Snowman Jack in the Box

I painted this snowman "Jack in the Box" many years ago for my Christmas instruction book. It has a village painted all the way around and it's hard to tell from this picture, but there is also a hinged lid. This display is above the bed in our spare bedroom for our guests to enjoy. You can click on the picture for a closer view.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas!

Live Nativity

Every year our little country church, Rock Falls, presents a "Live Nativity" for the community. Cars of families drive down a country road lined with candles sitting in milk jugs leading the way to the church. They come to celebrate the real meaning of Christmas.

Shepherds watching over their flock and trying to keep warm....

I just love this little guy!


Guards at the city entrance

Angels watching over the nativity

This sly looking king is my son, Eric. Not quite sure what that look means.

The true meaning of Christmas

Animals in the stable

The first night was canceled due to ice in the forecast and the last night the weather was in the single digits. Fires were burning in barrels for everyone to warm their hands, but standing on snow and ice made it pretty uncomfortable for all the dedicated workers.

Beautiful music being sung by members of the choir.

Hot cider and cookies are served as you leave the nativity. Many families make this trip a family tradition each year. What are some of your family traditions?

I wish each and everyone of you a very special and blessed Christmas!

Cookie Recipes

I've been busy baking cookies and packaging them up as gifts and to use for our church live nativity. I'll be taking pictures of the nativity tonight and if they come out, I'll share them with you. The cookies below are "Easy Oreo Truffles" and they are now my favorite Christmas treat!


"Easy Oreo Truffles"

Makes:

3 1/2 dox. or 42 servings, one truffle each (one, yeah right!)

1 pkg. (1 1b. 2 oz.) Oreo Cookies, finely crushed and divided

1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened

2 pkg. (8 squares each) Bakers's semi-sweet chocolate, melted

Mix 3 cups of the cookie crumbs and the cream cheese until well blended. Shape into 42 (1 inch) balls.

Dip balls in melted chocolate; place on waxed paper covered baking sheet. (Any leftover melted chocolate can be stored in tightly covered container at room temperature and saved for another use.) Sprinkle with remaining cookie crumbs.

(I used all the cookie crumbs when I made the balls, so I sprinkled them with decorating candies.)

Refrigerate 1 hour or until firm. Store any leftover (yeah right) truffles in a tightly covered container in refrigerator. Enjoy!

This is an all time favorite of ours:

Sugar Cookies

Mix cookies the day before and let set overnight in the frig.

2 eggs
2 sticks of butter
1 cup of powdered sugar
1 cup of granulated sugar
1 teasp. cream of tartar
1 teasp. salt
1 teasp. soda
4 1/2 cups flour
1 cup Crisco oil
1 Tablespoon vanilla
1 Teaspoon almond extract

Mix dry ingredients together and eggs and crisco together; then mix all together. Let stand over night in the frig. Form dough into balls about the size of a walnut. Grease cookie sheet and place balls 2 inches apart. Press down gently with the palm of your hand to flatten slightly. Sprinkle with sugar. Bake @ 350 degrees for 10-12 min.

For some reason I always need a size larger britches after Christmas.
Merry Christmas!

We Have a Winner!

I've been having problems with blogger all day. I can't seem to load any photos but I did want to announce the winner of my "Giveaway". The winner of the "Fruitcake Cupcake" print and the two hand painted ornaments is..........Lou Ann! Stop by Lou Ann's blog to congratulate her. I'm sure she'd appreciate it. I'll try another post tomorrow night if I can get the photos to load. Looks like we are going to have an all night ice storm.

Chalk One Up, Cookie Day, and Final Christmas Painting for 2008

I am dreaming of a white christmas!
Christmas decorations in my kitchen...I love my red skates that I use as a bookend for my cook books. I got it a couple of years ago at the "World's Longest Yard Sale" in Kentucky. Can't wait to go there again!

Another cloche I made with pieces from Wal-Mart

More kitchen decorations

and two very talented cookie elves! The'll never grow up and I'm glad.

Snowman Sound is the final painting for this year. I'm taking a much needed break from painting until after the first of the year, but will be back ready to paint more wintery visions.

This painting can be found on eBay.

Snowman Sound is a beautiful magical place. For years children have been telling tales of jolly snowmen who laugh and play. They always seem to have a twinkle in their eyes and a smile on their face, as if there could be some truth to this mystery.
Don't forget to sign up for my giveaway in a previous post. It ends on Thurday.

Giveaway and Chalk One Up

I'm like a kid with a piece of chalk! I love having this chalkboard in my kitchen to decorate with the seasons. It's also great for notes and menus.

It's time for my final giveaway of the year! Leave a comment on this post and I will use a random number generator to pick the lucky winner on Thursday morning (the 18th) at 10 am central time. All comments must be in by that time to qualify. Only one entry per person please and please give me an email address with your comment or a link to your blog so I can contact the lucky winner. You will win the following:

An 8" x 10" Fruitcake Cupcake print which has touches of glitter on the frosting. You may click on any of the photos for a closer view.
Two glittery hand painted ornaments that measure 2 1/2 " x 2 1/2".

Both have a decorative wire and bead trim attached to the bottom.

Good luck and Merry Christmas!!

New Prints, and more decorating

Recently I was asked by one of my blog readers what my favorite Christmas movie is. My all time favorite is "It's a Wonderful Life". Last year my husband watched it for the first time all the way through and loved it. I was really surprised that he hadn't seen it before. I still haven't caught it on T.V. this year. If anyone knows of any good ones I should watch let me know because after I get my next painting done, I'm taking a break. I'm going to spend time with my family and get ready for Christmas. I still have another giveaway coming up, so keep watching!

I know that some people don't like music on blogs and I've been asked how to turn it off. The music is at the bottom of the right sidebar and it can be turned off there. You can also turn the volumn down on your computer. I would remove it, but I love music and want to give the option.
I added two new prints to my stores and the links for these stores are in the righthand sidebar.

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11

The Earth Awakes to Gentle Snowflakes!

Kitchen Decorations
I made this cloche from a Wal-Mart glass candle holder, an old white china saucer, and a hanging glass candle holder. I have three of these hanging glass candle holders that I bought to hang outside in my redbud tree. I just turned them upside down and made three cloches this year.


I painted this tray for my Christmas paint instruction book many years ago.

Living room mantel

Grandma Chickie's old cupboard

Prize Winner and More Christmas Glitz

I want to thank all 140 of you for reading my giveaway post, adding your links, and for all the very sweet comments! I was blown away by the response. Beth for Texas is our lucky winner and I mailed her little cupcake painting this morning. In a day or two I will have my last giveaway for the year. Keep watching so you don't miss out!

Yesterday I added a little more Christmas glitz to our home and I've added some of the photos below. Here is a link for my Christmas decorating last year. You can check out all of my Christmas decorating ideas from years past in my blog categories under decorating our home. I don't know if I'll get as much accomplished this year.

My husband's train set (about 50 years old).

I added a tag to my skates.

Stained glass ornaments




I bought this large silver star at Wal-Mart on sale for a dollar and then added the "Believe" banner in the center accented with more glitter. My floors are covered with glitter!

A Little Christmas Glitz, Shopping, and Giveaway Reminder

First of all I want to thank all my dear readers who have signed up for my "giveaway". If you haven't signed up yet, you have until Sunday, Dec. 7th at midnight. Check out my previous post for instructions and make sure you leave your comment on that post and not this one to sign up. Only one entry per person please.

Today I took a much needed day off and went shopping with my dear friend Susie. I scored this cute little lamp at Kirland's in Kansas City, MO for $19.95!

I haven't gotten very far with my Christmas decorating, but will share what I have gotten done.

This is an old Christmas post card of our home as it originally looked. It has been passed down from family to family over the years as the house has taken on new owners. I wish that old evergreen tree was still here.
You can click on any of the photos for a closer view.

Santa's helpers

My faux painted fireplace

My old skates

One more giveaway before Christmas, so keep watching!