Crafty Blog From A Mom To Many

29 weeks and counting and tired....

2008-10-29T19:35:00.000-07:00

Gosh, having three in school makes for alot of work! I wouldn't trade it for the world though right now. Being able to be at home and attend all of their events or needs at school is so cool.

This is Red Ribbon Week as well as awards week which means awards ceremonies for each kid, all on a different day. As well as a lunch picnic for each kid on a different day. And being Halloween week trying to get costumes finished and 4 soccer practices and 3 games. I am just pooped!

I was worried last night as I got to thinking I hadn't felt the baby move in a while. He didn't move much even when I layed down so I monitored it for a while. Felt him a couple times and so I went to bed. Boy, today he is a mover! I had our new kitten draped over my stomach asleep and he was kicking so hard the cat moved! Watch out kitty, if you only knew what lies ahead, RUN!

I am finishing the gourmet apples for the girls teachers as a Halloween treat. I will post pics when I am done with 'em. Worked on an order of 6 earlier today for my oldest's old teacher!

Sales Sales Sales!

2008-10-22T06:44:00.000-07:00

Those garage sales and consignment stores get me every time! I decided to get out all of the clothes I have found for the baby and put them all on our bed. That's alot! And to think I didn't spend more than $40 for this array of over 60 pieces of clothing makes me ecstatic. They are all name brand and like new too.

It CAN be done. People complain about the economy this, money woes that. Yes, this is a bad time for our country, but help yourself by changing your habits. Make your household different from the rest. You can save alot of money by doing little things. I registered with Target Baby Registry. For myself. Being my fourth, I don't need a baby shower, and I gave all the baby stuff away after Morgan grew out of it. So every paycheck, I am getting something off the list. Even if I only have $5. Dwindling it down. I don't have extravagant things on there, just the essentials I need. If I find something at Walmart or at a yard sale, I mark my Target list as fulfilled.

Oh, and it doesn't hurt that we have the cheapest gas in the nation.....

$1.99 !!!!!!!

We filled up our truck for $40 :-)

Some New Collections

2008-10-02T08:20:00.000-07:00

I have added some new collections to my Etsy Shop. Here is a peek....

"Strawberry"

"Argyle"

"Autumn"

I really fell in love with these fabrics as soon as I saw them! The are so different and non-traditional, something I love.

Craving...Banana Bread and Chicken Noodle Soup!

2008-09-22T14:04:00.000-07:00

So I had a little cooking/baking going on this weekend. I was craving Banana Bread and then Chicken Noodle Soup!

I got the Banana Bread Recipe from AllRecipes.com, they have so many to choose from! But I made the Chicken Soup from Scratch, here is my recipe:

Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

1.5 lb. Chicken (I used Chicken Breasts as it was all I had and it turned out YUM!)
8 Cups Water
4 Chicken Bouillons
3 Large Carrots, peeled and sliced
1/2 Onion cut into large chunks
2 Cloves Garlic, sliced
1 Bag Egg Noodles
salt and pepper to taste

In a large pot, pour water and add bouillion and uncut chicken. Boil until chicken is done. Remove chicken, dice or shred and return to pot. Add remaining ingredients, except noodles. Simmer for 20 minutes. Add Egg Noodles. Soup is ready when noodles are done.

*Some people prefer dark meat chicken as it has more flavor. I just prefer white meat and it still had a wonderful flavor.

So my soup came out so good I had 5 (GULP!) bowls throughout the day! Oh and it made a HUGE pot. After my 5 bowls and the kids each had a few bowls, (DH is not a soup eater) we still froze a big gallon bag full, gave a jar to my mom and had another big jar in the fridge. It was alot!

And don't be afraid to add ingredients or alter this recipe. It is very basic and you can't really mess it up.

That's My Boy!

2008-09-09T11:22:00.000-07:00

This morning we discovered a baby boy inside of me!! We are SO excited!

And yes, the sono tech. is pointing to the goods, LOL

Extensive List of Ribbon Websites

2008-09-07T15:12:00.000-07:00

Following up my extensive list of fabric websites, here is a list of Ribbon Websites. Starting off with some great Etsy ones. Let us know if you have a favorite to add.

http://www.kinderklipz.etsy.com/
http://www.cardblanc.etsy.com/
http://www.ribbonexchange.etsy.com/
http://www.heatherknitz.etsy.com/
http://www.hairbowslady.etsy.com/
http://www.christopherpines.etsy.com/
http://www.trimgoddess.etsy.com/
http://www.justbecauseribbons.etsy.com/

http://jkmribbon.com/
http://ribbonjar.com/
http://bowsinbloom.com/
http://ribbonfactory.com/
http://stranodesigns.com/
http://jcarolinecreative.com/
http://radiantribbons.com/
http://westcoastribbonsupply.com/
http://awalkdownmemorylane.net/
http://rockinribbon.com/
http://theribbonretreat.com/

Minky Love

2008-09-05T15:33:00.001-07:00

*Sigh* I love Minky. *Sigh*

So my newest creation above, made in boy colors. With the initial of the name we would give a son, if we had one.... Hint Hint!

I go Tuesday for my Sonogram. I am praying for a healthy baby. Bouncing around in there, but not hard enough that we can't take a peek at what he/she is! After being in the hospital this past weekend, all I want in my arms is a baby! I don't care if we have a boy or another girl, but I just simply cannot wait to hold my baby and care for it. A boy would be a plus, of course, but just healthy.

So I have this love of minky, and am creating new things as we speak, like burp cloths and more blankets. I have many new ribbons, fabrics and ideas.

I will have them all in my shop by Monday so check 'em out!

MMM..So I craved twice baked potatoes

2008-09-02T09:26:00.000-07:00

Photo Courtesy of The Pioneer Woman

This past Friday was my birthday and I was craving the twice baked potatoes my mom was going to make for my birthday dinner. Unfortunately, I spent Friday-Sunday in the Hospital with a bad Kidney infection *no fun* so I missed out. When I got home Sunday guess what I made? YES, my very own twice baked goodness!

And I used this fantastic recipe. Oh my, I LOVE the recipes because Ree takes step by step pictures and it is SO fun and easy to make them!

My Baby Left Me Today :-(

2008-08-25T08:28:00.001-07:00

Oh the tragedy! So I waddled (yes, I already feel I am doing the preggo waddle at 20 weeks) to the school today with my three ducks in a row. Yet this year my youngest, Morgan Grace was along for the ride with her backpack and plastic bag of supplies :-(

She is the only one of my 3 to go to Pre-K. The older two were in a learning daycare/preschool at this age so I didn't send them to Pre-K, but I felt Morgan needed to have the interaction and fun with kids her own age so off she went.

She did cry. I did not. Well, O.K. maybe a little quiver in my voice when I called my husband after leaving the school to tell him it was done, but that's it. Now I get to be in this lonely, quiet house for 3 hours until she is done. Which I will utilize to its fullest as my craft/business time until baby comes.

Oh Morgan, you little stinker you.

An Extensive Fabric Website List

2008-08-12T17:41:00.000-07:00

Garage Sales

2008-08-08T08:03:00.001-07:00

I do so love them, yes I do.
I find such neat things as good as new!

I love going to garage sales. I love finding clothes that fit my kids and I love finding neat things I never would have bought myself at a store. Probably the best deal I ever got was at a garage sale at the end of the day. Everything was marked 1/2 off. So I loaded up on a metal shelf system that can be adjusted and a wooden clothes drying rack and a rolling cooler for soccer games and some kids clothes, for under $10. I was happy! I was ecstatic! Until my husband saw my load, you see, he does not share my view on garage sales :-( Oh well, one of these days, I will find something for HIM and prove that you just never know.

BTW.. I got that swimsuit up there for my littlest mermaid... $.50 at a garage sale :-)

What was your best garage sale find?

Children's Room Arrangements

2008-08-06T13:25:00.000-07:00

How cute is this?

So, with our current living condition, having my three girls share one room has been a challenge, but hey, at least they are all girls. So I have grasped this and have arranged and rearranged over and over. Yes, we do have a lot of pink in there, but it works. Here are some things I have done to make their room more fun and the general cost:

1. Bought those cheap wall stickers of Fairies and placed them all around the window (high enough though so a 4yo can't reach ;-) Cost: Using Dollar Store stickers - $2.00

2. Gave them each a bin with chalkboard front. They wrote their names on the front and use it for all their "important" things like DS games, belts, awards and treasures. This eliminates the clutter on top of shelves. Cost: $15.00

3. Took inventory of all toys and then removed about 3/4. I switch these out every few weeks and they always are delighted to find something they forgot they had.

4. Found some cute fairy curtains at a garage sale(love 'em) and with a tension rod, hung them at the doorway to their room. Cost: $2.50

5. We put together some cute puzzles and then with a decoupage glue sealed the completed puzzle. Add a cheap frame, and you have instant wall art. Cost: Using garage sale puzzles - $6.00

6. At the local Hobby Lobby, I found some picture frames in the clearance section that had initials centered in them on a heavy board. The frames were in good shape but the initials were not my girls, or in good condition and the ribbon to hang them from had seen better days. At about $.80 a piece, SO worth it though. Using my basic word program, I typed in my daughter's initial and enlarge it to about 300. I printed this out on a cute piece of scrapbook paper with light swirls in the background, light enough so the initial will be the main focus. After placing this in the frame, I cut some matching ribbon and replaced the old. After doing this for all three girls, one light pink, one light blue and one light green, it made an adorable wall piece! Cost: About $5.00 for 3 frames

7. The picture at top shows some butterflies, which are just blank wood butterflies I bought at the craft store, painted, added a ribbon and some glitter. Cost: Maybe $2.00 for 3

Now these are ideas I have but haven't been able to make yet:

1. Buy the small stretched canvas blanks from the craft store. Paint the background a solid light color. Using an assortment of round objects trace circles all over the canvas. Paint different colors, matching the existing room decor and staple a looped ribbon at the top. Viola! Instant wall piece!

2. Applique an initial to an existing pillow for the bed. This can really be a no-sew project since the pillow won't be washed. Just use something like Heat 'N' Bond and iron your letter onto the pillow. You can also do this to a cheap pillow case, be sure to applique or at least stitch around the edge though, since this will be washed frequently.

Oh, so many more...I will save them for another post.

Some Great Tutorials

2008-08-06T13:21:00.000-07:00

WOW! Check out some of the great tutorials this fab website has!

www.sewmamsew.com

How To's

2008-08-04T13:46:00.000-07:00

Featured on this blog in the coming days and weeks, will be fun crafty How To's, links to How To's and great pictures. Come back often to check 'em out!

First Post...Yippee!!

2008-08-04T13:37:00.000-07:00

So, for my first post, I though I would introduce myself with some pictures of my craftiness :-)

Soft and Fluffy Baby Blanket

Cupcake Patch

Another Soft and Cuddly Baby Blanket