Ornaments

I make or get an ornament for the kids each year. I don't thing that this tradition is a unique one but it is really fun. The kids LOVE getting out their ornaments at Christmastime.
Here are the ones I made for this year.
A chicken for Zoe. She has been obsessed with chickens this year.

Liam has started writing books, so I made him a little book that he can write a story in.

Lydia's room has a lot of butterflies and she likes butterflies.

Felix is besotted with Veggietales at the moment. There was no other choice for him, except Larry.

Photo tags

I am sure I saw this idea somewhere years ago and never thought I would use it. But this year it surfaced and I did it. I made gift tags with the kids pictures on them. It is so fun for them to find their gifts with their faces smiling at them.
I used old photos that I had laying around. So some of them are of the kids years ago. I think I will use them over again. I just put them on the gifts that are from us, so they know who they are from.

Snow Globe Soap

I found this cutest tutorial that I knew I had to try.
Each year I help my kids make gifts for each other. They get so excited about their homemade gifts! I decided that I would make this one with Lydia.

They smell like peppermint and are so cute! We found the little monkey toys in those 25 cent dispensers in the front of a grocery store that you never want your kids to buy things out of because it is crap. We also put rings in some of them, and some other little toys I found in the doll house section of the craft store.

It made a lot. It took hardly any time. It was a mess. I am so excited about them!

Christmas Card Wreath

I can't remember where I saw this idea and then promptly ripped it off. I think it is a fun display for Christmas cards. I love the one's my kids made and the one my Dad printed on his press (blue with temple), and the one my brother printed on his press from a vintage plate (red santa).

Beaded watch

These watches are all the rage around here. I was asked to teach a demonstration about how to make one at our church's Super Saturday. The band is attached with claw hooks (I don't know what they are really called) so that you can switch bands.
I made this one for my mother-in-law's birthday.

Another zip pouch

I finally tried a new pattern. After making a million gathered zippered pouches I decided to try this pattern. They both are super easy and turn out really cute.
I really am currently obsessed with making bags. I got some fabric at a thrift store the other day and already have plans for more bags.
This pouch was a gift for one of Zoe's friends. We filled it with bows, which I am also currently obsessed with making.

Pointer

My friend was an elementary teacher years ago and had this pointer that was so desireable for the kids. Since we are doing a preschool, I decided to do make this. It was a total hit!

Felt Butterfly Mobile

Lydia has been having nightmares for awhile. Travis thoughtfully brought home a (nasty) dreamcatcher that grosses me out every time I see it. I had seen this mobile and loved it so much. I thought it fit really well in her newly acquired room. It is also reminiscent this fun piece of art that hangs in her room.

Cowl?

I got one of those circular looms to use to make knittet things. I thought this was called a cowl, but when I looked up that word it referrenced a hood, which this is not.
I think it turned out well. It was made with super soft yarn and will be heavenly in the cold. I actually have one that I crocheted last year and I wore it all winter.

Bows, bows, bows

I was never a girly-girl. I don't think my mother ever once put a bow in my hair my entire childhood. I always thought that they were a little nauseating. I also never liked the color pink until I found out Zoe was a girl when I was pregnant with her and it has been my favorite color ever since.

Well, since I am pro bows (because my mother was anti-bows, isn't that the way it goes) Zoe has been anti-bows, until recently. For her birthday she requested a bow in every color (thank you Hannnah!) So this is what I came up with.

Zoe took some extra ribbon, glued some buttons on the ends for the bow holder. It even matches her room!

Room redo

We decided awhile ago to paint our room. We chose an avocado color. It is brighter than it appears in the pictures. I made some pillows and a bedspread.
We found these cute little lamps to go with the orange accent.

The beautiful dresser that my dad made for our wedding.

LOVE this bookshelf that we bought at a local antique store. Perfect place for my homemade books and photo albums.

I got this antique window pane on the curb (someone was throwing it away) and put a thin layer of paint on it.

My gorgeous succulents that make me so happy. Orange pots for the accent.

I got these fabulous pocket organza sheers from Pottery Barn ten years ago. They fit perfectly in the room. I love the soft light that they throw into the room.

Reversable bag and zippered clutch

Reversable bag and zippered clutch.

Mad Scientist Birthday Party

While the guests were arriving, we had them make nametags with mad scientists names on them. Then we did their hair crazy, so they would look like mad scientists.

Next, we started concocting potions.
It was really fun. The Pop Rocks were popping for a full 15 minutes after we put them in.

After they were good and sugered up from the potions we did a few experiments.

First, this milk and food color experiment.

Next, we made Oobleck.

Lastly, we made Slime.

It was super fun, and took just enough time.

After experiments I sent them on a treasure hunt all around the neighborhood to find the treasure, which ended up being the pinata. I did riddles for some of the clues and some of them were sketches.

I had made the pinata with little chocolate eyeballs inside (as well as other candy).

Next we cut into the brain cake.

It worked out just great. I was so pleased with the timing of it all. My husband was off picking up his folks from the airport so I was so happy my brother and his wife were there to help. Especially when I almost killed a neighborhood kid (with a peanut allergy) by letting him eat a chocolate eyeball filled with peanut butter.

Potion ingredients

Last year the kids had so much fun making potions at Liam's Harry Potter birthday party, that I thought it would fit in with this years Mad Scientist theme. We had most of the same ingredients (dried powdered porcupine blood, electric eel venom, exploding volcanic rocks, fire water, etc.) but added the fun worm ice.

Brain cake

Along with Zoe's mad scientist theme for her birthday I made a brain cake. Just go with it, it is a brain okay?

eyeball pinata

Zoe's birthday theme this year was Mad Scientist. We made an eyeball pinata. I put little chocolate eyeballs in it.

Reversable messenger bag (for Zoe)

Zoe has been bugging me forever to make her a bag. I have been wanting to, but had to find the right fabric first. This was perfect. A cotton canvas that is heaven to work with, especially for bags. And...could it be cuter?
The bag is fully reversable, but this is how she likes it. Front Outside.

Front, inside out.

Back, inside out (so this usually is the interior, with lots of pockets).

I also made a gathered clutch to go with it.

I love this bag so much that I want it. And when she dragged it across my (horribly dirty) kitchen floor, I was offended.

gathered clutch

I found this fun tutorial for this gathered, zippered, clutch. After the first one they went pretty fast. I have already made eight and have plans to make more. I love how quick they turn out and it is so fun to pick the fabrics to match. I made all eight from fabric I already had, I can't imagine how fun if you got to pick out new fabric!

They are great little gifts. I have given all but two away, and I love the ones I kept. I hope the recipients love theirs as much as I do.

Hobo bag

I was wanting a huge bag to double as a purse and diaper bag with tons of pockets and room for everything. I wanted something cute that I would use even if I didn't have diaper things in it. I designed this bag. I didn't have apattern, just made it up as I went. There are a few things I would've done differently, but I love the bag. I would've reinforced the band around the top and the divider inside with interfacing.

Bracelet for mom

My mom doesn't generally wear jewelry. I was very flattered that she loved this and even wore it.

Laundry/Craft Room Redo

There is a great little area in my laundry room that I have claimed for my crafting/sewing stuff. I was so grateful to have a spot that I don't even mind that it is hot and small in there (and sometimes noisy).
When my recent girls trip to Portland was cancelled (sob, sob) I told Travis I was still vacationing, but would be locking myself in the craft room, to paint and decorate.
I painted the room robin's egg blue. The table was our first table when we got married that I repainted. The fabric is hiding all of my clear storage which holds all of my supplies. Although in the picture it is being held up with a combination of duct tape and push pins, I have since then put it on a rod, so that it can be pushed aside for easier access. (Thanks for the brilliant idea, Shawna!)

I already had a bunch of bins that I could use on this handy shelf above the washer and dryer.

This is a shelf that my dad made for me for my dolls when I was little. It was stained oak, but I sanded and painted it and it holds a bunch of treasures from my Grandma that I have never had a place to display. The shelf isn't hung up yet, but you get the idea.

Everytime I enter the room I get excited! It is so functional and happy!

Emerald green bracelet

I wish I could get the colors more vibrant and true in the photo.

New things

visit this site for the before photo
I always want to write down some of my thoughts and things I am pondering. I don't know why I hesitate to do it on my blog, but I do. So, I thought, "I really don't think many (if any) people visit this blog, and since these thoughts are about creating, I will record them here".
I just painted my craft table red. As I was painting, I was remembering when I painted our unwanted family tree house and turned it into my sanctuary. I was probably 10 and spent the summer decorating and enjoying my little getaway. I remembered the dried paint drips and the paint where it wasn't suppose to go. It probably looked horrible.
I love makeover shows. I doesn't matter if it is cars, people, or houses. I love before and after! I have always been enthralled by re purposed furniture. I admire people who have the guts to take something ugly and hopefully make it prettier. They can make it reflect their style and compliment their space. I really want to learn how to do this.

Ideas for projects I want to try: 1. I want a sideboard. I LOVE the idea of sideboards and my family room NEEDS one. Travis found one at IKEA that is nice and would work well with all of our other IKEA furniture in that room. But I want something with character. A piece with character and sass. I don't know about whether I would paint it or stain it. I guess I will know when I find the piece. Luckily I have a very knowledgeable friend here in town that has made over lots of furniture and can help me.

2. Again with the makeover theme, I want to learn to upholster. I have some fabulous chairs that we got at D.I. (I think). They have fabulous lines and are pretty strait forward. I think that I would be able to refinish them, it is just the giant leap I have to take, to be confident enough to try. I am really terrified of killing them.

Shawna recently showed me a site that has Before and After pictures of furniture and rooms. http://www.designspongeonline.com/
The desk above is an "After" photo from a desk refinish. Look how fun and full of character! I want to be that brave.

Felt Headbands

I have been seeing these flower headbands all over the craft sites I frequent. Zoe and I were making crafts one day and she wanted to make one. We started with the gray one. I cut out the flowers and she sewed all of the little purple beads on it. I made the other two the next day. Looking at the pictures I don't really love them, but they are a start to figuring out how to make some I love.