Christmas craft fun!

I have been in a very crafty mood this season. I have found all sorts of really fun and easy Christmas decoration ideas while blog stalking in my "spare time". I thought I would share a couple of these ideas with you. They are things that little kids can do, which is a great way to keep them occupied.

This is a tutorial for a recycled cardboard Christmas glitter star.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VkZIDVYMtk

This tutorial is for a Felt Christmas Ornament

This is a tutorial on using those Christmas cards you get every year to make Christmas Card Luminaries

Here is a Button Snowflake tutorial

There are so many crafty women out there with great ideas to celebrate the season and not go into debt! I love it!

Have fun making these and try to post pictures of the ones you do make. Have a Merry Christmas!

First Conversation!

I had my first real conversation with Ava tonight! It was so cute I have to post what she said -

Ava: Mommy, watch it
Mommy: Watch what?

She thought about it for a moment and then said:

Ava: Buzz Lightyear!
Mommy: Buzz Lightyear?
Ava: Beyond! (with her arms stretched out above her head)

Isn't that so cute! I love my baby girl.

Helpful Morgan

While in Missouri at the beginning of this month I purchased a mini iron for all my crafting needs. It works really well and I love that I don't have to get out my big iron and ironing board. During the course of the day I used it to make a wipes case cover and to finish the bag that I got along with the iron. When I was finished I unplugged it and moved on to cleaning the house and playing on the computer. Around 5:15 pm this evening, while Phil was walking past my craft table he noticed that the iron was on and face down on the table! Not sure how long it was like this but as you can see in the picture it melted a hole about 1/2" deep! Morgan had decided to help me and plug it back in just incase I needed it again. I love it when children decide to help.

Black Wednesday

I like to shop, but Black Friday is crazy! I found a blog called The Buzz that has decided to start an event for all the Mom preneurs on Etsy! She calls it Black Wednesday! So on November 25th there will be a ton of Etsy shops participating in this event and practically giving away their merchandise in an effort to support SAHM/WAHM! I am also participating in this event so check it out on the 25th and get your christmas shopping done in time to do more shopping on Black Friday! :)

My Etsy Shop: Forever and a Day

12 Days of Junkie Giveaways!

Tip Junkie is having a 12 days of Junkie on there site! Each giveaway only lasts 24 hours and the whole thing will end on the 20th. There are some awesome prizes so go check it out!

New Toy!

While in Missouri my good friend Ann Marie bought me the fabric and pattern I needed at the quilt shop to make the purse I wanted! So I started making it and it is turning out really cute! Pictures will come later, I really don't want to go outside to get the camera right now. Part of the pattern tells you to finish the edge with your serger! Well, I didn't have one. It still looks cool but the edges are raw. I looked on Craig's List later and found someone selling their brand new Janome Serger for $200! I looked it up online to see what the original price was and she was selling it for half that! So I bought it! I had to drive an hour away to get it with all the kids, by myself, but it was worth it! I will be attempting to make something with it this weekend so keep checking for pictures, I promise I will take some!

Origami Wreath Tutorial

I found this really cute idea for an origami wreath at Dollar Store Crafts. I decide to make a fall wreath. On the site she uses 8 1/2" x 11" scrapbook paper but I used 12"x 12" got 4 squears out of it. So you need enough paper to make 26 origami balls. If you are not sure how to make the origami balls, here is a picture tutorial you can follow from Flickr.

Materials needed:

7 sheets of 12 x12 scrapbook paper in varying colors, enough for 26 squares

Glue gun and glue sticks

Yarn

Cardboard

Craft knife

Scissors

Lots of air! :)

Step one: divide paper into 4 squares each and make the origami balls out of the squares of paper. This is where the air comes in. You have to blow up the balls.

Step 2: Using a 3" needle, thread the yarn and poke it through the middle of the balls using the blow hole as the entry point. You will have 2 seperate strings of balls. One with 16 and one with 10.

Step 3: Bring the strings together and tie a knot. Then put the smaller circle inside the larger and tie them together at the top with the excess yarn.

Step 4: This is the part that I forgot to take a picture of. I used an old cardboard box and laid the wreath down on it. Then I traced the outline of the wreath and cut it out with my craft knife. I also traced the middle and cut that out. I had to trim it so that it was smaller and you couldn't see it. Afterwards I had an idea that you could either paint it or wrap ribbon around it so that if it does show it will atleast look pretty. :)

Step 5: Then I hot glued some the balls to the cardboard so that it would keep it's shape. I cut a strip of green cardstock about 2 1/2" wide and wrapped it around the top to hide the yarn knot. I found a tutorial on how to make holly leaves and taped it to the strip of green.

The finished product! Definately could use some improvement as far as decorations but knowing the basics makes it easier to change things to look the way you want it too. My next project will be a Blue and Silver wreath!

Good Luck to whoever decides to try it out!

It's done!

I finally finished the set! Quilt, Carseat, and stuffed block with a bell inside! I feel so proud of myself for actually getting it done before Franklin is born! All the material I used came from the Missouri Star Quilt Company in Hamilton, Mo. I used the Arcadia Jelly roll for the Quilt, Arcadia Charm pack for the block and leftovers for the car seat cover, along with some orange fabric! I am so glad it is finally done! I can somewhat relax now. Until I decide to do something else to add to it. I still have plenty of jelly roll left. I could make a pillow! The ideas are endless!

SOLD!

This past weekend we finally signed papers to sell our house! We are so excited to not have to worry about it anymore. Definately takes a load off our finances and our minds! Not sure where exactly we will end up after March but the Lord will take care of us and lead us to where we are needed.