Merry Christmas with Atlantic Hearts #81

Wow, it's crazy to think that we are only 6 weeks away from Christmas Eve.  Yes, you read that right. There are 6 more weeks until Christmas.  Are you ready?

I have most of my cards made, but have yet to really start my Christmas shopping.  Do you have any Christmas traditions that you would love to share?

On Christmas Eve I have my inlaws over for Lobster and scallops and we let the kids open a present from us(which is usually their new jammies so that they can wear them).  Then Christmas morning we let the kids tear into their stockings and gifts from Santa....by the time they have done that and played with whatever Santa has given them, our family starts rolling in the door for Christmas breakfast and they enjoy watching the kids open the remaining gifts.

We are very fortunate to be able to give our children a good Christmas, but we also like to be able to help provide a better Christmas to a family less fortunate than us.  My husbands employers sponsor 4 families and help provide them with meals and gifts. Our children like to be able to also take toys and give them to the local toy drive.

I hope you will share some of your Christmas traditions with me.  Now for the sketch.....

My creation:

My creation today using a blue pattern from Snowhaven, I've added 2 red glitter gems, and some red shimmer trim.  The middle flag is a pattern found on one of the pattern papers, and the first strip is the zipstrip from that same sheet.  The Nutcracker is from Stamp Set Candyland (D1557). I used the ShinHan Touch Twin markers to color him. The sentiment is from the stamp set that comes with the Artfully Sent cartridge, and is stamped in Cranberry Ink.

I hope you will also head on over to Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge and check out the fabulous creations from our Design Team.  Our Guest Designer this week is Sheri Bage Ballantyne, and she was busy and created not 1 but 3 pieces of artwork using this week's sketch. Please leave everyone a little love.