Cock-a-Doodle Doo! and Hoo La La!

Hello, today's card is called a Triple Circle Swinging Z-fold card from The Paper Cut,  www.thepapercut.com.  You can see the name came from the Z shape made by the extra panel and mountain and valley folds.

I made this adorable card as a "make and take" during the Stampaway rubber stamp show last August in Cincinnati at the Endless Creations booth.  The owls and sayings are the Clara owl mini and the Fun Owl Cube.

Cock-a-doodle-doo is made with the gorgeous Graphic 45 French Country paper and punched with circle and scallop circle punches in many layers.  This card went together quickly and was  a lot of fun to make!

The Secret Garden Tri-Shutter Card

I don't know when I have enjoyed making a card as much as this one.  The tri-shutter Bigz XL die from Sizzix made this complex idea into a snap of a card to make.  However, it took me awhile to realize how easy that it could be.  The first thing that I took note of about this type of card is that it gives you space to use all of that coordinating cardstock and paper that we all have so much of.  I didn't use many layers on this one, but it is a great layout to layer with many different types of patterned and coordinating paper.  I learned quickly that the trick to this layout is to cut a die cut for each coordinating paper and then trim the small pieces down to layer them.  This was much better than measuring.

I started with a basic coral color cardstock.

Then chose images from the Graphic 45 Secret Garden pack.  This is a beautiful paper set.  I love the lilac and corals together, but ended up using the coral with blue.

 I remembered some K&Company embellishments that had similar colors.

IT WAS A COLD WINTER'S NIGHT...

 With snowfall predicted many were cancelling their travel arrangements. Santa had found the perfect gift idea  for Mrs. Claus.  However, there only a few of these special toys were made and production was not up to expectations in the workshop.  The local store had them on back order and who new when the next batch would be ready.  So, Santa hitched up the reindeer and made his sleigh ready for a treacherous 2 hour round trip south to Chillicothe.   right in the path of the expected snow. The elves had delivered an earlier shipment of only three of this special item to the settlement of Chillicothe and this night, just one remained.  It was a 120 mile trip, but Santa was up for it.  He made the trip safe and sound with Christmas presents in tow.

Mrs. Claus beamed with excitement to open this hard won gift.  "And to what did" her "wondering eyes appear?" 
 But a brother Scan N Cut prize so dear!  
Her "eyes how they twinkled so merry!"

Santa could see in a flash, 

That despite Jack Frost's winter dash,

she was brimming with pleasure,

 And there was spring in her heart,

 as she crafted with her new treasure.  
Thank you, Santa !!!!

Add caption

Copic colors of spring, in winter!

Rubber Stamp is by Penny Black, called Tom and Tilly, Stampscapes scenic stamps were used for the background.

Sentiment is red rubber unknown.

Christmas has changed.

  I know that the reason that we celebrate is still the same,
I know that God is still the same, yesterday, today and forever.
 
But for me, now, it is different. 

 The past 58 years of my life, I spent Christmas with my parents.  We may have been at home, or at somene else's home, but we were always together for Christmas, for 57 years.  This year it is different as my father is now celebrating Christmas in  a different home, his heavenly home. 

 While I am sure that Christmas is a very different celebration in heaven, I am consoled when I think about my father gathering with family that he has missed for almost 90 years.  His grandmother passed away the year he was born when he was only a few months old.   She lived in the mountains and my grandparents had walked from their home many miles to visit her.  Toward the evening they were leaving to walk home with their newborn and she was concerned about whether they had wrapped him warmly enough for the journey.  She has waited a long time to see him again.  

He had not seen his mother since he was about 17 years old.

 I know that all these years he missed her very much.  

Not anymore.

Yesterday, I'm sure they had a very nice Christmas together.  

So, maybe it isn't so different after all, 

he is just celebrating at someone else's house.  Someone that we will know and love very much someday.

Until then, we will continue to gather as a family and celebrate in the way that we know how.

  

We will make new traditions to celebrate this 2000 year old truth of Jesus birth. 

We will cling together with the love that Christ taught and spend many precious hours loving our family.