Free Journal Page & Christmas Journal Prompt "Simply Sunday"

Since everybody is so busy & Christmas is so close I thought I create a  journal page and share it with you so you could journal any holiday thoughts, thoughts of what you would like to have enter your life in the new year, maybe a list of things to finish left over from this year, goals & aspirations~ Or even your Santa list! What ever you journal with the prompt above or other I hope you enjoy the page~You may also share it with others if you wish!

I will be taking the last few weeks of December off to spend time with Sammie who will be on holiday break & to go see family over Christmas until the New Year. It is so important to spend time with family, renewing spirits & sharing the joys of today along with the memories of yesterday~

I want to thank all of you for being readers of my blog, cheerleaders for the arts, sharing your thoughts via comments and watching my journey as an artist~ I couldn't have better blogging friends who are as dear to me as the family that surrounds me. I want to wish you & your families the Happiest of Holidays & a wonderful New Year!  Brightest Blessings to you all~ See you in 2011 to ring in the New Year! Until then, All my best! Theresa





Link to journal page (print out 8 1/2 x 11) - http://www.box.net/shared/bc3jme11z3
*if you share this on your blog just link back to mine~Thanks

Santa Claus Illustrations & Paintings & Coca Cola s Classic Santa

 Mixed Media Painting of Santa I did 2009

 Gift tags I made in 2009 with Vintage Classic Santa

 Vintage Santa Claus done by me 2010

I was so inspired when I happened across this free issue of Illustration Pages 10-13 are with classic Santa s that I love! I was actually looking for more Christmas cookie recipes for my craft blog and when I found this I had to share. Not only for the Santa images but all the illustrators in this publication and information.~ I know you might only glance at it now but it will be nice to look at again.

I also love the coke illustrations. They are some what dear to me as my grandfather worked for Coca Cola bottling co. and when I was growing up would always bring us the Classic Coke in the bottle. He even gave us miniature real glass coke bottles. I think I only have two left & they are empty. I remember they even had Coke in them and we drank it. lol

On CNN recently I saw part of a special about Coca Cola and the company's history. Well they have warehouse full of memorabilia. It would be fascinating to see it in person. They had the posters with Santa Claus and other illustrations,  they keep the posters in big drawers. Well any way I hope you enjoy these images and I look forward to painting another Santa at some point in a more classic rather than vintage style.

Do you enjoy painting holiday images?

Click on the publication to enlarge and view & flip through~

Open publication - Free publishing - More sundblom

This is an image of a vintage perfume bottle with the two Coca Cola bottles I mention~ So you can see how little they are! 

I came across this Santa Book with images from vintage postcards. Vicki Howard an artist collected her grandparents postcards  and created this book. This is now on my list of books to add to our Christmas books. I love reading stories on Christmas Eve with wonderful images ~

*PS. if you are looking for some great cookie recipes visit my craft blog! Lots of baking goodness this week~ 





Just like the poster! No wonder Santa's so jolly! Nothing like a  Coca Cola soda pick me up~

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town "Book Discount"

Grab your discount before its over!

Santa Claus is coming to Town with a discount for you! Well you know how I participated in the Chronicle Books Contest on my other blog well I didn't win but, Chronicle Books sent me this great discount to share with my readers! So for all you Santa s out there you might want to add a little jingle into your step with some extra cash in your pocket with this little savings! Don't forget to use the code HAULIDAYS at the checkout! Well more from Santa later~ Hope you have a wonderful day!
Do you have all your stocking stuffers yet? I sure don't! This Santa better get hopping!

Christmas Is Coming & Simply Sunday Journal Prompt

Twelve days before Christmas! Are you starting to rush around yet? ( or ) Are you one of those people that have it all together for months? Well this week I decided not only to give you a journal prompt but some helpful links for some holiday goodies such as gift tags &  DYI projects to add that creative touch to your packages.Yes, today all foggy & cold here and I will be inside wrapping some gifts to mail out to family. Trying to get on track with the incoming holiday and end of the year~ Where has this year gone?
Print ready gift tags & felt tutorial~ 

Gift Tags via Going Home To Roost

Gift Tags via Creature Comforts designed by Camilla Engman  (kids would love these)

Felt Ginger Cookie Ornaments via Creature Comforts (great for package toppers too!) 

Faux Sugar Cookie Ornaments via Creature Comforts

Gift Tags designed by Georgianna Lane  (  This Link Expires12/31! but, these are my favorite & from one of my favorite blogs to visit! )


Now for your Journal Prompt : make a little holiday page. It can be fun, whimsical  page with holiday colors, ribbons, papers or even illustrative. Do a page with all the childlike qualities of Christmas that you love! You might like to list some of your favorite parts of the holiday season that you love or have enjoyed when you were a child. Whether it be decorating the tree, making handmade ornaments wrapping gifts, baking cookies with the kids or visiting family~ A few of my favorites are baking holiday cookies, making ornaments & of course looking at the beautiful tree all lit up for the holidays.
What was your favorite Christmas memory as a child ? What is your favorite thing about Christmas now?

Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time. Laura Ingalls Wilder

Here is  holiday idea book that I am swooning over! Do you have a favorite?

Acrylic Painting & Pastels on Paper "Her Aura Was Blue"

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Happy Friday to you! Yes finally some art to share. I was completely feeling out of sorts yesterday. My heart kept tugging at me! Something was missing~An uneasiness that it had been since prior to Thanksgiving since I had painted. Really? Yes that long! So I sat down to do some sketching in a small book, then I took a likeness to the girl who was becoming and decided to do her larger. At first a sketch but those heart strings were pulling me to paint! So that I did adding paint, pastels, water color pencil, colors and  layers acrylics. Yes I even ripped my paper but I didn't stop. I almost felt like her tare was right where a tear would be so I keep going and named this Her Aura Was Blue. Today I am easier with myself knowing my brushes are waiting for me to return no matter how long it is, I hope to get in some more painting this weekend. What about you?

The meaning of a blue aura is spiritual, but in the negative it is melancholy or blue. But generally a blue aura is meant to be positive.
Art is only a way of expressing pain. ~John Lennon 

The French General

French General: Treasured Notions

This is one of the books that I have on the list from the Chronicle Books Giveaway! I just love the books by The French General! Swoon~ well don't forget to enter *here
What books have you been wishing for?

Happy Haul-idays

Hi everyone! I came across this celebration from Chronicle Books and posted about the $500. value book giveaway! Pop over and all you have to do is comment & cross your fingers for Chronicle Books to pick us as winners. So hop on over to my craft blog & have a chance to win!! Thanks for all the well wishes I am feeling quite better now & almost caught back up to where I can get creating again! Hope you all are having a good start to your week! & PS. I can't wait to share some creative things I'll be working on this week!
*please note all entries must be on my craft blog with the post for the giveaway!

Contemplating

Karlee Dawn

Contemplating you say. Yes, after being under the weather with the achy, chills, fever & major headaches since Thanksgiving that is just what I am doing! This is how it all began: I had managed to get all the shopping & cooking done, serve the dinner, eat a little with the family and then I went to lay down to get rid of a headache for I thought for 15 minutes when ca-pow! Two hours slipped by & then when I awoke the tree was up with lights on it and the decorating began. I ended up watching and finishing details just last night. This is actually the first day I can say I actually feel better, but not 100%. Now I am contemplating where to get caught up first. Of course the laundry is up there on the list & telling my blogging friends I haven't gone away. So my posts are sparse this week but I hope you understand. I feel like I have been in the land of the lost & one thing is for sure I don't want to go back!! I will count my blessings today as what ever I had has seemed to have passed and cross my fingers no one else will get sick. If I had a magic wand I would rid the land of illness and suffering~ but, since I don't I just wish you good health this season & hope this finds you well.
Have you managed to stay well and creative this past week?

Sickness comes on horseback but departs on foot. ~Danish Proverb sometimes attributed to William C. Hazlitt