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!

 

Favorite Football Food- Rootbeer Pulled Pork

First off, sorry no picture.  We actually had this last Sunday and I forgot to take one.

I heart pulled pork!  It is one of my favorite foods, especially cooked this way.  I also love Cafe Rio style pulled pork, but this is just a fun twist.  We had it first at my friend Carrie's house this past February.  I'm so lucky she shows me all these yummy recipes.  I got the recipe from her and tweaked it a bit, then I saw it in the Betty Crocker cookbook just how I make it!  So here's the recipe via Betty Crocker.

Pulled Pork with Root Beer Sauce 

1 2 1/2-3 pound pork roast

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

1 Tbsp oil

1-2 medium onions, cut into thin wedges 

6 cloves garlic, minced

4 cups root beer, divided

1 cup bottled chili sauce

1/4 tsp root beer concentrate (optional)

several dashes bottled hot pepper sauce (optional)

hamburger buns

cabbage(optional)

cheddar slices (optional)

1.  Sprinkle meat with salt and pepper.  In a large skillet, brown meat on all sides in hot oil.  Drain off fat and transfer meat to crock pot.  Add onion, one cup of the  rootbeer and the garlic.

2. Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours or on high for 4-5 hours.

3. For sauce- in a sauce pan stir together the remaining 3 cups of rootbeer and chili sauce.  Bring to a boil and reduce heat.  Simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes or until mixture is reduced to 2 cups.(This usually takes about an hour for me so plan accordingly!) If desired add concentrate and hot pepper sauce.  

4. Transfer meat to a cutting board or plate.  Using 2 forks, pull meat apart into shreds.  Using a slotted spoon, transfer onion to plate, discard cooking juices.  Place meat on hamburger buns, with desired toppings and root beer sauce.

Oh man, this stuff is so good.  I must be hungry!  A couple of things- don't use diet rootbeer and watch carefully when the sauce starts to boil.   You do NOT want to clean this stuff up after it boils over! 

Joy Blocks

UPDATE!  I made these at Christmastime but I still love them and have some more beadboard cut to make something spring-y!

I loved these Joy Plaques on Shanty2Chic and wanted to give them a try for the holiday bazaar.  I think the whole black and white and burlap is really pretty.  But I had gotten a sheet of beadboard last time I was at the hardware store so I decided to use that instead of burlap.

Here is the first set I did.  I used vinyl letters on the beadboard then hot glued them to the wood blocks and pounded in some upholstery tacks.   I ended up not doing the candlestick thing because I didn't want to spend the money and time(it was a last minute addition to the lineup.)

I liked the black and white but I LOVE color and had an idea when I first started thinking about doing these to use a poinsetta for the "o".  I took all the plastic off of the flower and hotglued it back together, adding a vintage looking pearl button.  Then I glued it to the beadboard.  Also under the beadboard I mod podged on some scrapbook paper.  This is a really pretty green paper from the mistletoe line by Making Memories.

(sorry if its hard to tell I was taking pictures of these as I was wrapping them up at 11 pm!) 

This one is my favorite even though it doesn't match my Christmas decorations.  It is a paper I had in my stash that is aqua with red and cream on it.  Its hard to describe but I love the whole combination!

(Click on the pictures to get a better idea!)

 

 

 I painted these blocks red and used the black and white polka dot paper from the Mistletoe line.  These were my mom's favorite.  I must get my love of polka dots from her!

I'm giving Darin a break from cutting wood this week, but next week I'm gonna make another set, with the candlesticks I think.  And I need to make some for my Mom for being such a HUGE help this past weekend.  Let me know which ones you want Mama!

(EDITED) I'm linking these to DIY Day at A Soft Place To Land.

My first craft fair!

I did it!  I lived to tell the tale.  Let me tell you, these things are not for the procrastinator.  I tried really hard not to be but it caught up with me. 

Here's my main table.  I had countdown blocks with some really fun paper.  I actually have a couple more orders for my favorite so I'll put pictures of them in there.  I also made some JOY blocks and had wood signs, and some burlap banners.

 Sorry its hard to tell but with the light coming in the windows I couldn't get very good pictures

I also had fabric flower pins on the trees, a couple of pillows and sold just the vinyl for blocks and signs.  There was a line outside the door at 8:30.  The doors opened at nine.  I was impressed.  Until everyone beelined for the bake sale.  I guess the apple pies are the hot ticket.  They sold out in 10 minutes!

There was also some dresses and skirts, onesies, hats and barrettes.  I was right by the front door so I was maybe the second thing people saw when they came in and the last thing on the way out.  Good location?  Who knows.  The only downside really was the cold air every time the door was opened-which was constant.  Over 1600 people came to this thing!

It was really fun.  I now know what its like and more what to expect.   I don't know how people do these things all the time though.  I think I'm definitely taking a break and locking the craft room door.  for at least today!

Favorite Things Craft Fair

Come see me here!  I've got some countdown blocks, some other vinyl stuff that I love and then I made a bunch of pins, hair bows and barrettes.  I also have some little girls skirts and dresses and some other random stuff.  Come check it out!

Ruffly Christmas Tree

 I was sewing all last night for a holiday bazaar I am doing and was over it.  Then I saw this cuteness on Ruffles and Stuff.  I immediately went and grabbed a onesie from my stash since Ivy was asleep (it was midnight) and I couldn't get to one of her shirts. 

How cute is that?

I just grabbed a couple of strips of fabric from my scrap basket and ruffled it up.

The brown I stitched down the middle and the green I gathered at the top. Cut into the lengths you want and sew them on to what ever shirt you want.  So easy and SO cute.

 

Thanks Disney for such a cute idea! I can't wait to make one for Ivy, plus ten more!

Homework

Here's all of my fabric cut up for the scarf along! I didn't even have to buy anything.  I just waited to see what the measurements where gonna be used and went with what I had enough of.

I don't know why I've been so drawn to black and white lately but I love it.  Especially when there is a pop of red.  I really wanted to put houndstooth in there but I only had it in home dec. weight and didn't think that would be very cozy for a scarf.  Can't wait to get sewing.  And I'm also excited about the Honor Student Scarf Along at Cookie Mondays.  This is turning out to be a great way to get things done and use up my piles of fabric that are threatening to spill over. 

Just a couple of things

I've decided I should try and make a work apron so I will wear it, and not worry about getting it dirty!  I made this as a Halloween apron, but not too Halloweenish so I can wear it year round.  My favorite part is the pocket.

I try hard NOT to put ric rac on stuff. I can't stay away from it. Oh well.

I also added ruffles to this v-neck shirt.  I love when Old Navy has their 50% off the lowest marked price.  So I got this shirt and the shirt I used for the ruffles for $3 each! I just cut the bottom third off of one shirt and cut it into strips for ruffles.   I used the rest of that shirt for...

this dress.  I made a skirt and attached it to the top part of my cut shirt.  That kleo fabric is my favorite.  I love the colors.  I wore this dress to our friend Shannon and Skye's wedding Labor Day weekend.  It was the craziest, funnest wedding I have ever been to.  All I know is that LDS people don't get the whole "party" part of wedding receptions!  I should post about their wedding on our family blog before I forget.  Anyway.  I should get back to work.  I'm doing a craft fair next weekend and I'm not even close to being ready. 

Scarf Sew Along!

I'm "SEW" excited about this.  Julie of Joy's Hope is having a scarf sew-along.  Starting this week and she is getting us started on making eight scarves by Thanksgiving!  Don't be scared if you aren't very good at sewing.  In fact that is the whole point of this sew along.  I'm just excited for something to keep me on track and get some presents done!   The Scarf Sew Along starts today so head over and see what this weeks homework is.  Oh and while you are there cruise around her blog.   It is AWESOME!  Let me know if you are in!  I'd love to see what other people are doing.  And if you are in the Tri Cities area, maybe we can do the whole thing together! 

Christmas Dresses

I got a new dress pattern for Ivy and I love it.  I searched Etsy for a peasant dress and found the Perfect Party Dress by Heidi and Finn.  All of their patterns are super cute, I love the modern twists, like the tie on this peasant dress. 

The ends of the ties flare out a bit at the end.  The fabric I ended up using definitely gives it a Christmas dress vibe.   I'm resisting the urge to put up Christmas decorations every day.  I don't know if I will make it to Thanksgiving this year!

Ivy runs away screaming when I finish a dress and try and get her to put it on.  I end up chasing her around the house and she thinks it is so funny.  So I just have to wait until Sunday to get her ready for church to see if it even fits!   I've decided that I have to add about 6 inches to the bottom of every dress to make it long enough.  Other than being just a bit short it fit great!  Can't wait to make some more.

So since Christmas is coming up WAY faster than you think start thinking about Christmas outfits!  I'm taking orders now!! I love to put fabric together so let me know if you want anything!