Advent Calander

I was inspired to do this by Ali Edwards blog and she was inspired by Martha Stewart who took credit for an idea one of her worker bee's came up with. So before I show you my version of this recycled idea, thank you nameless Martha worker bee. So without any further adulation for the nameless creators behind Martha here it is......



I used some old jewelry boxes, match boxes from the dollar store, circle tins that were already magnetic, little tins from card sets that were in Christmas crackers and a few paper mache boxes from michaels. The large box with the 24 on it is a large match box from the dollar store the 4 is a wooden number from michaels. I painted some red, some green and covered some with polka dot paper. I left the silver ones alone. I am really liking the red, apple green and black and white polka dot combination. I put magnet also found at the dollar store on the backs and stuck it to the magnetic chalk board. The frame is from an old oil painting my parents bought in Germany, I took out the painting then put in a thin piece of metal that was painted with chalk board paint. It usually has all the kids school crafts and paintings on it. It is a great alternative to the fridge!! So inside the boxes.......






For each day I put an activity a chocolate or a package. If it is a package There is a stamp with a p on it and a package stacked in the table with the day on it . The activities are written on a piece of paper and folded inside a box. I put things like write a letter to Santa, skate at the light park, hot choc and drive around and look at the lights, make cookies, watch a Christmas movie ect. In the packages I put little craft kits I found at michaels or the dollar store. They were all around a dollar. I planned it all out on a calendar first to keep it organized and so I will remember what to get ready for. So there it is our Christmas advent calendar. I will keep all the boxes and stamps to use again next year!!




Thanks for looking, I am going to go straighten out my frame!
I am going to try to take better pictures and post them when we get some sunshine.

Garland Step by Step

Ok, so here are step by directions for the garland. I included lots of pictures and measurments.......



we used 7 cookie cutters, 4 bells, 7 wooden spools and 11 10inch paper covered wire ( this can be found at the dollar store ) lengths to attach the bells and bobbins. ( I feel like there is a complicated math problem in there some where )Other great items to use would be rusted stars and bells or any ornament you would like to add in. next you will need.......




For the fabric I used 5 diffrent kinds. A note about the fabric, you need to try to find double sided fabric. Gingham and broadcloth are great or any cheaper kind of see through pattern. One side of any pattern will be faded but try to find one you can still see.





You will need thick jute to tie your fabric around I started with 164 inchs then the final project was 96 inchs or about 8 ft (thanks Trisha). This all depends on how close you tie your fabric together. I tied mine as close as I could. I also incorporated 2 kinds of ribbon, I loved the black and white polka dot it really popped the rest of the fabric.




The fabric is cut in 1 inch by 4 inch strips. I started by folding the fabric in half width wise and dividing it 5 times you will end up with 10 4 inch strips which you then cut 1 inch tabs in. I ripped all the fabric not cut so it frayed.




You then tie the ripped fabric onto the jute. I tie untill it reaches the length of my hand then add an embellishment.





To add the embellishments you loop the wire through the bell or cookie cutter around the jut and back trough the bell or cookie cutter.






You then pull the wire tight and use a skewer or the guts of a pen to twirl the rest of the ribbon around.






Last you thread on the wooden spools all of these elements are separated by about a hand length of tied fabric and ribbon. The ribbon I just tied occasionally about two per hands length.




Rinse and repeat for 8 ft and viola!!!!








So there it is the longest post ever!! Thank you to the Tina Meyer and Julia for allowing me to post this while we were crafting. I hope you all enjoy!!

Single Ladies - Beyonce

This is the video from my top five post. So fun!!

A Great Craft & A Cheesey Riddle

So I made a wreath with everything under the sun on it. Can you guess what it is made out of........

(scroll down for the answer)


























It's a dictionary!!! I know that was a real knee slapper!! ( I love the exclamation point, you may have noticed!! ) This may just be my favorite craft of all time. So I will be running this as a class on the 26th, 3rd and the 10th. I can fit 7 per class and the cost will be 25$. All you need to bring is YOU!!! I may try and make the wreath a little smaller. I did the one shown on a 12 inch form and I think I'll go down to 10 inch. I hope you are all enjoying the crafts. I don't think I will be creating anything new so if you would like to do any of the projects that have been on the blog just email me. I will not be running the garland class but I am going to do a step by step tutorial. It is super easy!!

Heres one more picture.....

The garland that started it all.....

So as most of you know I had been "talking" about doing some crafty workshops for awhile. When it was my turn to host ladies night allot of the ladies admired the halloween garland I had in the window. So being as wonderful as I am (wanting to show off) I said I would get it together so they could have their very own Christmas themed garland. So we started with this......



....then we ripped, and tied and twisted until our fingers bleed and our arthritis "acted up" (tammy) and we were all rewarded with this masterpiece.....



I love the little bobbins, bells and cookie cutters....



So here's a big bloggy shout out to all my ladies. Thanks for the fun and most of all thanks for inspiring me to start this.

I wanted to take a minute and talk about this...



My Ben Ben boy!! What is that in his hands? His first report card. Another bittersweet moment on his path to becoming a man ( I had a hard time typing man) that has me beaming and wanting to time travel back, just to get one more sniff of that beautiful little baby. His first report card was pretty good. His teacher is fantastic and totally gets Ben. She left allot of great comments about his enthusiasm for life and eagerness to be at school being contagious, sweet. Then she wrote... I continue to encourage Ben to listen attentively, follow routines, stay on task, and do his best during circle and table time. She defiantly "gets" Ben. What happen to the good old days when a teacher could say ... your kid doesn't listen or do what he's asked. Ben's teacher, thank you. Thank you for sugar coating the not so great smelling side. Thank you for leading him on his path to ... gulp manhood. I hope with guidance from the women in his life he will one day listen and do what he's told.

Stocking Stuffer For Dad

Ok so here it is......





I thought this up one night when I was going to bed. I was so excited I couldn't sleep. I think it will be a great stocking stuffer for dad. I am going to do this on Dec 1. The cost will be 10$. You will need to bring up to 6 2x2 inch pictures. I put a picture of Ben, Emilie, one of our wedding pictures, a drawing Emilie did and two sides are filled with pattern paper. All you need to bring is your pictures a trimmer and scissors. I will provide the adhesive because we are using the sticker maker and matte sealer. I will also provide an assortment of pattern paper and rub ons. If you would like to come just email me at marksta3@telus.net. A few people have asked me about running workshops for groups, I would love to do this for anyone interested. Just contact me through email and we will come up with a day and a project. So there is the next class. I am going to do one more project before Christmas and a kids Christmas craft while the kids are off.

*** update I found bigger rubiks cube 2 1/2 x 2 1/2. So if you are doing this workshop please bring up to 6 2 1/2 x 2 1/2in pictures.


PS.... just for fun I wanted to share Julia's picture from halloween I helped her with her costume and make-up. I thought she looked amazing!! Julia you sassy, zombie bride!!

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PPS.... I have developed an annoying habit of pantomiming typing when talking about my blog. If you happen to witness this please ask me to stop, how annoying can I get, really.

Just Fun

So I started this blog a little late to share Halloween pictures but since the pictures are here anyway........



Emilie was a rock star zombie. I got the idea for her makeup on youtube. If you ever need a fun makeup tutorial youtube is a great source.





Ben was obviously... dun dun dun du ta da..... super man. We also slicked back his hair, he was super cute. He tried to insist superman carried a sword, I had to do a google picture search to show him he didn't carry a sword. Google picture search solves allot of problems in our house, try it some time. On a side note thank you everyone for all the great emails and support. I am really excited to start creating again. My creative juices are overflowing, it's getting a little messy. Come back tomorrow I have a super cute stocking stuffer for dad to show you all!!

Christmas Tag Ornaments

Hey everyone, I took photos of the next craft. I thought this one would be great for gifts or for your own tree, we will also be making something to attach them to the tree!! I think these are a great way to personalize your tree. We will be using Tim Holtz grunge board and inks to create these.







We will be making 10 all together and the cost will be $20. You will need to bring 10 photos that can be cropped to 2 1/4 x 4 1/2 inches or smaller. You will also need to bring a trimmer, scissors and adhesive. I will help you create your individual tags there will be lots of grunge board, glitter mists, inks and crackle paints to play with. Everyone will create their own tags with my help or copy the examples, I want to inspire you all to be creative with these ornaments. A hint for the pictures is to go through all your leftovers from previously scraped pages and projects, they in no way need to be current or holiday themed. If any of you want to do some packing tape transfers bring some of your photos printed on regular paper, this is a fun way to add to the vintage look of these tags. I will be running this workshop on the 25th of November for 7 people if more than that sign up I will run another class. If you are interested please email me at marksta3@telus.net

I already have the next craft for a really great wreath in the works so please stay tuned to check that one out!!

Top 5 Internet Finds

So this is me blogging!!! Thanks Trisha for schoolin me on blogging. I am starting this blog to share ideas, tell hilarious stories and solicit my wares. As some of you know I will be offering some craft classes at my house monthly. I want this blog to be a place to view the crafts and you can email me at marksta3@telus.net if you are intrested. So because this is so far a pretty boring post I want to share my top 5 internet finds.


Number 1.......pompalamoose, they are a band or a duo on youtube. If I need a pick me up I go here pomplamoosemusic ( not sure how to leave link yet) and watch this........

www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIr8-f2OWhs


Number 2......This craft room, it is my screen saver, my fantasy, and the quite place I go in my head when I need to escape.



I don't think anything else needs to be said.


Number 3.......Design Sponge, there is a link in my side bar. I secretly want to be this blog sleek, modern Scandinavian with a touch of crafty. If you don't have time to look at the whole blog just check out there before and after section. It will give you a whole new appreciation for tacky dressers and ugly chairs.



Number 4........This picture

Cabbage Patch Man

Comes with birth certificate, adoption papers and name.

Seriously does he own a mirror!! I found this on www.peopleofwalmart.com. The whole idea of the site is to post pictures of people at wal mart who should not be at wal mart for one bad choice or another ie..bad mullets ( i don't assume there are good mullets), tacky t-shirts or mid drift shirts on people who have more of a full drift. Very funny website if you can't find something to laugh at there you need happy pills.


Number 5......... The Pioneer Woman. I hover between wanting to be her with her Marlboro man, Le crueset pots in every delicious color, ability to impersonate Ethal Merman, oh ya did i mention The Lodge and the cookbook. Then the other side wants to leave a nasty message on her blog for making me feel so bad about my life and lack of lodge!! The worst I could do is make her number 5 on my list. Seriously though, her chocolate sheet cake is amazing even though it should be called a brownie ... whatever, I'm just saying.