Our Christmas Card and some snow.

Hope you all have a great Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with your families.  We'll be heading to the grocery store this morning (yikes!) to prepare for my inlaws arriving tomorrow. 

Our high for tomorrow is 54, so while we won't have a white Christmas, we will have somewhat of a cold one.   Last year in Houston, it was snowing a week before now.   Insane, right?

The snowflakes were HUGE...

And it was coming down extremely thick.

It 'stuck' pretty much everywhere else around Houston, and even a few miles North of us, but not where we lived at the time.  I think the warmness of being near the water was to blame.

These ducks really didn't know what to think.  :)

We even had a trip planned to go to Angel Fire so the boys could see snow for the first time.  Little did we know when we booked the trip, that it would be for the second time.

:)

Merry Christmas, you guys.  Thanks for taking the time to read this blog and for being so encouraging.

-Courtney

Look what I came home to!

A brand new, shiny dishwasher!

I went out of town with the boys yesterday morning to visit their Nana and PawPaw (my dad and stepmom) and my husband had this installed while we were gone.   He'd also done a little light hanging around the house, and I thought he'd attached the bow to the old dishwasher as a weird sort of decoration.  It took me a minute to realize that it was a new one!  LOL.

Before:

After:

Yay!  What a good man I have.

:)

Courtney



2010 Christmas Tour

Welcome to the "And Then There Was Home - Christmas Tour"

I hung this simple garland around our doorway, with a big red bow.  I think it looks really classic and pretty during the day.

And here she is at night, all lit up.  :)

My ideal Christmas decor for the outside would be that garland, and a few lit wreaths with red bows hanging from each window.  Maybe next year.  :)   Also, maybe next year, we'll get the courage to hang lights in the 2nd story area of our house.  LOL.

I also decorate my vehicle every year.  Oh yeah.  I'm one of THOSE people, haha.

Yes, that was me reflected in the chrome, holding my Christmas tree coffee cup.  :)

On the inside, nothing says Christmas like yummy smelling candles.

In the kitchen I kept things simple by placing plaid ribbon around plants by the stove.

I also brought out my "12 days of Christmas" cutting board.  This thing really comes in handy for when you feel like breaking out in song and can't remember the words to the materialistic carol.

This lovely lady is on my island, conveniently next to the baby bottle station.  I never actually have her lit in the middle of the night, but I'm thinking maybe I should.  She seems to be pointing right at the bottles, which might help me as I'm half delirious at 3 am.

Here is a wide shot of our family room.   Notice this was taken pre-stocking.

Here is a pic after my lovelies were added.  You can read more about them HERE.

I decided to hang random creations from my children on this chalkboard.  I really need to take updated photos because Brodie came home with the mother load of construction paper Christmas crafts on his last day of school before the holiday break.  

Just a little funny for all those people who love the funny and random things Brodie says, his teacher told me that on the day they were decorating the classroom with their crafts for their Christmas party, Brodie said, "No, no, no, Mrs. T... my mommy doesn't allow paper decorations!"  LOL.   Little toot. 

This poor little guy was given a "haircut" by Rylan, shortly after he made him.  ha!

Poor thing.

Brodie brought this laced stocking home from school one day.  Apparently our family is jumping out of a burning building into a swimming pool.  :/   Can you tell which one is me?  LOL.

I love the sound of jingle bells at Christmas, and we keep a set on each main door.

AND, last but not least.. what Christmas village is complete without an Alamo?  :)  haha, actually the only two buildings we have in our village would be the Alamo and a vintage North pole house from my childhood.  We really need to work on that.

Merry Christmas Ya'll!!

-Courtney

Linking to:  Cottage and Vine

Stocking Tutorial

I started out with this painter's drop cloth from Lowes.

I traced an old stocking onto a piece of paper, to get the right size for the stocking.  I adjusted the shape to fit the look I wanted.

I used the traced shape as a template.   I traced the shape onto the drop cloth 6 times (for 6 stockings- I made an extra), flipped it over onto the other side and traced another 6.   Flipping halfway through ensured that all trace marks would be on the inside when completed and not show.

Place the two sides, ink marks OUT, together, and sew- leaving the top of the stocking open.

At this point I hopped on Word and printed my names onto fabric transfer paper.  Make sure you print them in mirror image.

I traced the cut out names onto cardboard to make a template for the name tags.

I cut out the pieces of fabric to size, using the template as a guide.  I then ironed on my names.

After turning the main part of the stocking right side out, I placed it on another sheet of cardboard, to create a template for the cuff.

I traced the cuff template onto the drop cloth fabric, 6 times using one side, 6 times using the flip side.

I then pinned them together, once again ink side out, and sewed up the two outside edges.  You'll noticed I left the top and bottom unsewn, and I also used a pin to identify which side was the top.

Next I made the pleat.  I actually cut the drop cloth every 1.5 inches and then ripped to create the ragged edges.    Then just run through the sewing machine, folding as you go.

I pinned a hem onto the bottom of the cuff, placed the pleat onto the cuff, and sewed it on- continuing around to create one long hem seam all the way around the cuff.

I then attached the top of the pleat, sewing just the front.

Finally, I pinned on each name tag.

After sewing all the way around the tag, I pulled some of the threads to create a fringed look.

I placed the cuff over the main body of the stocking, pinning it into place.  After sewing all the way around the top of the stocking, I again fringed the top.  You could also fold the top of the cuff into the main body of the stocking, and then sewing, creating a more finished look.

I attached a ribbon to hang each stocking from.

I then attached a stocking charm to each one, which I bought at Walmart for only $1 each.  LOVE them.

Thank you for looking!

-Courtney

Linking to:  http://www.creatingreallyawesomefreethings.com/2010/12/making-monday-marvelous-35.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FXZIo+%28C.R.A.F.T.%29

Heirloom Stockings.

Okay, maybe not Heirloom, but we'll call them that because it makes me feel better about my workmanship.

:)

I actually really like them, and they're neutral enough that I can add different charms from year to year, if I'd like, to make them fit with different looks.

Long, drawn out, boring tutorial coming tomorrow.  :)

-Courtney

Linking to:  Boring to Better