Cleaning House

I am cleaning, reorganizing and decorating. Took a load of stuff to Goodwill and am working on a "system" for the garage. Got some things decorated very cutely in our bedroom and am working on a few other cute touches around the house. I am taking this break seriously...it is so hard to get anything accomplished when you are gone all day and most nights.

Anyways, hoping to get a lot accomplished today, so I can scrapbook a few hours tomorrow! =)

Until then, a few pictures:

Loving these cards by Melissa Phillips...so bright and springy.

Love this sweater from J. Crew. It's on sale, but not enough of a sale...isn't it pretty, though??

We sure do love this girl...and boy, does she love Adam. =)

Christmas Pictures & Gifts

Random Christmas Pictures:

Candy was pooped from all the company and had to take a nap! Our Christmas Tree at home:

One of my gifts for Adam (a special place for his first turkey beard!)

Presents I wrapped for my family (complete with layered paper and tissue paper flowers!)

My mom's gorgeous Christmas Cactus!!

The aftermath of Christmas present opening at Adam's side of the family...

Some of my favorite gifts: Starbucks gift card, Martha Stewart Cookies Book (LOVE this!!), some beautiful Amy Butler paper (I've already scrapped with this...pictures soon!), and a wonderful Martha Stewart scallop punch I have been wanting for a looooong time! I also got (not pictured) some Cricut cartridges, a Bind-it-All machine (love this too!), new bedding for our bedroom, a wonderful printer, a hand-crocheted (beautiful!) blanket...and really, much more. Adam and I both have such generous, loving families and we are so thankful for all the gifts and thought (and time) that was put into this Christmas season!

Hope your Christmas...

...was merry and bright! Mine was full of love, fellowship and generosity. I am so thankful for all the friends, family, and gifts, but I am most thankful for Jesus Christ; for His birth, death and resurrection and to me, that truly is the reason for the joy, peace and love of the season.

As my Paw-Paw said on Christmas Eve, I am also so thankful that my Daddy was alive and healthy this holiday season. It could have been a different outcome, but I am thankful for God's abundant mercy.

I am uploading pictures as we speak, so I'll post some pictures of Christmastime fun as well as some of my favorite gifts soon! =) Happy Monday!

December, December!

How it flies! I have been taking tons of pictures, but not uploading them, and last night, for maybe the first time ever, I had a full memory card!!

So here's what I've been so busy doing and making:


Spending time with these sweet girls at our Sunday School Christmas Party

Packaging gifts and candy bags for our SonRisers I class:

Turning these items into an army of angel finger puppets:
Making these goodie baskets (filled with sugar cookies, hot chocolate, cookie bars, rice krispies and more!) And wrapping gifts and taking pictures with these girls:

Almost Christmas

Well, it is almost Christmas! Adam has been sick this past week, so I honestly haven't got as much done as I would have liked. Today though, he's all better and I have a list of things to do that (seriously!) is a mile long. =)

So not much on the side of creativitiy, but here's a peek at my Nanny's Thanksgiving cactuses...she has such a green thumb! My Christmas Cactus is blooming now, I need to take a picture. I think these are one of my favorite plants...because once a year, they are just so beautiful!
And a few Christmas decorations...

And here, I am putting all those lovely scrapbooking ribbons to a very cute use! =)

Happy Saturday!

Amber

Christmas To-Do List

I have been busy, busy this month. Not with what I would have liked to have been busy with either...mostly work and school, and house-cleaning. So I am cramming in the homemade holiday gifts this week and next week. Calendars and scarfs and sweet photo carousels, to name a few. Hoping to show (completed!) pictures soon! =D

For my own personal use, I am making a quick Christmas To-Do List...
1. Finish calendars (5)
2. Wrap Gifts
3. Finish Photo Carousels
4. Christmas Cards - mailed!
5. Make Hand-knotted scarves (2)
6. Make Goodie Baskets Friday & Saturday (6)
7. Make Card Packs (3)

I have greater aspirations, but these are the things that really need to be done! =) Which means, lots of crafty pictures coming this way...soon!!

I am also keeping my sweet little Taylor this Friday...she is just getting too big! She helped me do our Christmas craft ornaments this past Wednesday and one of the ornaments was a foam baby Jesus in the manger (with glitter and stars...really adorable). I asked her who that was and at first she said a baby. I told her, yes, it was baby Jesus. "Taylor, do you love Jesus?" I said, and she replied..."Yes, He's my savior," in the most sincere, sweet little voice. I almost cried...it was just precious. Keeping her is definitely a highlight of my week.

Well, off to work and then (hopefully!!) Target and Ross?? I need to find some Christmasy clothes for our work parties...
Amber

Happy Saturday!

So! I was the guest designer for Jenni Bowlin this month, you can see my creations as well as the design team's...they are all so talented! =) Here's a peek at some of my contribution:

Have a fantastic weekend!

Amber

Relief!

After several weeks of high intensity (projects & finals & loads of studying), it's three weeks of delightful vacation. Enjoying friends, families, Christmas parties and presentations. Wrapping, making pretty little things for those dear to me. Today I am just being unbelievably relaxed (I probably won't get anything marked off my "master list," but you know what, everybody needs a break...today is my break!).

I hope you have a wonderful day!
Amber

Busy Week Ahead...

So a quick post for now. This week (until Wednesday) is finals, so I'm cramming for a couple of those and getting a project finished up. Sadly, I haven't any any time to do anything crafty lately, except a few birthday cards (see below). However, come Saturday, I will have a happy little surprise to tell you!

Until then! Amber

Sunshine!

Hello folks! Jjust a quick page with some engagement pictures Aunt Kim & Danielle took last December...finally getting scrapped. I kept this monochromatic with mostly green tones.
I am SO happy that I have successfully managed to keep this Christmas cactus alive...and as Christmas approaches, it is starting to show off it's sweet little buds!

A few weeks back, a Starbucks opened just around the corner from me, and I celebrated (hehe!) by buying a double chocolate chip frap! I haven't splurged on Starbucks in a long time and it was a TASTY treat! (I also bought a rice krispie treat, but by the time I got home, it was already eaten!)

And remember, random posts are better than no posts at all! Amber

Black Friday!

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Mine was a little homesick...very first Thanksgiving away from my family...but overall full of love and thankfulness to God for His mercy and grace, longsuffering and patience, and for His many, many blessings.

Today, I woke up at 3:30 and SHOPPED TIL I DROPPED. Actually, I shopped and Christmas decorated until just now, when I dropped into the dining room chair. =)

Got some great, happy deals and a good portion of my Christmas list knocked out. Now on to wrapping!

Enjoy your holiday weekend! I'll be enjoying mine!
Amber

=)

Rough day yesterday, but even then, I still have such a happy heart. Thanks only to the Lord. He is such a comfort and help in the time of trouble, in those dreary, frustrating, cry-your-eyes out moments. It's like a cloak of peace and warmth comes over me, just talking to Him. He truly is my best friend, my dearest confidante. And I love Him immensely.

As promised, some crafty little cards:

Have a very, very Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Crafty!

Sorry for absence...happy crafty-ness coming tomorrow! =D

Fun + Sad.

So the FSU game was so, so fun. Some friends of ours invited us, plus itwas blackout night and that was so awesome..the whole stadium was black, the uniforms were black, the cheerleaders uniforms were black. Really fun concept. We, of course, were black also!

Krystal actually knew the yellow glittered guy from high school, so we were able to get a picture! It's such a small world. See the blackout glittered guy?! =)

You may be thinking? So what's the sad part?

Well, we lost. Again. Sigh. Sad, sad sigh. It really is sad, but on the other hand, we really did have a great time! =)

On a scrapping note, I bought the CUTEST Making Memories calendar (I looked for a picture, but can't seem to find one) But the pages are already patterned paper designs, and then there

are a bunch of embellies...stickers, mini alphas, buttons and flowers. Sigh. It has lots of pieces of ledger paper and blue and pink gorgeousness. I got it from Michaels and it has a chipboard artisan edge cover. I am making one for me (and for a gift!) Go check it out at your local Michaels! =)

Have a wonderful day! =)
Amber

Slight Change of Plans

After a grueling week of intense studying, I think I passed (I know it had to be the LORD...I give Him all the glory!) So I know I was banking on having some "free time" today (post-test) to scrap some things...I'm making these adorable calendars for Christmas gifts (see BasicGrey kit below), working on my November Jenni Bowlin kit (it is so lovely!...can't want to share!), and some "general" new stuff I am dying to play with.

But we somehow managed to get tickets to the FSU game tonight (it's blackout night!) and I have decided to just rest and pray/read my Bible for the two hours before we leave.

Have a peaceful, restful weekend! Amber

Stuuuudying.

Sigh. Yes, it is that time again. The enormous weight of studying incessantly for a week is once again upon me. SO, SO ready for Thanksgiving break...and my glorious three week Christmas break. So, not much from me for a while! =) Look for some new crafty stuff Saturday!

Amber

Picturesque!

Some Peanut Festival Pictures:

The Scrapbooking Section:

_____________________Attention EBAYERS! I will be selling quite a bit of scrapbooking stuff...lots of stamps and tools and other goodies...over the next week or two! Check back and I will post when it is all up! =)!
And a simple, simple card I made for my husband the other day when he had been especially thoughtful! =)

Have a fantastic day!! Amber