the warmth of the stable

Happy Birthday, Theodore!

2011-03-03T05:00:00.001-08:00

Professional decorator I am not, but these sugar cookies sure hit the spot!

105 days!?

2011-02-28T04:17:00.000-08:00

Okay,the stomache flu made us miss 100 days of school. Nasty. So I sent these to school for the teacher to use next year. I punched out snowflakes, printed up the 'our class is 100 days smarter', used a circle to punch these out and attached the snowflake to the back to look like the sun. I was going to make them into lightbulbs, but ran out of steam. I put adhesive squares on the back to make them into stickers.
Next up is celebrating Dr. Suess! What do you have planned?

Little Squidge is 7!

2011-02-25T05:35:00.000-08:00

Just a quick post-the stomache flu hit us the day after DS7's birthday party and we're still recovering! This is the doodle I used for the front of his invitations. We were hoping to have a skating party on our outdoor rink but Mother Nature put the kibosh(sp?)to that one! (see rink puddles below):(

We were going to do a hockey rink cake but decided last minute on 'Club Penguin'.-It mast've tatsed just as good as that was the only quiet time all afternoon!LOL!

Happy Late Valentines Day!

2011-02-16T04:25:00.000-08:00

Every Day should be like Valentines Day! Love in the air everywhere! I love just about every holiday throughout the year. It's like little bits of Christmas that have broken off and are floating around the calendar!
Unfortunatly DS10's teacher doesn't share my view. They didn't even do Valentine cards this year and being in grade 5 it was his last year to exchange them with his classmates. Well, we did them anyway! He got 5 or 6 from other members of his class and received some 'mystery' hersey's kisses from 'm' (aka, mom) that they were selling for a fundraiser. These are the Valentines we gave(please forgive me-I don't remember where the idea came from but it isn't mine) The boys decided on a fu man chu mustache-very cute!

These are the goodies I picked up at Winners for 1/2 price-shouldn't have-but I did and I'm using the bowl to make cakes this morning. One birthday and one teacher appreciation cake. I'll let you know how that goes!

The Need for Speed

2011-02-11T05:21:00.000-08:00

DS10 had a bad day yesterday. I forgot to check his backpack to make sure he had his snowpants with him. (He doesn't wear them until recess) They had 'spur of the moment' idea to do a mass snowangel making at their school. Guess who couldn't participate? That's right. Massive mom guilt. They were already missing their Dad who had been away on business, so I figured some sledding time was needed. And not just backyard 'make-do' sledding. We went to the local snow hill and they had a ball! There were even some snowboarders there-which they got a huge kick out of! Then we went to WalMart so they could spend their allowance. When we got back(finally) Daddy was home! (finally!) Happiness and exhaustion all 'round!

Running out of Room!

2011-02-08T07:38:00.000-08:00

The rink needs shovelling-again.

The snow is STILL falling!
There is plenty to make a sledding hill against the deck for the boys to play on.

We lost so many trees in a fall storm. I'm thankful the snow is covering the damage; letting us forget about it until spring.
For now, I'll just enjoy the beauty of it all-from inside!

Hanukkah Fun!

2010-12-03T05:38:00.000-08:00

Happy Hanukkah to you ! Our elves were playing with a homemade dreidel yesterday so the boys and I got in on the fun, too! (There are plenty of places on the web to print off a dreidel template and instructions for this simple game-or make your own using a small milk carton and a pencil)

Mrs. Claus finally found sometime to wrap the main Santa gifts for 'J' and 'A'. She tells me she hopes to add red ribbon, but that glitter isn't staying on that well so we shall see!

I'm off to get a mammogram this morning! I look at it as another Christmas present to my family and to me, although, it might be inappropriate to wear big red bows for my appointment...

2010-12-02T04:53:00.000-08:00

They're early!! Toby and Jingles have arrived! When the boys hung up their coats yesterday after school they found two chocolate advent calendars and a note that read,

'Merry Christmas!! We are so excited to be coming to get the tree this weekend!

We circled the day we will be here on your calendars-

only eat one chocolate a day-or we'll have to tell Santa!

See you soon!

love,

jingles and toby

However...

there were a couple of really tired boys here last night and the car started acting up on the way to McDonalds, so we couldn't go And DS6 hurt his finger when we got home... you get the picture, right? DS6 just wished his elf was here to cuddle and... poof... outside the window appeared the 2 moose and 2 elves! Aren't Christmastime wishes the best of all?

I Refuse!

2010-11-29T05:30:00.000-08:00

This week begins December(in case you hadn't heard, 'the most wonderful time of the year") and I absolutly refuse to be sick in bed with this miserable cold! There is far too much fun to be had! The outside arrangements need to be arranged, the presents wrapped, the elves to arrive, the tree to be lovingly found and brought from the woods via horse and sleigh and carried triumphantly into the living room. It sounds like a lot of work to some but it's the journey to Christmas and I love every minute! Right now the ideas are fighting for room in my congested head! My thoughts are, if I get the ideas out, the cold will soon follow! I hope...

My birthday present

2010-11-16T11:20:00.000-08:00

I know this isn't Christmas related but I wanted to share what my very talented husband made me for my birthday! A new cabinet for the kitchen-perhaps not very romantic you say but what I actually asked for was more storage in the kitchen. I know- I'm not the real high maintenance type! LOL! I'm thinking maybe breakfast station and recycling underneath? He has everything ready to assemble for my new pantry too. Our kitchen is small so it will go in this broom closet. Can't wait to share it with you!

Folgers Containers

2010-11-12T04:15:00.000-08:00

I don't know if any of you drink Folgers coffee or not, but they have a great sticker project to make their canisters into some pretty cute gift containers! Even if you don't drink coffee (What-no coffee!?) you could include it in your donation box to the food bank or in your Christmas morning baskets, as a gift. I've had this on my to do list for quite some time, maybe I'll get to it this year!

Small things Make me Happy...

2010-11-10T06:58:00.000-08:00

Finally! The huge box of cereal was gone. It took up too much room in my cupboard! Pretty good box, though. 'AHA' moment...I was going to buy a box to wrap my brother's gift in for Christmas-duh! This got me thinking of more ways to wrap our gifts while saving money and the planet. Planet Green has some great ideas, including the old standbys (newspaper) and some things I hadn't thought of (a clay pot with drainage plate as a lid). I'm just happy I've finally got one present wrapped! Now how to wrap that big Santa figure?!

Christmas Houses

2010-09-21T08:05:00.000-07:00

On a recent trip to the local Wicker Emporium I happened on these cute little houses! At $1.80 each, I had to buy all six! "What are you going to do with these?" asked the clerk. How much time did she have? So far I have been told by my DS6 that they would make great houses for his Lego guys(not likely), I have thought I should fill them with tiny treats for a 'welcome to the neighborhood' gift, paint them black for "Booing"use them for Christmas gifts, and keep one or two back for my mantel. Any ideas?

prep and landing

2010-09-14T04:52:00.000-07:00

Disney's Prep and Landing has a great printable to help the kids get ready for Santa! It's actually on Family Fun's website. I reinforced the covers by gluing them to cardstock insted of just each other. And bound them with jute twine. I would love to have used the baker's twine from Bake It Pretty but I could see alot of procrastination in my future if I waited until I ordered it, you know how it goes-besides, the boys won't care!

Elf Magic

2010-08-26T06:09:00.000-07:00

This year the elves will not be scrambling for ideas last minute-I hope! For those of you not familiar with elf magic-we have two elves that visit us each Christmas season and make sure the boys behave in order to recieve their gifts from Santa at Christmas. While they are here they bring lots of fun ,magic, and a bit of mischief!

The next idea I have is for them to light the boy's rooms with strings of Christmas lights. Red for DS10 and Green for DS6. Luckily, I already have the lights. So no buying required here! (every little bit helps!)

Four months 'til Christmas!

2010-08-25T06:38:00.001-07:00

Can you believe it? Happy Rudolph Day! Today kicks off the 'month of the elf' at MHH. So we thought we'd try some "elf bread" (really fairy bread with Holiday sprinkles!)

DS6 gives it a 'Thumbs up'!

Not a creature was stirring...

2010-07-11T16:27:00.000-07:00

I got the idea for these from Papercraft magazine. I thought they would be really cute placecards for a Christmas Eve dinner!

Materials and tools

poster board or heavy cardstock
grey, white, and red cardstock
pink stickyback rhinestones
black sharpie
wire or spiral paperclips
modpodge
scissors

glue dots

Using a glass, I traced an '8' on the poster board and folded it in the centre. Then I cut the bottom off so it would sit on the table. I printed the saying on white card stock and mod podged it to the bottom of the card.

I pulled my paperclips apart a bit and used glue dots (one on the top and one underneath)to fasten it to the card for a tail. Then I traced the shape on grey cardstock and pasted it to my mouse.Next I cut the hat shape from red and the cuff from white. I cut into the hat shape so the cuff would slide in a bit.

I gled the hat pieces together and stuck them on my mouse. Then I cut out little circular ears and folde one third inand stuck them to his head! Lastly I stuck a little pink nose on and drew a sleepy eye with a black sharpie. I printed a name on paper and slipped it into the paperclip!

May Rudy Day!

2010-05-25T05:11:00.000-07:00

I hope you are grabbing a bit of Christmas for yourself today, even in the warmer temps!

Me? I'm getting geared up for Christmas in July-at least in that frame of mind. MHH is hosting a Christmas in July event with plenty of fun-so be sure to visit the forums in July!

ONLY SEVEN MORE MONTHS 'TIL CHRISTMAS, PEOPLE!! Let's step it up! After all-we don't really find it a chore, do we?

The First Rudolph Day of 2010!

2010-01-25T06:39:00.000-08:00

Poll Results

2009-12-11T18:37:00.000-08:00

Looks like the majority of people make dressing out of the bird! I like to do both, but DH has taken over making Christmas dinner, so I'm off the hook!

2009-12-11T18:17:00.001-08:00

Make a Smilebox greeting

Are your stocking stuffers wrapped?

2009-11-29T04:12:00.001-08:00

According to our poll we have a tie! I can break the tie-sort of. My boys have never known anything but wrapped stocking stuffers. However, as a child I never thought of such a thing! We got that from DH's family traditions!

Our Christmas Card Picture

2009-11-29T03:58:00.000-08:00

The tide's out at Hustus Beach. Here's some other great picture ideas!

Need a little Christmas!

2009-11-16T17:03:00.000-08:00

We're finally getting over the awful flu, here and I'm pulling out some decorations to put some 'spirit' into our surroundings, when I step back for a moment to realize,these Santas and snowmen are cheerful, but I need a different spirit! I believe we all do! Here's a Christmas quiz to test your knowledge of the First Christmas story vs. what we have woven into our traditions over the years!

Yard Sale Treasure!

2009-10-02T05:30:00.001-07:00

Shades of a Charlie Brown Christmas tree! I was so happy to hit this yard sale! The lady was down sizing and had a bunch of BEAUTIFUL holiday bargains. She should know these things have found a home where they will be much loved!

More than half way there...

2009-07-10T05:52:00.000-07:00

So I've decided to finalize a list of smaller gifts to give to postal-workers, teachers, dentist, doctor, etc. I'll work on it today and share what I've accomplished later on...patience!

We have finally gotten some sun and decent temperatures so I'd really like to get a Christmas picture done soon! (not making sense? It will when I show you!)

Candle tea party

2008-10-28T16:37:00.000-07:00

I haven't gotten all the things done that I hoped on the weekend, but today I finally made the teacup candles that I saw in Martha Stewart's magazine last year!

I picked the teacups up at yard sales this summer and cut store-bought cafe candles to the right size because I didn't have any place to buy wicks around here. These candles were about $4.00 for a box of 20, I think. Then, I melted the remainder of the cut candle , along with ends of scented pillar candles, in a 9" pie plate over a pot of boiling water. I poured the melted wax in the cup around the candle and added a teabag tag with a heart stamped on it. I will give these to pre-school teachers for Christmas.

The wheels are in motion!

2008-10-25T03:51:00.000-07:00

Well, I cut my Christmas card list unmercilessly this year and they are addressed and waiting for pictures. Maybe I can take the Christmas picture this weekend...
I also did the home spruce up worksheet from organized Christmas. I would really like to complete something on that sheet this week! Guess I'll start with finishing the paint in the boy's room. I'll have to post before and afters , as DH did a fabulous job building a bed in the eaves for DS8. I need to oil the wood on the bed, too! Sheesh-forgot about that! I'd love to do a Suessical, Mount Crumpet/Whoville theme for Christmas in there. I'll have to see what I can come up with.
I've got to do a bit more digging in the storage space, as there are a few gifts I've bought and just stuffed in there!(Not good!)
To Do(Weekend edition!)

stitch snowflakes on apron
take Christmas card photo
paint in boys room
take Christmas totes out of storage, put summer totes in storage, put Christmas totes back in storage!Phew!

I'll let you know how I make out! Happy Weekend!

2008-10-22T04:12:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I didn't quite FINALIZE my craft list. I got hyperfocused on my gift tote and ended up wrapping one gift! One down! Anywho... I'm classifying anything I have to make as a craft!
Here's something tentative...(I'm so lucky my hubby can build things, too!)

Christmas cookies gift 'basket'. This consists of a metal lunchbox I have to alter with "born to shop, forced to cook" saying on it; recipe cards scrapped with family favorites on them; a store bought apron with blue snoflakes stitched on it; and copper cookie cutters.
2 crokinole boards(hubby)
recycle centre(hubby)
2 bedpockets with books and flashlights
Lasagna wih garlic bread
Chili basket packed with western hat and bandana, veggie tales movie, french onion soup bowls, corn chips and chili of course!
Tree in a box-pine cone garland, pine cone carolers, tree topper, tree skirt, painted ornaments(rustic). Lights and tree stand.

That's it for now. I'm sure to add more baking as I finish these things up! Better get started!

Holiday Preparations

2008-10-20T15:39:00.000-07:00

Today, I got together with my sister and niece and donned my 'Naughty or Nice' Christmas vest to start 'honest to goodness' preparations for that merry old time of the year! They got out their laptops and I got out the looseleaf and we collectively logged on to Organized Christmas to begin the Christmas Countdown, albeit, one week early. We gave ourselves a daily task this week in order to stay on track. My weekly list looks like this;

Monday- Talk to my spouse to find out what things he enjoyed most in past celebrations. This I did, and after a few strange looks(Christmas already?) I found out we agree that church service on Christmas Eve doesn't work for us, yet. (We need to give our youngest child a couple of more years)
Tuesday- Work on Master gift list and finalize a craft list.
Wednesday-Christmas card list (with addresses)
Thursday-Home Spruce up list. This could take more time than I've allotted...
Friday- inventory and gather card supplies
Saturday and Sunday- fine tune this week's work and prepare for next week.

I guess the Christmas bug is quite contagious, as I recieved an excited call from my niece, after she left. She had picked up a gift for my son and that was one more checkmark on her list! Way to Go!

Hope to post my craft list tomorrow evening! See you then!

Altered Clipboards

2008-07-22T03:19:00.000-07:00

Here's how I did my clipboards-

What I used -

~clipboard

~old wrapping paper,wallpaper or scrapbook paper

~coordinating acrylic paint

~Matte mod podge

~cutter

~old christmas cards

~printed numbers, stickers or rub-ons

~washers

~glue

~sticky back magnets

~exacto knife and cutting board

~double sided tape

~container for numbers

~chipboard or wooden tags

~Coordinating fibers and/or ribbon

The first thing I did was paint the top of my clipboard with a coordinating color. This saves me from having to cut my paper all around the clip.
Then I clipped my background paper in the clipboard to hold it in place while I traced it on my clipboard. This makes cutting easier which is what I did next. I used my cutter, but you could easily use scissors.

Next I cut a background for my numbers to go on and I Mod Podged it to the clipboard. After that was semi-dry, I glued the washers to it with Tacky glue. Then I cut this snowman off an old Christmas card and podged him on to this clipboard. For the snowflake, I had been given some free cardstock die cuts from our local scrapbook store, so I podged that half on the board and cut off the bit hanging off the edge.

I had a sheet of 'Scenic Route' numbers,(that's just the brand name), so I podged them to some leftover pastebord (from some packaging for something, sometimes it helps to be a packrat) and cut them out, using scissors and an exacto knife. Then I cut and stuck my magnets to the back of the numbers. For the snowflake board I used wooden tags from the Dollar store and stuck some number cut-outs tags to them.

Then I took a rubber band and tied a whole bunch of fibers to it. This made it easy to wrap it around the clip.
Next I printed my sayings on the computer and mounted them on the board. For the snowman board I took my brown ink pad and sponge and just inked the edges of the sayings to 'dirty' them up a bit and make them look more rustic.

I found an empty plastic battery container and a tin peppermint container to use to hold the numbers. they weren't very pretty so I stuck some coordinating paper on the tin to use for the snowflake numbers and I printed a reindeer on sticker paper for the battery container. I inked this to go with the rustic look of the snowman board.

Day Late and a Dollar short

2008-06-27T05:43:00.000-07:00

That's me-just a little behind the eight ball! Oh well! I got my clipboards done the day AFTER Rudy Day-but they are done and here they are. I'll post more instructions and pictures the week the craft is featured at MHH. Hope you like them!

Tomorrow's Rudolph Day...

2008-06-24T05:27:00.000-07:00

but, I'm sorry, I just can't wait! The members at MHH are just too inspiring AND have too many fabulous ideas, therefore, I'm working on a bit of Christmas today!

Basket(one of the afore mentioned members) posted this link to some Christmas cards at Familyfun. I think this will be our design for 2008, as long as I can find the appropriate envelopes. I was looking through my craft stash of old Christmas cards (Throw them out?you've got to be kidding!) and I found one that read,'Hope you're all wrapped up in holiday fun!'. Hmmm...this led to me digging out last year's cheap Christmas paper. All I need now is alot of red ribbon and my poor little men are going to fall victim to yet another crazy photo op of Mom's staging! I'll post when I've got them sufficiently 'wrapped up in holiday fun!'
Okay-that leads to the shopping list~
1. Red ribbon(saunders in New Ross)
2. Envelopes
3. cording
4. shiny paper

Christmas Present!

2008-06-02T13:14:00.000-07:00

Today I ordered in 2 copies of -The Mitten. I'm going to sew bed pockets for my kids and my younger niece & nephew, in the shape of mittens. I'll include a flashlight, a copy of the book and maybe a stuffed animal;(one that's in the book). I also want to sew some clothes for my niece's doll from some red velvet I have left over. I'm hoping I have enough for a cape as well!

One Week 'til Rudy Day!

2008-05-18T11:41:00.000-07:00

Next Sunday, May 25th I'll be celebrating Rudolph Day with my neice and my sister. What to do?
I should really finalize my 'gift giving and crafting for gifts', lists. I think I'll also get my card list together and check out a picture location. Check out these Christmas Photos! So creative!
http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf988253.tip.html