Visiting santa...

I was working on my December daily pages with photos of the kids with santa from this weekend and remembered that I wanted to share with you some fun retro graphics from a little booklet I found at an estate sale. They were given out at Dayton's departments stores years and years ago. Aren't they fun! Perfect for cards, memory books or mixed media projects. Enjoy!

Wishes do come true...

I was so honored when Mindy from wishstudio blog asked me at the beginning of this year to write a piece about creativity and motherhood. This is a topic I feel very passionate about. When I sat down to write, I found that I had a lot to say and I couldn't stop writing. I feel that I'm at a very joyful time in my life and I am so pleased to be able to share my story. So click on over to the wishstudio blog for my piece if you'd like to read more about how artsymama came to be. Hope you enjoy it!
We had a wonderful snowy weekend here, filled with sledding, baking cookies and santa.
Doesn't get much better than that!

A few days in December...

How are your holiday plans coming along? It's hard to believe that December is almost half over! I thought I'd share some pages in my December daily album to show you what I've been up to. I'm having fun with the album, sometimes I follow prompts, other times I just go with what we were doing on that day. It's nice to sit down each night to reflect and take a bit of time to create something.

Chloe and I got creative with our gift wrapping, using vintage reflectors and some goodies that I stashed from Silver Bella. We thought they looked festive! Hope you're having a merry weekend! Lovin' these felt coasters from Anthropologie.

Over the top...

Keeping with my kitschy holiday theme, after reading Danielle's post on blowmold decorations (never knew they were called that) and other vintage outdoor decor, I decided to go looking for some of my own. I knew I had seen it around. Once I knew what I was looking for, I found a treasure trove in an older suburb of Minneapolis. Boy were they fun to photograph in their snowy glory the morning after our big storm. Can't wait to go back and see them at night!
I have never owned one of these creatures and never plan to, but there is something to be said for a slew of them in mass quantity and how tacky it looks. It's just plain fun! I cannot imagine how long it took for one person to collect all of those snowmen!!

My life in red....

We are now into the last month over on A Year of Color blog. The theme for December is RED. I have mixed feelings as this year-long project comes to an end. It's been a very challenging project in so many ways, and also so fun to have a team of wonderfully creative people involved. I am pleased that such a wonderful community developed that contributed and inspired one another. It's also hard to see it come to an end. I know I will always be inspired by color and will look at it in new ways since experiencing it in such a fun way this year. Needless to say, I have lots of red around my home right now and wanted to share some fun vintage kitchy holiday treasures that are putting a smile on my face. Oh my...have you seen this extraordinary wish list?
Here's to all your holiday wishes come true!

Five senses friday: early december edition

I love following along with abby when she does five senses friday. It's a great way to recap what I've been up to. Seeing: Holiday lights and wonderful vintage colors inside and outside the house. Love that there is now a dusting of snow on everything to make it look that much more magical.
The kids had fun doing their own candy themed tree.
Hearing: The squirt of the paint tube as Chloe gets down and dirty painting. I love watching her creativity blossom!
Tasting and smelling: I went to Trader Joe's for the first time this past week. The Candy Cane Joe Joe's are the best!! I love the smell of peppermint as I down these.

Loving: One of my favorite estate sale finds ever was found this week. These three earthenware vintage French mushroom jars. Need I say more?!

Working on: A page a day in December for my holiday journal.

Some secret crafty fun!

Have a wonderful weekend!

It's all about the sugar cookie...

I'm participating in Scrappy Jessi's cookie exchange today. I cannot wait to see all the yummy posts!! In my mind you cannot beat a holiday sugar cookie. It's absolute perfection. It combines several of my favorite things: family tradition, baking, decoration and sugar. You really can't beat it!I made them with my sister and my parents every Christmas my entire life and now my kids and my sisters kids share in that tradition and we make them together. Priceless.The kids like to really load them up!Here is the recipe that we've always used...

Sugar Cookies

1/2 c. butter

1/2 c. shortening

1 c. white sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp. vanilla

2 1/2 - 3 c. sifted white flour

3/4 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

Mix the butter, shortening and sugar together. Add eggs and vanilla and mix well. Slowly add mixed dry ingredients.
Cover, and chill dough for at least two hours (or overnight).
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Roll out dough on floured surface 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Cut into shapes with any cookie cutter. Place cookies 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Decorate!!
Bake 6 to 8 minutes in preheated oven. Cool completely.

Some cookie inspiration from flickr.

1. Christmas cookies, 2. Decorated Snowflake Cookies, 3. Pink and Green Christmas Cookies, 4. 2007 ornament cookies, 5. Christmas Cookies, 6. Cookies, 7. christmas cookies, 8. CHRISTMAS SUGAR COOKIES, 9. christmas cookies 041

Can't wait to see what you've all been baking.

Thanks for stopping by!