Hand made beaded watches

I know you have all seen them and you may already know how to make them, but if you are like me and have admired the bumble beaded watches, but have never actually sat  down and tried to make one Now is the time!  The watch in the picture comes from Doodlee Do Creations http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=935791 This is more the style I am looking for.  I think that is why I have waited longer to make one because most I have seen are too big and chunky for my taste.
 Here is a great tutorial on how to  make bumble bauble watches. Again these are too chunky for me, but it is a great tutorial!  I have all the supplies except for the double spacers.  That will be my goal this week!  Here is the link.
 http://sistersstuff.blogspot.com/2009/07/how-to-make-beaded-watch-bands.html
My 13 year old is an insulin dependant diabetic.  I think this idea would work great for cute medical I.D. bracelets too.

A new Cheery background!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!  I know I did!   And as much as I loved ours I am ready to get my life back in order after all the Holiday hustle and bustle and stress.  I thought that a new happy background would be a good start.  I have some fun craft ideas in the works and I am anxious to share them soon!

A Nativity you can eat!

Here is a cute idea you can do  with your kids that can replace the usual Gingerbread house People make every year.  How about a Gingerbread  Nativity!    My sister Jana told me about how her play group made them.  The site she got the idea from would not let me copy any of the pics or info, but you can find the link here http://www.aokcorral.com/projects/how2nov2007.htm 
There are a couple of things I would change like I would use fruit roll ups to add robes or head covers for the people and I think I would give the sheep eyes etc.
You can also get cookie cutters that have all the Nativity shapes and make a gingerbread Nativity like this.

You can find that here http://bayvillagestore.com/nabaset.html

Mod podge photo on Canvas

I have been wanting to post this all week, but was unhappy with how my photo turned out because the room was too dark so I had to enhance it Which made the photo look fuzzy.   Oh well  I think I will post it anyway.  I made these for my Sister in law and Mother in law for our family Christmas party last Saturday.  I have been wanting to try this for awhile now and I can't believe how simple it was!  I made an 8x8 scrapbook page with my digital scrapbook program and had them printed out at Costco.  I painted 10x10 canvases black.  I mod podged the photo in the middle.  added ribbon and there you go!  A very cute gift.  This  is a picture of all the grandkids from my husbands side of the family.  At our Vacation in Colorando this last summer. 

Here is another example of something that I want to do that is similar.  I would love to do this in my room or in my family room. The info for these projects came from this link http://www.sugardoodle.info/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3140&Itemid=406

I love this one on the bottom left.

Busy Weekend!

I had a busy weekend.  A school in my neighborhood hosts a Christmas Craft Fair every year as a fundraiser.  I did not think about trying to get a booth until it was too late.  So I figured  next year I would be better prepared.  My friend was doing a make and take vinyl clock class and convinced me to join her in her space and do a make and take with my scrabble and washer diamond glaze pendants.  It was totally last minute, but it was a lot of fun and it seemed to be a big hit for the girls that were ages 8 to 18.  I think the moms were interested also once they saw how they were made and what the finished product was. 
They make perfect Christmas gifts for sisters and friends! Here are a couple of  links on my blog for a reminder of what they look like and  how to makethem.
 http://bugaboocorner.blogspot.com/2009/09/having-fun-with-diamond-glaze-and-dg3.html      
 http://bugaboocorner.blogspot.com/2009/08/dimond-glaze-and-epoxy-resin-tutorial.html
Happy Crafting!

Story stones!

I saw the cutest idea  at http://mearacle.blogspot.com/2009/12/all-right-ive-gotten-myself-into.html  Thanks Kelly! So so cute!

I

I found a tuturial For Story stones on another website http://redbirdcrafts.blogspot.com/2009/04/mouse-stones.html

She has some cute ones too. Here is a sample of some of her stones.

Here is another link to some cute Story Stones http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/5zaeDS/sweetsweetlife.typepad.com/sweet_sweet_life/2009/07/keeping-your-kids-busy-story-stones.html

This little girl just the cutest!

I picked up some stones at walmart yesterday and will be trying my hand at this cute craft idea.  Thanks Ladies for the inspiration!

December Bugaboo book pick!

I know everyone has seen the movie  "A Christmas Carol" in lots of different versions,but have you ever read the book?  I have'nt.  Charels Dickens is one of my favorite authors, but I have never taken the time to read this  book because I felt like I already knew the story line from watching the movies.  I found the book at D.I. and decided that it was time that I read it! I figure the book is always better.

Christmas stitchery

I have wanted to do this stitchery for the last couple of years.  Maybe this year will be the year!  I wanted to stitch some cute designs on some Christmas stockings that I want to make. 

You can find this pattern at Cedarberry Stitches.  Here is a link to their site.  I love their Stitchery designs!

http://www.cedarberrystitches.com/christmas.html

Ready for my last Advent Calendar?

Again I did not take pictures of the process.  My camera batteries were dead and I did not want to wait for them to recharge before getting started on this craft. 
I had purchased a premade Karen Foster Advent calendar. Scrapbooking warehouse had a good sale on theirs. I have to admit I was very surprised at how small it was, but the neat thing about it is it comes with numbers to stick on.

I mod podged Christmas Scrapbook paper on the squares doors and outside edges and back of the advent calendar., I cut 1 1/2 inch squares with my cricut for square doors. Oh and I antiqued around the edges of all the paper before I mod podged actually. I added the numbers and then mod podged again over the numbers.

You could be done right there, but I saw this same Advent Calendar at Gardner Village (A crafty place in Utah) and they had added a handle on the top which I thought was so adorable.  So I added a handle and then tied a ribbon on top.

 I have been having a hard time deciding if should keep the ribbon or if it would be cuter with just the plain handle. 

So anyway that is the last Advent Calendar I will be making this season.  My family will be happy to  have our kitchen table cleared of all my craft stuff :-)  I have a craft room in the basement, but sometimes I find it is easier to craft and be a mom at the same time upstairs where I can be aware of what everyone is up to.

My latest Advent Calendar!

So yes I must be obsessed with Advent Calendars! 
I saw this idea http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/advent_calendar/ And I wanted to do something similar. 
I saw they had the little tins at the dollar store in packages of 3. So I bought 8 packages way cheaper than the ones at Walmart and Michaels.
 So I had my tins, but I did not know what to do with them!  While I was shopping at Michaels for supplies for my  muffin tin Advent Calendar craft class I saw this plain wood craft wreath and suddenly I knew exactly what I was going to do with my tins!  I am the worst at documenting my steps while making a craft so I will explain the best I can.

1st I mod podged some pretty green Christmas scrapbook paper onto the round frame.

Next I spray painted the silver looking tins a oil rubbed bronze color because I love that look.

Oh also I found some cute Texas stars at the dollar store that had some silly santas and snowmen on them so I sprayed the oil rubbed bronze over that too so I could hang it down the middle of the wreath.

Then I cut out 2 inch circles on my cricut and mod podged them onto the tops of the tins.  I cut out numbers the same color green as the wreath.  I mod podged them onto the tops of the tins also.

I thought the oil rubbed bronze star and tins looked too plain so I added some cute decorative christmas ribbon to add some color and bling!  I attached them on with glue dots one of my favorite crafting tools!

I glued down the tins on the the wreath with heavy duty E-6000 glue.  I also attached the star with a silver ribbon and let it all dry over night.

My 11 year old daughter and I put in all the chocolates this morning and hung it on the wall. 

Yay! I think it turned out cute!

Believe it or not I have another different kind of Advent Calendar I am working on.  I will post that one soon!

The latest

Life has been busy for me lately!  Or I should say more busy than normal :-)  I threw a fun Birthday party for my son last Saturday.  It was a bb gun target shooting party. They made their own turkey targets ( Thanks Michele from Made by Meedy for the idea) and then had fun taking turns shooting them.  It turned out to be a huge hit with the boys and one of the easiest partys I have ever thrown.  If you look close you can see their turkeys lined up on the boxes.  This would be a fun Thanksgiving activity.  To make the Turkey targets you just trace out your hand twice on construction paper, cut them out, add google eyes and then attach the paper hands to each side of an empty soda can. I used double sided sticky tape.

We also had one of our neighborhood craft nights on Tuesday.  Thanks to all who came! We did a lot of neat projects to prepare for Christmas.  I was able to share 3 of my projects I have been involved in lately. My Nativity puzzle,  The mini muffin tin advent calendar and the Diamond glaze scrabble tile and washer pendants.  If you have not seen any of these projects you can find them on this blog.

I also keep forgetting to post the scripture tote bag I made a few weeks ago. I gave it to My 13 year old daughter who loves it.  She can fit her scriptures, Young womens journal and personal progress book in it nicely.  We made a red one with black and white polka dotted ribbon for one of her friends as a birthday present a long with a diamond glaze washer pendant necklace. Perfect and easy gifts for girls

I got the idea here. http://www.scribd.com/doc/14953545/Scripture-Totes

The Cricut Expression

Hey everyone I had a Birthday on Saturday and My husband surprised me with a cricut expression!  I never would have expected it because money has been tight lately. I have wanted a cricut for 5 years now and I had finally convinced myself that having a cricut was a silly waste of money since there are so many pre made stickers, die cuts, embellishments etc. out at the stores, but boy oh boy was I wrong!  I have been having so much fun!

 I was able to whip out quickly all the squares I needed for another mini muffin tin advent calendar I am making. It was so quick and this time I put the magnet sheeting behind the squares and I was able to cut squares on the magnet sheet on the cricut the exact same size as the scrapbook paper squares!

Any way I am sure to some of you this is old hat to you cause you probebly got the Original Cricut the first second it came out, but for me it is new, exciting and fun!

November bugaboo book club pick

So I like to recomend a good book every month to add to your reading or to convince you of the worth of reading.  I just love this book!  I could read it again and again!  It is the first and only book that has brought tears to my face as I was reading it.  I think it is a fitting book for Thanksgiving because it teaches us to be thankful in all things.  Not just the happy things, but "All things!"  I just love Corrie and her brave spirit!  If you have not read this book before just  know that it will be one of the best books you will ever read.

Turkeys

In my quest to bring Thanksgiving back on the Calendar I have made a point to make Thanksgiving crafts over the last few years.

I  painted this Turkey for my Mom at her Ward Super Saturday a few years ago.  She was too nervous that she would mess it up. It has a special place in my heart because the following  year she became ill with Cancer and passed away. When we were sorting through her stuff I did  not think she would mind if I took the Turkey home with me. It will always remind me of that fun Super Saturday we spent together before she got sick.

That same year I was in charge of my Ward Super Saturday and this is the Turkey we made.  If you live any where around Salt Lake You can find this Turkey at "The Wood connection"  in Midvale.  I just love that it  is Just simple and cute!

Last year my thankgiving craft was the stitchery I made that I already posted down below.

This year I would like to make a Thanksgiving tree.  Does anyone have any good ideas for that?

Thanksgiving Stitchery

This is my Thanksgiving stitchery design that I came up with  last year.  I really think Thankgiving does not get enough recognition! 
What I love about stitchery is if you can draw it you can usually stitch it.

My advent Calendar

I loved the muffin tin idea for an advent calendar.  So this is what I came up with.

Supplies:

-24 hole mini muffin tin (wal-mart has them for around $4.50)

-Christmas Scrap book paper ( I like to get the double sided paper so I have more paper options)

-2 1/4 inch scalloped paper punch ( you can use a round or square 2 inch punch also. I just like the scalloped look for Christmas)

-Christmas embellishments to decorate

-Numbers.  I just combined a bunch of different number stickers that I had, but you could use a the cricut machine , or print them off the computer too.

-If your tin has holes you can tie ribbon on also.   You can use it as a decoration or to hang it on the wall.

-I also spray painted mine a oil rubbed bronze color and then sanded it on the edges to give it a antiqued look.

Happy halloween everyone!

I just love these old Disney films!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkhxjzc9uuE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8LiPoIpxnk

Pumpkin Surprise!

I went to a friends baby shower recently and they had the yummiest treat there.  I just had to have the recipe!
It is called pumkin surprise.   I made it last night for my family and they loved it too and it is so easy!
Thanks Erin for sharing your recipe with me :-)

Here is the recipe

PUMPKIN SURPRISE

2 c. canned pumpkin

1 can sweetened condensed milk

3 eggs, beaten

½ tsp. salt

1 c. sugar

2 tsp. Pumpkin Pie Spice

(If you don’t have pumpkin pie spice, you can use: 1tsp. cinnamon, ½ tsp. ginger, ¼ tsp. nutmeg, ¼ tsp. ground cloves = 2tsp. of pumpkin pie spice)

1 ¼ butter, cold

1 white or yellow cake mix (I like yellow)

Conbine the pumpkin, salt, milk, sugar, eggs and spice. Pour into a greased 9x13 pan. Sprinkle the dry cake mix over the top. Slice the butter very thin and cover the dry cake evenly with it. Bake at 350 for 45 min. Serve either warm or cold. Whip some cream the way you normally would and add a little bit of nutmeg, OR serve with vanilla ice cream.

(note: This calls for a lot of butter so I cut it down to 2 cubes and it worked just fine.) You could cut out some of the sugar too because it is pretty sweet.  I think I will only put in a half a cup of sugar next time.

Pumpkin carving family fun!

We carved pumpkins for Family Home Eveing last night.  It is always fun to see how they turn out each year!

This is the only pumpkin that grew in our little garden.

Yes that is snow on the that bush!  We woke up to that this morning.

More Advent Calendar ideas!

Found some more advent Calendar ideas that I like! 

How great is the idea of a Mini muffin tin to hold fun treats inside.

Find this one at http://fromthebottomofmypencilcase.blogspot.com/2008/11/mini-cupcake-pan-advent-calendar.html

Next there is a great 3D countdown Calendar by Karen Foster you can add your own decorative elements to it.  They can be sold everywhere for about $19.00 plus shipping, but I found a geat deal at Scrapbooking Wharehouse.

 http://store.scrapbooking-warehouse.com/376405.html

They are on sale right now for $11.99 with shipping it comes out to around $17.00

Another cute idea I am loving is a Matchbox Advent Calendar I found this one at

http://themessycrafter.blogspot.com/2008/11/matchbox-advent-calendar.html

This one is fun it is made out of small tins like you can find at Ikea.Here is the link

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/advent_calendar/

So anyway I hope that some of these ideas inspire you as much they did  me!

I love Advent Calendars!

    I have been looking for a cute Advent Calendar idea for this year.  I have found several  fun ideas.  If any of you out there have any of your own advent Calendar ideas please comment and let me know.
 Here are some different cute ones I found.


I thought this  paper cone advent tree was so cute! You can find it at The Red Thread. http://theredthreadblog.blogspot.com/2008/11/advent-calendar-tuesday-tah-dah.html

This advent Calendar is so adorable!  I found it at the Scrap Colors etsy shop.
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_gallery_5&listing_id=17535268#

This is close to what I am looking for. You can find this one at All Sorts http://allsorts.typepad.com/allsorts/2007/11/advent-calendar.html

I like how this one has a more clean contempoary feel. You will find it at

The Purl Bee

 http://www.purlbee.com/the-purl-bee/2008/11/20/embroidered-felt-advent-calendar.html

I have a couple of my own ideas after being inspired by these creative crafters!  I will post later what I came up with.

Sweet Pea Boutique

If  you are ever in Tooele Utah There is a great little store here  on main st. called Sweet Pea Boutique.  They have gently used clothes that are so cute! And the prices are reasonable.  Similar or better than D.I. prices. They have strict guidelines on what they will take so Everything is in good shape and name brand.  My little girl was in need of warmer clothes so we made a little stop by Sweet Peas a couple of days ago.  This is one of several cute outfits I found there.  Almost everything I got was Gymboree.

3D crystal lacquar

I had posted a while back about making pendants with diamond glaze.  Well I stumbled upon another product called 3D Crystal Lacquar.  It is cheaper, it hardly creates any bubbles and it dries faster.
 I taught how to make the scrabble tile and washer pendants at my last craft club and everyone prefered the crystal lacquar over the diamond glaze.  Here are some Pendants I have done with it and I think it looks just as good as the dimond glaze. Has anyone else used this product?  If so tell me what you think!