Valentine Craft

from allfreesewing.com

I saw this on Pinterest and thought I can make that and make it for cheap!

I went to the website for the directions and there were just more pictures so here’s what I did.

I gathered my supplies (get the Diet Coke first):

Felt (Wal.mart only 20 cents each!)

Embroidery floss (I had this)

Copy paper (I had this too)

Needle

Buttons

Stuffing (I used bits of felt and shredded paper)

Cut heart patterns out of the copy paper. Trace the pattern on the felt. I cut both hearts out at once (to be sure they would match).

Add decorations to the top heart (buttons, stars, etc).

Sew the hearts together (I used a blanket stitch). Leave an open side for stuffing.
Stuff the heart and sew it shut!

I made three and they were quick and super easy.

Now I can say I really have made something I found on Pinterest!

New Ornaments

We draw names in my family for Christmas. With so many nieces and nephews it really is a lot of people to buy for. This year I had my sister Lori and her family (Lori if you are reading- STOP NOW).

I made some ornaments for my sister. I have seen them on the internet and they were super easy!!! I rolled the red paper up and put it in the ornament.  After it was as full as I wanted (I stopped adding more paper when the paper didn't move when I shook the ornament), I painted the belt buckle. After that dried, I painted the black belt. I did all free hand. They are not perfect but I think they look great!

Here it is on the tree!

I didn’t have enough paper to make all six ornaments into Santa bellies- so I made two snowmen (I had white paper). I did the same thing rolling the paper and putting it in the ornament. Then when it was full, I painted the nose on. After that dried, I used the handle of a paint brush to make the dots for the eyes and mouth.

 Frosty on the tree !

Waiting for the paint to dry took longer than anything.  I wanted to keep them myself so I am hoping I can get some more clear ornaments (maybe for 75% off) and make some for us. You could fancy them up by adding ribbon by the hanger or a cute hat to Frosty but I like them simpler (and I needed to get them in the mail).

Almost ready to mail!The buckles look more silvery here (and they are silver!)

Here's what you need:
Clear ornaments (mine came from Michaels)
black paint (I had some. It's just regular black acrylic)
aorange and silver paint (I bought the glittery orange and silver at Walmart. It was in the scrapbook section and only 97 cents!)
red and white cardstock (I  had the paper- left over from another project look in the scrapbook section of the craft store!)

 Have fun! Let me know if you try them too!

I linked to Bowl Full of Lemons

HGTV Magazine

I saw the new HGTV magazine in Wal.mart today.  I haven’t got mine yet but hopefully it is coming! I did thumb through it and thought about buying it but since there is one on the way to me I will keep checking the mailbox hoping to see HGTV Magazine in MY mailbox. I am going to be VERY sad if it is just another magazine!!!

Have you heard?????

Have you heard? HGTV has decided to publish a magazine!!!! I saw a whole show about it over the weekend (is that marketing or what?!?) It told how the magazine is put together, what some of the regular columns will be and how it all came together.

The first issue is supposed to come out October 4. Then I believe it said there will be one more before January and then starting in 2012 it will be every month.

I love HGTV. I enjoy all the tips and tricks they have but do miss the crafty shows they used to have. I hope that there will be room in the magazine for a little bit of craftiness as well as lots of decorating and home improvement ideas.  I can't wait for the first issue!

Here's the link if you want to try it too!!

https://subscribe.hearstmags.com/subscribe/splits/hgtvmagazine/hgtv_sub_nav

(I am not getting paid in any way for this post!)

It's Fall (for real!)

from Pinterest

Fall is here! We have a few leaves starting to change and the temperatures are MUCH cooler.  The leaves aren’t this brilliant yet, but they will be soon.

I love fall. I love decorating the house with pumpkins and fall wreaths and other great knick knacks. (I have tons of crafty things bookmarked!) Fall is the start of the holiday season! Halloween is coming and it will be Thanksgiving quick and then CHRISTMAS!  Christmas is my favorite holiday. We have great food, the house is so cheery and festive and we enjoy being together to celebrate!

This year we are trying to add more local flavor to fall. We went to the Greek Fest and we are going to try some other local festivals.  They are much more fun with less humidity!

It is getting cool enough for chicken chili, apple bread and other great fall food. Stay tuned!

It's August?!?

It is August 1^st! The summer has gone so fast. I did okay on the things I wanted to get done in July. I did not clean out the closet or clean out the nightstand- but I did tidy them up and get rid of some things. (That definitely counts for something!) The fabric pumpkins, I didn’t even start. I need to get some stuffing (I thought I had some and it isn't where I thought) so I can do that project.

August will be a busy month with school starting again. Our Home study is up for renewal in October so we need to start thinking about that again. I don’t have a list of things to get done in August yet- but I will. It really helped to see that list and keep me thinking of what I wanted to get done.

The counted cross stitch project is coming along. I forgot how long it takes. It isn’t done yet but I plan to keep working and maybe it will be done by the end of August. Right now it looks like this:

See the O in JOY?

You can see the snowman's coat and head (on the right).

I still have the J and the Y to do and two more snowmen. The outlining is what will really make the project look great. Then I get to frame it. I had a great frame shop in Provo, Utah that I used and they did a great job.  I will have to find someone here. I can’t wait to see it done!

Of course the biggest thing we hope to have happen in August is to adopt or meet our birthmother. Maybe this is the month!

Great Gift

I found the greatest gift for a new adoptive parent (or any parent really).

You can make it yourself. You can buy the cut vinyl from here, cut your own (if you have a Cricut) or I thought paint might work (If you are like me and don't have a Cricut). (Print the words out. Tape them to the glass and paint on the front (like you are tracing). Spray with spray on acrylic sealer to keep the paint on.)

There is an example of a picture in the frame instead of the hand prints. I might make the words smaller if I used a picture. A family picture would be wonderful too. It is a great project that can be very flexible.

Find the tutorial here.