Hello Santa...

Santa...something so jovial about those cheeks. 

That grin that melts the snow.

A suit that warms the coldest of hearts. 

I have missed you so. 

A set of tags to start the season. 

Vintage card images that hinge to open and reveal...

book pages that were salvaged from an estate.

Freshly harvested vintage trims and some classic jingle bells.

Just a touch of needlework to remind the recipient who crafted them.

Signed and sealed with wrapping paper on the back.

Christmas gifts already finished and headed out into the mail.

Just a taste of the crafting I have been busy working on.

Happy Homemaker Tag Along Ends...

Elizabeth said it would go by quick and that it did.  Twelve dangling tags all in nursery rhyme theme hang above my bulletin board.  They remind me of persistence, friendship, and all the vintage images that inspire my daily work. 

These are my final two installments in the Happy Homemaker tag along.

November finds us warmed over a stove full of holiday food.  Most often a pie or two.  Something my Little Jack Horner knows all about.  

With just a touch of paper left to add detail Jack is mostly on his own.  Vintage buttons and dark violet millinery brighten up the tag top.

There it is...I knew he left his horn somewhere!

December leaves me dreaming if Mother Goose really did spend time with Santa Clause as they are ever so much alike.

I was on the fence about this image.  You see Frosty was such an easy sell but when I found Mother Goose and Santa complete with poinsettia hat pin and goose jingle bell collar I knew it was a must.  

For now I close the lid on my sweet tag box.  Lucky it is full to the brim.

And send it off to its new owner...Miss Betty.  Rather than wallow in the sadness that this project is over I will relish in my accomplishment and wipe the sweat from my brow and run straight for the next one...hmmm...fabric or paper?

Tag you're it...

Twenty paper tags all in a row...phew it was a long week of detailed cuts.  Sometimes I didn't think I would make it through.  Could I really come up with 20 different ideas from a single paper set?  Hmm...I hope they measure up to Miss Elizabeth's wonderful paper precision.

With specific measurements given I had to come up with something to give these tags strength.  I knew these cards would come in handy.  I always pick them up at estate sales.  These are just the right size for this tag swap.

Glitter, holly, vintage images, tiny jingle bells, scallops and pinked edges.

All papers from and images from Pretty Little Studios.

Dimension from pop dots.

Finished at last...

I scanned in a vintage Christmas card of mine and added my tag line for the back.  I cannot wait to see how these all look when they are strung together with others.  

...I have been sent a new paint crew!  It appears that our home might be returned to normalcy by early next week...  See Santa really does listen!

October Happy Homemaker Tag Along

While I am ready for Cardinals brightly sitting in the snow I am thrilled to be knee deep in pumpkin season.   Fall is a favorite season.  A crisp wind.  Rustling in the leaves.  Colors from a crayon box paint the landscape.  Cozy blankets and warm drinks.  Time to bake a pumpkin loaf.  Month after month of holidays.  Good old fashion fun. Thank you ImagiMeri for the sweetest Red Bird image I have ever seen.  

It is nearly the middle of October now and I can see the finish line in this year long craft tag set.  This months nursery rhyme is Peter Pumpkin Eater.   I mixed it up more than usual.  For some reason my images were two different sizes?  One of my tags still need to be labeled so bear with me.  Bright sun of crepe paper rays and green grass of pinked shears.  I couldn't resist the green crepe paper trim.

Button flowers trim the bottom while the chicken feed.  Vintage paper clip tag holder...standard.  On the larger image tag Peter's wife is running away on the back.  On the smaller image tag you can see her running away in the hills on the front of the tag.

The tag line is filling fast and sadly there is no shortage of nursery rhymes for me to choose for next month.  Oh the research I could do online...hours and hours!

September Homemaker Tag Along

These nursery rhyme books from the 30's and 40's are some of my favorite.  I have now collected a stack of them through the years.  Most of them from antique stores for 4 or 5 dollars and some from estate sale when I have been lucky.  They are usually cloth like in feel and the size of a big coloring book.   All of the images are brightly colored even after all these years.  Those cherub faces and fairy like details do me in every time...I think I will be sad when December rolls around and I don't have a reason each month to revisit the pages.

Lucky for me it is only September.  I still have four months to go with these innocent faces and fanciful stories.  This month is no exception Robin Hood to the rescue.  Classic tale of good versus bad, maidens and Kings, castles and villages.  What could be better.

This time I used thread and needles...for the bow string and arrow pack.

It is just a happen-stance that the vintage bingo marker says B-one.

A bulls eye on the back for a classic finish.

When my oldest was just a toddler he would watch this Disney movie in a loop.  He loved Friar Tuck.  Those Disney songs would stick in my head for months at a time on the same loop.

One of the tags have been safely tucked into my tag swap box.  He is right at home with the other months of nursery rhymes.  They are ready to be delivered in December...

...to my dear tag swap partner Miss Betty at She's Sew Pretty.

Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater is my pick for October, but with no orange paper in my preselected lot this is sure to get interesting.... 

August Happy Homemaker Tag

A beloved nursery rhyme played over and over with my kids.  Often remembered from my childhood too.  This is the pick for my August Happy Homemaker Tag.  The above image is from a vintage nursery rhyme book linen like in feel.  I find these often in poor shape but the images remain as bright as the day they were printed.

lil' Laurie 

Purchased a while ago for my birthday month.  This spun head creation via Magpie is making her debut.  I am enamored with her color and obvious message!  She reminds me so much of Miss Laurie (Magpie Ethel) herself.   Gorgeous curls, sunny nature and a forever wish of Happy Day!    

On time per calendar pages.

Every little scrap kept tidy and safe just in case I might need it.  With only four months left I feel far more confident that I have plenty of supplies to last me through.

Window curtain pleated.  Doily lace peeking from below.  Geranium potted to perfection.  Baby safely held.

The vintage birthday candle holders are one of my favorite things to find.  They always add charm and color.  Glitter added in the cup just because I could.

I meant to make the blocks in shapes to mimic gifts.  Not sure if I achieved it but I had these tiny piece all the same.  The baker brought the cake just for me!  Don't even think about counting the candles!  

Can't decide what I like best about these paper tags.  The vintage images I get to revisit and use for display or the wonderful tiny trinkets that I sift through to add the dimension.  Either way it is so much fun to pull all the things together that I hunt for through the months.  

Happy Homemaker Tag Along

Yes it is hot enough to jump in!  I think we are all dealing with the heat.  All week in the 100's here in Kansas.  Not one to normally complain...we are headed out all week to a local baseball tournament for the middle son.  What, you think it might be dangerous to play in this temperature?  You must be an over protective mom.  At least that is what they told me when I called to check their heat policy.  Wish me luck...I might have to jump in after all.

June came and went just like my chosen nursery rhyme, Hickory Dickory Dock.  Sweet little mouse has his glittered tail swirling out the side.  Vintage covered button is the dial to the clock in the middle.  I popped the mouse off the clock with pop dots.  There is an old bingo marker hanging from the ribbon.  Lots and lots of scraps are being used at this point.  

Not much can be used on the backs any longer.  Simple and dated.

July feels like this nursery rhyme to me.  The Old Woman that lived in the shoe.  Does any one else feel like their house is this crazy in July with kids running in and out?  Sweet little image from an old paper doll set.  I made a tiny clothes line at the top because laundry never ends...

Here she is...slaving over a hot pot.  It seemed like the only nice thing to do.  To give her a break and place her on the back.  

These were so much fun to do.  I have missed my paper crafting.   I have two sets of theses.  One for my self and one for my fabulous partner Betty from She's Sew Pretty.  Enjoy your week and for heavens sake stay cool!