Christmas Countdown 2008

Here is a copy of my Christmas Countdown 2008 that I made in Publisher. Feel free to use it. I have done other sheets for the index, divider sheets all in the same style (See samples on my Christmas Notebook post in April). If you would like a copy of the forms in *.pdf format, post a note and we'll see what we can work out.

Day 15 - Christmas in July

I am supposed to be working on something for Christmas every day in July. I had planned on posting everyday for the month but life gets in the way sometimes. The biggest problem lately has been DS 18. Not that he is a problem most of the time but he does tend to get on the computer when I least want him to. He's a really good kid but sometimes....... So I figure posting three times halfway through the month isn't so bad.

Today I spent some time reading the forum at Magical Holiday Home http://magicalholidayhome.com/. If you have never been to the website, give it a try. They are a little fanatical but that's okay because so am I. They have tons of great ideas, not only about Christmas but other holidays, too.

Finally finished my Rudy Day decoration

I finally finished the door decoration that I started on a whim during Rudy Day. I had finished everything on my list early and decided to start something new.

It's made of wool and homespun plaid. I love working with wool. It is so easy to work with when doing handwork. Not that I don't love working on the sewing machine, but there is something relaxing about handwork.

The "snowflakes" are small glass beads and the "berries" on the tree are larger pearl beads.

I will probably hang this on the guest bathroom door. I have something hanging there during the rest of the year but nothing at Christmas.

I just think it turned out so cute and am now inspired to move on to the next project!

The Most Productive Rudy Day Ever......

or at least this year. But there is always room to improve! This month I had the check list from below to do. Considering that Rudy Day fell on a Wednesday, I was really skeptical about getting anything done. That paying job can sure get in the way of the fun sometimes but it is also what pays for the fun.

I updated my Christmas Notebook with pictures I had taken from last year, separated them by room, made notes on each page as to what I liked and didn't like about each one, wrote suggestions for this year. Then made a list to put in my small Christmas notebook of what I needed to buy for each idea. I even had enough time to start one of the craft decorations that I had picked out.

During lunch I went to Wal-Mart to look for a Christmas movie to watch but they didn't have any. I did find two movies in the 2/$10 bin that I could use for DH and DS23's Christmas stockings. I went to the library instead and checked out "A Christmas Carol" with Patrick Stewart DVD. I watched it while working on Rudy Day while drinking a double hot chocolate. How relaxing!!

I had hoped to get along enough with my craft project to post a picture. I have it all cut out. Most of the rest is hand work that I hope to do on the way to and from the in-laws this weekend. Hopefully I'll get enough done to post a picture next week.