Back home after Thanksgiving

After eating waayy too much turkey, potatoes, stuffing, and pumpkin pie we are back home after having Thanksgiving with our families. We had a wonderful visit and the weather cooperated until today when we needed to head back! We left early enough in the day that the roads weren't too slick and the snow hadn't started blowing around. I am happy to be home and I am ready to attack the pile of laundry that we brought back with us.

Once the kiddos head to bed I have to get my Christmas cards started or they won't be done until New Year's! Too bad Paige isn't quite big enough to help this year.

Sonobe Christmas Ornament

I never thought that I would figure this ornament out! I tried to follow a tutorial on splitcoast stampers but it was just not getting through my thick skull! My friend, Jeong Soo, is certified in paper folding in Korea so I begged her to help me figure it out. They came over yesterday so that her husband and son could watch a soccer game with Scott and the boys. This gave us the perfect opportunity to try this ornament. She did most of the first ornament and then on the second I did most of it. I was having a difficult time with finishing and getting the last few pieces in a ball shape. After they went home I decided that I better try another one to make sure that I understood it. It took me about 6 hours to complete it! Of course, I decided I should complete another one before bed to really get it in my head. That one went together in about an hour. Woo hoo!

This ornament is made with the Designer Series paper that is a Level 1 hostess gift. It is a little heavy, so the points are a little more open than they would be if I used a thinner paper. I used squares that were 3" x 3". Jeong Soo likes working with paper that is slightly larger so that you have more room to work the pieces in without your fingers getting in the way.

Stamps: Autumn Harvest
Paper: Old Olive card stock, Pumpkin Pie card stock, Water color paper
Ink: Black Stazon, Summer Sun Classic Stampin' pad, More Mustard Classic Stampin' pad, Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin' pad, and Old Olive Classic Stampin' pad
Accessories: Aqua Painter and Old Olive eyelets(retired)

Friday Night Stamping

I had an idea stuck in my head for a card. Originally I was thinking Halloween for it but I think it worked for winter as well.
Stamp set: Season of Friendship
Paper: Shimmery White and Glossy White card stock
Ink: Basic Black Classic Stampin' Pad, Summer Sun Classic Stampin' Pad, More Mustard Classic Stampin' Pad, Night of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad and White Craft Ink
Accessories: 1 3/8" circle punch, stipple brush, Aqua Painter and a brayer

I started out by punching a circle in some typing paper with the 1 3/8" punch. I placed the typing paper over the glossy card stock and used the stipple brush to fill the circle in with Summer Sun. I used More Mustard on the right side of the circle for a little contrast. I then stamped the trees in Basic Black. I used the circle that I punched out and placed it over the circle of Summer Sun to mask it off for brayering. I also cut masks out of typing paper for the trees. I then loaded my brayer with Night of Navy and brayered over the glossy card stock. I went both horizontally and vertically. I then stamped the snowflakes in the White craft ink. I used my Aqua Painter (with no water) in the White Craft ink to paint the limbs of the trees. I used a cotton swab to color the snow at the base of the card. I have to make a little confession...I smudged one of the snowflakes, so I decided to run my finger through all of the snowflakes to make it look like they were falling.

Like Mother like Daughter

I was doing a little stamping tonight. I was water coloring a Thanksgiving card. Paige decided that she would like to try it out too. She kept all of her water coloring inside the pumpkin image. Not bad for a 2 year old!

Another decor elements wall hanging

I apologize for the slightly blurry picture. I took at least 7 pictures and they all blurred a little. I think the fine stems of the plant were messing with my camera some how! I used another canvas panel from www.dickblick.com I painted it in a baby blue acrylic paint. This time I made sure to completely cover the canvas with the paint. I purchased some chocolate grosgrain ribbon and those cute big buttons at Wal-Mart (unfortunately the ribbon from SU! wasn't wide enough for this project) I hot glued the ribbon to the canvas. I also hot glued the buttons onto the ribbon. I liked just the decor elements piece on the canvas but I really like it framed out in the ribbon.

Paige at gymnastics

I finally got around to taking the digital camera along with us to gymnastics. It is a little hard to take pictures when they are wanting you to participate along with your child! There are a few things that she can do independently, so I could sneak a few pictures.

I feel bad that I don't have much about Zach and Clay on here yet. Clay has an indoor soccer game and a futsal game this weekend so maybe I can get some video or pictures. Scott is coaching the futsal game though so I will be chasing the toddler. I probably will have a better chance at the indoor game. Zach's indoor soccer session doesn't start until Jan.... no sports pictures until then.

Stamps: Season of Friendship
Paper: Bordering Blue card stock, Shimmery White card stock, Whisper White card stock, Vellum
Inks: Close to Cocoa Classic Stampin' Pad. Stazon white pad, Riding Hood Red Classic Stampin' Pad
Accessories: White Taffeta ribbon

Stamps: Season of Friendship

Paper: Old Olive card stock and Naturals Ivory

Ink: Close to Cocoa Classic Stampin' pad, Old Olive Classic Stampin' pad

Accessories: Top Note Bigz die

Create Decor Elements

I purchased this Decor Elements piece before we left New York. I knew we were moving, so I didn't want to put it up on the walls there. I have finally gotten around to putting it on something. I purchased a canvas panel at http://www.dickblick.com/ They are very reasonable in price. I think I will always buy these to put my Decor Elements on because then it can go anywhere we do.

I would suggest starting a little smaller for your first attempt. The application process takes a little getting used to. This is the large size saying which is approx. 30 inches wide.

I just used an acrylic paint. I believe the color was Basil Green. I wanted kind of a worn look, so I didn't apply the paint evenly and I only used one coat. I used the Baroque Motifs stamp set and white acrylic paint to stamp the top and bottom edges.

The basket the inspired the reindeer

Believe it or not, this is the basket that inspired me to do the reindeer. Maybe just because it was brown? This one is made of felt that I stitched together. Paige would probably enjoy playing with it.

Baskets and Blooms Reindeer

I am so proud of myself! I came up with an original idea that I didn't copy from anyone! I was playing around with my Baskets and Blooms Sizzix Bigz die. I thought that when the basket was

turned that it resembled a horse. Then I got to thinking about Christmas coming up and decided that I could turn it into a reindeer. I had some fuzzy brown felt in the basement that I thought would be perfect for the "face" of the reindeer. The eyes are made from the small bloom. I removed the petals on the black to make it a circle. The whites of the eyes are the teardrop shapes that form the inside of the larger loopy flower. The eyelids are one small bloom cut in half. I used small black buttons to complete the eye. The nose is the large bloom. I ran thread around the outside of the flower, placed some poly fill in the center, and then pulled the threads tight. The mouth was stitched with crochet thread. The antlers are a Oak Leaf Sizzix die. I just cut it apart to get the shape I wanted.

Next, I would like to make the basket into a turkey for Thanksgiving. I have been seeing lots of turkeys made with punches and I think I have an idea of how to make this basket into one as well. Stayed tuned for that!

A day of stamping

My friend Jeong Soo came over yesterday to try her hand at stamping. She was a very fast learner! She does beautiful paper folding, so the next lesson will be her teaching me!

These are the cards I came up with for her to try. I hadn't prepared anything before hand, so these were just off the top of my head. I wanted to keep things fairly simple so that she wouldn't feel overwhelmed and get frustrated. We had a limited amount of time before she had to leave to pick up her son from school so simplicity was really a necessity today. Maybe we will be able to spend a whole day on a weekend to get more done.

A little windy lately!

I had been meaning to take a picture of this tree because the colors were so intense and gorgeous. Yesterday when I looked out in our front yard this is what I saw. A really strong wind had come through and knocked down a large branch of the tree. Luckily, it wasn't long enough to strike the house. The landlord has someone coming to check out the tree to make sure it isn't rotting and that is what caused the branch to come down.

Paige goes to a Toddler Tunes class on Wednesday mornings. The group has 8 kids. It can get quit chaotic but Paige seems to have fun. She refuses to say anything in the class though. Her teacher encourages them to speak in the class and there is always silence when it is Paige's turn. She will be talking non-stop before we get to class but the minute we walk in the door she doesn't make a peep. She will nod yes if she is asked a question but that is about all.

She also does gymnastics on Tuesdays. I am hoping to get some pictures of that next week and get those posted.

I voted...with some help!

Paige and I headed to the polls at about 1:30 this afternoon. We brought along a bag of Wonder Pet toys and books. Luckily, there was no line and I was able to vote right away. I think it took a total of 5 minutes to vote and double check my ballot. We went to Dairy Queen to celebrate her being such a big helper on Election Day.

Trick or Treat

We went Trick or Treating Friday night with three other families. All together we had 10 kids. It was quite something keeping track of everyone! We had a lot of fun.

Zach and Clay scared the little kids with their costumes but the days of cute costumes are over for them! I am a little surprised that they even wanted to trick or treat this year. They have been saying for several years that they are too old to go.

As you probably noticed from the pictures, Scott was no where to be seen. He had to go to his masters class, so he missed out on the fun. He did make up for it later in the evening when the guys headed out for a night on the town.