Dueling Darlings and Treasures from Grandma!

Hello my friends!  My original post "poofed" into another realm...I have no idea what became of it, so here's round two:
The Dueling Darlings December kit for the Dazzlers came from our beloved Jeanette.  Here's what I came up with:

Image: Kraftin Kimmie O Holy Night
Papers: Paper Studio Hay and Wood Fences
Embellishments: Hobby Lobby Plywood Star Stickers, Hobby Lobby Gold Glitter Organza

The adorable image is colored with Spectrum Noir markers, cut out and mounted onto the Hay DP, which was die cut with Nestabilities "Labels 18".  This was mounted onto black CS die cut with Nestabilities rectangular scallop.

The front of the card features that wonderful Wood Fences DP topped with black cs covered with the Gold Glitter Organza.  Of course they need the star, so there it is, shining in the night!





Here's a side view, at an angle to show how gorgeous that Organza is.  It really sparkles!

Thank you, Jeanette for sending such a fun image and creative kit this month!  I truly enjoyed working up this card.

Here's the other part of the challenge: "Include in your post a Christmas story of your own. Perhaps a special Christmas decoration you own, a childhood memory, Christmas tradition, etc."

I knew immediately that I would share some of my treasures from Grandma.  She made incredible art from beads: wedding bells for my wedding cake, a mobile for over the crib of clowns and birds, miniature coffee & tea service, and many, many other items that defy description.

I have a box of Christmas ornaments that she made.  They are over 30 years old now and are truly loved by me.  My pictures fail to capture how brightly they sparkle in the sun or with the lights on the tree, but here are a few for you to look at.

A few angels and a southern belle.

Two of my favorite Christmas bells.

A closer look at the red bell with the overlay of clear and gold beading.

An assortment of various other ornaments.  The candy cane is amazing!











Some in blues with clear or mirrored accents.

Some are very dimensional.  These baubles are unique.  The green & clear one almost has a shape of a dreidel.

Holding it up, trying to give a better idea of it's shape.

A sampling of snowflakes and crystal shapes.  These look like glass when in a window or on the tree.

What's Christmas without wreaths?  Here are two.

And two more wreaths.

This star is wide in the center.  Below is a side view.
























Perhaps you can imagine how special these are.  My pictures really don't do them justice.  As I said, she made beautiful wedding bells for our wedding cake.  She crocheted teeny tiny clear beads into a beautiful necklace and gave that to me when I was a teenager.

She was a creative genius, making art out of rocks, (some of her collections won awards), soup bones, sunflower seeds, and many other common items.  Her work is now owned by her six daughters and over 20 of us grandchildren!  And now we begin to share them with her great grandchildren.  A very special legacy.

I think this is the longest blog post I've ever done, and if you stuck with me throughout, thank you!

Wishing all of you a very blessed Christmas and a safe and healthy new year!