teacher appreciation

Pumpkin has officially finished Senior Kindergarten.

How did this happen?

Where did the time go?

Is it possible that she will be in Grade 1 next year??

Wow!

I just realized that....I'm getting old!

Pumpkin's year was a great one.

She grew in stature, goodness, kindness, mind, body and spirit.

She's made friends that have made a difference in her life and shaped her into a forgiving and caring friend.

She's made mistakes and learned from them.

She's become bigger than life.

I wanted to thank her teacher's in a personal way as they have touched Pumpkin in a personal way on her road to becoming who she is.

They have families they love and enjoy family time with. Just as we do in our home.

So what better thing for them to share with their families than

a Super Sundae in a Jar Party!

Layer a large jar (I used a pickle one)

With all sorts of YUMMY sundae toppings...

Our list included peanuts, M&M's, chocolate caramel balls (Rolo's), mini coloured marshmallows, gummie bears and worms, butterscotch chips, sprinkles, toffee bits (Skor bits), mini oreos/cookies, etc....

I made my favourite homemade hot fudge sauce and gourmet peanut butter sauce.

Used scrapbooking papers and some clipart to decorate the jars...don't forget the Mod Podge!

And...VOILA!

All they have to do is dump the toppings in a bowl and add a spoon for easy sprinkling,

warm up some sundae sauces,

add some ice cream, whipped cream and a cherry and they're set!

I think these gifts were a hit!

Goodbye Senior Kindergarten--

HELLO SUMMER!!!

christmas ball placecard holder

Aren't these fabulous??!!!!

I totally love them...

however I don't love the price tag

$$$$$

----------------------------------------------------

so I got to thinking....

and came up with a pretty comparable idea

First gather your supplies:

tape

rice/sand

christmas ornament

funnel

name tag (I used old paint swatches)

Carefully take the top off your ornament

seriously. be. careful.

I almost lost a finger.

well... not really...

but I did cut myself!

(I'll spare you the photo of that)

fill half full with rice
or sand from your kids sand box.

I actually felt the sand worked better--

but the rice is fine

and you don't have to put your shoes on to go outside to get it

That is, as long as you keep your rice indoors--I do.

replace the top and cut up a swatch card as your name tag.

I chose the one that was called Rosemary Green

because it reminds me of Rosemary Clooney

which reminds me of the movie White Christmas

(Songstress Rosemary Clooney with Bing Crosby and Danny Kay)
Tell me you've seen it!

if you haven't you need to!

okay so where were we?

oh yeah.

put a piece of tape across the back of the card to adhere it to the ball...

unless of course you're lucky enough to have a ball that has a double ring hanger

that you can slip the card between...

To make them stand at the position you want just tap it gently
or rub it on the table to even out the sand/rice inside.


TA DA!
----------------------------------------------------
now I came up with some ideas to mimick the inspiration ball

I just need to get the supplies...
a clear ball ornament

some of that awesome sparkly white decorator's sand

and some white acrylic paint to make the snowflakesI can see it now!

I'm dreaming of a White Christmas!

Dear John: Upcycled Poppy Tutorial

My father was an Army Brat...

His stepfather was in the Army and they moved around alot in his formidable years.

My father had lots of stories.

My Papa had lots of stories.

My mother's father was in the Army also.

She too was an Army Brat.

My Grandpa lives close to us now.

He visits us and often brings books or photos of the Army life.

Last time he visited, Pumpkin kept asking him,
"who's that?"

"are they still your friend?"

Most often his answer was "no" because they died "a long time ago".

Fighting for the freedom of our Country.

----------------------------------------------------------

If you don't wear a poppy on November 11th

why not?

Is it because you forget?

Often I have.

But not last year and never again.

I made this poppy from an

old red t-shirt.

Super easy, super quick and fashionable way to

Remember...Lest We Forget...

-------------------------------------------------------

Cut out 2 flower shaped patterns.

I free handed but if you want to you can use the pattern pieces here

(just don't cut down the dotted lines)

you will need 6 large flowers
and 3 small flowers
=9 layers in total
I just fold my t-shirt over a bunch of times and then cut them all out at once...
because I'm lazy...
I mean efficient!
the ones on the bottom of your stack do get a bit wonky like this one,
but I just go back and shape them up.
this is not an exact science.

layer all 6 large flowers just off centre from one another so that the petals over lap...
then add the top 3 small flower layers the same way, consistently turn the petals so they are offset.
Grab a button of your choice, black and brown are my preference.

I also like a larger sized middle in my poppy so I choose a large button.
(sorry I forgot to take a pic)

Sew the button on through all the layers and finish off at the back.
No need for neatness as you're going to cover up your handiwork with a pin.

Cut a small rectangle from the remaining shirt scraps and glue on your pin back.

(make sure to secure the pin more to the top than the middle so it won't buckle under the weight of the button and fabric--in other words, if you centre the pin your poppy will always fall forward...attach it a little higher)

Cover it nicely with the scrap, leaving the pin open.

Now this is what takes your poppy from an old t-shirt to November 11th

the secret is in the s-t-r-e-t-c-h!

That's right, on ever layer pull and stretch that poppy until it's in the curly/frilly

poppy that you're going for.

Done!

Some pictures of some I made last year for family and friends.

Now you're ready for that moment of silence

on November 11th ...

to remember not only those that died but for those that fight to protect us daily.

Pinata 101

I have received quite a few questions regarding pinata making....

I have to say first off that

I am NOT an expert!

I made my first pinata ever last year

after googling

"how to make a pinata?"

A picture of last years crocodile pinata.

The only tips I can provide are on what not to do...

Do not hang it from 1 string...

do have several strings hanging it to balance the weight

Do not use newspaper for your last paper mache layer...

do use unprinted paper so that it won't show through your tissue or painting

Do not use white glue to apply crepe paper or tissue when decorating...

do use a glue stick

Do NOT start your pinata 4 days before your party...

This results in having to find a way to dry your pinata really fast...

Like in your oven....

do not try this at home-- only crazed lunatics do this.

I did this.

case. in. point.

I feel my first ever tutorial coming on...

1. take out all oven racks.

2. place 1 oven rack as low as possible in said oven.
3. squeeze pinata into oven.

4. shut oven door. shove the door with your hip if necessary.

5. put your oven on the lowest convection heat possible (mine 325 degrees)
6. Keep checking to make sure there are no flames.

7. feel temperature of wire rack. when too hot to the touch--take pinata out IMMEDIATELY.
8. leave oven door open to allow heat to escape.

9. when oven has cooled and rack feels just warm shove pinata back in and shut the door.

10. keep checking.

RESULTS: 1 dry pinata

Take it from me...

DO leave yourself and the pinata ample time to be completed.

like I said, I am not an expert

...but it worked.
*giggle*

This bag is made from an old T-shirt.

It says "Trix are for kids"

I know that this is not a new idea.

But I'll tell you why I love it.

It was sooooo easy to make.

Like 5 minutes easy.

It s t r e t c h e s to hold a lot!

It's wonderful for kids.

Why?

Well if it gets damaged (it won't)

then you just cut up another old T-shirt.

If it gets dirty (it will)

you just throw it in the wash.

I did a little stitch around the edges of the sleeves just so they wouldn't get stretched out.

I also boxed the bottom.

As you can see I use it to hold

oh....

about a kazillion cars.

We take these cars to the park.

I got them from the Sally Ann for $5

for 3 grocery bags nearly full!

If we lose some we don't care.

It works.

And I love it.

Got a cool old T-shirt?

Make it into a bag.

Celebrating BABY "S"

He's sweet,
he's cuddly,

he's their first,

and we needed an excuse for a party!

so a baby shower was born!

It was fun to have everyone over.

When I say everyone I mean my whole side of the family.

Which isn't much.

10 adults.

4 kids
and a newborn
2 dogs.

and a little bit of mayhem.

But what we lack in numbers

we make up for in LOTS of fun!

As it was a mixed shower we played only 1 game.

wouldn't want the guys to lose interest

They loved it!

even the men folk!!

so here it is.

There are a number of questions pertaining to the new parents

and the baby.

All the answers are the name of a candy.

I bought 25 candy/chocolate bars.

displayed them on a tray and let everyone

study them for 1 minute.

took it away and then handed out the questions.

I'm not going to say there was no grumbling.

there was.

and that there were no hints given.

there were.

but all in all a complete success.

Here are the questions I used and there candy bar counter parts.

(You could probably come up with more

or different ones to suit other themes

but you get the idea.)

1. what ____ said when he found out ___ was pregnant? (Skor)

2. What did ____ change when she first became pregnant? (Eat More)

3. Cost of diapering a baby? (DoubleMint)

4. Umbilical cord... (Twizzlers)

5. How big was ____ when he/she was born? (Foot Long)

6. Epidural... (LifeSavers)

7. Preemie... (Runts)

8. 11 pound baby... (Whoppers)

9. Triplets... (3 Musketeers)

10. Poop-y diaper? (Tootsie Roll)

11. What dad does when he sees baby looks like him? (Snickers)

12. Chubby Baby... (Rolo)

13. Baby's first drink? (Milky way/Milkfuls/Milk Duds)

14. What mom felt like the first time she bathed baby? (Butterfinger)

15. Girl's name? (Baby Ruth/Sweet Marie)

16. Hours of sleep parents have gotten since baby arrived? (Zero)

17. What baby needs lots of? (Hershey's Kisses)

18. Twin boys names? (Mike and Ike)

19. What daddy feels like now that he has a baby? (Mr. Big)

20. What no parent wants their children to be? (Nerds)

21. What you fear when you walk around the highchair? (Crunch/Crunchie)

22. Boy's Name? (Oh! Henry)

23. Where mom and dad walk when baby won't sleep? (Halls)

24. What baby is not? (Cry Baby)

25. Gifted toddlers? (Smarties)

At the end see who got the most right.

Then everyone gets to take their choice of treat off the tray.

______________________________________
And what did I give to this new baby??
Well I did end up making one fabric baby block.

It was 6 inches square and I added teethers and rings to it that I had salvaged
from another baby toy destined for the trash.

REduce, REuse, REcycle!

It was super easy to put together using this tutorial

and it took less than an hour start to finish.

I even snuck in some bells when I was stuffing it, for some extra sensory development--or just to make it sound it pretty :)

My mom did the handsewing to close it up because she's just better at it than I am!
thanks mom!

Welcome BABY "S"!

This little light of mine

Don't know if you're feeling crafty

but I'm really into the

Re-use

Re-purpose

Re-do

thing these days.

In our last home Pumpkin's room was bright pink on 2 walls and
a petal soft purple on the other 2 walls and ceiling.

The wood trim in our new home wasn't going to be painted

and the designer felt this bright pink wasn't the best choice with the wood.

So it was time to tone it down a bit and give her some glitz instead.

We realized she wanted

girly.

Sweet.

Romantic.

"Hey, Shabby Chic!"
I love white and sparkle and mismatched so this is perfect.

I will show you bits and pieces of her room as time goes on,

but today--her lamp.

It is from the IKEA As-Is dept.

And my mom had found a purple shade at one point for it.

When I saw the STEVEN AND CHRIS design show,

I knew what I wanted to do.

Daisies!!

Like I said, the shade was purple so now when the light is on

it gives such a nice warm glow of pink to the room.

It was really easy and only cost $8!

(I got the daisies at the Dollar store)

Pumpkin loves it!

And so do I!

click HERE to see how I did it

and get more ideas and a video on re-purposing lamp shades

Happy Crafting :)