Paint 'em Pretty ~ Christmas Time?

Still running crazy mad here per usual ~ non-stop Dr./Specialists appointments, procedures, hydroscans, xrays, ultrasounds, a whole gamut of medical testing being done, (not to mention M's infusions) ~ for 3 weeks straight straight every day it's been sitting in medical offices.

Thank goodness we had a sunshine visit from Izzy.

Not sure what it is about sitting in those lobbies that drain you so much. We can always count on her to bring our spirits back up and smiles in our hearts when we've been dragged through the mud er Drs. How can we not re-energize with that sweet face?

Can't wait until her baby brother gets big enough to stay at Camp Grammy too!

But I digress....

I squeezed in a few minutes over a few days, yes I said a few days! Couldn't get my nails done all in one sitting this time! Did I mention how crazy it's been around here? LOL

I dug up a color I haven't used in years and believe it or not it was still good! Nice and creamy thick. It went on so smoothly I couldn't believe it!

2 coats of Bronzeberry (479A) by Wet 'n' Wild

Then with a toothpick I made The Star of Bethlehem on my accent nail. Yes, it is snowing there also ;) I used Snow Me White by Sinful Colors, topping off with Seche Vite.  

Two more days of Drs. appointments then we're done. 

But then it's Christmas Eve and Christmas ~ 

Good grief ~ yay?

Vintage Christmas Images

Shabby Christmas Candy Cane Gift Toppers/Ornaments

These are similar to the Homespun Candy Canes I made but in a shabby chic style and are perfect for gift toppers :)

I'm up to my eye balls in Christmas wrappings and trying to make them look different from every other year. I had some of these

 plastic candy canes I had picked up at Dollar Tree - 6 for $1- left over and decided to make them shabby.

I began stripping fabric.

I used up some odds and ends pieces of flowery cottage fabric

 that coordinated with my wrapping paper.

I hot glued one end of fabric to the end of the candy cane

and began wrapping it round and round until it was completely covered, being sure to keep the fabric taut. 

When reaching the end, 

hot glue the fabric into place toward bottom.

Trim off the excess fabric,

leaving enough to fold over the ends to finish off 

 with a dab or two of hot glue.

Now the fun part - embellishing!

I raided my beads, broken jewelry, old buttons,

millinery, ribbons, laces, findings, you name it!

Nothing was off limits.

As you can see ;)

I started out making gift toppers and 

decided they would make great little gifts, ornaments,

and simply sweet decorations to even hang around the house! 

Easy, cute and economical!

Can't ask for much more than that :)