Kelly Jeanette Swift

I was browsing the magazine racks at Barnes and Noble the other day looking at the Christmas issues and just wishing I could decorate my house like some of these, but then I thought maybe not. The houses decorated in the magazines are staged to look good. No kids or pets running around. Not real. Seriously, if someone tried to keep their houses clean and untouched like these houses it would drive them crazy (or make the families very unhappy with them.) And I admit that I was one of these people a long time ago. But then I couldn't enjoy the holidays. I think no one could. Too busy trying to be House Beautiful worthy. Homes are meant to be lived in and show it. Children running around. Pets running around. Smells of dinner cooking. Loud and wonderful. That's life. Not those pictures in a magazine.  

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I looked up the colors for this Christmas and lemon seems to be one of the color choices. I choose to use it as a background color and used my bird cutter to make these lovely pastel feathered friends. I stamped the background with gold stars and snowflakes and embellished with gems.

This is a card I made last night. I really do feel in the Christmas mood. I can't wait to get my Christmas lights up, but I am forcing myself to wait until after Thanksgiving.

A set of gift tags I made while watching Christmas movies. I used interference paint on the background to give it a nice glow. The back is painted with pearlescent blue. Click on the image to go to etsy page.