Kaseys Korner

Last minute Christmas ideas

It's almost "panic" time, if you're like me and still have some last minute holiday stuff to wrap up. 

It will get done, one way or another, won't it? 

I hope each of you have a relaxing, beautiful, stress-free holiday. 

Last Christmas we were in the middle of a swirling snowstorm ~ gusty winds, frigid temperatures ~ the whole nine yards.  This year, it's supposed to be in the 50's.  So much more my style! 

If you are wrapping gifts today and need a last minute gift tag, check out the ones I made using my old birding field guide.  (My Dad told me to throw it out when he gave me a new one but of course, I couldn't do that!)

Also, if you have a stamp set available you could stamp your way into a fellow nature-lovers heart by making this sweet set:

My Mom got one of these on a package, she might like the tag as much as what's inside! (but I hope not)

If you're in need of a quick gift, for an unexpected guest, you could whip up a cocoa or tea mix and put it in a recylced glass jar like I did below. 

The container above was a Sweet Leaf Tea bottle that I ran thru my dishwasher then instead of keeping the lid, I inserted a cork in its place.  Tie on a quick tag and you're set! 

The tags and the cocoa mix were all featured in the December 2010 Crafts 'N Things magazine.  The card at the top was just for fun. 

Now I better get in motion so I can enjoy the day tomorrow!  See you after Christmas!  Have a good one...

 

handmade ornaments

If you're like me and running "down to the wire" with holiday shopping, baking, etc., consider giving a handmade gift ~ there's still time!  A little craft therapy never hurt anyone either.  Just sayin'....

These wooden bead ornaments certainly won't stress you out:

Simply paint the beads whatever color you desire then apply rub on's or stickers for decoration and string them on jute.  I tied the adorable star bells onto the bottoms which I found at Hobby Lobby. 

If you'd like to try something just as easy but a bit more impressive, how about this 3-D ornament?

I turned a 3" (round) paper mache box lid into half a snow globe by painting it white, adhering patterned paper around the edges and to the back of the lid then filled the inside with fun embellishments.  To keep the "snow" in, just glue a 3" round piece of transparency over the top of the lid.  Voila!  Fun stuff, right?

If that's too elaborate, maybe a simple string of beads with a paper tag is more your style?

These could even be used as gift tags?????  Food for thought...

Are we having fun yet??  Up for a few more???

These are for the "cardinal lovers" in all of us:

Patterned paper decoupaged to paper mache stars then everything strung together with wire.  Piece of cake, right?

Same idea, different twist, because who doesn't love a snowman?

Well, what do you think?  Inspired to give it a try??  Let me know if you do!

btw, all these ornaments were published in various holiday magazine issues this year, lucky me.  :-)

 

the Christmas card tradition

About this time every year I start to stress about how many days are left to send out holiday cards.  Most of the stress comes because of my preference to send a photo card and although I use my camera every single day, it's not often I'm in front of the lens.  Now you see the problem.  Here we are, on December 6th, and there has been no family photo shoot yet!  You'd think I'd learn after all these years to not put this off till the last minute. 

There is always the option to forego the photo card & send a handmade card instead ~ like the ones in this holiday set I recently had published:

The holiday bird tags (by Cavallini & Co,) you might remember seeing on the blog last year?  They were so beautiful I couldn't resist incorporating them into some designs.

Sometimes, with all the various methods of staying connected, I wonder if the tradition of mailing Christmas cards is outdated?  But then they start showing up in my mailbox and I'm thrilled to receive them.  I guess that means I better keep sending them out?  How does everyone else feel about this subject?  and how are you doing on getting yours mailed?  I hope better than I am!

Halloween Mirror Ornaments

I realized last night it's been the longest time since I've posted any type of paper craft or general crafting project on the blog.  Maybe you haven't missed them (if you aren't into that kind of thing) but since the garden is winding down, I am thinking it's high time to diversify more and get back to a few crafts!  Like these mirrored Halloween ornaments I made last fall:

I am honored to have them currently featured in the October issue of Crafts 'N Things magazine.   Besides being fun to make, they are pretty nice to have hanging around too.  In my house, they are on my small black (coffee-table size) Halloween tree where the purple and orange mini lights are reflected in the mirrors making them all the more magical.

Recently I've been working on Halloween cards for my niece and nephew (ssshhhh, don't tell them!) which I'll post soon too. 

There, that wasn't too painful,(getting back into crafts), was it?!! 

 

neighbor appreciation day

Recently I was gifted with an Oriole feeder and several jars of grape jelly compliments of my newest neighbor.  She said she'd decided feeding them was not her thing.  I applaud the fact she recognized she didn't have the time, inclination, energy, whatever, to feed them.  It sometimes feels like a part-time job even to me ~ and I enjoy it.   During peak oriole season you'd never believe how many jars of grape jelly they go thru ~ I should keep track next year!  They eat so much the feeder has to be refilled three or four times a day ~ that takes dedication.  If you aren't ready for that kind of commitment, it's probably best to do nothing then to feed sporadically/randomly.  At least that's how I feel ~ what about you??

Anyway, back to the gift, because I benefited from her realization, I wanted to do something nice in return.  I thought a card with one of my oriole photos was appropriate:

It's very simple and so was the message inside:

Accompanying the card were a couple of Rhubarb Walnut muffins, made from homegrown rhubarb:

The very same recipe was whipped up & served last Friday (the 13th ~ which was not unlucky at all) to Gail of Clay and Limestone.   That's the day I had the privilege of hosting her in my garden.  She truly is the warm, kind, gracious person you perceive her to be when you read her blog postings.  As you can imagine, it was a very pleasant way to spend a couple hours and something I never expected when I started blogging (meeting people thru the Internet).

I'd say it's been my lucky week. 

My thanks to both of you ~ Gail for taking the time to stop by and Dora for the Oriole gifts and being such a nice neighbor.

creating for charity

Over the weekend I spent some time putting together card sets to donate to a dear friends Pets On Wheels fundraiser.  I am all about the animals (as much as the garden) so this was definitely a cause near and dear to my heart.  I simply adhered a few of my dog prints to cards:

Packaged them and tied on a stamped tag & ribbon:

Three sets in all:

I hope they are liked enough to raise a little money (during the silent auction). 

Wish I could say I spent some time in the garden, but that was not the case.  Maybe you did a little of that for me???  This week looks to be unsettled and cool with a chance for snow showers/rain every day.  We'll see if I can sneak out there anyway and find something new to photograph.  Cross your fingers...

reality check

This morning our three day string of nice weather came to an abrupt halt ~ we woke up to cold, cloudy and snow flurries.  Bleck, bleck, bleck.  It's so hard to go back to winter after a taste of spring, wouldn't you agree? 
I managed to cut back the grasses and get a few outdoor chores done during that little window of time but now, boo hoo, I'm stuck indoors again.  Knowing me, as you do now, means I get out my photos and make a card.  This one using a daffodil photo from last year:

I sure hope these are blooming again really soon!

All supplies (except the floss and photo) are from Anna Griffins "Flora Collection" which was released last year.  I loved everything in it, as you can imagine ~ it's the perfect line for a gardener and great to play with on a yucky day.

Crossing my fingers we're back to warm soon!

which side up???

(Hint:  Read the message on the card)  This side:

or this side:

Maybe it depends on the day????  ;-) 

On a completely different subject, a kinda funky look at my Hawaiian 'paph' orchid 'Lasco:'

That's my "freaky" Friday post ~ it's been that kind of day.  Have a good one....

birthdays & hawks

go together how you say?????  Crazy pairing, I know.  Let me explain ~ yesterday kicked off one for me (what I call "birthday season") and the other just won't go away.  In honor of the "first" birthday of the "season" I (of course) made a card:

Because as you all well know, it's what I usually "do" with my photos.  btw, the poppy picture was taken last spring, wish it were blooming now.

This one's for you Erin ~ happy, happy day!!!! 

Now to the unlikely part of the pairing ~ the Sharp-shinned Hawk who has gotten quite bonded to my pine tree and quite fearless of me.  Yesterday, when I went out to "top off" the bird bath, there he was ~ sitting on a limb where he's been an all too constant/familiar presence this winter.  I immediately turned around and went back in for my camera, never imagining how close he would let me get.  First photo, I was hesitant and kept my "distance" (if you can call 10 feet a distance from a hawk):

I've been wondering if he lost a leg because every photo I've taken this season, shows only one?  Yesterday I found out why ~ the other one he pulls up inside his feathers.  Apparently hot talons cut into birds like a hot knife slices thru butter.  Bad joke.  Anyway, if you look closely and know what you're looking for, you can see just the curve of one of his left foot talons showing (where it's pulled up under his feathers).

Pushing the boundaries and moving in to approx 5 feet ~  the final photo I snapped before I proposed that he please "move on."  Futile proposition that was.  The hunting is apparently way too good.

That face, that face, that cover girl face.  Wait.  NO WAY.  This is a face that epitomizes "fierce" isn't it?  Pretty darn cool.  Amazing how close he let me get without appearing agitated at all....  And that, my friends, is how birthdays and hawks go together.  :-)

happiness is

a good mail day!  Well, during the winter anyway when there isn't much gardening to be done.  A couple days ago one of my ultra talented designer friends, Hilary Kanwischer, e-mailed me that I had won a giveaway on her blog.  The prize was a copy of the Oct/Nov 2009 issue of "simply Handmade" which includes a darling project of hers.  Yesterday, it was in my mailbox:

Between the covers are so many cute, cute, cute projects for the holidays, I almost want to go back and start them over.  I said almost.  Now that spring is around the corner, I think I'll wait for them to roll around again in due time!  When they do tho, I'll definitely be using this book as inspiration for my own holiday gift-giving.

Check out Hilarys adorable project:

 

If you want to see more of her work, click on her name and head over to her blog.  She's got some fantastic projects there to view and buy (in her Etsy shop).

Something nice about this book (especially for new crafters) are the step by step photo instructions.  They make it very easy to re-create a project without the frustration of wondering "how on earth did she/he do that?"

Of course my daughter went straight to this page:

 

She never misses a chance for cupcakes! 

By the way, a quick update ~ she went back to school on Monday (25th) for the first time since October and the H1N1 ordeal.  It was quite a milestone for us and I am praying like crazy that she will stay healthy.