Simple and Easy Neighbor Treat

This year has been a bit crazy since my holiday plans have to be a bit on the rushed side. I leave to go home for Christmas in just one more day! The other night one of our neighbors came over with a plate of goodies and that's when I went into panic mode. I hadn't done my neighbor plates yet! We ALWAYS do something for the neighbors. I grew up doing it and I wanted my kids to have that same experience. It just makes the holidays that much more special.

I didn't know what to do and then my mother-in-law was talking on the phone with my hubby one night and mentioned this great idea. It is very inexpensive, cute, and the best part....FAST.

Here they are.

The picture isn't the greatest but camera batteries died before I could take anymore.

All they are, are some Rice Krispy Treats that I put in the bottom of my bundt pan and then decorated with some holiday peanut M&M's. One of our neighbors is allergic to peanuts, so we used some Twislers Licorice that we cut into tiny pieces. It wasn't until the second batch that I decided to add some green food coloring to the mix. Aren't they cute?

They aren't the fanciest thing in the world and I do still prefer the homemade fudge and peanut brittle but these did the trick this year and the kids loved them too. The bow is just a piece of red cardstock that I cut out in the shape of a bow, wrote "Merry Christmas from the Glenn's" and stuck into the wreath with a toothpick. Merry Christmas everyone!

Old Jerusalem Painting Completed!

This post is a little bit of just me showing off. But then again, that is probably pretty much all I do on here isn't it? I wanted to show and tell my finished "real" painting. I finally completed it last night at about 11:30 p.m. WOOOHOO! I finally decided to call it quits. I am sure there is plenty more I could have done on it but I wanted to have it done before the crew came to pick everything up today (more about that on the My First "Real" Painting post as well).

I am sure Old Jerusalem looked much different that what I depicted it as being but that's what I love about artistic license. I can do whatever I want. There are a few things that still bug me about it, but overall I am very happy with it. When I get it back I will change a few things and add more depth to it before I hang it up somewhere. But for now it's all good. What do you think?

Christmas Present Sneek Peek

I just couldn't wait until after Christmas to post this project. I think it'll be ok since the kids that are getting them don't read yet. At least I don't think so. I am soooo pleased with how they are coming together! I worked on these yesterday in between working on my "real" painting and being mom. I have been really busy! I will be happy when this weekend is over. I still have to figure out what I'm doing for Singing Time this Sunday. But first things first. And what better thing to be first than what I love most? Crafts! Who says you can't eat dessert first right?

These are for my two kids and my niece and nephew,  They are gonna love them! They are made out of oak and maple wood scraps that we laminated together, cut out with a friend's band saw, sanded with our belt sander, and routered the edges.  They are covered in a couple coats of polyurethane and plain old craft paint for the details. (We didn't want to cover up those beautiful wood grains with paint.) They all need wheels, and the semi will eventually have a trailer. Aren't they cute!

Can't you just hear those happy little voices? "zoom zoom!"

My first "real" painting.

Ok, ok, so I have painted before but I have never considered myself a "painter." It is not a medium that I have quite mastered yet. I've always wanted to be one, (I've always wanted to illustrate a children's book but that has not happened yet either) but hey, I am learning. 
Yesterday I started a project that I am falling in love with. And guess what, it is a REAL PAINTING!

I was put in charge of decorating for the Christmas Activity/Program for this next week and was asked if I could make the gym look like old Jerusalem; and on a $20 budget nonetheless. Can you say IMPOSSIBLE!? Well, not for this woman! I have the two best ladies on my committee and we haven't spent anything so far. We are making palm trees out of carpet rolls and dug-up ferns, a old Jerusalem market place booth out of  bamboo poles, cardboard, and a long table, and hanging one of those big metal stars wrapped in aluminum foil. It is going to look great! At least I am hoping so. I won't be there to see it all since I am leaving the day before to go home for Christmas. But I think it'll come together.

For one of the walls I decided that it would be nice to have a visual of Jerusalem hanging up, and that's where it all started. Dan brought home a bunch of cardboard, and masonite type wood stuff for me to use, and instead of seeing cardboard and paper covered masonite, what I saw was, CANVAS!

First, I white washed a piece of the stuff with some left over Flat White house paint, (probably from when this house was built) and sketched my design in pencil.

Then today, I started the painting. It is no where near completed yet; but even with the roughed up color scheme starting to come together, I am way excited. I am also thinking I will probably be adding plenty of warm colors to tie in with my red recliner, and maybe eventually it'll be hanging up above the fireplace in that room. And the best part is that I spent a total of $0 on it. The "canvas" was free, the brushes and paint were something I already had on hand, and I don't plan on spending anything on it. Well, at least not until it comes time to buy molding for a frame. Here's what it looks like right now.

Drum Roll Please...

rat a tat rat a tat rat a tat tat......And here it is! Ok, ok, It's not the ENTIRE completed project (when that happens we'll have to bring out the entire symphony) but I can at least say that the top half of the chair is Finito!

Here are the before and after pics of "The Beast's" top portion.

Before

After

In these pictures it looks more pink then red but be assured it really is red.

Isn't she lovely?

Recliner Progress! It's Coming Together!

Can you believe it!? It is actually coming together! I know I have talked about it before and told you my goal was to have this baby done by December, well It is now December! I am still not finished, but I have made some huge progress.

Yesterday I had the URGE! The DESIRE! and the WILL! to get busy on this thing. And I won't lie I spent probably a total of 8 hours straight just working on it too! From the time the kids went down for their naps up until the time to call it a night, I worked, and worked and worked. (mind you... I took breaks for helping make dinner, feeding everyone, bedtime prayers, stories, and songs). So not the entire 8 hours.  But a LOONNG TIME! My husband was such a stud too and didn't complain one time about his obsessive wife. He even made dinner! WOW! I love that man!

I am just about finished with the top portion of the chair now. The only thing holding me back is that I ran out of fabric buttons to cover (actually I just bent 4 of them in the process and that left me being two short. Just my luck!)  So a trip to JoAnne's is in order.

But here are some pictures of where "The Beast" is now.

A couple of the inside springs had broken away from the frame so Dan turned into Mr. Handy Manny and fixed them and then also reinforced the other springs to avoid them breaking later. What a guy! 

Yep those are PLEATS! Ever single one of them! AND I DID IT! Whew! When I took the chair apart and saw that, and knew I had to recreate them, I almost stopped right then and there. BUT, I DID IT! I amaze myself!

And here it is now. It isn't attached to the frame yet but as soon as I get those last two bottom buttons put on, and the last seam stitched up, its all staple and go! Well....for the top chair portion anyway. I still have the entire bottom to go. 

Isn't it looking great! It gets me excited to keep on going.

Good thing too. It is much too late to turn back now.

Baby it's cold outside! But where there's sun there if FUN!

It hasn't quite decided to be winter here in Washington. The usually gray, cloudy, and wet weather has decided to go away these past couple days! I for one AM NOT COMPLAINING! I am loving it! Yesterday the kids and I took advantage of the wonderfulness and enjoyed the sun. It was still very chilly but nothing a couple coats wouldn't fix.

 

 

Thanksgiving Weekend

Things have settled down a bit now that Thanksgiving is over. We had a lot of fun with Grandma and Grandpa Glenn here and loved having everyone over for turkey day.
Doesn't get any better than great food and good company!
Although the table was set with paper plates and plastic cups, it still looked beautiful to me.

 

A big thanks to everyone who helped with the food. It was nice to not be in charge of everything. Everything was delicious! And my favorite part of it all remains Pumpkin Pie! I don't think I had the chance to take a picture of it. It disappeared very fast.

As always the kids loved having Grandma and Grandpa stay with us. Every morning they'd ask "where's Grandpa" (usually there is no distinction between the two. "Grandpa" is either Grandpa or Grandma. We're still working on that one.)

It was nice to have sitters on black Friday too. Both Dan and I were able to go out into the craziness together. We hit Target, Lowes, and yes, I have the best husband in the world! Dan went with me to JoAnne's Fabrics morning sale and spent two whole hours at my side in the fabric cutting line! Sorry ladies he's already taken. 

I do have to mention how incredibly cute the reusable bags were that they handed out at Target while we waited in the line wrapped outside the building waiting for it to open at 5:00 a.m. They are soo cute and they even fold up to look like a cute wallet!

 

Can you say ADORABLE! And since my awesome husband was with me I got TWO! Wooohoo!

Grandma and Grandpa were a huge help while they were here. They babysat, helped cook, entertained the kids while Dan, myself, LaDean and Steve all watched a movie, helped with the Christmas decorations, Wrapped Christmas presents, and even made cupcakes with the kids. I don't think Ethan was much help but he enjoyed himself!

They're supposed to be cornucopias. It is a bugle and some runts candies.  

The men put up the Christmas lights outside while myself, Grandma and the kids put up the Christmas tree and my Santa Claus collection. I haven't taken a picture of my Santa's yet but will hopefully get one up soon. 

 

I hope to get some better pictures of the lights at night. I just need to get my tripod out. There's something tricky about taking pictures of lights. Everything looks so blurry.

Hope you all had a fabulous Thanksgiving.

Getting things done. Vinyl Lettering?

It has been a busy week with Thanksgiving, shopping, wrapping, and decorating. Now it is time for me to get busy and get the rest of Christmas gifts put together. How about you?
I let people on my facebook account know about this little offer, but thought I'd also let all you blogger friends out there in on it too. I am now taking orders for vinyl lettering. I can do practically any size and just about any color. My vinyl cutter is 4' wide. But you have to hurry because the last day I will be accepting orders will be Dec. 9th.
You see, this year I am leaving early to go home for Christmas! So, if you have a special saying in mind or have an idea for a that someone this year leave me a comment with your e-mail address and we'll get busy!  

Thanksgiving Place Setting

I am hosting Thanksgiving this year, so that gives me the opportunity to do what I love best. Be creative! and make something pretty. I decide this year to do something fancy with the place settings. We'll probably still be using paper plates but at least the napkins will be pretty. What can you do? I'd rather use paper when there will be 8 kiddos eating with us. And plus the clean up is sooo much easier!

So this is what I did.
I picked up some pretty leaves from the YMCA parking lot
after one of my nightly workouts and brought them home.

Then I put them all in a book for a couple nights
to press them nice and flat.
You could probably do it overnight and be fine too.

After they were good a pressed I took my Silver Sharpie poster paint marker.

and wrote everybody's name on them. It was also a good way to double check the number of guests that will be coming.

I absolutely love all the yummy colors!

 

After the marker was dry I couldn't help but try it out and see what they'd look like.

I had bought some berry garland at Michael's when they were having a 40% off sale. All I did was cut off pieces with my wire cutters and wrapped it around my cloth napkins for a festive napkin ring. Then, I stuffed the leaf stem underneath. Now everyone has a special seating card! I love how it turned out!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

I have not disappeared. I promise.

I feel like I haven't blogged in quite awhile. I do miss it. I do however want you to know that I have been very busy lately. I have gotten a lot done! Lots and lots of craft projects and more in the works; but unfortunately can't share quiet yet. You see they are for Christmas and birthday's that are still underway. And most of my family keeps up on the blog. So you'll just have to take my word and know that I have been busily creating and will show you first chance I get.

A Visitor in the Backyard

This morning when I was changing morning diapers I glanced out the window and saw a dead bird (probably a pigeon) laying by the swing set. My first thought was eeeewww! I really don't want to have to clean that up. Then, later when I was changing diapers for a second time today I heard a commotion outside of crows.I again thought eeeww! And looked to see what was happening. Unfortunately me moving the blinds scared the partiers away. But I saw that the dead bird was no longer where I had seen it last. Instead, it was moved over to the bushes by the fence. Then later while I was clearing the breakfast dishes I glanced outside to peek at the dreaded corpse again, but to my surprise I found this beautiful creature! WOW!

And the best part is that he took the bird with him when he left. I don't have to go out there and clean it up after all.  

Thanksgiving Card and Welcome Home Card

Tonight I had an itch to do something crafty for myself. Don't get me wrong. I love making things for other people but I love to be able to enjoy my creations too. I decided that I wanted to get the paints out and have some fun. Also, Dan was on his way home tonight and I thought it would be fun to make him a "Welcome Home" card. So Kiera worked on that while I made a Thanksgiving card. I really like how it turned out and am thinking I will take it to Staples sometime this week and have more of them printed to send out for the holiday. So I guess I did make it to give away. Oh well.

 

These are the supplies I used:

-1 sheet of white cardstock

-pumpkin orange craft paint

-burgundy craft paint

-dark green craft paint

-paint brush

-ultra fine black felt tip pen

I used my new centerpiece as a guide (which I will have to show and tell about later) and just went for it. I mixed the paint as I went to create the brown tints and then set it aside. After it was dry I took my felt tip pen and outlined and scribbled shadows for a finishing touch. I signed the bottom and ta dah! Fun and easy thanksgiving card.

If you don't want to paint something like I did, another idea that I thought about was to have the kids put their hand prints on the paper and then finish it off to make it look like a turkey. Lots of possibilities. But it was fun, easy, and relaxing.

This is how Kiera's turned out. I added the pink letters after her painting dried. I think Dan will like it don't you?

Free and easy entertainment

Just stopping by for a quick journal entry:
Today at lunch time the kids were eating their mac n' cheese and peas when out of nowhere Ethan started laughing, squealing, and giggling. All of a sudden he'd stop and stare into space as if he was looking for something and then the giggling would commence. "What in the world is so funny," I thought. Then I turned to where he was looking and it was nothing more than a reflection of light bouncing off of a bird feeder hanging in the back yard. The light would sway back and forth on our vaulted ceiling in the living room, disappear, and reappear. It was too cute. Oh the simple pleasures of childhood. I love it!

Cheerio boxes and paper bags

I just thought I'd post a random thing today of something simple for which I am grateful.
Two things: one, cheerio boxes from Costco (ya know the ones with two bag of cereal inside) and two, paper bags from the grocery store.

Why you ask? Well, its a long story. As a matter of fact this has been a long week. My husband has been out of town since Sunday morning at 5:30 a.m. I don't like it when he's gone and I miss him so much when he leaves. Although, I appreciate his hard work and am very grateful that he has a job when there are many who don't. So it has been a long week with just the kids and I. I am starting to feel the need for some "me" time although I think I have done pretty well and have kept my sanity with having two busy toddlers on my own. (I don't know how you single moms out there do it!) I miss going to the gym every night and I much prefer running errands on my own rather than having to load the kids up at every stop.

I have kept plenty busy though. This week, and pretty much the ENTIRE week I have been working on a project. More business than fun but a project nonetheless. I received a sizable vinyl lettering order from a lady in Florida. I haven't had that big of an order in a loooong time. Probably since our Rexburg days. Anyhoo, It was a chore and was filled with lots of roadblocks. First, my vinyl software broke, so I ordered a new software and had it express mailed. Then, I couldn't get that software to work, so I tried another computer, and that still didn't work. Finally, I had to call in some favors from another lady in my Stake who also did vinyl lettering and went to her house to RE-design and cut out the lettering. (remember I have no hubby at home to babysit while doing this).

She was sooo sweet and kind to let me barge in on her and take up her space for I don't know how many hours. I hadn't even met her before! What a woman! I owe her a ton! I am grateful to have my brother and sister-in-law close by. Thank you Steven for watching the kids for me. Also, I have the greatest friend who stepped up without me even asking! And watched the kids for me for almost 6 hours so I could finish and send the vinyl on time. Thanks Naomi!

But back to my Cheerio box and paper bag. I finally finished all the vinyl lettering and was ready to mail it. But, being who I am, I didn't want to charge my customer more that I needed to and I didn't want to wait til the next day to go to the post office to get a box that it all would fit in. So, I got creative! Yes I know, imagine that. Ha ha. I looked around for a long time trying to find SOMETHING anything at all that would work. I was in my kitchen and glanced at the pile of recycling waiting to go outside and ta dah!

The Cheerio box was perfect once I flattened it and the 1 (it only took one!) paper bag was enough to go around it to make it look decent. The next morning I made a trip to the post office and it all should make it there in time for her "Super Saturday." Whew!

I probably won't be taking orders for a little bit at least until I can figure out the new software and iron out all the glitches. I'll let you know when I get it all up and working again. Hopefully before the Christmas gift rush.

Hair Cuts All Around

Hey all, I wanted to let you know that I accomplished another goal of mine and that was to give my little boy a "good" haircut. I will admit it isn't perfect but it is FAR better than the last one I gave. I give credit to all the You Tube videos that I watched of people demonstrating. It made it so much easier and I had somewhat of an idea on where to start this time. A few more times to practice and I think we'll have it down. See how it turned out.

Here's the "BEFORE"

That hair will NOT stay down.

And by the way while I have this picture up....My husband Dan likes to come home from work and practice the piano. However he doesn't get much practice in before this happens. No sooner does he sit down to play does he end up with two kids on his lap trying to teach them "hot cross buns." Just another thing that makes me smile.

And here's the happy AFTER

I highly recommend the sucker! It does wonders when you are trying to cut a squirmy toddlers hair.

And here's the back

His hair still sticks up when it is dry but I think I am going to have to learn to live with it. Whether it is really long, or really short, his hair is just meant to travel to great heights.

Oooh and I almost forgot, I also cut Dan's hair a few days before this and then right after little Ethans I had to give Kiera hers. She wanted to have "Her turn" so so bad. So I got up my courage and trimmed her hair! AAAH! I have not cut her hair (besides bangs) since she was a teeny tiny baby and it was a sad day for me even though it wasn't more than an inch. Sniff Sniff. I love watching my babies grow but at the same time I wish it didn't have to happen so fast. 

Recliner makeover update

I know it has been FOREVER! since my last recliner makeover update. To be honest...I have been putting that beast of a project off. But now that my hands have recovered from the last time, I decided to get it out again today. I am happy to say that I have officially taken apart the back of the recliner and am now ready to cut out the pieces from my fabulous red suede.

This project is definently taking longer than I had hoped but I didn't really know what to expect since I had never done something like this before. Once I get the pattern pieces cut out, and sewn together, it will then be time to take apart the final piece of the chair (the bottom half). We'll see how long that takes me huh? My goal is to have it done before December.

This is what I took off the chair, and what I will be using to make my pattern with. I can not tell you how much I have learned from this experience. And can I just say that old things were made incredibly well compared to a lot of what you can find today! Things were made with such quality. This beast is not going down without a fight.

Here is what my chair looks like right now.
Doesn't look like much does it...sort of scary.
But it will be great, I JUST KNOW IT!

Don't forget to vote

Just a reminder....Don't foget to vote today. I just barely caught my mailman today before he drove off to give him my mail-in ballot. Whew!

Halloween Twice Over

Is it really November?! WOW! This year has flown so fast! I have got to get busy with holiday preparations and more gift making. But first I want to share with you some of the fun times we had this past weekend for Halloween.

Halloween is fun especially when you get to celebrate it TWICE!

On Wednesday night before Halloween weekend we had a Halloween carnival and Trunk-or-Treat at our church. Dan was in charge of helping the 12 year old boys with their face painting booth and I took the kids around and did the cake walk, belly skateboarding/bowling game, eating donuts on a string, homemade root beer, and fashion show. It was a lot of fun! Then after the carnival everyone headed out to the parking lot and went trick-or-treating to the trunks of everyone's cars. The kids had fun even with the light drizzle of rain. But who cares about rain if you get candy right?

  

 

For Halloween this year we got to have Dan's parents Shellie and Robert come up for a visit. It was fun to be able to show off our finished Halloween creation with them since they got to see it when it was a work in progress. It was also very nice just to have them here with us. It makes me feel more at home with family over. The kids loved having Grandma and Grandpa stay with us too. Whenever they'd get up from their naps or wake up in the morning, the first thing Kiera would ask for was either Grandma or Grandpa.

Halloween night the kids got to go Trick-or-Treating around our neighborhood; and what made it more fun was that the cousins met up with them and they got to go together. So Grandma, Grandpa, Dad, Kiera, Ethan, Uncle Steven, Kaleb, and Florence all treked out into the night together for a fun Halloween night.

I got candy duty, so I stayed and handed out candy to all the treaters, and we had quite a few! We didn't get rid of all our candy though so we are stocked up for quite some time. What are we going to do with all this candy?

Halloween twice over does that too you I guess.

 

Happy Halloween!