A Personalized Thank You

The girls and I (with a little help from Man) made these super cute thank you notes for our family and friends for the Easter gifts they bestowed upon us.  Sometimes I have my act together and can get something like this done.  Sometimes I don't.  This is one of the times I did.  

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When we got back from our trip to Meme and Popi's for Easter I was feeling a little crafty.  I had Man home for an extra day, a few blank cards burning a whole in my mind, and a few extra minutes on this particular day.  I really wanted to send thank you notes to everyone who sent the girls Easter goodies, visited with us, etc. so here is what I came up with. 

And yes, even Allye made some too.  Don't be afraid to craft with babies.  Just have help waiting in the wings!

We painted the palm of their hand brown and two of their fingers pink like this.

Then we helped them keep their hand spread appropriately when placing it on the card.  

Once the cards dried I set out the alphabet stamps and ink pad and let them stamp "Thank You" on each card.  Then I took a very fine brush and created the outline around the ears, the eyes, the nose, and the whiskers.

A great, quick, and memorable thank you note for family and friends...

and it wasn't even nap time.

--The Crafty Mama

Christmas in March

Since I seem to just be catching my breath from the whirlwind of a handmade Christmas, I sat down and gathered up the photos that I took to show you.  It was such a fulfilling experience to give these gifts, even if it was something I bought that was handmade.  I must confess that I still have two remaining, very time consuming, gifts in my possession.  They belong to my two sets of parents.  I have just had to beg forgiveness and offer many promises of something on  the way.  Let's just say it was a well laid plan that when terribly awry when we decided to move six months early.  Details.  

It started with my first quilt.  My mom has been so sweet to sew the bedding for my first two girls, but this time was different.  I really wanted to make everything I could for Allye.  While I completed the crib skirt and curtains in Texas, I simply could not get this done.  I was so very proud of myself for stepping out of my sewing comfort zone.  I believed I could do this when I found Amy Smart at Diary of a Quilter.  She did a step-by-step tutorial that made it as easy as pie.  Confession:  It is March and I still have not let her use it.

Then there was our very special Hanukkah gift for Nate's grandmother.  We made and used these as we learned about Hanukkah as part of our school lessons, and then we shipped them to her to enjoy for the years to come.  This was such a wonderful learning experience for our entire family.

Both girls had Secret Santa gifts to give at their dance studio.  This is what I made for Addison's little friend.  I also made matching ones for our new friends down the street.  Every girl needs an apron, right?

Here was another first.  I have made little skirts for our American Girls but never matching outfits.  I made this set for my one of my step-sister's daughters.  She is very into fashion and has the cutest personality you have ever seen.  She only wear dresses and can readily give an opinion.  I was very nervous to pass her test.

She has a little sister.  I made her a dress too.  I was getting ahead here.  Great to wear anytime, but especially at Valentine's.

The ornaments.   Oh my.  After really getting into these I momentarily wondered what I had gotten myself into.  But, with all of the loving comments we received after all of the kids got them in the mail, it was worth the effort!  We saved a few for our tree too!  What a special memory of this time and place.

I have made many of these clipboards over the last few years and they are always a hit.  This one was made for Addison's preschool teacher and Addison loves seeing it on the desk outside of their classroom each morning. 

I have many friends and family that have little boys.  Making things for them is not always easy.  Especially as they get older.  But, when I picked up the Make It Yourself magazine before the holidays and saw these in it, I knew I had to make them.  So I bought the magazine and had most of the supplies needed already in my stash.  The only problem?  We all got sick for two weeks straight before the holidays.  Thankfully this is one of my very best friends so I fessed up, "Hey, I swear I have gifts for the boys, but I am making them and they are not done and they won't be done in time and I promise you it is worth the wait."  And wait she did, until the second week of January.  I think it was worth it.  She did too!

Isn't it the cutest thing ever?  I have no boys but my Addison played for hours on the finished one while I was making the second one.  She will have one of these very soon.  Load it up and I am pretty sure they could be occupied for quite some time!

Last but not least, I made the bedding for the bunk beds we had made from an Etsy seller.  These beds are  sized for our American Girls and I couldn't resist making the bedding to coordinate with Addison's room.  I just wish I had order the mattresses or made some.  Maybe I'll just add that to the list.

So there you have it.  A handmade Christmas Mama style.  I will definitely do this again and hope you have found some inspiration to give the gift of your time to those you love.  That, my friends, is priceless. 

---The Very Tired Mama

Red, White, and Pink!

Hello, hello!  We are getting in the spirit of Valentine's around here...finally.  I can say finally since I had Man bring down the box of decorations when he put the Christmas decor in the attic...the first week of January.  Details. 

The girls and I put on Charlie Brown's Valentine episode and instead of putting all the decor out and then tearing it down in four days...we used some tree "tinsel" I made a couple of years ago and decorated the fireplace.

Made with fishing string, foam hearts, pearl beads, and LOVE!

I love decorating for holidays but I have two little hands in my house that love to tear it up faster then I can put it back together...every 5 minutes.  So, I focused my efforts in crafting, "treats," and sewing.

Here is what we have been up to...and if you still don't have your Valentine cards done yet...there is hope!  These are easy!

FOR THE TEACHERS...

because we love our teachers and I don't recognize our extracurricular teachers at big holidays, usually due to budget constraints.  So, I try to give at another time during the year.

This year we are giving them hand sanitizers that I first saw here.  I picked these up at the Dollar Store because I wanted clear sanitizer and a white cap.  This was not so easy to find when I was trying to pay more than $1.  Go figure.

The girls peeled off the front and back labels...fighting over who would do number 5.  How in the world I didn't remember to buy 6 so my world of "fair" would be peaceful I do not know.  

Nice and pretty.

I purchased two sheets of heart stickers and put the girls to work.

Next we traced their hands and I added the little "germ" saying and they signed their names.

We stuck them on the back and voila!  An inexpensive, thoughtful gift, that might keep me out of the doctor's office for two weeks straight.

This year I decided to spread out the Valentine card making so as not to lose all of my patience in one day.  Then I went one step further and decided to just print all of Addison's.  She forgave me.

Super cute and first seen at The Mother Huddle.

BUT, Addison did make the Valentine that meant the most...and there is only ONE of these.  

It is in the mail.  To her cowboy.  In Texas.  She wrote their names way too many times on the inside and put a heart sticker in there.  She didn't want me to look, but I did anyway.  Just like I will when she is 10 and 15...ok, forever.

Then there is Olivia.  Where do I begin?  I showed her my idea.  Another great send it through the printer idea, with a portion handmade.  NOPE.  She was making it from scratch.  So, this is what I originally found at vixen Made.

Here is what we did.  We took a heart shaped cookie cutter and traced it like a bazillion times.

Then I found letter stamps for $1 (score!) and she stamped out "You've Marked My Heart."  We did this for three of them.  She doesn't have a light touch with this technique yet and was frustrated so we switched and she hand wrote them all.  And, of course, we twisted and bent lots of pipe cleaners to have cutie bookmarks.

The food festivities began yesterday with strawberry filled, heart shaped pies, followed by chocolate dipped Oreos tonight!

You need your choice of Oreo flavor, Almond Bark or equivalent, and some sprinkles.

Following the directions on the Almond Bark package to melt the chocolate.  (2 squares yields about 15 dipped Oreos).  Gently dip the Oreo into the chocolate and very quickly apply the sprinkles.

Pop them in the fridge for a few to let them set slightly or eat them right away.

You won't be sorry.

I promise.

** To color Almond Bark you do not use food coloring.  It will harden the chocolate.  You must use color made for candy, often found at local arts and crafts stores.  Mine are all made by Wilton**

I am knee deep in three Valentine dresses, three pair of Valentine sleep pants, and three coordinating Valentine sleep shirts.  I might see you by Friday.  Until then I will leave you with the image I came "home" to tonight once the lights were out and I returned to my office/sewing room/crafting space/school room.  Compliments of my sweet Addison.  I turned the corner and this was sitting in the doorway.  I love her.

XOXO,

The Mama

"Cutesy" Clipboard

So it is that time of year when we are all searching for that gift that no one has ever given a teacher, dance instructor, etc...  Well, in my quest for something I could make in those last five minutes of my day, I came across a great idea that was very simple to execute...mostly because of that closet that hides my treasures of scrapbooking and sewing stuff!

Here we GO!

HOW TO DO IT:

1.) Buy the clipboard, scrapbooking paper, ribbon, and glue.  I suggest Elmers Spray Adhesive Glue (comes in a can and keeps it nice and neat!).  NOTE: If you choose to buy the smaller sheets of paper make sure they will fit on the board, especially if they are a patterned specific design.

2.) Next you will take a scrap piece of paper, or you can use the intended sheet if you are brave, and you will cut the template for the top half of the clipboard.  **I suggest you do all of your cutting at the same time and then do all of the gluing, if you are making multiples.

3.) Make sure the fit is precise.  My piece slid tightly under the handle part of the board.

4.) Next you will cut the bottom portion.  It doesn't matter if they meet in the middle unless your writing on it will be bumpy...if you choose to write anything.

5.) Now we will cover the "gap".

6.) So far nothing has been glued down.  That is a major rule!  Make sure everything fits like you want it to before gluing ANYTHING down.  Then when you do glue down, and you are using the spray adhesive, I suggest wearing a glove (I used an old dishwashing glove).  It will get on your hands!  Make sure to step outside for this part, unless you prefer the glue "high".  It can get strong after multiple uses and strongly stuck to everything around where you are spraying.

7.) If you choose to do some type of wording, that part is next.  I chose to buy some rub-on letters and then I decided to add to them and had to do some hand writing, so you will see a combo on mine.

8.) Again, lay it out before you apply!  I can highly recommend these rub-on letters.  They were very easy to use.

  9.) Next you will sit down to a favorite tv show (TIVO'd of course), at some awful hour (last five minutes of the day remember), and you will cut ribbon, ric-rac, etc...until you can't stand it!  And then you will tie them in double knots to the handle.  And then you will marvel at them and take pictures of them at midnight because you are so excited!  

HAPPY CRAFTING!!!

P.S. Another tool that makes this easier and a lot more precise and neat is an exacto knife.  LOVE LOVE LOVE it!  Mommy WARNING:  It is dangerous to leave out around small hands so use lots of caution, unless you have a "fast pass" to the ER!

P.P.S Click on any of the pictures to enlarge them for a better view!