For some cute girls on my Christmas List...

Now that Christmas is over I can post all the projects I have been working hard on...WHEEE! Hubs and I both come from large-ish families (he is the 5th of eight kids, I am the 5th of seven) so we don't do presents for everyone in our families. Especially since those siblings are married and have anywhere from 1-5 kids...the list gets big quickly. When we were little we would draw names and we got them a big present. Now that we are older (and wiser?) we are on a rotation each year. This year we had Hub's oldest brother and his wife who have 4 kids (2 girls, 2 boys) and live in SLC. In my family we had my oldest brother and his wife and THEIR 4 kids (3 girls and 1 boy) who live in my hometown in Missouri. Money was tight tight tight! I didn't have a job until the end of November and the Hub is in Grad School and not working. So we decided to go as home made as possible this year. This is what we came up with.

Little notebooks made into purses (for the girls) to take to church, or wherever they want. I did a really cute one for Justice (who has to have whatever his big sisters have) without straps. It has trucks and tire tracks and "zoom" all over the front. It's way cute. I got so ambitious in getting them ready for Christmas that I wrapped his before I snapped a picture:( Whoops! The ribbon and buttons are sewed on thru the notebook. Also did some for my nieces Danielle, Lilly and Kate, but I had to wrap them and send them early so I don't have pictures of them either. I think Lilly's is my fave, it is SO darling! I'll see if my SIL can send me a picture. Even I was impressed with how well they turned out. My brother tried to tell me I should sell them....he flatters me:)

This is Grace's

This is Hazey's

Got the idea from Linds @ That's so Cuegly

Damask

I have a new favorite print. Don't worry polka dots, I still love you. And I always will. However, I have found a new print that seems to be popping up everywhere these days. Damask. I know, where have I been living before now, under a rock? I have seen it and always liked it but I saw it today on ColorSplash (best designing show E-V-E-R!) done on a wall and fell in love. It is the first thing I want to do when I move into a house of my own. They painted the wall a nice light dusty blue and did a damask stencil with a blue paint about 2 shades darker. HELLO! I am in love. It has the all over pattern and excitement of a wall paper and yet no taking it down wallpaper style. Just paint over it.

I have since found other things in Damask I love. It's too bad it's such a bold print. I'd love to do an entire room in nothing but that. Seriously, its become quite an addiction lately:) I love that you can do it in all kinds of contrasts by simply doing a matte paint with a glossy paint stencil, or black and white. Yum yum yum! I hope this is a print that is always in style. I think that's part of the reason I like it. I gravitate towards things I think are going to be more timeless and classic rather than too trendy and dated.

This paint job will be one of the first things I do when I get a place of my own.

Don't you just LOVE these wallpapers?!
This chair makes me want to curl up and read a book.
This little beauty belongs on my bed.

These just look so luxurious!

Love how the print stands out against plain white.

What Kind of World...

This video is very touching and thought provoking. I'm sure you all know Autism has become my new soapbox, and I am sorry if I over-do it. But it's something I see and deal with almost daily. I can't help but wonder all the potential these children have that is not being realized.

How must a parent feel to see their child that they waited and hoped for, prayed would come, arrive looking absolutely perfect. They develop normally until about 18-24 months when they have vaccines mandated by the government. Their children then suddenly start to slide backwards in development, stop talking, making eye contact, relating to others, responding to their name, even walking normally. Their hearts must break a thousand times over every day, thinking of the pain their child is in, being trapped in their own body, wanting to express what they want or need but unable to do so. They will never go to a normal school, get married, go to college, realize all the dreams you have for them when they are growing inside your body and your heart. In a way, you lose your child.

A survey done in 2004 asked parents if they thought vaccinations caused their child's autism. 70% said yes, with the other 30% offering explanations that it's possible. To see the survey and details go here. The statistics for autistic children are startling, a new study released in October 2009 shows the new numbers: 1 in 91 children have autism. (Read the press release here) This is becoming an epidemic that needs to be fixed. More information about the link between autism and vaccines can be found by going to this website: www.autismcoach.com

Productive Weekend

I had a crazy weekend, trying to complete everything for Christmas presents not to mention domestic chores...ew. I had:

1. loads and loads of laundry.
2. Running to Wal-Mart (I HATE going anywhere this time of year. I wanted to poke someone's eyes out.)
3. Vauuming, dishes (since we don't have a dishwasher....bigger ew!)
4. Sewing
5. Cleaning my bathroom
6. Christmas presents to make
   

It was just one of those days where it all came to a head. My messy, cluttered, dirty, disastrous dwelling and endless list of To-Do's had become E-NOUGH! Baa-Haa (my hubby's nickname) called me "the Monster of December 5th". I was not amused. Due to money being tight (Baa Haa is in grad school), we decided we would make the presents that we could this year. I needed to get crackin.
In spite of my momentary meltdown, I actually got quite a bit done and was really proud of myself. I crawled into my bed last night (with freshly clean sheets mmmmm:) feeling quite satisfied. Here are some of the things I worked on. I will post more process pictures of each project when I get them all finished.

Something fun with these is in the works.... I can't wait to see how it turns out!

Isn't this cute?! My sewing skills are not the best. I hope it doesn't look ghetto.

Disney gave me the idea.

This is for my MIL. They aren't quite done, I'm adding wire to the top for picture holders like they did here.

These cute little purse notebooks are for my husband's nieces.

Linds at That's So Cuegly gave me the step by step.

Tin Decorating

So I have this really crafty friend that I used to baby-sit for. I love now that I'm a grown up (whatever that means right?!) we are the best of friends and she's not just someone I used to work for. She is seriously one of, if not THE, most crafty person I know. I saw her tables of crafts and cute stuff when I was about 10 and fell in love. I credit her for getting me interested in the first place. She showed me some super cute ideas the last time I was back in Missouri visiting. One of them was taking old aluminum tins and decorating them all kinds of cute ways. Such as taking an old Altoids tin and using them for a little sewing kit in your purse, a bigger tin to give someone cookies or another gift in, to store pens or just whatever. I found some tins of my very own today (DI is a great place to check!) and have since been looking for pictures of ideas. Here are some of my faves.

LOVE the paper on these beauties.

I love how functional this is! I have a brazillion boullion cubs jars and just my use them for something similar.

This chicky used a cookie sheet and little tins to make an advent calendar. Christmas Presents next year for sure!!!

I LUUUUURVE the buttons on these. Buttons are one of my favorite embellishments. So cute

Know what's in these? Cookies that a Mom auctioned off for a school fundraiser. They're little clear paint tins with paper. Hello cuteness! You can find them here

Medicine Cabinet Door

Remember this little door from my medicine cabinet project? I had a few ideas and suggestions. I'd like to get some vinyl letters for the glass but since I don't know what I want it to say I don't want it to just sit and not realize any of it's boundless potential. So I got an idea from this cute chickadee and decided I was gonna try that with this frame.

I removed the glass pane and placed it on top of a cork square. I like that it's thicker than the roll of the cork.

I cut it to size and shape with my box cutter.

I found this bleached burlap fabric in the odds and ends. $1.67 for 2 yards...think I can handle that. I almost squealed out loud in the aisle. I have been looking for some burlap.
I left about an inch all around the edges. In hindsight I shoulda left more room since I was using upholstery tacks and not hot glue. But it turned out okay anyway.

Used my handy-dandy tacks to hold down my edges. I don't own a glue gun. I know, I should be shot. Shameful for someone who counts themselves a crafter. I don't know how I don't have one, I just don't.

Used my staple gun to attach the ribbon to the back edges. (sorry it's so bright, my camera needs to be replaced)

The plain burlap was a bit boring, I needed to add an embellishment. I tied a bow and sewed a button to it, then sewed it to the cork. It's attached pretty well.

Showcasing some of the cutest kids I know:)

Love it on my living room wall! I love the combination of the burlap with the antiqued frame.

Lesson's I've Learned from my Family

So this might not technically be considered a "creative cat" post, it's not a physical project so to speak. But one I'm even more proud of, and a little better to look at. I confess, this was all a ploy to show off my family. If you stop reading right now I'll only judge you a little bit:)

In this season of being grateful, one of the biggest things I am grateful for is my family. That is where everyone's story begins and ends, where the people who know us the best, love us the most, and made us who we are, are found. It never seems to matter how much time has passed since we have seen each other, we can always pick up right were we left off. What a blessing my family is to me! Another reason I love them so much is because they have TAUGHT me so much, especially my nieces and nephews. I love them like my own. I decided to dedicate a post to them, explaining things I have learned from them. Some are more serious, some are the lighter things in life. But ALL are important. The multitude of pictures hopefully make this an enjoyable read.

Another note: everyone in these pictures is related to me. I have 6 siblings and the 10 most adorable nieces and nephews.

1. Laugh often, and laugh much. You're going to get wrinkles anyway. They might as well be from laughing.




2. There is no friend like that of family. They are there for you no matter what.






3. Binki's are a kids best friend!










4. Making silly faces is something you never grow out of.













5. Girls aren't the only ones who wanna have fun!






6. We're all here because 2 people fell in love!






7. Real life can be a Fairytale.


8. Enjoy the season of life that you are in.








9. Late nights together bring out the silliest in us.




10. Take time to stop and smell the flowers.


11. It is very important to "share." Which is sometimes the hardest thing to do.






12. Dinosaurs are a boys best friend.




13. At least once, look at something through the eyes of a child who is seeing it for the first time.




14. FOOD IS GOOD!












15. Games, games, games. Card games, board games, mind games. Just games.






16. You're never too old to play dress up!








17. DIVA has no age limit.






18. There are more important things in life than having a clean house.


19. Daddies can be as versatile as Mommies.


20. Get your sleep. Anywhere, anytime, any place that you can.





















21. You are never to old to learn something new. Always love learning. When you stop learning you stop enjoying the world around you.








22. Never give up on your dreams, no matter how long it takes, how impossible they may seem or what you have to do to achieve them. The Lord ALWAYS keeps His promises. Always.






23. Love does not diminish the more people you share it with. It grows and grows and grows. There is more than enough love to go around.








24. There is nothing in the world as sweet as a baby.






25. No matter how wonderful something is, it is always made sweeter by sharing.


26. Just because someone isn't related by blood or marriage doesn't mean they aren't every bit as much family as those who are.






27. Sometimes when life is hard and there is nothing else to do you just need a good cry.



28. There is no bond like that of a sister.










29. Don't wake up the baby that is napping. Otherwise you get to take their nap for them. (This was a common threat breathed by my Mother. No doubt because SHE needed the peace and quiet:)


30. Sometimes you just need a little love. Never be afraid to go to your family for that.


31. No matter how tough a Petersen man looks or even is, they go to total MUSH when a baby comes around.








32. The little kids aren't the only ones who can fit in small spaces.