Hi crafty friends!
It's been a LONG time since I last offered a blog candy. Time to give something away! You have all been so patient with me the last two years, during my illness of 2018, and our moving, and I appreciate that you are still popping in here to visit and leave such nice comments!
A few weeks ago, I won an amazing box full of goodies from Susan Opel. All she asked, was that I Pay It Forward, and offer a give-a-way of the things that I might already own, or simply might not use. I'm caught up with my August DT responsibilities, so this seemed a great time to Pay It Forward!
You are only seeing the top of this deep box!
If you are interested in winning a box full of crafty items (stamps, dies, stencils, stickers, etc.) that belonged to Susan, just leave me a comment below, telling me about one of your favorite Christmas Traditions. I can't wait to read your comments!
This Blog Candy will be open for comments from today (August 8th) until Saturday, August 15th. A winner will be announced afternoon or evening of Sunday, August 16th, so be sure to check back that evening!!! Hopefully, you can Pay it Forward, as well!
Thanks for stopping by!
Hugs and blessings,
Patti J.
WOW Patti. how blessed is this? seeing as i'm getting old (ugh) i remember my neighbor used to dress up as Santa and visit the neighbors around midnight. my mom would wake me & my brother up so santa could give us each a gift. of course we weren't allowed to open it until xmas morning, but we were tired enough to go back to sleep and not argue! oh the memories!
ReplyDeletehope all else is well with you. things good here. you're creations are STILL FABULOUS and INSPIRING.
stay well. HUGS
hello, how sweet of you to offer this. one of my fav traditions especially when the kids were younger. we would decorate the tree to "goofy's Christmas album". not only were the songs funny but we had a talking tree insert that moved at motion. we would forget about that and it would go off and we would laugh all the time.
ReplyDeleteHow sweet of you and Susan! Our favorite tradition (and we aren't sure it will be happening this year due to COVID) is to have EVERYONE ... and I mean EVERYONE from our close friends and family over on Christmas Eve for Pierogi's and other goodies!! We have close to 50 people at our home every year that day! :)
ReplyDeleteOh what a nice Pay it Forward, and I can vouch for that. My favorite tradition as a kid was on Christmas Eve my Mom would sit at the piano and we would sing Christmas carols. What fun.
ReplyDeleteSo nice of you to Pay it Forward!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite tradition was always spending a week with my Mom, helping her decorate her home. I'd choose a week in early December as one of my vacation weeks at work, then I would make the nearly 8 hour drive to get to my Mom's house at the beginning of the week. We'd have fun visiting and planning the decorating. We'd put up trees, Santas, lights, ornaments and holiday decorations throughout her house and on her front porch. I always had to remind her not to go too far overboard because I wasn't going to be coming back down to help her put it all away! It was always a fun week, and so enjoyable for me to see how much pleasure it brought to her.
What a sweetie you are to offer the items you could not use. That is a great idea! As to one of my favorite Christmas traditions is to attend the children's Christmas program at church. I sure hope we can have one this coming Christmas again. But with this Covid so much has been not held like it used to be.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun gesture from Susan, and now from you. With all the upheaval and distress that we've been through the last 6 months, it's a wonderful idea to pay a little crafty kindness forward. My online friends have become even more cherished as we all socially distance, and crafting is a life line! I have a lot of great Christmas memories from the past years but the ones that always stand out to me are from my childhood. We always got together with my mom's side of the family and spent several days at my grandma's house. There were so many of us that a couple of my siblings stayed at my aunt and uncle's, as they all lived in the same town. A table filled with all the traditional trappings, lots of presents (even if they were modest or homemade), a kid's table for anyone under the age of 18 (haha!), and quality family time. I don't live near family anymore, so my kids didn't experience those large family gatherings, but they were a real joy for me back then.
ReplyDeleteStay safe and healthy, and thank you for the chance to win!
such a nice thing to do! I like getting together with family at Christmas time, altho we lost our great grandson last Jan, due to cancer. He was only 2 yrs old, so it might be kind of tough to do this year.
ReplyDeleteSo generous of Susan, and now you, to pay it forward! One of my favorite traditions is making Christmas pudding. Everyone has to give the batter a stir and make a wish before it is put in the bowls and steamed for 5 to 6 hours. On Christmas Day, it is reheated, and sterilized coins are placed in it, so everyone gets a present with their pudding!
ReplyDeleteOh how fun, Patti! What a treat someone will receive! When I was a kid, we were lucky enough to live close enough to both sets of grandparents so that we could spend Christmas Eve with one set and Christmas Day night with the other, and then swap it the next year. Then we'd have Christmas morning at home. Another tradition was for all the cousins to get matching pajamas:) Thanks!
ReplyDeleteMy mother spent Christmas Eve Day cooking and cleaning shrimp. We didn't have a lot of money, and shrimp cocktail was a luxury reserved for our extended family Christmas Eve get together. We played cards and snacked on shrimp until it was time to leave for midnight mass. On our way to mass, we would drive around and look at Christmas lights. Very simple traditions, but very meaningful to me. It is very sweet of you to pass along goodies from Susan, thank for the chance to win.
ReplyDeleteMy mother spent Christmas Eve Day cooking and cleaning shrimp. We didn't have a lot of money, and shrimp cocktail was a luxury reserved for our extended family Christmas Eve get together. We played cards and snacked on shrimp until it was time to leave for midnight mass. On our way to mass, we would drive around and look at Christmas lights. Very simple traditions, but very meaningful to me. It is very sweet of you to pass along goodies from Susan, thank for the chance to win.
ReplyDeleteWhat a real pick me up box you received! Christmas traditions are a special memory for all generations! When my kids were little, we started decorating gingerbread houses. Then 1 year, I found a Wilton cake pan for a house. We used that for several years, but still do a traditional gingerbread house. Well, 28 years after the 1st house, I started with my granddaughter. At 2 years old, she did an awesome job. I saved the mini houses and each year we will add to our little gingerbread village. So, the tradition continues into the next generation!
ReplyDeleteWow, what an awesome pick me up package you received. In 1992, we started the tradition of building and decorating gingerbread houses. For the first several years, my kids would decorate 1 big house and the landscape. One year, I found a Wilton cake pan shaped as a house. Mmmm, that was so good and fun. But, we eventually had the kids decorate their own houses. Well, last year, I got my 2 1/2 year old granddaughter some mini gingerbread houses to decorate. I kept 2 at my home and saved them to add to this years decorating! So, the gingerbread house decorating continues into the next generation! I would say 28 years is a wonderful Christmas tradition full of memories.
ReplyDeletePatti, how blessed you were to get a package from SUSAN. Oh Christmas, my favorite holiday. When the boys came along we started them with Christmas ornaments, each year they got a new one, so when they got married they were to take their ornaments with them for their first tree. I kept a list and year, so the oldest got to hang his ornament first until the year the next one came, then he would hang one or two and the second would hang his first and so it continued. Believe me the tree became very bare when they got married. Thanks for a chance, if I win I will also pay it forward. What a great idea! Hugs!💜🤗😷
ReplyDeleteSo kind of you, Patti! I ask, however, that you not enter my name into the pool. I've been blessed with SO MANY crafting supplies that I would like to increase the chances of the others to be chosen. I did want to share a Christmas memory, though. We always go sledding on Christmas Eve afternoon with as many family members as can come and then return to our house for a "soup supper" with all the fixings. I make several homemade soups, with Turkey Wild Rice an absolute must--the entire family loves it. My daughters have started helping with the soup-making, so it's not quite as big a job as it used to be. Then there is church and finally gift opening. It's a big day, but we have a lot of fun.
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet idea to pay it forward. This something that we can all do in so many ways as we continue to tough it out with the pandemic and all the uncertainty. I am always for random acts of kindness. Now on to Christmas - I think I will use one memory from my dear friend Roseann who passed just last week. For many years we went to her house for Christmas brunch along with at least 50 - 60 other fond friends. We were younger than most of the other guests and had a new-born baby and as that baby grew up every year she went with us to Roseann's - all the way through college. And there was always a gift for her under the tree. When we retired 5 years ago we moved to the South and could no longer attend but we always missed that part of Christmas day. So here's to you Roseanne for so many delightful and heartwarming memories on Christmas day
ReplyDeleteThis is such a kind gesture, and I thank you for the chance to win such an amazing prize pack. Should I be fortunate enough to win, I plan on paying it forward. I belong to an amazing supportive stamping forum group and it would be such fun to pick a winner from that group. I have a lot of cherished Christmas memories but my favorite is when my three kids, husband, and I gather together to decorate the tree. As we unpack the ornaments while listening to Christmas carols, we reminisce about each ornament. We buy them on our family trips and every Christmas Eve my kids get to unwrap an ornament that represents something that was special to them that year. Someday they will have quite a collection to take with them when they have homes of their own. Be well.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a kind gesture, and I thank you for the chance to win such an amazing prize pack. Should I be fortunate enough to win, I plan on paying it forward. I belong to an amazing supportive stamping forum group and it would be such fun to pick a winner from that group. I have a lot of cherished Christmas memories but my favorite is when my three kids, husband, and I gather together to decorate the tree. As we unpack the ornaments while listening to Christmas carols, we reminisce about each ornament. We buy them on our family trips and every Christmas Eve my kids get to unwrap an ornament that represents something that was special to them that year. Someday they will have quite a collection to take with them when they have homes of their own. Be well.
ReplyDeleteThat is very generous of both of you. I've got a small craft collection compared to some but I've been thinking I need to weed out what I don't use or won't use to give away to someone. With this virus so many people are home and bored so hopefully someone can use it. Like most beginners I just started buying without thinking of whether I would use it or not. I don't get to see my family every Christmas as I live far away so I spend those Christmas with my best friends. We have a nice dinner in the evening and then wake up early in the morning to open gifts and enjoy a good coffee. When I was younger my mom and I would spend Christmas Eve watching Christmas movies and the next day we would get together with Aunts, Uncle and cousins for dinner. It was always so fun having everyone together. I miss those days.
ReplyDeleteHow sweet of both of you! This would be a fun way of clearing out and blessing others! Opening 1 present on Christmas eve after church services was a special tradition.
ReplyDeleteLeaving out cookies and milk for Santa.
ReplyDeleteChristmas is always my favorite time of year so I have way too many favorite memories to go along with that. Thank you for paying it forward! I reach my kids to pay it forward all year round, but especially at Christmas. We go through all of their toys and books, and choose those items that are no longer used often, but are in good shape. We've been able to donate several huge bags every year to the local women's shelter, and it's been a real educational experience for my kids too. We make baked goodies, Christmas cards and favor bags to go along with the donations.
ReplyDeleteI always try to take the emphasis off of getting at Christmas, and remind my kids that many do not have enough. Paying it forward at the holidays makes us feel good, and gives others a happy holiday at the same time. Win/win!
OMGosh that is so sweet! One of my favorite traditions is egging on the anticipation by dropping clues, making cookies for Santa, and watching the kids open their presents in the morning. So fun. Thank you for the chance to win!
ReplyDeleteWhat fun to see blog candy! Thanks to you for sharing some of your goodies. Love that you are paying forward. One of my traditions is to decorate our tree with all Bear themed ornaments which we have collected for many years. It started with our first tree after we married that I decorated with homemade bear cookies and then we began to look for all kinds of bears for the tree. Lot of memories hang on our tree.
ReplyDeleteThat is a very sweet thing to do indeed! Nothing like paying it forward! :) Our Christmas tradition as a child I remember doing was to take a drive on an evening before Christmas to go check out the Christmas lights around the area. There were some pretty elaborate set-ups even 30 years ago! :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a thoughtful and generous thing for both you and Susan to do. This has been such a period of worry and sadness for so many people, so a gesture like this is even more meaningful. I don't have many craft supplies, so most of my paying it forward has to do with sharing other things that I am lucky enough to own. As I am retired, I am able to make regular phone calls to several housebound members of the community, and also like to send Thinking of You cards to others.
ReplyDeleteMy Christmas memories are filled with lots of family, handmade gifts, good food, and quality time with family and friends. My sisters and I used to compete for the most creatively wrapped gifts each year, and some of them were pretty spectacular. The main rule was that it all had to be handmade, no store bought decorations and wrapping paper. My specialty was fancy ribbon bows and hand drawn paper. One year I did Japanese ink painting on my gift wrap, and that was my favorite design.
Thank you for the chance to win a few craft goodies. You'll be bringing a big smile to one lucky winner.
Our Christmas tradition isn't real creative or super exciting, but it is special because we have done the same thing year after year, with whoever is able to join us. First is homemade cinnamon rolls, then opening gifts (one person at a time - my youngest daughter who is now 26 still has to be "Santa."), then some playing games or cards, and finally a late afternoon dinner.
ReplyDeleteWhen my hubby and I had our son 19 years ago, we knew we wanted him to believe in Santa. But, we also wanted him to still enjoy Christmas beyond the Santa years. So, from the time he was 3 we started a Treasure Hunt. In the early years, it was just as simple as him finding a clue in his Goldfish crackers that was a picture of the clothes dryer and there was a present hidden inside the dryer. As he got old, the clues became riddles, or needed deciphering with a code, or were a series of challenges to solve... harder as he aged and the gifts became more expensive. Some clues were hidden on the ceiling fan blades and were totally dependent on him turning on the fan or tucked in the toilet paper roll so when he tore off a square he'd find it. Some clues he wouldn't find til late at night. A couple we let roll into the days following Christmas. The only draw back is that he never knows for sure when Christmas is over! LOL We still put presents under the tree, but always save a couple "special" things for the Treasure Hunt. I'm already planning this years because one gift will be too big to fit under the tree! 😉 Sweet of you, and Susan, to gift someone with new goodies!
ReplyDelete