*The Halls are Decked*

It wasn't easy for me, but we decked the halls last night.  I didn't put out every single Christmas piece like I normally do but the tree is up and decorated, the garland is up and lit, the wreath is on the door and my snowmen are decorating the stairs. I may still end up adding a few more things to complete the look.

I have a few of Mom and Dad ornaments that are now on my tree....  and I cried as I put them on the tree.. it seems so wrong for those ornaments from my childhood to be on my tree.  I'm sure, with time, I will look at those ornaments and smile instead of cry.... but it won't be this year....

In fact, it took a big effort to even want to decorate this year...  but I knew I had to for the kids.

It's still just so fresh....

But, I will make it through the holidays... there will be tears, but there will be a lot of memories to make me smile through those tears as well.  I am sure that they will be with us each and every Christmas....

This is another of the cards I created while in Ontario at the retreat.  I still can't believe how many cards I made that weekend....

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler, Wild Wasabi
*Pattern Paper:  Creative Imaginations
*Images:  PTI Signature Greetings
*Ink:  Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler
*Tools:  Big Shot; Spellbinders Labels 4


What impressed me with creating this card was that I wasn't following a sketch to create it!  I'm sure I've made something like it before, but the idea came into my head while I was working and I went with it instead of following a sketch.  There were a few that I created that way over the weekend... felt good to get that bit of creativity back again!

I am off to sit in front of my lit Christmas tree with my iPod on playing Christmas music (instead of listening to Matthew play video games) and I'm going to get started writing and addressing my Christmas cards... I want them out the door in the next few days!