A Few Random Things

This is our recycling center. I got one of those $10 laundry sorters from Walmart and I put plastic bottles in one, cardboard in another, and grocery sacks in the third. Plus this way if they ever get dirty or start to smell bad, they can be laundered. I let the kids make the labels to involve them.

Our family needed new stockings this Christmas because the old ones were too big and I had tried to pad them, but the batting just fell to the bottom and clumped there. It took a long time to decide on fabric but I really like stripes and Walmart had several different colored yet similar fabrics. I let the kids pick their favorite ones and then I freehanded them by tracing a store-bought stocking and adding a white strip around the top. The insides are lined as well and if I ever decide I want to put their names across the tops, I can.

Where has the time gone?

  The last several years seem to have just flown by. Particularly the last month. It has been a busy one. What have I been up to you ask? Well, for starters there were Christmas presents to be made. If I was better about getting them done before the last minute I would have more pictures to post. I did get a picture of this crayon roll I made my niece.

Since we were further up north where it actually snows, a snowman was also made (I confess, it was mostly Tiger and my husband, with a little help from Kitty- I stayed inside).

As soon as we got back, Kevin and I were a Ma and Pa for the Trek in our stake. I sewed a couple of dresses for that (someday I shall get the pictures of those, but none were on my camera). However, the stake hosted a family trek activity on Saturday. That morning I made Kitty and Monkey bonnets and matching skirts. The aprons were the ones they wore in a pilgrim and Indian themed extended family photo (sorry- I don't have the copyright to those pictures). They were cute little pioneer girls.

Since then, I have been focusing on the Pinewood Derby, which is rapidly approaching. So far, I have:

Clipboards (I spray painted the tops of cheap wood ones red, then ran a strip of duct tape along the bottom, and covered the back with contact paper) 

 Signs: I spray painted thin canvas boards, ran a strip of duct tape, and used my new Silhouette (my husband loves me and got me one for Christmas) to cut out vinyl lettering.

 I also made some bean bags with some scraps of fabric for a bean bag toss.

There is still much left to do, so pardon me if I disappear for a while again.

More Reindeer

I know- I am on a reindeer kick. They are so cute it is hard to resist. These reindeer are the results of my realization last night that I needed to come up with some teacher appreciation gifts quickly. (Has this year gone by MUCH too quickly for anyone else?). I took Tiger with me to Target to pick things out and quickly realized that, although I am exceptionally grateful and appreciative of my children's teachers, by the time I got gifts for two teachers, six aides, and three bus drivers and their aids (three), it is expensive to have children. From Hershey's candy bars I made these reindeer (inspiration from here).   

 I tried to do something a little more special for the actual teachers. I picked up a couple of gourmet popcorn containers, but that seemed a little blah, so I wrapped them in white felt and added a scarf and some coal and a carrot. Hopefully that makes it a little more fun. If nothing else the other kids in the class will get a kick out of it for the day.

On Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen...

I was browsing Pinterest and saw a reindeer garland (here) that was cute. I didn't have the patience to cut out each reindeer, so I went and checked out what I had available on my Cricut cartridges. I found these ones on the Paper Doll Dress Up cartridge (sleigh too) so I cut them out. I also don't have a mantle (or fireplace for that matter) so the next dilemma was where to put them. Since my wreaths have all gone missing since last year, the back of my door was bare. It is no more. (The picture I took into PicMonkey to play with just because I could).

Holiday Neckerchief Slides

You know that you have posted too many pictures when Google tells you that you have exceeded your free storage allotment. Have no fear- I cheated and created another gmail account for myself and invited me to be an author. :) Now you too can know what this Cubmaster wore to Roundtable this month.

Isn't he cute. My mother-in-law gets the credit for him. A peanut glued on a leaf with a bit of pipe cleaner for the beak and some ric rac for the waddle. Add a couple of googly eyes and a bit of 1/2" PVC pipe and you are good to go. 

 

(the view from the back- in all honesty, he could be put on an alligator clip to make a bow, or anything else your heart desires)

Want to know what I am wearing next month?

I may add a little green bow if I remember to pick up some thin green ribbon.

 For added fun, I wrapped the PVC in ribbon. 

I would show you the spider and bat that I wore in October, but they are currently hiding in the abyss that I call my bedroom. If I find them, I shall share, but until then, HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Snow Day

OK, honestly there is no real snow here. If there ever were, I am sure the city would shut down. Since we couldn't have the real deal - and Dad was off hiking with the scouts and left us unsupervised - we made snow men. We started by painting little bits of dowel leftover from a scout toolbox project. I thought about taking a picture of the kids painting, but thought it best not to leave a 2, 4, and 5 year-old alone in a room with paint while I went to find the camera. Occasionally I am smart like that.

After embellishing with felt and pom poms and paint and ribbon and anything else we felt like, we have a family of snowmen. Tiger did his mostly by himself (he asked for a little help making a Santa hat, and he dictated the bunny - to eat the carrot nose). Kitty picked out her colors and what she wanted. Monkey just painted her dowel and was happy to just play with the bucket of buttons. Mine is on the end; I like how the felt top hat turned out. Now to go clean the kitchen and be responsible...