Merry Christmas to all our friends

We are so thankful for the

birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.

He is our life, and he 

touches our lives every day!

Merry Christmas

Robin

Christmas in our Home

It is such a joy to be
HOME!

 Each day we are here, I soak in all

of the things that I love, and the world that

surrounds me.

We travel so much that when we are home,

I just want to enjoy every minute 

of the peace that I feel in my home.

This year I made a few changes in our Decorating.

I decided to use book pages as my theme.

So, I must say, I have ripped apart

a few books around here.

Our home is very eclectic.

When we bought it, it was a true fixer upper.

Today, it is very comfy, and

most people when they visit tell us

this is the home they just feel comfortable in,

anyone is welcome.

We will start in the living room.

It is across from the dinning room

our previous post.

The fireplace was already here, made from rocks gathered

from all over the Uintah Basin, where we live.

It is quite rustic.

I love and have collected a few angels over the years,

they are all over the living room.

This sign was in my mothers Christmas boxes

that we went through and shared with brothers and sisters.

The bay window is filled with

a trio of trees

decorated in white, gold, and silver.

Under the trees is our Nativity.

I bought and painted it the 2nd year of our 

marriage, so it is quite special to us.

I still do not have all the pieces, and this

year I will look for someone that 

does ceramics so I can finish the rest of the pieces

for this beautiful set.

On the old phonograph is this vignette.

Stephanie, my sister in law made this

cute trio of angels from old spindles and metal.

They live in the living room all year long.

Next to them is my newest nativity we brought home

from Guatemala.

Here is my jester.

I used to have him out all year long too,

and maybe this year I will not pack him away,

we will see.

His head is from a puppet I played with as a child, 

he lived in our toy box for years and my mom

gave him to me when I had children.

I have always been taken with his happy face.

Many years ago, I took him

and fabric to a special designer,

Nettie's Gnomes in Springville, Utah

to make me a jester.

She had him for years, when I finally called her

and said, I need to have him back, 

he is a special antique from Germany.

She did make him, and gave his head a body.

He is very special in our home. 

Here is another nativity that sits at the hearth of 

our fireplace.  The star above

the nativity, I found at the German Christmas 

markets 2 years ago.

Now we go through the dining room into the kitchen,

really the kitchen and dining room are all 

one big room.

I just love this picture of Mary and baby Jesus.

I had it framed in the frame store years ago that we owned.

It needed lots of mat so the picture really was the 

center of life.

This picture is painted by Simon Dewey.

I love his work, wish I had more.

Just a fun display of trees, and white dishes (my favorite)

This kitchen counter has just a simple display

of White and red, the only red I left in the decorating.

It's because I want to decorate my kitchen in

these colors. The salt and pepper

shakers were my inspiration for this,

Some time I will get this done and share with you.

I love the white board ceramic easel,

it has proven to be more than I had intended it to be,

my Ipad fits on it perfectly,

so I can read recipes from it as I cook.

The pantry door I showed how to paint

in a previous post, 

it is just so fun in this kitchen.

And what I like even better is the organization 

inside, a project we completed

a year ago. It is in a previous post too.

Love my wreath I made, 

book pages just tied in bows

and clear ornaments with ripped pages inside.

Our kitchen window looking out into the yard.

My white orchid is in bloom right now.

Love our greenhouse and the wonderful

things it does for the plants!

the crowns remind me of the

3 Kings who came to

bring gifts to baby Jesus.

I collect crowns now, just a few,

and during the Christmas season,

there are 3 crowns on window sills

through out the house.

Just a few more photos of little

things around the house.

Merry Christmas to you!

Enjoy the season.

Thanks for visiting our home.

Robin

Our Christmas Trees

Merry Christmas!

Over the years I have simplified Christmas,

and our trees are one of 

those things that have become very

fun and fast.

I sprayed the trees with fake snow

after I put the lights on them.

This a trio of trees, 

I decorate them once every

5 or 6 years, leave them decorated

and then wrap them up at the end of each Christmas

season.  Then when next year comes

I just unwrap and put them in our

bay window, already decorated!!!!

So easy and awesome.

Here they are, 

I did redecorate this year,

taking everything to White, Gold, and Natural,

with a touch of book pages.

I always put our Nativity under the tree.

We don't do presents for each other,

so the Savior is the best part of under the tree.

This year I painted the back of the stable

black and made a stencil 

of the saying and painted on the 

back of the stable.

It turned out so fun.

And gives the finishing touch to our

Nativity that I feeling it was missing.

Perfect!

Our ornaments on the tree are angels,

Nativities, and stars.

A few glitter ornaments of course.

I like the angels in the tree

as I feel like they are singing

Joy to the World,

and rejoicing for the birth of

the Savior.

This ornament we found at the 

Christmas markets in Germany a few years ago.

 Some of our ornaments come from around 

the world, where we have visited and 

where we have lived.  Some of the ones

in these pictures are from Ethiopia.

The Yellow baby Jesus was made by my

Aunt who lives in Germany.

Wax ornaments are a precious and

expensive items at the Christmas Markets.

I feel honored to have such a wonderful

ornament from her.

Baby Doe comes from our years in college,

I worked at a store that used her face for all of their

signing, and huge pictures of her

hanging from the ceilings. 

So when they were all being thrown

away, I salvaged them and made her faces

into ornaments.

We also have a large framed picture of her

that I bring out each 

Christmas Season.

Well, our 3 small trees

are tucked neatly in the bay window.

their white lights glisten 

all day and in the evening.

This is our way of celebrating

Joy to the World.

Centering our tree around

Jesus, the reason for the season.

Merry Christmas!

Robin

Christmas Chandelier

Christmas is just so special.

This year for 7 days of December

we had visitors

at our home!

They are gone now, and I am missing

the sounds of children playing,

little finger prints on everything, and

just the joy of having family close.

I just finished more of the ornaments

that we made for out blog hop.

I decided to put them on our 

dining room chandelier.

Here is the dining room.  It is small but cozy.

The dining room chairs have a

bow tied on each one of them with 

tasseled curtain wraps.

I have done this for so long, 

I can't remember how many years ago I started this.

Under the table is a throw rug from Ethiopia,

It is made from sheep hair (no wool there)

woven by hand on large looms.

Rachel brought this home with her when

she came to visit us there.  

I love this rug!

I love to decorate for Christmas,

I have done it for years, and decorating my

chandelier is one of my "things"

I just do.

This year was the change,  I took all the red

out of the decorations and went to

book page, black, white, and green.

First I wrapped the chandelier with a garland,

Then a book page wide ribbon, tying it in spots around

the garland so it would have a swag.

Then I added ornaments.

Glass gold and green ornaments were tied with white

ribbon on the bottom of each light.

Then I added the ornaments I made for the blog hop.

I had to make more ornaments this week to fill the chandelier.

These are some close ups of the ornaments hanging

on the chandelier.

I used:

Glitter Chipboard - gold and silver

Classic Glitter Swirl CS in white (made the medallions from this)

White tear drops

Silver dew drops

Black herringbone CS

Clock CS

Classified Sticker (small clock faces)

old paperback books

On the bottom of each of the bells,

I used a corsage pin and a black crystal 

from Connies Crystals,

one of our blog partners this year.

Each ornament is unique in its own way.

I also added some clock faces to some of them.

I'm really happy how this all turned out.

Our new look for Christmas,

at home with us.

Have a wonderful week.

Have a Very Merry

Christmas Season!

Robin

Deck the Halls

Hello again,

Are you feeling festive?

I am,

and I am loving the season for sure.

This photo is of our grandchildren last year in front

of our Christmas Tree

on Christmas Eve.

We had dinner together, and opened

a few small presents for them.

They are such a cute bunch,

and I decided to share this with you.

I'm just a little partial to them for sure.

Product used:

Christmas Tree Border CS

Cindy Lou Dot CS

Cindy Lou Stripe CS

Cindy Lou Stickers

Red Mini Dew Drops

Green Diamond Drops

All other products from my scrapbook stash.

I'm sure I can hear the music now,

Deck the Halls with boughs of Holly.

I'll be humming it all day.

Have a Great Christmas Season.

Ciao,

Robin

Egypt and Camel Rides

Hello Readers!

2 years ago we were able to stop in Egypt 

on our way back from Ethiopia.

This is another one of those bucket list items 

that I thought would ever happen in my life.

Just to stand in front of the Pyramids and try to fathom

their age, was insurmountable.

This is the first page of my album on our trip to Egypt.

It seems simple, and I intended it to be,

things there are very simple.

I used:

Brown Herringbone CS

Gold Glitter Paisley CS

Bird of Paradise Dew Drops

All other products are from our trip 

and purchased in Egypt.

The little beetle is a ceramic bead.

This is another just simple page.

The biggest feat of all is I am on a Camel!

This is something I'm sure my kids think,

My Mom did that!  

These days, I've done some crazy things on our 

trips, and they are starting to get used to this

non-athletic, reserved person doing some out of the 

ordinary things! 

I used a retired Palm Tree CS Sheet,

a book page distressed, and 

a swirl shape from Want 2 Scrap

This is probably my favorite picture.

It's fun because it is off set.

Probably happened while Dana was turned around

on his camel trying to get me in the photo.

But because it is off set, the sand behind shows,

and it makes the photo.

I used:

Palm Tree CS ( Retired)

Brown Glitter Letter Stickers

Ancient Map CS

Want 2 Scrap Swirl shape

Other products from my scrapbook stash.

Well, tomorrow is Thanksgiving,

We wish you the best from our home to yours

on this wonderful season.

We have so much to be thankful for,

we will be spending time with them this week,

and this week-end, love our kids,

and so happy they are all coming for Thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving to you All.

Ciao,

Robin

Book Pages Ornaments

I have always wanted to make some 

new ornaments for my 

Christmas Tree.

This blog hop challenge gives me the opportunity

to change my tree to this fun

black and white  book page look.

The first ornament I did is a Christmas tree.

I used a rosette die and cut out of Glitter Classic Swirl

card stock with this die,  I then folded it back and forth

glued the edges together

then slipped it over the top of the tree to sit

on the edge of each separate layer on the tree.

This really was easy and fast.

The star on the tree is from Robin's Nest 

Glitter Chipboard Shapes.

I used a book page for the tree trunk.

This ornament is a little more detailed.

I used book pages and mod podge to create the center round 

part of the ornament.  

I also made a rosette out of Glitter Classic Swirl White on White

and placed it on the front of the ornament.

Silver dew drops, white tear drops are 

top and bottom of the ornament.

Star ornament is again book pages

mod podged on the foam star

Glitter Classic Swirl CS White on White Rosette

Silver star and Large clear dew drop with

a Fleur from the Black Glitter Fleur CS.

I made the wreath ornament into a Clock.

I used the Clock CS, book page, Clear and Silver dew drops

Lace.

Flat Star ornament 

I used book page mod podged on with

silver mod podge painted over it

White Glitter Classic Swirl CS Rosette

Silver Chipboard on top of that

And Clock Sticker from the Classified Sticker sheet

Here they all are, 

ready to hand on my Christmas Tree.

Merry Christmas to all

Robin

Little Girls Dress up Day

This summer we spent some time taking

photos of all the grand children.

This group of layouts are from our first photo

shoot.  I probably will have other layouts

of the girls on other posts.

These photos made me feel like I might have an 

eye to see the best with the

kids I'm taking photos of.  This was so

much fun, and the girls had a blast as well.

We pulled out all sorts of fun clothes, jewelry, 

luggage, hats, gloves, and whatever I could think of 

that little girls like.

Spending time dressing up was the best part to watch,

as the girls would choose an outfit, then gloves, pearls,

and hats.  They of course each had a pair of sunglasses

thanks to Aunt Rachel.  They were

put to good use, and the girls almost never took them off.

Reminded me of Jackie Kennedy.

This is Becca Ann, the oldest of Jake and Britney's girls.

In this layout I used from The Robin's Nest::

Black Herringbone Cardstock

Brown Cardstock

Brown Dew drops

Clear Large dew drops

Partnering Companies Products:

Gold Glow Smooch Spritz, Clear Snap

Chipboard shapes - Gina's Designs

 Aliyah wanted this pink luggage in every

picture nearly we took.  She loved it!

Again, the sunglasses are apart of the choices she 

made in her dress up clothes.

We also had a little tea party before we 

started changing all the clothes.

It was so fun to see how cute they were

dressing up, changing this, trading with sisters,

just simply enjoying life.

Robin's Nest products used:

Glitter Celebration Swirl Cardstock (pink background, and swirl)

Glitter Girl Swirl Cardstock

Pink Glitter Leopard

Glitter Discovery Girl

Pink floral Vellum

Pink Glitter Chipboard

Black, Silver, and Clear Dew drops

Partnering Companies Products:

Chipboard Shapes - Gina's Designs

Border Punch - Tonic Studios

Kaydence is the youngest of the 3 girls.

Her pictures look like they came from a magazine.

For some reason, her dress flowed just perfect.

Again, the sunglasses, so important,

gloves, and a round suitcase.  Such a great photo.

Robin's Nest Products used on this page:

Glitter Silver Castles Card stock

Glitter Black Daisy Paper

Black Herringbone Card stock

Time Rub on

Red Cardstock

Red Glitter Letters

Partnering Companies Products:

Chipboard Shapes - Gina's Designs

Connie's Crystals

Not a partner but a wonderful gift to us, 

Made with Love - Washi tape 

Other products in these layouts are from my scrapbook stash.

I have had fun sharing with you these cute little girls,

some of photos from the photo shoot,

and I think I am getting a little better with the

camera!  These turned out so cute.

Until next week!

Ciao,

Robin

Lets Go! Fall!

It's Fall!!!!

Let's do Fall!

We have just come home from 6 weeks away.

4 of those weeks were in Mexico on a short mission.

We teach Self-Reliance, and help 

people learn how to become more Self-Reliant.

It has been so fun to come home to fall.

Each year, there is something new about fall that I love.

This year is the crisp cool air.

I walk outside and smell the coolness,

the freshness of the air.

I worked on a few projects to share with you.

First is a pumpkin patch.

Don't we all love a pumpkin patch, to walk through

it and select the perfect pumpkin?

Rachel and Us all grew our own pumpkins this year,

and admittedly, there are quite a few in our

patch, so they were spread around the flower pots

and window boxes.  

I love doing this, filling my window boxes with something

different in the spring, summer, fall, and winter.

But for you, I made a mini pumpkin patch for my window.

This pumpkin patch is made on black cardstock

Glitter die cut pumpkins, brown cardstock, Ocher glitter dot,

and raffia for the leaves.

Just a cute sign Pumpkins for $1.00

completes the cute picture for my fall window.

Really, simple and easy, but yet

you really feel fall.

I love the texture of the raffia for the green

and dried stem on the pumpkins.

I'm loving the feel of fall so much.

I also made a stand up picture page 

on 2 8x8 pieces of canvas, 

they are put together with hinges between the 2 canvas'.

I used 3 actual photos from my extra photo stash.

One is the border on the right side.

I also used 

Honeycomb Fleur Linen Cardstock

for the background,

Yarn tied around the bottom of the left side,

and a few crystal leaves.

I think I will add some dew drops, 

and maybe some large leaves as well.

But for now, this will do in my kitchen.

Have a wonderful fall!!

Hope you love it as much as I do!

Hugs,    Robin

Fall Home Tour 2013

 Welcome to our Home.

Fall is simply my favorite season of the year!

This year we have spent most of the fall in Mexico, then

we were off to Hilton Head, South Carolina for a week, 

home for 4 days, 

then to Albuquerque, New Mexico for 3 days.

I did all of this decorating in one day, 

since home was so far away!

We are in Tooele, Utah right now 

waiting for a part for the truck, and then home.

Have been here for 3 days now.

I wonder if I will be home soon!  Hope that part comes today!

I am so ready to be home again.

We grew our own pumpkins this year, 

It really was fun, as we ended up with lots of

pumpkins and I was able to use them in the window boxes

and the planters around the front yard.

The flag with the yellow ribbon is for our son who at the time

of the photo, was in Afghanistan, he just returned home on Monday!

We have 3 sons in the Army,

this is our 6th tour for our 3 sons combined.

They all have returned home safely!

Each season I put new things in the house planter boxes.

I found these lemon scented herb trees in the spring,

but have saved them in the green house for this fall.

I wanted to add other winter squash to the window boxes,

but alas, there wasn't enough of me before we left for 

Mexico, so only kale and mums were added.

Our front door wreath is old from many years ago.

This year I just added the feathers, which 

look a bit wild!

I need a little more orange in it for sure.

This is our back door, coming into the house from 

the driveway.  The leaves are falling and it looks so

beautiful, I stacked some of the pumpkins, as we just have

so many of them!

Here is the side of our house

each planter stacked with pumpkins.

These large dark orange pumpkins are 

princess pumpkins planted from seeds we saved 

from last year.

As you come in our back door, it opens in to our family room.

I took off the American Flag covers from the pillows.

They lasted a long time, I was sad to say good bye to them.

We have a wonderful wood stove that Dana hand built 

in the early years of our marriage.  In this home

he has built a European looking fireplace top and mantle

that I absolutely love.

Here I have placed 3 white pots and added white 

pumpkins to them.  These pots have come from the many

cupboards of beautiful things from my mother

who passed away this year.

On the table is a bowl of glass colored pumpkins.

And on top of the wood stove is a watercolor painting of fall

trees I did many years ago.  It is one of my

favorite things to bring out in the fall.

The bathroom off the family room, which I just painted this

ochre yellow, sports a fall towel and potato soaps.

Again another find from my mom's cupboards is this pumpkin

I'm sure she bought at Hallmark when I was a child.

It brings comfort time to me when I see it.

Welcome to our Kitchen.

There is a big island in the kitchen

and each season I change the place settings.

For years I have had these felt leaf place mats.

I layered them with 2 plates, a fall 

cloth napkin, a mini felt leaf, with a hand made goblet,

 and more white pumpkins.

I love how this feels,

I also love to bring out the big turkey.

He is just a classic for the season.

My mother had a Annalise mouse years ago, I'm not sure

what ever happened to her, but years ago when

we had our retail store, I brought these Annalise 

characters in, and I simple could not resist 

bringing home these pilgrims.

Years ago, I cross stitched the 

"Over the River and through the woods",

our son framed it for me while we 

still had the store.

I made this canvas picture, 

that is sitting on the counter with Scrapbook paper

and old photos I have taken from my photo stash.

I love the feel of this canvas,

and it doesn't take up much room.

Last but certainly not least,

is the new painted pantry door.

I did this in August, and have a post on the 

how-to of the painting process.

I love this door in the Kitchen, it has brought 

the character to my kitchen that I was needing,

and the first change to the kitchen

that I want to make over the next year.

My 3 canisters are full of flour, hot cocoa mix,

and nutritional yeast.  Love them

close to the island where I cook.

Happy Fall to all of you!

From our home to yours,

Have a great fall season.

Robin