Good Morning Everyone,

I must start by telling you that I have started a post everyday 

since I have been in California for the Craft and Hobby Associations 

Convention.  But my laptop thought it was another vacation 

and has been running in super slow motion.  I don't know when it changed it
it's mind and speed up again but I thought I would type until it told me no again.

We have had a super time this week.  Have you been 

checking in at the Little Blue House Blog???

Miss Tracy has been posting a few things about what 

we have been up to.  If you get a chance, please leave a comment 

for us there.  We have been gathering some goodies to give away.

While on the CHA floor I stopped to see a few demos.  It's always nice
to see the creator of products doing the Demo's too.

 Here we have Tim Holtz talking about his Distress Ink Pens.
39 colors and unlimited possibilities.

After Claudine Helmuth demonstrated her
Slow-Dry Medium she was kind
enough to pose with me.  I love Claudine's
products, and she is such a nice person.

The showroom floor of each vendor is always made up
so beautifully.  And the projects are always inspirational.
Here are a few:

 This cute little picture frame is made with some of
the LillyBee Designs paper. SO simple and
just adorable. Not just for your scrapbook, right?

 Do you remember the origami flower ornament
that Elaine made for our 12 Days of Ornaments
last November??? Well, here they are in spring
papers by Jilli Bean Soup.  These were big and
gorgeous, and the old tool box, just too cool!

This display I thought was just FaNtAsTic!
An old screen door with the newest Jilli Bean
product strung on twine.  How great is that!?!


Well, I'm off to bed. Need to rest up for another day of CHA.

Merry Crafting!

Rhonda

Calendars, Links & Other Stuff

Good Morning,

Posting lately has been difficult because I have no completed  projects 

to show you. Not since my little New Years board.
I have been working on a Scout album for a young man who has
earned his Eagle badge, but nothing else. I will post pictures after
I have completed and returned the album to its owner.

What I am hoping to do is update you on a few other things.

First, my decluttering has, so far, been a huge success. In the past 

10 days I have 4 large shopping bags to donate, filled the recycle bin, 

repaired a lamp(of which has been broken for about two years)
and tossed a few things that I really don't know why 

I was hanging on to in the first place.  Each task has motivated me 

so much that I am on day 16 of the Declutter and Organize Calendar 

from My Simpler Life.  The donation truck will be here Friday the 13th.
Perfect timing to clear some more space for the next set of tasks.
(Note to self: gotta remember to text the family to put the stuff
on the porch before school on Friday.)

Being ahead on the decluttering is great because

I am going on a retreat this weekend with my sweet friend Sandra.  

We will be going to Hobby House Hill in Bowie, Texas.  I haven't been

there before so I am excited to be able to try a new bed and breakfast. 

Food will be prepared for us, there is a jacuzzi, which sounds

nice but you have to get out some time and the weather is suppose

to hover around 40 degrees.  (NO Thanks! Don't like the cold part.)

Anyways, it is here that I have high expectations of getting some

pages done for several scrapbooks.
(Please let the creative juices flow all weekend long!Pleeeeease.)

My Retreat To Do List:

Complete Scout Album(2 occasions with lots of photos)

Catch up on Kyle's High School Album(4 occasions, minimal photos)

Add to Kimberly's School Album(3 occasions, minimal photos)

Add to Family Album (1 large trip to New York with too many photos)
Add photos of last years retreat w/ friends to my Savoring Summer book
from Studio Calico

Add to Morgan's album(6 occasions with a few photos each)

    Side note: My sister is a Photographer. She photographs 

wedding, Senior and family portraits.  She edits and loads them on a disk and 

sends them off to her clients.  And the pictures are beautiful. 
She has a husband and one sweet daughter who is the inspiration for the rest of her 

photography, sometimes willing participants and sometimes not so much.
She saves all of those pictures in shoe boxes and
says, "Your the creative one, can you put these in an album for Morgan?" 
Well, of course I can 'cause I love looking at pictures of Morgan as much
as I love looking at pictures of my own kids. 
Even better is that I have been able to see all of the fun things
that Morgan does when we can't be with her.

The next update is about the winter projects at the Little Blue House.
They are starting to roll out and they are Oh! So Cute!!
Stop by the Blog to get an update of what the store is doing.
 Then, check under the Little Blue House Buffet tab
 to see all of the most recent projects available. Then check out the
Specialty Workshops tab. Or stop by the store
and look at them up close.  (Did I mention that they are really adorable!?)

Upon returning from my retreat, we will be celebrating my daughters
16th birthday.  WOW! 16....my brain says, "No it's not true,"
the rest of me says..."Uh! yeah it is!"


Shortly after it will be time for:


A trip with the LBH Gals for the
2012 Winter Craft and Hobby Association Convention
in Anaheim, California. 

The place where we have to make the tough decisions!
(read the following with one hand gripping your shirt at your heart and the
other arm thrown across your forehead using a dramatic voice.)
Oh, to be thrust into a room with all of that beautiful paper, trim,
paints, embellishments, lotions&potions, and tools, celebraties, sample projects
and Make'n'Takes, and to have to make decissions on
 what to bring to the LBH and what to leave behind.
(fade to black)

Well, maybe not that bad but it is hard.

You can join us too.
You will want to keep up with the LBH blog while we are away.
Miss Tracy has a few contests up her sleeve.  We'll be posting
little sneak peaks from some of your favorite vendors and
 looking for goodies to give away as prizes. 

It is going to be a fast and furious month for me.
I am ready with excitement and anticipation.

That's it for now.  Sorry there are no pictures, Blogger
is not displaying the upload button for me today.  But, everything is linked
to its corresponding website.  I hope that helps.

And now to link you to my favorite website: PINTEREST
Just because I like them!
(And if you need and invite to join the site leave me a
comment and an e-mail address and I will send you one.)

Merry Creating Everyone!

Rhonda

Let's Get Started

My first project reveal of 2012

was my last project made in 2011

A little party hat and some glittery titles to
ring in the new year

Do you have a magnet board?

Last summer the Little Blue House made some adorable kits

to change throughout the year. They have long sold out but they
were so cute.  Click here to check them out.
(you'll have to scroll way down to the summer projects to see them)

After Kyle's Birthday I had put the "Celebrate" board away and while
cleaning up the craft table I ran across it again so I whipped out
this little New Years kit.  Afterwards the "2012" will go into the scrapbook. 

Our family actually had a pretty nice 2011.  Our Texas Tech son is
almost ready to graduate, our FRHS senior has been accepted at
his college of choice and will be joining his brother at Texas Tech.
And our daughter is working on her drivers ed. packet.  Our jobs have
kept us all just busy enough to enjoy both the work place and our hobbies.
And we have been able to see family and friends on our
vacations and weekenders. And the setbacks were enough to
learn from but small enough to not bring us down.

We hope for the same blessings in 2012.

Are you into making the New Years Resolutions?
I'm not, but I do like to start the new year with
a good project.  In the past it has been the yard or the garage.
Last year we started 2011 with an organizational feature
at the Little Blue House.
(Click here to see how to organize your craft areas.)

This year I am going to tackle the whole
house with the help of this calendar:
http://www.mysimplerlife.com/2012/Decluttercalendar2012.pdf

When I was thumbing through the calendar I was pleased to see that most of
the tasks will be done in minutes.  It also touched on areas
that I hadn't even considered but once they are done I know I will
be a very happy girl.  It is going to serve as a good reminder for me. 
I'm excited about this one.

Tell me what your project goals or resolutions are. 
Maybe it will be something we can do together!

Merry 2012 everyone!

 From the Merry Family!

12 Days of Ornaments: Day 12

A good Thanksgiving morning to you.

Today brings us to the last day of...

And we are ending our feature with a

Heavenly Angel Topper

 

  By Elaine Howell

This little angel is made with tulle and art metal

and she is perfect to add to any Christmas tree.

 And there you have it.

12 Ornaments, each with their own

special techniques for crafters of all

skill levels. I hope you have a chance to make

a few of these for your own tree.

The full tutorials are posted on the LBH blog at

www.thelittlebluehouseblog.blogspot.com

Check out yesterdays winner and be sure to put your name

in to win a Heavenly Angel Tree Topper.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Have you heard about the Little Blue House's

Little Somethings Workshop?

Make plans to hop aboard the LBH Creative Express!!!

It's time once again for our
  Little Somethings Workshop!

Need that Little "Something" for a friend, co-worker, teacher, etc.
 Then hop aboard and join us for
 Little Somethings Workshops!

Thursday Dec 1st 6-9pm
 Friday Dec 2nd 10am-1pm
 Saturday Dec 3rd 10am-1pm & 2-5pm
 Sunday Dec 4th 2-5pm

Cost : $35

We will create several little somethings that would make great gifts,party favors,stocking stuffers
 and so much more.
 You will also receive a goodie bag 

full of fun scrappy stuff from some 

of your favorite companies!!   

All you need to bring is a pair of scissors and a smile :)
 Everything else will be provided for you!

   Oh...and make sure your on your best
 behavior because Santa Station is your final stop on this train ride!

We have so many fun things in store for Little Somethings Workshops!! We hope you and your friends can join us for this Creative Event!
 Call the LBH a t 817-431-7930or come by the house...we will be happy to reserve your spot.

Happy Thanksgiving 

Rhonda Merry

12 Days of Ornaments:Days 10 and 11

Can you believe we only have one more day?

Goodness time sure flies when you're having fun!

Here is day 10

A beautiful Rose Blossom Ornament

by Cheryl McCarson.

I have worked with Cheryl for a couple of years

and I am blessed to call her my friend. I just love her. 

Cheryl is teaching a cake decorating class

at the Little Blue House called Icing on the Cake.

In the class she will teach you those little techniques to 

make any cake look as though a professional

had decorated it. So then how appropriate is this that 

she made an ornament with little roses all over it.

Just Lovely.

Now, here is Day 11

A Falala Folded Tree Ornament

By  Miss Tracy

This little tree, a Scrapstasher favorite, is

just perfect for a ornament.

To get the full tutorials for either ornament, visit our

blog at www.thelittlebluehouseblog.blogspot.com

Leave a comment and you will be put into the drawing pool

for a chance to win the current days ornament.

Be sure to check back with is tomorrow for the last 

ornament reveal.  It is going to be heavenly.

Until then,

Merry Creating Everyone!

Rhonda

12 Days of Ornaments: Days 8 and 9

Good Morning,

I am playing a little catch up today.

I am posting about 2 ornaments from....

I took Sunday off from everything and spent the day with 

my son.  Everyone else was doing their own thing so it was a 

pretty quiet day around the Merry house.

 Anyway,

Here is Ornament #8

The Christmas Cardinal Ornament

by Susan Tidwell

and 

Ornament #9

An Embossed Metal Ornament

by Tracy Pounds

Both ornament also have full tutorials

on the LBH Blog here:

www.thelittlebluehouseblog.blogspot.com

Don't forget to leave a comment for your chance to win

the ornament for Day 9.

Most of the supplies used on the ornaments are still available at
the LBH as well.  Hopefully you can stop in and check them out.

Of course, you can leave a comment on any of our

posts at any time, we love to getting to know you.

Merry Creating!

Rhonda Merry

12 Days of Ornaments: Day 7

Can you believe we are half way through our

Today Kristyn Curry shows us a

Glitzy Glamour Ornament

This one will add some Hollywood style to your tree.

Check out Kristyn's tutorial at

www.thelittlebluehouseblog.blogspot.com

And see who the winner of our

Glistening Snowflake.

Now off to the LBH for today's class

Tim Holtz's Creative Wonderland with the

Christmas Configurations Box and Artful Holidays Journal.

Merry Creating Everyone!

Rhonda