Christmas is Almost Here *SIGH*

How sad is it that I want it over with? I get so stressed. I cry that I lost the magic of Christmas and I am trying so hard to remember it is not about trees, gifts and money but rather it is about Jesus coming back to give us life and forgiveness. But the world, esp. TV kills that. I was filled more with the spirit on Thanksgiving then now. I am frustrated by the lack of space I have to decorate. I have a little charlie brown tree with no decorations except a few cursory ornaments and the lights that the tree came with. I had a few strands of beads I thru up on it. My youngest didn't seem to be in the mood to decorate it either. *SIGH* Ya know I thought I was done with Christmas Depression a few yrs ago but it seems it is back.

Well I made this Ball Wreathe I found on Pinterest. I love it.
I just need to fix the ribbon. I cannot find my glue gun! It was brand new. *GRRR* I had to glue the ornaments shut with E-6000. Same with the ribbon. I tried to use it to hold the ribbon in place since it keeps slipping between the cracks (* balls*).

Here are the coasters I made, now in my shop.




I also made a few more earrings, I had a request to make some for a woman I volunteer with for her daughter. No Pics. I also Just finished another wrap bracelet. This one wraps 4 times, Nice.

Coupon Code for My Shop

I just created a coupon for my shop for now thru December 31. Enter code CHR11 at checkout and receive 10% off the purchase of any item.

Will have some more pictures soon. I created some coasters, and Feather earrings. I have also been playing with my Polymer clay. Something I have NOT done in a long time. Trying to make some pretty red and white beads for Christmas.

Someone wanna tell Santa I want/ NEED a new camera, PLZZZZZ. I will even take a point and shoot for less then 100.00 I just need a camera to take pics of my work. I really want a good one the 400.00 + dollar cameras. However I don't think I have a rich santa in my family so I will settle for a decent P&S.

More earrings. And Pet Peeves.

Before I go there I want to ask, Is there NOT a song that katy perry sings that has no Sexual Overtones? Was just in my daughters room and she had the radio on. There was a song playing and I knew the voice was familiar although I could not remember it. The beat was funky and I thought maybe I could like it. Then I started listening to lyrics...ACK! REALLY? Having sex with an alien or something like that. I inquired of my kiddo who the singer was and she said it was perry. I think every song I have ever heard of hers has something to do with sex. UGH

Ok Now that I have that off my chest I have another pet peeve.... CHRISTMAS Commercial and music on halloween / long before thanksgiving! JUST STOP IT, OK! Wally world has those commercials for xmas layaway, one of them featuring some perky and annoying blond woman singing, ring, ring ring, ring a ding ring me up! UGH I have dropped a few F*Bombs on her already. I am telling you by the time Christmas gets here I am like scrooge. It is getting earlier every year!

OK Onto the earrings. I made a few more the red and white ( clear) I made for me. the other 2 I made for Christine's consideration. I just need to put on the ear wires.

Checking in

I haven't checked in in about a month. I am still here... trying different things. Still taking pics, and upcycling my stuff, although some days it seems I am inundated with clutter and it is getting to me. I started cutting my fabric remnants into strips for crocheting. I have purchased more cuttlebug dies and am working on using them with my cans and also plastic water gallons ( I buy water for my coffee machine..( Yes I know how unfrugal is that) but my water is sooo hard and full of limestone that it eats thru appliances quickly).
I cut up the plastic and run it thru the dies and embellish them with decoupage and ultra fine glitter and now have Christmas tree ornaments..


I was working on musical instruments ( morracas) with the soda can tops and bottoms, but that turned into a nightmare. I found myself using the craft glue and other things that i thought "if the kids put these in their mouths that aint good"....trashed the ones I made and am starting over. Something more kid friendly......

Recycle! Post consumer Wreath

Recognize those bags? Yup Target bags, and maybe one or 2 burlington coat factory bags too.
A metal hanger ( drycleaner) and the bags are post consumer. I purchased the Floral Picks and ribbon.

Christmas is coming.

So... it is that time of year again. ( I promise this year, NO mandolin without the guard..:P)

I have to explain, I have been very much concentrating on Upcycling. This is a passion for me, always was. I was shunned however as a child and my parents called me a garbage Picker, and a few other names.

Today I thumb my nose at anyone who criticizes me.

I am NOT however an al gore environmentalist. I dont believe that our SUVs cause global warming, in fact what they call global warming is nothing more then sun activity, the electro-magnetism that comes with it and ( maybe even a lil GODLY Wrath).

I do however think we produce way to much garbage, and our plastic-industrialized living is killing us quickly.

That being said, I approach green living from a selfish and non selfish stand point.

Selfish being ( not self centered) but HATING Corporatism. The conglomerates that are bleeding us dry with electric bills and heating bills! HATE THEM!

Non selfish being I think we need to help ppl to help themselves and see that all the crap they are eating chock full of preservatives are killing them and others thru the use of manufacturing and the crap being belched into MY Air.

Did you know we don't break down as fast as we used to when we die? We ingest ( thru mouth and skin) so much formaldehyde and other preservatives it is taking us longer to decompose today!

Now that I have explained my approach, I prefer the term organic living over green since green has come to being identified with the chicken little al gore worshippers.

Organic is what us old hippies were called.

Now with that outta the way......Here is what I have been doing.....

For Christmas.....




I will be uploading my pics of my re(up)cycles soon. I switched PCs and have files everywhere now.

HOW DO YOU SLOW DOWN A SUPER CRAFTER?

You slice off a piece of finger. Not just any finger, her THUMB!





This is what I used..............A MANDOLIN
IT KINDA LOOKS LIKE A MINI GUILLOTINE!

It comes with a guard (I was not using this brand I only borrowed this image) that I started to use, but since it had plastic nubs instead of tines to hold the potato I chose my hand as a better grip, and said only so close and no further.....I went one pass to many......OW MAN, that Hurt!
Luckily it does not hurt ( unless I slam it) Whether that is due to the prayers or the gobs of bacitracin I don't know, (It hurt when it happened though)....And I can now use my grips to keep making jewelry.
So I have a bunch of pics to be added hopefully today of things I have done some before and a few after.