Crafting in 2011 gets underway!

Happy Birthday Mary! 

Mary and I share a love for little owls! 

It has been a crazy first week back to school after Christmas vacation. I had a lot of meetings before and during school, I started my winter quarter class at The Ohio State University... and my sister is visiting (or should I say waiting for me to take her back to college). Somewhere in all of this busyness I carved out an hour or so to make a some cards to give away and a birthday card to accompany the gift. Without further ado here is the first handcrafted gems of 2011.

Christmas Cards

Christmas cards are a funny thing.  I am wondering if it is something I want to keep up. It takes a lot of time to get them out in the mail before Christmas... especially when you decide to make them. Usually I make 3 or 4 different designs, this year I decided to simplify and make one. What do you think about Christmas cards? So until I make a final decision here's what I came up with...

Christmas Wrapping!

I had some natural colored wrapping paper in my stash. I love the look, but it didn't have a very Christmasy feel. I added red and green curly ribbon or raffia and then used stamps to add a little something-something to each package. Simple and easy.

2010 Christmas Ornaments!

I love the new tradition of creating handmade Christmas ornaments for all my nieces and nephews. It is fun seeing them (or should I say their moms)get excited about them. I hope someday in the future when they are helping decorate the tree they will have fun adding each new ornament to the tree. My favorite ornaments are the one my aunt gave me each year.

I used a new recipe for salt dough. I think I will go back to the one I used last year. I liked how they puffed up... they made them even more unique. I made moose, stockings and stars.

Thanksgiving Yummies!

Before!

Thanksgiving came and went last week. One of my favorite parts about the holiday is bringing yummy desserts for my Ohio family to enjoy. This year I made an apple pie. I tried something new with some added "bling" to the crust. I have to admit it was tasty! 

After!

Handcrafting in the Kitchen!

My aunt would sing a little song to me when I was young. It went something like this... "I love you... a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck!"

I do not know how much a bushel is, but I do know a little about a peck. I peeled, cored, and chopped up a peck of apples this evening and made homemade applesauce. So from what I gather from the song... she loves me A LOT!!!!

After peeling, coring, and chopping apples, I added a little bit of water to the pot and cooked the apples. I used my potato masher to get rid of the lumps and then I pour the sauce into canning jars.

Next year I will learn how to actually can, so I can have a "winter supply". Until then I will be eating lots of applesauce.

Here is my bounty!

(Thanks to Mom and Dad for  the apples!)

Happy 40th Andy!

Andy turns 40 tomorrow! 

Here is the card I made to celebrate. I got this great new stamp. I love it because I can color in the letters with my choice of colors depending on the theme of the birthday card. I used Watercolor Pencils to create the light blue wash. 

Welcome Noah!

Noah Pierce was born on September 3rd early in the morning. He weighed a very healthy 9lbs.,1oz... He is the little brother of three big sisters. Here is the card I made to welcome the little guy to the family.

 I have this paper that has lots of saying about babies. 

Wedding Cards!

I was sitting in the teacher's lounge eating lunch the other day when a fellow teacher asked me if I had ever made cards to sell. I don't usually sell the cards I make, but since it was only one card I decided to give it a try. I made two cards so she will have a choice. The wedding cake card is a version I have made before, but I added a few extra frills. The Mr. & Mrs. card I have also made, this time I used a word processing program to write the words on the front. 

August Card Making!!!

I have been on a card making hiatus for a few months! Here are a few cards I made and sent last weekend. It was a little like therapy sitting and enjoying something I love to do!

Letting Jenny know I'm thinking of her!

Thank You... Auntie Barbara made me an awesome sampler!

Good Luck Rebecca... You're a Junior!

This counts as handcrafted!!!

Homemade Blueberry Pie! 

I am trying to become more accomplished in my pie making skills. Here is one of the four blueberry pies I have made this summer! I tasted as good as it looks (in my opinion!).

Hello

I needed to send a letter recently and I wanted more than just a plain piece of paper. So this is what I came up with. Two pieces of paper and a ribbon. I think it may have taken 5 minutes to create. This is a card that would make me smile if I received it in my mailbox. I hope the receiver like it as much as a the sender.

Congratulations Brad & Andrea!

I had the pleasure of attending Brad & Andrea's wedding a couple of weeks ago. 

This is the card I made to celebrate their day! 

Congrats! I wish you both all the joy of a life spent together. 

Happy Birthday Ruthie! 

Happy Birthday Tom-Tom!!!

Thomas... 

or Tom-Tom as his Auntie likes to call him.... 

turns 1 (in 10 days)

I spent my Spring Break visiting my family back in Massachusetts... 

I spent lots of time cuddling with this cutie-pie! How did I get to be so lucky? I got his birthday card and present ready early so I could give it to him in person. I am looking forward to the summer when I can spend more time lovin' on this kid! He is so easy to love! Happy Birthday Tom-Tom! Auntie loves you very much!