Craftaholics Anonymous Gift Exchange

I signed up to do a gift exchange on a super cute blog Craftaholics Anonymous.  It was funny because the person I got a gift from was going to give me some countdown blocks but saw that I had made some.  So she sent me something else that was what I had considered sending. I guess great minds think alike!

Here is my Wise Men Still Seek Him tile I got from Leslie!  I hope she sees this cuz I accidentally deleted my email from her so I haven't said thanks yet.  So THANKS Leslie!  The best part?  I didn't have to make it!

Buffalo Girls Wont You Come Out Tonight!

Just a quick post to show off Ivy's cutest skirt ever!  It is VERY loosely based on Disney's scarf dress that she made last week.  I started out to make something like this but decided to go for the skirt instead.  Mostly because I didn't want to use a shirt. 

It is buffalo check flannel and black velvet ruffled and layered.  You can't see it but it has a black and white snowflake print waistband.

The scarf is a miniature version of my favorite scarf that I have made this year.  Just two 6 inch wide strips cut to keep the selvages and sewn together (Ivy's is just one strip)  It is so cozy! And yes she keeps it on.  She wants to put a scarf on every time we go out the door.

Showing Dad her teeth!

Poinsettia Pins

I haven't been a big fan of poinsettias in the past, not sure why but this year I am digging them.  I got these poinsettias in a bunch at walmart for $3.  I also used them on my joy blocks.  I made a couple of pins and decided to make a couple more and show you how to make one if you want!

You are gonna need the poinsettia flowers, plus I used a length of red satin gathered on one edge, some red tulle, a black vintage-y sparkly button(also from Walmart) and a pin for the back.  Oh and a glue gun.

Take apart your flower and discard any plastic pieces.  Then hot glue on the gathered up strip of satin.  On the satin put a dab of hot glue in the center and place a square of red tulle on it.  Careful, tulle and hot glue aren't very good friends. 

Then put your top layer of the poinsettia and glue it on top of the tulle.

Next glue on your button.  I put glue all over the back of the button and pushed the petals on to the button to help it pop up a bit.   Does that make sense?

Glue your pin on the back - a little higher than center so it doesn't flop over - and cover with a small piece of red satin(or not just preference), then pin it wherever you want!

On your favorite houndstooth pillow,

on your burlap banner for a pop of glam,

or pinned to a necklace or headband.

preferably not with that purple shirt but I was being to lazy to change my clothes for a picture.

Be Merry

Last year I made Ivy some Christmas decorations for her room.  I used the Be Merry paper by My Minds Eye to make this magnetic advent calender.  Behind the blue tree paper is a 12x12 piece of tin (I got it at craft warehouse).  I used 2 inch chipboard squares and put some strips of magnet on the back of each one.  So each day before play in her room nap time we take off a square and get closer to Christmas!

As she gets older I am going to add things to do under the squares as we count down to Christmas!

I used more of the paper to cover these letters to spell BELIEVE.  These short winter days sure make for some not so great pictures!

With such cute decorations you can imagine how excited I was to find this...

this year!  Fabric to match.  And just in time because Ivy finally figured out how to climb out of her crib so she is officially in her "big girl bed".  I stayed up late the night I got my fabric in the mail from My Needle and Thread on Etsy.  (Who was fabulous enough to have this fabric on sale, make me a custom listing AND it showed up in two days!)

Here is what I came up with.  Here is her blanket on her bed.  This is the first time I did a strippy quilt and it was way fun.  It actually went a lot faster than blocks.

I used the trees print on the back.  I still need to add a few ties to keep it together but Ivy loves her new Christmas "blankely".  And so do I!

If only she would actually stay on her bed and use it right!

Merry Christmas!

I was feeling adventurous and decided to make our own Christmas card this year.   I'm excited about how it turned out and it didn't take any time at all.   I used the red dot paper from mistletoe and added a scroll frame,  all in photoshop and all with Darin's help of course!  Darin did all the work but it was my ideas!  Ivy actually was smiling and looking at the camera during our little photo shoot. It can be tricky with a 2 year old but she is getting much more cooperative.   Darin has really been stepping it up with his photography recently.    You can check out his new photography blog  to see all of the cool stuff he has been doing lately.  (Shameless plug- Darin has some time to do family portrait sessions so if its on your list of things to get done hit him up!)

Here's our photo in faded color.  I actually prefer color photos but we haven't ever done a black and white photo for Christmas so it was time to change it up.  Isn't photoshop so amazing and fun?!

 

December 1st!

Yeah for Christmas!! It makes me sad how fast this time of year goes by. Cuz I love it so much. But since its the first its time to start counting down.  Here are my countdown blocks using the Making Memories Mistletoe paper.  I had a order for a couple more, plus I still needed to make mine so here they are.  I just can't get over how happy this paper makes me.  I love all the subtle details.  If you look close at the trees paper you can see that it is all antique ledger-ish.

I also started working on Ivy's quiet book, which is gonna be her Christmas present.  I used the Black Apple doll pattern to make the dress up girl.  I just cut up the body pattern to make the tank top and undies.  I also added pigtails.  

Here is the outfit I made.  Ivy has one almost just like this so I think it will be kind of fun.  I decided to just make one outfit for now so I can make sure and get all the pages I want to done.  Then I can go back and add more.   

December just can't begin without making Almond Rocha.  Its my Grandma's recipe and its my secret!  (Sorry Ellayne, I gotta have one trick up my sleeve!) But my mom told me that anyone that isn't a family member and has tried to make it always fails miserably.  There must be some magic in my blood! I will tell you a couple of candy tips though.  Wait for the perfect day.    It has to be clear, cold and low humidity.  With something like divinity there needs to be like less than 20 percent, preferably 10.  My grandma lived in Wyoming so she had it easy.  Use cheap butter and expensive chocolate!  And try not to splash on the sides of the pan.  Who knows why but it helps. 

So enjoy every moment this month.  Don't let your countdown get to this without doing something special!