Dad's Birthday Star

December 24th is my father's birthday. We always have a birthday party for him before we start celebrating Christmas. My gift to him this year was a little too cumbersome to travel to my sister's house where we will celebrate tonight so I gave it to him this morning.

These are used or "free" cd's (AOL, etc) that I have been using in various ways over the years but this is the best use yet. I was smart enough to take pictures during the assembly so I can remember how I did it for next year. It takes 25 cd's and a C7 string of 25 lights and lots of hot glue.

The star is already hanging from his front porch although he still has to install a new outdoor electric outlet to plug porch lights into after installing a new porch light this year that does not have an outlet in it.

So, family members, save me your used and "free" cd's and you may get a star, too.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Photo Crafts

I am finishing the photo ornaments and magnets for this Christmas and remembered to take pictures before I packaged them.

They were a lot of work and I have bleach burns on the first two fingers of my right hand (healing now). Even the disposable gloves didn't prevent the bleach burns as the rims of the glass balls made tiny holes in every glove. But I am rather pleased with them. When I am finished I will have between 60 to 100 of each craft for the family grab bag exchange. I made extras of the photos in case anyone just has to have something that has already been taken.

Christmas Crafts and all the rest

I am doing photo ornaments this year with pictures I or other family members have taken in the past year. I needed a large supply of clear glass ornaments and my usual source for these is not carrying them this year. Hallelujah for the internet. Did you know you can take colored glass ball ornaments - new or used - and soak them in bleach, sometimes scrub gently to get the last color off, and swirl salt water inside to clean the interior? Sister Beth gave me a large container of old ornaments she picked up this past summer and after I went thru it I had over 50 colored glass balls in very used condition that are now gleamly nicely awaiting their transformation into photo ornaments. I will try to post pictures of the finished ornaments but I am not sure how well that will turn out. I also plan on making glass marble photo magnets but have discovered I need to go to WalMart and get the tiny pictures printed as my inkjet pictures blur and run when the glue goes on.

I have today thru Tuesday off. Lots of time and so little time to get it all done.

Still Here

I've been away from blogging for a while for various reasons and have missed it. I have been able to check some of the blogs I follow but have not posted myself since before Thanksgiving. As sometimes happens, something went around the office after the holiday and several of us have been off sick at various times in the last 3 weeks. It does not seem to want to go away and at least 3 of us have had repeat appearances or lingering symptoms. I am still on tea and crackers today after my latest bout. This plus Christmas preparations and another (this makes 8, I think) right-ankle sprain have taken a toll.

On a happier note, the cats and dogs have settled in together. We wake up at night sometimes to find all 4 critters have crept onto the bed with us. Of course, this is after the cats have had their nightly romp thru the house as we try to sleep and listen to all the thumps and cries. Momma Stormy is not gentle with little Smoke who is growing rapidly. His legs are so long when he walks and his tail has grown amazingly. They follow us around the house in the morning and at night just begging for attention then stroll off to find something else to amuse them as soon as we try to pet or hold them. Cats!