Christmas Time is HERE!

I really really REALLY cannot believe Christmas is already right around the corner! I have put up about all the decor I think I will. I want to spend the rest of my time making gifts and spending time with my loved ones as that's the most important part!!!

Here are a few shots of our tree; AFTER the Christmas fairy came and repaired the broken lights and rearranged the hodge podge ornament placement. These were taken with my iPhone so don't expect great focus play tricks!

I love our fresh assortment of handpainted gingerbread children and houses, snowflakes, polka dots and glitter! This is all from last year but it's just as spectacular now as it was then.

Stay tuned for a NEW MIY decor piece on a budget!

On another note...without speaking in "Oh ye of little faith" lingo, this year is going to be quite the scaled down model of Christmas' past. Although it always seems to point that way, something always seems to give just in the nick of time. I don't doubt that can happen this year as well; however, as a mama looking out for her babes and wanting to make it the best year ever, I have to be prepared and plan around the seemingly hollow pocketbook.

I have some fabulous MIY projects brewing! I can't even begin to list them here for fear I will work myself into a panicky frenzy and excessive anxiety levels that I will fail to get them all done. But...just think homemade fairy houses and dolls...waldorfy toys made from felt, cute accessories and home decor.....

(((sigh))) I feel the panic rising already....

How 'bout I move on to what COULD happen? What COULD happen is a magic money tree could sprout up in my yard and then my WANT list would be acceptable!

I have so much to be thankful for, I feel like a spoiled child even uttering the words "want list". *slaps hand* (BAD GIRL)

How about if I change it to a "NEEDS" list?

Would a Kitchen Aid Mixer fall into a "needs" category? How about a 28mm 1.4 Canon lens? LOL Probably not...

A food dehydrator? Sounds needy to me! Or an oil expeller for my Samson Juice extractor? As you can see, I am not a bling bling girl with high hopes for material pleasures. I always covet the things that could make life a little simpler, or healthier. Oh that reminds me, I cannot forget my newest item of NEED. I am very much so coveting a pair of Mizunos running shoes. Wave Nirvana 7's to be precise. Size 7 to be even more precise. In White/Sunrise to be ultimately precise.

You see, I have taken up running and my beautiful, out of my normal budget pair of Nike's are not supporting my overpronating feet like they should. :( I have developed shin splints which are QUITE PAINFUL to say the least. Thus I NEED the Mizunos in a bad way. I am debating selling my Nike's on eBay, but can't bear the thought of being stuck with my Puma's for the duration of the transaction...(sigh) I am in a pickle indeed.

Anyway...I have lot's of projects to tackle so I'd best be leaving you faithful readers alone.

Happy December 1st!

I love letters...a Tutorial

I adore letters and words...last year after Christmas, my house felt so bare and forlorn that I went on a home decor rampage attempting to fill my poor white rental walls with warmth and happiness. I was somewhat successful...one of my endeavors, featured a very cool letter collage that I will soon be posting photos of.

However, my color scheme has changed! For some reason, I am pulling away from the blacks, reds, and warmer tones of which I have been inclined towards; and have been leaning towards cooler tones of robin's egg blue, bright cheery red, and crisp, clean whites. So I am redoing this collage and this tutorial features one of the letters.

Of course, our letter is "M". I bought this paper mache letter at Joanne's for about $4. I had painted it black and mod podged it with a black and white damask scrapbook paper so it looked like this:

This tutorial is going to show you how I did this.

(please pardon the dust on the letter, it's been in a box since moving)

Acrylic craft paint

Fresh coat of paint...I only used one coat because

I like the dark showing through for a touch of rusticness.

These are the scrapbook papers I have chosen for this new color scheme.

After the paint dried, I placed the letter on the sheet of paper

I chose to use and traced the letter with a pencil.

After tracing, cut the letter shape out of the paper and make sure it fits adequately. Trim any excess edges off as you don't want the paper bigger than the letter. A little smaller is ideal.

Then you use the handy dandy Mod Podge! (And a cute little assistant helps a lot too)

Remove the paper and paint a coat of Mod Podge on the paper mache letter. Then place the paper back on. The Mod Podge glues the paper on securely.

Use your hands to carefully smooth the paper on to the letter to reduce wrinkles or bumps. The paper may try to buckle but smooth it until it doesn't.

Then generously apply Mod Podge on top of the paper with a paintbrush. Apply Mod Podge to the sides of the letter also. This will seal the entire letter and create a nice, smooth finish.

Voila! After the Mod Podge dries, (about 4 hours) You have a beautiful letter to display however you please! Stay tuned for the completion of my letter collage and display choice!

My First Guest Tutorial Post!

In other words, ME being the guest!!! My sweet friend Misha at Mommie Hobbies hosted my post! Thank you Mish!

So make sure if you are one of my faithful readers (ahem...all 3 of you) please go see her and check out all the wonderful goodness she posts about every day...uh...sometimes more than once a day!

This is a busy busy week! I'm sure each of you can relate; I have GOBS of things to do.

1. Nature walk with kids-ulterior motive: to gather greenery and red berry branches for my next thrifty holiday decor project, and to snap a few photos of the gorgeous fall weather we are having.

2. Finish hairbow project for friend-MAIL those suckers.

3. Print this weeks lessons being a short week.

4. 3:00 baby photo shoot at the park-maybe I can tie nature walk in with that.

5. Begin project I have up my sleeve...

6. Deep clean house so leaving Thursday won't be horrific.

7. RUN

8. Prayer at church at 7:00pm

9. Incorporate all of this into a regular activity filled day

10. Oversee hubby and kids completing outdoor decor

11. And last but not least...LAUNDRY. The worst thing ever!!!

And now you know how busy I am pretty much each and every day!!! Perhaps tomorrow I will report how successful I was....anyone want to guess at which area gets shirked? LOL