Sunday, November 30, 2008

Have to share...

Oh my look at this!!! We can all SO do this! How easy is it to mimic???




It is felt and patterned paper. Oh the possibilities! I think I need another trip to the craft store...


Christmas Cards

You are in luck! I had to open a couple envelopes so I took advantage of it and snapped a few pictures to show you all (all two of you!! Hi Jingle!!) I used K &Co papers and stickers and used a pattern from Sheetload and came up with these.





Hope you are having a creative, scrappy day. Get those Christmas cards out!!

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Peanut Butter Squares

This is to die for. It tastes just like a Reeces Peanut Butter Cup.

Ingredients:
Packaged Peanut Butter Cookie Mix
A Bag of Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
9 x 13 inch pan

1. Take any packaged Peanut Butter Cookie mix and make it like you would cookies. Press into a 9 x 13 pan all across the bottom (the entire mix)
2. Cook at 375 for about 10-13 minutes.
3. Let cool for 5 minutes.
4. While it is cooling heat put the chocolate chips in a microwaveable bowl and heat in the microwave until melted.
5. Spread over the cookie cake and put in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or until the chocolate on the top hardens.
6. Cut into 2 inch squares and serve. Yum yum!

It's beginning to look a lot like CHRISTMAS!!!


Yes, it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas at our house. We have already put our Christmas tree up and we are in the midst of getting the gifts and packaging ready. It is a very exciting time of year. I just love the Christmas spirit!

In that light, I woke up this morning and decided to embark on a new project. I wanted to paint Christmas ornaments. I know what you are thinking. With really only two weeks for us to be completely and utterly ready for Christmas, I begin a new project when I probably should be working out the recipe list, gift list, and shopping.

You are in luck this time. I took pictures:


They were super easy and done with paint pens. Of course I didn't have any of the supplies so I had to go out and purchase the paint pens and ornaments. These ornaments are not the shiny ones. They have a matte finish. I have limited it to a few designs that I felt confident free-handing.
I think these will become gifts for teachers, neighbors, and friends.

Monday, November 24, 2008

Christmas in just a few weeks!! Update on Craft Show

And I am not ready yet. In years past I have gotten most of my Christmas shopping done the weekend before Thanksgiving. Then I scan the Black Friday ads and end up doing a lot of exchanges and returns and re-buys that weekend because of the sales. So not this year. I decided to wait until Black Friday to BEGIN my shopping. We are on a tighter than tight budget this year so I really have to watch my pennies. But today the Monday before Thanksgiving I am feeling a bit out of sorts. I feel like I am behind the curve for shopping and such.

I have three weeks before we go to disney world again and that isn't much time. December 13th is out due to us seeing Santa in the morning. I can use that afternoon but really want to be done done before then. I had thought of doing some holiday shopping on line this year but just haven't mentally gotten there yet either.

I really need to get my act together. I think I know what is bogging me down and I hope to have that cleared up tonight. It is that the Christmas tree isn't in the family room. We thought of putting it in the living room but it looks so lonely in there and we don't really use that room so it isn't in a place that we can sit and enjoy the tree. It isn't in the room that we live in. So here is the problem. All my scrapbooking and crafting stuff is in the corner where we usually put the Christmas tree. That means that I have to clear out all my stuff and put it somewhere so we can move the tree down there. I considered swapping my scrapbook stuff to the living room which isn't such a bad idea but then that room really is a more formal room and I tend to be messy with my stuff so it isn't quite the right place. So at this point I have to pack it all up. Yup ALL of it. And that is what I am going to do tonight. I started yesterday and I am about a third done. Tonight it just needs to go somewhere.

Just to get you in the mood for decorating your house, here are some links that you might like!

http://bucketideasforchristmas.blogspot.com/ (too many trees for me but I picked up an idea or two anyway) Scroll all the way down to the big pictures. there are soo many trees!!!

http://www.100daystochristmas.com/ cool give aways and lots of ideas on what to do to get ready for Christmas.

~~UPDATE ON CRAFT SHOW~~

Remember by goal for the Craft Show this past weekend? Well I hit my goal, sort of. I said I would like to make $150 but would be happy if I broke $100. I ended up making $130! I think that is pretty good since there weren't nearly as many people as I had thought there would be. I was really hoping for more people but they just weren't there. I suppose the economy has everyone not shopping anymore. I didn't sell any scarves and I thought they would be big sellers but not a one. Guess what everyone is getting for Christmas this year?? Sh, don't tell....a SCARF!

Oh, and while sitting there during one of the many lulls, I remembered that I forgot my camera AGAIN! sorry for no pics... :(

Friday, November 21, 2008

The Craft Show this Weekend and a Fleece Scarf Pattern

I am ready, I think for the craft show this weekend. I haven't done this one at the church right up the street from me, so I still feel like I am a newbie to all this. I am not sure how it is run and I haven't been to it in years past myself so I am really really new. I bought a table (6 feet, I think) and I am sure I will end up needing or at least wanting more space. I know I am rambling but I need to get the nerves out.

So this afternoon I am to go set up my space. I have all my supplies and my merchandise. I am taking fleece scarves, fleece dog toys, dog biscuits, hairbows, and some cards I had left over from previous craft shows. I am also taking the pencil toppers too. I decided against apple butter since I only was able to can 8 small jars and I am going to give them as gifts this year. But that is a lot on one table of only 6 feet.

I have a stand for the hairbows so that will get them off the table but the scarves take a lot of room and then the cards. Well, I will figure it out when I get there. I need to remember my camera so I can take some pictures for all of my two readers out there. Thanks guys for reading when I blog.

Whew, okay I had a goal to sell at least $150 of merchandise but I will really be happy with $100. I want to make some money for Christmas.

In honor of the giving season I am posting my instructions for making a fleece Boa Scarf! So here it is: I will post a picture of it later for you to see the finished project.

What you need:

2 pieces of fleece patterned, coordinating, or matching colors, 9 inches wide by 48-60 inches long. The bolts of fleece come usually in 56-60 inches long so just purchase 19 inches of fleece and cut in half. I like to buy a bit extra so I can even it up.

a cutting mat and rotary cutter (or plain ole scissors will work)

coordinating thread.

Here is the hard part, sew the two pieces of fleece right down the middle together. Put one on top of the other and sew right down the middle, you know in the middle. Then take your roatry cutter and cut fringe about 1 inch wide into the sewed part leaving about an inch before you hit the stitching. Then cut the other side in fringe. Shake out and there you have it. Very easy!! Don't worry I will take some pictures and post this weekend for you to get a visual on this.

Okay wish me luck!

Monday, November 17, 2008

Winner of the Contest and a GREAT DEAL

Congrats goes to Jennifer for the contest from the last post!! I will get those cards out to you this week. I sure hope you can use them. Don't feel bad if you decide to regift them!!! They are a great gift idea.

And now for something completely different: An advertisement.

Everyday I check out Peachycheap.com just to see what the deal of the day is. And for all you Victorian style scrappers out there you need need need to check these out:




Okay here is the link! http://www.peachycheap.com/ Remember it is only for today so hurry!

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

the holidays are approaching and a CONTEST!!

and I am getting excited. Last night I finished making 23 Christmas cards to send out this year. This is the first time I have made my own Christmas cards and I am excited about this endeavor. I think I need some more, so I will be working on them tonight as well. I will post a few pictures in the coming days.

With the economy in a slump and my husband worried about our finances this year we are paring back our gift buying. We are focusing on the kids and making sure they are covered for gifts but I will be making many of our gifts for family and friends this year.

Some of the ideas I have are:
1. A gift basket of homemade goodies, like cookies, jams or something, breads and fruit from Florida.
2. Crocheted or knitted items, someone might be getting a poncho made with a 'thick and quick' yarn. Perhaps some fleece items to make someone snuggy and warm.
3. personalized card sets, like monogrammed or with a special stamp. Watch out this gift may be yours!!! (read below)

So in honor of the spirit of giving and to help rein in my excitement of the holidays, let's do a little contest. The prize is a set of holiday cards you can mail to others or keep for your self. This set will have a Christmas theme and will have a sentiment on the front and be blank on the inside. You can tuck a note in a gift for the teachers, or use them to spread some holiday cheer, or give them as a Christmas card to someone. OR you can take the whole set and use it as a gift to someone else. However you like this set will come in handy.

Here is what you have to do: Scan through my blog here and get a feel for my craftiness and then leave me an idea or two for other gifts that I can make (quickly or easily is always great) to either include in a gift basket or for an individual gift. And then tell me what you will be making for others this holiday season. I will wait until Thursday evening and then put everyone's name in a hat and get one of my kids to draw the winner! good luck!!