Well, hi there! I didn't hear you come in! Must have been lost in my Christmas music... well, I sure am glad you made it! I've got lots of stuff I wanna show you! Dennis and I love Christmas time, and we add new homemade decorations every year! Come along, I'll show you!

      Oh me! I'm forgetting my manners again... can I get you some hot cocoa, or some apple cider? How about a nice warm slice of gingerbread? I just took it out of the oven. There ya go! Okay, now...

Well, the very first thing I ever made for our Christmas was the stockings. Of course, I didn't make them alllllll at once... we sort of added on as children popped into our lives!

Here they are! Once they go up, it means Christmas is officially "in season" at our house! Amanda's stocking isn't here... it's doing Christmas in Colorado this year!

While the stockings are hanging below the mantle...

The angels are praying above! I made these little darlings about 3 years ago. Of course, when I say I made them, I mean we! Dennis cuts 'em out and I paint them! You'll see... We're a great team!

Now with all that happening up around the mantle, we just gotta have a little fun down around the fireplace too.

Dennis and I saw a Santa like this while out at a craft fair and the crafter wanted $65 for it! I decided that I could make my own a lot cheaper! I told Honey I wanted one, and we came straight home and went to work on it. Then I said I needed a Mrs. and that was not a problem either! Dennis added the arms and the little tray to hold the cookies for Santa. (he would think of that!) We made these very many years ago... I'm thinking maybe 10! The little reindeer was a pattern kit. I still have his female companion in her kit package! She's been there for about 9 years! Maybe "next" year I'll get to her!

Dennis built this log cabin for me a few years ago... (and the little outhouse in the back! see it?) When he was done we decided it needed someone living in it! Christmas was coming and I was on a snowman kick that year, and sooooo... meet us! One for each member of our family -- including Amanda's Hector -- oh yea! It must have been the year they got married! We made them 2 years ago! Krysti is the one with ear-muffs. She hates hats!!!

This guy was last years addition! I am a crafters nightmare... I very rarely buy anything at craft fairs or out of magazines, or really anywhere! I will steal your idea in a heartbeat and make my own version of it! Last year I made a dozen of these Oldie Santas (no two alike) to give as gifts to special friends and family. They were a big hit! (oh, the idea? they were for sale down at our local Mom & Pop supermarket. I am baaaaaad!)

Well, while I'm showing all the ideas I "borrowed", here's a few more... from magazines!

Okay! Yes, I do occassionally have an original idea! Here are a few Melli Originals...

These were alllllll mine!!! The santas were made from leftover pieces of wood Dennis had turned on the lathe for some other project! They're my "Scrap Santas!"

And these are mine too. Again, from spare parts! Angelic leftovers, if you will!

And this was definately me!
So, see? I can do it when I want to! lol!

WoW! I hope I didn't bore you silly! Do you need something more to drink? Oh, I have a bunch of presents in there under the tree... would you like to see? I knew you would!