Felt Birthday Banner

I've been wanting to make a birthday banner for my boys for a very long time. I've been looking all over blogland for cute ideas and tutorials. I thought I had settled on a paper one - bought myself all of the supplies even . . . . but I just never got around to it. Then I blog hopped over to AmeroonieDesigns a few weeks ago and found her super cute felt birthday banner. She even had a tutorial - so I went out and bought all the supplies to make it. Well it seems that birthdays come around much more quickly for me than they do for my boys and what do you know, son #2's birthday was coming along very fast. Too fast, in fact, for me to get a banner made. So I quickly emailed Amy to see if she happened to have one that she would sell me (please, please, pretty please!). And guess what - she did.

(Source: AmeroonieDesigns.blogspot.com)

She popped it right in the mail to me (we actually don't live very far from each other, but with varying schedules we couldn't arrange a meet and sell). And here is my new absolutely adorable felt birthday banner and son #2 on his third birthday. I am so happy with it! It will now be an official part of every birthday celebrated in our house. My boys were so excited to see it magically appear on birthday morning. Great idea - wish I had thought of it! Glad I have one to use from here on out. Even for my own birthday!

A Simple Valentine's Craft

I manged to squeak in one new Valentine's craft this year . . . the month is just getting away from me. Too many things are competing for my time right now.

This heart garland is super easy. The hardest part was finding double sided scrapbook paper in Valentine's colors. I ended up taking two regular sheets of paper and gluing them together. Anyway, you just cut out a whole bunch of hearts from double sided paper. Put two together and sew them down the center one after another forming a chain. Once they're all sewn, open them up so they are 3-dimensional. Hang it up and you're done. Fast and easy - just my speed right now.

Here's a close up showing the papers. I went to the only real scrapbook store that I've known about and walked in the doors to find some paper . . . . and when I looked up - the whole store was empty (with an unlocked door mind you - but what was there to steal I guess). Scrapbook stores make me hyperventilate anyway! Too overwhelming for someone who doesn't scrapbook.

Oh - and I just registered to do a fun event this spring . . . a non-competitive women's only bike ride right in my own backyard (so to speak). Some of my favorite neighbor ladies and I are heading out to start training. I'm super excited! Nothing like committing to something to get you out of the house and exercising! We're trying to talk our husbands in to volunteering - ha! Ok - now I'm off to "bring home some bacon".

Fun Finds

My only crafting for this week is going to be in my dreams - duty calls and I am not near my craft room this week. But I still have an internet connection and am adding to my list of crafts to do in the next few weeks.

#1 - Felt Valentines and Envelopes

Everyday Celebrations has a tutorial for these little beauties. Even though I have boys, I think they would love these. I've seen some cute mailbox quiet book page ideas floating around web-land and these would be the perfect addition to a mailbox page after they get used for Valentines this year. #2 - Valentine's Day Countdown

I'm a sucker for a cute countdown craft. My Computer is my Canvas always has cute printables and this may just be my first purchase from her store. I know my boys would love this one!#3 - Swaddle Baby Blanket

I'm also a sucker for a cute baby blanket - especially one made from adorable flannel. I've seen these around at the fabric stores but We're the Joneses tutorial is easy to follow. This will be my next baby gift.#4 - Caramel Marshmallow Pops

My husband knows me very well and every Christmas he supplies me with my most favorite thing on earth - See's Chocolates Scotchmallows - - - - marshmallows with caramels dipped in chocolate. Well - Brown Paper Packages show me how easy it is to make some. I've always imagined they would be easy, but this is so easy I can't resist. She only did the marshmallows coated in caramel and dipped in pecans. I'm definitely going to add a milk chocolate layer in there somewhere. I'm a happy girl just thinking about it!

My List of Things to Do This Month

How does that old saying go - something about it's always feast or famine. I went a few weeks without being in too much of a crafting mood - and now I have a list of projects a mile long. And I'm trying to be disciplined to hold off on using all my free time to craft so that I can continue on my de-junking binge. I still have my pantry, the craft room/office, and the storage room to go. It feels sooooo good to de-junk! But crafts are calling my name!

Here are a few of the things on my list for this month. Some are just for me and others are gifts. This is a new project I ordered that should be arriving this week. I can't wait for this one!

This is a project that I started a very, very long time ago. Here's a hint - until last year, it had been about 15 years since we put up a Christmas tree (just keeping life simple - not a formal protest of Christmas). Now with little ones around, we gave in last year and loved every minute of having a tree in the house. Without a Christmas tree, I haven't needed to finish this craft - but now it will come in very handy. Can't wait to finish this one up!This fabric is for a new project pattern I bought. I'm hoping to get to it this year.

These are something I do every year for family gifts. I've probably waited too long to get started on these. I hope I can find the time!

And these items are some of my all time favorites. I'll post more about these later. But we have some good ideas for gifts using new versions of these items. I need more time in every day! These are for a project I saw on a blog a few months back. I finally found the paper that I wanted to use for this one. Now I just need about 2 hours to put it all together.A simple - about 20 minute - project. It's been on my sewing table all pinned and ready to go for a few months and I forgot all about it. This will make a great present for one of my boys.And finally - this one will probably have to wait until January - but I have so many new ideas floating around in my brain for this ongoing project. I'll definitely post more about this one after the holidays are over.

I'll post about each project as I finish it - now I'm off to do a textbook review that is due tomorrow. Better put my reading glasses on!

Loving the 2x4's

What is wrong with me this year? My annual goal is to pretty much be done with all my Christmas shopping by Thanksgiving. Ask me what I've accomplished this year - - - zero, zilch, nada! Ok, I pick up stuff for my boys all year long when I find good sales - then I stash it away and hope that I remember that I have it. But that's it! Really. I usually make some handmade gifts along the way too and have those ready to go for Christmas gifts - but again, this year, nothing. I've wandered down to my craft room a few times in the last few days and searched around for a project that calls to me. Once again - nothing.

However - just so I don't feel too badly about myself, I have been crafting with my boys this week -some really fun Thanksgiving kids crafts. I'll post those in the next few days when we put the finishing touches on them.

So, as usual, when I get busy . . . or lazy . . . I do a little blog stalking and look at other people's great ideas. So I present for my viewing pleasure . . . crafty things I liked this week.

First up - there's something about 2 by 4's. There are some talented crafters out there that can take a piece (pieces) of wood and turn them in to the simplest, yet cutest crafts. Take for example this 2x4 Turkey - just in time for Thanksgiving. Craft Goodies posted its tutorial over at Ucreate.

Next I stalked across a new favorite craft blogger - Under My Umbrella. Talk about taking 2x4's to a new level. Here is her 2x4 Snowman. Easy and yet so fun.UMU's 2x4 Christmas Tree was the first of her projects that caught my eye. She has a couple of different versions of this tree all using the same wood pieces. This tree is my personal favorite.Then she came up with this 2x4 Santa. Love him!And if 2x4's aren't the easiest crafts you can undertake - how about this absolutely adorable Rock Snowman at Not Just a Housewife. I know 2 little boys who are going to love this one as a craft project in the next few weeks.
Now - I'm off to clean house and cook Thanksgiving Dinner with all our favorites. Oh - and I will try to stay warm in the "Blizzard of 2010". And - - I have a few craft projects floating around my brain that are beginning to call to me. Let's see how motivated I get.

"K" Taggie

Alright - I took my own challenge and decided to find some scrap fabric from my very large stash to make this next part of the baby girl shower gift. I knew that I had this soft brown cuddle fabric but didn't think I had any matching girl-themed flannel. Lo and behold, I little digging and I found this pink/brown cheetah print flannel - perfect. I did have to grab some ribbon - that is one thing I don't use very often.

I followed Blue Cricket Design's tutorial on monogram taggies using the letter K for the new baby's name. At first I think I way overdid it on the ribbons, but after looking at it for awhile and looking at the sample Becca made, I unpinned a few and ended up with this. I'm very happy with it - - although I must say that the letter K is a pretty floppy letter!

I'll definitely be making more of these in the future. I personally checked the quality of "the rub" on each ribbon before I bought it to add. I loved rubbing ribbon/silk borders on soft blankets together when I was younger . . . . still do!

Needle Crafts

Way back, a very long time ago, when I was in college, a friend of mine showed me how to cross stitch. I loved it. It was simple. I could take it with me. And it was a quick project that produced results in a timely fashion. This was my very first project. I was way into decorating with cows - that tells you how long ago that was!

This was the next cross stitch project I tackled. Unfortunately, the one thing she didn't tell me was that they made special needles for cross stitching that are blunt on the tip instead of pointed and sharp. There was enough blood from needle pricks dripped on this one that you can still see the drops today. Then when my first son was born, a friend that I worked with made this cute little project for me. I love this designer. I have quite a few of her patterns - Mac A Doodles. This one hangs in son #1's room.So, of course, when son #2 was born, he had to have one as well. I changed the colors up a bit so it wouldn't be exactly like big brother's - although you can't see it much from these pictures. His also hangs in his room.
And this was a pattern I bought a while ago. I really liked the flower box and border but didn't like the words they had with it. I thought and thought and thought about what I wanted to say with this and finally came up with something that I try to live by . . . Stop and smell the flowers. I try very hard to enjoy the journey of life. This now hangs in my bathroom so I can see it every day and be reminded to enjoy the little things in life!

Gratitude Tree Advent Calendar

I love finding good ideas from people that don't mind sharing those ideas. Alison over at Oopsey Daisy created this wonderful Gratitude Tree Advent Calendar for November and she even included a download of the leaves for the magnets. Of course, since it was so cute, I had to jump right on it and make one just for my little family. Here is my version:

I hadn't used bottle caps before, nor a magnet board for that matter. A fun (but always overwhelming . . . I am a digital scrapbooker) trip to a local scrapbooking store got me all stocked up. I couldn't find the little resin bubble drops anywhere and used Alison's hint about ordering them on Etsy from Sun and Moon Crafts. They arrived in the mail this afternoon and the rest is history.

We're catching up on 4 days worth of things that we are thankful for and my boys are very excited to put the rest of the leaves on the tree throughout the month.

And for the record, I am grateful for my family, my friends, and the freedoms I enjoy. Now bring on the turkey!

More Halloween Crafts I Love

I had hoped to get more crafty things done this week, but instead my week has been filled with work, work, and fun adventures with the boys. My philosophy is that we should get as much wear out of Halloween costumes as we can since you really only wear them this time of year (although I have been known to let my boys dress up in their costumes anytime they feel the urge and wander through the neighborhood). So we've been dropping in to any old thing happening around our local area this week that calls for costume wearing and candy collecting. The boys have been loving it.

So since I have nothing new to blog about, I present for my viewing pleasure, some of my latest fun blog finds for Halloween:

#1 - I have yet to sew a Halloween costume for either of my boys. I've made costumes in the past for friend's kids but just haven't worked up the energy to do it lately. However, this idea just might change my mind for next year. Homemade by Jill created this adorable Skeleton Costume and I just might willing to give this one a try - - - if I can talk son #2 into being a skeleton next year. He is incredibly independent and has an opinion about everything. So we'll see, but at least the idea is in my head now.

#2 - Over at She Wears Flowers, this super cute Witch Candy Bag gives me all kinds of ideas for future crafting projects. Another LOVE it!
#3 - making the transition to Thanksgiving now, I too have always believed that the Thanksgiving holiday gets shorted in its spot between Halloween and Christmas. We have loved our new Halloween Advent this year and have always loved Christmas Advents. Keeping it Simple - guest post from Project Naptime made this Thanksgiving Advent.#4 - But my most favorite for today . . . Oopsey Daisy made this Gratitude Advent Calendar. Love, Love, Love it! I like the idea of helping kids learn to be thankful. I'm printing the leaves out right now and will be making my own very soon (hopefully this weekend). Thanks for sharing!.

Halloween Count Down Blocks

My sister has the great fortune of having an October birthday - I won't say how old she'll be this month (41) but I will admit that I am older, at least the calendar says so. The reason this is a fortunate thing (the October birthday, not the age) is that October is usually right around the time that I get seriously crafty after a nice long summer spent mostly outdoors. She often ends up with some fun, handmade birthday presents.

She sent me an email a week or so ago which consisted of two lines - I want this! And a link to this over at How Does She? So since it was really cute . . . I promptly ordered a kit and son #2 and I spent a fun evening making it for her. I love my power sander . . . but it tore a nice big chunk of paper off the top corner of the bottom block - let's call that "character". Happy Birthday "J"!By the way . . . I found a great new "tool". I wanted to stain the blocks but I was dreading pulling out a can of stain and a brush to get the look I wanted. I was smart enough to wander through the paint isle at one of my local craft stores and came upon this wonderful little thing . . . a stain pen. It worked like a charm!

Holiday I Spy Balls

We've all seen the typical I Spy bags - here are a few that I have made. They're fun for the kids (and adults too!) and super easy to make. I love these because they're made from fleece - everything is better made from fleece. Finding the items to be "spied" inside the bags is probably my favorite part. And here's my newest twist on the I Spy theme - Holiday I Spy Balls. You can find these large plastic ornaments at any craft store (these came from Joann's). Find a few holiday themed items to put inside - don't add too many. Top it off with some Poly Pellets (again not too many . . . in fact, less than you would think). Hot glue the ornament halves together (probably the hardest part - you definitely need four hands for this step). Add some ribbons and a tag - and you have a holiday themed I Spy Ball. Here's one for Halloween.

And here's a Christmas ball. A fun twist to the I Spy idea. My boys love them!

Halloween Garland & Memory Game

A few years back I made some garlands for every season. This is my Halloween garland. Very easy and relatively quick . . . a few strands of jute/twine (is there a difference?), a couple of raffia bows on the ends, strips of properly colored fabric and then just hang some fun seasonal things from it. A handmade witch (of course) . . .. . . and some pumpkins and bats. And there you have a Halloween garland.

A few days ago I came across this great Halloween Memory Game over at Oopsey Daisy - on a guest post by Lil Mop Top. She has these free printables which I promptly downloaded and immediately then sent off to Costco's photo center. A few hours later I picked up my 5x7 pictures (remind me NEVER to go to Costco on a Saturday evening right at closing time . . . and why in the world does Costco close early on Saturdays? I'll never understand that one!) Anyway . . . some black card stock and a few minutes with my paper cutter and my boys have the cutest little Halloween Memory Game. They loved playing it today - and I love people who are willing to share their great ideas!

By the way . . . I whipped out another 5 (yes, five) Feelin Witchy Dish Towels this weekend. L O V E them!

Some of my Favorite Halloween Decorations

I've never been big on dressing up for Halloween. But I do love to decorate my house for Halloween! Here are a few favorite decorations that I have made through the years.

Bea Witch

She is a pattern from Art to Heart. I love Nancy's patterns and fabric and I have made countless things from her lines over the years. The details she works in are wonderful. This witch is definitely a favorite of mine - I can't wait to see her hanging on my front closet door every October!Witches are a favorite theme of mine . . . . my only real costume is a witch costume. I can't recall the pattern I used for this little gem, but she was fun to make. She has a hairy wart on her nose. Her "socks" are painted on, her hat is perfectly crooked, and that flaming red hair was not as hard as you might think. She sits across the room from Bea every year.

Haunted Houses are another of my favorite themes. These two are ceramics that I painted many years ago. I put red or orange lights inside them and love to sit in a dark room and watch them blink to life. This one is son #1's favorite.This haunted house is my favorite. I love the eyes peeking out everywhere and the spider's web above the front porch.
I have a few new decorations that are waiting to be made for this year. I'd better get to work!