{ if you're scrapbooking Christmas - this quote is one of my favorites }

On Christmas Eve, the snow on the ground, the stars in the sky, the spruce tree glittering with beloved ornaments, we stand in the dimness and sing about the silent holy night and tears come to our eyes and the vast invisible forces of Christmas stir in the world. Skeptics, stand back. Hush. Hark. There is much in this world that doubt cannot explain.

Garrison Keillor

* January 6 - Epiphany *

Today, being Jan. 6, is Epiphany - the twelfth day after Christmas - the day the wise men arrived in Bethlehem with their gifts.

The following words are from an article today in the (online)
Minneapolis Star Tribune by Rev. Peg Chemberlin:

"It is Epiphany, the Christian feast day which ends the Christmas season. It is seen in some traditions as the day that commemorates the coming of the Magi indicating the Light of the World being made known to the world.

But this word epiphany is used in so many places. It is a name used as titles of articles, books, movies, and works of art. “Epiphany: a sudden, intuitive perception of or insight into the reality or essential meaning…” from Webster’s New Universal Unabridged Dictionary.

There is something very reassuring to me about this notion of an epiphany, that I can know an essential meaning. The hope of epiphany warms my heart, encourages me forward. That’s a journey worth going on. That’s a star worth following."

Isn't it wonderful to read the beautiful words of other writers! I am in awe of people's ability to put things down. For me, Christmas reinvigorates my faith and focuses my gratitude. It is a time to put things other than the everyday things at the center of my life. I have contemplated my relationship with my Savior and find great hope and desire to continually move closer. In my spiritual growth, Christmas is not an end, but a beginning.

- taking time to enjoy what matters -

Skiing was fun! It was beautiful and uncrowded at our little local ski resort - just forty minutes from our driveway to the Beaver Mountain parking lot. The drive through Logan canyon was worth the whole trip - the colors were incredible - shades of blue, purple, gray and white in the sky, snow and icy river. Unbelievably, we forgot the camera - so we took pictures of us in our driveway when we got home. It's probably a good thing, because if we'd had the camera Scott would have stopped every ten miles to get a shot of the beauty of the winter canyon. The one shot I really wanted was where there is a warm spring. Right there in the middle of the winter ice and snow is a little section of river that is thawed and covered with green moss. Scott pointed it out and we plan to go back to get this phenomenon on film. I call it "hope."

I know we look funny. Scott just loves his one-piece jumpsuit ski outfit, even though the kids tease him about it. And my pants look like they're ten years old, which they are. Since they're ten years old they fit up around my waist, which is a good feature in a ski pant on a cold cold day (which it was). But you know what, how I look while skiing didn't matter, because, as I looked around, I was the oldest woman in the lift line. There were other older men than Scott - you know, there are guys in their 80s that still ski. I saw a couple women just younger than me, but I won the old prize. As I skiied along I talked to myself: "Ski like you don't care about anything but the beauty around you and being with Scott." I was very nervous and tenative at first. I did not want to hurt myself; I have so much to do this month. So I snowplowed sometimes if I thought I was getting out of control. It was a good day, and when we got home we worked extra fast to get the Christmas decorations put away.

I just want to take this tree down :(

Here's me all smiling and happy because my tree was so pretty and I liked my haircut. That was Dec. 23. Now, it's January 3 (the last Saturday of the 'holiday' season), and I just want to get the tree undecorated and everything put away. (I meant to get started last night, but couldn't pull myself away from the exciting Sugar Bowl football game on TV. Wow, what a win by U of U!) So my goal today was to get everything packed up, labeled, and stuffed in the closet and attic. I got up early to get things cleaned up so I could start. Then Scott looked out the window at the new snow and sparkling sunshine. "Let's go skiing," he said. Then he started to try to convince me. "It's the perfect day, it's warm, the sun is shining, there's new snow, you know you'd love it." "I want to undecorate," I moaned. "Besides I'm out of shape, my hip hurts, and I don't like my coat." "Does that mean you're never going to ski again?" "Well, yes, that would be fine with me." "You know once you got on the mountain you'd love it, you always do." He's hugging me and following me around. "It's just a half day - it'll be worth it." How can I say no? I so don't want to go. I'll lose a whole day. I'm going to be the last person anywhere with Christmas decorations still up.

Of course, I'm going skiing. I thought about the tater tots that the ski lodge serves for lunch and decided to go. Scott promised me he'd help me undecorate tonight. I'll insist that we order pizza for dinner and maybe I can even get a new pair of goggles out of this. Hmmm, what else can I ask for?

What would you do?

{ collecting joy }

My joy collection reflects how I feel about the nearly-ended holiday season. We had some wonderful family times that continued through the new year. Through the month of December, I loved my collection of joy words that decorated the kitchen window sill and the perfect quote that is on my favorite Mary Englebreit tin, below! Beautifully stated!

december's fading

Christmas has really taken the energy out of me! I want to write and blog, but by the time I finally get to the computer I'm too tired to be witty and wordy. So I'm sitting here enjoying this lovely fabric made and posted by a Melbourne, Australia blogger named Lara. She is a graphic and textile designer and co-founder of Ink & Spindle, a hand printed textile co. Her blog is kirinote.blogger.com. Enjoy this bit of eye candy!

One of these days I'm going to share my Christmas review 'joys and frustrations' journaling. (But first I've got to write it.)

Review and Resolve

I've written many many blog posts in my mind the past few days, but just couldn't get myself to the computer to write. Christmas was what Christmas is ... a paradox. Christmas always has its ups and downs, its highs and lows, and for me, a distracted perfectionist, Christmas usually ends with a wish that next year may be better. That's why I started my quest for Cut the Crazy over twenty years ago, and that's why I plug away at it each year...trying to share my ideas along the way. So I accept Christmas and feel both sad and glad it's behind me. I'm very grateful for the nice time we had together. The gifts were wonderful, the people are the best, the service that I meant to give was not-quite-enough.

My planner is open with my blank journaling page inviting my thoughts. I hope you'll join me in writing about your joys and frustrations.

Christmas accomplished!

Merry Christmas - for one more hour! I have tons of photos to download and wonderful memories to remember. The past 48 hours flew by like a whirlwind, leaving a trail of giftwrap, dirty dishes, and smiles. We spent the afternoon looking out the window at a snowstorm that dumped six or more inches of snow. I'm exhausted, but happy to have "pulled it off." My friend, Nancy, once told me that to her Christmas is like a cruise and she's the cruise director. In the Unplug the Christmas Machine book one woman says, "Christmas is a magic show. I'm the producer and my husband is the stagehand and my kids are the audience. And they expect a really good show." I think that I, along with wonderful help from Scott, Becky, and Aimee, put on a pretty good show.

:: I simply remember my favorite things ::

Becky has a little hang-up about one certain song that the radio plays ALL THE TIME at Christmas - as if it's a Christmas song. If you talk to Becky about this, she will inform you that just because the lyrics say "brown paper packages tied up in strings," doesn't make it a Christmas song. I have to say I agree and thanks to her I feel annoyed too when I hear "My Favorite Things" from The Sound of Music playing amongst the Christmas carols. But I do have favorite things right now, special Christmas decorations, and last night I took a few minutes to appreciate them.
I love this thick garland swooping over the mirror in my front hall and my fake amyryllis next to the mirror. Red ribbon makes everything look pretty.

These candles have cranberries around them - a look I just love. The color of green in the ribbon - kind of a yellowish green, actually, is one of my favorite colors.

My favorite Williraye figurine that Suzie gave me two years ago. She's just cute.

Gorgeous gold stars and glittery balls.

The cutest gift bag ever. I love the red bird and the red berries. Coincidentally, Becky just arrived for Christmas and as she brought in her wrapped gifts, one of them was in this same bag. I said, "That's my favorite bag; I'm posting it on my blog tonight." Becky said, "I love it too, in fact your present is in this bag." We laughed about that.

I don't usually like "contrived things," but I love this poinsettia - it is REAL, not fake and I'd be curious to know the process that resulted in the red and white flower petals. I used to have 20 poinsettias in my house at Christmas, but I cut the crazy (it's a lot of work to water them) and now I have four. This unique flower is called Jingle Bells and the spots of white on the red leaves make the plant extra festive and, well, CUTE!

an old-fashioned poem with a message we all need right now!

Ready for Christmas

"Ready for Christmas," she said with a sigh,
As she gave a last touch to the gifts piled high.
Then wearily sat for a moment to read,
Until soon, very soon, she was nodding her head.
Then quietly spoke a voice in her dream,
"Ready for Christmas, what do you mean?
Ready for Christmas when only last week
You wouldn't acknowledge your friend on the street?
Ready for Christmas while holding a grudge?
Perhaps you'd better let God be the judge."
She woke with a start and a cry of despair,
"There's so little time and I've still to prepare.
Oh Father! Forgive me, I see what you mean!
To be ready means more than a house swept clean.
Yes, more than the giving of gifts and a tree.
It's the heart swept clean that He wanted to see,
A heart that is free from bitterness and sin.
So to be ready for Christmas - be ready for Him."
Myrtle Haynes

Remembering these things helps me even now....

Following is my December Beginner Basics article from the Adornit blog last week. I know it's just a few days until Christmas, but the principles still apply!

Beginner Basics...
Hello from Debbie! Well, it’s the week before Christmas and all through my house things are not going so well. In spite of my extra efforts this year to start early, be organized, and cut the crazy, I feel like I’m unraveling a little. But I want to tell you why I’m calm and have a smile on my face. Because in teaching Cut the Crazy out of Christmas, in addition to learning how to DO Christmas, I have learned how to cope with Christmas. So, as I look at my unchecked lists, I keep a few things in mind. If you’re stressed and frantic, maybe my ideas will help you too.

Let’s go over the basic principles of Cut the Crazy: 1) Start early. 2) Use a planner. 3) Control your calendar. 4) Adjust your attitude.

Don’t worry about #1 – that’s in the past. Go on to #2. Find a half hour and sit down with your planner or notebook. (Play some nice music.) If you aren’t using a planner or if you’ve abandoned yours, I encourage you to get back to it. It will ease your mind to write things down. I just wrote all my menus for the next ten days and re-wrote my gift lists and I can’t believe how that cleared my mind of some things I’ve been worried about. A full set of planner downloads is available on adornitdigital.com for just $10.00.

As long as you’re sitting down you can also work on #3! Take a few minutes to look at your calendar. Make sure you know what is happening each day. If you need to find some time for shopping, wrapping or cooking write it on your calendar, then keep that appointment with yourself. Maybe you need to schedule an hour to spend time playing with a child or sitting by the fire with your husband – the things that will bring holiday joy. The point is that you carefully craft your days to make the best use of each hour. If you do that, you will begin to feel more in control.

#4 is about focusing on the joys. It helps me to take a deep breath and be aware of the music that I love and the wonderful smells around me. Displaying a cute scrapbook layout with one of my favorite Christmas photos helps me remember what’s important and why I love Christmas. In my layout pictured at the beginning of this post, I used papers and stickers from Adornit’s Holly Jolly Collection except the lined paper which is from last year's Happy Holidays Collection. Warm wishes to all of you as make the best of this Christmas season.

have a childlike attitude

Just a few more lines about seeing Christmas through the eyes of a child. Again, these ideas are from Dr. Wayne Dyer. Here are a few lines to help you see how you're doing:

Childlike attitude: I can't wait to see all the pretty lights and decorations. Older-but-no-wiser attitude: They put those decorations up earlier every year - why do they rush it?
Childlike attitude: I love going to the store to see all the presents. Older attitude: Christmas is too commercial.
Childlike attitude: I don't think Christmas will ever come...I can't wait. Older attitude: I can't wait to get his over with.
Childlike attitude: Do we have to take the tree down already? Older attitude: I'm just glad it's all over.

I hope we can pause and enjoy (and emulate) the delight of children all around us

throughout this coming week!

"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

[ see through the eyes of a child ]

Remember how excited you used to be about Christmas? Remember how you thought that Christmas morning would NEVER arrive? Remember how magical the holiday activities were for you and your family? Sure the reason it was all so fun-filled is because you were a child. You didn't have to think about the negative side of things, you just enjoyed.

As adults many of us have come to believe that Christmas is only for the very young. You hear it all the time, Christmas is for kids. So as adults we turn the un over to the children and keep the worry and work for the adults. It's obvious that in order fo us to start to enjoy this season, we have to reclaim it from the kids. We have just as much right (and need) to be excited at Christmas. To do that, we need to pause and see Christmas through the eyes of a child.

Laugh more. Don't take things so seriously. Find joy in simple things. Go outside and play. Don't expect everything to be perfect.

Remember, the child that loved Christmas is still residing within you.

(thanks to an article by Dr. Wayne Dyer for this insight)

*******

"It is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas, when its mighty founder was a child Himself." Charles Dickens

* tags that make me laugh *

Amy Karol, who writes the famous blog Angry Chicken and is also author of a book called Bend the Rules Sewing posted these funny, creative gift tags last year. I printed the page and put it in the back of my planner - just so I could remember the humor. Here is the link to the pdf. They are what I'd call 'tongue in cheek' tags - they say funny things - the things you think about when you're giving a gift but would never say out loud. For example, the blue tag in the lower left corner says, "I really really won't be offended if you hate this. The gift receipt is in the box. Seriously." The circle tag above it says, "Shopping for you is so hard, you should give me an extra gift for even trying. I mean that in a loving way." And a couple of others say, "I made this, just so you know. So don't say anything mean about it, " and "This seemed like a good idea at the time, but now I'm not so sure." My favorite is the one that simply says, "I was starting to really run out of ideas here."

it's "put the crazy in Christmas" in Vegas!

We had a few fun days in Las Vegas last week - as we congratulated our son-in-law on his Master's Degree graduation. We (Suzie, Becky and I) can't go to Vegas without going a mall or two. We hit the Galleria in Henderson and Fashion Show mall on the strip. Macy's opened at 8 each morning, so I hit the jackpot - getting in two extra hours of shopping both Friday and Sat. Vegas doesn't know a thing about cutting the crazy out of anything. It's all crazy there! Here's a little Vegas eye candy.

Scott took these photos of gorgeous tableware at the little flower/gift shop near the Bellagio atrium. Didn't get any photos of the atrium display - it was beautiful, as always, but the crowds made taking photos hard.

We took a couple of photos of Santa and his elves dancing on the runway at Fashion Show mall. What a production. The mall was packed with shoppers. Everything is bigger and more elaborate in Vegas.

Hey if you have a little spare cash you can get some super deals on shoes!

Love the flower and parasol decor in the Wynn. Bright colors too. And by the way, this isn't about cutting the crazy, or simplifying, or finding meaning. But I sure had some great bonding times with my two cute daughters - and got some shopping finished at the same time. Viva Las Vegas!

eye candy + a few ideas from Debbie

http://www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/wrap-it-up?lnc=a489cf380e1dd010VgnVCM1000005b09a00aRCRD&rsc=lpg_holiday&lpgStart=1&currentslide=1&currentChapter=1
I got these gift-wrapping ideas from Martha Stewart.com. Click on the link above for 73 ideas for wrapping, tags and bows. This is a small, but wonderful sample. Martha has quite a magical team of little elves helping her out doesn't she?!

Ideas for GIFT EXCHANGES for a fun Christmas party.

I have had to come up with various ideas for gift-giving at different parties through the years. Most years I try to think of a creative gift exchange for the Christmas get-together of my husband's office staff. Here are some of the gift exchanging ideas we have used:

A gift that is anything you can fit in a quart jar – send quart jars (or pint jars) home with everyone. Tell them that the gift they bring to the party must fit in the quart jar. Only their imagination is the limit.

A gift that is a pound of something – tell everyone that this year’s gift has to be a pound of something. The most creative gift will get a pound of See’s chocolates.

A gift that is some kind of candy. This is the year we ate dinner at a restaurant then went to a Christmas movie. We exchanged the candy gifts before the movie then munched on our gifts during the movie.

A gift that is handmade. This one didn't go over so well - noone had time or inclination to make a gift.

A children's book. A favorite DVD. A favorite CD. A favorite Christmas story.

A white elephant. Here's an idea on how to exchange them. Put numbers on each white elephant gift and also put numbers on small pieces of paper and put the small papers in a bowl. Let everyone draw a number. Then go by number order to draw a gift from the pile and open it. If the person whose number it is would prefer to take a gift from someone else that has already been opened they can do that once. Then person who has had his gift taken away has to re-open a gift from the pile. Eventually everyone has opened a gift.

A gift in a sock/SOCKS DRAWINGS. Here’s a fun one that you have to plan now. This idea is perfect if you are in a family that has lots of cousins and you have all the cousins draw names each year. This is a way to add a more fun and interest to your drawing of names. Have everyone who will be drawing names bring a single sock for the dreawing. Then put all the socks in a basket in the center and have each kid (blindfolded) pick a sock out of the basket. They have to give a gift to the person who belongs to the sock. AND THE GIFT has to be wrapped and fit in the sock.

[ handmade is the best made ]

Check out these pretty ornaments that Becky made this past weekend. She has been saving an "inspiration photo" of similar ornaments from Pottery Barn on her camera for a year. Friday we went and bought the stuff and she made six of them. They are even cuter in real life!

Hi all! Becky here. It has been fun seeing all of my mom's ideas on this blog. I am so excited for Christmas! I love it as much as Debbie does. I love the Christmas scrapbook paper on the shelves right now. Adorn It has a way cute Christmas line that makes me want to scrap!  And scrap I did...

:: some good advice & a pretty picture ::

I was in the bookstore last month and a book jumped out and said, "You need me." I wasn't planning to buy another 'self-help' book, but I thought maybe this particular book would be useful as I taught the Cut the Crazy out of Christmas class...and I had that 30% off rewards coupon to use. The book is by Richard Carlson, the author of "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff." The title is "You Can Be Happy No Matter What." The book is worthwhile with lots of philosophy like, "Happiness is a state of mind not a set of circumstances." But what I especially like is his suggestions on how to handle stress. Here are a few tips:

LOWER YOUR TOLERANCE FOR STRESS

Stress is an unpleasant feeling - it signals that we are not at our emotional and psychological best. It's interesting that when we feel ill and are not at our physical best, we pay attention to our bodies and do what we need to to feel better (rest, medicine etc.). Why not take the same care in times of emotional stress? When we are experiencing stress we need to use common sense, wisdom and be aware of our own needs.

Carlson says the solution to stress is to lower our tolerance for stress. The level of our current stress will always be exactly equal to our current tolerance. If we tolerate and can handle a lot of stress, we will always have to do just that. People with lower stress tolerance will pay attention to their stress EARLIER and will sense when it's time to slow down, regain perspective, and manage their thoughts and feelings.I find this concept so interesting. When I read it I just had to stop and think about it for awhile and ponder how it relates to me.

go BUY this now - it's TEN dollars!

Go to your local variety store right now! and get this Play-Doh set. Even if you don't have any little kids to get gifts for, go get a few of these and give to your local Sub-for-Santa. This is the cutest Play-Doh set I've ever played with. (And since I love Play-Doh, I have a lot of experience.) This little "Magic Swirl Ice Cream Shoppe" entertained four-year-old Bailee tonight for about two hours. It has extruders that make swirly ice cream cones, whipped cream topping, sprinkles, and a cake with candles - see photo above. Included in the set are four cans of Play-Doh; one of them is white with colorful specks. There are lots of little molds to make ice cream toppings like jelly beans and peanuts. There are cones, dishes and spoons. What a CUTE deal. It made my day (and Bailee's too)!

{ lovin' free stuff on the 'net }

I just stumbled onto these really cute FREE Christmas project ideas AND DOWNLOADS from CK! Thought I'd share:

The link is to Creating Keepsake Magazine's internet newsletter that features a free scrapbook mini album and a couple of gift tags that you can download. They are well-designed and would be great quickie projects. The designs are by Tiffany Tillman and here is her comment from the message board:

Hi all! Tiff here - the PSD files can be used in Adobe Elements or Adobe Photoshop. The PDF files can be printed (in Word) and used as you like. Sky's the limit! Feel free to contact me if you have any other questions about the downloads. :D Happy Scrappin'! Tiffany Tillman

Here's the link:

http://www.creatingkeepsakes.com/content/view/14151/

{ get your planner now! }

It’s December 1st! If you are planning to cut the crazy out of Christmas then you are working on Christmas preparations – a little at a time, knowing that you have to add the activities of Christmas to your already hectic lives. Remember that as women we always over-estimate our time, our energy, and our ability to accomplish everything we dream of doing. The key to simplifying Christmas is to be realistic. And to do that it helps to use some type of Christmas planner to write everything down. No more lost post-it notes and lists scribbled on scraps of paper. With a planner, you have everything together in one place - gift lists, party plans, recipes, menus, addresses and more.

The “Cut the Crazy out of Christmas” planner is now available in a downloadable version from Adornit Digital, the digital website of Adornit Scrapbook company! It's digital, so you'll have your planner in an instant! if you want it that fast. It is the same planner we used for our Big Picture class. (Of course, the BPS class included extras such as handouts, a gallery and message board.) But the planner itself can be purchased for $10.00 in downloaded PDF files. There are 24 beautifully designed and written pages waiting for you to print up and put in your own looseleaf binder. Just go to adornitdigital.com and click on Shop, then click on Paper Kits. Then choose Planner Download. You’ll have to create an account, but that’s easy. Before you know it, you'll be planning Christmas. The pages have helpful instructions by Norma Olsen and Debbie Raymond and cute graphics by Georgana Hall! It's December 1st - you can do this!

* * * the season has begun * * *

We all got bundled up and went to see the Christmas lights. Now we can say, "It's Christmas!"


Favorite quote by Bill McKibben, "People always complain that Christmas starts too soon. But a bigger problem, I think, is that Christmas doesn't last long enough."

Happy Thanksgiving and a VERY good idea!

Here's a Clever Gift-Hiding Idea from Krista Colvin of REAL SIMPLE MAGAZINE BLOG - (Tip from Becky - Real Simple is having a holiday blog-a-thon of 'real simple' holiday ideas for the next 26 days!)

Krista says: I love big, solid-colored bins (no clear bins..you'll find out why) for storing my holiday décor. My Rubbermaid containers play double duty as an ever-so-clever hiding spot for presents. Picture this… you bring out all the bins, decorate like crazy, then place them back in the garage in an easy-to-reach location. When you get home from holiday shopping you quietly and quickly transfer the gifts to the empty bins (so sneaky). Designating one bin per person allows you to keep an eye on how much you’ve purchased. (Yes, the kids compare how many gifts Johnny received vs. how many Sally opened.) An added bonus to this clever solution…It’s really easy to bring the gifts into the house to gift wrap. And after the presents are opened they are placed in a bin, as opposed to a pile, then easily be moved to their new homes i.e. Johnny’s room.

Debbie says: I have done something similar over the years to organize myself as I purchase gifts. I have a locked closet where I put the gifts I have bought. In the closet I have a large department store paper shopping bag for each person I'm buying for. When I get home from shopping I just hurry and sort the purchases into the open shopping bags. I also use one sack to contain stocking stuffers and candy. When it's time to wrap, it's easy to grab a bag and start wrapping.

You hAve to try the baNanas on top!

Gingerbread Cake

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup butter

1 egg

1 cup molasses

2 1/2 cups sifted flour

1/2 tsp. salt

1 1/2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. ginger

1/2 tsp. cloves

1 cup very hot water

Cream sugar and butter well, add eggs and molasses and beat. Sift together dry ingredients and then add to mixture. Add hot water. Mix until smooth. (Batter will be thin.) Pour into well-greased 9 x 13 pan. Bake 35 to 40 minutes - or less depending on your oven.

Debbie likes to serve this with whipped cream and sliced bananas on top. Or you can serve it with...

Butter Sauce

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup cream

1 cup sugar

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1/4 tsp nutmeg

In small saucepan mix together butter and cream. Add sugar and heat until thick, stirring constantly. Add vanilla and nutmeg. Spoon over cream-topped gingerbread.

The photo above is a 9x9 pan. I make a double recipe and then pour it into three 9x9 pans if I'm serving gingerbread to a group. (Everyone loves the edges best!) You can buy these pans at places like TJ Maxx for around $7.00. Then you can give the gingerbread as a gift (tied with a big bow) and tell them to keep the pan.

{ changing the subject to Thanksgiving }

Because of ALL the resources available online - and because of ALL the clever people out there creating cool websites and blogs, there are resources galore to help with Thanksgiving planning. Since we LOVE planning around here, I thought you'd enjoy looking at a few...

The Hyper Homemaker blog is full of lists and guides. If you start today, (and double up the days a bit), you can follow her one-week list of things to do to get ready for hosting Thanksgiving at your house.

You can count on Family Fun Magazine (one of my favorite websites) to supply lots of ideas for lots of Thanksgiving projects. Click here to find a lists and lists of printables for place cards, kids coloring pages, games, napkin holders, recipe cards, and even how-to videos. Fun stuff.

Click here to download the one-week calendar shown above, print it out, and fill in all the info. that is specific to your Thanksgiving to-do list. Print one for everyone in the family so they all know what's going on. Dads and husbands especially appreciate knowing what's going on.

AND FINALLY, of course, Martha Stewart. Here is a link to a Martha's Thanksgiving planner - a one-page PDF download that has everything you need to do listed on a single page.

{ Five Favorite Christmas Books }

Christmas Tapestry by Patricia Polacco. This is a precious children's book with wonderful illustrations - really, this might be my top favorite of all. It's a story of hope and of understanding - with a warm-hearted surprise ending. You at least need to go to the bookstore and stand there in the kid's section and read through this book!

The Small One by Alex Chase. This book was recommended by one of our Big Picture class members and it looks like another heart-warmer. The story is about a young boy who is sad because he has to sell his favorite donkey, until he finds a man who will give the donkey lots of love. But what the boy doesn't know is that the man is Joseph, and his adored donkey will eventually carry Mary to Bethlehem.

Amazing Peace A Christmas Poem by Maya Angelou. A review said, "First read at the 2005 White House tree-lighting ceremony, this beautifully illustrated book is a radiant affirmation of the goodness of humanity." Every word is precious.

The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojchechowski. Another sweet children's book and one of my all-time favorites. Some books include the story on CD. I haven't seen the movie that was made from the book. Has anyone seen it?

Esther's Gift by Jan Karon. This is a little Christmas gift book based on Jan Karon's Mitford series. It's a book you want to read over and over because it's such a cute little story - all about Esther's famous Orange Marmalade Cake. And it includes the recipe! Really, it's a fun gift - you could wrap up the book and make the cake to go with it, for an extra special gift. Unless you're cutting the crazy, then you better not try to make the cake lol. Give a pretty glass cake plate instead!

consider this...

Four things children really want for Christmas:

1. A relaxed, loving time with family.

2. An evenly-paced holiday season.

3. Meaningful family traditions.

4. Realistic expectations about gifts.

From Unplug the Christmas Machine.

Fifty Nifty Traditions Ideas!

Debbie says: "As I’ve visited with women over the years about Christmas, I’ve collected quite a few ideas for holiday traditions. Today I’m going to give you a list of fifty traditions that I’ve heard about. I’d love to hear your traditions. Share your ideas in the comments area."

1. Christmas Quilt – red and green quilt is placed on someone’s bed every day while the kids are at school. Then that is the bed that the family sits on to read a Christmas story each night and that child gets to snuggle in the quilt.

2. Bingo/Pajama Party – friends and relatives wear their best jammies and play bingo (always to blackout) with fun prizes.

3. Snowman Party – outdoors party with sledding, ice skating – or swimming!

4. Booby Traps and Barricades – on Christmas morning the parents block the doorways and hallways of the children’s rooms with TP, string etc. to make it harder (and more fun) to get to the Santa loot.

5. Huge Santa Packs – buy or make huge bags and put all the gifts from Santa inside. Saves time and resources by not using paper.

6. Gifts for the Savior – hang a white stocking next to the family stockings. Everyone writes a gift they plan to give to the Savior this year and places in stocking.

7. After you decorate the Christmas tree, tell the kids that Santa will be by to see how pretty the tree is. Then next morning the children get up and the tree is covered with little candy canes.

8. Have a party and write on the invitation –“just bring yourself, you are gifts enough for each other.”

9. Develop a “jollier then thou” attitude starting December 1st.

10. Have a cookie exchange.

11. Candles on cake for Jesus. Everyone sits around the table and holds a candle. A cake is in the center of the table. One person lights her candle and expresses something that makes her happy. This continues around the circle until everyone has expressed happiness and all candles are lit. Then each candle is placed on the cake and they sing ‘happy birthday’ to Jesus.

12. Have a family slumber party under the Christmas tree.

13. Dine by treelight – set a quilt by the tree, darken the room, and have a simple meal in the lights of the Christmas tree.

14. Make sure at least on present for dad or grandpa (or whomever) is really funny…the kind of gift from a joke shop.

15. Instead of writing names on the family gift tags, paste on copies of their baby pictures.

16. Have a cookie concert. Bake cookies every year to The Nutcracker or the Messiah, or the Charlie Brown Christmas CD.

17. Have a ping-pong tournament. Have fun prizes and yummy treats.

18. “Bright Lights tour.” Go downtown and window shop and see the lights.

19. Adopt a family of younger children and tend them for an afternoon so the parents can go shopping (or have a nap).

20. Go to the forest and cut down your own Christmas tree.

21. Go to the parking lot forest and select a Christmas tree. Decorate it with simple decorations and deliver to a family in need. Do this early in December so they can enjoy it.

22. Go Christmas caroling. Put copies of songs in sheet protectors.

23. Go “Christmas treating.” Leave simple treats on the doorstep.

24. Buy several boxes of fruits and baskets or bags. Make up fruit baskets to take to elderly folks.

25. Sometime in late November have a lighting party. Invite “tall” friends to help with outdoor decorations. Have a festive lunch to thank them.

26. Make hand-dipped chocolates and other homemade candy.

27. Decide that gifts for immediate family will be homemade. That is the only gift that is opened on Christmas Eve.

28. The Christmas Walk – grandparents take kids on a walk on Christmas Eve to look at the wonder of the starry night and get good and tired. Meanwhile the parents get a head start on Santa duty.
29. Winter Walk – take a walk or hike with a gift for the birds or ducks.

30. A Silent Night – have a night where you hardly talk. Play beautiful music as you wrap gifts or make cards…and contemplate the meaning of the season.

31. The Fancy Dinner – sometime in December have a nice dinner with best dress and a beautifully set table. Tell your family how much you love them.

32. After you decorate the Christmas tree, tell the kids that Santa will be by to see how pretty the tree is. Then next morning the children get up and the tree is covered with little candy canes.

33. Scrooge Party – watch two versions of “A Christmas Carol” while eating old-fashioned treats like roasted chestnuts and wassail.

34. Book Traditions – wrap books (can even be library books) and place in a basket on Dec. 1. Read one per night through the month. Or one per week or whatever.

35. Buy a special book (not necessarily a Christmas book) and write inside the front cover about the child’s year and why it was special to you and her.

36. Pick a family and give a copy of The Polar Express, with a bell for each child.

37. Read a chapter from the ‘Best Christmas Pageant Ever’ book each night.

38. Develop ethnic and cultural traditions. Hide a pickle on the tree to be found on Christmas morning – the one to find it gets to open the first gift.

38. Have an advent wreath with four candles to be lit each Sunday in Dec. to signify that Christ is the light of the world.

40. Celebrate Kwanzaa by lighting a candle and talking about the principle of the day. Learn about how other celebrate Kwanzaa.

41. Spend an evening learning about Hanukkah and lighting a menorah. Discuss respect for the traditions of others.

42. Put out seeds and crumbs for the birds on Christmas Eve.

42. Put out carrots and grain for the reindeer on Christmas Eve.

43. Put out cookies and milk for Santa on Christmas Eve.

44. Make a tape while you are decorating the Christmas tree. Talk about memories and happy times. “Remember the Snoopy ornaments!” Send to someone who is away from home.

45. Have a little elf (stuffed toy elf) that arrives on Dec. 1 and hides each night so the kids have to find him each morning.

46. Have a decorating contest on your street. Each home enters by donating an entry fee. It’s understood that the prize money will be donated to a needy family.

47. Have a party where you put together a Christmas for an entire family and give it to Sub-for-Santa.

48. Go to a nursing home and sing Christmas songs, play the piano or other instruments.

49. Let the children put a straw in a manger for Jesus each time they perform an act of service. By Christmas Eve the manger should be full.

50. Remember that you only have to do a few traditions, and that they will evolve and change over time!

Christmas Project Inspiration

Post by Debbie
As you may or may not know, I work for Adornit - a scrapbook company. I'm so tickled with the Christmas line that Adornit created this year. The cutest papers and embellishments ever. Especially wonderful are all the new double sided papers. Card makers - check them out!

This is from the Adornit blog - a little inspiration to pump up your Christmas creativity. This little box would be a darling gift for someone special. Made by Lacie Bergeson, who was the guest blogger for Adornit last week. Lacie has several more cute projects on the blog that you'll want to see here and here.

Lacie writes:
"At my local scrapbook store they just purchased a new die-cutting system. I was so excited to see some of the fun new dies they got. This explosion box was one of them. You can create it without the die-cut also, it just made it a little faster. I love using all of the fun new Christmas embellishments from Adornit. The photos are from a shoot I did with my kids a couple of years ago and I have been wanting to make a mini album with them. I can't wait to put up our Christmas decorations this year and have this on my shelf to be enjoyed."

Thanks Lacie & Adornit!

- Start now to Cut the Crazy later -

*How to begin preparing to make Christmas meaningful this year:

Have a family meeting:
ASK - What do you remember about last year?
- Do you remember the gifts you got?
- Do you remember the fun times or the service?
- What are our top 5 family values for Christmas & how can we reflect them?

*TALK then THINK - after you’ve discussed Christmas with your husband and kids – and maybe even your extended family and in-laws – I want you to take the “CUT THE CRAZY CHALLENGE.” One day soon, set aside an hour to think about Christmas. Turn on some calm music. Light a really good-smelling candle. Get out some of last December’s photos to stimulate your memory. With pencil and paper, really think about what your Christmas is like. Then ask yourself what you could do have your celebration be more in line with your values and desires.

Then, write down two or three small goals - things you might work on this year. No more than three!

*a couple of my goals are: 1) to finish the shopping for gifts for my immediate family early 2) to plan a winter hike up in the mountains for family and cousins. 3) to get most of my decorating finished (except the tree) on or very near the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

Cut the Crazy, Financially!

Hi everyone, this is Suzie W. Debbie's daughter:
When I came across this article I thought, sometimes simplifying Christmas includes simplifying the whole holiday financial fiasco. I think Suze puts it best when she states "If you really want to put the joy back into your holiday season, focus on how you can avoid ripping yourself off". I have shortened the article but you can click the link to see the full article from Yahoo Finance. Here's the link: http://finance.yahoo.com/expert/article/moneymatters/13566

Five Ways to Avoid Holiday Overspending
By Suze Orman
To you, it may be the holiday season. To me, it's the danger season.
I'm talking about the five weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas, when 20 percent of our country's annual retail spending occurs. Jamming one-fifth of our spending into a frenzied window of shopping time can lead to some ugly financial results: A whole lot of bills we have no way of paying off come January. If you really want to put the joy back into your holiday season, focus on how you can avoid ripping yourself off. Spending money you don't have is one self-inflicted scam you can - and should - protect yourself from.
1. Double the cost of anything you buy with a credit card and don't intend to pay off when the bill comes next month.
The absolute worst move you can make is to charge gifts on a credit card you can't afford to pay off.
2. Disorganization will cost you big-time.
Before you spend one penny on gifts, create a master list of every person you intend to give a gift to this year. Then figure out a reasonable total dollar amount you can afford to spend on gifts this year. Every time you make a gift purchase, record it in your budget list: how much you spend, who the gift is for, and how much money is left in the budget.
3. Decline store card offers.
When you're standing at a checkout counter and the clerk offers you a 10 percent discount if you agree to open a store credit card account, say no.
4. Handle your gift card with care.
Gift cards are increasingly popular - that can indeed be a win-win situation, but be careful if you're on the receiving end. An all-too-common pattern is to spend more than the amount of a gift card.
5. You can't buy friends or love.
An important relationship is not defined by what you spend on a holiday gift. No one is going to love you less or devalue a treasured friendship just because you're not exchanging expensive gifts this year.
**************
Happy Holidays
Suzie W

awaken the Christmas spirit - Debbie

Joy is preparing now so you don't have that panicky feeling in December. There are lots of great books about Christmas planning - and I've learned a lot from many different authors. From the book "Checklist for a Perfect Christmas" by Judith Blahnik, comes this advice about how to involve family members in planning a meaningful celebration:

"If you are the person who wears the Christmas producer/director hat in your family, then you are the one who must awaken the Christmas spirit. First, through a family gathering or through individual chats, simply talk about Christmas. Ask everybody (this could include extended family and even friends) about their most vivid memories of past Christmases.

Most people will enjoy this because you aren't pushing for any results other than remembering. Write down what everyone says in your Christmas notebook; be sure to add your own memories as well. Then just let everything simmer for awhile. This exercise begins to awaken the spirit of Christmas in family members and helps you to shape new events from old memories, creating a unique and fresh Christmas."

Christmas Planner

If you really want to cut the crazy out of Christmas it helps to be organized! Use a planner, write everything down, and keep it where you can reach for it every day.

Debbie and Norma Olsen's planner (titled Cut the Crazy out of Christmas) has everything you need to plan and prepare for Christmas. And it really helps!

The planners are available online through Adornit scrapbook company - www.adornit.com. Click here to purchase the complete planner including the looseleaf binder, dividers and inside pages or just the inside pages (includes dividers) without the binder.

Your Cut the Crazy out of Christmas binder/planner is the foundation for preparing for Christmas and will become your "control central" for Christmas. Your planner will eliminate all those floating scraps of paper that boggle your mind and clutter your counter. No more addresses jotted on napkins or endless post-it notes on the fridge. Everything will be compiled in one place.

"My binder is my 'right hand man,' especially from September to January," says Debbie. "I keep it in my kitchen cupboard right next to my recipe books. Just last week my sister-in-law commented that she didn't have a good angel food cake pan like mine with the little feet on it. As soon as she left, I took out my binder and wrote, "Kimberly - angel food cake pan" on my 2008 gift list. I promise, I wouldn't remember that gift idea any other way!"

The magic of this planner is that it can be used year after year. It evolves with your family's needs. For example, you can save magazine pictures of decorating ideas -then change the pictures as your tastes change. You can add helpful hints, games, traditions and stories. Remember to keep your gift lists from year to year to simplify planning and shopping for gifts. Use each page to help you cut the crazy out of Christmas.

{4-Corner Aprons} - Suzie W

This post is by Suzanne W. - Debbie's daughter!

Around the beginning of October I begin thinking about Christmas. I sit and wonder, what can I give neighbors, church friends, and co-workers? You know, the people whom you chat with and love to have in your life, but, not the people you give a big expensive personalized gift to. I usually do one gift for the season that I make or buy several of and give out. I am not a baker - or a cook, so cookies and breads are out. But, I can complete simple projects. In choosing a project I have two stipulations: 1) It has to be cheap & 2) It has to be easy!

This year my project found me . . . I ask all my neighbors, church friends, and co-workers to please look away. I was at my favorite Las Vegas fabric store, and aprons were everywhere! What fun! I needed an apron pattern which was simple, stylish and cute! Looking through the rack of patterns one fell to my feet. Picking it up I realized this is it! It is called a 4-corner apron, by Vanilla House Designs (check out their website: http://www.vanillahousedesigns.com/p132-four-corners-apron/).

Did it meet my two stipulations? 1) Fabric at WalMart was $2.50 per yard and I was able to cut one adult size and one child size out of two one-yard lengths of fabric. This created the most darling "Mommy and Me" aprons! 2) If you can sew a straight seam, you can sew this apron quickly and easily! I think they will make a perfect gift!

Time wise I did okay: I bought all my fabric at one time (2 hours at WalMart). When I got home I washed all the cuts of the same colors together (3 loads, while I made dinner). Next I started cutting my fabric out. I determined the sizes and made a quick pattern out of the first one. I layered the fabric and cut two at a time using a rotary wheel. As I finished cutting the pieces for each one I folded each apron's pieces together, so nothing would get lost! (3 hours 45 minutes or 7 episodes of Friends). Sewing each one took a little more time . . . The first one took the longest because I had to figure it all out. After that I got it down to a science and it took about 1 1/2 hours per apron spread out over a few days. I changed a few things on the pattern to better suit my liking: I made button holes on the neck strap to easily adjust the length. I sewed two lines of straight stitching around the perimeter of the apron to give them a polished look. And I decided not to do the bias stitch on the bottom corner. I just pieced it like a quilt - straight stitching!

The project was so fun and totally worth it.

Christmas Decorating Idea - Aimee

This post is by Aimee Raymond - Debbie's daughter-in-law.
The Christmas season is a good time to have fun decorating. If you enjoy decor, you can really get creative. Every year I like to rearrange my Christmas decorations from the year before. One idea is to decorate with things you love and have some sentimental meaning behind them. I am a word person and love finding fun Christmasy words to decorate my home with. Use your favorite decorations in that one spot that people will see first. I have a table in my entry-way by my front door at my home. I choose my very favorite holiday decor, to put on the table. That way when guests enter my home, they will be invited by my favorite things. Happy Decorating!

Christmas Cookie Recipes and More!

This Christmas cookie website is great! It has many different cookie recipes and more.

Tips for Holiday Scrapbooks

I found these tips for making your holiday scrapbook.

PHOTOS
One of the key ingredients of a holiday scrapbook is your photos. The images you portray are much of what actually make up a good part of your holiday memories, and often depict a true representation of your family and friendships. Since there are probably several from which to choose, you might consider coming up with a central theme for your holiday scrapbook and base everything you decide to include on that idea. For example, if your scrapbook is a Christmas album, you would want to use pictures that are representative of that holiday.

Use a wide variety of photos within your central theme. If you have children, include pictures of them taking part in various holiday activities. Also include photos of other friends and family members, and then tie it all together by using group photos that show the involvement of your entire clan. You can use pictures of your child sitting on Santa’s lap, photos of people opening presents, and images of everyone around the Christmas tree.

Use images that are unique and will easily show others your dynamic personality. Decide on striking images in attractive settings that will make the viewer stop to look at and admire them. Choose carefully, and have fun creating your holiday scrapbook.

JOURNALING
Journaling is an important part of your holiday scrapbook. While not everyone chooses to do this, it is a good way to keep track of the memories that go along with the photos. By writing down the date and time the photo was taken, the names of everyone in it, and other information such as the location, event, and various activities that took place at that particular time, you will be able to easily recall the day as if it had just occurred. This is especially important if the holiday scrapbook is passed down from one generation to another, because often times later generations either weren’t old enough to remember the actual event as it took place, or weren’t even present at that time. Journaling is also a good way to add character and personality to the images, and helps them tell a story.

Urge others whose images are included in the holiday scrapbook to write down their memories and ideas. What better way to add variety to your memory book than to include special memories and sayings from those you love. Not only will you have their pictures to remind you how wonderful the holidays were, but you’ll also have their words. This will definitely help make your holiday scrapbook unique and eye-catching.

Tradition - Aimee

At Christmas time we always invite friends and family over to make Gingerbread houses. We have a wonderful time decorating them. The kids love to help out. The best part for them is eating all the goodies that go on the houses. When we are all finished, we like to have a little judging contest. Making Gingerbread houses has become a fun tradition. It makes the holiday season so enjoyable to look back on the past years and all of the fun memories we have made.

Welcome Big Picture Scrapbooking class members - Debbie

Hello from Debbie to all my Big Picture Scrapbooking friends. This blog is the place I'm going to post "extra" stuff to supplement our Cut the Crazy out of Christmas class. I am thrilled that the day has finally arrived and the class has started - Georgana and I have been anticipating this for over six months! We can't wait to get acquainted on the boards. Whoa - I've got to get busy too. I kind of let Fall-o-ween take center stage lately (that's OK - except for those mini Twix bars) but now that this class has started I've got some Christmas planning to do!

I just visited Stacy Julian's blog - she's the Big Picture Scrapbooking 'big-wig' as you know. I thought her words were so important and applicable to our Cut the Crazy out of Christmas process. Stacy is referring to scrapbooks in the following paragraph. Please go to her blog to get the full context of her heartfelt post. She writes:

"If I was able to leave one message this weekend with those wonderful ladies, (at a scrapbook store in Montana) this is it:

"Let go. Stop making this so hard. Stop worrying about whether you are doing it right or whether you are good enough or whether you have the right stuff you need or whether you can keep up or whatEVER. If your pictures and stuff aren't organized, do something about it. Stop procrastinating and JUST START telling your stories. Long stories, short stories, stories from this past summer and stories from when you were little. Stop leaving blanks on your pages where you will go back and add journaling. STOP that right now. Start using your own imperfect handwriting and stop thinking it will ruin your page. My goodness girls there is so much good that happens in and through this amazing hobby. Let's just decided to let go and let it happen."

As we begin our Cut the Crazy out of Christmas class, which includes making a few scrapbook pages and using our own handwriting in our planners, I hope we can remember the Stacy's advice and just get in and get the job done so we can get to the real business of celebrating a holiday that we love with people we love.

Debbie talks about Unplug the Christmas Machine

[ Image from Amazon.com ]

This is the book that started it all.

Actually, what started it all is a Christmas morning about twenty-five years ago. Santa had come and dumped his sack on our family room floor. Presents had also been opened as evidenced by piles of wrapping papers and ribbon scattered everywhere. I was exhausted. All I wanted to do was go back to bed. I felt sick to my stomach as I looked at the gifts and remembered the hours and hours we had spend the night before dragging it all out and hoping it would "be enough." I don't remember where the kids and husband were at that moment - but I do know that I made a resolution then and there that next year would be different. I was not doing Christmas like this any more. I was not wrapping socks and underwear and already-read books so the children would have more gifts. I was not staying up all night because I had spent Christmas Eve day shopping for a gift for my father-in-law.

In my search for an answer to the stress I felt over HATING Christmas, I found the book Unplug the Christmas Machine by Jo Robinson and Jean Staeheli. The first few pages drew me in. "People don't hate Christmas," the authors said, "they just hate what's happened to Christmas." Yes, that's me!

Finding this book was a miracle in my life. It was a blessing and a life-saver. I read the book over and over, underlined the best parts until nearly every page was yellow, circled paragraphs, memorized lines. I still remember a favorite quote - something a man said when the authors interviewed him about Christmas. "At Christmastime my wife gets manic and I get depressed. It's hurry hurry hurry go go go when all I really want to do is sit by the fire with a few close friends." That quote has stayed with me all these years.

I shared the book with friends and neighbors; one of them was Norma Olsen. She showed me her Christmas planner - that was back in the days before internet and I'd never seen such a useful looseleaf binder as this wonderful one Norma had created. We adapted her ideas, got ourselves a graphic designer, and published Cut the Crazy out of Christmas. We taught classes to women's groups - and did so for the next fifteen years - Norma's still doing it.

Time passes and needs change. I've had good years and pretty disorganized ones, but I still carry the lessons I learned from Jo Robinson and Jean Staeheli with me through each holiday season. They changed my mind and heart, gave me hope each December, and taught me to love what I love about Christmas and control or adapt what I don't. I hope this blog and the Big Picture class (if you're taking it) can help you do the same.

{ it's next week! }

In less than one week (on October 30 to be exact) lots and lots of women - I mean hundreds - will join me and Georgana in our Big Picture Scrapbooking class called Cut the Crazy out of Christmas. I have been working on this for so long - fifteen years of 'real-time' classes with my friend Norma Olsen - and now it's going to be online to help women all over the world. I'm excited and proud of everything we put together. Great downloadable handouts, fun projects and a planner that will help get us all organized. Here is a description that went out as an email ad to thousands of BPS customers: ********************************************************************************
Christmas is a time of great excitement and activity - and sometimes chaos. It's also a time when we want to feel moments of peace and joy.

The things we long for at Christmas: opportunities to sit by the fire with family and friends, time to create handmade gifts, activities with children that include service & creativity - these simply won't happen if we don't PLAN ahead and then leave space for them on our December calendars.

Christmas gets crazy because we try to cram everything into four short weeks. At some point, we must accept that it is unrealistic to have it all, do it all, and be it all. The Cut the Crazy out of Christmas approach helps you so that:

{Love and joy can really be yours this holiday season.}

The 'cut the crazy' ladies, Georgana and Debbie, teamed with Big Picture Scrapbooking, can help bring a new perspective on how you approach Christmas this year. The workshop includes a downloadable planner that will change the way you plan for the holidays…plus projects and lots of ideas. We invite you to join us!

weLcome to our bLog

Looking for a new approach to planning Christmas? You've come to the right place! This is the official blog for Cut the Crazy out of Christmas. We're starting this blog provide more information about us, the Big Picture Scrapbooking workshop, and the binder.

Cut the Crazy out of Christmas is a two-hour class that was originated by Norma Olsen and Debbie Raymond. We have taught the class to women's groups for the past fourteen years - or more! It is a class on simplifying and having a more meaningful Christmas.

An important part of the class is the Cut the Crazy out of Christmas planner. Debbie and Norma published the binder in 2001 (after making Xerox copies for hundreds of women lol). The planner is available online here at Adornit.com It will soon be available in an updated, newly designed downloadable version. If you are interested in that please email us at cutthecrazy@gmail.com.

What's the connection with Cut the Crazy and Adornit scrapbook company you ask? Well, Debbie works as the editor at Adornit and her boss Georgana Hall became interested in the Christmas planner after hearing another employee, Stephanie Austin talking about it. Georgana thinks big and offered to help in submitting Cut the Crazy out of Christmas as a class on Big Picture Scrapbooking. Debbie and Norma agreed that it would be awesome to get their ideas out to a bigger audience. Debbie knew that this could be BIG so she helped Georgana get the submission ready. They are proud to announce that Cut the Crazy will be presented as a BPS workshop during the month of November. More information on the workshop here.