Christmas in July - "Cream Trim"

This year we're celebrating Christmas in July with 50% off all our Christmas imagery. The thought was to pass on some nice savings for our customers who like to get a jump start on their holiday supplies and crafts.

So a special thanks goes out to Gail of Rocky Springs Vintage for including our "Country Christmas" banner in her delightful new Etsy Treasury "Cream Trim" featuring Christmas in July listings!

Enjoy~

More Cookies With a Little Helper

My oldest son was in town with his family visiting over the holiday this week. We enjoyed a modest Christmas filled with good food and company.  With the absence of my granddaughter it happened to find a new helper, my grandson. 

 

  

Not even 2yrs yet, he's already pretty handy with cookie cutter and especially liked collecting them. 

 

It seems more of the flour found it's way onto his shirt than the counter...

 

and the end result were some pretty darling treats...  

 

~ most delicious of all, him...

I hope you're having a wonderful week and enjoying your own precious moments!

Best~

Holiday Gifts - the cookie project

I've been busying myself with crafting an assortment of holiday gifts this year. It's been an especially tight one for my wallet which might mean cutting back on quantity but fortunately not quality.  This year a selection of family and friends will be receiving white boxes filled with homemade cookies.

I mentioned my cookie project a few weeks back and have since added this wonderful holiday magazine, A Taste of Home Best Loved Cookies & Candies, to my recipe repertoire.  It's been a super resource as I've worked my way through their extensive collection of tasty treats. My personal favs are the Chocolate-Tipped Butter Cookies (shown below), if you close your eyes they taste just like Milano cookies, minus the nuts, yummm!

The boxes I mentioned are now jam-packed with tasty treats and soon to be on their way.  I chose to do several layers of different cookies within each box and placed wax paper between the layers, adding in a few miniature Vanilla Butter Cookies with green and red icing for a colorful surprise.  I lined the boxes with a vinage-y printed tissue paper and finished them off with this printed announcement on the top.

Here is the actual announcement image which you're welcome to click on and save to use in your own holiday treat packs.

I have to admit I almost felt like Martha Stewart which made me laugh but in truth I'm so happy with how everything turned out.  It's amazing how a little extra work can enable us to make such a lovely and personal gift.  I think that's the best part about handmade ~ there's so much added "soul" put into everything we create. That's the fun part about sharing with other crafter/artists too, we understand what's behind the creation and appreciate it even more.

Best,

New Trinkets & Happy Holidays Sale!

I just finished creating a new selection of my handmade key holders and I absolutely love how they came out!  That shimmering beauty in the bottom right corner already sold...

That's because I'm holding my Happy Holidays Sale with 30% off everything in my Etsy shop!! It's a great time to save BiG on all sorts of goodies ~ from a new blog look to custom print images, like business cards and event banners, or one of my fabulous handmade treasures. 
You can even save on gift certificates! 

So just stop by my Etsy shop at  www.PlumroseLane.etsy.com and pick up some gorgeous goodies (even if it's a treat for yourself ~ you know you deserve it!) and best of all they'll still arrive in time for Christmas!

Enjoy~

New Seasonal Themes

There must be a good 25 themes roaming around my brain at any given time.  It's not that I don't want to set them free, it simply boils down to a lack of time.  So you can imagine the resounding cheers from my muses as I've finally created some new themes ~ what a delight to finally set a few free. Themes that is, not faeries.  And it's just in time for holidays too which is great since I can't remember the last time I created a new prefab holiday theme!?!

So here's the new assortment of seasonal goodies, just in time to spruce up your blog...

Glitter and Ice

Country Christmas

Blitzin'

 

...and hopefully I'll have a chance to set a few more free in the very near future, we have to beat Santa's sleigh now! To view the individual themes simply click on the images or titles above.

Enjoy~

Thanksgiving Weekend and a Gun

I planned on getting a posting or two up earlier in the week but the days just flew by in a blur of catch-up work. The kids wound up staying through the weekend and we had such a wonderful time just being together.  We baked and ate and painted and played ~ it was wonderful.

One of the ways we passed our time was by admiring my oldest son's newest talent ~ tattooing.  I've always appreciated his innate artistic abilities.  From sculpting to costume making his imagination is inspiring and endless, but I honestly had no idea he would be that good with a tattoo gun.

He only just began tattooing a few weeks ago when we gifted him a tattoo gun and supplies for his 25th birthday.  Here is one of the first tattoos he did...

  ...yes, I did say one of the first.

I have to admit I've never thought of getting a tattoo myself ~ I'm not sure if it's my debutant up-bringing or my loathing of needles, but it's just never interested me.

 

I would however do just about anything for my sons and so with the repeating "Oh common mom" I found myself with a tiny lavender star permanently affixed to my hand.

To gain practice my son has even been tattooing himself.  Being someone who can cut my own hair I don't question the ability quite as much as some but still admire the skill it takes, especially knowing that these little things really do hurt.

He does a wonderful job with that as well but there are those few times when an extra set of hands can help a bit...

I think I'll stick to a paintbrush and a mouse but it was fun to try.

I have to admit that although our holiday activities are a bit unconventional at times, I'm happy we live outside of the standard family clichés...

and I simply can't wait to see what Christmas holds in store ~ *smile*

Best~

Thanksgiving

Through out the year I have the immense pleasure of being gifted with the beautiful imagery of a Jacuqie Lawson card from caring friends.  I love them for a multitude of reasons ~ from being selected to receive one as a gift, to the beautiful animated imagery I aspire to create one day as a graphic artist.  They truly make the holidays bright!

 Jacquie Lawson image ~ copyright Jacquie Lawson

This Thanksgiving my oldest son and his wife are coming out to visit with three little ones in tow.  I remember those days and it's hard to believe I'm now on the visiting end of that circle of life.  It's a role I welcome with open arms though. I get go hug my children, meet my youngest granddaughter, see how much my grandson has grown, and bake cookies with my big-girl granddaughter.
 
I'm sure our days will be filled with lots of chatter, laughter, and not enough sleep ~ sounds like the perfect holiday weekend to me. So while the crowds are out in droves hitting the stores (or perhaps each other) we'll be celebrating the old fashioned way ~ with warmth, family, and love.

Here's wishing you all the same and so much more!

Best~

Holiday Samplings

With the holidays quickly approaching, now's a great time to spruce up your blog or shop with a Plumrose Lane seasonal theme.  Whether it's a warm and cozy look like Blissful Harvest or one with festive sparkles like Glistening ~ there's a holiday theme for everyone. 

The faeries and I have been busy updating these themes with new background codes in three sizes, enhanced versions of the original theme elements like those shown below from Golden Moments, and an updated selection of sidebar tags to include new titles like ~ Labels, My Pinterest, and Wish List.

Best of all there's a sale going on in my Etsy shop ~ now through Wednesday ~ so you can save big with 25% off everything!  Just enter coupon code: GobblerSale during checkout.

Enjoy~

Last Minute ~

Have you got all your last minute shopping done? Truth be told... I've barely started mine but it's just one of those years. I'm sure you're all much further ahead than me though and so now's the time to pick up a few last minute gifts or drop a few hints for yourself!

Gift certificates are now available in my Etsy shop and they make the perfect last minute gift!

Whether you're looking for a special gift for a friend or family member you've longed to join us in blogland or you're wishing for a personal treat for yourself. So grab some last minute cheer and hop on over to my shop!

Enjoy~

Some Fun ~ a Holiday Giveaway

I know the mood has been a bit gloomy around here lately... and I just couldn't be more appreciative of all your love and support ~ so I thought it might be nice to give a little back and have some fun at the same time!

Since I didn't get a chance to post a monthly giveaway and you're all so wonderful that I wish I could gift each and everyone one of you, I've decided to hold one fabulous giveaway with a selection of several lovely prizes ~ just in time for the holidays too! So here are the details, there are loads of ways to enter and win but first the prizes...

~The Prizes~

First Prize - Bracelet~
Some of you may not know this but long before I dabbled in Graphic Design I was a published Jewelry Artist. You could find my colorful handmade bracelets and key holders in jewelry stores, boutiques, and I loved participating in the art show circuit during the warm summer months as well. While time doesn't permit much playtime these days I still enjoy creating with lovely artisan lampwork beads and winding wire when time allows. And so one lucky winner will receive this one-of-a-kind wire wrapped bracelet...

Second Prize - Scarf ~
Next up we have one of my original woven fiber-wear scarves. My hands are seldom at rest but sometimes my mind likes to take a break from the computer and so when I'm relaxing I can often be found weaving one of these colorful delights...

They're luxuriously soft and super warm and one lucky winner will have their choice of any one they like from my Etsy shop.

Third Prize - Keyholder~
The next prize is one of my original wire wrapped key holders...

These key holders are incredibly whimsical and fun to use either as a keychain with a handy spring hook for hanging on your purse or if you're really hard on your keys they make beautiful sun catchers by hanging in your window and come with an alternative suction cup. One lucky winner will receive this prize.

Forth Prize - Gift Certificate~
Next up is a $20 gift certificate good toward the purchase of anything in my shop ~ yep, you can use it on digital images, some fabulous custom business tools, or toward some of my new trinkets and treasures ~ whatever you like! One lucky winner will receive this prize...

Fifth Prize - Digital Holiday Pack~
Lastly we have a selection of seasonal goodies which include three lovely vintage label sheets in red, green, and blue along with a set of my holiday bookmark/tags...

These all work so beautifully for seasonal gift giving and craft making and add that elegant personal handmade touch. One lucky winner will receive this prize.

So let's see... that's a total of 5 prizes ~ pretty sweet! Now let's move on to you enter...

~To Enter~

The first step is a must so I know that you've entered and every other step is to gain more entries if you'd like so enter as much or as little as you'd like, the choice is yours.

❀Be a Follower of this blog and leave a comment on this posting if you want to be entered for a chance to win. (Be sure to include your blog address or email so I can contact you if you win.)

❀Follow my Facebook page for an additional entry and leave another comment.

❀Follow my Twitter page for an additional entry and leave another comment.

❀Favorite my Etsy shop for an additional entry and leave a another comment.

❀Post the little badge below on your own blog for an additional entry and leave a comment. (And let's be fair... the badge needs to be posted on an active blog and towards the top of your sidebar)

<center><a href="http://www.PlumroseLane.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="PrL Holiday Giveaway" src="http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy344/plumrose-lane/Badges/PrL-Holiday_Giveaway-1.png" /></a></center>

Just copy and paste the code above onto your own sidebar and if you need help, click here to view a a simple tutorial to install the code.

❀And here's the last step with some real fun... For every person you refer to this giveaway, I'll give you an extra entry yourself ~ just be sure they leave your name in their comment here ~ that's a must! So if you blog about the giveaway and 10 people enter and leave your name, you'll get 10 more entries without having to leave any more comments! Whoot!

~Other Info~

The giveaway will run from today through Sunday, December 11th, so all the prizes have time to arrive for the holidays. The winners will be selected by a random number generator and I'll post the giveaway winner names in a follow up posting, about a day or two after the giveaway ends to allow me time to tally up all the entries. All winners will be notified immediately and must respond within a five days of the announcement post or a new winner will be selected in their place. Prizes will be awarded in order as they appear.

So... that's it~ 5 fabulous prizes, loads of ways to enter and win! I hope we all have tons of fun with this and you spread the word too, but most of all I hope you know how much you're loved and appreciated! Good luck everyone!

Enjoy~

Seasonal & Festive Themes ~ spotlight

With a change in season or an approaching festive event it's always a great time to switch out your blog theme for something fresh and fun! So here's a little spotlight on some of my existing blog themes where you're sure to find something that fits your mood.

In honor of today's festivities and in case you're planning a gala nuptials event of your own there's~

Cherish

Whether you're an expecting Mom or a seasoned pro, celebrating the approaching US Mother's Day is whimsical and enchanting with~

Bundle of Joy

or

Tattered Garden

And it's never too late to jump into the joys of celebrating Spring with~

Whispers of Spring

Vintage Spring

Le Jardin

and

Sunshine Garden

Of course there are loads of other themes from my repertoire that fall into these categories as well, and you can always find them residing under Complete Themes or the Special Occasion Themes sections.

And if you're in the mood for something simple there are loads of freebie backgrounds to be found in the Just Backgrounds section, like this charming Songbird background~

I always working on adding more selections to my selection of blog themes so be sure to check back for more festive fun in the near future and as always...

Enjoy~