Christmas Elving... Part 4

Saving the best for last... as least I think so!

Last summer I was in an unfinished wood store shopping for crates to use in my classroom and I stumbled upon a little doll cradle. I knew right then and there what my niece would be getting for Christmas. I could easily envision myself sanding and staining the cradle, but the part I really wanted to tackle was the bedding. I took it upon myself to take the challenge: Make a mattress, blanket, and a few pillows.

I DID IT... and for those of you who know me and my past experiences with a sewing machine this IS a big deal.

I tackled this project a little bit differently. I took it slowly. I actually read the owners manual for the machine. This helped tremendously, I feel like I know the Olde Singer just a little bit better. I also spent some time practicing before I started.  I spent some time watching tutorials on YouTube.

Now, I didn't have a pattern... I wouldn't even begin to know what to do with one of those. So, I just winged it. I measured, cut, pinned, and sewed. It isn't perfect, but I am proud of what I accomplished and hope it is the first of many more attempts.

Oh... and if you are wondering if Carlene liked it... You'll have to take a peak at the little video I made.

Christmas Elving.... Part 3

One of my favorite projects is the annual Salt Dough Christmas Ornaments.  Here is a link to last years.... and the year before. I keep an eye out for a cookie cutter all year long looking for the perfect ornament shape. This year I found a cookie cutter to share with all the little ones to show where "Auntie" lives. I believe some of them even think my last name is "FromOhio".  This year I made 12 ornaments to share... I just love being "Auntie". 

Here is the Salt Dough recipe I use... I love it, because it is super easy.

½ cup salt

1 cup flour

½ cup hot water

Preheat oven to 250°. Mix together salt, flour, and hot water until dough is formed. Knead dough on a floured surface until mixture is elastic and smooth. If dough is too sticky add a small amount of flour. Careful not to add to much or dough will crack. Roll out dough to ¼” thick. Use cookie cutters to form shapes. Use a straw to make a hole near the top. Place on un-greased cookie sheet and bake 2 hours. Remove from oven and let cool completely. Paint with acrylic paint… Use ribbon to make ornament.

and here is where I got the twine to string them.

Christmas Elving... Part 2

Delivery #2...

Remember back when I was working on making Penny Rugs and felted wool phone pouches... well, I've decided that I truly enjoy working with these materials. I began doing on research online looking for a place to buy wool felt and the needed supplies. I found a neat site called Prairie Point Junction where you can buy felt, embroidery floss, and patterns for all sorts of different projects.

Around the time I found this site my family pulled names for our annual Christmas exchange... I picked out my Aunt Nancy's name and knew immediately that I wanted to make her something. I looked around  the website for an idea and found a pattern that didn't look too complicated, but was still cute and fun. I am not quite sure what you call it... it's not a table runner, but something to put in the center of a table. It took me about a week to follow all the steps. Soaking and drying the wool, ironing, copying the pattern onto freezer paper, cutting, assembling, and finally sewing. It is a nice project
for the evenings, especially when it is cold outside.

I am excited about how it turned out. I learned a bunch of new techniques for how to make certain kinds of stitches. I found many helpful tutorials on "You Tube" when I got stuck and needed some help. I have already returned to the site looking for a new projects. You'll have to check back for future reveals.

Here it is...

Christmas Elving... part 1

This Elf has made delivery #1...  

I baked a couple of different cookies to share with my coworkers this year.  I made "Spice Cookies" and "M&M... the BEST ever" cookies. The recipe says they are the best ever... and they truly are... if you want the recipe I will share. 

The "Spice Cookies" are for rolling out and shaping with cookie cutters. I decided to use a gingerbread man... I was able to get 4 dozen cookies without throwing the rolling pin out the window.  I haven't had the best track record in the past... but I am realizing the more I practice the better I get... hmmm? Something I tell my students all the time, I guess some lessons take a little longer to learn. 

Delicious! Crispy and just the right amount of spice! 

Small plastic bags, cute paper and a little snowflake bling! 

I also made Christmas cards to share. Here they are... This might be the only chance to see handcrafted cards of the season. I just ran out of time. 

Maybe I'll be green and go digital!

May your Christmas be filled with Joy. 

I can't show you....

but this elf is very busy. 

I am trying a few new things this year and keeping on top of some Auntie traditions.

I am even attempting a sewing project.... and it is going okay!  The sewing machine hasn't been thrown out the window... yet. 

Look for updates after Christmas! 

Happy Holiday Crafting! 

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Erika! 

Happy Birthday...

To my brother, brother-in-law, and uncle.... 

Happy Birthday! 

(I got a little lazy... and all 3 guys got the same design. Hope they don't mind!)

The best and worst kind of card...

I understand that death is a part of life, but not a fun part. I have always struggled with the right words to say and so usually I avoid and say nothing. I am trying to get beyond that and send a card when someone has lost someone close to them....

I think they are the best and worst kind of card. They are meant to encourage during a time of sorrow. I have decided I do not like making sympathy cards, but will make them anyway.

"There's an opportune time to do things. a right time for everything on earth: A right time to birth and another for death... a right time to cry and another to laugh, a right time to lament and another to cheer..." Ecclesiastes 3 (The Message)

22....

Happy Birthday to my dear sweet baby sister.... She is not so much a baby any more! She just started her senior year of college!!!  She has grown into a beautiful young woman with an even bigger heart. She has a contagious laugh and a smile to light up any room. 

I am glad to call her my SISTAH!!! 

Happy 1st Birthday!

How cute is this guy??? 

Noah's birthday party was this weekend. 

It was so fun watching Noah eat his cake... open his gifts.... 

and chase after his balloons! 

Happy Birthday Noah! 

Phone Pouch

While on vacation this summer Erika and I escaped for a couple of hours and got lost in  a favorite store in Tuftonboro, New Hampshire called Apple Hill. 

While we were there I found these... 

They are little pouches for a phone. I fell in love with them immediately... but when I looked at the price tag I couldn't justify spending the money. I took a picture and was determined to go home and make my own. 

Well.. it turns out it was not as easy as the picture make them out to be... but like I said I was determined. What I liked about this project was even though I am not great at sewing I could stitch it together by hand and make it work... But at the same time because I don't have a clue how to really sew, I wasn't able to figure out how to make the fabric lining. And.... the sewing helpline I use wasn't available... so I decided to proceed without the lining, saving me a lot of time and frustration. 

Here's mine... 

The wool came from some sweaters  I had felted back in February to make these hearts.  The sweaters were a nice shade of "Scarlet" and "Gray"... so I ended up with an Ohio State color combination... Go Bucks! 

Happy Birthday Nancy

To the "greatest" on her birthday.

Jewelry Frames

A creative way to keep track of all my jewelry... 

(Thanks Sarah H. for the idea)

So far I am using them for earrings... 

I am planning to add larger frames to organize my necklaces and bracelets. 

Hi!

 One of my favorites. A simple hi.

Penny Rugs

My sister shared with me a blog post she found about an interesting craft... and instantly I fell in love with the idea. It is called a Penny Rug. I have seen examples of Penny Rugs in antique/primitive/country shops and always thought I'd like to have one. After reading the post I realized I could make them myself. 

Here is my first Penny Rug: