Christmas Poinsettias

Christmas beauties all

A gentle reminder of

The "Christ" in Christmas

May your New Year be filled with peace and joy.

         Merry Christmas!  Mickie

More Christmas Cheer - Snowmen

Bright and cheery snowmen

The kind not made from snow

Stay warm and toasty inside

From winter winds that blow

Hanging on the Christmas tree

They bring a smile of joy

To anxious shining faces

Of every girl and boy

They will not melt away

But off they soon will go

To a  box of decorations

In the basement far below

A New Outfit For Santa & A Great Recipe!

I think "blue" is a good color for Santa--and he IS an avid Kansas University Jayhawk  fan!

Rocky Road Fudge

12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips

6 oz. milk chocolate chips

7 oz.jar marshmallow creme

About 3/4 of a big bag of miniature marshmallows

1 can Eagle Brand condensed milk

 1 C. toasted walnuts in small pieces

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla

 Melt chocolate chips in microwave till smooth

Mix marshmallow creme in quickly then add condensed milk, nuts.salt, vanilla, and marshmallows
Stir until marshmallows are covered in chocolate and everything is well blended..
Pour into a 13" by 9" or even a little larger pan. 
Really good and easy..

Angel Greetings From Kansas

Angels we have heard on high

    Sweetly singing o'er the plain

             Christmas Popcorn
2 bags microwave popcorn
16 ounces dry roasted peanut
3  cups Rice Krispies
1  1/2 lbs.  (24 oz.) vanilla melting chips
3 Tablespoons smooth peanut butter
Pop microwave popcorn and remove all loose kernels.
Pour into very large bowl (I use a big roasting pan).
Add peanuts and rice krispies and blend.
Melt vanilla bark and stir in peanut butter.
Pour over popcorn mixture and mix well. Spread over waxed paper covered cookie sheets and let dry.
Break into chunks.

It's delicious, easy to make, and makes a large batch.





And here is my own little "angel" !

Christmas Cheer

Two "Brick" Santas (yes, they are made out of a brick).  A little paint, fabric, and "stuff" for a beard, and you have a cute Santa!






















This cute Santa on the left is a painted gourd. The Santa above is a painted cookie jar lid. No, I did not paint either one, but gosh I wish I could paint that well.

I did "pour and stain" this Nativity Set years ago.  It is always the first thing to be put out. I did promise my 3 children I would make a set for each of them--now I never said how old they might be before they received it!!!  I'm thinking it might be time to start on them.

A "pot" snowman and baskets I decorated are below.

The HOLIDAYS are here!

    I hope each and every day   before Christmas is filled with
     joy, laughter, and love.  

Tis the Season

Christmas Decorating

Rockchalk Jayhawk

                                                                              Be proud, be loyal, be true

                                                                    Go crimson and blue

Here is a Kansas University Santa.  The sculpted face is made by a well known local artist--Babs Mellor.  Her lovely work is found all over the city.  The tree is decorated with handmade KU Christmas ornaments.

The Jayhawk is the University of Kansas mascot.

Snowmen Greeters

Two Snowmen greet you at the front door.  I painted them at 3 in the morning the other day.  They are made from a 6 foot board and a 4 foot board.  The top hat is part of the board with a cross piece added for the brim.  Add a sweater and a scarf and they are ready to say "Hello" to visitors.

Christmas Favorites

More beautiful poinsettias!

One of my favorite Santas from long, long ago.  I painted him back in the 70's using pen and ink for the detail work.

Candle Glow

Soft glowing candle
     Reach deep into heart's center
              Caress tired spirit

         

Snowmen,Snowmen, Snowmen

Christmas Ornaments

Whoever would have thought to make a "paintbrush" into such an adorable little Santa.  Another treasure.

Christmas Ornaments

I just think this Santa is so elegant.

Christmas Ornaments

Sand Dollar Santa

Christmas Ornaments

I have so many "favorite" ornaments!!!!   I love the little angel that says Kansas at the bottom.

Handcrafted with care

    A whimsical adornment
        Reflection of love

KANSAS ANGEL

Christmas Color

T

Thank goodness for festive poinsettias to brighten and add color to the Holiday season.  I love the many varieties that are available now days.  This one is "Jingle Bell".












Bright crimson flower
Usher in Season of Joy
Spread Christmas magic

   

Christmas Favorites

Here are some of my favorite Christmas decorations.  I can't "lay claim" to any of them except the little Snowman.  I made him from 2 clay pots.  The big Santa face is a cookie jar lid  ( there is a set of lids that are all hand painted and include a design for every Holiday.  I love all of them.  The standing Santa is my very favorite decoration--he is hand painted and made from a dried gourd.  In a divorce settlement, he would be a major point of contention.  The next Santa is an antique bell, clapper and all.  Such fun to get all of them out each Christmas! 

Cookie Jar Lid Santa



                                                              

 Hand Painted Dried Gourd                                               Santa                                                   

                                                                                                                                                

       Antique Bell Santa

                                                                                      

                         

Clay Pot Snowman

Christmas Baskets

Stick a glue gun in my hand and I go crazy!!  I love taking a plain basket and adding flowers, leaves, and such to the front of it.  I use it to put received Christmas cards in, pinecones, or fill it with a variety of sacks of homemade candy and, again, give it to my (lucky???) friends.

 

Poinsettias are always beautiful, and these days you can get them in just about ANY color. 

"Crafty" Santa

I love to do Arts and Crafts (heavy emphasis on the Crafts side--my "talent" seems to fit in that category a little more than working on great Art pieces, unfortunately). Here is my "Brick Santa"--yes, he's made from a real brick. Paint a cute face on him, add a beard (all kinds of fun materials can be used), add a bag of toys and a cute hat and "there he is". I have probably made 40+ to give to (lucky???) friends and family, and actually sold a few too. Seems like if I make one of something I end up "mass producing" them to give away.

"Crafty" but cute Santas

He's one of the "favorite" things I've made. It is such fun getting out all of the Christmas decorations-many of which you forget about from year to year. More favorite crafts and Christmas decorations coming up in the next few blogs. Happy decorating!