guests over :)

More Advent Calendars!

Watchmaker tins on an art canvas [splitcoaststampers]

Various tins above a door

A gadoodle of links [crafty daisies]

Make It: An Advent Calendar

This week I remembered that I saw advent calendars made on cookie sheets, but I could not remember where and apparently I did not bookmark the site (d'oh). In searching, I found this example 2006, her 2007 verison, this one on flickr and another on flickr.

I wanted to challenge myself to make my own without purchasing any new supplies! Besides, the cookie sheets at Big Lots were 4 bucks, the ones at the dollar stores seemed too small for the size of the trinkets I planned to use and I have some sheet metal memo boards [example: millie's memos] left from the udandi shop that would be the perfect canvas!

I have not completed all the trinkets, but so far I have pulled out Scrabble tiles, dominoes, buttons, bottle caps, mini wooden blocks, wooden tags and paper tags to use. I am having so much fun, I think I might make two more one for each little buddies' house (for use during next season, obvs). I found two little Christmas tins in my collection-o-crap stash that I can put all the trinkets in (since I am not using a cookie sheet and cannot stash them on the back side). I might spring for some new, smaller rub-on numbers for their calendars.

I think most of the appeal comes from the trinkets for the numbers, but if that is too much to do or you think it could look too junky for your holiday decor, marble magnets on various sheets of scrapbook paper would be just as colorful!

Also, I like that Teresa McFayden suggests these would be fun to create as a group with each person making a batch certain numbers to swap with the others. I'll have to see if I remember this about Halloween 2008....

I'll post a photo when I complete mine. If you make one and post a photo, let me know!

P.S. Don't forget the giveaway!

Related Links:
More Advent Calendars!
Decorate It: Christmas