A needlepoint stocking for Elle

45 years ago I took up needlepoint, it was my only hobby.   One year I made 6 needlepoint stockings for my 6 nieces and nephews.   I did them all in about 5 months.  I was needlepointing every waking moment to complete those before Christmas that year.   Then 40 years ago my first child was born so I made a needlepoint stocking for him.   5 years later my daughter was born and I made one for her.

By then I was pretty tired of needlepointing and rarely did anymore.    But when my first grandson was born and I made him a stocking, that was almost 12 years ago.    I have to admit 3 years later when his sister was born I didn't make a stocking for her, (it's on my to do list)  but I did make a cross stitch baby quilt for her nursery.      Then finally my daughter got married 4 years ago and this January she had a baby girl.    I hadn't thought of stockings as I was HEAVY into scrapbooking and it is the hobby that was now consuming every wakening moment.   But this fall my daughter informed me I WILL make Elle a needlepoint stocking for this year and there are no excuses.   OOPS I better get busy.    So finally  I found a pattern I liked and got busy.   Patterns/kits have changed over the decades, as a lot more extras to add other than a straight needlepoint stitch, all the outlining, and accent stitching on top and then the pompoms for the stocking cap on this one and no not just a felt hanger but a braided hanger with tassels.    Finally just last week it was finished and I had even figured out how to sew the backing on myself and turn it into a stocking.   I think that scared me the most, usually I took my stockings somewhere to be backed.

The good news is I have bought two more kits,  one for my now 8 year old granddaughter and one for my son-in-law (Elle's Dad)    If I get real industrious I'll do one for my husband and myself (ssshhh don't tell anyone I found 3 partially finished kits I had started decades ago) and one for my brother and then the whole gang that is together for Christmas will have their own needlepoint stockings.

So this is my entry for the latest challenge #424 at   "TUESDAY MORNING SKETCHES"  
It is time for their annual anything goes challenge.

As you will see, you seriously mean, Anything Goes!  You can share pretty packaging, a painting or a particularly lovely plate of Christmas cookies.  Tuesday Morning Sketches is sponsoring and although I don't have a picture, the prize is Hampton Arts Stamp Tool and a pillow box punch board by We Are Memory Keepers.  There may be some fun embellishments and paper in the prize box, too.  That'll have to be a surprise.

Family Christmas

While my brother and Dad were here this weekend, we took the time to take some family pictures around the Christmas tree.     I thought the sketch from Dec. 15th at  "STUCK ?! SKETCHES"  was perfect for these pictures.       I thought the triangle on the sketch looked like a Christmas tree so I cut it in green and put a star at the top and then used some other Christmas papers and embellishments to finish off the layout.

Here is the link to  "STUCK ?! SKETCHES"  and the sketch I used.

I am also entering my layout at  "LASTING MEMORIES"   Challenge #75

LM #375 - Winter/December Holiday Traditions - More Than Two Photos

That is the link to the challenge.    We always take family pictures in front of the Christmas tree and we took some early ones in front of our tree while my Dad were for the weekend.   We will take more at my brothers tree when all together next week.   Traditions continue.


The last challenge I'm entering with this layout is at   "SCRAPPING 4 FUN"   -  The Christmas theme layout challenge for this month.

Layout Challenge 3 - Christmas

1. You can create a - Layout
2. Only new creations from 1st of December 2017 onwards
3. Enter a direct link to your creations into the link tool, not only to the main page of your blog. This makes it easy for the Design Team to find your creations to leave comments
4. You may enter a maximum of 3 entries for each Challenge
5. MUST BE A FOLLOWER!!!!!(to enter Challenges)
6. If your Challenge entries does not meet the above requirements your entry will be disqualified!

This Layout Challenge ends on Sunday the 31st of December 2017, 23:55PM European Time.

Please, take in account the different time zones - you will find the Date and Clock on the Blog (top left)

1st Santa Visit

My granddaughter Elle had her first visit with Santa yesterday and this was the picture taken  where they went  (Bass Pro Shop).    It looks like she did great, no tears or fear from her.

I made this layout today using the sketch at   "SKETCH N SCRAP"    It is sketch #143.
I let my background paper be my main embellishment and total.    I don't think I have used these many gems on one layout.

Here is the link to  "SKETCH N SCRAP"   and the sketch.

At  "SCRAPPING 4 FUN CHALLENGES"   You can enter up to 3 layouts for their 1st of the month layout challenge and this month the theme is Christmas.     So since I've been busy creating Christmas layouts so far this month this will be the 3rd layout I'm entering there.   Here are the rules & challenge.

Layout Challenge 3 - Christmas

1. You can create a - Layout
2. Only new creations from 1st of December 2017 onwards
3. Enter a direct link to your creations into the link tool, not only to the main page of your blog. This makes it easy for the Design Team to find your creations to leave comments
4. You may enter a maximum of 3 entries for each Challenge
5. MUST BE A FOLLOWER!!!!!(to enter Challenges)
6. If your Challenge entries does not meet the above requirements your entry will be disqualified!

This Layout Challenge ends on Sunday the 31st of December 2017, 23:55PM European Time.

Next I will enter this layout at  "STINKIN' INKERS"    Celebrating the Holidays is the challenge going on now.    I called my daughter the other day to double check if they had taken Elle to get her first picture with Santa yet.   No need to worry they had it all scheduled for the next day.    You can't call it Christmas without having a picture with Santa.

"STINKIN' INKERS"
Celebrating the holidays

includes Christmas, Hannukah (Channukah) and Kwaanza, 
Chinese New Year, etc.

Create a project that symbolizes the holiday you celebrate at this time of the year. 

Love Christmas with Dad

My brother and Dad came to the lake to visit Friday and then left this morning after breakfast.
We will all be together for Christmas and New Years at my brothers house but Dad likes how I decorate every year so I wanted to make sure they got here for a weekend before the holidays.

We did a lot of fun sight seeing and also time for good meals here and out and enjoyed the fireplace at night and in the day.

I made sure and got pictures of Dad and I yesterday and today before he left.   So thought I would go ahead and get a layout made with these two.

For this layout I stayed with sketches from  "SKETCHES IN THYME"  and used the latest sketch posted for the month #305.

First Thanksgiving

I forgot I hadn't made this layout yet until I saw the "my first Christmas sticker" hidden on my desk.
Usually for my first holiday layouts I've done this year for Elle it is just her in the picture.   But this was the best picture on my camera.   Plus I bought the outfit for her so it works out well.   On her little butt on her leggings is a turkey to complete the outfit.   I just couldn't resist it when I saw it.

I used sketch #303 at   "SKETCHES IN THYME"  for this layout.    Here is the sketch. and click on the name for the link.

Santa

This is my almost 3 year old nephew Silas, he lives in Sydney, Australia.    When my niece posted this picture the other day on Facebook everyone asked if Silas was bored and yawning with Santa and she said no, that she had told him to smile big for the picture and this was his big cheese smile.

I used Sketch #304 at  "SKETCHES IN THYME"  for this layout.    Here is the sketch.

I am also going to enter my layout at  "FANTABULOUS CRICUT CHALLENGE"   because I used my Cricut to cut out my Santa title and Challenge #316 is Christmas.

Challenge #316-Christmas
Make a project or card about Christmas


I have one other challenge to enter my layout in and that is the "SCRAPPING 4 FUN CHALLENGE"
Challenge #105 - Anything Goes.

1. You can create a - Layout, Card, Canvas, Mini Album, Mixed Media, "Off the Page" creations
2. Only new creations from 8th of December 2017 onwards

Our Christmas Tree

I made this layout with pictures of this years Christmas tree.   One how it looked the first night after we had it decorated and lit and then a day time picture of it with all my gifts wrapped under it.
I'm entering it at   "USE YOUR STUFF"   Challenge #292 - Christmas is Coming.

Welcome to another challenge here at Use Your Stuff.  Team A's theme for this week is "Christmas is Coming."  In other words, create a project with Christmas as your inspiration.  This could be a scrapbook page, a greeting card, a tag for a special present; the possibilities are endless!  We can't wait to see your creations!

I used the Jump Start Sketch at   "THE SCRAP ROOM BLOG"  for this.     It was a fun sketch to
work with this month.    Here is the sketch.

I am also going to enter this layout at  "SCRAPPING 4 FUN CHALLENGES"  
Challenge #105 - Anything Goes

1. You can create a - Layout, Card, Canvas, Mini Album, Mixed Media, "Off the Page" creations
2. Only new creations from 8th of December 2017 onwards
3. Enter a direct link to your creations into the link tool, not only to the main page of your blog. This makes it easy for the Design Team to find your creations to leave comments
4. You may enter a maximum of 4 entries for each Challenge
5. MUST BE A FOLLOWER!!!(to enter Challenges)
6. If your Challenge entries does not meet the above requirements your entry will be disqualified!

This Challenge ends on Thursday, the 28th of December 23:55PM European Time.

I am also going to enter this layout at the layout challenge #3 at the "SCRAPPING 4 FUN CHALLENGE"    Here are the rules.

Layout Challenge 3 - Christmas

1. You can create a - Layout
2. Only new creations from 1st of December 2017 onwards
3. Enter a direct link to your creations into the link tool, not only to the main page of your blog. This makes it easy for the Design Team to find your creations to leave comments
4. You may enter a maximum of 3 entries for each Challenge
5. MUST BE A FOLLOWER!!!!!(to enter Challenges)
6. If your Challenge entries does not meet the above requirements your entry will be disqualified!

This Layout Challenge ends on Sunday the 31st of December 2017, 23:55PM European Time.

Next I am entering my Christmas layout at  "THE SISTERHOOD OF CRAFTERS"    The challenge

is......    All About CHRISTMAS!

(Anything Goes Christmas)

For your convenience, here's a quick review of our Rules:

• No backlinking ... only new creations.
• Three (3) entry limit.
• You can share with as many other challenges as you'd like.
• Must follow the challenge theme to qualify for the prize (when one is available).
• Direct link to your challenge entry ... not your entire blog.
• Link back to our challenge in your blog post.
• We would really appreciate it if you would turn OFF the word verification.

most of all ... HAVE FUN!!

And last but far from least this will be my entry at   "ANOTHER FREAKING SCAPPY CHALLENGE"

The December challenge is   to use the word Merry or Happy and the color red or green.
My Title 3D stamp is  "Happy Christmas" and I used both red and green papers in my layout.

Play along with as many challenges as you wish.The more the merrier - when you do others learn about other challenges that they may enjoy!

You are welcome to scrapbook pages of any size, or to art journal, paint, create cards, mixed media, or off-the-page work.  Whatever medium you prefer to use - USE IT!! We love to see whatever you create!

This month's winner will be receiving a gift certificate from Scrapbook.com

Be Festive

I said so much fun making this layout to combine it with the Scrappy Friends double challenge.
First I used the sketch at "THROUGH THE EYES OF ROCHELLE SPEARS BLOG"  then I also was inspired by the cartoon prompt at "GRAND DIVA'S SCRAPPY PLACE BLOG".
What a fun cartoon and I pulled from it using my pictures and embellishments, Santa Clause, reindeer and trees and just the overall Christmas theme.

I always make layouts each year showing my decorations and since this is our first Christmas at our new home at  the Lake of the Ozarks it was fun decorating a new place.   This sketch let me use a grouping of pictures to show some of my decorations I have out.

Here are the links and sketch and cartoon.............

"THROUGH THE EYES OF ROCHELLE SPEARS"

"GRAND DIVA'S SCRAPPY PLACE"

I am also going to enter this layout at    "STINKIN' INKERS"   for their challenge that started December 5th  and runs for the month.     You can also enter up to 3 projects for this challenge.
 The challenge is Celebrating the Holidays, and that is what I am doing here in this layout enjoying some of my favorite decorations out this year.

Celebrating the holidays

includes Christmas, Hannukah (Channukah) and Kwaanza, 
Chinese New Year, etc.

Create a project that symbolizes the holiday you celebrate at this time of the year. 

Wrapping the Presents

I love love love wrapping gifts.   So I took this picture after I was all finished with all I had bought.
A couple more things are not here yet, but I was ready to wrap and get everything under the tree.

I used the  "LASTING MEMORIES"  Tic-Tac-Toe  Winter/December Holiday Traditions Challenge.    My tradition has becoming using festive ribbon to tie around all my gifts.  I love the look.    On the tic-tac-toe board i used the top row.   Flair, Green & Glitter or Sequins.

I am also entering this layout in "STINKIN' INKERS CHALLENGE BLOG"   -  Celebrating the Holidays challenge.   I love wrapping all of my gifts for everyone ant the is always such a fun time for me during the holidays, I love picking the paper and the ribbon that I want to tie around each gift and make a bow.

Hre is the link to "LASTING MEMORIES"  Challenge #374 and the tic-tac-toe board to work with.

"STINKIN' INKERS CHALLENGE"

Celebrating the holidays

includes Christmas, Hannukah (Channukah) and Kwaanza, 
Chinese New Year, etc.

Create a project that symbolizes the holiday you celebrate at this time of the year. 

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

We have all our Christmas decorations up now.   It was so fun finding where to put things this year since this is our first Christmas in this home.    This tree we have now on a small table in the entryway and looks so good.   I love seeing it in the daylight with no lights on and then at night after the lights are turned on.

I used the December 1st sketch  at  "STUCK ?! SKETCHES"  to make this layout.   I picked up
a hot buy Craft Smith Christmas stack on Black Friday.   Even though I have more than enough Christmas paper, I can't resist new papers.   So I used all papers from it.   With the exception of the musical paper that I'm using for my title, that was cut from a partial piece of patterned paper in my
Christmas stash.    Using the other papers were so easy because I just picked out my background paper and then there was another sheet with all these different border designs and I just cut out the ones with no words on it and used them for the strips of paper in the design.

Check out the challenge here at  "STUCK ?! SKETCHES"   and below is the great sketch
by Laura Whitaker.

Let's Eat Pasta

I just love this picture of Elle and her first time eating Spaghetti noodles.   Now I can't wait to see her when she eats them with marinara sauce on them and see what her face looks like.   LOL
Look carefully at her right hand, she has noodles wrapped around her wrist.    I'm not quite sure how she accomplished this.    But it is oh so cute.  At least to this Grandma.

I used the Dec. 1st sketch at   "LET'S GET SKETCHY"   to make this layout.   Here is the sketch below and be sure to check it out and then the next sketch on the 15th.  You have all month to enter.

Christmas Play Time

Dad and Bruce really enjoyed playing with Zacks virtual reality headset   (I think that is what you call it)   I never got around to trying it because I had started cooking our dinner.  

For this layout I used the November 1st challenge at  "STUCK ?! SKETCHES"

Here is the sketch.    The link closes to play along at midnight EST on November 29th.

Elle's 1st Christmas outing

The kids spent a long weekend in Kansas City, Jason had to work during the day but Leslie and Elle spent the day visiting old friends.    Then that got to go out all together at night.   They visited Union Station one night and this would have been the first time to see a Christmas tree and all the decorations they have up there.   Fun times for everyone.

I used the November 15th Sketch and Word Challenge at   "SCRAP OUR STASH"
The word is THANKS and here is what I used.

T = Torn Edges & also Thickers
H = Heart
A = Arrow
N = Number
K = Kraft paper & Kaisercraft Flower
S = Sayings (comfy and cozy)

Here is the link to   "SCRAP OUR STASH"  and the sketch....

You and Me Forever

I just LOVE this picture of my son and his girlfriend.   They make each other so happy and you can always see it in the pictures they post.   So I wanted to make a layout of this picture because it is one of my favorite ones lately.

I used the November 15th sketch at   "STUCK ?! SKETCHES".   That is the link and here is the sketch.   There is still time to enter for this sketch and also the one from Nov. 1st.

School Party

One more fall layout completed for this year.   These pictures were at the kids school Fall Party.

I used the sketch from Nov. 15th at   "LET'S GET SKETCHY"   seems to be a lot of 3 picture sketches this month, but so far I've been lucky and keep finding pictures to fit.    I love combining all the colors and trying to pull colors from my back ground paper and then I always love using wood grain papers.  I even added some washi tape, which is a biggy for me because I rarely use it.   Then just for a little out lining I did some faux stitching.  I would be lost without my white gel pen, I use it so much.

Here is the sketch and also the link to   "LET'S GET SKETCHY"   plus don't forget to check out the Nov. 1st sketch too, you have till the end of the month to enter that challenge along with this one.

Aunt Bettina

I did my own take on the single page sketch at   "STICK IT DOWN"   and made the sketch work
using three pictures.   I had there horizontal pictures I wanted to use and wasn't sure of a sketch
to use but then decided I could make it work with this sketch.

Here is the link to  "STICK IT DOWN"  and the sketch.   Be sure and check out the card sketch
and the double page sketch.

Large Sentiments

The  "PILE IT ON"  challenge #136 is  Large Sentiments ........

That can mean a prominent amount of text or just a big words, interpret the theme however you like! 

Besides my large Merry Christmas sentiment I also have a lot of text with my background paper of Merry Christmas in different languages.

Here is the link to  "PILE IT ON"

Noel

I'm still heavily into making my Christmas cards this week.    For this card I combined two different challenges.   I started first with the new sketch challenge #248 at  "CAS(E) THIS SKETCH"
Next I used the challenge #193 at  "AND SENTIMENTS CHALLENGE BLOG"  which is
Anything Goes plus a sentiment.

Here are the links......

"CAS(E) THIS SKETCH"

"AND SENTIMENTS CHALLENGE BLOG"

Our Gifts 2016

After finishing the layout I just posted using  "SKETCHES IN THYME"   Nov. 15th sketch,
I went back and decided to try their sketch from last week.    I hadn't found any recent 4 pictures
I could use together but then I had these from last Christmas and new I could use them.    This is
their sketch #300.

Here is the link to  "SKETCHES IN THYME"    and the sketch.

Santa Claus Time

I keep all of my Christmas layout in chronological order.   I started this year by putting layouts from our first Christmas time outing with the layouts from the Silver Dollar City Christmas Festival we went to a couple of weeks ago.    But doing that I noticed I had very few layouts made from Christmas Day last year.   So I started looking back through my pictures and realized the problem was that most of my pictures turned out real blurred.  I have no idea what I was doing wrong but they were blurred and dark.   But I did find some that I could scrap and weren't too bad so I could fill in some areas from last Christmas.

For this layout I used the new sketch #301 at  "SKETCHES IN THYME"
Here is the sketch.

Falling for You

I just love these pictures of the grandkids with the beautiful trees in their front yard.    Such a beautiful fall day for these pictures.

I used the Nov. 1st   Tic-Tac-Toe board at  "SCRAP OUR STASH"   I chose the  diagonal row
of....... the color brown,  fall theme and  Echo Park.

Here is the Tic-Tac-Toe board that I worked with and the link to  "SCRAP OUR STASH"

I am also entering this layout in the final challenge at   "COLORFUL CREATIONS"   They are taking a break from challenges for awhile.  I will hate to see them go, it was always so fun.
I was inspired by the colors, the leaves in one picture and the overall fall mood on the photo inspiration that was  posted today.

Here is the mood board and also the link to  "COLORFUL CREATIONS"

Where Next ?

In between making Christmas cards this week I am also working on layouts from our trip a couple of weekends ago to Silver Dollar City Old Time Christmas Festival.

These pictures were taken during a couple of early in the day breaks while we decided where to walk to and see next.

This is my take for the entry for Nov. 1st schedule at  "THE RUBBER BUGGY"    I think I'm going
to be using this sketch again.    It was a perfect sketch to use with paper with a lot of design around the edges.     Really got to show that off too.

Here is the link to   "THE RUBBER BUGGY"  and the sketch.

Holly Jolly Christmas

For this Christmas card I used the new sketch #348 at  "TRY STAMPIN' - OR NOT - ON TUESDAY".      I didn't stamp on this one and just used some Christmas sentiment stickers.
I like the 'old' feel of this card and all the gold colors in it.

Here is the link to   "TRY STAMPIN' -OR NOT- ON TUESDAY"    and the sketch.

Seasons Greetings

There are two new sketches for November at  "THE RUBBER BUGGY"  a layout sketch and a card sketch.   I have ideas for the layout sketch and here is my card using the sketch.


Here is the sketch and the link to   "THE RUBBER BUGGY".

Bringing home the tree card

This was a fun card to make combining a lot of items from my stash, paper I've had for years,
a PL card I cut into an oval for my image and a sticker in an old collection of sentiments.

I will enter this card in two challenges.    I used the November sketch at "CHRISTMAS CARD
THROWDOWN".     Next I combined it with the Transportation theme at  "SHOPPING
OUR STASH".

Here ate the links and challenges.

"CHRISTMAS CARD THROWDOWN" 

'SHOPPING OUR STASH"

SOS329 - Transportation

Transportation - so anything with cars, boats, balloons, planes and trains