MY NEW BEST FRIEND.....

Hello everyone.............it's been a while, I know!!! The days just seem to be flying by....February already - wow, how can that be possible!!!

So you're all wondering who or what my new best friend is.......Armor Etching Cream:-> Have you ever tried that stuff? I've always liked the idea of giving glass etching a go, but I had this preconcieved idea that it would be difficult - boy was I wrong or what!!! I'm taking part in Shawnee's Martini Madness Swap, and together with our apron we need to send a decorated Martini Glass. Yes, the opportunity had just arisen for me to put all my preconcieved ideas aside and just go for it............I was so glad I did. I think there'll be a lot of glass etching going on around these parts shortly!!!

Take a look, and let me know what you think............. I had so much fun doing it.......Have I mentioned that you REALLY need to give it a try..........

Front & Back

It took me longer to place the stickers I used to mask the words and dots with, than it did to paint on the etching cream, let it do it's thing and then rinse it off:->

As you can see, I added some bling in the center of the dots............................what are cocktails without some bling anyway!!!!

I've been busy this weekend with a few other project................they're all NEARLY done:-> We're just missing a bit here and a bit there......... So, I'll have lots to show you in the next few days.

Until then - keep warm and keep creating:->

SOME OF EVERYTHING....

I ask myself, what kind of title that is, but really that is exactly what this post is......a little bit of all sorts of things:->

Today the mailman came calling - my YOE Swap package arrived from my partner Jenny. Wow was I spoilt. I got all sorts of goodies - a pretty silver pinecone and acorn ornament, shower gel (how did she know I finished mine just this morning...), the cutest pair of acorn earrings, the most delicate little pinecone hung on a piece of ribbon, some acorn writing paper, and a salt and pepper shaker set. Check out the picture below and you'll see what I mean.

Oh, the pinewood derby - I have to share a picture or two of that with you...........please indulge me, it's the mother in me!!!!

They had a blast. Hubby's yellow school bus did really well, it won him the 2nd place trophy in the Open Class!!!

Girl Child was on hand to cheer Boy Child on, not that she was too happy about the early morning start:->

We created quite a cute kids craft on Monday night. In a few weeks time our Scout Pack will celebrate it's annual banquet - it's my baby to organize this year. Each of the Dens is responsible for creating a centerpiece for their table. The theme this year is 100 Years of Scouting, so we chose something the boys love......camping. I came up with the idea of making little camping chairs that we'll put around a fake fire we'll make............I was very happy with the way they turned out.

We used dowel rods, that the boys cut to size, craft sticks, scraps of fabric, thumb tacks and the trusty glue gun.....and amazingly every boy left with all 10 fingers.....no saw, thumb tack or glue gun accidents!!!! They must be growing up:->

Hope everyone is managing to get a little crafty time in.............go on spoil yourself, It's good for you.

Until next time.......Thanks for stopping by and visiting for a while......

YOE JANUARY SWAP...

My partner - Jenny, has recieved her package of goodies, so I can now show you what was in the package. The theme for January was acorns and pinecones, so here is what I came up with....

I made her 2 ribbon pinecone ornaments...were they fun to make or what:-> I love the fact that by changing your ribbon or fabric you get a totally different look - they're really versatile. I forsee that this pattern is going to get ALOT of use.

I also made her an acorn birdhouse. I'd seen a picture of one on a wood working website....only problem - I haven't got a clue about anything wood working. So, I put my thinking cap on and came up with an idea on how I could make it.....and it worked!!! I used one of those wooden duck/goose/feathery friend eggs you can buy at the craft store. I made an acorn cap to fit it out of sculpey. Once I'd baked the cap, I stuck tiny, brown, glass seed beads all over it. The next step is where hubby came to the rescue (He gets the award for being so accepting of ALL my crafty endevors:-).........he drilled 2 holes for me. One was the birdies hole and the other was just big enough for me to glue a wooden axle peg into it. I finished it off by glueing a little bird onto the peg. Voila - an acorn bird house:-)

To go with the ornaments I sent her some vintage Valentines cupcake toppers - she likes all things vintage. I then also sent her a scrapbook I'd made. I thought that as this is a year long swap, it may be fun to have a scrapbook that documents what you sent and what you recieved each month. I made it simple....take a look for yourselves...

The cover

For the month of August. On the left a place to put a photo of what she sent and on the right a photo of what she recieved.

And here is Septembers pages..............so you get the idea of how it looks.

Pinecar Derby was a roaring success - hubby and Boy Child had a blast. I'll save those photos for another day.

Have a fantastic week, and keep warm if it's cold where you are....I believe the spring like weather Texas has had over the past few days is about to come to an abrupt end......BRRRR!!!

TOTEABLE TOWEL AND JELLO CARS...

Tonight is the first birthday party of many that Girl Child will attend this year.......that is if it's anything like the years gone by. We've established a bit of a tradition (quite by accident mind you). At the beginning of the year, Girl Child decides on "The Gift" for that year. This same gift gets made and given to each friend whose party she attends. Last year was photo cushions, this year it's toteable towels....this is the point where you hear a drum roll..........and much thanks goes to Anna Maria Horners blog. She provided the free tutorial for this ingenious creation. They're quick, easy, and oh so cute:-> Take a look, and decide for yourself.

The first picture....yes, the not so great one - shows it partially folded up. The second picture shows it all rolled up and ready to tote!!! There will be many more of these made this year, in many different patterns............I already have plans for a Valentines one for a very special little one year old who lives over the ocean:->

In other news....tomorrow is Boy Childs Cub Scout Pinewood Derby!!! Anyone familiar with this event will know just how big a deal it is. The hours of car designing, building and decorating that go into the cars would rival any of the big car makers!!! In honor of this big ocassion dessert tonight was jello cars and custard. I got this cute mold as a freebie when I purchased some jello last year. Demolding them was a bit of a challenge, but they turned out to be really cute........and not to mention yummy!!!

Thanks for stopping by. Have a fantastic weekend and...... Happy Crafting:-)

A DELIGHTFUL DISHTOWEL & DARING CHILD...

So I promised you yesterday that I'd show you what else was going into my Hot Mama Apron Swap Package with the apron..................bet you didn't think I'd show you so soon:->

It includes 2 recipe cards - a la scrapbook style, a recipe keeper and the most amazing dishtowel thingy (you'll understand better when I explain it below) ,and a tin of my homemade key lime bark....yummy. The recipe keeper I got off Anna Maria Horner's website (It's a free tutorial). I have one that I keep my recipes for the coming week's dinners in (I do TRY to be organized!!!). I take it to the grocery store with me when I buy the ingredients for our dinners.........I find it very useful.

Next the dishtowel thingy...........I got this off the following blog kleiosbelly.wordpress.com. I think it's an amazing idea and I think it makes a great gift (a thrifty one too). It took me all of 15 mins to put together, so I really suggest that you pop on over to her blog and check it out!!!

The words every mother of a boy will hear at some point - "Mom, come see my trick. It's really cool, but I think it's dangerous...... " I'll show you the picture and you decide for yourself............why do I forsee a visit to the ER at some point:-)

The one good thing - he was wearing his helmet!!!

Happy Crafting:-)

A LITTLE OF THIS AND A LITTLE OF THAT...

Well as the heading says, this post will be a little of everything I've been up to lately.

The kids were off school on Friday for a long weekend (they have Monday off as well), so the end of the week was not as productive as I'd have wished........but it's always nice to have the kids home:-)

This is the finished apron for The Hot Mama Apron Swap, hosted by Val of Yarni Gras. My partner chose the Old Man Winter Theme. The point of the swap - besides making the apron - was to use what we had................no sneeking out to the nearest craft store for this one!!!! There are also a few other goodies going with this parcel (I'll share those with you another day).

So what does this fabric say to you? To me it says cocktails, valentines, sweet times spent with your love!!! This is the fabric I've chosen to make the apron (a rather more cocktaily -is there such a word- one this time) for Shawnees Martini Madness Swap. I thought this teamed with some red diamante trim would fit the theme perfectly.

Yes, it's Fred The Head again........looking at these pictures I've just realised how battle weary the poor thing looks!!!!

This has just come off the needles. This was super quick to knit up.............I'm talking hours quick here:-) It's called the Elijah hat designed by Diana Troldahl. KnitPicks now have a few patterns on their website - they cost you $1-99 and they'll email them to you within a couple of hours. I love that................It's that instant gratification thing I think!!!

This is the first of 2 that I ordered, so I'll share the other one just as soon as it's done...........it'll have to be soon, as I want to send it off as a Valentines suprise for someone:-)

Enjoy your day off tomorrow - for those of you who get it... let's see what little delights we can all craft up!!!

IT'S ON ITS WAY....

First I must apologize for the non existence of photos in this post. Silly me wasn't thinking when I snapped the photo today of my YOE Swap parcel just before I took it to be mailed!!! I wanted to show you the paper I covered the box with, as I decorated it to fit this months theme......BUT I realized when I put the photos onto my computer later, that I had managed to get my partners address beautifully displayed front and center in the photo - I'm sure she wouldn't like me too much if I made that public knowledge. Sooo, you're all just going to have to believe me when I tell you it was cute:-)
Once she recieves her goodies, I'll show you what I made to go in it................Oh such suspense I know!!!!

Tommorrow I should have some pictures to show you...... my knitting needles are back in action and I'm also busy with the apron for The Hot Mama Apron Swap hosted by Yarni Gras - don't you just love that title!!! I love how it's turning out - it was a true genius who thought up the concept of ready made bias tape...........ok, so maybe I'm lazy (after all I do know how to make it:)), but it's just sooo convenient!!!

It's almost time to start thinking about some Valentines crafts...........ok, I'll admit it, I already have my gifts for hubby and the kids planned.....what can I say, I'm a hopeless romantic!!!

Thanks for stopping by and visiting my blog.
Happy crafting, friends:-)

I COULDN'T RESIST.....

....one last little something to add to the birthday girls present, before I put it in the mail tommorrow!!!





I've seen these all over blogland, and I just LOVE them - I think that they're super cute:-)
However girl child wouldn't be too impressed if I asked her to wear a cupcake on her chest, it just doesn't go with an 11 year olds style!!! So, not one to give up that easily, I used this opportunity to make one for the littlest member of our family.....
Happy 1st Birthday Baby Girl.......we love you lots!!!!

A FABRIC BOOK AND KNITTED CAP...

Wow, it took a while to get back into the swing of everyday life again....hence the reason for my lack of blogging over the past week. We're back on track though now. The kids are back at school and our daily routine is back in full swing:-)

So what crafty fun have I been up to lately!!!

My little niece turns 1 in a few days time - I can't believe it. Where has the time gone? I wanted to make her a special gift in keeping with my attempt this year, to try and make as many gifts as I can and to try and use what I have already got in my stash to make those gifts............so, what did I come up with.

Firstly I've made her a knitted pom pom hat, to keep her little head warm. I had the yarn left over from another project. I had a ball making the pom pom......when last did you make one? For me it was MANY years ago!!!

I must admit, I nearly gave up before I began because there were to few stitches to use a circular needle, which mean't you know what.....yes, I had to use those double pointed needles - all 4 of them!!! It wasn't bad at all once I got the hang of it..............hey, those socks are looking more doeable after that:-)

Then my absolute favorite.......I'm so thrilled with the way it turned out...........her own special fabric name book. I used letters I printed off the computer, cookie cutters, pictures from coloring books - whatever I had on hand to make this. I took each letter of her name and teamed it with an object beginning with that letter - the pictures explain it better. I hope she loves it.

Sorry about these 2 pictures - I can't rotate them for love nor money!!! Recline a little, while you look at them:-) Oh look, another directionally challenged one below!!!

I'm also busy working on some of my various swap goodies - I'll share those with you when I can.............don't want to go spoiling the suprise for my partners.

We're buttoning down the hatches now as Texas prepares for 3 days of temperatures below freezing.........a good reason to stay at home and craft away I think!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR...

Happy New Year.....from our family to yours!!!

I hope that 2010 sees all your hopes and dreams come true, together with a big helping of love and laughter.

I've decided this year to challenge myself to take a photo a day - there will obviously be the big occasion days, but the rest will be our day to day lives. I'm planning on scrapbooking this photo a day - nothing too fancy, just quick and easy. I'll keep you posted on how this goes.

My aim in doing this is to highlight the many blessings that come our way. I think that all too often these blessings get overshadowed by the tough times we sometimes go through.