Flash Back Tuesday: Is it time to start thinking about Christmas? ...Yes!

This is a post from my old blog the Crafty Homemaker. It is about this time every year that my attention turns to Christmas, this is one of the ways I organize my Christmas every year. Enjoy a good flash back! {I have included updates in red}

Ok I know what you are thinking its not even October yet, but there is a reason to my madness. I really like the idea of a homemade Christmas, and although it almost always equals sleepless nights, there is a since of pride that your creativity, produced joy. This is not just for creating gifts, but also organizing so that you (or I ) don’t get overwhelmed, this is really a big key to a joyous Christmas.

So yesterday I showed a picture of a notebook when I make this notebook my family knows it time to think about what we need to do for Christmas. On the side there are four tabs labeled; Black Friday, Family, Friends, Other. {On the inside cover there is a single piece of tape making it a memo pad that I can write on with dry erase maker or washable markers for fast little notes}



The Black Friday tab is for as you guest it all the non home-made things, and supplies you will need for the homemade things. I usually price match at Wal-Mart so I leave a section for things I can get there, but more on that another time.



The family and friends tabs are so you can keep track of ideas of things that would be perfect for that family member or friend. {This year I got fancy and put it on my computer, in my note book this year is just list that way if it gets in the wrong hands they will not know what they are getting}
The other tab is for anything you would like, I keep list of maybe ideas of things I would like to make, movies we do not own but would like to, things that I see that I would want ( my family asks for lists), Christmas card list ect… {This is also where I make my Christmas Party plans}

You can also add as many tabs as you would like, ( for example Christmas Parties, to do list, calendar ect…)
I am always trying to make Christmas less stress full so I would love to hear your tips, and crafts and so on.

Itty bitty baby booties!

So this weekend was crazy! I got to babysit my little munchkins {niece and nephew} which monkey just loved to play with. Then on Sunday L Tom Perry came to talk to our stake! So much fun. In my off time I was able to squeeze in some baby booties, I think they came out so cute! I am going to send them to my cousin who just had a baby along with the outfit I think that it is just adorable!

This is the book that I got the pattern out of and I totally recommend it for beginners. I taught myself to crochet 3 months ago and this book is the easiest to read. I found it at Micheal's but online I have seen it for as little as 4.oo

If your not interested in buying the book there are a ton of online patterns for free! The next pattern that I think that I am going to try out is at New thing crochet. She has the cutest little Mary Jane's. I will let you know how it goes.

One last thing, so me and the hubby where driving the other day when we came across this cloud. I saw a duck on it's back, the hubby saw goofy what do you see?

1 long day plus no time to post equal 2 bday cakes!

So Wednesday was my hubby's baday and last Tuesday was my SIL bday so last night we celebrated both. I was in charge of making two cakes and some cupcakes. Why? I volunteered I could not wait to do it! {Which I think is kinda silly because we have a professional cake decorator in our family who happens to be the sister to both of the above} Anyway with the skills I have or lack there off I went to work.



The first cake I made was for my hubby and as you can tell he is a huge Star Wars nut! He loves German chocolate cake so the sides have toasted coconut. The frosting is a milk chocolate * I will share the recipe at the end of the post* I found the idea for Darth Vader here it is basically a bell sugar cookie with the bottom part cut off. The light sabers {Which are my fave!} Are twizzlers pull and peels with black frosting on the bottom and sprinkles for the switches. Everyone seemed to enjoy the cake especially since it is two layers with that heavenly frosting in the middle.

The Second cake was for my SIL she is in loves with those cute lil owls so I knew what I had to do. I found a cute owl drew it on a piece of paper so I would have a visual reference. Added my own lil twist and this is how it came out. I am quite pleased with myself! I drew the owl on the cake with a thin dowel. Then I covered it in gel and sprinkles and I loved it!

Here is the recipe for the chocolate frosting. I tripled the recipe t make sure I had enough. I have also added whole milk to make it alittle milk chocolate tasting. {This recipe comes from all recipes.com you can find it here}
Ingredients
2 3/4 cups confectioners' sugar
6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
6 tablespoons butter
5 tablespoons evaporated milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
In a medium bowl, sift together the confectioners' sugar and cocoa, and set aside.
In a large bowl, cream butter until smooth, then gradually beat in sugar mixture alternately with evaporated milk. Blend in vanilla. Beat until light and fluffy. If necessary, adjust consistency with more milk or sugar.

Flashback! Washer Necklace Tutorial

So this is from my old blog (before it became private) Enjoy!

I made necklaces for my friends and family this Christmas. I thought these would make great teacher gifts, Valentines for special friends or for bday parties. They were so easy that I can see myself making many more of these. All it takes is some washers, modge podge, and a hard coating…( I can not remember the name but will update later with it) and you have an instant gift! These took me 45min to make all of them.
I don’t think I have ever taken the time to realize how satisfying it is to make something to give. There is a certain pieces of pride that goes along with each gift along with appreciation for those who have gone before you. Know what I mean? Anyways if you would like to make them here is the tutorial I wrote for my other blog, and craftster; so I thought I would share it with you guys!

I found the washers at home depot from 13-38 cents, the ones with the larger holes work better.
Things you need

Paper of your choice Mod Podge Glossy Accents Washer Twine to put on it when it is done.
Step one:

Trace washer on the paper then cut it out.

Step Two:Mod Podge it by adding a layer of glue to both the washer and paper. Then put the two together and add a thin layer of mod podge on the paper.

Step Three: Put a thick layer of Glossy Accents on the washer.

Let it dry for 24 hours and then string it up and you have great gift.


I can not wait to see what everyone comes up with.!

Lunch Never tasted so good!

Little Monkey wanted a lunch box so bad since she started school so well being the cave in that I am we went to Goodwill 2 months ago and found this. Yeah it is super um well not attractive. Something had to change!

So I got some cute paper.

Then I got out my trusty Modge podge and got to work! Since the lunch pail has a little edge I took my main paper and a pencil and I pressed down so that I would be able to tell where to cut.

Then on the corners I did it just like making a bed with hospital corners.

One side done! Ohh I like it already!

All finished! So much better. I am in love!

Cupcakes!!!!

I think that cupcakes are stinking adorable! So when monkey (aka the 4yr old) ask to make some how could I say no? So the first thing we did was arm ourselves with the tools needed a cake mix, frosting, and a ton of candy and sprinkles. I am quite proud of us all the items we used are from my stash. I do not eat sugar anymore so there was a ton of it!
We used star burst to make butterfly's, hearts and little baby chicks.
This was super easy you push down on the star burst until it is like play dough and then shape to your hearts content!

We used gum drops to make bees, and on top of the cupcakes and then we used a ton of sprinkles. I even made a Christmas one!

With the sprinkles we made Tye dye ones. This is super easy and looks so neat. You mix different sprinkles together and then dip. {You do the same things for the sides} We had so much fun! This was good practice for the cake I need to make on Thursday. So excited!

What do you think?

We also in honor of my niece coming into town made mini cupcakes so that monkey and her may have a tea party!

What are you favorite things to decorate?

Until tomorrow!

Welcome

This blog is designed to showcase the creative side of my life. I will be sharing the crafts I make using one rule I have to make 30 crafts from my stash in order to add to it. I was looking at my stash thinking wow this might be a little out of control. SO in order to help me cut down on the clutter I am using my crafting rule. I will be sewing, scrapbooking, cooking, crocheting, and what ever crafty thing comes my way! I will be sharing my craft secrets as well as tutorials and since I try not to blog on the weekends I will be showcasing other great blogs. So thank you again for stopping by and I can’t wait to get started ! I will start with my first crafty post on Monday! Have a great weekend.