Tuesday, December 29, 2015

What to do with all the "Christmas Photo Cards".....

It seems that everyone loves Shutterfly and making their own photo cards.  It is such a delight to get these through the mail and hang them on the refrigerator.  
BUT - what can be done with them after the holidays?


Each year I gather them and punch holes in the corner of each card:


I choose one Christmas Card so that I can make a cover to date my photo cards:


I tie them together with a ribbon:


And I have a cute little booklet of photo cards from this year:


It's fun to look at year's past photo cards and see how the children have changed in one year!!


Sharing with Inspire me Tuesday and Hope Studios

Traveling Tote Series Giveaway WINNER!


Congratulations to 
Lisa from Hospitable Pursuits
she is the winner of my Traveling Tote Giveaway:



Stop over and say hi to Lisa!


If you would like to catch up on the Traveling Tote Adventures, go HERE

Thursday, December 24, 2015

Now on Facebook!!


Please "like" and stay updated with hand painted items that will be for sale!

https://www.facebook.com/PPandorasbox/


MERRY CHRISTMAS!


Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Quick Snowman Craft....

I don't know where the pre-season went ~ time certainly flies by quickly!

I had lots of ideas I wanted to share, but they will have to wait till next year, BUT this idea I have to share because it only takes a few minutes to make.  I saw this idea on Pinterest by My Spare Time and just had to make one!


I bought a $.69 frame at the thrift store, disassembled it and cleaned it:


 I mod lodged a piece of burlap onto the glass:


I trimmed the burlap....


...and with a Sharpie, I drew the shape of the snowman onto the burlap....


...I used an old stiff paintbrush to paint the snowman.


I cut a strip of flannel and fringed the edges:


And tied it around the frame:


We have no snow this Christmas and we might be breaking temperature records, so this will represent our usual white Christmases :


Don't forget to leave a comment HERE for a chance to win the MacKenzie-Childs soap dish and soaps.  A winner will be picked on Dec 27th!


Wishing all of you a wonderful holiday filled with laughter, family, friends and good health!

Sharing with Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

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Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Preparing for the Holidays ~ Traveling Tote #5

Leave a comment below to be entered in the giveaway!

My Traveling Tote is settling in for a long winter's night!

Most often, once the weather gets cold, my tote sits in the great room filled with throws.  I am always cold, so this is my "go to" every night as I watch TV!


In November I worked in Albany for a few days and filled my tote with my computer, magazines and a shawl...



...  after work I took a short drive up to Saratoga Springs to walk the shops in town.  My goal was to begin my Christmas shopping.  Saratoga Olive Oil Company has some fabulous oils to taste and I treated myself to a bottle of Garlic Oil....


...and next door was the Savory Pantry, where I picked up some tasty treats for Christmas hostess gifts:


We almost always celebrate my birthday during the first weekend in December. We headed out on a foggy morning:


 This year my daughter, Caitlin, planned the day and we went to Rochester to see "The Christmas Carol".


  After the play we had an early dinner at The Gate House.  


  The following day John, Mom and I celebrated my birthday by having dinner at Santangelo's and the window in our booth was decorated in a Grinch theme:


There are so many events going on in December and there are some I always like to attend. 

These are a few that have become a yearly tradition:

We went to the Erie Canal Museum to see the Gingerbread House Displays:


The Everson Museum holds the Festival of Trees, all the trees are donated to the museum and sold as a fundraiser:



We shopped for the "perfect poinsettia" at Hafner's Garden Center:


And walked around to see the perfectly decorated trees - it is truly a decorator's dream !


            We also saw Lights on the Lake in Syracuse, a drive thru winter wonderland of lights along the Lake:


My large tote carried presents for girlfriends at an annual luncheon to celebrate the holidays:


And a few days later the smaller tote held a hostess gift for breakfast with another girlfriend:


I wrapped for hours one day and my tote held all the rolls of paper:


Over three hours of wrapping!



We shopped at Wegman's for my yearly "Girlfriend's Happy Hour" which I host every December in my home:



And how can you "prepare for the holidays" without a trip to see Santa?


It's a busy time of year, but Christmas is about sharing and spending time with family and friends. It’s about creating happy memories with those you love. Many of these yearly traditions are what I look forward to and it certainly keeps my spirit alive!


I wish you a blessed holiday season. May this Christmas bring you comfort, joy, peace and happiness to last throughout the coming year!


A special treat for one of my readers:


GIVEAWAY !
Leave me a comment ( an email addy, too, if you don't have a blog) below for a chance to win a MacKenzie-Childs Flower Market soap dish, Balsam scented soap from the Adirondacks and a mini soap from Cape Cod, all items purchased on my recent travels with my Traveling Tote!

A winner will be picked on Dec 27th!!



Visit my other Traveling Tote friends to see how they "prepare for the holidays":
Debbie with Miss Aurora @ Mountain Breaths 
Linda with Miss Rosie @ More Fun Less Laundry
Rita with Miss Luna C Panoply 
Sarah with Miss CC @ Hyacinths for the Soul
Samantha with Christabel @ Samantha Stone



To read about how the Traveling Tote Series began, go HERE




Saturday, December 12, 2015

Erie Canal Museum - The Gingerbread Houses


The Erie Canal Museum in Syracuse hosts a Gingerbread House display each year.  Participants are sponsored by local businesses and the gingerbread houses are showcased behind glass in this room:

My favorite was this depiction of the NY State Fair - they highlighted the favorite aspects of the Fair, the butter sculpture, the milk bar, the livestock, culinary competitions and the sand sculpture. The Ferris Wheel is made of gingerbread!:


This was the "happiest" house, decorated to perfection!:


The train leaving the station was a unique display:


And this baker created a display that depicts the elephant exhibit at the local Zoo


The "Octagon House" is in the rear and elves are sleeping in a tent in the foreground:


This weathered and dilapidated lighthouse was amazing!:


This is a yearly event held at the museum - It's always a fun way to spend an hour during the holidays!