The Funkie Junkie Boutique Challenge #26; Deck the Halls... A Merry Little Christmas

 December has been a whirlwind in this house, so far, and the CHRISTmas season seems pretty 'normal' in so many ways that are comforting; the baking, the decorating, the gift shopping/wrapping. Since I already relied on my ChiefHubby who does nearly all the grocery shopping now, and picks up other items I list for him; my own season has been pretty norm. It's actually pretty comforting in that way. I'd say the lights up on all the homes is probably the biggest change, as it seems to me that more folks are putting up more lights this year than in previous years. Not a bad thing, that. We all need to help 'light the way' for everyone else.

Today began a 'new life' in our house. (If you missed it, CLICK HERE .) And tomorrow is our "CHRISTmas Day" with the older set of Kids and Grands. We have a dinner (it ranges each year from pizza to the full works, with this year being baked ham sandwhiches, chips, baked beans and deviled eggs).We 'do' the CHRISTmas story of the Baby JESUS (by puppet, play, or story book with help of The Bible), then it's opening gifts and having fun together. We're pretty modest and have usually kept a limit of $125 for each kid as they grew up, so with the Grandbabies so little, the same limit is still there. Kids don't need toys care about toys unless they have someone to play with those toys alongside them. In this family: Memaw is the main 'toy', and I admit to having the time of my life with these three babies!!! We'll head up to Minnesota after the 25th to have another celebration with the younger set and Baby Pecan. He was only

a few weeks old last year, so this will be like his "1st Christmas", and I am looking forward to that.     Everything in between will be taken as it comes. This has never been my favorite season, by far. The time between Memorial Day and Labor Day is my favorite with July 4th being the day of the year most looked forward to for myself. I guess I had too few memories of 'good' Christmas seasons in my childhood. But GOD turned all that into great memories in my adulthood. Seeing this time of year through the eyes of the little ones can change even the worst Grinch- TRUTH!!

"Little" is what got me going in the direction of mini items for this Deck the Halls TFJB Challenge . And it made 2 songs stick like mud in my head... Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree, & Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas....that second one sets the scene for this set of "littles" in a theme we are to make some kind of seasonal make- that is not a card.

                                                   So let's hit the deck...lol!

I got my start with the Idea Hammer hitting me in the head in the middle

of JoAnn Fabrics (an empty store other than myself and two other ladies during a Dr Appt).

These were on sale half off. 

Tim's Christmas Box Covers matched up with TH Vignette Boxes and lights...

a mix that warns you: FUN!!!

Cutting out my 3 layer idea for the light set layout.

Cardstock (buy it right next to the copy paper at your local WalMart) & Frosted!

Ohhhhh....the retired things I find in my stash!!

They actually match right up with the latest TH releases!

These little TH Vignette Boxes- very easy

to measure and fit materials you want into the box.

Finding some plastics trash made me think of the EXACT feel of those old 

glass ball ornament boxes for real! I knew I'd find a reason for that very flimsy plastic!!

(The plastic for the candle box was stiffer than this.)

Drilling this wood is easy and fast. Done after the Picket Fence wash,

but before the next step. In order to see where the placement should be,

the wiring of the Lights Set needed to be glued inside first, whereas

the candle & lighting was all done last step for the Candle Box.

FINALLY!!! Excited to get my hands on that TH CRACKLE PASTE!!

Yeah; it was either out of stock or not there at all on most shelves and sites I kept an eye on.

Distressing everything for that aged (but new) look.

I'd advise a very much longer wire to start with.

Took me three tries to figure out that those tiny little beads needed a LOT of

wire in order to look their part as well as fit in the places I wanted.

Before the step of adding the lights- I had to know where the beads would be,

so the lights would light BEHIND the colors of the beads.

The effect would be ruined if all you saw was these little light heads popping up everywhere

else but behind the color for the impression that the beads were what was giving off the light.

So careful gluing was done while the box's inside fitting layers were in it as much as could be.

Here's a tip for pips: carefully bend the pips down and cut ONLY THE WIRE ABOVE

as closely to the pips as possible. You'll have each set of pips still snug within the paper wrap.

I wanted to ink them up with TH Alcohol Ink for holly berries.

Using Tim's helpful videos on his Facebook Live- VERY useful tools for the beginners

out there! Hey- I was one of those and still learn new tricks just like any other Crafter.

I took a college course (non-credit) for Floral Arranging and Fresh Flowers- no kidding- 

and that's what helps me with my greenery makes. Tim uses white to fling onto

his recent makes, but I wanted silver- to play on the box's words.

(Read on below.)

                And this is what the boxes look like when finished...

Those Tim candles are an obsession with me!!!

Happy dancing on this TH Crackle Paste- ordered from 

The Funkie Junkie Boutique !!

That lusciously crackled inside!! Not to mention the holly berries- cute!

But what gets me the most?

Tim's Box Covers- especially THIS ONE!

Those who know my love for Americana,

and my Firefighter (retired 2015) ChiefHubby; you get it. 

Here's my laugh on why I chose this to make the candle in- check out the 

sayings on the box. The top side (oops- got the wrong side) of the box says:

"FIRE PROOF CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS"

hehehe

This one was the most agravating thing to put together- only because of the 

wiring/jewel beads. I told my ChiefHubby after 2 takes inside of 2 hours

"I am going to have to type 'DON'T try this at home'!'

which got a laugh from him and a huge RELIEVED sigh from me.

Posting this earlier up above would have given away the final product, but I wanted to show

my original (Take 1) idea to get the jewels set into the plastic.

Using a Craft Knife (Exacto works, too), I cut capital I-shaped cuts and opened each

up to hold the bead inside, with the glue adhesive on the lower deck plastic.

The jewels kept popping out and the Glossy Accents (1st try was hot glue gun)

got all over the place- including on me. Not a happy camper, but unwilling to

give up on my idea, I tried to imagine those old plastic crate holders I hated so much

after Christmas was over...and tried to copy a slip-in kind of holder instead of the slots.

Take 2 really did work better. The hot glue gun helped seal it down enough for the 

GA glue to seal the deal. I wish I'd taken photos of scoring long pieces of the

TH IdeaOlogy Frosted (retired firm filmy/textured plastic sheets)

which I then cut into tiny strips fitted to each place I wanted the jewel beads to sit.

I caught on quickly that you can pretty much shape the wire to how you want for it

all to lay- FIRST- then deal with the beads dangling after, rather than fight the wire as you go.

Mmmmmmm....eye candy!

I have a few more things to make before the actual holiday gets here,

so there'll be one more post (at the least) for a CHRISTmas craft,

and then the New Year rings in for me by being invited as 

GUEST DESIGNER for

The Funkie Junkie Boutique Challenge Blog

in their first new Challenge of 2021!

The GD spot was from the win off "We Three Kings" Tag gifts which 

were delivered just in the past couple of days.

( CLICK HERE to review)

So I must give a shoutout of THANKS!! to all the folks who have commented

on my Blog, on FB, Instagram, Twitter, and by DM.

I can't help it; I am still always in awe that anyone thinks my stuff is as neat as I want it to be.

I'm very humbled and grateful to so many VERY TALENTED people out there

who shared their own makes and were happy to have folks like myself

follow them along on the journey. It's quite the trip!

Until next time...

Stay SAFE, Wash the HANDS, Wear the MASK,

and

HAPPY CHRISTMAS BLOGGING!!

A huge change in our lives is taking place TODAY!

    

The day my ChiefHubby has worked for is here. It feels kind of surreal to this homemaker wife; I am no longer going to be the only one home all day after 36 of our married years. But then, there were a lot of things that happened during that era; I also worked as much as I could in the first 5 years. After Brian was born, it was another 3 years until Brett came along, and I was home permanently. And I still had Brett with me until he went into Kindergarten. During all of his 31years with Subaru Automotive of Indiana, David managed to not only work 40 plus mandatory overtime hours along with a one hour drive each way; he finished school (Seminary), spent 26 of those years as a Volunteer Firefighter- half of which was as Chief or Assistant Chief- and for the past 20 years (at least) served in church as an Elder or Deacon, and raised a family. He's not only provided for our own Sons to get them a good start in life by supporting them at school and being an example of CHRIST, he always managed to find the time to help anyone who asked. And he worked and planned to make sure our family saw and did as much together as we could.

      There is no marriage or family on this Earth that is perfect- that's just a fact- and we have had our share of rough patches, and slick patches; times of fun and times when we had to find the fun in something in order to get through it. We started with nothing. Only 2 HS diplomas, him with 1 year at Purdue, and a 1975 Chrysler Cordoba. We flipped burgers and filled tacos until better jobs came along. We went through layoffs, ripoffs, and all other things that happen to young couples just starting out who think they know everything they need to know to make it on their own. We made our first home in an old house partitioned off into two apartments where we rented the downstairs for a total of $200 a month- everything included- from a wonderful old couple who told us to remember to help someone else when we were older, as they had us, by including the utilities. That $200 was half of what we made together in one month. We got by, and were able to purchase our home in 1987, and Brian was born in May 1989.

   During those years was the time when Subaru joined together with Isuzu to build a joint-venture auto plant in Lafayette, Indiana. Both David and I put applications in- along with half of Indiana's workforce. I was called in to run through the first group testing, but my hearing got me knocked out as unemployable. Then David got his call, and the factory had already begun production by then. Over the summer of 1989, he was called in for more testing and interviews, finally getting hired in October of that fall. Changes have been ongoing from the start- Subaru Isuzu Automotive became Subaru of Indiana when Isuzu pulled out of the factory and Toyota put in a line to produce the Camry. Those years were huge booms in employment, and blessedly, our own boys were able to be part of that growth for their own futures and families. SIA continues to grow even after Subaru fulfilled the Toyota contract. Indiana should be thankful- and proud- to have had this huge opportunity all these years! We have had our share of ribbing and

comments over the years; "David is working for a JAPANESE company" or "We don't care for FOREIGN companies in the USA", or any other number of comments made long before 'global' became an accepted way of thinking. The fact is: there is NO CAR that is totally "American Made"; I've worked in those parts and they switch, trade, barter, buy and sell 'foreign' parts and stick a sticker on it that says "Made in America". But, SIA has taken care of our family with healthcare- totally
paying entire family premiums, paid wages that a worker could MORE than keep his/her head above the water with, gave real rest in shut down time and earned paid vacations, and lastly- what brings our family to this very day today: paid early matching contributions to 401K in which my ChiefHubby is now able to retire almost as early as my Dad (at age 52) did- and just after his 58th birthday. 

It may sound like all of this was just based on our "own hard earned life", but it's very far from that. What we have has come straight down from The LORD! His blessings have been bridges for us throughout our entire marriage;  even before we made the choice to follow Him. I am grateful beyond words. And my ChiefHubby has dreamed of devoting his retirement to working for JESUS- in being able to pay his own way while serving in GOD's Family- no matter where we are! Our plans are The LORD's plans- we'll be working just as we always have. And we are certainly going to enjoy it!!!

We have shared dreams of this time since we first met at age 19 and 16: being 

                                         RETIRED GRANDPARENTS....

Looking forward to the next part of the adventure:

HAPPY RETIREMENT

TO MY CHIEFHUBBY;

DAVID LARIMORE!

The Funkie Junkie Boutique Challenge #25 "A Time To Be Grateful"... From Our House To Yours

 I've saved the best (in moho) for last; this make didn't take nearly as much time as the previous post's makes, but it definitely made me feel more confident in feeling like I've made something that looks absolutely 'polished'...the way I think of the things made by several of my favorite Designers (Tim Holtz tops the list, of course), like Paula Cheny, Barbara Schiassi, Tami Bastiaans, Zoe Hillman, and especially the Design Team Leaders of The Funkie Junkie Boutique Challenge Blog - I eagerly await each Challenge if only just to see what each of the Team will make as inspiration! (As if you can't tell by how much I follow this group/site and plug for both them, lol!) I scroll through the Tim Holtz Addicts Facebook Group where most of these folks will post their latest projects.

'Polished'...yeah, that's the word I am thinking of. The level I think I've reached- still greatly in need of practice (as if I could stop the FUN- hahahahaha!), but feeling as if I have hit a level that I have worked toward in skill. Talent is a GOD-given gift. But even the most talented people still need to hone that talent until it comes with ease. I'm nowhere near 'with ease'...Rheumatoid Arthritis and the fatigue of 21 Rx meds daily make that nearly impossible. But...polished- even just this once...I can handle that!

And let it be known that I began this project with the reason of it being a gift to my ChickCousin Bestie for her birthday which was November 15th. The 14th was her Wedding Anniversary- which she celebrated here on Earth and Roy celebrated with JESUS- for the 3rd time now. Since we well be leaving for Florida winter living soon- ChiefHubby retires January 4th officially and last day is now Dec. 18th. Time is always a problem, but I took comfort that we are only 2 miles away....now that becomes HOURS away. so; no time like the present....and giving a present of time as well! I made up a box suitcase and put both this make and her Memory Book inside. 

                                                                Here we go...

I skipped out on using the little packaged string of fake lights,

and ditto on the Snow White Flower Soft.

The little red laterns (of which we have a real one hanging inside our entry area)

were found at WalMart- a very NON-busy WalMart that is out in the boonies 

in a 'summer visitors' town west of our county.

But I still wore my mask, gloves, and did the drop-your-clothes-and-shower thing, too.

This paper was all from a very long ago found stack I found while after-Christmas

shopping in Florida during one of our breaks.

It has several patterns in the same shades to choose from, so this was 

a perfect background for that 'warm, fuzzy feeling' you want to pass on when the weather gets cold.

*NOTE* I used THREE SHEETS of each paper:

the Thickboard is covered with 2 layered (*hold it up to the light to align) sheets, then 

burnished and the shelving is covered with any excess from those two 12x12 sheets.

The THIRD SHEET: I cut it down just about 1/4 inch on each side to be

smaller than the Thickboard.

The idea is to see a type of  '3D' wall. 

But, you'll need that effect because you'll be hiding wiring in between those sheets and sheet.

Oh yes...another hour of practice on the Tim candles. 

My snowglobe was going to be a HALF ball.

I do have a set of the full Tiny Snowglobes,

but they kind of go off the shelf too far. 

This 'half' idea fit the plan perfectly.

Here I am making paint & distress touchups and hoping my hands stay steady.

This was in the plan for the backside...

Layers of Matboard were needed- to fit the thickness of the light set's battery pack.

I wanted an even surface on both sides. So building up and cutting out space for

the wiring made sense. And it WORKED.

The black electrical tape is to cover the extra bits of board put back into

the slits where the wire goes in and then back out to cover each window spot.

The black tape keeps the light from showing into another window or door area

other than that one window/door it is supposed to light up.

You can do like the candles and double up a couple of bulbs then use

the wire to spread the next bulb(s) to the needed spot.

The very last thing after making sure the top paper covers where it should,

is to drill the tiny hole where the wire will now go to the other side

to shine as a sun, and go up into the candles. 

The wire came through, and I had to leave one bulb right there at the hole.

I wanted the Sun to show, but only one bulb didn't do the job, so I used 

3 bulbs. But now, I could only see three BULBS through the Vellum- not very "Sunny".

So I got an idea: just make a Sun- actually cut a circle and 

glue the bulbs down inside that bump of a circle. 

The hump it made was no problem- the window cut stuck out and pop dots would 

even out the rest of the covering paper- which was measured even with the rest of the items!

I just LOVE it when an idea works!!

Yeah, yeah...fine;

my Geometry Teacher was right that the course was useful in life.

But he was still wrong about TRIGONOMETRY- I still refuse. *raspberries*

And this is what she got...

FRONTSIDE

BACKSIDE

Smoothly THIN!

Best painting job I've ever done so far-

because painting is definitely NOT my forte'!

And, the snowglobe is a SNOW globe- a TH IdeaOlogy Frozen snowflake (retired??)

I added TH IdeaOlogy Mica Flakes in it so it really does shake like snow.

The snowflake now comes only as IdeaOlogy Icicles but this was from a set that

is shown in the very first "materials used" photo at the top.

These little gems were from Hobby Lobby in the 'littles' Christmas tree dept.

But that bow just MADE this work!

Hint: I do use wired ribbon SOMETIMES.

The trick is to make your bow as usual, then after securing it to your project,

gently pull back the material at the ends to show the wires - about 1 inch out-

and clip off those ends, then pull the material back out and fluff.

The bow stays its shape, but the wire on the ends won't show & the ends will be SOFT!

Again- I just LOVE burnishing the paper to these Etcetera Tags and Shelves!!!

THIS was one of my coolest elements- I was trying to fit the TH Catherdral Window die cuts

back to back, but they are much better fit just layered stacked as you cut.

But the TH Vellum Scene placed over the CUT OUT PAPER- then the window cut on top...

that TH die is one that I will wear out too fast!!!

As I gave this to Cindy, I reminded her that while the girl could be both her or myself;

the doll she holds is the doll Cindy placed shelf above her bed long ago when they first moved from just four houses down the street from us, to their new house a couple miles away. 

She and my ChiefHubby grew up close 1st Cousins- her younger brother was his best friend.

Her 2 younger Sons grew up with our 2 Sons- what a blessing for 3 generations!

Tims's die even shows one of Cindy's 5 kitties in the window.

Or...hmmm....is that one of my OWN new THREE kitties???

But wait... you also get...(lol)

FRONTSIDE- lit up!

BACKSIDE- lit up!

Cindy can see the sun going down just like this- in her own backyard.

I was excited to really "nail it"!

You'll find this project entered in

The Funkie Junkie Boutique Challenge "A Time To Be Grateful"

which is always Sponsored by 

The Funkie Junkie Boutique

Thank you all for your time spent reading my stories,

or just passing by to scroll through.

May your THANKSGIVING be heard and poured back tenfold in blessings.

As we prepare for the Season of CHRIST's Birth;

Be Safe, Wear the Mask, Wash the Hands, &

HAPPY BLOGGING!!