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The countdown begins!

It's finally December and time to start the official countdown to Christmas.  I wanted to share this block countdown I made last year.  I explained how I made it here on my Halloween Countdown.
I REALLY need to start shopping!!



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Update: crafting competition


I know you all have been on pins and needles wanting to know how the competition is going.  ;)  riiight.
Well I'll tell you anyway, if you're new around here I was competing in One Month to Win It.   I made it through round 1 with my EAT sign, I really love how it turned out and it looks great in our kitchen.   Well, then there was the next round, Deco Art.    I, unfortunately, didn't realize the due date of the next project... After realizing when it was due, it left me one day to create something.   Yeah, if your ever in a craft competition, might want to check to due dates!! Sheesh!
So anyway, I ran to Hobby Lobby the first thing in the morning and picked up supplies I might use.   So this is what I came up with...
I really did want to do something with some scripture in it, something that would be a reminder of what is the most important things in life.

I really love Proverbs 31, I feel like as a mom and wife, my role is to be a keeper of the home and do all I can for my family. 



It says:
An excellent wife, who can find?  For her worth is far above jewels.  The heart of her husband trusts in her and he will have no lack of gain.  She works with her hands in delight.  She extends her hand to the poor.  Strength and dignity are her clothing and she smiles at the future.  She opens her mouth in wisdom and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her home and does not eat the bread of idleness.  A woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.  Proverbs 31

I used a Deco Art paint writer to write the words on a blank canvas, and inserted it into a frame that I painted.  

Ok, so since I only had one day to finish, I made a lot few mistakes, but just had to keep going!  I do love the message though, and It's not too bad, just don't look to hard at the spelling. :)
It definitely wasn't good enough to get me to the next round,  but I now have a reminder of what kind of a woman I want to be.  And, if I hadn't been "eating the bread of idleness" I would have finished this with time to spare! ;) 

The next round of the competition was Styrofoam, I had a project lined up for this, so I'll post about it later.  


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Pumpkin treat favors

I made this last minute pumpkin treat favor for the kids at our Thanksgiving.    I thought it would add a little fun for the kids, get them over the hump until Christmas!  These were so easy and I made a few in no time.    I got all the treats inside in the dollar section of Target, aka, the best section ever.   

Supplies:
Orange tissue paper
goodies/treats 
tape
brown cardstock
1. Put the goodies in the middle of tissue paper.  I used 2 sheets per pumpkin.
2. Gather it up and secure it with tape.
3. Cut a strip of brown paper.  (brown paper bag would be good to use too)
4. Cut off the tissue above the tape, and wrap the stump with the brown paper. I used tape to secure it.
These are made to be ripped open, so they don't have to be perfect! 

There you have a pumpkin, you can add a name or leave it as is.  
I tied green yarn I had around it and made a little name tag. 


I think the kiddos will like getting a little extra something this year, and have fun ripping them open to see what's inside! 

If you don't already have too much to do before Thursday give them a try! :)


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Thanksgiving week

Thanksgiving is already here, as much as I want time to slow down it doesn't look like its going to anytime soon.  This year I am attempting some additions to our family's traditional feast.  We have broccoli casserole, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, and so on...   Lotsa casseroles going on, but they are all so delicious and I look forward to it all year long.   I'm going to try and make stuffing this year.   This stuffing: "The Best Stuffing Ever" is what it's actually called from the Picky Palate, have you been to her site before?  Check it out!  I get so hungry every time I look at her stuff!!

I've never made stuffing and honestly only had it a couple times, SO I hope this turns out ok... But man it looks good...




I am also going to attempt this wonderfulness...  Cinnamon Roll Pumpkin Vanilla Sheet Cake, wow. 
That name... cinnamon roll..Vanilla.. Cake... all together... it can't be bad! 





I am so ready to EAT and see my family!!  

What are you guys making for Thanksgiving??













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Paper Tree

I'm really excited about getting my Christmas decor out, but I am making myself wait until after Thanksgiving.  I need to focus on one Holiday at a time! Christmas seems like it is coming so fast this year, I wish the world would just slow down a bit!!   Although I am waiting to put out my Christmas decor, I can't help but make some things that are just too cute to wait for.   Like this paper tree! 
Right when I saw something similar to this on Pinterest I went straight into my guest craft room and found some christmas paper I bought last year.   This was so easy to make, I turned on the latest Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader episode and was done before it was over.  I love that show by the way.  Maybe because I wanted to be a "DCC" when I was a little girl or maybe just because those girls give me motivation to start working out again.  Not enough motivation to actually go to the gym, but at least I think about it, eh? lol ;)

So anyway...  Here is how easy it was to make.


1. Cut 10 or so sheets of paper, each one about an inch shorter than the previous.
2. roll into a tube using a pen or pencil.
3. Tape the end so it wont unravel.  Stack them up like a tree!
That's it! 
I glued burlap to the inside of a frame and then used tape to secure the paper onto it.  I might use the burlap frame after christmas is over so I didn't want it to be permanent.  
I love bunting, and tiny bunting is even better, so I made a small one for the date, it could say Joy, Merry, or anything, or it's cute without the bunting!




I'm ready to put this out on display but at the same time I just want time to freeze for a second!!  I haven't even started Christmas shopping yet.  I wish we could just do a Zach Morris "time out" and I could get so much done! hehe.  You guys know what I'm talking about right??? Zach Morris, Saved By the Bell???  ;)  Ok anyway...

Leslie Ashe was the original creator of this idea for Echo Park Paper, go here to check out her blog!

This was fun and easy so you should try it out!

Click 



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Christmas Wreath

I love the blog UCreate, they are always showing off the greatest tutorials and other projects from around blog land.  If you haven't checked it out, you should! So many great ideas.  She also posts a monthly project that everyone can join in and put their own spin on.  For October it was THIS fall burlap wreath tutorial.

I love how she used burlap, but I already had a fall wreath so I thought I would go the Christmas route instead.   I didn't know until I looked at Hobby Lobby that they have different colors of burlap, I love this red!
This was SO EASY to make, it took no time.   I cut long strips of the burlap, about 4" then wrapped the whole thing with the light color.   Then went back over it with the red.  Let me just tell you, the burlap gets everywhere when you are cutting it! It sheds like crazy!! I was cleaning up red fuzzies for a few days. :)

For the flowers, I used the same technique as you would for a felt flower, the burlap is a little harder to work with, but with hot glue you can get it to stay in place.   The original tutorial shows exactly how she did her flowers.    I put tape on the back of the flowers so I could arrange and rearrange them until I liked it.  

This little Santa was part of my inspiration for the wreath too, he is so cute!

I can't wait for Thanksgiving to be over so I can put it up, I want to let my fall wreath get a good run too :)
U Create
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EAT Sign

I made it through to round 2!! YAY!! This is my project for round one of the On Month To Win It competition.  I had a lot of fun making this and really love how it came out!!  

When I heard the first challenge was spray paint I was so excited, since it's one of my favorite things!  So, I went hunting at the Goodwill for some inspiration when this picture jumped out at me,  I just knew how I wanted to transform it.


After I took it completely apart I had 3 separate pieces.  The frame, the outside mat, and the inside picture.  This made it easy to paint each one.  I used Krylon Cherry Red for the frame, primer gray, and flat white.
I wanted to add another element of texture, so I cut lots and LOTS of circles out and used Modge Podge to glue them onto the picture.  After that, I painted over them with the flat white.   

I glued the painted letters on, put all the pieces back together, and it here it is! I love the results!! The circles in the middle give it something extra and fun, but it's subtle at the same time! It looks perfect in our kitchen I just want to stare at it all the time ;)


I'm off to work on round 2's project, which is to use a Deco Art product in the design...  Wish me luck! ;)


Craftomanic
The DIY Showoff
Today's Creative Blog
Tip Junkie
Blue Cricket Designs
Organize Your Stuff Now
Shabby Creek Cottage
The Crafty Nest



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Halloween Review

I can hardly believe that this is Carter's 3rd Halloween.  I put together a few highlights of the past two years.   His first Halloween he was 9 months old, and he was walking!  He was a chubby little monkey.  He is so long and lean now, I forget what a chunk he was.  LOL! He had no idea what was going on though, all he wanted was to get into that candy bowl.  During this time of his life he loved getting into everything, it was very hard to get a good picture of him.    Our dog Weezy had to get in on the costume as well. :)

So the next year we wanted a more comical costume and came up with Elvis.  As you can tell, he DID NOT like his Elvis wig, haha! He wouldn't leave it on for a second, he wouldn't hold his gold microphone either, so I guess he just ended up looking like a super hero.  By this time, he still didn't know exactly what was going on, but he did love running door to door.     

The week leading up to this Halloween Carter was determined NOT to go trick or treating.  He did not want to dress up at all, even for free candy.  We don't know what was up with him, but last night we laid out his outfit and then he wanted to put it on, and was really excited to go!  He got lots of candy and wanted it for breakfast this morning. :)  My little cute cowboy.


These years are going by so fast, but each one gets more and more fun! 
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Time to VOTE!

Hi Everyone!! Round 1 of One Month to Win it is here! Go check out all the projects and vote for your favorite! http://www.onemonthtowinit.com/


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