eBay for Christmas Dishes?

I've been neglecting my blog for awhile now and it's because I started a new job.

This is the most complicated job I've ever had nd I've been in training for the past month and

have 3 more weeks to go. When I get home, I'm mentally exhausted and just sit down in front of the TV and fall asleep.

 

With Christmas right around the corner now, there are things that need to get done.

One of my traditions is to get out my Christmas dishes.

 

First of all, if you don't have a Kreuig, this might be one of our favorite gifts ever, that is besides the Bunn coffee pot. Sometime I'll do a post on our favorite Kreuig coffees/teas.

 

 



 

Back on track - so this is the cupboard that holds our dishes

We have a combination of Waverly dishes, fiestaware - oops - the glasses

were all dirty!

On the top shelf I showcased some of my Goodwill finds.

 

One of my goals after Christmas time is to paint inside the cupboard

but for now it is what it is.

I love having a cream colored home but I LOVE colorful dishes!
 

I bought my dishes off eBay several years ago, but they are still available if you check eBay.
The Sweet Shoppe by Sango Sweet Shoppe Christmas.

 



I was able to add a couple of my gingerbread candles that I wanted to have out this season

but couldn't find a home for them.

 



 

One of the my issues with organizing the dishes in the cupboard, is that we have a couple different size coffee cups that we use all the time.
 

I love to drink my coffee from a big mug and the regular size mugs are perfect for
hot chocolate or hot tea.

 



 

 

Because I have so many Christmas things, using the top shelf is a great place to

decorate for Christmas.  I also tucked some additional coffee cups in the back,
just in case we might need them.

 



 

 

Would you believe this all came from eBay?

 One hint I can pass on, don't try to buy everything at once.
Some sellers will inflate the shipping price to make up for the low sale price and

it's best to buy Christmas dishes off season, so wait to buy until January or Febuary.

 

The other hint would be to start searching eBay now to see what you like,
there is so much more to view now since it's Christmas time.

 



 

 

Just looking at my Christmas dishes makes me happy.

 





My next little project might be to find something Christmasy to replace this Halloween pictures.

It's one step at a a time!

 

Wishing you all a wonderful Wednesday!

 

Linking to these parties

Beginning the Christmas Parade, Are You?

Did everyone have plenty of turkey and the trimmings on Thanksgiving Day?
I did venture out on Black Friday and do a little shopping - still need to get our home decorated
for Christmas but that will happen tomorrow.

Today I'm looking for ideas for decorating this Christmas season and
see that there is a wonderful linky party going on now that you'll
want to check out and participate in.

Songbird is hosting this weeks party, Inspiration for the Season.

This post is from December 23, 2011 in which I picked my favorite
Christmas homes. I hope you love them as much as I do.
I look forward to spending hours looking at
all the Christmas decorating going on in blogging land.

So here's that post!


There have been so many great homes decorated for Christmas out there in bloggy land and
I'd like to share some of my favorites...

(in no particular order.....)



Arbor House Lane

The House of Smiths



Fox Hollow Cottage




Aikens House and Gardens

Forever Decorating

My Romantic Home

Dear Lillie

Flea Market Trixie

Have a wonderful Saturday and fun decorating
this Christmas season! 

Happy Thanksgiving!

From our home to your home,

wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving Day!

Bella Blvd Happy Birthday Card

Every morning I check out My Craft Channel and one particular morning Melissa Frances showed how to take a beginner/intermediate card and turn it into something extraordinary.

 

Right away I was thinking of using this information to make a birthday card for Macie.

Let me show you how it turned out.

 

I used more Bella Blvd Girl collection, which has been so fun to create with - super cute!

 



 

 

I used many of the stickers and chipboard elements from the kit for the pull out tag.

 

On the flip side, I simply used more stickers from the collection.

While I love to add embellishments, the elements needed to stay flat so they would fit in the glassine bag.

 



Here's a snapshot of the inside of the card.
The pretty paper in the background is from Teresa Collins Sweet Afternoon collection,
which is another one of my favorites.

Right now I'm working on a December Daily album for my daughter and should
be done by the weekend. So many projects and so little time!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Bella Blvd - Birthday Mini

In October, I attended a online paper crafting event, True Scrap 4.

One of the sessions was entitled, “One and Done: Mini-Album in an Hour."
The instructor was Laura Denison who I've watched on You Tube by the name,
Follow The Paper Trail.

 

The mini album I made, did end up taking more than an hour, but that's because I was making this for Macie's first birthday and I wanted it to be extra special.

Let me show you how it turned out!

 

 

I used paper from the collection of Bella Blvd Birthday Girl and tried to make it something that
a little girl would love to look at as she grows up.

 





Each page either has a space for pictures or a place to journal special memories.

 



 

Now that Macie is one year old, she doesn't sit still for very long.

Picture taking has suddenly become a lot harder.

 

Thanks for stopping by - wishing you all a wonderful week!

Linking to these parties.

Busy, Busy, Busy

It's been ages since I've posted here - been busy getting ready for my granddaughters first birthday.

I can't even share pictures because the party is tomorrow.

 

This little peanut has been such a joy!

 



 

This grandma has enjoyed watching Macie grow and learn new things.

(Holding one of her favorite toys!)

 

She's just starting to walk which is so cute to see.

 

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!



Instagram Magnet - Heidi Swapp Inspired

I've been busy making things for this little girls first birthday this month!

The idea came from watching Heidi Swapp on My Craft Channel and this episode.

 

 

 

It wasn't all that long ago that people use to have the Polaroid cameras which

printed out with a great frame around the picture for easy journaling.
These frames are now called instagram frames, super fun to craft with!

 



 

 

Heidi Swapp sells the mini instagram frames and the larger frames are from Pink Paislee.

This project was so easy, the hardest part was picking the pictures to use.

 



 

Most of the embellishments are either Amy Tangerine or Studio Calico and
this project came together quickly.

 



 

 

My plan is to make a few more of these as Christmas presents and use pictures from

the big First Birthday Party later this month!

 

On a side note, I've been watching lots of TV and the devastation of Hurricane Sandy.

It's really something, isn't it?

 

I have a sister that lives in Ocean City NJ and fortunately for them, they decided

to spend the winter in South Dakota and are safe and dry. But the restaurant that

they own did suffer damage, the amount is unknown since travel to the area is

not recommended.

 

Wishing everyone a safe weekend!

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Linking to these parties.

Winner for Randall Reindeer Giveaway

 

Can you believe it's November 1st?

 

And that does mean it's time to announce the winner.....

 

 

Laura said...

How Adorable is This???

 

 

Laura - email me at thansen078@yahoo.com with your mailing address and I'll get this mailed right out to you!

 

Thanks everyone!

 

Happy November!