Christmas Art

I've been seeing really great Christmas art on pinterest but I just can't bring myself to spend money on anything. Buying Christmas gifts is a big enough stress on our finances without spending for the sake of decoration.

I still have a small collection of my old art pieces up in a closet so I took a decent sized one down and went to work.

I painted her bald at first and I always regretted not leaving her that way. I didn't even bother finishing it.

Step 1: Flip over canvas and give the back an even coat of black acrylic paint. (I used folded strips of printer paper to protect the wood) It didn't show through at all to the painting on the other side of mine. Let dry completely.

Step 2: Pick something you like and go to town with the white sharpie paint pen. (or paint and a skinny brush would work too)

  

Voilà

I propped it up for this picture but I used one of those sticky strips for hanging hooks to hang it. 

If you need me, I'll be in my bathrobe and jammies watching Clark Griswold make a mess of the holidays.

Post Holiday Picture Reel

What a packed few days! We had such a blessed season and we're so thankful for everyone we got to see this year. I got a few good shots but first, some blablabla...

We spent the eve visiting with Alex's dad and step mom. They all went out to meet more family for dinner while I went to church to play for the Christmas eve cantata. It was a beautiful service as always. I really enjoy spending Christmas eve with my church family every year. We ended the night with lots of laughter at a close friend's house. Really wish I would have brought my camera for that one.. :)

Christmas morning was spent at my parents' house. Christmas breakfast, a zillion presents, and lovelovelove. After a little mid day nap, we had our own little Christmas at home opening gifts from each other. (including stockings for each of our pets.. I'm not the only one!!) The evening was spent at Alex's Grandpa's house where we all ate a LOT and opened gifts. By the end of the night I was so full of happy feelings. This was a really good year.

I want to start with a couple of pictures from our church Christmas party last weekend. I didn't bring my camera and have a really substandard phone so sorry for the terrible quality!

So much love for the people in this room.

The kids chanting for Santa to come out :)

A ridiculous "no hands" cookie game that I would guess was more fun to watch than play!

 Christmas at the Brodsky's

Christmas dinner at Grandpa's

Flippin' peas in the kitchen before a BIG dinner including Grandpa's roast and sweet potatoes.

 I hope everyone is recovering from the chaos! I'll be here in bed with my theraflu :/

Merry Christmas Eve!

We may or may not have been doing some holiday baking...

This year Alex got asked to make the desserts for Christmas dinner at Grandpa's house. Holiday Pix! He feels totally honored (as he should) and has been a baking machine for the last 3 days.

Pumpkin cheesecake and plain cheesecake 

(he's got that strawberry goop stuff for the top)

 Brownies and fudge!

  

Alex's sugar free chocolate pie (that's a link to the recipe) and more brownies. He made a huge pineapple upside down cake (that he wrapped up and put away before I could get a picture of it) and with the left over batter he made mini cakes for my pal Rachel and I to munch on yesterday (WE ATE THEM ALL)

Speaking of Rachel, can we all just agree that hand made gifts are the best?! I was only able to find time to make one person a hand made gift this year (it was a little 5 inch "R" for her place and some incense) and she made me something too!

I love it so much! It is just the prettiest thing and the perfect color. It came wrapped in a paper bag that was all fancy folded and when you opened it up, it said...

Cute, right? And a sweet reminder of Jesus' birth.

After we exchanged gifts, we hung out and watched Christmas movies while she made gifts for all her other lovelies! They all turned out perfect. All beautiful. All different. She took a picture of all of them when they were done. 

Check it out here!

THIS is a blog I like that has a lot of neat hand made gift ideas (it's never too late, right?!) 

Last year almost everyone on my list got hand made gifts. Frames, art, scarves, more art.. I don't really think that hand made stuff is for everyone. Some people just like everything to be from a store. But hand made is sometimes not only the most personal gift to give but is also sometimes the only affordable gift to give. That was totally the case last year and even though it was tight this year, I feel very blessed to be done shopping and feeling good about everything I got for my loved ones.

Merry Christmas to all!

Christmas Decorating!

Let's not kid ourselves, I took my Christmas decorations out the day after Thanksgiving like everyone else. (ok, not everyone else.) We got our first real tree last year and I am pleased to say that a real one this year has been just as wonderful! There is definitely a part of me that wishes I could keep Christmas decorations up all year. If only it were socially acceptable!

Christmas Town!

 Both the knitted angel and cross ornament are from my mom :)

Candle wreaths from Margo (thank you!)

   

We got those flameless candles from Alex's sweet step mom last year for Christmas. They're from Nate Berkus, made of real wax, they have a remote control and are obviously baller.

Trying to prove "anyone can do it". fail.

 I would be watching how the Grinch stole Christmas but I recently had a nightmare that the Grinch was a real 7 foot tall monster. He saw me from across the room at a bar and I spent the rest of the dream running from him. He was filthy and evil and I'm getting goosebumps just thinking about it.. So instead I'm watching Poltergeist and crafting all day long. Pretty much the best 12/12/12 I could have hoped for. :)