AAWA 12 Days Christmas swap/Day 12

My last package was sent from Joan W., who lives in WA state.

outer  packaging

wrapped gift

Joan created a lovely Christmas framed collage. How sweet.

 

Framed collage has layered background papers, lace, image of a cute little girl, embellished with tiny leaves and glitter. Thank you Joan...I love your gift.

This swap was fun as it always is.

If I don't get online tomorrow...I wish you all a very Merry Christmas.

Elaine

AAWA 12 Days Christmas swap/Day 11

This wonderful yearly swap is drawing to a close as I got to open my 11th. day package that was sent from Florida by Yooper, who was also runs this swap each year. A lot of work organizing...again thank you for
all the work you put into making sure the 2 groups run smoothly and that packages were mailed in a timely manner. Merry Christmas!

wrapping
wrapping and useful gift  How cute and so useful. Love the packaging too. Clear cellophane bag with a turquoise topper and tied with a sheer ribbon. Inside are a dozen hand stamped snowmen cupcake toppers. I had never thought to make my own cupcake toppers. I will have to copy this idea for different occasions. Yooper, thank you. I love these.
Tomorrow will be Christmas Eve day and I will open my last gift from the 12 Days swap. I will miss looking forward to opening a small package with a handmade goodie tucked inside each morning.
I still have baking and wrapping to get done. Why I procrastinate every year is beyond me. Somehow it all gets done.
Christmas should be really fun this year because Bella is now 2 1/2 and is excited that Santa will be visiting. She tells her Elf on the Shelf (Sissy) that she has been good each day.
Here is Bella in a castle/Princess tent that was given to her as an early Christmas gift by a family friend.

AAWA 12 Days of Christmas swap/Day 10

Today I opened my package from Renee.

package that arrived in my mailbox from California

handmade  wire wrapped basket with 2 little speckled eggs with ribbon stamped with Winter Wishes

  so cute, don't you think?

Elaine

AAWA 12 Days of Christmas swap/Day 9

Today I got to open gift number 9 sent  from Laurie who lives in Iowa.

Decorated Package...

The gift inside was very labor intensive and spectacular. When I unwrapped my gift I found a kraft paper covered box with a hinged lid. Laurie decorated the box on all sides and the top with decorative scrapbook papers. The front has cut out numbers...2013.
Inside the box I found double sided calendar pages and a little silver tree that holds each months calendar page . I Love this gift!
front
view from the top
the open box with double sided calendar pages and a little silver tree that holds the calendar page each month. Each calendar card has lots of layers and embellishments. So pretty and has a wonderful vintage look.

 
   front sides
back sides of calendar pages

Laurie..thank you so much for this beautiful and useful gift that I will enjoy throughout 2013. I know it must have taken forever to make 12 of these gifts.

Elaine

Oh No!!!! Kittens..again

Fluffy my #1 cat that I brought home from my sons. Fluffy is a neutered male.

Below is the story of how I became the cat lady of the neighborhood.

There has been a stray female cat in the neighbor for about 3 years. I took in one kitty from her first litter as the rest had all disappeared. Tuffy was born in the spring 3 years ago. It took us almost a full year until we could coax him inside the house. Once in he didn't want to go out for weeks. I already had one cat. So then I had 2. I was happy having 2 cats.

Our Tuffy..who really is not a tuffy, but quite timid.
  ..our first stray from mom cat


Last year I feed 2 kitties from mom cats next litter, but both disappeared before I could trap them in a Havaheart trap to bring them to the vets to get them fixed. They came everyday to be fed. I felt really bad about that and so did my husband.

Unfortunately, I can't seem to get the mom cat to go into the cage to bring her to the vets.
So, once again this past spring mom cat had another litter..4 this time, but one disappeared. The neighbor trapped the little female kitten. He brought her to Tom while I was visiting my cousins on Cape Cod. Being really timid she hid out for days in the basement and only came upstairs to eat at night. I had Princess spayed. Then the 2 little males came into the house several weeks later. Now...I have 5 cats. After Christmas I will be taking the (boys to the vets to be neutured).
The boys...Junior and Spot
The boys will come to be petted and are friendly.

Princess..

she is much lighter in color than the 2 males and she is still pretty shy, where the male kitties aren't. Princess comes when called, but I still can't touch her.

 

Mom cat has managed to avoid going into the trap, and wouldn't you know just as I was going to try and capture her again..she had another litter in November. I'm pulling my hair out here. I have to catch her and get her FIXED. I can't keep rescuing kittens. I was told by the neighbor whose shed mom cat lives under that there were 3 in this new litter.

Over the past weekend..mom cat shows up with her 2 little kittens, so something must have happened to one of them. I am the only one in the neighborhood putting food out for them now. The kittens are adorable to watch prance and run around the back yard playing and following mom.
both kittens together
lighter colored kitten out in the open under my butterfly bush
darker kitten sitting under the camper
I really can't bring myself to catch and take the kittens to a shelter, as I fear they will be euthanized. I don't get a break for having so many kittens fixed when I take them to the vets. This is getting quite expensive.
I can't take them to the Humane Society where spaying and neutering is done cheaper, because you have to have an appointment to bring them in.. I never know when I will catch one of the kitties in the trap. When I catch one, I take the kitty immediately to the vets.
I am going to try and catch the 2 newest kittens in a trap after Christmas. I will then get them fixed when they are old enough. I hope I can find them a nice home...if not...Does that mean I will have 7 cats? Probably.

Family and friends think I have lost my mind for having all of these cats. I probably have, but I can't stand the thought of them getting eaten by a owl/fisher cat/f0x/coyote or whatever. My husband also has a soft heart when it comes to animals.

Wish me luck on getting the mom cat to the vets before she gets pregnant again so there won't be more kittens. I would love to find a home for these 2 little ones and that they could be kept together. I can't rescue them all.
Elaine

AAWA 12 Days of Christmas swap/Day 8

Two gifts arrived in my mail for this swap in a pretty red foil tube and I have been wondering what was tucked inside. My package came from Texas from Julie W.

tucked inside the tube was this adorable Create art angel. I just love her. Won't she look pretty on the top my little tree?  The base is a cone and it is decoupaged with a Christmas napkin, some glitter glue, tinsel ribbon, gold netting.

   close up

Julie...thanks so much for this adorable piece of art.

Elaine

Peppermint Marshmallows

I've been meaning to try this marshmallow recipe. I recently saw the Betty Crocker recipe on Pinterest and the Slice of Life. If you haven't visited the Slice of Life on Facebook do check it out. Six Sisters Stuff is also a good Facebook page.

Easy Peppermint Marshmallows...
Butter for greasing
1/3
cup powdered sugar
2 1/2
tablespoons unflavored gelatin
1/2
cup cold water
1 1/2
cups granulated sugar
1
cup corn syrup
1/4
teaspoon salt
1/2
cup water
1
teaspoon pure peppermint extract
8
to10 drops red food color
Save $$$ on your favorite brands
1
Generously grease bottom and sides of 11x7-inch (2-quart) glass baking dish with butter; dust with 1 tablespoon of the powdered sugar. In bowl of stand mixer, sprinkle gelatin over 1/2 cup cold water to soften; set aside.
2
In 2-quart saucepan, heat granulated sugar, corn syrup, salt and 1/2 cup water over low heat, stirring constantly, until sugar is dissolved. Heat to boiling; cook without stirring about 30 minutes to 240°F on candy thermometer or until small amount of mixture dropped into cup of very cold water forms a ball that holds its shape but is pliable; remove from heat.
3
Slowly pour syrup into softened gelatin while beating on low speed. Increase speed to high; beat 8 to 10 minutes or until mixture is white and has almost tripled in volume. Add peppermint extract; beat on high speed 1 minute. Pour into baking dish, patting lightly with wet hands. Drop food color randomly onto top of marshmallow mixture. Pull table knife through food color to create swirl pattern over top. Let stand uncovered at least 8 hours or overnight.
4
Dust cutting board with about 1 tablespoon powdered sugar. Place remaining powdered sugar in small bowl. To remove marshmallow mixture, loosen sides from dish and gently lift in one piece onto cutting board. Using sharp knife greased with butter, cut into 1-inch squares (11 rows by 7 rows). Dust bottom and sides of each marshmallow by dipping into bowl of powdered sugar. Store in airtight container at room temperature up to 3 weeks. Betty Crocker
Elaine

AAWA 12 Days of Christmas/Day 7

Day 7..today my package is from Gwynn who lives in California.

package wrapped

Gwynn created a green, red and gold felt ornament that was embellished with hand embroidered stitches. Thank you, Gwynn for the lovely ornament.

Elaine

AAWA 12 Days of Christmas swap/Day 6

This morning I opened day 6 from our  An Affair with Art swap. This gift came from Orlando,Florida and was handmade by Jean B.

pretty packaging Inside I found this  beautiful Christmas apron with an appliquéd  Christmas tree with a star in assorted Christmas fabrics. I just love my new apron from Jean B.

The color in the photos doesn't do justice to the true red color of the apron, because of poor lighting. For the 3rd day in a row it is dark, dreary and rainy.

close up of the appliqué

  photo showing half of the apron

folded

Jean, thank you so much for this lovely, useful gift. This week when I am in the kitchen baking my Christmas goodies I will wear this pretty apron and think of you.

Elaine

AAWA 12 Days of Christmas swap/Day 5

Today was the day to open day 5 that was mailed from Gloria H. in Michigan.

 

  protective wrapping

gift tucked inside white see thru bag with bells tied to the ribbon.

lovely glass 2 sided ornament..Rejoice. This ornament is lovely, but today it was rainy and dark and it was hard to get a good photograph. Thanks Gloria.

Next Monday night will be Christmas Eve...hard to believe that 2012 is almost over.

AAWA 12 Days of Christmas swap/Day 4

Day 4...I was assigned day 4, and I should have posted what I made yesterday as my gift. I was visiting my cousins on the Cape and so I wasn't home to post. I hope everyone in group 2 liked my gift.
my wrapped packages
my day 4 gift
I hadn't planned on making pillowcases, as I had already bought supplies to make something else for this swap. But, while I was out shopping I found 12 days of Christmas fabric, and decided that the fabric would be so appropriate for this 12 Day Christmas swap.
I made two pillowcases  to send to members of our group. One who normally participates in this swap, but couldn't  this year, because her husband had been ill, and unfortunately he recently passed away. I wanted to add some cheer to Barbara's mailbox. I hope she likes her surprise gift. I also made a pillowcase for Jeri who created the online Yahoo group..An Affair with Art.
folded in half
   
Elaine
P.S..I will try and take a photo of today's gift, Day 5 and post it to my blog in a little while.

AAWA 12 Days of Christmas swap/Day 3

Day 3's package  came from Texas...from Dee S.

  the package arrived in my mailbox just like this in this pretty red foil tube.

opening

inside the pretty red foiled tube I found this wooden decorated container

and inside the container was a pair of festive Christmas knee socks.

Thanks Dee! Love the container and the socks will keep my feet warm in the cold months ahead.

Elaine