Fresh Air

This morning, I stepped outside and was immediately struck by the the fresh air. Not cold air. Not 'city' air. Fresh Air. Sweet smelling; the kind of scent that triggers memories. Clean. You know what I mean. Think: cotton sheets drying all morning on the clothesline and when you lay your head on your pillow, you immediately smell the fresh scent and then you drift off to sleep with a smile on your face and images of sunny, summer days going through your head. That's what the air smelled like this morning. So why do you need to know this, you might be wondering.... I'll admit I wondered whether or not to share this. But I have a good reason, really. After inhaling that wonderful scent a few times, I stopped and gave thanks to God for this particular small joy. I'm a firm believer in small joys. They just have a way of making my day, and thanks be to God for small joys like this one. Find your small joys everyday - they'll get you through those rougher days. And don't forget to give thanks...

And speaking of joys, I'd like to share a few of the joys that were mine at the Thanksgiving holiday. All of my kids, and now my little grandchildren love black olives. And just like their dads did, they like to 'wear' them on their fingers. Two families represented here, with only baby Avie missing. She's not quite old enough to have olives with the big kids. Carter and Sammi are on the far left, with little sister Kaylin on the far right. Grant is next to Carter with his sister Lily and brother Drew in front of him. Kaylin wanted to eat her olive, not have her photo taken....funny child.

We got our craft on the next day. Tad and family stayed, but by this time, Chris' family was having another Thanksgiving at Katie's parents home. Here are the little ones' crafts...(that's my darling son Tad, btw)

And we put up the tree and decorated the house for Christmas too, while mommy and daddy were out Black Friday shopping. Sammie swore it was "the best day ever!" I had to laugh. Great kids, great times.

And believe it or not, I actually have a couple of cards to share.

The first one will go over to The Card Concept Challenge, where we're to make a tag, or a card with a tag,  with snow, or snowmen on it. I'm calling this one clean and layered. There's still time to play, so I'll send you all a bit of encouragement and hope you'll play along too.

Isn't that MFT snowman just the cutest?! I masked off his twiggy arms because they hung over the parameters of the tag. I stamped him with black VersaFine, and colored him with copics. The blue snowflakes are from LF in Winter ink from ME. A bit of seam binding from SU, and a smidgen of red and white twine from The Twinery. My tag was cut with a PTI die, and I added a few bits of red bling to some of the snowflakes. Red VersaColor ink for the MFT sentiment.

This last card is for Muse, where I was inspired by the kraft, greenery, and the red/white polka dots. Vicki Dutcher has this amazing card up:

And since Fusion has a new challenge up today and my card fit, I thought, what the heck! I just used the inspiration photo and not the sketch this time. Don't you just love Muse and Fusion?! I know I do!

Here's my take:

Fun and funky. Is there anything more fun than polka dots??! That's an old scrap of OA dp. The stamps are all from LF's Deck the Halls set. Love that set!! Some PTI green, VersaFine black and Ranger brown inks. I made the teeny little poinsettia with a flower punch and added a yellow bling for its center. And kraft. 

Well, I've kept you all long enough, so will send you off to explore other wonders in your worlds. Happy dances everyone.