The Present ...

Hey Ya's!  Did you all have a wonderful Christmas?!  I sure hope you did!!

We did as well .. and even though Bodhi had his questions about Santa .. he still wrote his note to Santa, left him candies and milk and woke up first thing in the morning to run and check if Santa came.  ;)  He had a blast opening up his gifts and was ecstatic with all the Lego Star Wars Sets he received.  hehe!

So, I've finally worked on the first layout of Bodhi's Inspiration Journal .. and I knew what quote I wanted to use on the first page from before anything ever started.  This quote stuck with me when we used to watch the movie "Kung Fu Panda" a few years ago ... and I thought it was so perfect for Bodhi to always remember these words.

For this layout .. I had quite a few inspiration from different places.  One of course is from the movie itself .. because of the quote and they were standing under a cherry blossom tree.  The second is from an artist named Vicky who does such amazing art journals!  And last but not least .. my own little Bodhi who himself inspired me to do a straw blowing cherry blossom tree last year and still up on our refrig (which I will show you a photo of also!)  :)

Now if you will notice .. the book also is a little surprise .. it will record my voice!!!!!!!  :)  Yes, I used one of Bodhi's old books that can record your voice on there as well .. so even when I am gone .. he will still be able to hear me ... 

I did the tree with blowing paint with a straw, but it did not spread as thin as I wanted it to be on the branches and kinda didn't go where I was trying to blow it  .. it was NOT as easy as I thought it would be!  lol!  Sure left me light headed though!!  sheesh!

There's Bodhi and I sitting on the branch having a sweet lil' talk about life .. 

I handwrote the quote:

"Yesterday is history.

Tomorrow is a mystery.

Today is a Gift.

That is why we call it ..

The Present."

So I added some gifts and presents from Tim Holtz dies under the tree.  ;)  And also placed some of Tim Holtz rub ons in a couple of places.

Here is Bodhi's straw blowing with paint that he did at school last year  :)  I absolutely adore his painting!

Well .. thank you so much for sticking with me through this long post and I hope it made you smile!  :)

The New Year is coming upon us quickly .. and I'll take this time now to with you all a most WONDERFUL 2015!!  Enjoy your festivities and please stay safe!

Thank you again .. and I'd love to hear from you!!!  See you again soon!

Happy New Year!

Elise

Dreaming of a White Christmas ...

Hey Ya's!  How are you all doing?  Christmas is next week .. can you believe it?!

Are you ready?  I "think" I am .. I just know at the very last minute I'll remember something that I need to do right?  hehe .. happens often!

I absolutely love this time of year, the hustle and bustle of seeing people shopping for their loved ones and friends.  I don't enjoy crowds very much, but I do love the excitement during this time.  :)   And I love the lights .. hmmm .. I don't know .. it's just magical.

Here's my last Christmas card for the year .. and this one is for my special little boy Bodhi.  :)  I've used this darling Lili of the Valley image called "Festive Lantern" and surrounded him with some "Set 79 Christmas Mini Icons" along with a beautiful sentiment from "Set 75 Christmas Wishes" on the bottom.

Wishing you all a Joyful Holiday Season and a safe one too! 

If I don't get to see you before Christmas .. MERRY CHRISTMAS to you and your families!

Biggest of Hugs,

Elise

'Tis The Season To Be Jolly ...

Hey Ya's!  Are you ready for Christmas?!!!  OooH it's right around the corner!  ;)

My little Bodhi said something the other night that made my heart skip a beat and almost sink .. he asked me, "Mommy, do you believe in Santa?"  I quickly responded, "Why yes!!!!! Of course Bodhi!  Why do you ask?"  

He told me that one of his classmates said that Santa is not real .. and that Santa is Mom's and Dad's .. sigh .. I almost had tears in my eyes.  Time has flown by .. wayyyy too quick .. this isn't happening already.

I asked him, "What did you say? Do you still believe in Santa?" .. and he said, "Mommy, I told him that Santa IS real!  And I do believe in Santa!"

My heart felt relieved .. but as I looked at Bodhi .. I thought .. "How is it that this innocence ends just way too quickly?  Why can't it last forever?"

So this Christmas .. I believe he will receive a most SPECIAL letter from Santa.  ;)

Well, it's time for the last Lovely Lili Challenge of the year from the Ribbon Girl ... and this one is soooo easy .. "Anything Goes"!  

I've used some beautiful goodies from the Ribbon Girl Store such as:

White Cotton Lace, Mixed Dahlia White, White Rosebuds, Seam Binding, Pearls

And instead of colouring an image, I've used a lovely Lili of the Valley Sentiment from "Set 75 Christmas Wishes"

As always, generous prizes to be won from LOTV and The Ribbon Girl ...

Thank you so much for visiting me and I'd love to hear from you!  See you again soon!

Hugs,

Elise

2 Christmas Cards ...

Hey Ya's!  Did you all have a beautiful weekend?  I hope you did!

The weeks are flying by .. and Christmas will be here before you know it.  I don't think I really realized just how near Christmas is .. and have turned into a slight bit of a "OMG!!!!!!" mode as it's just 2 1/2 weeks away!  :(   Every year, I keep reminding myself to get better prepared, but ... hmmmm .. unfortunately it just doesn't happen.  lol!

In the meantime, here are a couple cards that I've made ...

The beautiful checkered green/cream ribbon is from the lovely Live and Love Crafts!  :)

I wish you all a most beautiful day and thank you so much for visiting me!  I'll see you again soon!

Hugs,

Elise

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year ...

Hey Ya's!  Hope you all had a beautiful week and ready for the weekend!

Christmas is fast approaching, and wow wow wow .. can you believe the craft stores are already moving out of the Christmas decorations?!  Wait .. whaaaaat?!  I'm just beginning to play my Christmas songs .. and they're getting ready for the next season .. hahahaha!

I've been enjoying making Christmas cards and tags .. here's another one with a fluffy bird from Michaels ...

 I've also used some yummy goods from the beautiful Ribbon Girl Store such as:

Floribunda White Roses, Burgundy 20mm Roses and Phoebe Lace

I hope you all are enjoying your days and having a very safe holiday season!

Thank you so very much for visiting me .. I'd love to hear from you!  I'll see you again soon!

Hugs,

Elise

Holiday Love ...

Hey Ya's!  Hope you all had a beautiful weekend!

The days toward Christmas is swiftly approaching and I can't help but sit back and think, "Wow.  Really?!"  Yup .. in one month .. we shall start a new year.  sigh ... sheeeeeesh!

A lot of times, I look at Bodhi and am reminded of how special each day really is.  Yes, sometimes he drives me completely bonkers ;) .. but there are SO many times when he's doing something and I watch him quietly .. and think to myself, "Gosh .. isn't time so precious?"  Even when he holds my hand .. I look at his fingers and think, "One day, these fingers will be so much bigger than mine." .. and it sometimes brings tears to my eyes!  accccck!  lol!

Well, here's another Christmas card I've made, and this lil' reindeer I had bought from Hobby Lobby a couple years ago and found it tucked away .. I Love when I find surprises in my stash!  hahahaha!

The wooden heart was given to me by a dear friend years ago and I re-painted it and added some crackle paste to it.  

I wish you all a most beautiful week and thank you so much for stopping by to visit me!  I'll see you again soon!

Hugs,

Elise