My fingers are fire proof . . .

It is official . . . my fingers are so used to coming into contact with my glue gun that it just doesn't phase them anymore . . . but they have suffered for many a good cause . . . namely the past week or two have produced MANY flower pins . . . I actually had 28 more . . . very different pins, barrettes, headbands, flower belts etc. but I invited my sisters to take their pick and shared many with friends . . . so here are some new ones that I made this week (recognize some of the material Jules?)The ones below are free for the taking . . . so if you have an out fit that needs a little dazzle stop by ladies!!!um by the way . . . they are IMMENSELY cuter in real life!!!

Sewing my heart out!

Since I got a sewing machine for my birthday I have been pretty stoked to do a little sewing!!! My mom put me right to work over spring break and we "whipped" out this quilt . . . I sewed and sewed, she pressed and sewed and finished it off for me!!! I love how "pioneerish" it looks! I also "whipped" out a flower pillow for our living room . . . although it may be a little too fru fru for our motif . . . (yes mom it is a coppery gold) I thought that it turned out pretty good!

Craftin' again . . .

We have been doing a bit more crafting at our house . . . last night for young women's we made more hair bows . . . I wish that I had taken pictures of the girls creations!!! They were mega cute!!! Another fun project I found was a burlap sign that you can print out on your computer!!! It totally worked . . . I have tons of freezer paper if anyone needs some . . . it is a bit pricey to buy for one project so come and take some off my hands and save a little $ . . . check out the Sign Instructions, and the Savior Subway Art Layout.
I also made a valentines heart to add a little festivity to our house . . . I have gotten lazy about decorating for the holidays the past year . . . so this is it for now . . .
I made a few more flowers and headbands . . . they are just hanging out if anyone wants to snoop through my stash . . . you are welcome to them . . .
I also had to share the BIGGEST flower bow that I have made to date . . . large and in charge kids!

Christmas Craft day . . .

I had a little craft day with two of my AMAZING neighbors yesterday . . . I made another paper wreath AND found a darling frame at the DI to put it on . . .
A few jazzed up hats for my nieces . . .
and a few mangers . . . also Jenna here is a photo of how I made the other paper wreath . . . . just tear the paper and glue, glue, glue . . . THANKS Alycia and Whitney for coming over!!!

Antique Paper Wreath and Window Re-use

My Aunt called me a few weeks ago and heard that I had face booked a request for an old window . . . and she answered my plea!!! She and my Uncle are renovating my grandparents house and she had a window from the garage that she said that I could have! I think my heart lept with joy when I saw it! Layers of paint, peeling, rusty latches . . . loved it!!! I just gave it a scrub and made an antique paper wreath to hang on it! I have been torn all day deciding where to hang it and it finally landed in our master bedroom (it looked great in EVERY room). Thank you, thank you, thank you Elaine!!! I have a metal saying hanging in my living room that would look kickin' above it . . . another decision to make . . . I am going to make a few more smaller paper wreaths for another room . . . I love how it turned out too!!! I bought some OLD books at DI that were hammered and tore one up and folded and glued the paper onto a foam wreath. Really easy . . . just takes a little time. My boss has an old door that I have been drooling over . . . but Toph just looks at me like I am crazy . . . it would be a super cute headboard!!! Hmmm . . .

Can't Stop Crafting . . . my life story . . .

Dear GIANT grapevine Christmas wreath that I made my freshman year of college . . . thank you for waiting so patiently in storage . . . in a black garbage bag collecting dust and being crushed by the other holiday items for so many years only to now make an appearance as three separate crafts so many years later in my stress driven pre-Thanksgiving cooking crafting craze. I am glad to finally have put you to a new use . . . including a giant star . . .
a smaller Christmas wreath . . .
. . . and three grapevine "fir" trees that remind me so much of the story "The Three Trees."

Also Bitten: A Romantic Comedy . . . thank you for your side splitting opening chapters!!! I can't wait to continue reading and reminiscing about the mission field! If I could ever get Toph to read you I think he might enjoy it . . . since you are based in Tennessee . . .

Crafting while fighting a cold . . .

Chris has been sick all week and being the giving, sharing husband he is . . . has passed it along to me . . . although I have been stomach sick to . . . poor guy . . . Now that I think about it I believe it started to come on after he went golfing last week . . . hmmm . . . coincidence?
I came home from a long day at work and felt like crafting . . . hence the wreath and flower necklace. I have been going through our boxes (!!!) of hoiliday decor and have been making trips here and there to the D.I. with things that we haven't used during the holidays for a bit. Basically out with the old and in with the new.
I have 2 cakes and MANY pies that will be taking over my kitchen the next few weeks . . . so of course I am crafting while fighting a cold/flu tonight . . . (P.S. can't wait to wear the necklace tomorrow . . . already have my gear laid out) . . . okay the Nyquil is kicking in . . . and I'm out . . .

. . . okay . . . made more necklaces . . .

Flower Headbands and Barrettes . . .

My Young Womens class was in charge of our activity last night and for weeks now the girls in YW have been asking me to teach them to make flower barrettes and headbands . . . so last night we finally got out the glue guns, ribbons, feathers, beads, and material and went to work!
I wish that I had brought my camera to take pictures of the girls creations . . . but it didn't happen . . . so all I have is what I made . . . before and after the activity.
The girls did a great job and we made (and cleaned up) quite a mess! I have plenty of leftover stuff if anyone feels inspired and wants to make something!
Some of the flowers I made are pretty big and will most likely end up as pins and who knows what else . . . . I love the headbands! The feathers are vavoom, vavoom . . . plus some of the headbands are animal print! It was way fun! Our YW rock!

Day off = Cleaning and Crafting

I won't lie . . . I have been in my pajamas all day and it has been wonderful! It has been a while since I have had a day to get caught up with no outside demands for the day. I got SOOO much done! I have had all the Harry Potter movies going all day while I have worked and crafted and cleaned and decluttered and reorganized etc . . . and it has been SOOO nice! I have no idea why I hang on to some things . . . like boxes . . . as in boxes for picture frames, figurines, candles, all sorts of things . . . I had an entire closet FILLED with boxes and I finally got rid of them and am oogling the space left behind . . . I think I was saving them for when we move . . . but they were pointless for the most part . . . so Toph will be thrilled . . . also this week I made banana cupcakes with Nutella frosting . . . so my freezer is now filled with frosted goodness of the remaining cupcakes after sending a plate home with Chris' buddy for he and his roommates. . . so if you need a cupcake and have no nut allergies come on by anytime!
Also I got a little crafting done . . . a mirror that I LOVE and some letters that needed a little vamping . . . good day overall!
Nutella Frosting

1 small jar Nutella
1 stick Butter, softened
1/2 tsp Vanilla
4-5 cups Powder Sugar
2-3 Tbsp Milk

Fudgy Style

Melt the butter and beat together with the nutella, add vanilla, powder sugar and milk until desired consistency is reached. (This frosting thickens more as it cools, so hang back on the powder sugar a bit at first)

Buttercream Style

Cream together the butter and nutella, add the vanilla, powder sugar and milk until desired consistency is reached.