Valetine's Day Goodness

Following are the ideas I presented on the KY3 morning show. Thanks for watching and visiting my blog. Email me with any questions: yeebird[at]gmail[dot]com. Happy Valentine's Day, friends!

Let crayons cool completely. Remove by turning upside down on a soft cloth, so as not to break them.

How about repurposing your Christmas tins into Valentine's Day boxes for the people you love?

Directions:
1. Spray tins with chalkboard paint. Leave lids on when painting.
2. When dry, fill with treats and decorate with chalk--think sweet nothings, remember whens, secret nicknames. Get creative, Schnookums.


Finally, two lovely ideas from the fabulous Martha (We're not worthy! We're not worthy!):

1. Felt fortune cookies. Find directions here. Just add chopsticks and a romantic evening at home with sushi. Only you and your special someone know what is written on those slips of paper tucked inside.

I'm just sayin'.

2. Valentine candy bags. I altered Martha's version a bit by cutting shapes directly from my photos and adding cutesy sayings. You like? Go here for specifics.

Oh, and did I mention today (February 6) is my birthday?

Yep.

More on that later . . .

That Feeling

I am starting to feel all Valentines-ey. So, naturally, this super-fine photo of my honey makes me swoon . . . ahh.

Busy, busy working on Valentine's Day projects for another guest visit to KY3 this Saturday. Check my blog this weekend for some love-ly ideas. Isn't February fabulous?!

What is making your heart skip a beat this Love month?

Tree and Ornament Goodness

Tree how-to

Purchase a green styrofoam tree from your local craft store.
Buy a ba-zillion toothpicks and break each in half.
Purchase a ba-zillion Christmas marshmallows.
Ditto with gum drops.
I found peppermint star peeps at my local Joann store to use as a topper, but you could just cut a paper star and call it good.
You can probably figure out the rest. It goes something like, stick away until fingers bleed. Merry Christmas.
But, seriously . . . thanks, Denise Schriver, for such a fun idea! Denise used this as a game--tables had all supplies and trees were the centerpieces. Table members were instructed to decorate the trees, but were timed! You can imagine the results . . .

Chalkboard ornament how-to
Buy wooden die-cuts at the craft store (found mine at Hobby Lobby--99 cents for a four pack!)
Paint with chalkboard spray paint.
Add a chunky button and thread.
Get your creativity on with some chalk and these original works of art. Use as gifts, gift tags, stocking labels, or ornaments. Wow!

Chalkboard ornament idea found here. I'm sure you will immediately want to bookmark Kellie's blog when you hit that link. She is amazing. One of my favorite blogs on the planet. Uber-creative, super-sweet--you'll love her and want to re-create her ideas. Thanks, Kellie, for a new take on ornaments!

Hand-drawn ornament how-to
Purchase muslin fabric. Bonus: it's SUPER cheap, and easy to find--even Wal-Mart carries it.
Trace around a bowl and cut out. My circles are 5 1/2 inches.
Child draws a picture with thin markers.
Sew around, sewing a bit of ribbon for the top and leaving a small opening.
Stuff with fiber-fil.
Sew opening closed.
Write child's name and the year on the back.
Special thanks to some elf artists who drew my ornaments: Ian, Lilly, Emilia, Taylor and Zachary. Amazing job, little helpers!

Fab Five: Ideas for decorating a clear glass ornament
1. Fill with pom poms. (Isn't this cute?) An extension to this idea would be stringing a pom pom garland with a needle and thread for a mini tree, then adding these ornaments. Love this!
2. Embellish the outside with all kinds of goodies. These beauties were found locally at the Scrap Nook.
3. Add a monogram (my personal favorite). Letter stickers from American Crafts. Rub-ons can also be used.
4. Isn't this pretty?! Roll paper tightly around a pencil and hold for about 30 seconds. Slide into ornament.
5. Insert a peacock feather (sound like a punchline to anyone else?). In a fancy-schmancy house, aka not mine, these would be so lovely in a big, glass bowl. Peacock feather found at Hobby Lobby--no birds were harmed in the making of this ornament.

Any questions? Email me! Thanks for looking!

Busy Elves

Santa's helpers are busy preparing for mama's trip back to KY3 tomorrow. Check back tomorrow for some sweet ornament ideas!

See ideas from my last visit here.

Good news this time--Ian and Lill will be on air with me, so folks are sure to stare at them, not me, right? Hoping that's the case.

What are Santa's helpers busy doing in your home today?

Encore

Coming back to KY3 on December 13 to share some more Christmas ideas!

And isn't Paula Morehouse teeny? She's sweet as can be--even helped us set up, take down, and walked us to the door. Very nice. So was Debbie Enlow, who produces the show. I've known Deb since she was in college and am so proud of her!!

Meanwhile, Nathan was playing a great Kenneth, saying, "Anything else, Miss Lemon?" at every turn. Anyone else out there a 30 Rock fan?

Advent How-To

Welcome! Following are three ideas to help you count down to Christmas with your children, all while reinforcing the true meaning of the season. Filler ideas found at the end of the post.

Stocking advent
Inspiration for this idea found here.






Supplies: felt; assortment of random buttons, beads, sequins, brads and ribbon I had on hand
Not a seamstress? No problem. Make paper stockings.

December Boxes
Inspiration for this idea found here and here.


Purchase 25 craft (paper mache) boxes from Hobby Lobby. Paint. Add numbers and embellishments.

Supplies:
Poster frame: Hobby Lobby, $16 (or use coupon for 40% off)
Paint: Craft Smart acrylic, Pale Blue; Apple Barrel acrylic, Leaf Green; Folk Art acrylic, Cardinal Red
Circle numbers: Every Jot and Tittle
Other numbers: Thickers
itty bitty numbers: Cut from scrapbooking paper sheet, Teresa Collins, Documented
Adhesive chipboard: Cosmo Cricket, Jolly by Golly (available locally at The Scrap Nook)

Happy Birthday Jesus! 7 day Scripture/Countdown


Cut 7 strips of paper. Write/print and glue one of each of the following verses on the backs.

Chain link 1:
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

Link 2:
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were sore afraid.

Link 3:
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people

Link 4:
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

Link 5:
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

Link 6:
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying

Link 7:
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Luke 2:8-14 KJV

Children remove a link in the chain each of the seven days before Christmas and read the scripture on the back.

Supplies:
Jenni Bowlin, mini Bingo Christmas cards
Transparency: Creative Imaginations
Arrow sticker: daisy d's
Paper: Making Memories FaLaLa and Glittered Poinsettia Red FaLaLa and Flocked Dot
Letters: my stash--can't remember but I think I bought them at Hobby Lobby

You've made them. Now what???

Ideas for filling your stockings and boxes:

• candy (my least favorite)
• event tix for that day (The Nutcracker, etc.)
• Bible verses
• Nativity figures
• A message to your child telling of a special craft you'll do that day, a seasonal baking project, or a trip you might be taking to serve food for needy folks, etc.
• Small craft supplies for a project you want to do that day
• A clue to something in another location

Beginning December 1, I'll be posting daily, counting down to Christmas. Keep checking back for Christmas ideas and recipes, and just the general day-to-day of this busy home!

The Place to Be

Busy, busy, busy . . . getting my craft on . . . preparing for my 15 minutes of fame (or 4, actually) . . .

KY3 morning show this Saturday, Nov. 28 at 7 a.m.
Me.
Sharing some Christmas countdown crafty-ness. Three ideas to help you answer that "How long until Christmas?" question your kids have already asked a dozen times.

Sneak peeks:

Ali fans might recognize this idea:

Plus a nativity countdown still in the works.

Directions and detailed photos will be posted on my blog this weekend.

And now, on to more important things. I am thankful.

For my honey, Nathan.
xoxo, sweets.

For this guy (and his soccer medal, earned last night):

And for the spirited, chatty, teensy girlie behind these big brown eyes:

Who and what are you thankful for? Happy Thanksgiving, dear blog reader!