The Chicken Coop

I am a paper crafter. I've been playing with paper, and cutting and pasting for many years now and I still just love it. I teach classes each month and would love to have you.
You can find me at MyRedHen.blogspot.com and on Pinterest
or email me at MyRedHen4@yahoo.com
I'd love to hear from you.
Every now and then I have some cards or little treats available for sale that may be seen here.
My blog also contains my personal posts. Ignore them if you like, but you may get a kick out of them. Maybe my girls will read them one day and get insights into the inner workings of an old woman's brain....Scary Thought!
There is a list of labels on the right side of the blog, so you can click there to go to only the posts that you are interested in. That will allow you to skip the personal posts and any items for sale if you wish. No matter which way you choose, I hope will enjoy my little blog and visit often.

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Project 365 Day 248


It was back to Tahoe today with Tracey to clean the cabin. It was such a beautiful drive! The ground was covered in a thick blanket of snow and the trees looked covered in lace. Even the rows of chain link fences looked like lacy white trim. I just love it when the snow turns the world into a wonderland!

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Project 365 Day 247----Coffee Cozies



These are pics of some cute little coffee (or in my case, cocoa) sleeves that I made for Christmas presents this year. I gave one to my friend Tracey and mentioned that I was going to make some up for my Christmas bazaars next year. Well, she informed me that it is still winter and that some of you might like to have one now----so....

They are made of cute snowflake flannel and lined with warm and natural. You may order them in either green or red, and have them personalized with a name. For generic purposes I made some up with the word "hot" or "m-m-m." For the guys on my list I also made some with a red and black flannel lined with black dot. I don't have that pictured here, but I do have a bit of the material left that I could make more. I am selling them for $5 each.

Just contact me if you would like to order one.

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Priject 365 Day 246


Matilda is staying overnight with me tonight and that crafty ol' Santa left her some gifts here at Grandma's as well---Lucky Girl!
Here she is coloring in her new magic coloring book.

Project 365 Day 245

Today I thought I'd add a picture of the wonderful Christmas cards I received this year. Some of mine are going out very late this year, I'm afraid> More like New Year's wishes!
Thank you to each of you who remembered me with a card. I treasure them and add them to my scrapbook each year.

Christmas Time


Once the gifts were opened and oohed and aawwed over, it was time for naps and relaxing. Matilda took the time to kick back in her new recliner---just like Grandpa's!
We were so silly. We hung around the whole day in our jammies and then just in time for dinner around 7pm, we dressed up in our Christmas outfits and ate at Tracy's beautiful Christmas table. Then as soon as dinner was over, it was time to get back into jammies where there was plenty of room for our full tummies.


Merry Christmas Everyone!!

Project 365 Day 244---Merry Christmas!



We awakened Christmas morning to full stockings and a tree surrounded by presents. Matilda just had to open the Tinkerbell packages first!

Christmas Eve



Just had to add a couple more pics of Christmas Eve.
Megan had one more gift that she didn't have time to get and I remembered hearing that Walgreens was open, so we bundled up in our coats and boots over our jammies and made a last minute gift run. Yes, we got a few funny looks.
Then Matilda got into her new Christmas jammies and left milk and cookies for Santa before heading off to bed.
Once she was in bed asleep. we went into frantic gift wrapping mode since Tracy had not yet wrapped "Santa's" gifts.

Friday, December 24, 2010

Project 365 Day 243


Christmas Eve is here already! Many of my projects are coming together at the last minute, but they're coming together. Got the rest of my presents wrapped, got my hair colored, went to Christmas services at SCF with Megan and Mikey, and have landed safely in Tracy's home for the night. We are all staying overnight here so we will be here to watch Matilda open her Christmas treasures in the morning. Today's picture is of Tracy's beautiful Christmas tree. Tomorrow after Santa arrives, it will be surrounded by even more beautiful gifts and we will gather all together as a family to open gifts and have dinner. I am so lucky to have Tracy, Ian, and Matilda here in town for Christmas. It doesn't happen often, so I am looking forward to a wonderful day tomorrow.

Project 365 Day 242



Last night (At the last minute, of course) Tracy called with the realization that since Matilda is attending a Jewish pre-school, she would not be making a cute handmade ornament to be added to this year's Christmas tree, so----Would I PLEASE make one with Matilda. She already made 3 of my little gingerbread ornaments with me to take home and add to her tree, but somehow no one seemed to have seen them or know where they were, so----Today I gathered some wooden snowflakes, some glue, glitter, and sparkly felt snowflakes and Matilda and I made some snowflake ornaments. I used one of my new Photoshop techniques to print out some pics of Matilda to put in the middle and we were done. We had a good time and she did a great job. While we were at it we made one for Grandma, on for Grandpa Gary, one for Auntie Meme and one for Mama Kat. A little Christmas memory for all of us.

Project 365 Day 241


Today's picture is just another one of the cards we made in card class this month. Boring I know, but I was hard up for a photo.

Project 365 Day 240



Today it was off to Tahoe again with Tracey to clean the cabin. As I walked up to the front door to go inside, I could see through the house and through the back door where the renters who had checked out had left a cute snow bear on the back patio to greet us. I took the other picture down by the lake when Tracey drove down there afterward to take some photos. Really beautiful, isn't it?

Project 365 Day 239


Over the weekend I was at my friend Jacque's house for a small Christmas boutique. My brother called while I was there and as I was talking to him on the phone I looked up on one of the shelves and thought, "That's Mrs. Butterworth!" Sure enough, one of her kids made this Christmas decoration in school. I just had to take a picture of er to share with Megan as an idea if she ever gets a classroom of her own in which to teach. Too cute! Now I want to collect Mrs. Butterworth bottles!

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Project 365 Day 238


For today's picture I've decided to post the Christmas picture that Tracy and family took in front of their new home. Aren't they a handsome family and what a cute little grand daughter I have. I wish I could go back in time and raise both of my children all over again! I would gladly bear the hurts and heartaches again to be able to re-experience the joys!

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Project 365 Day 237


Today I thought I'd post the picture of the calendar cover for this year's class. Another year completed and on to the next. This will be my 4th year and some of you have been with me the whole way through. I love and appreciate you all so much. I can be having the worst day, and think I just can't do it, and my projects suck---and then I get to class with all of you and my spirits are lifted. Thanks!

Project 365 Day 236




Tonight was my 3rd Annual Christmas Party Crop. I hold it every year for my Calendar Girls, but invite others to join in the fun.


















I was overwhelmed and pleased by the response I had this year. I was to have nearly 30 of you there to join in the fun. I was so excited!
Then Jack Frost invited himself to the party and brought along an alarming number of his little snowflake friends. In the end there were only eleven of us, but we sure had a good time.
Here a pictures of the hearty souls that braved the storm to join me, of the YUMMY, YUMMY treats we had all to ourselves, and of the nice big pile of prizes I had to give away.

Ah well---Another year of calendar class is complete and I spent tonight diligently working on the layout for January.

Project 365 Day 235


Today I'm posting a picture of the flyer for a bazaar being held at my friend Jacque's house on Saturday. I'll be there and I hope some of you will stop by to grab some last minute Christmas gifts.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Project 365 Day 234


YES!!! There are huge holes in my 365 project again! I've done my best! Really I have! I'm running as fast as I can, but the treadmill still keeps throwing me off occasionally!
This afternoon I taught my November Card Class at Scrapper's Paradise. I was going to take the picture for today, when I realized that I had once again, left my camera at home. Then----I remembered my fancy new phone! I want you all to know that I not only took this picture of Luann and Linda, two of the girls in class--but I figured out how to get it from my phone to my computer and on to my blog ALL BY MYSELF!! You may now all call me "Techno Tonna."

Project 365 Day 232


I've completed two of the cards for Wednesday's card class and they were sitting on my messy dining room table, so I snapped a picture of them for today's post as a little sneak peek.
(Yes, Stacey, I know that by the time you see them, they will no longer be a sneak peek! Let's just pretend I am actually on my toes.)

Project 365 Day 230

This evening was my daughter Tracy's annual Christmas Tree Decorating Party. I was in attendance, but forgot my camera, so I used Tracy's instead. Normally Tracy has pictures up on Facebook before you can get home and turn on your computer and I was going to grab a few of them from there to share with you. Tracy is a bit overwhelmed this year though, and has not yet posted any, so I will have to add the pictures to this post later.

Project 365 Day 227


As some of you know, my grand daughter Matilda goes to a Jewish preschool. No, we are not Jewish, but it is the preschool that Tracey chose. It was brand new, nice and clean, etc. That is why my picture for today is of Matilda beside a giant Menorah celebrating her very first Hanukkah. (I definitely not Jewish. I just had to use Spell Check to spell the word Hanukkah right!). Anyway, Happy Hanukkah everyone!

Monday, December 6, 2010

Project 365 Day 225


Frantically prepping for Wednesday's upcoming calendar class! Here is a shot of my desk with bits and pieces everywhere----A little sneak peak!

Project 365 Day 224




Here is our hostess for the ornament exchange party, Lisa, in her welcoming home and the group of us gathered around her beautiful Christmas tree. I've also included a picture of the adorable ornament that we all got to make while we were there. It's a melted snowman inside a glass ball ornament. I just love it! Thanks so much Lisa!

Project 365 Day 223

Here are Mr and Mrs Gingerbread, a completed couple ready for exchanging at Lisa's party tomorrow. I'm ready! Yeah!
I made a few extras and will have them for sale at my next few classes and at the Christmas Party Crop. I hope you all are coming!

Project 365 Day 222


Today's picture is of my dining room table covered with gingerbread people as I work on my ornaments for Lisa's ornament party this weekend. Aren't they cute?

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Project 365 Day 221


Tonight was my class for the Christmas Garland in a paper mache box. We all had such a great time. It was a project that allowed you to be able to visit while you worked and we took full advantage of the time to chat with each other. Mine was so full after I got done being creative that I had to tie a bow around it to keep the lid on and it looked really cute. I was going to post a picture of my finished box, but I left it out in the car. I don't want to go back out in the cold to get it, so I will add the pic to this post tomorrow. Time now to relax for the evening. Much to do tomorrow!

November Winner!

It's time to announce the blog comment winner for the month of November.
Casey Kramer---You have won a free kit this month! You can choose any kit from my line priced $8 or under. Just contact me and let me know which one you want.
Congratulations!

Also a note to those of you who follow my line of kits. I know that I am woefully behind and haven't introduced any new kits for far too long. Be assured that I am on it and there will be plenty of new kits----and classes----coming with the new year.