O Christmas Two

So yesterday was crafting. Today...

Goodwill

There are so many wonderful and strange things to be found there.

Like this guy, who makes me laugh every year. Where did he come from? When and where was he appropriate?

Or this, my very first Flamingo ornament. Now I have lots, given to me over the years, but this first flamingo, he's special. I remember finding him and thinking. A flamingo for the Christmas Tree, found at Goodwill? What could be more perfect?

I got a whole box of these Straw ornaments from Czechoslovakia, and gave most of them away, but I kept one for myself.

And this is a Hallmark Keepsake ornament that I found brand new in the box. It has the year we moved into the house and everything (see the 2004 at the bottom of the door). I think I found it two years ago. It was very exciting.

Can you guess what's next?

Gift Tags

I think there are lots of neat things you could do with these.

And probably some one else more computer savvy than me would know how to put them into a PDF or something repeating so that you could just print them out and use them.

Sorry 'bout that.But aren't they pretty and oh so cute?

And now I can use them without fretting about it.

I am definitely re-using this one. I love it.

The Christmas Lamb

Grammy Joan also found me a little cloth Christmas book kit. I would never buy a kit from Wal-mart, but as a gift, especially from a thrift store, I find these projects to be super fun.

They're quick and easy and I think I like the idea of the things finally being made. Someone bought these things, and then ran out of time.

I like being able to check things off of other people's lists.

"CAREFULLY stitch baby Jesus front to baby Jesus back"

Last year Grammy Joan found me a fun nativity set sewing kit at Goodwill. I started it last December, but didn't get it done. I was excited to find it in the Christmas craft box when I brought it up last week.


It's one of those projects that I thought would take forever, but actually didn't take long at all!

It makes me happy to think about playing with it for years and years and years.

Santasaurus

Remember those craft kits I got from Goodwill?

I finished the dino ornaments! It was really fun, and got me interested in hand sewing and embroidery.

I'm still working on that counted cross stitch dino...not my favorite.

Goodwill love

Last week Matthew took Anna on errands, so I had the chance to go to Goodwill by myself, a rare treat. Anna's pretty good at shopping at Goodwill, we usually fill the cart with kids books and that keeps her entertained, but it's still nice to be able to take as much time as I want, which is a lot of time.

On this particular trip, there was a huge basket full of craft kits. So exciting!

I've never done any counted cross-stitch, but this little Christmas dinosaur was so cute, surely I can manage him. Or Matthew can do it, I think he did cross-stitch in 4-H. (Is that embarrassing? I don't think so)

And, perfectly timed given my new fondness for felt, these sweet dinosaur ornaments.

The felt was all marked, with nice clear instructions and everything I would need, even a new needle!

And some glue...which was long ago past its time, but cute! Glu-bird. Sounds like a good name for a stuffed toy.

Thank You

While I was away, I had lots of nice comments (in person) about how I was missed.

Allow me this opportunity to share my thanks.

Wrapping Paper

I'm fessin' up. Did you know I have another paper goods addiction?

Sometimes, at Goodwill, they have old wrapping paper. I have a hoard-y stash of it.

I decided to try scanning it, in the hopes that it would help me to use it, but figuring out how to scan it to catch the repeat made me feel a little crazy.

I suppose that's fair.