a month of december

Yeah, I'd say it's almost been a month since I posted, not for lack of things done, but because I just didn't feel like sorting through photos. Lame, and lazy I know. But, I'll try to make up for it by posting lots of photos . . . Merry Christmas!


these are the stockings I bought last year at the dollar store and "upgraded" with sillouettes which I LOVE for than just about any other style, and our names embroidered with a font printed off word.


I made these blocks last year after doing some at our Relief Society Enrichment Super Saturday for the little one. They're fun, and I don't mind the two year old playing with them to his heart's content.



the TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS . . . fridge magnet silhouette nativity style




Hopefully there will be more posts coming soon!

thankful tree

A friend of mine had this great idea for a thankful tree made from a branch put into a potter. Then you could hang leaves with thankfulness written on them all over it- a great Thanksgiving activity. I loved it, but as I was trying to figure out how to do it in a cute way I had this mental block. My mind doesn't do 3D I've decided. It can, but only with sewing type stuff. My brain has problems. It likes 2D much better. I think the only reason I got an A- in my sculpture class in college was because I was pregnant and the teacher felt sorry for me. Alas. So, I had to make my thankful tree 2D. I'm really excited with the way it turned out. I used gold wrapping paper (from after Christmas clearance last year) and drew a tree outline on the back, cut it out, and taped it to the wall. The leaves are light green, white and brown cardstock. Easy, fun, and I read and think about the grateful words on it every time I walk past. Happy Thanksgiving!

Billow Boxes

I bought a frozen turkey yesterday. Actually, I bought a fresh turkey. On my way out of the store I realized my mistake-thanks to a patient buddy I was able to return the fresh turkey and get myself a $16 cheaper and preservable frozen turkey right then and there. I'm so excited Thanksgiving is on it's way, and in honor of that, and the fact that I finally figured out how to link downloadable files in blogger, I'm sharing with you my free "billow" boxes. Perfect for little after dinner mints, treats, or toys. Just remember they really work best printed on card stock. Enjoy. I would love it if you would comment and let me know how you're planning to use them!

cloth napkins

We're excited to have my brother-in-laws family for Thanksgiving this year. I kept telling myself I'd just buy paper napkins-but secretly I really wanted to make some cloth napkins. I just didn't want to stress out about having to do it. Well, I had a little time this weekend and so I just jumped in without thinking too much. Now I'm really glad I did it. I think they'll be more fun than paper napkins . . . now I just have to finalize napkin rings!

*If you've been thinking about making cloth napkins there are lots of great tutorials out there. Purl Bee's has a great post called Molly's Handmade Napkins that uses bias tape around the edge. Cheez Beeper Bebe has 5 different ideas for cloth napkins-all fun. I kept mine simple and just cut twelve 18" squares and sewed two together to make six napkins. (I chose 18" because the length of material I was working with divided evenly into 18). I did 1/2" seam allowances and then flipped them right side out, ironed and top stitched 3/8" around the edge.

male cards

I really struggle with male birthday cards. Especially adult males. What sort of embellishments can you use? I mean, flowers and ribbon and bows just don't cut it, aka. 90% of scrapbook stuff. Except maybe grosgrain ribbon. So, in my discouragement as my father-in-law and grandpa's birthdays are coming up I got on the computer and designed my own embellishments. Do the graphics look familiar? I still wonder if they might be a little juvenile, but then, who spends more than 10 seconds looking at the outside of the card (besides me) anyway? When I'm not under as much of a time crunch I think I may go back and do some line drawings of cars, trucks, and bikes. Those might be to little-kiddy too . . .

It's already Wednesday

So, the after Halloween days have left me not wanting to do much. Hence, I don't have much to post. But here are our costumes all finished . . . one little lion which really needed two lion tamers :)

A week of MIA

So, I don't have any good excuses for not posting this week. I guess the little buddy and I were just having too much fun in this gorgeous fall weather.



But, here are a few things I've been up to:

1. making cards
2. figuring out how to make your own bows using this tutorial. I used scrapbook paper, but I think it may be a little too stiff. In looking for a tutorial though, I stumbled upon the cutest bunch of flower making tutorials here.
3. Finished the bag part for the "cheeky monkey laundry bags" I'm making yet again from Amy Butler's Little Stitches for Little Ones. I still have the heads to go . . .
4. Lastly, loving the beautiful colors and textures of fall.