NEW YEAR'S EVE 2012!

The sky is a brilliant blue & the sun is shining! {It's still -38 though!} What a wonderful day to say goodbye to 2012! 

This last year wasn't too bad...but as every year I think I can say for everyone, that I am definitely looking forward to what's in store for 2013! 

Now, I don't do resolutions. I do write down loosely what I want to see happen, but I usually end up being overly disappointed. So for this year, I am going to be happy. That's it. In doing so,  I am going to strive to be a better mom & a better wife. 

Going to back track a bit! How was your Christmas? We had 22 people here for dinner on Christmas day. I feel so blessed to live near to {some of} my family and friends! The kiddos enjoyed all their wonderful gifts! {maybe just a tad bit spoiled!} I love Christmas. Even though I'm 27, I still get giddy on Christmas morning! Love the expressions on my children's faces as they find their treasures from Santa. I love the family get together's. I love eating all the YUMMY food! {even though I still feel full from a week ago!} I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and I wish you all the best in 2013! Happy New Year's!!

My crazy Kiddos! Getting ready to be tucked in to bed, so visions of sugarplums will dance in their heads!

Santa & Reindeer food!

New owl mug! Love it!

My treat to myself before the rush of Christmas dinner!

My hubby and son! <3

My beautiful parents...I love you !!!

Not the happiest kid at that moment. Miss C was sick over Christmas. {she's much happier today!}

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

~happy crafting!

Chilly Day Baking!

It's a snowy afternoon here today! -20 C This morning was a whopping -37, so I made a decision to stay home from playgroup with Miss C.

My plan was to clean (the house) Well, I've only managed to move my craftroom back  into the basement. That was fun! And now instead of cleaning I just whipped up a batch of bread pudding! Yumm! Cannot wait to find a recipe for rum sauce!

Bread Pudding Recipe

2 Cups Milk

2 Cups bread, cubed {I used brown bread because it was on sale!!}

1/4 Cup butter

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1/3 Cup white or brown sugar

1 tsp Vanilla

1/2 tsp salt

1Cup raisins

Cinnamon for top

Measure milk in to heavy saucepan. Heat to almost boiling. Add bread and butter then remove from heat. Stir in eggs, sugar, salt, vanilla and raisins. Add cinnamon and put into oven safe dish. Bake at 350 degrees until set. About 45 minutes.

*to be less of a custard, double the bread*

Have a wonderful 12/12/12 day! Try to do something today that will make this day extra special! 

~happy crafting!~

Coffee Filter Wreath - Complete!

Happy Friday Everyone & Last day of November! {WOW!}

I am quite happy to say that I have finally completed my first coffee filter wreath! {And started on the next 2!} If you read the previous post, you'll see what I am talking about! :D

Drumroll please.............................................

I was a little worried on the placement of the ornaments and ribbon, but I like the overall outcome! I have some ideas to do different on the next ones. But I'm still liking this baby! Whadya think?

December is going to be one craaazy month! {Usually is, so I'm not sure why I am so surprised!} Anywho...I joined Swap-bot a little while ago and have signed up for a few swaps. Mostly ATC's but a few Christmas cards too!

So this next week I will be working on those projects, as well as my own personal Christmas cards to my family & friends! And of course more wreaths! I have 2 Tradeshows coming up too; one on the 8th and one of the 14th! WOOT! 

I am also hosting Christmas dinner this year. I love hosting parties! What better way than to host the Christmas Celebration! :D I hope everyone has a fabulous week!

~happy crafting!~

Christmas Coffee Filter Wreath

Started another wreath today! Really loving wreaths! This time, I am still using the good old pool noodle from Dollarama, but I am using coffee filters for the ruffles! I attached the two ends of the pool noodle with packing tape (that would be the clear stuff). Then I took some strips of old fabric {I had some old flannel with purple-ey patterns and swirls} and wrapped and glued and glued and wrapped until there was no pink showing thru! Here is my wreath as of today...

I ran out of the recycled {brown} coffee filters & glue stix! I know, how can I run out of glue stix?! It's absurd! 

Inspire Me: 

The first place I found inspiration was at Fox Hollow Cottage where Shannon does AMAZING projects! Make sure to head on over and check out her blog! Here is her gorgeous wreath!

The second place I found inspiration is the lovely Martha Stewart. I found her vid on YouTube.

So I kinda smooshed the two sets of steps together and used what worked the best for me, {and my poor fingers that are always getting glue gun burns!}

I have a ways to go yet! Gotta find some glue and more brown filters! But, now I think I know what I am doing and am getting giddy thinking of ways to embellish these guys! Let me know if you have any questions, I'd be happy to help you out...if I can! :D

As always...

~happy crafting!~

shiny red Christmas wreath

Here is a little something for the night crowd!

Christmas is around the corner! My favorite time of year! I've been hitting up Pinterest for some new and exciting craft ideas to do with {and some without} the kids!

I saw this neat-o project on there by { Eddie Ross } and decided to try one of my own!

 Of course, Pinterest is Perfect, so when I look back at how my projects turn out compared to the one I find on other's pages, ya...not so great! Anyway...here is what I came up with!

And as always, I "think" I know what the instructions are, so I do my own thing...then about 1 minute ago, I read the tutorial and have an AH-HA moment, and realize that tomorrow I am going to find some more round ornaments and try again! ;) 

With that, have a great Monday night all!

~happy crafting!~

Weekend of Parties!

WHEW! That was a busy weekend! I decided this year that my daughter's birthday parties would be held back to back...{previous post: They share a birthday - 8 years apart!} 

WARNING: OVER ABUNDANCE IN PHOTOS AHEAD!!

Party # 1: Saturday!

Best wrapped gift! 

Raina's bff wrapped her gift in magazine pages

 and halloween danger tape! 

Love it! OOh AND a paper magazine flower too! 

Rice Krispie Cake with edible rice paper and Candy Melts! "Happy Birthday" top bought at  Created by Us on Etsy!

The Cake did not crumble!
Wasn't as messy as I thought it was going to be!

Pre- Cake Smash!

Birthday Bumps!

Rhonda did a fabulous job on the kid's face painting! 

Showing off her new boots!

Pinata! Broke off from the tree,
so Chris ended up THROWING it in the air....

...the kids attacked it!

She had a blast! Afterwards, we went inside and turned on Dance Central {kept most of them occupied until dark, then they played cops and robbers until 8pm pick up time!}

Party #2: Sunday!

I had so much fun making this Burlap Banner! I used acrylic paint and cricut made stencils for the lettering & I added coffee filter flowers to the ends! It was so much fun to make!

She loves her baby dolls!

Cake wrappers were from Winners, Zebra "paper" was from Michaels!
 They were super yummy!

She "explored" her cake for half  an hour,
even then she just picked at it! She did not want to get her hands dirty!

She had so much fun, & loved opening gifts! What a girlie girl! So, done birthdays for another year! Next up...Scrapbook retreats, ThanksGiving, Halloween & Christmas!!!

~happy crafting!~