Merry Chris'Mouse'!

Merry Chris'Mouse'!!

Just like my spiders during Halloween, I've been making these cute little Chris'Mice'---for a long time now. And I thought I'd share the crafty love with you!! They make an adorable gift for a teacher or classmates...you could attach it as a gift...they can even sit on your Christmas tree branches. yeah! I know.

So, how to get started, you wonder?  Take a trip to your favorite crafty place and pick up some white, red and green felt squares. Also get some teeny tiny red pom-poms for the noses.  You can either use the google eyes or dots of black paint--just depends on how crafty you feel. Oh! And you need some candy canes, of course. And some hot glue. And a diet Coke too...really you do. Oh, and grab some scissors.

Now, here comes the very un-tricky part. The patterns to trace the ears and the body. Listen to this--for the ears: use one of those wooden spoony sticks.  The kind you get from a second-hand store--no, wait, sorry about that. That was my crazy radio in my head playing Prince. Nevermind him.  Okay, the sticks--they're the kind that you get with single serving ice creams--kind of looks like a flat hourglass-ish shape (about 2 1/2 inch long). I know, I'm very technical with the terms. Stay with me. For the body: use an enlarged pattern of a tear/rain drop from your scrapbook cache. Enlarge the drop to be as long as your index finger.

I know what you're thinking. Is she serious? Is that how she measures things? The answer: Yep! I am and do.

So, trace the body on the white felt and the ears on red/green felt. Cut them out. Now, a slight bump in the road: fold the tip of the white body (where the nose would go) in on itself about 1 inch. Did you make a triangle? Excellent. Cut 2 small (1/4in) slits on the fold of the triangle. That's where you are going to stick in the ears.

 Now, fold the ears in half lengthwise and pull them up through the slits in the white felt.

Oh, you're almost there. Isn't he a clever little fellow. So merry and bright!

Look at my mad camera skills!  There's the loop at the bottom and the ears on the top.  At this point, you can dot the eyes and glue the nose.  All you have left to do is put a candy cane through the loop and presto! Oh so cute little mouse!! ♥

These are just a few (alright, maybe 100) of the mice. I know, I tend to get carried away with my cute-ness. I made them for the teachers at the kids school for a December Teacher Appreciation gift. Can you see the little blue mouse? He's a Hanakuh mouse for a great teacher!!  I attached a small tag to the cane that read "Merry Chris'Mouse from your little elves in the PTSO"  I love the kids school and feel really blessed to have my kids be a part of something special everyday--so my making of the gifts is my way of saying thanks to all the great people and teachers.

Merry Christmas to you and your family!

Looky! Looky!

HI!!  Have you seen the cool followers on my blog?  Just you look!! Its like I'm famous. Almost, but not. ♥Hahaha ♥ 

Me and my gnome-y self think its neat-o torpedo!!

Thanks everyone--all 3 of you gals--for following my blog. ♥

Oh Candy Tree....

I've been working on some little Christmas gifts over the past few weeks.  I  have to start early because I make them for the guys at hubby's station, my Mom's people at the IRS and my Dad's people at his job (I still don't know exactly what he does everyday...but that's another story).  I can finally show my little craft on my blog--mainly because I've decided on a different gift for the teacher's at my kids school. So I wouldn't be spoiling any surprises by showing you how I make these. ♥ (and I do need to add a disclaimer: I re-crafted this adorable gift from a friend of a friend--who in her own right is SUPER talented!)

I suggesting hunting for the materials at the Dollar Store and/or the WalMart-shay. They are the best!! For true!  And if you're a really great hunter, these gifts are only about $2.50 each. Of course, once you know how the basics work--you can go high dollar for the ones you love the most. ♥

So, you will need the following materials:

1. styrofoam cone (medium size--you just have to make sure the cone and container jive like turkey and stuffing)

2. Christmas-y container with open top (make sure that the cone and the container you get fit together snuggly.  It can be cermanic, metal, plastic, whatever...)

3. package of Straight Pins--don't confuse these with Safety Pins--entirely different bird

4. assorted hard candies in LOTS of pretty colors (you will need approx. 50-75 pieces per tree depending on the size of your cone and candies)

5. Christmasy Ribbon (1-1 1/2 in thick) Cut into about 18-24 inch lengths

6. Floral Pins (they're also called Greening Pins--in the Floral Dept.)

How to Put Everything Together:

Okay, once you have all the pieces and parts assembled--here's how to get going:   1)  Fit the cone snuggly into the top of the christmas-y container. Make sure it doesn't move around--nice and tight like. 2) Using the straight pins and the candy--start sticking the candy, with the pins--to the bottom of the cone. Continue sticking candies on the cone from the bottom up until you reach the top. You can totally rock your style on this tree! Varying colors and sizes, using patterns and specific colors--whatever your ♥ dreams!!  3) When you get to the top of the cone Stop.  Leave the top flat-y part free of candies.  4) Using one of the Floral pins and the cut ribbon--stick the pin in the center of the ribbon into the top of the cone. Make a pretty-ness bow and let the ribbon hang down. Trim up the ribbons pretty-like. :o)

 

Now you can sing: O Candy tree...how yummy are you looking...eh. Maybe not. But they are super-duper adorkable little gifts to give friends and families--and everyone in between.  I found everything except the pins at the Dollar Store. I bought those at the Wal-mart-shay and craft stores.  Check Costco/Sams for the candies if you are thinking of doing lots of this guys.

And that's an Oh So Pretty Gift, I think. ♥  Happy Crafting!!

Another Little Decoration

Looky! Looky!

I can't even tell you how much I love this little Soldier Man!  I found him laying upside down on a shelf in the outside at a local thrift store. I know...SAD! Sometimes I feel like I'm rescusing misforgotten extras from the set of Toy Story or something. Why would anyone want to give away a sweet little soldier is beyond me. Yeah! So, I snapped him right up, re-crafted him and gave him a home.  I did a little touch-up painting, added some spiffy bling to his uniform and gave him a puff of spoof on his face. (I also gave him a funny moustache--which was my son's, but he gave it to me for the greater good of Christmas decorations. Such a good boy!!)

And now he sits Oh So Pretty at my front door with my re-crafted lamp post. I put him out last night. This morning when hubby and I got back from running errands, he looked over and started howling!! Laughing like a Loon, he was. Because even I have to admit, my little Soldier is a funny little character. I think he is adorkable! and I love him to pieces!!

Oh So Chilly...

I keeping singing the same Christmas song in my head over and over again...Oh, the weather outside is frightful...you know the rest. It's so chilly here in Vegas! For true!  And I mostly love it--mostly.  Not the wind, so much, but learning to deal. eh.

So, what am I doing and what have I done? Our family drove up to Salt Lake City for the Thanksgiving holiday to spend it with my brother.  I wanted snow for the kids--for sledding and snowman making. And boy did I get snow. And 12 degree weather. That's just crazy cold. We had a wonderful dinner--nice and cozy in the house. AND then my mom and I went shopping on Black Friday, at 6 in the morning!!! So crazy. But I got the camera I've been looking for and hubby got the cabinets for his garage. Everybody is happy and our Christmas is done. :)  My best and most happy finds came from a thrift store though. I am so excited to re-craft several new Christmas decorations from the thrift store!!  I just need the kids to go to school so I can have some quiet time with my new treasures.  I'll post them as soon as I can WITH my new camera! hehehe ♥

Re-Crafting Decorations

Just look at this happy little door decoration! I know!! So, do you want the story behind this? Eh, I'll tell you anyway. I know, you're welcome ♥.  I have two wonderful, generous, funny and secretly competitive neighbors. I love them! It just happens that we have a super top-secret thing going amongst the three of us to either out-decorate or be the first to decorate. We get double points if we can out-decorate AND be the first on the street to decorate.  Its all in good fun, so that makes it extra fun for us.  On with the story...I purchsed this lamp post from neighbor #2 at her yard sale. It was dusty, unpainted and sad looking.  But I knew it had potential...so I snatched it up and cleaned it up. Fast-forward to this fall. I painted it basic black (cuz who doesn't look good in black?). I tacked on a string of lights, a twirl of grapevine and fall leaves. Presto! Oh so pretty Fall Decoration!  My neighbor was SOOOO ticked that she sold me her lamp-post. Bawaahahaha!

So, here we are at Christmas time. I re-crafted that same Fall lamp-post into a Christmas-y one. I changed the lights to clear and covered the post in an evergreen garland and some red & white poinsettas. Presto! Re-craft and cute! I can't wait until neighbor #3 sees this happy greeting at my door. Ba-nee-ner! LMK what you think!

And I just have to give an Oh So Happy Hello to my first blog follower! I was so excited to see somebody there!  I ready to have someone reading my stuff besides me. ♥ HI!!

Putting Out the Christmas....

Ba-nee-ner! I'm done waiting for an appropriate time to put out my Christmas stuff. Just done.  I've been patient through Halloween and even Fall/Thanksgiving. But I'm finished waiting. So tomorrow I'm going to recruit the family for some good old fashioned Christmas decorating.  I know the kids will be eager to dig into everything, but the hubby? eh, probably not so eager. But he follows directions ♥ and will grumble and moan and eventually get it done. :) Yeah!!  I re-crafted (not so sure that's a valid word, but it fits my meaning well) a Fall/Thanksgiving decoration into a Christmas decoration. I'm so absolutely tickled happy about it, I'm going to take pictures tomorrow morning and post it. :o) I know, I'm very sharing of the crafts this week.  I love my new re-crafted deco. And I'll have to tell you why I love it even more than normal tickle-love tomorrow--it has to do with my two neighbors and a little unofficial contest we have going....hehe!! I'll tell you about tomorrow.

Oh So Thankful...crafty gifts

I just wanted to post a quick how-to for an adorable-ness 'thankful' gift. You could make them for people at work, teachers, a centerpiece for a table, neighbors...just about anybody you need to say "I'm thankful for you".

These yummy little 'cornucopias' are made from waffle cones, melted chocolate, sprinkles and some chex mix.  Sorry about not taking step-by-step pictures. I didn't think of it until after.

I made almost 100 of the gems for a November Teacher Appreciation gift for my kids' school.

If you can't tell by the fabulous photography, I'll tell you how:  Melt the chocolate in a double broiler. Gently roll about 1/4 in of the top of the waffle cone in the chocolate. Shake off any excess.  Roll the waffle in sprinkles/colored sugar of your choosing.  Place on wax paper to set the chocolate. Once they are set, fill with Chex Mix (either homemade or store bought--its all yummy).  Wrap the cornucopias in clear cellophane bags, tied with match-y ribbon and feathers.

Here are few of the cones in the teacher's boxes at school.  I really like being a secret gift-giver--even though I think my secret is out...   :o)  The orange tag says "Here's a 'thankful treat 'cuz we know these little turkeys can drive you crazy."  I think they are sweet and thoughtful. (if I do say so myself. And I did.) ♥

Waiting on Pictures

So. Right. I'm waiting on 453 pictures to download. It's a little much. My mom takes lots of pictures--she's got a wonderful little camera that holds vast amounts of picture data. Lots and lots. But she hardly ever, never downloads them to her computer. They just stay in limbo on her camera card. :( sigh

And today is the day chosen for me to sit and wait on the download. Happy me! I think I'll post some of the better ones later. If there is a later....

15

I've been married 15 years. Yep.  My friend asked if I still liked him (my hubby). After I got done laughing, I said yes, I liked him still....and I even loved him more. He's  a great guy--I know I'm partial. (It wouldn't do to be married to a man you didn't like or love or respect.) But he really is a great man. He's a good rational role model for our kids (I'm a little sketchy on the rational sometimes, you know).  He's pretty smart. and if he doens't know something on a subject, he'll study up on it.  He makes himself better. He doesn't always demostrate it, but he deeply and geniunely loves his family and friends. He is a loyal and trusting friend and partner.

15 years is a long time, I think. I know the whole time progression thing, but it honestly doesn't feel like we've gone 15 years (16 yrs. if you count the dating stuff). We've gone through a serious accident, job loss, first new house, new cars, new jobs, and 2 kids. And we've had some really blessed and fortunate happenings too. Maybe that's why I don't connect the actual time that's passed--'cause I tend to focus on the good stuff and put the hardships away in the box.  We have a really great relationship; we love each other; we respect each other talents and forgive our lesser qualities. (and believe me, I'm high maintenance. Don't think I don't know I'm hard to live with)

I love my hubby. Its not the same 'newly-dating' feeling. I don't always get that rush of 'new love'.  Its like a constant hum--which is better. I like the constant hum of knowing that we have a good life together. It makes me smile in the car on the way home because he just texted me "when are you coming home?" The hum makes me chuckle in the middle of the store because I remembered something funny he said. Its the knowing that I can be snarky and mean and witchy and he'll just carrying on like nothing.

I am a fortunate woman. I look forward to the next 15 or 50 years....

Oh the Poms!!

Just look at these pretty little guys.  These couple of clusters, I saved out of the pile because they were different. They grew together in two's and three's. I love nature when it does funny stuff.

 Hubby and I were so happy about this harvest this year.  Last year we didn't get a single pomegranate to eat. Not a one. Sad face.

Look at all the yummy little arils (that's what the red seeds from a pom are called) from 1 dozen poms!!  Hundreds and hundreds of tastey morsels. This year, we were smart and checked with the Almighty google for the best way to de-seed the pom.  Oh, google....the answers it has.....so, we found a really good way to de-seed the poms--less messy and fairly easy. Happy face. LMK if you want me to share my de-seeding knowing-ness....

I think, because we have such a large bounty, I'm going to try to make pomegranate jelly/jam. I'm hopeful that the jelly batch will be good--'cause the pears worked out so well.

Spook-tacular Halloween Stuff

 I've been making these adorable little pipe-cleaner spiders every year for about 10-11 years. I love them!  And because I only make them during Halloween, they are even more special-er. (I know, bad english...just get over it and go on) :o)

 When I first started to making spiders, I could only find solid colors. But someone in the CraftWorld heard my prayers and started making different colors and textures.  So, I honor their gift by making sparkly, striped and glittery spid-y friends.

 Meet Willa Witch and Trick-r-Treater Timmy. I make these happy characters. I do.  They have friends too.  There is a Ghost, a Scarecrow, an Elf, a Snowman...its a small village.

And I'll tell you a secret:  their bodies are made from recycled 2-liter soda bottles. (didn't know I was a eco-crafter, huh?) Hence the name 'Sew-Dang Cute" (that's what I named them.) I was so industrious one year that I made and sold about 50 different ones to friends and family.  Made quite the little stash for the holiday, I did. 

I think I'm going to make more this year.  I can't resist the fabric...and the fact that if two or more are gathered, I start talking to them....I think if they answer back, then I've got serious cause to consult a professional. Until then I'll chaulk it up to ghostly flashes of my crazy DNA popping out. :o)

Busier than I Want

I've thought about posting to my blog often. I just can't find the time somedays.  For the most part I'm not terribly busy or stressed, but occasionally, I find myself busier than I like. I help out at the kids school. October is a big month at the school. Lots of preparation for the school Fall Festival.  Silly busy.  Both kids are in scouts--girl and cubs. So, that means completely different activities--at different times during the month. The holidays are coming. I'm thinking about Christmas gifts for the family, dinners, decorations, paying bills...all sorts of nonsensical things.  This month, I'm busier than I want to be.

So, check out my next post to see what I've been doing.....its cute stuff, I tell you. Cute (with a a capitol 'C')

Road Picking

There is a relatively new show on the History Channel called American Pickers. Its about 2 guys (friends since jr. high) that travel the US in search of 'hidden gold'--the "the Honey Pot" as they call it.  Hubby and I watch this show all the time.  We sit there watching, laughing and wondering about the craziness of it all. These 2 guys have a real business where they dig around old sheds, basements and barns. They buy other people's trash. And call it treasures. And then re-sell it for double the price they bought it for.

I secretly think I could be a collector of hidden treasures. Of trash. I've got it in my bones--sunk way down deep in my DNA. My grandfather (J.R.) was a king at collecting junk. He would stop in the middle of the road to pick up a forgotten tennis ball. My crazy Aunt Velmarine (J.R.'s sister) is a queen. She has mountains of "treasures" piled up in her TX home. I know I could easily succumb to collecting.

So, hubby and I made up this scenerio while driving up to Salt Lake City.  As a hobby during retirement, we would take the 'picking' one step further. We would be Road Pickers--'cause we're too lazy and fearful to pick thru peoples old barns and basements (mostly me because I don't like crawly things) We would pick-up stuff from the road.  We laugh like loons about this. The kids even started making up a theme song for business. We laugh mostly because all we've seen to pick are broken coolers and hubcaps and trash. What a business.

Well, I had my first 'Road Picking' experience the other day while I was doing my morning walking excerise.  I found a clean, blue 3-ring notebook! I know, right? In perfect condition.  It even had a set of page dividers and half a ream on notebook paper in it!! Bonus for me!! I was so proud of my first pick. I laughed all the way home (which was another 1/2 mile away)  I'm sure people thought I was touched--holding my notebook and laughing. Makes me laugh even now as I write this. I am a goof.

I brought my trophy home and waited all day to proudly show the family. They were not impressed. Not at all. Although, hubby did laugh. He thinks I'm a goof.  And now my daughter uses the notebook for stuff that 9 yr. olds deem important--whatever that is.

Sometimes I think I want to be a Road Picker. It would be fun rooting around for lost treasures. I would love to hear the stories behind the collections and I would find the people fascinating. But I can't be a picker. It goes back to knowing that I have this DNA flaw. I would turn into my crazy aunt talking to dolls set up on the couch.  I would be crazy.  Not dangerous-lock-me-up-crazy, but crazy all the same.  I know I would. And that's why I won't. Isn't knowing how crazy you could be a good thing?

At the car dealership

Well, I'm thinking I am pretty clever this morning. I'm sitting at the car-getting place waiting for an oil change and a changing of the tires. I like looking at all the pretty cars lined up in neat little rows. They look so happy. I'd like to take a couple home with me--but honestly, now--I'm not a total idiot!! When would I ever have the time to drive all them? It wouldn't be fair. So, here I sit with my complimentary diet pepsi (I think it would be more complimentary if they offered Coke, but I'm not in charge), blogging my gnome-y thoughts on the fly.

AND did you happen to see my successful uploading ofthe pictures. Ever so clever.

Here's something else rattling around in the brain: I write this blog with the suggestion that people are reading it. But you aren't. Not yet anyway. I haven't shared this blog stuff with anyone. Not a one--no one. What's that about?

All my pretty little pears--peeled, chunked and canned. Yummy!  I think its funny that I canned a batch of these gems and nobody but me will eat them. My family doesn't know what they're missing. Nope, they don't.

Trying to figure this business out...

So, I haven't been in bloggy land for about a week now. Really? What's my excuse? Eh, I don't really have a good one right now.

I want to figure out how to stick some pictures up on this thing--be patient.

I went camping with the daughters Girl Scout troop over the weekend. Absolutely lovely weather!! Cross my heart it was so good.

I canned a batch of pears the other day. I'm that good. In fact, they are fancy pants kind of pears. Infused with vanilla and cinnamon kind of pears. When I figure out the picture uploading thing, you'll see how pretty they are. :0)

I'm pretty proud of myself for figuring out to blog on the fly tonight. I'm listening to 18 crazy 10 year olds do girl scout stuff. And I'm in bloggy land at the same time. It's special. Or I'm special. Whichever

Today's a Sunday

I've been up all night, off and on. the hubby has been sick...with most likely food poisoning of some kind.  I'm a little tired, but don't want to be lazy because I do have things to do.  Like what?  The Laundry. Yeah, I know.  If you know one thing about me, its that I absolutely DO NOT love the laundry.  I've been known to start a load and leave it sit for 3 days! Then I have to rewash it. But I forget that second load of the first load and I have to rewash again.  Laundry and I struggle to find a common ground. But, once the laundry is done, I do have very clean clothes. :)

The boy is a Cub Scout. He loves it!! I have patches to sew on his new uniform. These scouts are very serious about where the patches go and how they get there. They have measurements and everything! For reals, true. So, I'm going to bust out my mad sewing skills and nail these patches on. I am.

I'm thinking about Christmas already. Too soon? Not for me. I love the Christmas! I like making gifts and wrapping and giving. I can't decide what "the gift" is this year. Maybe I'll post my ideas and let everyone weigh in. Maybe not. I usually like my own opinion. We'll see. :)

Well, enough of the writing of nonsense. I have things to do and people to see...no scratch that, reverse that....

Welcome to BloggyLand

Um, well, hello. I suppose.  Is it weird to welcome myself to a land that I created? Probably so. I'm thinking it might tickle the toes of a tiny narcissistic gnome--especially if people begin to read my babble. But, really now. I wouldn't be a very good host if I didn't invite some friends over once in a while.  I'm guessing this is the place that I can write down the stuff I think about in my head--my gnome-y thoughts as it were.

I guess we'll just see where this one goes. :)