Advent 2012: More Prep & Day #1

So I didn't have everything ready to go on December first like I had hoped.  I still had to wrap all the books.  Luckily Melodi slept in for a while (we had had a very busy Friday with friends).  My timing was so behind that I had to run out for one more book, of course the one we read today.  Once I finished wrapping I went to put them on the mantle and Melodi just had to help, so she handed me books that were sitting on the floor.  Here are all our books ready to go for the month.  They're wrapped and have a label on the back with which book it is, so I really need to think about adding something to the front so I don't have to dig for the correct book each day.

Day 1
Book: Christmas Parade by Sandra Boynton
Activity: Attend Festival of Lights Parade

 
We were a little off in our day 2 planning so look for that later this week.

Preparing for Advent

I obviously haven't been keeping up with the blogging plan.  Oops.  There are so many more important things in my life to do than write on my blog.  Maybe someday I'll have the time.  And of course I started this way back on the 9th, but the girls woke up and I never got around to just taking the picture.  Then once I got the picture it wasn't behaving when I tried to add it.  But here it is.

We've been busy lately, and this is a project that I HAVE to get ready sooner than later.  I have seen so many "to do in December" lists on Pinterest lately, and just as many "Advent" calendars (some more Christ-centered, some more of a countdown).  Melodi loves reading and I've seen a couple people have a stack of 24 wrapped books and they read one each day.  I love connecting books with activities and had seen a couple of those ideas, along with the straight activity list.  Links to most of my inspiration can be found at the end of this post.

Over the last couple months I've been creating a list of books to get because I had activity ideas to go with them, probably not the best way to go about it.  I must have been talking with someone about this project and thought about the second hand store.  Well, one of the local ones (it has an amazing book selection) got raided this week.  It's right next to Melodi's school so it made for a nice trip after I dropped her off.  You should see the haul I made.

I got 25 books for $49.68 (they're not all Christmas, and not all Christmas ones will get used this year).  That's $2 per book!  Some of the books don't have an original price on them, but of the 11 Christmas books that had original prices on them I saved $74.23.  Talk about an amazing deal, I saved more on 11 books than I spent on 25.

Today, while the girls are napping, I'm getting a chance to look at the books and read through some of them.  One of the hardest parts about Christmas is keeping the focus where it belongs: on Jesus.  I'm so happy that I came away with some good Christ-centered books, and a few of them are REALLY good.  Also, that more of my books are not about Santa and are either about Christ, or about something Christmas or winter.  Sure we'll read the classic "The Night Before Christmas," I got a Lift-The-Flap version, but not every book is going to be Santa.

Fall Mantel

Once again not having pictures ready got me.  I wrote this a long, long time ago, think maybe October sometime.  Anyways, here it is with pictures included.

I've spent the last several weeks doing little projects, one at a time, to decorate my mantel for fall.  My mantel has always been a set spot, and I would really rather it be a beautifully decorated part of my home.  It was a hodge podge of random stuff.  Our unity candles, other random candles, a blue teapot that was home to some ivy as a wedding centerpiece, and stuff that just got set there (Christmas cards, headbands, lighters, you name it).

I had seen this, by Home Stories A to Z, and it was really the launch point for my project.  Actually I think I saw someone else use it and added some stuff onto the sketched image.  It gives a basic formula for how to decorate a mantel.

We had just finished a bottle of wine and I saved the bottle thinking that I would use it for something.  It's been popping up everywhere so I'm not sure who started the fashion, but I wrapped my bottle with some thick jute twine, using hot glue.  On a quick trip into the grocery store I found pumpkins on sticks, and picked up the brown balls too.  Once I got those into the finished wine bottle I decided I needed something more linear with some height and on my next trip to the store I decided to get the green cattails.

The bottle was up, and I was planning on wrapping a vase with thinner jute (leftover from a wedding shower project) and finding something to put in it.  While Melodi and I were decorating the kitchen cabinets for fall I found that I had an extra bunch of flowers so put those in the vase, and the vase on the mantel as a place holder.  I'm trying to decide if we are going to do a full wrap, or a half wrap (top or bottom).

After we finished up decorating the cabinets I went in search of some other things to put on the mantel.  I have an growing stash of decorative candles, vases, and other fun items, but a lot of it has sat hidden for five years.  There was a fish bowl vase on the counter, from after Erica was born, which I filled with a bag of rocks, that I just had to have on a trip to IKEA.

Now to find ideas for a Christmas/winter mantel.  I'm thinking about some quilling, another printable, and maybe some trees that runneth over from the cabinets.

Sunday Breakfast #2: Cherry Swirl Coffee Cake

So, I pinned this 26 weeks ago, and finally made it.  Thanks to this post section I might make my way through some of my "plans."  But then again, are pins plans or just ideas?  Making a special breakfast on Saturday this week because we may go "farming" tomorrow.

Made as directed, with the exception of a half batch of batter, but a full 21 ounces of pie filling.  Spreading the batter in the bottom of the pan was difficult to get full coverage.  It was very good, a little sweet, and you can really taste/smell the almond.  Hubby said "it is very similar to your braided thing" which is a homemade braided bread loaf with a cream cheese filling and preserves spread on the top (I grew up eating it for Christmas morning breakfast, but as a new family we have moved it to Thanksgiving morning because hubby's family had eggs benedict for Christmas breakfast, so it was a compromise we had to make).

Of course as I was reading the recipe and some of the comments I decided that I needed some cream cheese in there somewhere.  My hubby was like "you haven't made it yet and you're already changing the recipe."  After eating it, I will probably figure out some sort of cream cheese mix to add in next time.  I'll let you know how it goes.

 

One Hour Bag Charm

My mom bought me a Miche bag for my birthday last year.  She also bought my first two covers, one for my birthday and one for Mothers Day.  I finally made my first purchase, another cover, "purse panties," and chain handles.  During my online shopping I noticed that they have charmers (this isn't just charmers it's all the accessories, but the site doesn't make it easy to get just the charmers), so they were in the back of my mind.

While I wasn't thinking about it when I purchased it, once I put it on my bag in late August (also around when my facebook friends start talking college football), I realized that it is perfect Cougar Crimson!  Now, I have been calling it my "football season purse."  I've been out of school for over three years now, but "Once a Coug, Always a Coug!"  My first question to my husband was "do you know if we have a Cougar key chain somewhere?  I have an idea for my next project."  I found it pretty easily later that week, it was on one of our spare key, key chains.  Well, it didn't end up being "next" but it's done now!

It took a couple trips to various craft stores (I'm so lucky to have Jo-Anns, Michaels, and Hobby Lobby within 10 minutes of home) over a few weeks as I realized that I needed more supplies.  I finally got to sit down for an hour this morning and get it put together.

Directions
Collect your supplies.

1.  This is all of the supplies.  Used some and skipped some, but this is what I had out to work with.

2.  From the stash.  Jump rings in two sizes, and some clear bobbles that didn't get used for jewelry last Christmas.

3.  Charms and key chain.  My first attempt included all three, but it wasn't what I was going for.  I took off the key chain hardware and added my own clasp.

4.  Beads I purchased for this project.

5.  The last supplies I bought, realizing I needed the chain and the jewelry pins.



Put base together and add beads as desired.

I added three lengths of chain to the same ring that the key chain charm was hanging from.  In the future I would do one long and two short, since I ended up trimming one of the long ones down.

Add your first bead(s) using a jewelry pin.  Keep adding until you're happy with the results.

I didn't look at the Miche charmers before I started, but the next one I make, and there will be a next, will incorporate the beads into the chain instead of hanging the beads off the chain. 

Sunday Breakfast #1: Jam Straws

I found this recipe on Pinterest, surprise, surprise.  It has been "on the list" for a few weeks now.  By "on the list" I mean that we've had the ingredients, but I just haven't made it yet.

It was good.  A little chewy.  Definitely not as pretty as the inspiration.

Happy Grandparents Day!

Now that these have been received I can post them!

I had seen this on Pinterest (I don't know who has rights to the poem used) and was thinking about doing the project with Melodi.  It was a quick little project but now Melodi has one blue hand and one purple hand, oops!  I type the poem into Publisher, added a frame, and printed on cardstock (four to a page).  Melodi is lucky enough to have five sets of grandparents (which includes three sets of great-grandparents), so we made six and that means we have one to keep.  Originally, I was planning on using paint, but based on the size of the card and Melodi's hand we went with a stamp pad.  I wish I would have put the year on the card, so I'll probably write it in.

Rotating Frames with Monogram

I made a lucky find at the ARC (local second hand store) several weeks ago.  There were three identical frames (for $2.99 a piece) and I snatched them right up.  Did I know why?  Nope, but I'm sure happy with how they turned out.

My Steps
1. Dismantle, sand, and spray frames.  Paint the magnetic bullnose clips while you're at it.
2. Cut burlap to fit, add an extra 2 inches each direction (8x10 frames = 10x12 burlap).
3. Sandwich frame back together.  My burlap is the outer most because I liked how it looked raw, versus under the glass.
4. Glue on the bullnose clips with hot glue.
5. Paint and paper chipboard letter.  Glue on with hot glue.
6. Staple ribbon to back and tie knots.
7. Hang!  (directions for the drawer pull mounting below)

Some thoughts from along the way.

This is the "W" I started with.  It was too big for the frame.  I decorated it a little more and it's sitting on the fireplace mantel.

I stapled ribbon on the back of the frames.  It is adjustable which is good because my positioning was wonky.

Isn't that blue rose gorgeous?  When I brought it home I got an immediate "NO" from hubby about using those for hangers.

The inspiration was in the form of several pins.  I ended up using some of them and not others, while making the project my own.  The hanging scheme was really where I had too many ideas and just had to decide on one.

• curtain rod from dowel and drawer knob (not used)
• drawer pulls as picture hangers (used)
• curtain rod as frame hanger (not used)
• burlap in frames with monogram (used)
• painting bullnose clips (used)

Using Drawer Pulls as Frame Hangers
Supplies
Drawer pulls
T-nuts
Threaded rod (if necessary)
Drill and bits

Directions
((Get hubby to do it!))
Oh, you want real directions?
1. Drill holes.
2. Place T-nut.
3. Screw in drawer pull (if your drawer pull has the threading attached already awesome! if its one that you hold to the front and use a screw from the inside follow below).
4. Cut threaded rod to length.
5. Screw rod into T-nut.
6. Screw drawer pull onto rod.

Melodi's First Day

I dropped Melodi off for her first day of Junior Preschool with no problems at all.  Her backpack and lunch were packed last night, all I had to do was put ice packs in the bottom of her lunch box and slip in her easylunchboxes container.  We had a pretty easy morning, we had pb&j toast for breakfast, got dressed for the day, and did our hair.  I built in enough time for some pictures, and got some good ones! 

Cream cheese, ham,and cheese mini bagel.

Mixed fruit cup.  Grape tomatoes.  Mini Oreos.

Lunch is ready to go.

My favorite pictures from this morning.  

One of the four vertical 4x6 pictures (left two and top right two) will go in the big blank spot on the sign.  I made the sign using the Cricut Craft Room, the free font within CCR, and some paper.  It says "1st day Jr Preschool, September 4 2012."  I cut the brown paper, trimmed the negative down a little, and glued it to a piece of purple paper.  The sign will go in whatever I use to organize her school stuff, probably a binder or a file box.  There were so many different ideas on Pinterest for how to do first day of school signs: free printables, chalk board, white board, lay on the driveway/sidewalk/street with chalk writing.  I didn't find a chalk board or white board I liked, and I would have to get multiples to do group pictures once Erica starts school.  I'm really not sure where I got this idea, I don't remember seeing a direct inspiration, so I probably just came up with it.  I might do a last day one on the other side, or a separate one to cap off the binder section or put on the back side of a file.

Clothes Pin and Drape Clip Magnets

The night I made the clothes pin push pins for Melodi's art board I wanted to do another cute project and decided on clothes pin magnets.  This time I didn't paint, just added a strip of paper to the clothes pin and a circle to the magnet using my Xyron for adhesive (I probably should have used Modge Podge to coat it all).  I made a nice big flower for decoration, then decided that I didn't really like it.  Most of my buttons were still out and I noticed that I had some big, chunky buttons in great colors that I wouldn't be using for papercrafting anytime soon.  I used my trusty hot glue gun to attach the magnets and the buttons.

Lately I've been using a hotel drape clip that my father-in-law got on one of his work layovers to hold my daily schedule.  Since I had just made some magnets for my fridge I decided to use the big flower (originally made for the clothes pins above) as embellishment on the clip after I covered it with paper.  I had already added a pink brad to the middle of the flower but took it off to add one of the chunky buttons so that it matched the clothes pins.

They are all up my fridge making me happy looking at decorative magnets not the stupid flat ones you get at conferences or attached to the phonebook or the ones solicitors hand out.  I do want to redo some of the flat magnets for gifts, as they are a nice flat canvas for photos.

Bag Tags!

Melodi starts Junior Preschool tomorrow, and this mama is getting everything in order to send her off.  We purchased a backpack a few weeks ago, and found a lunchbox online.  Since I don't know if Melodi will continue to use them or if they will be passed down to Erica I didn't want to take a marker or paints to either one.  Today I used 30-60 minutes to quickly create nametags for her backpack and lunchbox.

I printed off two pieces with her name on them and two with my phone number.  All the paper was from my scrap pile!  The flowered and orange paper is the same paper, just double sided.  I used flower stickers to embellish.  The stickers came from the same Girls Birthday page kit as the paper.  My crop-o-dile came in useful to punch three small holes in the laminate.  Then I got to play with how to tie the ribbon on so that the tag can be attached to a bag.

I love quick, easy, free projects!

Schoolwork Display

Update (4 September 2012):  It's on the wall!  I chose to put it in the playroom above her toy cubby-shelf thing.  It was even motivation to get the playroom picked up so that I could take a picture.

My oldest starts Junior Preschool on Tuesday!  I can't believe that I'm sending Melodi, my two-and-a-half-year-old, off to school two days a week.  With preschool comes cute little art projects to enjoy, and with the start of school Pinterest has been teaming with beginning of school projects to do.

Here is the finished project, inspired by several pins that were rolling around in my head.  The artwork is my own, the "Melodi" was my first cut using Design Studio after getting my Cricut almost two years ago, and the alphabet pages are the contributions I made to an alphabet book swap on the Cricut Community Message Board.

How I Re-Purposed the Frame (inspiration 1, inspiration 2, there may have been more that I saw but didn't pin)

Raise frame on pushpins (inspiration), sand and paint.  Sand and paint some more.  Cut cork.  Adhere cork to glass from the frame using spray adhesive.  Trim cork.  Adhere second cork layer (wanted it thicker than a single layer).

Set cork/glass into frame.  Tap finishing nails into frame and bend over.  Add enough to secure firmly.

 

How I Made My Clothes Pin Push Pins

Take apart push pins and paint (inspiration) at the same time as the frame.  Put pins back together.  Hot glue the push pins to the clothes pins (inspiration).  Hot glue buttons to clothes pins.

I love how this project turned out, so now to figure out where to hang it and wait for Melodi to bring home her first piece of artwork from Junior Preschool. 

Family Painting Time

I was finishing up my glove box folders and Melodi was wanting to do something with me.  On trips to the craft store sometimes I pick up little things for Melodi so I had some wooden shapes to paint.  I pulled out three and let Melodi pick the one she wanted to paint, she then assigned me one and my husband one, so her little project turned into family painting time.

Melodi did pretty well for the first time painting.  Sure she got it all over herself (almost right at the beginning) and mixed the colors (only once she got bored), but we had fun and got to spend time as a family.  The first part she had to paint was the inside of her basket, not sure why, but that's what she wanted to paint.  We'll see if it ever drys, as there is quite a puddle inside.

 

Glove Box Clean Out

Sometimes the most simple projects take a little bit of time.  But, what can I expect, with an active two and a half year old and a nursing three month old.  I think this is probably the quickest project I've completed after finding it on Pinterest, but since we got the registration renewed on the car yesterday the state of paperwork in the glove box was at the top of my mind.

This car documents folder by Elementary Organization had been pinned by one of the people I follow.  First I started by creating my list of documents, but I didn't feel like digging out the documents in the middle of the night.  I knew I had some of the folders laying around, and I came across them as my husband I and worked to clean out the office, making this a FREE project.  Yesterday after I got the girls down for a nap I emptied out my glove box, took my draft document list, and sat down to sort through the paperwork.  I made a number of changes based on what I had and the order I wanted stuff in.  When my husband got home he brought me everything in his glove box.  Then the girls were up and I was off to try to corral them, at least a little bit. 

This morning I was finally able to finish up the project.  I printed revised lists, changed found some matting paper, and attached the "table of contents" to the folder using packing tape.  Finally, I added the stickers to the tabs and using my matching Sharpies to write the numbers (I would suggest writing on the stickers before putting them onto the tabs).

The final step to this project is going through the extra stuff that was in my husbands glove box.  It's amazing how much more stuff he had in his than I had in mine, but considering that we've had that car for two more years which included two moves and a extended road trip, it really isn't surprising.

Next I hope to make another folder like this to corral the paperwork that comes from a military move.

Busy Bag Storage: Gallon Ziplocks

When I started putting busy bags together the first ones I did were the felt board pieces.  With so many little pieces I needed a storage solution right away.  Looking around the house at what I had and wanting some uniformity in storing the various activities I decided to use gallon ziplock bags and a Homz plastic hanging folder tub that I have had for 6+ years.