ELECTION DAY!!

Don't forget to vote today! 

Happy Election Day!

Ghosts of Halloween Past!

I hope everyone had a safe and happy Halloween.  I thought I would share some of our stories from past Halloweens!

Mr. E was born just a couple of weeks before Halloween, so he was a tiny little thing on his first Halloween.  Before he was born I found a cute little Jack-O-Lantern costume for him.  Here is the cutest little pumpkin I ever picked!!

The next year he was a Puppy Dog.  He had just started walking and really didn't know what Halloween was about getting candy. We just made the rounds to the family and to a family friends party! 

When Mr. E was almost 2 I got him a Lion costume.  He was so cute...he was really good at growling too. I was preggers with Miss C at the time so we just went to a local Trunk-or-Treat event.  Mr. E didn't want to get dressed up...one we finally got the outfit on he was fine.  He still didn't understand about what the "trick-or-treat" to get candy.  Here is a wonderful pic that a local photography student took of Mr. E.

Last year Mr. E was a Cow and Miss C was a Little Lady Bug.  We had a lot of fun at Trunk-or-Treat.  Mr. E was really into the candy, and Miss C was just along for the ride! 

This year the kiddos went as Woody and Jesse from Toy Story!  They are so cute together! We went trick-or-treating last night.  We have more candy than we know what to do with...can anyone say sugar high???

 Miss C looks so happy doesn't she?  She liked the hat, but didn't want to keep it on, hence the look.

Happy late Halloween!!

Jack-O-Lantern Dress

I have been planning on making Miss C a cute little Halloween Dress for several months. 

       **Side Bar:  One thing I have really learned this year.  Make things while you have the time.  You don't have to wait until you need that present/decoration to make it.  I had lots of time this summer to make things, but I didn't make as much as I should have.  Now that time is scarce for me, I don't get to make some of the stuff that I had planned. 

ANYWAY, I bought an orange pillow case from Goodwill this summer with the purpose of turning it into a dress for Miss C.

I cut the pillow case to the length I wanted, plus about and inch and a half to turn over and hem the top to make a casing for the ribbon.

Cut slits for the arm holes (I forgot to do this until after a I hemed my casing...so I had to go back and hem some more) and hem these as well.

Now that this is done you are ready to cut out your Jack-O-Lantern's face.  I wouldn't suggest anything scary or too complicated.  I found some cute templates on line, and I am sure you will find a perfect one too.  If you are a good artist I am sure you could draw a face too.  I am not blessed with that talent. 

Cut out the face pattern from paper.  I then cut out my face pieces from black material that I had attached to Wonder Under.  After the pieces are cut, iron them into place on the front of the pillow case dress.  Make sure you don't place the pieces too high or too low.  You may want to pin them in place and try the dress on to make sure everything looks even.

Once the face pieces are ironed on stitch them into place.  I used my sewing machine, but using some embroidery floss or crochet thread would be cute too!

Here is my final product on Miss C.  She didn't want to stand still long enough for me to get a good picture. 

Finding Fabulous

CSN WINNER!!!

Okay, so I am a little behind, but I have had a busy week, with 3 tests, and one project.  I think my brain is turning to mush!! 

On to the important part,  THE WINNER...

drum roll please...

is #2...The Watts Watch!

Congrats and I hope you find something cool to splurge on!!

Happy Shopping!!

Makin' It Monday-Patchwork Pumpkins

First of all, I didn't make these, my kiddos did!! 

On Monday's my MIL (mother-in-law) watches all 5 of the grandkids.  Today they got to decorate these cute patchwork pumpkins!

(by Mr. E)

The grandkids are 7, 4 1/2, 4, almost 2, and almost 1.  The three older kids decorated these pumpkins on their own, and the little two had a lot, if not entirely, of help. 

(by Miss C)

The process is really easy.  Take some colorful (preferably fall colors) tissue paper and cut it into squares.  Next, using a paint brush cover sections of your pumpkin with glue.  Then stick on the tissue paper in random ways.  Cover the tissue paper with another layer of glue.  Let dry, or if in a hurry use a hair dryer.  The kids put a layer of glitter glue on top of the regular glue to add a little extra flair.  They used regular Elmer's glue, but of course Mod Podge would work just fine too! 

Here is Mr. E and Miss C with their patchwork pumpkins (or punkins and Mr. E calls them.  Maybe one day he will grow out of his hick accent :) 


Happy Crafting!!


Don't for get about my giveaway!!  There is a really good chance you might win...so don't forget to enter before Wednesday!!

Things to Try Thursday-Fleece Blankets

Have you seen the fleece blankets that you tie together?  We have a couple of these blankets, but I haven't made one yet. 

Mr. E turned 4 last weekend and he got this cool blanket from my Aunt, Uncle, and cousins.  Needless to say, Mr. E LOVES IT!!  He is definitely a John Deere man. 

These blankets are warm, soft, and snuggly.  These are all important attributes for a blanket around my house.  We end up fighting over these blankets at my house.  Now there is one for both my kiddos and me!! 

If you haven't entered my CSN giveaway.  Do so now!!!  You could win $35 dollars toward anything you desire from one of CSN's 200+ stores!!  How cool is that!!!

Good Luck and Happy Crafting!

CSN Store Giveaway!!!

Sorry I have been MIA lately.  I have been busy, unfortunately not the crafting busy I would prefer. 

CSN Stores, I know you have heard of them and all the cool stuff they have, contacted me about doing a giveawy for my followers...how cool!!  What you will win is a $35 gift certificate good at ANY of their stores.  I am so excited!!! 

I love all the bed sets they have.  With Miss C getting ready to transition from the crib to a big girl bed soon I have been drooling over all of the georgeous furniture and bedding CSN carries.  The hardest part is trying to decide which ones I like best.  Maybe we can just redecorate her room every six months and I can get them all!!  Not sure the hubby will go for that idea, but a girl can dream right!

Now, on to the stuff you really want to know...how to enter.  Just leave a comment on this post telling me what you have been dreaming about splurging on and you will be entered to win.  The contest will be open for one week...so make sure you leave a comment by next Tuesday night, October 19th!  I will be announcing a winner shortly after that!

Thanks for following along, and I can't wait to see who wins!!

Makin' It Monday- Play Travel Barn

My niece is in to My Little Ponies right now.  Well she was earlier this year...she may have moved on to a new toy faze...that happens so quick sometimes. 

Anyway, I saw this cute little tutorial for a take-a-long doll house or barn at UK Lass in US.  I thought this would be the cutest little gift for my niece to take her My Little Ponies with her...and hopefully not loose all the stuff that goes with them.  Not to mention she has a baby sister that doesn't need to eat any small parts to said toys.

Here is the barn I made.

I love the button closures!

The stalls are ready and waiting for some cute little ponies to come play!

Happy Sewing!!

What I Wore

I forgot to take a couple pics this week, but here is what I got!

On Friday one of my best friends and her new baby came to hang out with us!  I had soooooo much fun!!!
Later that night the kiddos and I ate supper with my parents and some family friends.

Top: Old Navy

Shorts: Target

Saturday my Mom and I went to a neighborhood yard sale.  Fortunately my hubby and the kiddos manned the yard sale we had out our house!  It is GREAT to have gotten rid of a bunch of stuff we didn't use anymore!  Then we celebrated my grandfather's birthday with my family!

Top: Banana Republic

Jeans: Lucky

Sunday we went to church and then had our church picnic that afternoon.

Tank top: who knows
Sweater: Old Navy
Skirt: NY & Company

Monday I spent the morning doing laundry and cleaning tar off my children.  Then I had class that afternoon.

Top: Banana Republic

Shorts: Target

Tuesday I took Mr. E to school and then came home and woke up the hubby so we could go to the gym.  Miss C didn't have a good time at the gym, she wouldn't stop crying so we had to leave early.  Later that day we went to the grocery to pick up a few things.

 

Top: from Wisconsin

Short: I made from an old pair of jeans

 

Makin' It Monday- Custom Barn Yard Blocks

I saw a tutorial a while back at Making the World Cuter.  The tutorial was for a cute set of animal blocks that she made using some really cool stickers. 

Well shortly after seeing this tutorial I saw some cute barn yard stickers at Hobby Lobby for half off...I couldn't resist myself.  So, I bought a package and turned them into these cute little blocks.

When I found out a friend of mine that is expecting a baby in November was decorating the nursery in a barn yard motif, I knew she needed these blocks!!

Here are the little mice hiding on the back of two of the blocks...sneaky little buggers.

I think they turned out to be really cute...and pretty in expensive.  I just used some scrap wood to make the blocks.

Go check out the tutorial and make your own set of custom blocks!!

Happy Crafting!!!