HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

I would just like to wish you all a VERY happy new year and all the best in 2010!!!

May you have a year full of friends, family, love, health & happiness!!!!!

And may 2010 be all that you wish for!!!!

Chris

A few thoughts for the New Year:

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.
2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you have to.
3. Buy a DVR. Tape your late night shows and get more sleep.
4. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, "My purpose is to__________ _ today."
5. Live with the 3 E’s — Energy, Enthusiasm, Empathy.
6. Watch more movies, play more games and read more books than you did in 2008.
7. Make time to practice meditation, yoga, tai chi, and prayer. They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.
8. Spend more time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6.
9. Dream more while you are awake.
10. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
11. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.
12. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
13. Clear your clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and flowing energy into your life.
14. Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
15. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
16. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.
17. Smile and laugh more. It will keep the energy vampires away.
18. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
20. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
21. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
22. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.
23. Don’t compare your life to others’. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
24. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, and wear the fancy lingerie (not you guys.) Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?"
27. Forgive everyone for everything.
28. What other people think of you is none of your business.
29. Time heals almost everything. Give it time, time.
30. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
31. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
32. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
33. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
34. The best is yet to come.
35. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
36. Do the right thing!
37. Call your family often.
38. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: "I am thankful for __________." Today I accomplished _________.
39. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.
40. Enjoy the ride. Remember that this is not Disney World and you certainly don’t want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy the ride.

May your troubles be less, May your blessings be more. And may nothing but happiness come through your door!

Happy New Year everyone!!!!!
Chris

Zoo Lights

Hi all!!! Nothing crafty today, but thought I'd share some pictures of ZOO LIGHTS that I went to with my 2 brothers & their wives, my Mom, and my niece. It was a beautiful night and it didn't start getting cold until we were ready to leave! Even then it wasn't really that cold (I think it was -6 Celsius)



My niece Ciennah going down the slide


These lights were really cool - they monkey moved across the vine, the elephants trunk moved and the tiger moved his paw.

The camels were the only animals we saw outside. Crazy Camels!!!

Some more lights.

and some more

My Mom warming up by the fire (I don't know the dude standing there!!! LOL)

All of us (on the left of my Mom is Sherry, Rick & ME; my Mom in the middle; on the right of my Mom is Tammy, Brad & Ciennah)

My oldest brother Rick, my Mom & my niece Ciennah

The tree of life

Ciennah in the igloo

That's all I got for ya!! I've been working on some Design Team stuff but I hope to have some other crafty things for you tomorrow or the next day for sure!!!! HAVE a GREAT week!!!!

Chris

Corrosive Challenge - New Years Resolution

This weeks challenge at The Corrosive Challenge blog is "New Years Resolution"....and since I've never been one to make and KEEP my resolutions this was a toughy for me!!!! As I was pondering this one, I thought that maybe I should just believe in myself & my talent. So I dug around in my charms and found this Tim Holtz charm that I got from Heidi at Simon Says Stamp and used that as my Resolution!!! I WILL TRY TO BELIEVE in myself more!!! The reindeer is a digi image from Sweet N Sassy stamps.

Head over to the challenge blog to see what the other Design Team members are resolving to do for 2010!!!! And I hope you will join us this week!!!!

IF you post a comment, tell me what your New Years Resolution is, and I will draw a random # next Sunday for a baggie of mixed charms!!!!
Chris

Fabulous Friday Freebie #21 WINNER

I almost forgot I had to pick a winner.......yikes!!! SOOO sorry!!! The winner of the BROWN items is................. LISA from A scrap of Lisa & a fellow Canadian!!!! CONGRATS LISA!!!!

Please email me your address so I can get Steph to mail out your goodies!!!! (She will be back in the office Monday!)

Thanks everyone!!! Freebie Friday's will resume in January!!!!
Chris

New Challenge blog....check it out!!!!

This new sister blog of ABC Challenge looks REALLY awesome!! AND inspiring to get my Christmas cards done throughout the year & not to leave them until Dec. LOL They are having a blog hop right now too, so go check it out!!!!! Here is the link:

ABC Christmas Challenge blog


MERRY CHRISTMAS & happy hopping!!!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL MY FRIENDS!!!

I WISH YOU NOTHING BUT THE BEST IN 2010! ENJOY YOUR WEEKEND WITH YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS - I WILL BE!!!

I WILL BE BACK WITH THE FRIDAY FREEBIE WINNER TOMORROW, AND A POST ON SUNDAY!!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
CHRIS

Creations by Penny - my first Design Team cards....

I made a couple cards on the weekend using some new images from CREATIONS BY PENNY, my newest Design Team venture! I was so excited to play I had a hard time deciding which ones to use first!!!!


I made this little 3x3 card for my DH - for part of his scavenger hunt to find his big gift!!!! I coloured with my koh-i-noor pencils & baby oil gel, then covered the whole heart with Crystal Effects. The DP on both these cards is Basic Grey (not sure which pad it came from......it was in my scrap bin! Euphoria maybe?!?!?!)


This card is for my BIL's birthday in Jan. Inside it says "catch all the fun you can".....he is an avid fisherman so I couldn't resist using this Whimsy Fish by Penny!!!! Isn't he cute??? He makes me giggle!!!! He is coloured with copics & covered with Crystal Ice Stickles! The card is actually white, but I put the pink paper behind it so you could see it......I normally photograph my cards with a white background! After I took this picture I added 3 green rhinestones after It's your day... cuz they got cut off with the word window punch!

Head to Penny's store HERE to check out all her great designs!!! And she has a lot of freebies too, so go check it out!!!!

Thanks for stopping by!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!
Chris

Simon Says... PARTYYYYY!!!!!

This weeks challenge at Simon Says Stamp is to show us your PARTY!!!!!! Tis the season...so let's bring it on!!!!!! I made a whole party set for you to see!!! I used 2 Magnolia stamps I've had forever & never inked up (I know, it's a tragedy!!!). I made a card & 2 wine bottle tags as a gift for friends!

Here is the card:



And the wine bottle tags:

Head over to the challenge blog to see what the other Design Team members have created for you!!! I hope you will join us this week!!!!! Also, with great sadness, the SSS dt is saying good-bye to Anna, who is leaving us. It has been a pleasure and an honour to work with such an amazing, talented person!! We will miss you Anna!!! Come back & visit!!!

And, before you leave me, you have found the HIDDEN SSS blog candy this week!!!!! One lucky winner who comments on this post will win a jar of Baby Pink Flower Soft!!!!! Good luck!!!!

This week you have an extra week to join this challenge as the DT is taking a week off to spend with our family & friends!! So, you have until Jan. 6 to play with this challenge!! Have fun!!!!

Chris

Easel calendar

I cannot for the life of me remember if I posted this calendar or not...if I did, bear with me & SORRY! If I didn't.....you're in for a treat!!! I bought this easel jewel case calendar kit at a small LSS 2 summers ago & it sat in my tub of "things to alter" until Oct. Crazy eh? I finally decided to make it & sell it at my first craft sale way back in Nov. It sold really quickly - I only wish I had bought more!!! I only know it is from Pine Cone Press & not even sure which store I got it from!!! Boo hooooo!!!! Anyway, here it is:

Front view



Side view

First 4 months decorated

Next 4 months decorated
Last 4 months decorated

It is a neat idea, and I'm sure it could be made with CD jewel cases - if anyone knows how, let me know!!! I might give it a try one day when I have some time!!!

Thanks for popping by! Have a GREAT week!!!!!
Chris