Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Christmas Randomness



My Christmas gift making is slowly coming to an end so I have time to make these snowflake ballerina's for the two ballerina's in my life. These are great because they can stay up all winter!



My daughter cut out the ballerina's and I cut out the snowflake tutu's. When we were finished it looked like a blizzard had blown thru out family room.


While we are on the subject of Christmas, every day that there is a magazine in the mailbox is a mini Christmas for me. I LOVE magazine day...except the January issues. (which are coming out now) Have you ever noticed that your January magazine issues might as well be the thickness of a Sunday store circular? You get this nice and thick December issue FULL of great eye candy and they leave nothing for January. I don't know about you but January is long and cold where I live and I could use a nice, thick and colorful magazine. *sigh*

With that being said I am currently reading a wonderful book, recommended by one of my dear friends. If you've been looking for an imaginative book to read this holiday season I've got one for you.



I am only 6 chapters in but this book is all sorts of fun. 
So how about you? Are you ready for Christmas?

   


Thursday, November 29, 2012

Homemade Christmas Continues...


Christmas is in full swing at our house! 
I am finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel of gifts to be made so now I can show you what I've been working on.



I saw these ADORABLE gloves on Etsy and knew they had to go to some of my girlfriends and my own little girls.


Now this was a big feat for me. I do not sew. Rarely a button. (which I am slowly changing)
Materials included: Store bought gloves, felt, and matching thread.


One friend is a UNC fan.


One friend is a VA Tech fan.



This one I just wanted red!



I am currently working on my little girls gloves which are purple with a bright red heart in the center.




This is my take on a Harry Potter wreath with interchangeable quote at the top.


My sister-in-law LOVES everything Harry Potter so what better way to dress her apartment door?


Each quote plaque has Velcro on the back and can be changed whenever she wants. 
She can display her Gryffindor colors with pride!



Wednesday, November 28, 2012

American Girl Doll Bookmarks





As I have mentioned before I have a daughter who loves everything American Girl. She recently purchased (with her OWN money) the American Girl doll McKenna and we have been reading the new Caroline series together as well. My daughter loves to read and so I figured I would make some American Girl bookmarks for her and her sister.



I purchased the stickers above at Michaels and used my 40% coupon which brought the cost down to a few dollars.
I then picked out some left over scrapbook paper I had and cut them into strips that the stickers could fit on.
After I attached the stickers to the strips of paper I used my trusty laminator to laminate each one. Voila!




Monday, November 26, 2012

Bristle Animal Ornaments...It's an obsession!


I LOVE bristle animals. They are so stinking cute! 
This is my winter display that I have set up in my dining room. 


I lucked out on obtaining all of these cuties because I have wonderful parents who happen to be shopping the after Christmas sale at Macy's and scooped up the lot for me:)


My kids just love my take on a winter wonderland.



Martha's isn't bad either:)


Thursday, November 1, 2012

DIY from Pinterest


I made this! You may have noticed that the latest trend is chalkboard painting and really elaborate chalk art. I wanted a framed chalkboard to put on top of my entertainment center but did not want to pay the elaborate price. I found the open back frame at Michaels and again used my trusty 40% coupon so ended up paying $16 for it. I then went to Lowes and had a nice employee cut a piece of hardwood the size of the opening and then painted the wood with chalkboard paint I already had in the basement.


This was my inspiration. 


This is mine! I hope to change the words per change of season.
My total cost was less than $20.
Not bad!


These are going to be bookends. 
You need two brick pavers from Lowes at roughly $.56 a piece, two plastic toys (these were $1 a piece at Walmart) a can of spray paint and hot glue.


My $1 dinos


The above photo was the inspiration and...



These are mine! 
It was super easy and I love them. I do need to add that if using spray paint you might want the bookends to sit outside for a few days (if the weather is nice) to let some of the fumes die down before putting them in your kids room. 




Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Handmade Christmas Part 2



I have begun to enjoy making wreath's wrapped in yarn. The supplies are affordable and easy to find and they are easy to work on while sitting down in the evening while watching a movie. All you need is a wreath form, yarn and hot glue. I found my straw wreath's at Walmart for $2.97 and the yarn was at Walmart as well.


Before I begin I mark off the the sections of color so I have equal parts all around the wreath.


These will go on each of my children's bedroom doors for Christmas. 
These would make wonderful gifts for family and friends.


Monday, October 29, 2012

Handmade Christmas Part 1



Preparations for Christmas began early this year since I am hoping to hand make most gifts. In early September I purchased two unfinished castles from Michaels and used my 40% off coupons to bring the cost to $11.99 each. Michaels did not have the wooden pegs that I wanted so I ordered them from Craft Parts . 



Fast forward two months later and I now have two finished castles. This Hogwarts castle is for my little guy. The guidepost on the corner directs students to Hogsmead, Forbidden Forest, Hogsmead Station and other places.




The great room has the school crest and four house flags displayed.


Portraits line the staircases.

This pull out drawer is the Room of Requirement.


I gathered inspiration from Pinterest and other creative sources.


This was an unfinished wood box that I also purchased at Michaels and painted then lined with felt. This will hold my little guy's peg people.


This castle is for my daughter's to share. I took inspiration from Disney's Sleeping Beauty for the trees and shrubs.



One daughter will receive Disney princess peg people and the older will receive the Harry Potter trio, International inspired girls and American Girl doll inspired peg people. 


American Girl Dressing room


American Girl Doll's
Rebecca, McKenna, Caroline & Josephina


  

Unfinished Wood boxes that I painted and lines just like my son's box.




Both were a lot of fun to make and hopefully my children will have fun playing with them too!


These were also finds at Michaels. An unfinished barn and horse stable that I painted for one of my daughters. It's the end of October and I already have a big dent made in my Christmas shopping!!!