picture blocks

I've had lots of people ask for more info about the picture blocks so I talked to my sister-in-law and got the website she went through, it is http://www.storiesbyme.com/.

It's a great idea for a mothers day gift!

The gifts I got!

Between baby showers and Christmas our family has been showered with gifts. These are a few of my favorite handmade gifts... people amaze me with their talents!

My neighbor and friend Traci made these for our new baby boy. SO CUTE! She is so talented and has a great craft blog.

My sister made me this car seat cover and a nursing cover like this one on little birdie secrets.

My sweet friend made me this beautiful diaper bag. I almost cried when I opened it... It is amazing! Check out her craft blog. She sews beautiful things, decorates, and scrapbooks... she does it all!

My mom made us this quilt. She has a long arm machine quilter and she does such a beautiful job. She tried to teach me to sew... I wish I would have paid more attention.

I love this gift from my sister-in-law. There are 6 pictures total on the same blocks... so fun!Here are some links for different versions of this http://holycraft.blogspot.com/2008/07/introducing-photo-blocks.html and http://www.mormonchic.com/crafty/more-christmas_crafts.asp#blocks

January is so cold and dreary and if you're stuck in the house you might as well be creating something! Hope these give you some ideas.

THANK YOU MY TALENTED AND GENEROUS FRIENDS!

Happy New Year

January to me means cleaning out closets, organizing, and lots of trips to Goodwill.

You shouldn't have

Honestly, I'm surprised that anyone even reads this blog let alone likes it enough to give me an award!

I received this award from my dear friend Stephanie. She is an amazing woman and and a talented writer. Check her out here.

Thanks Steph, I'm not sure what it says but I'm touched. heehee

*I want to pass this award on to Tiffany at Got Happiness. This woman is awesome! She is one of the most giving and loving people I know. She is a great mom and I love to read her blog because she inspires me to be better. Love you Tiff!

I just got this award from Jessica at Mama loves shoes (hey, me too!). This award means that my blog has just the right amount of lemon and sugar to make a perfect summery treat... how "sweet" is that! Thanks so much Jessica!

*I want to pass this award on to Traci at Amazing Mae. Traci is my neighbor and she is so talented and so generous with her talents (lucky for me). Check out some of her fun crafts!

Thanks again for the awards ladies... I feel loved. :)

Do you like thin mint cookies?

If you like thin mint cookies you will love these! We make these every year and they are so simple to make that my kids do it all (and then I eat them all).

All you need is Ritz crackers and Andes Mints (I buy a bag of the baking Andes Mints, they are next to the chocolate chips at the store and are much cheaper than buying the regular Andes).

Melt the Andes Mints and then dip the Ritz cracker in it and set on wax paper to cool. It's THAT easy!
They melt in your mouth... yummy!

Perfect for a last minute neighbor gift.
Make some and tell me what you think... please.

For friends and neighbors

Keeping it simple this year...

I bought these plastic "paint cans" at the local craft store and decorated them with Christmas scrapbook paper, ribbon and stamps/ rub-ons. Now I'm making the yummy carmel corn to fill them.

Want the recipe? It's my favorite!

Crunchy Carmel Corn

1/3 C butter

2/3 C brown sugar

3 Tbs Corn Syrup

1/4 tsp salt

Combine all and bring to boil then remove from heat and add:

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp vanilla

mix with 2 quarts popcorn (or one bag of microwave popcorn)

Cook at 250degrees for 30 minutes then stir and cook an additional 30 minutes.

Christmas project ideas

I love the idea of using old Christmas pictures or even framing Christmas cards to decorate for the holidays. You could use the picture frames you already have out and just swap the pictures or paint some wood frames (they are only a few bucks at Micheals) like in this picture.
I love this pompom garland but I instead of a countdown I'm going to use it to...well, I'll have to show you soon.
Found this on Little Birdie Secrets. You can make 16 seasonal words out of these 7 blocks... seriously! Perfect gift idea.
When I first saw this I thought to myself, "so cute, but I don't sew". I was thrilled to find this requires zero sewing! Check it out.

A little busy with little ones

I don't know when the next post will be... Melissa and I are both busy with brand new little ones (6 days apart!).

Stay tuned, we will be back among the living soon... we hope.

"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas"

Decorated the house this week...

This is our "stocking for Jesus". Christmas Eve we write down our gifts to the Savior for the new year. This is a special tradition for our family.

It's not Christmas until we hang the cow on the tree.

We tied the tree to the top of an end table this year in an effort to make it a bit harder for little hands to reach... but he is persistent.

Ahhhh, it makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside.

Love this chubby star I made a few years ago...

and this new star (thanks for the idea Emily and Melissa).

Of course I had to do another banner.

Check out Tip Junkie- she is doing a virtual tour of homes decorated for the holidays, too fun!

Sitting on the sofa, looking at the tree, with the fireplace on, drinking hot chocolate, and listening to Christmas music... I love this time of year.

Merry Christmas

Car Seat Cover

Like every other craft I make, it is the brain child of someone else... I am just good at copying! I saw these cute car seat covers and being only weeks away from having my first baby (in Utah, in the winter) I had to have one. Theirs were a little fancier with bows or buttons on the straps that attach to the handle and super cute fabric (2 coordinating cotton fabrics sewn right sides together then flipped right side out). I used a cotton and a minke and like the bibs did a rough edge so it will fray.

My fabric was about 36 x 44 with the straps on top being 2 1/2 x 9. If you plan on doing a finished edge you might need a little more for your seam allowance. Good luck!

*Melissa*

Christmas Star

A while back I saw a darling Halloween star on my sister-in-law's blog and wanted to make my own for Christmas. I bought my barn stars at Real Deals and a Christmas stack of scrapbook paper from Michael's as well as some Mod Podge. Made a pattern with card stock and it was that easy.
A simple bow and hung on the front door will complete this easy Christmas craft.

NOT distressed

Distressed with brown ink

*Melissa*

It's a SiSTeR thang

I love doing this blog but to keep it going with lots of great ideas I decided I wanted to get my super crafty sister in on the fun and happily she agreed.

So, Introducing.... MElisSa!
Not only is she beautiful but she has great taste and loves to get knee deep into a project. Before I moved 1600 miles away Melissa and I would spend many a night watching chick flicks and "creating" (oh, and eating chocolate). Oh, how I miss that!
So keep an eye out for her posts (she just did the one on super cute baby bibs).
Welcome to nannygoat Melis!