Sunday, December 7, 2014

The Christmas Season is here!

Good Morning everyone!  ♥ Welcome to the 7th day of December!   I know that I always say this, but I am amazed at how quickly time is flying by this year.  Wow - the 7th day of Christmas is already here, and I know it is going to be a wonderful one! Can you all feel the holiday spirit in the air?

First of all, I have to thank everyone at Once . . . Upon a Sketch for choosing me as the winner of their very last challenge.  It is quite an honor and I will always appreciate them for it.  Thank you all from the bottom of my heart!  ♥ I wish them all of the best in their future endeavors and I know that we all will miss this blog so much!



Now on to the latest challenge at Challenge YOUrself!



This month is a magical one, and Lynn has asked us to scrap about a holiday tradition. (It doesn't have to be Christmas!!)  Here it is:

Challenge YOUrself #13: Traditions
What are some of your traditions for the upcoming holiday season?  Do you have an old tradition that you continued from childhood or did you start your own?  Tell us about it.  
Remember to include YOU in the photo :)

I did not have to think about this one very much!  I knew right away that I wanted to scrap about our Christmas tree traditions!!  It has become a beloved tradition to invite my sister and her husband over to our house to help decorate.  My sister, Karen, is just so much more technically minded than me, and she always gets our train tracks set up and the Polar Express train started in no time.  Then we always have dinner with our Santa hats on and take fun pictures of us with all of the different hats that we have accumulated over the years.  

Here is my layout featuring a photo of Karen, me, and Anne:


And some different views:



I used my new stash of Webster's Pages "All that Glitters" papers once again, and it is hard to see, but I also added a good dose of gold and red Stickles for some added sparkle!














I can't tell you how much I enjoyed working on this layout and preserving these wonderful memories!

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ 

Now in conclusion, I would like to share some photos that I took early in the morning last weekend of the snow:



  





Happy December everyone!  Don't forget to check out Challenge YOUrself this month!  You won't regret it. 

Hugs to one and all this holiday season! 

30 comments:

  1. What a charming layout! And great snaps - stay warm!

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  2. Your lo is gorgeous! LOVING the colors, the big circle and the snow globe!! And loving your photos too ... soooooooo beautiful!!!!!!!!!

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  3. OMG!! I LOVE this layout, Sharon!! It's fantastic and I love the papers, but the best part is the tradition that the pictures document! Part of the wonderfulness of the Christmas season is the traditions that we carry on. I love the picture of you and your sister and Anne! How fun!

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  4. Such a magical layout! I love all the glitter and gold with your black and white photo! Love your tradition. So glad to have you on the team :)

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  5. 1: BRRRRRR!!!!!!
    2: CONGRATS!!!!!!!! Such a well deserved win at OUAS
    3: FABULOUS page! I'm loving circles [done like this, not circle photos, you understand!] atm.....& this totally floats my boat.....so thank you for doing it!!! Great trad, too:)
    Soooo....we're getting a 30C day today, apparently [I think that's about 90F] with thunderstorms and high humidity. Figuring just the thought of that temp might help melt those winter chills you're feeling;)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  6. Love the gold stars and the circular journaling. Thanks Sharon for the comforting comments.

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  7. How delightful, Sharon! Congratulations! Your work is lovely as always. And such pretty photos ---- we are in the thirties tonight, but here in this part of NC we don't get much snow. For this, I am grateful.

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  8. Sharon, this is such a beautiful page. Love all the pictures by the way... Really love how you integrated the websters pas image ! Hugs xxx

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  9. Well done on your OUAS win, very well deserved as that was an amazing layout.. and love your layout for Challenge YOUrself, love all the gold.. and those photos look so soft and pretty, what a wonder snow is to cover the land like that.. one day I hope to see it in real life!! Have a good week!

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  10. This one is just awesome! Love your creativity. Your QUAS win was so well deserved! Woohoo!

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  11. LOVE your layout. Absolutely gorgeous. And your snow photos - stunning! They (almost) make me wish I lived somewhere that it snows.

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  12. Ohhhhhh! The snow is actually falling in those pictures! SO so lovely - especially since it's 70 degrees here in the desert :/ AND YOUR PAGE! So beautiful and so elegant. I love that you have help too - your sister needs to come to my house, lol!
    AND YAyyyyyy for Lifebook! I promise, it is the most exciting class / life affirming event. I've participated myself as a student every year before this one. And regarding time, I don't always do the lessons but I always watch them at the very least. It's like a favorite art show every monday. BUT the more involved you get the more fun you will have - and the more you will learn. It is honestly the favorite thing about Mondays!! Regarding the supplies, don't worry at all about that now - you just need the basics to get started. I believe that there will be weekly supplies, but you're only ever encouraged to get the supplies that you WANT to play with. Anything can be done with what you have :) SO happy to have you there! xoxo

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  13. Beautiful design , photo, journalling, pprs, colors!

    The snow photos are gorgeous!

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  14. Your photography is wonderful! I always love coming to your blog to see what pretty thing you've posted, and I'm never disappointed.

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  15. Your snow photos are so beautiful...now if I could have that without it being cold ;-)
    Congratulation on winning on OUAS...your page was amazing.
    I love your Christmas tradition...can't you send her over...my tree isn't up yet.
    Your page is beautiful Sharon...love the circle design.

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  16. Hello dear friend! Happy December! Congrats on winning on your last layout, it is truly gorgeous and needs to be framed. I love this layout too, you are so good with sketches and themes, pulls everything together just right. What a great tradition for your family, I could see why you enjoyed my newest post after reading this. My sister was so happy we came over and helped, funny that I hadn't even done mine yet. It was nice to decorate in her new house too, a new place to play is always more fun.

    Your snow pictures are just amazing and peaceful. Would love to have that in my yard, enjoy it for me too please. Can't wait to see you scrap these photos too.

    I thought of you last week during The Middle, it was so crazy again but so sweet with Mike and Susan. She is always so darn happy and funny, can't wait to see where she goes to school at. It will be on tonight too, I'm ready for some laughs.

    Thank you for your beautiful blog and happy thoughts too, it's so nice coming here to see them. Wishing you and your family a very Merry and blessed Holiday season. Extra hugs for your mom.

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  17. Your 4th and 5th pictures are so so beautiful thank you so much for sharing them.

    Huge congratulations on your win, i love your scrapbooking pages and you always put so much of yourself into them.

    Your page this time is beautiful, so warm and full of your memories, another winner :-) xxx

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  18. What a fabulous LO, Sharon!! You take such amazing photos and I always enjoy seeing them!! ~ Blessings, Tracey

    Garden of Grace

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  19. Congrats on your win at OUAS....totally well-deserved...:)
    Love your latest creation too. Really pretty!

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  20. Oh my goodness Sharon - another amazing layout! I love the design and that adorable Santa! And those photos of yours are simply stunning. A huge congrats on the OUAS win too - woot! So well deserved.

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  21. I just LOVE this tradition and your layout. So creative the way you did the journaling too. Perfect. And, wow, those photos are stunning, Sharon.

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  22. I always love your layout, with your own photos, they spell Happiness.
    Love your photos too, what a beautiful area you live in.
    Your OUAS layout was so lovely, I'm not surprised at all that you won, and congratulations.

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  23. Hello Sharon, just had to come by and laugh about The Middle with you. Hope you got to see it. OMG, that Frankie is so funny and poor Mike. I could totally relate to Frankie and am happy to say this year I am taking it more laid back, didn't bring out all the decorations and have had more quiet times at home with the kids. Really feeling Jesus more in my heart and the love I have for my family and friends. Feeling so blessed and thankful for it. That's all I really need this year, and Kristin to be here so I can hug her and see her face again.
    Sending peaceful and calm wishes your way too friend. Love and hugs Dawn

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  24. Fantastic LO Sharon...love your Santa,and your photos are awesome!

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  25. I am loving your layout so much!! Your photos are stunning!

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  26. Big congratulations are due to you for winning OUAS! Nice job.

    I like all the touches of gold that you incorporated into this new page. Also, I like the eye-catching design.

    We had some warmer weather over the weekend, and it was so nice. Hope you're having good weather, too. Take care!

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  27. Firstly, congrats again on your win at OUAS! Awesome layout here too.....it's fun, sparkly, festive and beautiful! Love it! Your photo's...always such a treat...you are amazingly creative Sharon....awesome work! ;-)

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  28. So perfect in every way! Love your gorgeous photos!

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  29. Your layout is truly sensational, Sharon! So creative and inspiring! Congrats on winning @ OUAS! Love, love your stunning photos! Hope you and your family have a very, Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!

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  30. Hi Sharon, just wanted to say HAPPY NEW YEAR!! I hope you had a nice Christmas and family time. Hope all is well with you and family and your ready for the new year. I'm excited and ready for it. Looking forward to seeing your pictures, I know they will be wonderful. Take care friend!

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