My Favorite Things

Believe Revisited

Hello!  It's the first of December (crazy!) which means that the countdown to Christmas is officially ON!  It also means that it's time for another Senior Design Team Challenge at Papertrey Ink.  This month, Nichole has challenged us to pull out our Believe stamp sets and give 'em some love.

When you see the Believe stamp set, it's easy to be drawn to the larger images in the set....the Christmas tree and the Santa image.  However, for today's projects, I chose to focus on some of the small images that are included in the set and used them to create my own patterned papers with just some black ink and 4 Copic markers.  For this first pattern, you can see in the photo above, that I mounted two different berries/leaves images on my acrylic block and stamped them multiple times covering the rustic cream card stock.  By stamping the two images at the same time, it speeds up this process quite a bit.

Next up, I used two different green Copic markers to color in the leaves.  The lighter color was used to fill in the entire leaf and then the dark color was used to accent the insides of each leaf.  Then I went back over the darker color with a bit of the lighter color once more, to blend the two.

Here, you can see the completed leaves along with the two green Copics I used -- YG95 and YG93.

Next, I pulled out a bright red Copic as well as a dark red -- R29 and R59.  I colored each berry with the bright red (R29) and then added a single dot of R59 to each berry for a little accent.

This photo shows the completed berry paper as well as a couple other patterns I created with other tiny images from Believe and those same Copic markers.

For the star pattern, I stamped the stars in ripe avocado ink and then colored them in with YG93.  For the little birdie pattern, I stamped them in true black ink and then colored them in with the two reds, using the R59 (dark red) to accent the bottom of the birds' wings.

And here are a couple of cards I created using those papers as well as sentiments from the Believe stamp set.  Die cut strips of kraft card stock (eyelet lace border die) were added to either side of the patterned papers to accent them a bit.

The pure poppy card stock was die cut with the mat stack 1 die and stamped with a coordinating image from the mat stack 1 collection stamp set using versamark ink.  Limitless layers dies were used to cut the tag shapes and the decorative circle image (stamped in true black ink) is from the Everyday Treats stamp set.

 

More of the same here.....mat stack 1 die and another mat stack 1 collection stamp image (this time, stamped in ripe avocado ink on ripe avocado card stock).....more limitless layers dies and the Everyday Treats circle image stamped in ripe avocado ink.

If you've got the Believe stamp set in your collection, why not pull that baby out, dust her off and create your own papers and cards today?

Be sure to visit Nichole Heady and the other girls on the senior design team to see what they've cooked up for you today, using the Believe stamp set!

Betsy Veldman
Mish Wooderson
Heather Nichols
Lisa Johnson

Thanks so much for stopping by today.....I appreciate you spending a bit of your day with me!

Take care,

{Believe Christmas Cards supplies}
Paper: pure poppy, ripe avocado, rustic cream, kraft
Stamps: Believe
Ink: pure poppy, ripe avocado, true black, versamark, vintage touch tea dye
Other: eyelet lace border die, mat stack 1 die, limitless layers dies, Copic markers

 

Christmas Cactus = Christmas Cheer

Hi-ya Peeps!

Happy Tuesday to you.  Just poppin' in to say hi.  I've got a design list a mile long that I should probably be working on but I couldn't resist saying hello and sharing a bit of Christmas-time cheer with you.  

Have you ever seen a Christmas Cactus before?  Well, we've got one that we honestly can't even remember where or when we got it.  I just know that it's been sitting in a corner of the dining room on it's little plant stand, right by the window, for several years now.  In all honesty, the Christmas Cactus isn't really that "pretty" of a plant for most of the year.  But once a year about this time (maybe even again mid-year), this otherwise ordinary plant does something amazing......it graces us with the most beautiful and colorful blooms and this year, I decided it was high time I documented that beauty on film and shared it with you here in blog land.

The blooms are quite spectacular and the color?  Well, the color........it's just perfect.....and bright......and perfectly bright.  And each year, it always seems to surprise us again, just how PRETTY this cactus becomes.  It's always such a treat, that first time each year, when we walk into the dining room and discover the brightly colored blooms.

Quite extraordinary, don't you think?  God's handiwork never ceases to amaze me.  I've come to realize that a Christmas Cactus = Christmas Cheer.  

As you can see, without the blooms, this plant wouldn't necessarily be much to write home about.  But with the blooms, it's all of a sudden spectacular.  It always makes me so thankful that my husband is so faithful to water and care for this little gem all year long, even when the plant is at it's "ugliest" because one day when we least expect it, the Christmas Cactus will bloom and we will once again be in awe of God's handiwork.  

I hope that you're having a wonderful day.  Each month around here, there are a couple of weeks that we at Papertrey are working like crazy to prepare for the Countdown.  And then there are a couple of weeks when we're working like crazy on product design and finalizing files for future product releases.  The latter is where we're at right now, so I've got lots of computer work to check off the list.  I'd better get back to it, but I'm thinking of you and wishing you well.

Be back tomorrow (late tonight, actually) with a crafty post for you!  See you soon!

 

Setting the Scene

Hello there, dear friends....

I hope you're enjoying your weekend!  I'm sorry I didn't get back over here yesterday to chat with you and I don't have a crafty project to share with you today because we've still been enjoying lots of time with family while my mother-in-law is in town.  We've also been busy setting the scene for Christmas around here!  We've got the house officially decked out for the holidays now, and it feels so, so good!  Here's a little photo I snapped last night while some of the fam was over for dinner and a little movie viewing.  (Last night's selection -- Elf)  :)

Isn't that just a cozy looking scene?  Ahhh.  I truly love this time of year.  Love the fire.  Love the decorations.  Love the family gatherings.  

I'll be sure to share photos of all the decorations around the house when I can get them taken.  In the meantime, I hope you're enjoying some down-time yourselves this weekend.  We're off to one more Thanksgiving meal with the fam today.  Should be fun!  

In case you missed it, I also posted another Movie Magic post today (complete with Bart's reviews too!  Ha!) so be sure to scroll down to see that.

Happy Sunday, Dearies,

Movie Magic

Hi there,

It's time again for another installment of Movie Magic.....the part of the show where I share great old movies with you that you I highly recommend you watch at your earliest convenience!  :)

Today's Movie Magic recommendations are for two more wonderful old movies, the first being Seven Brides for Seven Brothers!  If you haven't seen this, let me be the first to tell you that it is sooo, sooo good.  SO good.  Definitely on my top 3 favorites list.  And the barn raising dance scene is one of my favorite movie scenes of all time.  I'm serious here....I would not lead you astray.  (I think it has something to do with all of the amazing COLORS in the dresses/shirts that they're wearing in that scene....you know me and color!)  

The other old movie I'd like to recommend isn't a musical.  (Are you glad?  Do you like musicals or hate them?)  This next old movie is one that my best friend recommended to me just last week.  I checked it out from the library (free = good!) this week and we watched it this weekend.  Loved it!  

It's called Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House.  Think "The Money Pit" only in black and white, and with Cary Grant.  This is a comedy that I really enjoyed.  So much fun watching this couple build their dream home!

 

And for you guys out there who might appreciate a man's perspective....a new addition to the Movie Magic posts:

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers -- Bart's review: "This movie has some good lessons for manly men.  As men, we can all relate to Howard Keel.  It's a one-time view."  

LOL.  Me again......he cracks me up.  This movie has a lot of singing and dancing which of course, I happen to l.o.v.e., but obviously the same doesn't quite appeal so much to my hottie hubs!  Hee.

Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House -- Bart's review: "I liked it.  Mr. Blandings' best friend in the movie, was my favorite -- he was funny with a great dry, sarcastic sense of humor.  Lots of neat old cars and buildings."

So obviously Bart's reviews are a bit different than mine.....hahaha.  BUT, let me know if you (or the men in your lives) appreciate hearing Bart's takes on these Movie Magic movies.  If you like them, we can keep them coming.  Hee.

If you've seen these movies already, or if you go watch them, leave us a comment and let us know what you think of them!  I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Happy viewing,

 

Gift Set Series - Berry, Poppy & Cream

Hello there,

Happy Friday!!  If you're here in the US, I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving day.  Are you still full from all of the feasting??  :)

I've got another gift set of cards to share with you today!  These cards are all 5 1/4" x 5 1/4" squares which fit Papertrey's large square envelopes perfectly (which are 5.5" x 5.5").

For the first pair of cards in this set, I started out with a berry sorbet card stock base and added a piece of pure poppy card stock down the center of the card, as well as some Distressed Dots patterned paper.  To the bottom of the card, I added a bit of berry sorbet trim that was die cut using the banner borders die and then tied a berry sorbet grosgrain bow around the card.

Next up is a paper doily, inked up with vintage touch tea dye ink and then a mat stack 1 die cut, stamped with a pretty label image from the mat stack 1 collection stamp set.  To that, I added some limitless layers die cuts, the circle stamped with an image and sentiment from 2009 Autumn Tags.

For this little duo, I started with a rustic cream card base and added a piece of berry sorbet card stock that I stamped a pretty damask pattern onto using my Damask Designs stamp set with versamark ink and then I roughed up the edges of that layer with a Heidi Swapp edge distresser.  Next, I die cut a strip of rustic cream card stock with the medium scallop border die and stamped the "Praying for you" sentiment, also from Damask Designs, in pure poppy ink.

Now, here's a little detail you might not notice at first glance.  See that pure poppy mat stack 4 die cut?  I ran that thru my Big Shot with the linen & canvas impression plate.  It's subtle, but it adds such a nice texture to that layer without having to stamp another pattern.  Next, I die cut a bit of vintage book print with a leaf prints die, and then stamped coordinating stamps from the Leaf Prints stamp set using berry sorbet and pure poppy inks.  I topped things off with a few pure poppy buttons, threading the largest one with poppy baker's twine.

For this last pair, I started out with more rustic cream card stock for the base and then added more distressed dots patterned paper as well as my favorite pattern from my It's Official patterned paper collection.  To that berry patterned paper, I added a pretty trim strip that was die cut using the victorian lace die and pure poppy card stock, and then I tied a simple knot around the card using pure poppy topnotch twill.

For the focal point on these cards, I used the mat stack 3 die and a coordinating stamp from the All Booked Up stamp set.  To that pretty label image, I added the "Blessings" sentiment from First Fruits.  Then, I added a simple circle punched from pure poppy card stock as well as a flower that I die cut with the Signature Series: Flower die and stamped with the coordinating flower stamp from the Signature Series: Flower stamp set.

For the packaging, I used one of the clear boxes that a Papertrey stamp set comes in.  Did you know that the stamp boxes are the perfect size for creating square cards of this size?  I added a bit of It's Official and Distressed Dots patterned papers as well as some strips of pure poppy card stock that were die cut using the medium and large scallop border dies.  All of those layers are simply adhered to the front of the clear box but the berry sorbet grosgrain bow is tied all the way around the box.

For the focal point on the box, I used another paper doily distressed up with vintage touch tea dye ink.  Next, I layered a fillable frames #4 die cut from pure poppy card stock and the "for" and "you" stamps are from the First Fruits stamp set.  To finish things off, I created a layered flower using vintage book print and the Signature Series: Flower die by stitching the layers together with a pure poppy button and poppy baker's twine.

All righty, that's it for today.  I hope you've enjoyed today's card gift set!

Have a wonderful weekend, dear friends......and for those of you that are still celebrating Thanksgiving like we are in my family, have a great time with your loved ones this weekend!

{Thank You supplies}
Paper: berry sorbet, pure poppy, rustic cream, Distressed Dots
Stamps: 2009 Autumn Tags, Mat Stack 1 Collection
Ink: pure poppy, berry sorbet, vintage touch tea dye
Other: mat stack 1 die, limitless layers dies, banner borders die, berry sorbet grosgrain ribbon, paper doily, sewing machine/thread

{Blessings supplies}
Paper: rustic cream, pure poppy, berry sorbet, Distressed Dots, It's Official
Stamps: All Booked Up, Signature Series: Flower, First Fruits
Ink: pure poppy, berry sorbet
Other: victorian lace border die, mat stack #3 die, signature series: flower die, 1.75" circle punch, pure poppy topnotch twill ribbon

{Praying For You supplies}
Paper: rustic cream, berry sorbet, pure poppy, vintage book print
Stamps: Damask Designs, Leaf Prints
Ink: pure poppy, berry sorbet, versamark
Other: linen & canvas impression plate, mat stack 4 die, leaf prints die, medium scallop border die, pure poppy buttons, poppy baker's twine, Heidi Swapp edge distresser

{For You gift box supplies}
Paper: pure poppy, Distressed Dots, It's Official, vintage book print
Stamps: First Fruits
Ink: true black, vintage touch tea dye
Other: medium & large scallop border dies, Signature Series: Flower die, fillable frames #4 die, pure poppy button, poppy baker's twine, berry sorbet grosgrain ribbon, paper doily

 

Thankful for YOU

Photo credit: Martha Stewart

Hello, Dear Friends.....

It's Thanksgiving here in the US and that means it's a day to celebrate with loved ones, a day to really and truly stop and count our blessings.  It's a day to be thankful and to pause long enough to recognize all that we're thankful for.

 

 

Today, as I reflect on all that I'm thankful for, that list includes you.....each of you dear readers friends, that stop by my blog-o and share a bit of your day with me.  I'm thankful for each of the sweet comments you leave for me here....it makes blogging a little less one-sided.  I'm thankful for the friendships that have developed with some of you as a result of this little blog.  And I'm thankful to have so many "friends" out there that share my love of paper crafting. 

Today's card is dedicated to each of you.  I'm thankful for YOU.

On the top of the card, I layered a few different papers from the Library Ledger collection as well as a bit of rustic cream card stock that I die cut with the banner borders die and a knot, tied with aqua mist saddle stitch ribbon.

The bottom details on the card are nice and simple......fillable frames #4 die and stamp set on the kraft layer and limitless layers for the circles.  The sentiment and wheat image are both from the 2009 Autumn Tags stamp set.

Whether you're here in the US and celebrating Thanksgiving with me today, or whether you're in other countries around the world, please know that you mean more to me than you'll probably ever know.  Your "participation" in this little blog makes this all worthwhile to me.  

Thank you for sharing your lives with me.

And if you ARE here in the US, I wish you a day filled with loved ones and happiness, a grateful heart and relaxation......oh, and turkey, mashed potatoes (or cheesy potatoes, as the case may be), green bean casserole and pumpkin pie.  :)

Happiest of Thanksgivings,

{Thankful for You supplies}
Paper: aqua mist, rustic cream, kraft, library ledger
Stamps: 2009 Autumn Tags, Fillable Frames #4 
Ink: aqua mist, dark chocolate
Other: banner borders die, fillable frames #4 die, limitless layers dies, aqua mist saddle stitch ribbon

Gift Set Series - Plum, Lavender & Cream

Hello again,

I've got another card gift set for you today.....this one is the same as the first set in this series, in that it contains 6 cards -- 3 designs, two of each style -- all packaged in a coordinating gift box.  These would be ideal to whip up this holiday season for gifts, and they include lots of paper-crafty goodies that you may already have on hand.  

 

Oh, how I love this first card and really, it's so so simple.  To the rustic cream card base, I added a panel of distressed dots patterned paper and stitched up both sides with my sewing machine.  

Then, I layered on a paper doily that I inked up with vintage touch tea dye ink, to make it a bit more cream colored and less bright white.  The mat stack 1 die as well as the mat stack 1 collection stamp set were used to create the pretty label and the "thankful" sentiment is one from the First Fruits stamp set.  I topped the labels off with 3 plum pudding buttons, threaded together with rustic cream button twine.

Next up is another simple, but elegant little number......this one started out with a lavender moon card stock base and was layered with more distressed dots patterned paper.  I also added a piece of plum pudding card stock along the bottom of the card, that was die cut using the banner borders die, and then tied a bit of plum pudding luxe satin ribbon in a knot around the card front.

The pretty wheat image was stamped in plum pudding ink on rustic cream card stock that was die cut with the mat stack 3 die.  The wheat image as well as the "Gratitude" sentiment are both from the First Fruits stamp set.

For the last pair of cards in this set, I started out with a rustic cream card base and more distressed dots patterned paper.  Then, I added another panel of rustic cream card stock with rounded bottom corners, and I stitched along the top of that panel after inking all of the edges with vintage touch tea dye ink.

The plum pudding card stock was die cut with the mat stack 4 die and I stamped one of the flourish images from the mat stack 1 collection stamp set along the bottom of that label.  Layers of vintage book print were die cut using the beautiful blooms II #3 dies, inked up and stitched together with a plum pudding button.  Behind the flower, I tucked a sentiment strip that was die cut with the double-ended banner die and stamped with a sentiment from First Fruits, as well as a couple of vintage cream felt flowers that were die cut using the delightful dahlia dies.

For the packaging on this gift set, I used another clearly creative card box that I layered with a bit of lavender moon card stock and another piece of distressed dots patterned paper.  I took my cues for this packaging from that first card I created for this set, so I added another paper doily as well as a mat stack 1 image and a plum pudding button.  The "for" and "you" are both from First Fruits.

In creating all of the gift sets I'll be sharing with you this week, I've been reminded again of how well soooo many of Papertrey's products work together.  So many of the stamp sets -- both new and older -- can be used in conjunction with so many of the other sets, giving you an unlimited number of design options.  It's just another reason why I love Papertrey products like I do.  Being able to mix and match so many different sets really provides you with such a great value!  

Well, I hope you've enjoyed this second installment of the Gift Set Series this week.  Are you inspired to make a gift set or two of your own??  :)

Happy Thanksgiving Eve, Dearies...

{Thankful supplies}
Paper: rustic cream, distressed dots
Stamps: mat stack 1 collection, first fruits
Ink: plum pudding, true black, vintage touch tea dye
Other: mat stack 1 die, plum pudding buttons, rustic cream button twine, paper doily, sewing machine

{Gratitude supplies}
Paper: plum pudding, lavender moon, rustic cream, distressed dots
Stamps: First Fruits
Ink: plum pudding, true black
Other: mat stack 3 die, banner borders die, plum pudding luxe satin ribbon

{Blessings supplies}
Paper: rustic cream, plum pudding, distressed dots
Stamps: mat stack 1 collection, first fruits
Ink: plum pudding, versamark, vintage touch tea dye
Other: mat stack 1 die, double-ended banners die, beautiful blooms II #3 dies, delightful dahlia die, plum pudding button, rustic cream button twine, corner chomper, sewing machine/thread

{For You gift box supplies}
Paper: lavender moon, rustic cream, distressed dots
Stamps: mat stack 1 collection, first fruits
Ink: plum pudding, true black, vintage touch tea dye
Other: mat stack 1 die, plum pudding button, rustic cream button twine, paper doily

 

Movie Magic

Hey there, Peeps.....I've got a fun new feature I'll be sharing with you here at the blog-o.  It's no secret that I love old movies and I know that some of them are perhaps ones that you haven't ever seen or heard of, or perhaps you just haven't thought about them in years, so I figured I'd share some of those beloved old movies with you here!  Whether you rent them, hunt them down on Netflix, buy them or check them out at the library (for free - yay!), there are a world of fabulous old movies out there, just waiting to be seen!  And since it's the holiday season and hopefully you're getting to squeeze in some time with your loved ones, it's the perfect time to pop in an old movie and watch it together!

For today, I thought we'd kick off this new feature with a couple of my all-time favorites.  I'm sure for most of you, these will be totally obvious choices....most of you have probably seen these many times.  But if we're starting with my favorites, we have to start with these.  

If you haven't seen these, please please, find them and watch them!  They're classics.  They're wonderful.  They have singing and dancing and happy endings.  They're awesome.  Trust me.

The Sound of Music starring Julie Andrews 

Singin' in the Rain starring Gene Kelly

Stay tuned for more Movie Magic posts.....there's a world of fabulous old movies out there, just waiting to be viewed!

xoxo,

Gift Set Series - Aqua, Kraft & Cream

Hello there, Friends!  I have a fun little series for you this week......several posts, each one featuring a different gift set of cards that you could make for gifts this holiday season.  Today's gift set has a pretty color scheme of aqua mist, kraft and cream with a hint of dark chocolate thrown in for good measure.  For each of these gift sets, I've included 6 cards but to keep things interesting, there are 3 different designs -- two of each.  The above photo shows the whole group of cards as well as the coordinating gift box I created to package them up!

Here's the first card.....I love this pretty layout.  I started out with an aqua mist card base and added a paper doily that I inked up with vintage touch tea dye ink to take it from stark white to a more creamy color.  Then, I layered on a strip of rustic cream card stock with a sentiment from First Fruits.

I used the Leaf Prints dies and stamps to add some leaves and the fillable frames #4 die and stamp set to add the kraft layer.  Lastly are the limitless layers dies and a pretty stamped circle image from Everyday Treats plus a vintage cream felt flower (beautiful blooms II #1 die) and an aqua mist button threaded with a bit of rustic cream button twine.

The second design is a simple one.....the rustic cream card stock base is stamped with a border image from First Fruits to create two rows of the border.  Then, I tied a bow with aqua mist topnotch twill ribbon around the card front.

The mat stack 4 die was used with aqua mist card stock and then stamped with accent images from the new mat stack 1 collection stamp set.  The fillable frames #10 die and coordinating stamp were used to create the rustic cream layer and the sentiment is one I built using 3 of the word stamps in First Fruits.  A few aqua mist buttons finished this one off.

Lastly for this set, I started out with an aqua mist card stock base which I ran thru the Big Shot with the linen & canvas impression plate and then stamped with a flourish from Fancy Flourishes using versamark ink.  To that, I added a couple of papers from the Library Ledger collection, inking the edges of each layer with vintage touch tea dye ink.  The bottom corners were rounded with a corner chomper.

Simple label layers here......mat stack 1 die with rustic cream card stock, stamped with a label image from Everyday Treats.  The limitless layers dies were used to create the aqua mist & rustic cream circle layers.  The pretty wheat image is from 2009 Autumn Tags as well as the sentiment.  More aqua mist buttons accented the sides of the label.  

I wanted to create pretty, custom packaging for each of these sets.....packaging that coordinates with the cards.  I started out with one of Papertrey's clearly creative card boxes.  I LOVE these boxes.  They make card sets look so professional.....like something you'd find at a pretty little boutique.

I used scor-tape to adhere an aqua mist card stock panel to the front of the box, after running the card stock thru the Big Shot with the picnic plaid impression plate.  That extra bit of texture is so nice.....a subtle little addition that still allows the focal point to shine, while adding some interest.

I topped off the packaging with another doily, fillable frames #4 layer, limitless layers scalloped circle and a beautiful blooms II #1 flower.  The "for" and "you" sentiments are from the First Fruits stamp set.

I hope you've enjoyed this first installment in my little gift set series.  I've got a couple more in store for you.....gonna be a fun week!

In the meantime, we're gearing up for Thanksgiving over here.  The groceries have been bought, the schedule is set to include 3 family get-togethers by the weekend, my mother-in-law is here staying with us for the week and we are feeling thankful.  Thankful for our blessings, thankful for the hard times (they make us stonger), thankful for our dear family and friends....and looking forward to a great big Thanksgiving dinner....or 3.  Smile. 

Happy Tuesday evening, Sweets!

 

{Blessings supplies}
Paper: aqua mist, kraft, rustic cream
Stamps: Everyday Treats, Fillable Frames #4, First Fruits, Leaf Prints
Ink: dark chocolate, aqua mist, vintage touch tea dye 
Other: limitless layers dies, fillable frames #4 die, leaf prints die, beautiful blooms II #1 die, aqua mist button, rustic cream button twine, vintage cream felt, paper doily

{Grateful For You supplies}
Paper: rustic cream, aqua mist
Stamps: Mat Stack 1 Collection, First Fruits, Fillable Frames #10
Ink: dark chocolate
Other: mat stack 4 die, fillable frames #10 die, aqua mist topnotch twill ribbon, aqua mist buttons

{Thankful For You supplies}
Paper: aqua mist, rustic cream, Library Ledger collection
Stamps: Everyday Treats, 2009 Autumn Tags, Fancy Flourishes
Ink: dark chocolate, aqua mist, vintage touch tea dye, versamark
Other: Linen & Canvas impression plate, mat stack 1 die, limitless layers dies, aqua mist buttons, corner chomper

{For You gift box supplies}
Paper: aqua mist, kraft, rustic cream, vintage book print
Stamps: Fillable Frames #4, First Fruits
Ink: dark chocolate, vintage touch tea dye
Other: clearly creative card box, picnic plaid impression plate, fillable frames #4 die, limitless layers dies, beautiful blooms II # 1 dies, aqua mist button, rustic cream button twine, paper doily

 

 

 

Three Words I Love to Hear...

"First hard freeze"  :)

Not the words you expected me to say?  Haha.  Each year, I LOVE it when the weather man starts talking about the first hard freeze because that means that it's almost time for us to order firewood for winter.  We have a wood-burning fireplace in our family room and another in our bedroom so each fall, we order a cord of firewood and I rejoice, the day that wood pile is delivered! 

We wait until the first hard freeze to order the wood, so that the freeze will kill off any bugs that might be remaining in the wood.  No sense in having bugs delivered to your house, right?  Ha.  Anyway, the first hard freeze was a couple of weeks ago and Bart immediately called to order the wood but they were a bit backed up and so we've waited patiently (or not so, as the case may be) for the wood to be delivered.

Today was the big day.  Of course, it's almost 70* outside today but that's neither here nor there because I know that next week it will be cold.  I also know that next week is Thanksgiving and that next week, they're predicting snow.  Winter will come eventually.  All of that makes me extremely excited for this big old pile of wood.

You see, these photos might just look like a pile of firewood to you.  But when I look at these photos, I see countless hours snuggled in our cozy family room.  Some of those hours, my hot husband will be home with me, snuggled next to me watching a movie (or football, while I read)  :) and some of those hours, I'll be by myself......well, me and Riley, relaxing and enjoying the peace that comes with watching a fire burn in the fireplace.....the peace that comes from listening to the snap and crackle of the wood as it burns.  

In these photos, I can "see" how great the neighborhood is going to smell with each fire that burns in our fireplace.  It's delicious to walk outside in the snow and cold, and smell that wonderful wood-burning smell.  Sigh.  It makes taking Riley out to do his business much more enjoyable, I must say.

In these photos, I can see a romantic night or two this winter, with a fire blazing in our bedroom fireplace.  And then I see us laughing, like we always do, about how bright that darn fireplace keeps the room when you're ready to go to sleep!!  Haha.  

In these photos, I can see our family gathered in our family room for the holidays.  I can see us putting up the Christmas tree (which will happen next weekend - yay!) while the fire burns bright, making us hot and sweaty but too intent on having the fireplace ambiance to actually forego the fire while we put the tree up.  :)  I can see the lazy Saturday mornings this winter when Bartley will build a fire before he comes upstairs to wake me up (he's an early riser and I sleep in on Saturdays).  I can see us sipping coffee and just being lazy together.  Lazy days are so rare, aren't they?  I cherish those Saturday mornings before we have to get on with the business of the day.  In these photos I can see movie nights and football Sundays and everything in between.

You can call me sappy.  You can call me sentimental.  You can even call me overly dramatic, but I love that blessed wood pile and all that it represents.  I love these photos.  I love what they mean to me and I'm so happy to share this bit of everyday joy with you.

Happy wood pile delivery day!