Twelve Weeks of Christmas - Homemade!

~ Twelve Weeks of Christmas - Homemade ~

~ Week Five ~


I make Greeting Cards - lots of greeting cards - have been for about twelve years. So, I thought for Red Writing's TWOC event this week, I would show a couple of cards that I'm making for Christmas this year, both to send and to sell; they are on my website My Song Within.

This first Christmas card is a two-sided card (it doesn't open) that is new this year. It's made of warm-white linen cardstock; I outlined the message layers on front and back with a gold pen, added a gold Christmas tree brad on the front side and tied a generous bow made of a wide, white shimmery ribbon. I always use ribbons - they add so much to a card! I look forward to sending this card which has a "touch of elegance" to it.

This first picture is the front of the card.

Shown below is the front and back of the card.

The message on the back is Isaiah 9.6

Next is a Christmas card I made using stamping, layering and tulle.

It is a card I sent several years ago and this year I brought it back 'cause people liked it so much. I did change the design some.

The angel is directing music and the birds are singing!

The message on front is,
"for unto us a Child is born . . ."

As you can see, the burgundy cardstock is torn across the top and the stamped, warm-white cardstock is also torn. I like that look.

The inside message, below, is Isaiah 9.6; I tie the tulle ribbon over the inside left page (you can see the words "Christmas Blessings" peeking through) and around to the front side, making a fluffy bow across the picture.

I like to use tulle and sheer ribbon on my cards as you can see words

and embellishments through the ribbon.

I also make framed Scripture pictures and below is one all done up in pink. Some people have pink Christmas decorations, so I made this pic for those people who don't do red and green and are always on the lookout for pink!

Christmas - Because He came . . .

Thanks for visiting and checking out my homemade goodies!

Be sure to stop by all the other participants
for Week Five of TWOC presented by Red Writing.

Christmas Blessings,

Jayne

Twelve Weeks of Christmas! Food! Week 4

~ Twelve Weeks of Christmas! ~

All About the Food!

Week Four!

This week Red Writing asked us to share something about our Christmas food traditions for week-four of our TWOC event.

Our family has many food (have to have it/don't change it) traditions for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and the main one that I have been in charge of for over 40 years is "the perfect sweet potato recipe"! When my kids were little we had a nanny who made this dish for us. I asked her one day if she would give us the recipe. She said, ''there isn't a recipe." She just made it by feel! So, I asked her if she would let me watch her and create a written recipe. The result is "Dorothy Sweet Potatos" and we have had it every Thanksgiving and Christmas since that year; and it is passing down to my kids and grandkids.

Dorothy would be proud if you decide to give it a try!

~ Dorothy Sweet Potatos ~

Peel and cut into chunks (approx. 1 to 2 inch) 10 to 12 sweet potatos

Cover with water in dutch oven and boil (uncovered) till tender

Remove from heat and drain well

Add: two sticks of butter (NOT margarine) - cover and let butter melt

Add: two cups sugar

Mash/mix with hand or bowl mixer till consistency of mashed potatos

Allow to cool some

Add: seven/eight eggs, slightly beaten, a couple eggs at a time; mix well between additions

Add: one to two T. cinnamon; one to two T. nutmeg; one T. vanilla flavoring, mix well

Add: one cup milk or heavy cream (we use cream); mix well

Pour into (sprayed/greased) 9 X 13 inch baking dish - the above ingredients will make two pans worth (depending on the size of your potatos - I buy medium sized and we want leftovers)

Bake uncovered at 350 for one hour

Add marshmellows, return to oven and allow marshmellows to melt and brown slightly

Serves: 12/14 (with some leftovers)

Done and Delish!

This weekend we are having "Thanksgiving" in Kansas; the Texas connection traveled to KS this weekend, and we are pretending it's November. With work/school/college schedules, we couldn't swing it next month. So, the above recipe was eaten TODAY! YUMMY! And we have leftovers; and, it will be made again Christmas Day!


Be sure to visit everyone who is participating in TWOC and see what other good recipes and ideas may be out there for all of us to try this year!

Blessings,
Jayne @ My Song Within

Procrastinator's Project ~ The Reveal!

Procrastinator's Project ~ The Reveal!

Click here to see all the reveals!

This Procrastinator's Project was sponsored by The Inspired Room and began October 6. We had two weeks to finish whatever project we selected - a project we had been putting off - a dreaded project!

~ Finished Project & Lookin' Cozy! ~

I chose this antique metal-topped table and chair set for my project. I bought it in 1987 at a little antique store and even found the hand-written receipt in the drawer. The table and two chairs cost $75, and for some un-remembered reason I put it in lay-a-way for a couple of months (according to the receipt). For the past three years it has been out on my deck - covered with an awning, but still exposed to the elements. The paint had started to crackle and chip off; I knew I was ruining it. So, thanks to this project, I brought it in, scrapped, sanded, primered and painted it; the chairs had not been outside, so they are OK.


Now here it is in my bay window and I'm really happy. This year it'll hold my table-top Christmas tree. I mentioned in my "before" post that maybe the bay window would get curtains as part of this event. As you see, that didn't happen. Reason: hardware! I can't mount the bay window rod without help and there was no one around to help! That WILL HAPPEN before Christmas. I just want white cotton sheers covering the mini-blinds (yes, I know mini-blinds are "not cool" but they were here when I bought this condo - someday they may go to mini-blind heaven).

~ Midway along ~

ugghhh - lots of work!

~ Before ~
outside and starting to rot
Be sure to visit everyone who entered this Procrastinator's Project event and see how we all did! It's been worth every bit of the work, sore legs, sore back, etc., etc. to get this done! I betcha everyone feels the same way!


I hope the Inspired Room does another such event after Christmas! Possible?

Blessings,

Jayne

TWOC - Christmas Accent Craft #1

Twelve Weeks of Christmas - Week Three

Christmas Craft Accents #1

Well, here we are at week three of our Twelve Weeks of Christmas event sponsored by Red Writing. It's been fun to read all the blogs of those who are participating, and I appreciate your visits to My Song Within.

This first picture is of a wreath I bought on sale after Christmas last year for about $10. It's a really nice wreath - light and feathery. I just embellished it with some white feathers and silver picks (all bought on sale at HL) and a white sheer bow. I have under $12 invested and it only took a few minutes to assemble. I recommend doing your own wreath decorating! It's easy, it doesn't cost much and you can let your imagination run wild.

the "before"

the "after"

This next picture is a conglomoration of bling, trees, wreaths, shoes, purses, etc. that were collected from after-Christmas sales last year, things I bought at the Dallas Gift Market for my website and some Hobby Lobby purchases. It will hopefully all turn into wonderful gifts, home decor and website stuff. I have "sacks and sacks" of gorgeous picks, ribbon and greenery that I'm having fun planning "what it will all become" (and with only 60 something days till Christmas, it had better become something in a hurry!).



This pretty gold shoe is filled with some of my "sacks and sacks" of pretty picks, ribbon, and greenery. I'm making them for gifts and for my site.

This tree - well, suffice it to say, I have many of these trees; they were on sale at HL last year, and everytime I went shopping I bought a couple. I think I have twelve or fourteen. They are going to be "embellished" this year from my "sacks and sacks" of glittery picks, ribbons, etc. I think they'll make nice gifts, plus I'll keep some. You can't have too many trees around the house!

My theory:

Every little nook and cranny needs

a Christmas tree nestled into it!

They make everything so cozy.

Do all bloggers do crafts? Probably - in some form or other. This blog is about just one side of what I create. TWOC has a second craft event in a few weeks, and in that one I'll share what else I do (Christmas goodies) that takes a totally different path, and I can't wait to see what you're doing at both events!

Thanks for visiting and be sure to visit all the TWOC blogs. I'll bet this week's "party" takes lots of fun directions!

Blessings,

Jayne

Christmas Memories and Traditions

Week Two of "12 Weeks of Christmas"!

Memories and Traditions

As part of week two of Red Writing's TWOC (Twelve Weeks of Christmas) event, we are to share some special memories of our family and what we have done to celebrate this extraordinary Christmas season over the years.


First, as a child, one of my favorite memories is of sitting at the piano (we had a spinet piano with a mirror across the top), playing "We Three King" and "Silent Night, Holy Night" and being able to see the tree which was behind me in that mirror. I think those were the only two songs I could play; I loved doing that. We had some of those bubbly lights on the tree that looked like a candle. I thought they were so elegant!


As a young mother, one of my favorite memories is having all the family to our house on Christmas Eve - my sister and her three, my in-laws, our two daughters, of course, and an occasional addition of one of our kids friends who needed a place to be. We had certain food traditions that my sister and I always fixed and one of my nieces often wrote a skit that the kids all acted in - one I remember in particular was a manger scene and the kids were all dressed in the appropriate costumes.


Christmas Day was always at my sister's home. No matter what our daughters got for Christmas, it always had to go with us to Mary's. One memory is the year they got a Suzy Homemaker Oven. The oven and all supplies went with us.


On Christmas Day after lunch, we always had a puzzle on the grand piano and everyone came and went throughout the day and worked on it.

Things change: Now my kids are grown, I have six grandkids, we don't all live in the same town, my sister is in heaven, I'm single again, one grandson is married, my, my . . . . where did all those years go?!?

My kids and my sister's kids all are making and continue to make their own traditions, and many of them follow along the path of how they grew up. Isn't that just the best? I love to see things passed along.

One of the simple, but sweet things that has passed along:
That grand piano that we all worked puzzles on in Texas is now in Kansas at my daughters house; one of my granddaughters is a piano performance major in college. My sister gave her that piano. Last year, when those of us who could be in Kansas were all together, we worked a Mitford Puzzle on that piano. It brought back lots of memories!!

Christmas is still my favorite time of the year. We try to maintain as many of those wonderful traditions as we can. Our menu doesn't change, even if the people change from time-to-time. We still have a wonderful time together and most of all, we all love Jesus Christ and celebrate Him!

Christmas church services in December, singing in the "Messiah" at my church, celebrating Advent, knowing that without the birth of Jesus, there would be no Christmas - it's all the best there is this side of glory! I'm glad it's only 11 weeks away!

Christmas - Because He Came!

Merry Christmas!

Be sure to visit everyone who is participating in week two of TWOC!

Blessings,

Jayne at mysongwithin

My "Christmas List" for Santa!

My TWOC "Christmas List"

Week One

Dear Santa,

Merry Christmas! As you know, I love Christmas and can't wait till it's time to decorate!
I've been thinking really hard about my "Christmas List" this year. First, as you well know:

Sugar and Spice

And everything nice

That's what little girls

Are made of!

Sooooo..... since I'm a girl, I have been nice and am surely still on your list, here goes:

1. Instantly have all my Christmas projects designed
2. Instantly have my Christmas party planned and invitations done
3. Instant ability to take perfect pictures
4. Instantly have a finished website
5. Instantly crave only veggies and fruit (no more chocolate)
6. Instantly have a svelte figure
7. Instantly have gorgeous hair (no more bad hair days)
8. Instantly have an all-white house (walls, furniture, textiles)
9. Instantly own a cabin in the mountains
10. Instantly live in a cool climate
11. Instantly have all my family living in the same small town
12. Instantly own a cute little gift shop that my daughters and I run together (but we won't need to make money - just have fun)!

No hurry! No rush! Instantly will be fine, Santa. Your usual chocolate pie and coffee will be waiting!

That should about do it. One wish for every week of TWOC!

Merry Christmas! Blessings! Joy!

Jayne

http://www.mysongwithin.com/

Be sure to visit Red Writing and the other Christmas List participants!

My Procrastinator Project - table and chairs

The Inspired Room is having another Procrastinator's Project event!

My "dreaded" project!

This used to be a "really cute" antique metal-top table and chair set. My goal has been - for several months - to bring it in from the rain/heat/cold/dust and scrape and repaint all the wood part, clean up the metal top and put it and its matching chairs in my bay window in the den.

As you can see, it needs alot of TLC!

Restoring this little table and chair set will also make me - hopefully - put up new curtains in that bay window. We all know, one thing always leads to another and another and another!!

And here's one of the chairs that go with it . . . As you can see, it also needs a good deal of help. There are two chairs . . . wonder if all three pieces can get done?? Hmmm...

See you all at our reveals on October 20th!

Y'all have fun, and let's hope we all have gorgeous, finished projects!

Blessings,

Jayne

Pink Saturday

As I was wondering what to share on Pink Saturday, I looked around and saw this pretty pillow in my bedroom and knew it was just the thing!

If you have a sister, cherish her! My sister - Mary - and I were really close; and she gave me this pillow about fifteen years ago. The words on the pillow say "Special Sister." I share it here with sweet memories of her. She went home to be with the Lord two years ago. She was a precious "lady" of the first order!

Have a wonderful Pink Saturday and for more Pink Saturday fun, go to http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/


Blessing and Happy Beginning of Fall!

Jayne