Great packages arriving here. I just finished three swaps and all received the hand crafted spoon markers and I have received many inquiries as to how they are made. The following is a site where I found some for you guys to see what I am talking about. I love how they added the little plant stamps so will have to find out how they did that. http://paperandplanes.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/dsc07503.jpg I used new spoons I got on sale but have made some for myself from spoons I found at the Goodwill. My husband used a rubber mallet to flatten the spoon. I then purchased a steel stamping letter/number set. I just line these up on the spoon one letter at a time and bang them with a regular hammer about 25 times to assure they indent the spoon. We used a work table my husband has and placed a large garden border brick on that to bang on. When flattening the spoon, places an old towel over it so as not to scratch it up. http://stampingjewelrysupplies.com/images/letter_numbers/il_430xN.157647088.jpg These are very easy to stamp and I enjoy doing it. I plan to make many more for my gardens as these will last forever. Corinne, it is amazing to think what happened to that your beautiful gardens since the first pictures you posted. How powerful nature can be. Margo

Mellen, good to see you and Merry Christmas to everyone! We had a wonderful Christmas here. They say it may snow this evening and into tomorrow. If so, South Carolina will be excited and wild, too, with those who don't know how to drive in winter weather! LOL I didn't said anything before but I thought I should let you know. My older daughter is expecting triplets in the Spring! I doubt that I will be participating much here with OBF early in 2011. She lives all the way across the country and we have a baby shower to host there in January. I'm sure a few more trips will happen when the babies arrive - so I can see them and help out a bit. I think my 2011 will be off to a busy and expensive start - and oh, the hassle of airline security this days - what fun! April, your snow showed up before ours. It is snowing in upstate SC. Maybe ours will show up soon, but I don't think we will get much. I just love to watch the snowflakes fall though. It's rare here and how special to have some snow on Christmas! Jeanne

After searching the net for ideas for our TAW celebrtions I came across acouple of GREAT ones!! 1. Take the kids outside, have them lay on the ground and make letters with their bodies. To spell out THANK YOU! and take pictures. Post the pictures in the teachers lounge 2. There is a clever list of sayings that go along with candies. Sweet Talk (submitted by Cathy Sork, Ft. Vancouver H.S.) Use candy and other treats to help share a thank you/encouragement message to teachers including:  Kudos ® to You!  You are worth 100 Grand ®!  Thanks for all the laughs and Snickers ®  You are Out of this World! (Mars ® or Milky Way ®)  You Deserve a Sweet Escape ® for All You Do!  Thanks for the Mounds ® of Work You Do!  Hope your vacation is Carefree ® (Gum)  You are M&M!!! (Marvelous and Magnificant)  Students and Teacher Working Together Makes a Sweet Symphony ®!  Thanks for putting up with us Ding Dongs ®!  You are O'FISH'ally Awesome!(Gold Fish ® crackers)  We Love You!!! XOXO (Hershey's Hugs and Kisses ®)  You Deserve an Extra Payday ®!  Thanks for always being willing to do EXTRA ®! (Gum)  You are a JOY! (Almond Joy ®)  We are NUTS about you  You were "mint" to be a teacher  Snack bag of chips with note "You're all that and a bag of chips!"  Have a poppin' good weekend (popcorn)  Thanks for pudding up with us. (Snack pudding)  Have a Cracker Jack® of a summer! Good Luck

I make all of the Christmas cards we send. Birthday, sympathy and other holiday cards, not so much anymore. Birthdays always seem to sneak up on me so they go out late. Even though I have a number of stamp sets for sympathy cards, I just haven't quite gotten the knack for them. I need to work on that, and get some made ahead. I usually keep cards for several years before tossing them. I know when I start cleaning out the house I am going to find many from our KT card exchanges!