A Greeting of Joy!

I hope your Thanksgiving was full of Joy and Gratitude! There was so much to be Thankful for this year. A loving family, having a job, and doing what you love. Everyday I am trying to write down what I am thankful for. I think if was the Great Oprah that said something like, if you write it down it will come true. So, I am writing my hopes, dreams, and my wishes in my Gratitude journal. I will show it to you soon.

Here are a few cards I created from the Fall Harvest paper line. I love the rich colors of Fall and the warmth of the season. I am ready to welcome in the holidays. The snow really puts me in the mood. This is the first year in probably 10 that I don't have my tree up yet. I don't really know what is stopping me. I just can't seem to do it. I have a million excuses. I am hoping this week will bring me to put the tree up for the kiddos and decorate my home. I hope you are well on your way to creating some holiday magic of your own in your home.

Happy Thankgiving and Season Greetings!

The Night Before Thanksgiving...

All through the house not a creature was

stirring, because they

went to the

movies to see Twilight! I am scared of

vampires...I would

have
nightmares for

weeks.

Mom and I finished preparing the bird and the sides. My house needs a good clean before guest arrive.

But before I started, I want to share my little recipe book. Take a peak...

It is made with a K and Company kit. It has an easel base, so it stands up on it's own. My recipe cards slide into a clear sleeves. It has room for all my Thanksgiving recipes and photos too. It comes with some embellishments. I find it is so hard to find Thanksgiving decor. We skip from Halloween right to Christmas. I love the harvest look and the warmth it brings to my home.

Happy Thanksgiving and enjoy your family. Kara

A Few Thanksgiving Ideas....

I wanted to take a Bella Break so I could share a few Thanksgiving ideas...

This glittery garland is put together in a snap! I wove it into a piece of Fall greenery and hung it on my fireplace. You can see the little dog bed by the fire place. Coco prefers the couch. She is such a mess.

This darling hanger was created by Kelly Keller. I have mine hanging on the mirror when you walk into our home. It was made with Fall Harvest scrapbooking supplies.

Here is another Kelly Keller idea. A Fall paper wreath. Here is my version of it...

I think this is a must for those hosting Thanksgiving at their home. It is a party in a pad. It includes: place mates, treat boxes, a centerpiece, napkin rings, wine glass charms, and table decorations. It even has conversation starters in it.

These are the wine charms I made from it....

And here are a few napkin rings....

Time to decorate...Thanksgiving is here!

Kara

*Sally Jean the Soldering Queen*

Everything about "Sally Jean" the soldering queen is wonderful http://www.sallyjean.com/2008Website/AZ/Collection.html including her darling apron and little felt purse. She is a total package in my book....talented, smart, and an artist. The 3 classes I took from her were some of the best classes I have ever taken. I started with her Soldering 101 class. As many of you know, I have been soldering for 5 years but Sally Jean is the best. Her techniques show you how to make your charms smooth as butter. She teaches you angles, and soldering iron techniques. They made a world of difference in my charm making. In the 101 Class we created 3 charms and was given a necklace to put them on. Sally also included images for placing under the glass. A highlight of my class was learning a neat trick for adding on a jump ring. I like to call it the magic trick. It was magic how that jump ring hopped right on the charm. Oooh-the light bulb is glowing in my head.

If you don't have this book, I strongly recommend it. So many brilliant ideas. I want to frame mine...look-y an autograph. Sigh!

My first attempt with all the new techniques in my little brain....

Class 2-

The Partridge in a Pear tree

The class that almost killed me. Sally provided us with hand-cut glass and tin. Both were cut into a bird shape. She taught us how to collage like she does to create those amazing background that you see on her charms. WOW! It was so easy. Now the bird part-not so easy. I really thought this bird was going to peak me. The jagged tin and glass combination kept tearing my copper foil. I seriously wrapped it 7 times. Ali finally came to classes at the end and re wrapped the bird. I thought I was losing my mind. I probably was. The birds feet are tree branches wrapped in wire. Another amazing Sally Jean original. Lucky me.

Class 3

A Snow globe

This amazing charm was cut from a bottle. We wrapped and wrapped and soldered and soldered. We filled the bottle with pearls and charms. The doll is a Charlotte doll from Germany. That alone was worth the class. The old abandoned doll factories in Germany have hundreds of dolls buried on the grounds from 1860's - 1910. Today there are people who are now digging them up, as they have become very collectible and are getting harder and harder to find. The Frozen Charlotte's come from the Limbach doll factory. Sandy and I decided to put a crown on her of solder and a little word on her tummy before sealing the snow globe. I attached the snow globe to an old clip-on earring and then to a pearl necklace that I have had for awhile. I believe it came from Forever 21. Sally Jean also taught us how to make those cool soldering pearls to place on the outside of the snow globe. I have forever wanted to know how to do that. Every second in the class was amazing and now I have new jewelry to wear.

A Group Workshop

Feast your eyes on this goodie bag...sigh! So much yummy spilling out of it. Can you believe it was waiting for all of the Silverbella girls before the group workshop? I shared my table with Ali, Lynette, Shelia, Rachel, Merry, and Tracey. The evening couldn't of been more perfect. We ate, laughed, and create our class project. At the end of the night we exchanged our swaps. It made Silverbella start with a WOW! I just couldn't believe I was actually there. In the morning, I knew I was taking a class with Sally Jean...the soldering queen. I was too excited to sleep!

Here is our class project. It was created and taught by the Famous McFabulous Teresa McFayden. The Queen of Silverbella herself. http://www.teresamcfayden.typepad.com/This is her finished project below. It is a holiday ornament called

Stamp, meet Stitch.

Here is mine. I am not much of a hand-stitch-er but I did okay. My biggest problem was seeing the hole in the darn needle. I had my miracle reader glasses on, but with out good light....you know how ballrooms in hotels are? I couldn't see a thing. It took me 20 tries to thread the darn needle. Yes, I am still bitter about that, but I love my project and will hang it year round in my "new" studio.