A Day In The Life...: December 2010

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Monday, December 27, 2010

too busy for pictures....

I never get very good pictures of Christmas... I guess it's because we're too busy having fun....

doing things like this: "NERDY NERF WARS"

She sat in this position all day sewing up a storm.... HOW FUN!

It was a TOY STORY year for Andy! (appropriate, don't you think?)

It was such a fun morning and a very long enjoyable day... nothing like Christmas day spent in P.J.'s watching movies, playing with new things, being together, and taking it easy! (that's what the kids did... ME? well, even if it's christmas there is still laundry to do and meals to make and constant messes to be cleaned up... all in a "ELF's" day's work)

Friday, December 17, 2010

Only if you are INSANE like me...

Maybe I'm an ELF...

Or just obsessed with doing crafty things. For some reason I become and insane elf around christmas time. I like projects that are quick, that use things I already have and I couldn't resist this ruffle tree...found it here

p.s. if you look at the tutorial you just might want to make one.. trust me, I started last night after dinner (8:00 ish) and went to bed by 9:40...totally satisfied that I had completed this one start to finish. ....however I haven't mastered the etch-a-sketch yet! I'm working on it.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

crochetted headband tutorial

I sat down yesterday and figured this pattern out. I will do my best to share the pattern. I have shown pictures of one with 2 strands accross and one with 3. Just modify however you like it best.

I used 5.5mm hook, but you can use whatever. the bigger the hook the longer the end product (you probably know that....)

First: Chain 80 stitches (st).

turn, keeping work right side up at all times. slip stitch (sl st) in next 20 stitches, chain 40.

sl st in last 20 stitches to the end of row. row 3 - round corner (once again keeping work right side up) and sl st in same 20 stitches

thus creating a third row. If you only wanted 2 rows you would tie off now.

chain 40, sl st in last 20 stitches. tie off.

cut a 2 inch length of yarn and weave it back into work to finish both ends.

trim excess yarn.

the headband is complete. Add a flower of your choosing. Using the same needle and a 4" peice of coordinating yarn, sew flower onto head band. (in the pic, I used a different color of yarn to sew it on but tried to conceal it, you get the idea)

with needle and thread, sew on button to one end of head band.

finished product.

p.s. I use E600 glue to adhere the jewel's in the center. jewels were purchased at Hobby Lobby. Pattern for flower can be found here. This pattern was Irish Rose.

if you have any questions.... either comment or send me an email:

jandy79@hotmail.com

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

sights and tastes of Christmas... gingerbread cupcakes

Last weekend we spent an afternoon in an old fashioned barn watching this cute little elf dance. It was cold and rainy and the barn didn't do much for warming us up, but she sure danced cute and I can't get enough of seeing my kids do what they love.

while we were there... you had to know this was coming...

they had these delicious gingerbread cookies. I only had a bite of one, but it got my taste buds set for GINGERBREAD.

so, being the cupcake lover that I am I found this:

First: the sprinkles...are they the cutest things you've ever seen? LOVE THEM!

Second: found a recipe for gingerbread cupcakes and gave it a try...sure, I'll share... here you go!

Gingerbread cupcakes:
1 box french vanilla cake mix
4 eggs
1/2 c. buttermilk
1/2 c. molasses
1/3 c. oil
1 1/2 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg

mix all ingredients well, pour into lined baking cups. bake 350 18-20 minutes.

...frost with cream cheese frosting and add gingerbread sprinkles...

p.s., if you are my neighbor and you would like to borrow some sprinkles... seriously it was a big bottle and I'm happy to share... otherwise got them at the local grocery store (Kents)