Debbie Krumpos has an absolutely fabulous website offering many scrapbooking supplies as well as links and various tips. Scrapbooking for Beginners really is an excellent place to start when taking the scrapbooking plunge. I have to be one of the least experienced scrappers around (I'm late to jump on that train), but her site has made it easy for me to find what I need and has given me some great ideas (now just to put those ideas to good use!).

At this site, I found step by step help with techniques and scrapbook layouts (I need all the help I can get!). Debbie also offers FREE downloads for digital scrapbooking as well as layout ideas for many occasions. There is a fantastic collection of supplies available from: Picaboo, Scrapbook Superstore, Scrapbook Max, Paper.com and Scrapjazz. It is the ultimate place to fill all your school-bulletin board, scrapbooking, baby, wedding, vacation, and holiday paper needs.

Debbie is a stay-at-home mother of three young children. She was a registered nurse for 20 years and decided the hectic run around for three active children was just not what she wanted. Because they're so active, she has had many opportunities for taking photos and has been doing a lot of scrapping to keep those photos out of shoe boxes tucked in the back of a closet. Thankfully, she has had plenty of experience with good (and bad) scrapping products and is willing to share that information with anyone interested to help them find the good and avoid the bad. Scrapping can be a pricey hobby, and Debbie's experience makes it all a little less painful.

She was kind enough to send two products for me to test and I have to admit, I absolutely loved them. Both of these products can be used for purposes other than scrapping, too (leave it to me and my active, non-scrapping imagination to come up with other uses, of course).



The first item I opened when I received the box was the Arccivo Scrapbook Page Saver. I have to admit, even though I'm not a scrapper, I am seriously in love with this product. I was so in love with it that I had to show my mother while she was here. If any one single product could make me more interested in scrapping, this would be it. Someone was really thinking when they came up with this idea. A zippered folder with magnetic sheets to cover each side so scrapbook pages stay in place while in progress, even if they're transported, is one of the most intelligent and useful products I have seen for scrappers yet. Sure, all the stickers and papers can lure a person in, but it's products like the Arccivo that will really keep me scrapping. What's really cool is it comes in four different colors!

My mother mentioned the fact that it would be useful for her as a quilter as well. She could see using something like that for all of her quilt blocks. I could also see how this might work for people who make cards (so close to scrapping anyhow). Having a dedicated space (or rather lack of dedicated space) is one of the reasons I have avoided scraping, card making, and quilting. The Arccivo would be an excellent work around for that issue, leaving money as my only issue (other than B getting upset with me for buying more "junk").



The other product I tried was a Xyron 150 (Create-A-Sticker). Talk about fun! Had I really had time and been able to plan a project, I seriously could have gone hog wild with this little item. As it stands, with Christmas right around the corner at the time I received the package, I pulled out the Christmas tree paper punch and all the green wallpaper samples (yes, wallpaper samples... I saved them from college, believe it or not) and went to town. After I had a few trees punched, I put them through the Xyron (so easy), peeled the clear plastic layer off the strip, and then stuck three of them on the little plastic case for my paper punch. What's cool about these little stickers is there are two types of adhesive rolls, a permanent and a temporary or movable adhesive. I love the idea of being able to make my own stickers. What a way to personalize! I'm very tempted to get one of these, although I might get one of the bigger ones since they're not terribly expensive. I suppose I'll wait until I go back to work, though.

Both items can be purchased by going through Debbie's website. For those of you scrappers, seriously, check out her website and these two products in particular. I really had fun with them!

Reader Participation:  Do you enjoy scrapping?  What are some of your favorite scrapping sites?  What's the most used item in your scrapping supplies?  Where do you purchase most of your supplies?  Please share photos of your favorite created pages.

Hi, there! I just want to start off this wonderful blog by welcoming you all! In case the little description isn't enough for you, this post is just more detailed information about what to expect me to post.

This blog is for all things sewing, knitting and crochet. I'll post about various projects I'm working and how you, too, can make those things. I'll also post my progress and final projects with tips on understanding that particular pattern (especially if I've made it up myself), things I found confusing, difficult, or uneccessary, things I found easy to understand, easy to do, or great embellishments.

I'll also try to find things in the news pertaining to these arts! Yep, every now and then special knit or crochet items make it in the fashion news.

To start you off, I'll give a brief list of projects I'm currently working on:

• Scarf for my niece (Christmas present)
• Mommy and Me blankets (for my husband's co-worker who is expecting his first child with his wife)
• Little Bear Blanket (for my son)
• Beefy Beanie (for one of my best friends)
• Pegasus Bag (for my other best friend)
• Many pairs of slippers (for various friends and family)

That's only the tip of the iceburg, too! Sound fun, though, huh?

So, be sure to keep an eye out for what might be your favorites because I'll be including free patterns and links to different sites with tools, tips and free patterns.

Nothing in the world like an afghan from Grandma. Sure they are a similar stitch you have seen before, but in Grandmas, you can see the love. Wrap it around you, and it feels like Grandma is giving you a hug. They are a treasure. I cherish every one she ever made for me. If this was a Grandma blog I could go on forever. She was awesome, and still is to me. I wish I knew how many she made over the years. I am sure the yarn could wrap around the earth at least twice.

Even after she passed, my new born children were brought home in their own "Grandma B" afghan. I remember crying in the hospital to my mom, after my 3rd child was born. (She died earlier that year.) Telling her how Michael won't be coming home wrapped in one. Well much to my surprise, Grandma, in her infinite wisdom, already had one made for him. She had it tucked away in the attic for me, just in case. I think I cried even more when I saw it. When I had #4, there was an afghan for him too. Apparently she made a few, just in case. She even had a box full of doilies made for me, for when I had a bigger house.

I can still see her sitting in her favorite chair, crocheting Barbie clothes for me. She would make me headbands to wear in my hair, ponchos, vests, booties and more. I thought they were the greatest things she ever made. I finally asked her one day to teach me. I must say, I didn't know Grandmas could lose patience with their sweet granddaughters so quickly. She kept telling me "No! not that way." and "Your stitch is to tight." She would rip out what I did and start it over. Her joy of passing along her craft was soon forgotten. I think she was thrilled when I gave up. She was able to relax and enjoy it again. Every afghan I ever started, she finished. I still have her crocheting needles someplace around here. When I find them, I am going to give it another shot. It wont be the same, since she isn't her to yell at me anymore, but I am determined to complete one on my own in her honor.

Her favorite pattern was "Birds of Paradise", as shown in this picture. She would crochet them in any color you wanted, usually two. I am having one heck of a time finding this pattern online. If anyone has a clue, please leave a comment I would love to see it.  Not being a crocheter, I am not sure what all her patterns were called. There was a zig zag, a clamshell, one with long rows and tassels. Many others too. Some of my favorite afghans were the ones that she made from all her left over yarn. Multi colored is an understatement. They ended up pretty funky looking.

She always used Red Heart yarn. She would save the label and search for a certain dye-lot when she needed more. Now I see they have "no dye-lot" yarn. She would have loved that. When she would give someone an afghan she would always include a Red Heart label so they would have the washing instructions. She always said Red Heart held up the best. You didn't get fuzz balls after washing it.

This post is more like a tribute to my Grammy. I couldn't help myself. The joy over the years with her is priceless. Now we have her heirlooms to enjoy and remember her with, and we can still feel her love. You all go out and crochet an afghan for someone special, so they have something to wrap themselves in when they want to have you near.  I think I just might go wrap myself in one now. Happy Holidays!

AP Bulletin out for Casanova Frosty:

Be on the lookout for a plump, frosty male, with orange nose, dark eyes and manic smile; was last seen wearing mittens, scarf and top hat. This wanted individual has been known to frequent areas with less than hospitable weather conditions. He is considered armed and dangerous as he frequently carries on his personage two thin sticks. Should you see this person, do not approach without proper winter attire, and call your local authorities.

You will need the following from your local arts and crafts supply store for your own Casanova Frosty. The directions follow:

• Polymer clay
• Polymer liquid clay
• Paint brush
• 20 gauge wire
• Clothespin
• Exacto knife
• Scrap fabric
• Toothpick
• Elmer Super glue
• Aluminum foil
• Glaze
• Large knitting needle

The following is recommended but not necessary:

•  Miniature cookie cutters
• Clay oven
• Pasta machine
• Powdered chalk

Make three descending-in-size balls of white or pearl Premo polymer clay. Take a toothpick, cut off the pointed ends and insert each ball of clay making sure the toothpick does not poke out of either the bottom or top of Casanova Frosty.

Using rounded miniature cookie cutters make two circles, one slightly larger than the other. Flatten, on a 5 or 6 setting on a pasta machine, a rounded ball of clay and cut a long rectangular piece, roll and fit between the two circles to form Frosty’s hat. Use a large knitting needle to form a hole at the bottom of the hat so as to fit on the snowman’s head.

Make Frosty’s face with various size round balls of black clay with orange for a nose. A scarf can be made following the instructions from Santa’s in the House. 

For Frosty’s belly, use a miniature heart cookie cutter on flattened Sculpey II clay on a six or higher setting on a pasta machine. His gloves are slightly flattened circles with two tiny circles for thumbs. Twenty gauge wire is perfect for Frosty’s arms.

Once complete, take the 20 gauge wire and poke a hole in the bottom of Frosty going as far into the clay as possible, remove and set aside for later use.

Use Polymer liquid clay for adhesive, powdered chalk for antiquing if desired, bake according to instructions.*

As Frosty is baking take a clothes pin and wrap 20 gauge wire around one side leaving plenty of overhang to re-insert in the bottom of Frosty, securing with super glue. Allow time for glue to dry than glaze as desired. Scrap fabric wrapped below Frosty is a perfect way to hide the 20 gauge wire.

Clip Frosty to curtain rods, attach to gift bags, use in flower arrangements, to hang your child's artwork, the possibilities are endless!

*Once again, this can be a large piece to fit inside a clay oven. Use aluminum foil around Frosty to keep him stable. If necessary, remove his hat to bake separately and super glue together once cool. And remember, don't box yourself in, make various winter-themed characters or start now on the next big holiday by making Valentine or St. Patrick's theme creations. Spring will be here before we know it, make butterflies, flowers, etc.

Paper mache has not been appealing to me since I was a child, mainly because of the mess.  Thankfully, my local craft store carries a nice selection of already made paper mache boxes in various shapes and sizes.  I had a difficult time selecting the boxes for this particular Christmas project, but I think the boxes I picked will be perfect.

The purpose these boxes have is to serve as a decorative place for my nieces and my daughter to store the Christmas ornaments I make for them each year.  I know this isn't a gift that will excite three children under the age of two too much this year, but I hope someday they will appreciate it.  Of all my holiday crafts this year, this is by far my favorite.  I'm honestly pretty impressed I remembered how to decoupage since it's been years... and years.

Because these boxes needed to be shipped to a land far, far away, I didn't want them to be terribly enormous.  I also wanted them to fit under the Christmas tree if the girls decided they wanted to leave them out (years down the road when they're on their own, that is).  Because of their purpose, the boxes couldn't be too small, either.  I plan to make lots of ornaments through the years.

Firstly, I must warn all of my readers that decoupage is no laughing matter.  Quite plainly, the goopy white stuff is about as messy as it gets.  Various forms of glue may be messier, but decoupage is really just another type of glue with a fancy name to make it sound important.  Knowing this, I put newspaper on my work surface before doing any decoupaging (I was pretty certain my husband would frown on me decoupaging the dining room table, although given the right supplies, that could actually look pretty cool).  I made sure all my supplies were close at hand, and started measuring at cutting to get ready for the pasting.

A bit about the supplies.  I found two very beautiful Christmas wrapping papers at Hobby Lobby, along with the three paper mache boxes.  One of the papers was a line from a well known Christmas carol printed with the melody.  The other paper was a collection of vintage Christmas cards.  I am currently banned from buying more Christmas paper (we have one of the larger Rubbermaid tubs nearly filled with paper), but this paper had a purpose and was allowed without comment (thankfully - I adore the music paper!),  I also picked up the Mod Podge (decoupaging medium) while at Hobby Lobby.  Other items were purchased at a later time.

After laying out the newspaper, the first order of business was to cut enough of the music paper to fit around the bottoms of the boxes.   I tried decoupaging three different ways.  For the first box, using a tiny piece of tape, I secured the paper to the box, then glued the paper down using a thin line of Sobo craft glue.  I later decoupaged the entire outside of the box, but really only used the decoupage medium and not the actual technique of decoupaging.

The second box was decoupaged in the true sense of the word, but came out with many wrinkles I simply couldn't remove.  I really didn't like the way it turned out so for the third box I decided to paste down the paper with a little bit of the Mod Podge on the starter edge and then not use the paste again until the opposite edge.  Once secured, I then decoupaged over the box and it pretty much turned out the same as the first box.

I selected round boxes for this project, and round is not conducive to wrapping without a little creativity.  The paper I picked up has these marvelous grids on the back that made it extremely easy to do the majority of this project.  I took my little Scotch paper cutter (seriously, this is one of my favorite wrapping tools in the history of convenient tools) and cut strips about an inch wide all the way around the box, top and bottom (click the photo to enlarge).  I then decoupaged each individual strip (two at a time) and pasted them to the box.  On the bottom of the box, they overlapped a bit to create a circle.  After I had these strips pasted down is when I decoupaged the bottom of the box.

Once all three of the bottoms were done, I started on the tops.  I had to find a circle in my house large enough to act as a template.  I found a Christmas platter that was a bit too large, but better than anything else I found.  All of my pots and pans (even the big stock pots) were just a smidgen too small.  Once the circles were traced, I spread the Mod Podge all over the top surface of the box lid.  I flipped it carefully to place it roughly in the center of the paper I had laid out.  I had to fight the curling (it's possible to see a bit of the curling in the photo, especially once the strips are cut), which made the process a bit of a challenge. 

The grid guidelines were the most helpful when doing the bottom of the box, but I was still able to use them a bit for this portion of the cutting.  I cut the paper into fourths around the edge and then split each of those fourths in half, and so on, until I had fairly even strips (all eyeballed, no measuring for something like this) all the way around.  Going back and forth between sections instead of trying to go around in a circle is pretty much what kept my strips close to even.  Since the platter was just a bit too large for the template, I trimmed the excess from the lid prior to decoupaging with my trusty little Exacto knife after folding the strips into place.  I spread the Mod Podge on two strips at a time, folding each strip carefully over the edge of the box as I went along.  It took a while, but the end result was worth it.  Of course, it wound up being hidden mostly by one of the finishing touches I added later.

Because baking, cleaning, and sleep are all calling my name quite loudly, I must stop here for the night.  Please, stay tuned for the continuation of the decoupaged paper mache boxes.   All three have been completed and all three are slightly different.  There will be plenty of pictures to share.  Also, don't forget to check back for pictures of the finished ornaments as well as the finished no-sew knotted fleece blankets.

Here is a quick and easy craft for all ages. My cousin received one from a friend. I thought it was adorable. Her friend was making them for the Veterans that she visits. She made them in patriotic colors, I believe. The one I saw was made in blue with silver accents. She also had a little note, thanking the Veterans for their service. It was tucked in the bottom loop of the angel. These men and women are truly Angels to us, everyday of the year, not just Christmas. Volunteering for them is a great thing to do. Many Veterans Hospitals can use help, especially around the Holidays.

Well after checking out the angel, I came up with my own way to make it. Very simple, which I like. She sewed a few stitches in the ribbon to keep it together. I don't sew. Give me a glue gun and I rock! I have hot glued hems and ducked taped rips in jeans before. Don't get me wrong, I do sew some things and I do own a sewing machine. (My daughter uses it as a television stand in her room.) I just prefer not too use it. With a little patience, a pipe cleaner, and a glue gun, I had the angel finished in under 5 minutes. No sewing involved.  

You can make the angels in any color you chose. There are so many options considering all the types of ribbon out there. The best to use, no matter the color, would be a wired edge ribbon, about 2.5" wide. This helps the angel to hold its shape. You can also decorate it by adding a little floral touch right at the neck or a small bow.

You can hang them on trees or use as gift tags. I will be using them as napkin rings this year for Christmas Eve dinner. I will slip the napkin through the bottom loop and stand them on their plate. Everyone can take one home with them as a little gift. They also make great magnets for the refrigerator. I figured that one out when I stuck a magnet in her skirt to hold it while I took the picture. See, ideas just pop in your head.

I always begin by laying out my supplies and tools. This makes me laugh because it is the only time I am ever organized in my life. There is nothing worse than having to stop in the middle of working on a craft to get something. That drives me crazy.

Supplies:

Ribbon (large and small)

Small glass ornaments

Pipe cleaners

Small floral picks

Tools:

Glue gun

Scissors

I begin measuring and cutting my ribbon. You can make them as big or as small as you like. It's up to you. I made the body 10" and the wings 11". The first thing to do is to make a loop for the body, pinch the two ends together, place a dab of glue in there and wrap it with one end of the pipe cleaner to secure it.

Next, take the piece of ribbon for the wings and overlap it, then pinch the center, and again add a dab of glue, then wrap the pipe cleaner around the wings to secure them to the body. You can follow these steps in the pictures below.

We then add the head, the small glass ornament. Put some glue at the base of the ball by its neck and stick it where the wings and body meet. Wrap the pipe cleaner around the neck once, leaving the pipe cleaner end up in the back. When the head is secure you then take the remaining pipe cleaner and make a loop, then position this over the ball as a halo.

Final step is decorating. You can make a small bow and cover the neck to give it a finished look. I like to add a small floral pick under the bow. I always have to go one step further, I'm to fussy sometimes. Have fun with this part. The little touches make it your own. Everyone will love these and think it took you forever.

With a little guidance children can help make these too. They would be great for arts and crafts in school. The directions are easy enough for them too. Kids love to make things as gifts. They are so proud when you make a fuss over them.

Remember, everything I have made so far can be used for almost every holiday. All you need to do is change the color or theme. These angels would make great Easter gifts, or even favors for a wedding or baby shower. Share your ideas in a comment. I would love to hear what you are doing with them. Happy angel making!

I have a confession to make; it’s sad and embarrassing. So here goes, I will simply say it and be done with it, the sooner it is off my shoulders the better.

      *cough, cough*

      “Hello, my name is Beth, mother of two, and I have no ability, whatsoever, to wrap gift  gifts; birthday, Christmas, wedding, etc., none, zip and nada.”

I can take a roll of decorative paper, a dozen tape dispensers and one child’s scissors and at some point, hours later, there will be a heap of items resembling wrapped gifts. An entire roll of tape has been used, each gift has mushy corners with indiscriminate bumps and rolls across what should be a smooth surface and did I mention an entire roll of tape is used in the process?

I don’t understand it. I’ve two perfectly working opposable thumbs. I have studied gifts received with reverent awe. I have carefully watched my husband, yes, THE hub, wrap gifts with expert ease.  I come from a long line of women who wrap with perfection, albeit that they have a tendency to leave price tags on everything, but who cares amongst the smart, sharply wrapped corners and perfectly tied bows?

Yet, here I sit so close to Christmas, a mother of two, breathing deep into a paper bag as I prepare myself for the inevitable catastrophe that will soon be lumped under the family Christmas tree.  

So, for my sisters out there in the world, somewhere, wherever and whoever you should be, that also find themselves stricken with such inability as to wrap something as simple as a toy truck, a small doll or even, a bowling ball. I’m here for you, I sympathize and hey, there’s always the fabric gift bag to turn to for Christmas gifts.

You will need to following from your local arts and crafts supply store:

• Fabric scraps of various sizes
• Sewing thread, needle, and/or sewing machine
• Scissors
• Decorative garland, ribbon, string, etc.
• Tissue paper
• Safety pin

Depending on how big the gift will determine the size of your fabric gift bags. For me, I made several small bags for the Christmas ornaments made for the girls’ teachers at my blog entry Santa’s in the House.

Before seam allowance my bag measured a little over 11 inches in length, six wide, allowing extra length not only for seam but for turning over at the tops for looping ribbon. Use the gift as a guide for how large a square to cut. I suggest folding fabric, with the bottom of the bag running along the fold.

Once you have your fabric folded cut with like sides together and iron, then fold the top three to four inches back, iron flat.

I sew the top folds first, leaving enough room for the ribbons, strings, etc. that you plan to use as drawstrings to close the bag. Use your finger as a guide, one finger width is great, two is much safe.

Make sure that when you next sew up the sides you do not sew the top folds for the drawstrings.

Once sewing is complete turn right side out, iron if needed and string ribbon, garland, string or all three through the top folds. A safety pin is a great way to get ribbon through the folds. Fill bottom of bag with tissue or shredded paper, then your gift, and pull close.

Simple, easy, recyclable, and no tape required, though opposable thumbs is still recommended!

Don’t forget your gift tags and remember, I’m here for you!

 

Husbands sure are a distracted bunch. Is it really that hard for them to look away from the television or the computer long enough to answer, “Does this outfit make me look fat?”

I mean, honestly, what kind of response is a half-hearted grunt coupled with a, “I don’t know.” shrug?

I expected a little more than that when asking for his opinion on what to call my latest Christmas crafting project. But my husband’s response was nothing, not a word, not a peep, not so much as a knitted brow, or roll of eyes.

So fine, be that way, dear. I’ll just call it the, “The Wand-of-Something” and be happy with it.

I guess. 

Fair warning though to the hub, when our next child is born and I sign his birth certificate Bartholomew Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, don’t say I didn’t ask for your feedback. You grunted in reply, so I took that as a yes.

For your own Wand-of-Something for yourself, as a Christmas gift or to keep the kids busy during a snow day follow these easy instructions that combine my love of sculpting, working with wood, fabrics and beads.

You will need the following from your local arts and craft supply store:

• Wood dowel (3/8 x 36 cut in half)
• Polymer clay
• Liquid clay
• Paint brush
• Elmer’s super glue
• Electric tape
• Steel jump rings
• Scrap fabric, ribbon and/or yarn

Recommended but not necessary:

• Clay oven
• Knitting needles
• Tiny glass beads
• 32 gauge wire
• Various sterling silver beads
• Powdered chalk
• Glitter paint
• Aluminum foil
• Exacto knife

For this entry I’m going to show you how to make a very simple Wand-of-Something Cupcake. But don’t box yourself in a corner, wood dowels are very inexpensive, have fun and make dozens of everything imaginable!

Steps on making a cupcake can be seen on my previous blog entry for the Treat Tree.

The only difference is the size of the cupcake, which top and bottom measure close to the diameter of a half dollar. Once your cupcake is made, make a slight indention on the bottom with the dowel; set aside.

Your cupcake is going to need a base to assist in the later attachment to the dowel. Take a ball of clay and make a long snake and then coil it gently around the top of the dowel. Do not wrap tightly, this is just to get a proper fitting. Once the snake is coiled about the dowel paint liquid clay on top and fit the cupcake over top. Now gently press the cupcake and coil together, just enough to stick, and then pull both off the dowel.

On a protected surface further press the cupcake and coil gently together, and then add as many jump rings as you wish to the back of your cupcake. The jump rings will be used to add fabric, ribbons and other notions to complete the Wand-of-Something in a later step.

A great way to add dimension to your clay work is by using powdered chalks. Gold is a great way to give your clay piece an antique look. I have lightly brushed gold colored chalk to various areas of the cupcake and coil.

Use liquid clay to further secure coil, cupcake, jump rings and cherry top.

Set aside.

Take another ball of clay, the diameter of a quarter or less and fit on the end of the dowel. Push as far as you can without sending the dowel through the clay and remove. Re-roll the clay gently in your hands and refit. Do these steps repeatedly until you have a nice round shape and decent fit to the end of the dowel.

Bake all clay pieces according to instructions.*

Once the cupcake and single clay ball is completely cooled, decorate with paints and glaze as desired.

While waiting for the paints and glaze to dry take the dowel and wrap 4 to 5 inches of one end with electrical tape. Leave a quarter of an inch or so exposed dowel at the very tip so that you can super glue the single baked clay ball at this end. Allow to dry.

Next turn the cupcake upside down and drop as much super glue as you feel necessary to coat the coil (but don’t drown it) then immediately attach it to one end of the dowel. Be sure the cupcake is secure and straight. Allow time to dry.

Now you are free to add strips of fabric, ribbons or beaded gauge wire to the jump rings in the back or further decorate the cupcake as you so desire. The possibilities are endless!

* Because this is such a tall piece be careful when baking. Make sure clay doesn’t hit any of the cooking elements inside the oven. Also, you may need to use aluminum foil as props against the cupcake to keep from having any flat spots or from sliding off the coil. If you simply cannot get the piece to stand while inside the oven, separate the coil and cupcake, bake and when cool super glue the two pieces together. Another tip, if the coil will not fit on the end of the dowel after baking use an Exacto knife to chisel away some of the clay, but please do so with extreme care!

I am so glad B comes home tomorrow from his training in New York. I am hoping to get a lot more done with him home, although I'm not entirely certain that will be the case. At least I can take a blanket with me to the airport to knot in the car on the way home.

Speaking of B coming home, instead of working on any Christmas crafts tonight, I worked on cleaning up the house a little and spent a rather lengthy time talking to him on the phone. He talked to the baby on the phone as well and amazingly, she actually rambled on and on. Usually she clams up on the phone, but tonight the child was just out of control. She's so cute right now with all of her new words, and it was very obvious she was excited to talk to her daddy.

B will be frustrated to see many of my craft supplies are sitting in boxes in the guest room, but I don't want to put them in the closet just yet. I really would like to get some sort of storage system going in the closet other than huge boxes, but that will have to wait for a bit. Perhaps after the new year I'll make a trip to the Container Store and get my supplies organized again. I'll probably put the boxes in the closet sometime this weekend, though. I think I am going to try to use the boxes as a gift wrapping surface, but I'm not sure that will work. It's certainly worth a shot.

I worked on the ornaments last night. The blankets are still staring at me, sitting in a pile on my sofa waiting to be knotted. I took advantage of Sophie being asleep last night and sewed up all of the ornaments so they're ready to be stuffed. Out of all the crafts I have ever done, holiday crafts are always my favorite, and out of the holiday crafts, ornaments rank at the top (I seriously wish I had pictures of all the ornaments I've made throughout the years - I should ask my sisters for pictures of all the ornaments I've made for them). That's probably how they managed to get worked on before the paper mache boxes and the blankets, although I don't have sealer for the decoupage yet, so that can wait another day or two.

I sewed three sets of three ornaments each. I'll take pictures of all the ornaments oncethey're finished, but for now I focused on the Christmas tree. These are some of the easiest ornaments I've ever made (usually I use the blanket stitch around the edges or some other hand-sewn detail), and the first ornaments I've ever made with the sewing machine. I wish I'd made them a wee bit larger but I don't think they'd look good on the tree if they were too big. As it is, this ornament was probably my smallest at roughly 1"x3".

I'm not terribly fond of the rickrack I used for the Christmas tree hanger, but what's done is done. Since this is the first time I'd ever sewn anything like this and I wasn't using any sort of pattern, it took me a few minutes to figure out how to get the rickrack so it was facing the right direction to work as a hanger when I was done. I took the time to pin down the rickrack and then pin the two fabric pieces together (the green is felt, the Christmas tree is simply cut from some Christmas fabric I purchased at a local craft store). I ran into an issue while sewing with the pins in place and wound up having to remove the pesky ones that were in the way of the presser foot, but that wasn't too often.

I have to admit, while I like sewing with the machine, I don't really care for sewing small items such as this. Not only is it frustrating because of all the stop and go, but the size made the ornaments difficult to turn out once they were all sewn up. I do like, however, the fact that it cut my sewing time by elevntyhundred hours. Had I thought about what I was going to do for my nieces for Christmas earlier in the year, I would have gotten a jump start on the ornaments and probably would have done them all by hand. Oh, who am I kidding. I would have planned it and probably would never have gotten around to it and would have skipped the whole thing altogether had it not been for the sewing machine.

I did remember to leave a bit of a gap so I could turn the ornament, which for me is a small miracle. I was surprised I managed to get all nine ornaments sewn on the machine without mucking up any of them. Of course, I still have a small bit of hand-sewing to do, which leaves plenty of room for mucking about, but the gaps are small, so it shouldn't be too difficult. Once I finished sewing the ornaments, I trimmed off excess material and clipped the corners. I made sure to leave a little extra fabric on the side that needed to be sewn up so I had a little more fabric for playing (or mucking, as the case may be). When turning the ornament, I used my scissors (the deadly-cut-you-so-you-bleed scissors) to poke out the corners, and that's only because I managed to misplace the seam ripper that I used to own years ago. I know this was a bad idea, but thankfully it had no bad results. I told B a seam ripper would make a great stocking stuffer, so hopefully I won't be turning corners with my scissors too much longer.

Once turned, I stuffed the ornaments with a little bit of Polyfil (very little bit) and made sure it was tucked into the corners as well (again with the scissors of death). I then folded the fabric at the gap down into the ornament to be flush with the seam already there and pinned it shut so I would have an easier time sewing the hidden seam. I still have a few ornaments left to stuff and pin and then I will work on the seams after all that is done.

I'm not looking forward to the hand-sewing, mostly because I have a "boo-boo" on my favorite needle pushing finger (middle finger, right hand). It currently qualifies as a boo-boo and not a sore, wound, or crack (or anything else it could be called) since it is wrapped up in a Care Bears bandage as well as a Hello Kitty bandage. it has certainly caught Sophie's attention!

These ornaments should be done by tomorrow night or Sunday at the latest. I will probably take a blanket (or perhaps all three?) with us to B's parents house on Sunday if we go over there to watch the football game. I'm not sure when I'm going to get the decoupage done. I do have a few more gifts coming in the mail that need to be sent to the Great White North in time for Christmas Eve, so I have a little time. I have a feeling I'll have to do an overnight shipping or something with this package, though. I was the one asking around about Christmas gifts and trying to figure out what to get Sophie well before Thanksgiving, and I'm still rushed to get everything done. One of these years I will get organized and be done by Thanksgiving (yeah, right!). Hey, a girl can dream, can't she?

We’re getting down to the wire; Christmas is right around the corner. The Christmas tree should be up and fully decorated (mine is finally, satisfactorily full) and my munchkins are eager, if not downright ballistic, over Santa’s arrival.

For many, holiday shopping is coming to a close or so those who've just begun are wishing! For the latter crowd here’s a little help on that list should you find yourself in dire straits with needing something for a child’s school teacher, the mail carrier or a co-worker for the company gift exchange.

What in the world to get them?

How about something simple, not too expensive, because everyone’s wallet could use a breather this time of year, and one-of-a-kind!

You will need from your local arts and craft supply store:

• Polymer clay of various colors
• Polymer liquid clay
• Paint brush
• Aluminum foil
• Small steel jump ring
• Ribbon, yarn or string
• Exacto knife

Items recommended but not necessary:

• Clay oven
• Knitting needles of various sizes*
• Tiny glass black beads
  

When it comes to working with clay my first suggestion is to roll the clay into quarter size or smaller balls, softening and warming the clay thoroughly in your hands.

The Santa ornament starts with a scarf. Roll out your chosen color as evenly as possible to desired length. Think of a snake. I suggest laying the clay on a flat surface and rolling the clay with one finger to help keep an even thickness. Coil your “snake” as many times as you want, keeping in mind that the “head” of Santa will need to nest in the center, so make sure to test how well the Santa head fits.

Next, flatten a dime size ball of clay, the same color as your scarf, with a pasta machine at a setting of 6 or 7. Using an Exacto knife, cut out two squares of varying length, cutting “fingers” on one end for fringe, these two pieces will go at either ends of the scarf to disguise the rounded edges. Lightly push your coil down on a protected surface, this flattens the bottom just enough to keep it from rolling around your work area.

Now, let’s work on Santa’s nose by making first a tear drop shape with two tiny circles on either side for the nostrils. Attach nose to Santa’s face using knitting needles to poke holds for eyes that are then filled with one black glass bead each. (You can use small balls of black clay as well.)

I decided to put Santa’s mustache on at this point, another two tear drop shapes, before nestling his head on the coiled scarf. Push his head gently into the coil, just enough to make sure he doesn’t roll away. Once the head is secure, you're set to work on the beard, which is a dime size ball of clay, flattened at a 6 or 7 pasta machine setting.

To start the hat make another snake and coil around Santa’s head. For the remainder, take a ball of your chosen color about the diameter of a quarter between both hands and roll out to pinky length. Force your thumb through the center at one end while pulling out the surrounding edges. As the edges become larger work out the top of the hat to a point. Bend and then place hat on Santa’s head working it around the coiled edges already placed about his forehead.

A small ball is perfect for the end of Santa’s hat or use a steel bell (glue on after baking).

Now place the jump ring by pushing halfway into the center of the top of the hat, close to the forehead. A little tip here, after pushing the jump ring halfway into the hat, use a tiny ball of the same color clay as the hat and blend in above the indention to secure the jump ring to the ornament.

Once Santa’s hat is secured work on his hair, blending it into his mustache and beard. Use the Exacto knife to make creases around the eyes, and on the hat and scarf. This gives the clay texture and "life".

Use liquid clay to secure all pieces and then bake according to instructions.

Once Santa is thoroughly cooled use glitter paint on the hat or scarf, chalk for rosy cheeks and nose, before glazing.

*Knitting needles are my absolute favorite “must have” tool when working with Polymer clay. They help blend in areas your fingers can’t reach.

Try a snowman!

Or a bear!

 

 

 

 

 

T’was a few weeks before Christmas

And all through the house

Not a moment of silence

But a whole lot of pouts...

That’s about as far as I dare go lest I invoke the angst of Shel Silverstein but after two Snow Days from school my darling munchkins (aka children) were getting a fairly nasty case of the boredoms. So under a thunder cloud of pouts but well before my said darlings started tearing down the house starting at the rafters, I put together several holiday characters.

Reindeer, snowman and snowflake (oh my!).

As you will recall from my previous Noodled Noggin’ entry, Tree Trimmings, concerning the state of my family’s Christmas tree, that being it was looking a wee bare. I had filled the tree with stuffed stars but was still debating the old tried and true paper chain. That was before pouts and reindeer, snowman and snowflake (oh my!) collided.

I daresay I’m well on my way to a very happy looking Christmas tree!

Now put your own little Snow Day bored munchkins to work. They will need:

• Printer
• Paper stock
• Paper hole punch
• Yarn or string
• Scissors

Note: Click the images below for the full size. Be sure to do a “print preview” and select the box for “fit to available space” and enjoy!

 

 

My childhood memories are full of time spent deep in cold white snowdrifts with a frozen face and fingers, suffering silently in order to make the biggest and the best snowman on the block.

There is something incredibly nostalgic about snowmen. Even as an adult I can't help foaming over the first perfect snowfall, eager to get outside to create! At least until I'm brutally reminded just how laboriously intensive making a snowman is, from how heavy snow can be to the disgusted discovery that the mound I'd been pushing all through the yard for the last ten minutes includes a massive spot of yellow snow!

Ewww....

So rather than get my children and myself all bundled up for what will inevitably be a knock-down-drag-out-quarrel over any of the following: How to properly make a snowman, whose fingers are the coldest and "who threw that snowball at my eye?" How about bringing the snowman making indoors!

You will need:

• White terry cloth fabric
• Fiberfill
• glue gun and glue sticks
• polymer clay in orange and black
• scrap fabric
• small sticks, bell or pipe cleaners (optional)

Make three round, connected circles on 8 1/2 x 11 paper to represent the head, belly and bottom of a snowman. Cut and pin to the white terry cloth fabric, leaving plenty of seam allowance and cutting two of each. Put like sides together, sew, leaving a large enough gap at the bottom so as to turn the snowman from wrong side to right and fill with fiberfill.

Once your snowman is full, sew the hole closed.

Using black polymer clay, make five small circles for a mouth, two larger circles for eyes and three slightly larger than the eyes for "buttons" on the belly. A carrot nose can be made using orange polymer clay; bake according to instructions.

Once the clay nose, eyes, mouth and buttons have cooled completely use a hot glue gun to glue clay pieces to the face and belly of your snowman. Use scrap fabric to tie about the neck for a scarf and more scrap fabric to wrap about the head as a sock hat. I wrap and glue the end of the sock hat just off the shoulder of my snowman where a pinch of fiberfill or a small bell completes the end of the hat.

Optional small sticks, pipe cleaners, clay or wire can be added for arms and hands. Make gloves out of scrap fabric or clay and glue to the ends. Leave your snowman without arms if putting on a Christmas tree as it makes for easier placement and storage.

If you are one of those wives with a husband who considers holiday decorating more than just stringing a single strand of lights around the Christmas tree or sneaking off with an armful of holiday baked cookies, then you are one lucky gal. 

As for yours truly, holiday decorating was a fairly lone project and after putting up lights, my collection of Santas and every-little-do-dah consisting of proper tree decor and etiquette my hub had the audacity to stand back and survey MY work.

"Tree looks a little bare." He replied, one hand under his chin, the other on his hip.

Several glares and one mighty, "Bah humbug!" later, I had to agree. The Christmas tree was not so much bare as looking mighty pathetic. Several moves over the last few years, coupled with a thieving cat, a chew-obsessed dog, and two destructive children has equalled the loss of the majority of our holiday ornaments. Boxes missing, glass and ceramic ornaments smashed from overloaded moving vans; what was one to expect? But how to fill a tree without putting too much pressure on the wallet or repeating history by having fragile ornaments easily and all too quickly destroyed?

My only solution was going paper and stuffed. As for paper, I really wasn't wanting to go paper chain (though that would be incredibly cheap and would fill empty spots on the tree quickly) stuffed seemed the next-best-thing. If I managed to keep it not only quick but relatively simple, long-lasting and pet-proof.

I first traced out a star, absolutely nothing perfectly proportional (I can't expect too much of myself), just a simple, slightly skewed star measuring a little bigger than 5x7 on paper with plenty of seam allowances. After cutting out the star I picked the most pleasing of fabrics I could find amongst my stash. (Obviously I was in a red mood!) and then pinning the star to the fabric and cutting two of each. Flipping the fabric over so that right sides are together, it was time to sew, baby, sew! I left a large enough hole so as to flip the star right side out and then stuffed accordingly with polyester fiberfill. (Don't skimp on those pesky corners, carefully use the eraser end of a pencil to help push fill in, also helpful while turning from wrong side to right.) Once I had the star stuffed to my liking I sewed the hole closed.

With stuffed star in hand the possibilities are endless; decorate with buttons, glitter or even fill, before sewing hole closed, with dried herbs! You can sew ribbon to hang from tree limbs or do as I did and simply sit amongst the other ornaments. Make dozens of stars, sew them to each other with ribbon to make garland.

Easy. Simple. Tree filling and husband shushing!