A few cute and quick Christmas crafts!

Every year I try to make some things for my kids to take to school during Christmas. Normally, I try to do so many different things, I usually end up running around like a mad woman. This year, I just didn't have the energy (or the funds) to make a hundred different things, so I just settled on two.  It also helped that I only had one class to make things for, not two.  **sigh**  They just grow up too fast!

Of course I had to make some M and M tubes.  That has sort-of become my "signature" treat.  They are super-easy to make...well, except for the 1000 M and M's I kept dropping in the floor. (They were thrown away, not added to the tubes) 

  

Next, I made some elf legs using Pixie Stix as the "legs"  They were also super-easy (once I got my Silhouette to cut through the glitter paper).

 

I am also sending this Santa ornament to Jameson's teacher. (Along with a gift card)  This was also super-quick!

And that's it!  That's all I am sending to school.and to be honest, it feels GREAT!  Why have I been torturing myself all these years?

I hope you all have a wonderful and blessed holiday weekend!!

My latest project.

A few weeks ago, I got a very special request in my e-mail.  An acquaintance wanted to do something very special and meaningful for their partner for Christmas; a memorial shadow box.  She lost her little boy on the day he was born, due to prematurity.  Seeing as this hit so close to home for me, I couldn't say no.

She had one picture, an outfit and his tiny hat.  I was so scared that I wouldn't be able to make something memorable and fitting.  I've never even really seen a shadow box in person.  I poured over websites and blogs, and spent I-don't-know-how-long walking through the isles of Hobby Lobby looking for just the right "thing".  I bought several little things, but no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't make them work together.

Finally, I just stopped working on it for a few days while I tried to think of how I could put everything together.

As I was going to bed one night, it hit me!  It was too late to start anything that night, but as soon as I got up the next morning, I went to work.  I figured out that I could make exactly what I needed, instead of trying to force the things I bought to work.

Here is the final project:

That seam under the "S" bothers the mess out of me, but it's really not that noticeable in person.

I was so happy (and relieved) with how it turned out.  It was just the look I was going for.

I had several strips of scrapbook paper left, so I decided to quickly put together an ornament for her, too.

It matched the shadowbox perfectly!

Cashes' mom ended up getting the gift early, and she immediately sent me a note saying she loved the shadowbox and the ornament.

That made all the worry and stress completely worth it!

My ribbons are organized!

Several months ago, I was desperate to find some way to store my ribbon.  I had a small plastic container that was just overflowing with spools and spools.  Every time I would dig through the container, half the spools would fall out, and the other half would unwind.  After a few attempts to find something, the container was a complete mess. I could never find what I was looking for.  I knew there had to be a better way to store them.

A Google search showed several different options, but none were right for my particular situation.  

This is a great, inexpensive solution, but I have WAAAY too many spools of ribbon for this to be practical.

This is a neat solution, but my spools are often several yards long, so they would be dragging the ground, plus, I really don't want to risk creasing the ribbon.

Again, great idea, but I don't want to have crease marks in the ribbon.

 

I love this idea, but I don't have anywhere to put something like this.

I actually tried this, and every single stinkin' spool of ribbon unrolled and puddled in the floor within a 10 second period.  NOT FOR ME!

 

After hours of searching, I came across this picture (I am so sorry that I cannot find the source...if it is yours, PLEASE let me know!)  This is perfect!  It holds a TON of ribbon, and is short enough to slide under the bed!

So, I went and bought the stuff, and hubby put it together for me.  I managed to get most of my spooled ribbon in it, and have just a small, manageable amount in another box.  You have no idea how happy this little contraption has made me!

You may notice I have a "thing" for red and green ribbon.  Well, most of it will be used for Christmas decorations that I am giving as gifts and selling.  But, some of the identical ribbon is because my old ribbon storage was so bad, I had no clue what I already had.  I hope all my friends/coworkers like red and green!

Yes, some of the rods are a little crooked, but it still works fantastically!

And speaking of Christmas ornaments, I've actually just finished my first official paying order.  I hate charging anyone for them, but since these are for people I don't personally know, I did.  It feels really weird getting paid for something I made.

About half-way through putting everything together, I realized I was short some colors I needed, so hubby decided to try his hand at cutting and rolling the papers.  He did a great job and it helped me tremendously!

I managed to get 10 completed tonight, but I have about 45 left to do over the next couple of weeks. (And TARA, I haven't forgot about you...tell hubby I will get his mailed out this week!  So sorry it has taken me so long!)

My fingers are going to be sooooo tired!

Happy Fall, Y'all!

Anybody want a pumpkin?

(Actually, I made these for my wonderful co-workers! They were totally worth the HUGE MESS!)

Mad Scientist....err, I mean CRAFTER, at work!

PLEASE tell me I'm not the only one who's dining room craft room looks like this, in the middle of 50 uncompleted projects a project?

Will my dining room craft room ever look like this again?

**sigh**

One can only hope!

Have a fantastic Monday, y'all!!

I have ONE figured out!

Remember these painted frames from a few posts ago?

I got my original inspiration from LouCinda at Tattered Hydrangeas

 I really wanted to put silverware in my frames and hang them in the dining room, but the openings in my frames are really teeny-tiny.  So, I've looking for just the right "thing" to go in each frame.  Well, the other day, while I was looking through some things, I came across a broach that was my Paternal Grandmother's.  It is the one and only thing I have of her's.  I thought it may work....so I grabbed some scrapbook paper and adhesive and went to work....

Absolutely PERFECT!

I still don't have the other two frames finished, but now I am going to wait until I find some things that have special meaning to me and my family.

What family treasures do you have displayed in your home?

I am linking to Chic on a Shoestring Decorating.

Another use for pretty paper

Like I said in my last post, I love paper and have been working on a few things for the past few weeks.  Something else I've been doing is trying to make some cutie-pie things to go in my friend, Julie's, nursery.  Here are some pictures of the bedding:

The photos don't really do the bedding justice.  The colors are so soft and girly.  It is precious!

I was fortunate that I was able to find some scrapbook papers that matched the colors in the bedding exactly!  So, Julie and I came up with a few ideas for decorating the nursery with them.

Originally, this frame was dark brown, and had some sort of cowboy/western picture in it.  We loved the shape and detail of the frame, and decided to change it up a little.  I think it's adorable and can't wait to see it hung up in the nursery!

We found this frame off to the side in Hobby Lobby on super-duper clearance.  The glass was broken and the mat was dirty, but the frame and this border were GORGEOUS!  We were going to paint this frame/mat, too, but Julie took it home first and loved it as is.  It matches the furniture perfectly!  Obviously, this isn't finished yet, (No, her name isn't going to be "Malloy"...we are missing the "r" in "Mallory"  LOL), but I hope to have it finished this week.

And here is a cute "M" that I decided to cover with scrapbook paper.  I am trying to find some way to incorporate green into the pattern, but haven't decided what to do just yet!  Hopefully I will have it figured out before the baby gets here....haha, just kidding Julie!  :o)

Does anybody have any cute ideas for nursery decor using scrapbook paper?