Autumn Paper Quilt

After a long blogging break, I find myself very much in the mood to get back into it! I think fall weather does that to me. More time indoors, more cozy crafting time.  Besides that, my baby is getting to be less of a baby all the time, and things are getting easier again. We are getting into a good homeschool rhythm and looking forward to Thanksgiving! 

I made this fall paper quilt last year, during my last (very tiring) weeks of pregnancy.  This year I just embellished it with lace trim, leaves and the home quote sticker. This idea could be used for any celebration or season!

Linking up to Add a Pinch's Mingle Monday

Paper Medallions - A Cute Craft With Many Uses

I made these medallions for the Fourth of July, after seeing some for sale at Michael's.  They were selling them for $5 each, and I knew I could make them myself! So I found some instructions, Spotted Canary blog, with video, How About Orange blog, No Biggie blog; some people call them paper lollies, some call them pinwheels, and some medallions.  I saw them on this blog (see picture below), made large and used as a backdrop for party decorations. 

Hostess with the Mostess Blog

 You could make these for kids to wear for birthdays, give them as awards for school or good behavior, put them as a ribbon on gifts, and even use them in home decor!

Make it in a Minute! Floral Hair Pin Tutorial

Wearing flowers in your hair, or on your shirt, or even on your shoes seems to be very popular these days.  I'm not one to keep up on the latest trends, but flowers will always be pretty and feminine, and I'm all for that!
I made these little simple flower hair pins in just a few minutes, with just a few supplies.
If you would like to make these, you will need Good Hair Days Magic Hair Pins, which by the way, are fabulous for holding up-dos on long hair. Also you will need a button for each pin; a hot glue gun; and whatever type of flowers you wish to use.  I just pulled mine off some artificial flower bouquets that I had in the house!

Supplies are ready...

Glue a button to the back of the hair pin...

Glue a flower on the front; the button provides a place for the flower to adhere to...

Voila! Beautiful, simple hair pins!

Linked up to Today's Creative Blog, Get Your Craft On!

Finding Joy

Finding joy in everyday things....

Like sunny days for swinging on swings...

blowing bubbles and baby smiles....

early planting and the hope of future garden treats...

 

great books for my children to read....

 time for crafts, beautiful paper...

a beautiful bedside table my husband made...

and doll birthday parties...

Little things that make my heart sing.

Linking up to Finding Joy, Finding Joy Friday

A Burst of Creativity- Embellished Headbands

Since my baby has decided to take it's time in making his or her arrival, I go from no energy to bursts of energy.  On one of my high energy days, I made these embellished headbands.  Some of the supplies I already had:  the headbands were just plain bands that I probably got from Walmart or Target.  I got the gold ribbon, the turquoise circles, and the gold scroll on the big brown headband from JoAnn's.  Some of the jewels I pulled off hairbands or haircombs that I never made use of. The gold and turquoise earring is from Pier One, and the gold and pearl earring is from Macy's.  I had a lot of fun making these, and made all four in an hour with just a hot glue gun! I'd guess that the four of these cost me $20, because of the earrings I bought.  I'll have to post a picture of my sister wearing one...I gave her two for her birthday, and she is always doing pretty braids in her hair.  

 

Linking up to: Toot Your Horn Tuesday at A Silly Little Sparrow;Show and Tell @ Blue Cricket Design; Hoo's Got Talent at Night Owl Crafting; Get Your Craft On at Today's Creative Blog; Under $100 at Beyond the Picket Fence; Transformation Thursdays at The Shabby Chic Cottage; Strut Your Stuff Thursdays at Somewhat Simple; Show Off Your Stuff at Fireflies and Jellybeans; Show and Tell at ABC & 123;Pinkapotamus Party;  Whatever Goes Wednesday at Someday Crafts;

12 New Things - Flaky, Fluffy Biscuits!

Here's my September update for the 12 New Things Challenge that I joined up with. For those who haven't heard about it yet, Sarah Mae at Like a Warm Cup of Coffee started this to encourage herself and others to learn new skills. For August, I started doll quilts for my daughters.  I have now finished one of them.... 

I still have to finish the second with my older daughter, but since we are doing it together, it takes longer. Here is the link for the original 12 new things post.

And here is a link to August's post about the doll quilts. 

And now, onto September's New Thing....I decided to go with making flaky biscuits for the first time.  I used the recipe and instructions that I found here.  And it worked! They were tasty, and flaky, and fluffy.  The only thing I would change next time would be to add a bit of butter flavoring, and to keep them a little taller when I roll them.  By the way, I didn't use the food processor as the recipe states, but just hand mixed it.  We had these the first night, hot and buttered, along with beef stew.  The next morning, before we headed off to the local mountains to pick apples, we had them with an apple topping and caramel sauce I made.  Mmmm, what a breakfast!

Check back in with me next month, and I might have started or completed my next skill: A fall dress....The pattern and fabric are in the picture below. 

Thanks for stopping by to see what I've been up to!  Visit Sarah Mae's latest 12 Things post, and everyone else linking up here.

Fall Rain Fun and & Dollar Store Wreath Creation

We had an unexpected off-and-on rain shower today, with thunder, lightning, the whole works! It doesn't happen very often here, so it is a real treat. Of course, the kids had to go splash in the puddles...they loved that!  My oldest discovered that two of the kernels she had planted from a ear of corn we had grown have sprouted, in spite of very random waterings...

And we followed up our puddle play time with a warm cup of delicious hot cocoa and marshmallows, and a few candy corn besides.  :-)

Yesterday, I got around to making a wreath from a dollar store wreath, leaves, and flowers.  First, I painted it a brilliant red....

and then, hot glued on the flowers, leaves, and acorns. 

In the process, I got very low on glue, and so I stuck a pen behind the glue in the glue gun to push the remainder forward...I forgot to take the pen out before it cooled. No amount of pulling will get that pen out of  that glue gun now! ;-)

Linking up to Spotlight Yourself at It's So Very Cheri
Linking up to Get Your Craft On Thursday @ Life as Lori
Linking up to Home & Family Friday at Home is Where My Story Begins
Linking up to The Shabby Nest Frugal Friday

A Simple Fall Craft & A Great Blog

Here's a little art project we did last week when the weather felt like fall...this week it feels like summer in the desert. :-(

My daughter watercolored the background, we added foodcoloring to some rice for grass, glued on cotton ball clouds, and glued on a variety of colored punched leaves.  The kids really liked this craft.  Today, we are going to do the sheep we found on Just Next Door.

I love all the blog homeschool resources that are out there! I just recently discovered Confessions of a Homeschooler, and it is amazing!! There is enough valuable resources on that one site to keep you busy for a long time.  It is hard to believe the creativity and organization that one person can have! Check it out if you get a chance!

Linking up to



Also Linking up to Red Ted Art's Blog for Kids Get Crafty!
And, Linking up to Homeschool Creations Preschool Corner.

A Hobby of Mine

Since I was little, I have created homemade cards, and all these years later, I still do.  When I was a youngster, and made them for my Mom and Dad and siblings, I just drew pictures, and colored.  I still keep it pretty simple, I don't have any of the fancy new gadgets for card making or scrapbooking; just pretty papers and stamps, buttons, and brads.  It is so pleasing to make something beautiful that will brighten someone's day!  And the stamp I put on the back gives the whole reason for it: "Handmade Because You're Worth It".

Also I want to mention the giveaway over at A Wise Woman Builds Her Home. It is for a gorgeous apron of your own choosing, and they have some beautiful choices! Follow this link for the giveaway: Marie Madeline Studio Giveaway.

This and That

Lately, I have been preparing for an upcoming visit with my sister.  I have three sisters, so they probably get frequent mention on my posts.  I also have a brother who recently visited.  Only one of my sisters lives close to me, but we are all close in heart.  Sisters are such a blessing! 

Also recently we made some homemade playdough, so easy to make, and were soon serving up tasty playdough cakes.  Later, the children had a tent made with the dining room chairs, and I saw strips of playdough hanging over the rungs of the chairs.  The children explained that a blizzard was coming, and they had hung smoked meat up in the attic, like Pa and Ma of Laura Ingall's Little House in the Big Woods. I love the creativity of little ones!

On our read-aloud list for homeschool was Dr. Seuss's Green Eggs and Ham. We have read that, of course, many times before, so to add an element of fun, I made green scrambled eggs. We don't eat ham, so I served it with smoked turkey lunchmeat. It was well received, especially by my little one, who loves eggs made every way!  My older daughter is in her first year of homeschool, and we are using Memoria Press Curriculum, which you can view here: Memoria Press. We are 11 weeks into the lesson plans, and I am so pleased with it!  This is my first year to homeschool, and I wanted an easy to follow, challenging, and yet not boring, curriculum.  I am so glad I found their package!  My daughter is now reading many CVC words, counting to 100, learning her addition facts, memorizing scriptures, hearing lovely music, and seeing beautiful artwork. 
If you homeschool, what do you use for homeschool curriculum?