Sit, Chat, and Finish THAT...

Today, we had an impromptu "Sit, Chat, and Finish THAT"... basically an afternoon of finishing projects with a bunch of friends, a variation of a "crafternoon". It all snowballed because of Brooke and her "foster child"... we are all using her sufficiently! Once others found out the whereabouts of her location today, they all converged here, eventually. The snow made for a fun, cold, chatty day.
I got my Christmas cards all done! After Peyton's ordeal was over, I finally felt in the mood to get these cranked out...
So, if you get one, be surprised, act like you've never seen it before... ;)
Christie was working on a few things... this darling tutu being one of them...
Peyton's not sad, just shedding a few tears of joy over how cute she is...
Ashley lived-up the part of being tutu model...
As did I...
Jaclyn suggested that we form our own type of "Red Hat Society", but, instead, wear tutus... I live the idea!
We made so many other things... many of which cannot be shown until post-Christmas wrapping thrashing...

How do I live without you?...

My finger is a little numb... think: "Rustoleum"... ;)
Still don't get it? Maybe this will explain...31 cookie sheets of various sizes, spread out all over my garage floor, ready for crafternoon... hence the numb finger...
So my post title... some might think that I am missing Merrill, which I am, but that was not what the title was aimed at.. or "who" I should say.
My computer was having issues earlier today, scary. I remedied it all by myself but didn't know until my hero, Austin came over and it started right up. Needless to say, I am pretty sure I wrecked Merrill's day off calling him with the news. Seriously, is there a computer troubles virus going around? Not like I spend all day every day on my bloggin' best bud, but how would I live without it?
We're Jake now.
And it's a good thing cause that would have made 5 things going awry around this joint...
1- Door to the garage won't open. Got new doorknobs to replace the bum one.
2- That one chip in the windshield... unrepairable. Need a new windshield..
3- Printer acting up, again.
4- We got so much rain today, we have a hole in our rain gutter, right over the spankin' new deck, and the extra room (storage/exercise/good place to lock stuff away that I don't want the kids playing with) has water leaking through or under the foundation, the carpet is wet. Does that when it gets too wet for the ground to absorb it quickly. Good thing it's the only unfinished room!
I think that's all that's messed-up...
Had an early birthday celebration/women's night out at Sandy's (yum!) tonight... Ashley was our star...
But Cade was pretty cute too...
Peyton enjoyed her first M&M of many to come...
And Ashley adored all of her gifts!!! Thanks all!She and Lynn came home and played Polly Pocket/Little People/Hannah Montana the rest of the night until they reluctantly went to bed... the dialogue they use when they play makes me giggle...
Lynn, playing Hannah Montana, crying... "Sniff, sniff... those people don't like my music..."
Ashley, playing the role of a very, hmmm, honest Polly Pocket, "Sometimes they do like your music and sometimes they don't. But sweetheart, sometimes people just don't like YOU..."
Grandma got Ashley this darling pillowcase dress... I will be making some of these... cute!
Add it to the pile of fabric for my other sewing projects!

Shadows...

So here I am, solo for bedtime, again... trying to convince Ash that her shadow, and the shadows of inanimate objects, are NOT out to get her...
All this drama while trying to get homework done and everything else ready for our crazy, not long enough Wednesday...
We had a blast today with our buddy Nathan (or Nat-an, as only Ash can say...). That kid is so stinkin' fun! Always making us laugh. Lynn didn't want to go to Kindergarten, that's how fun he is. It didn't help when mom showed up to drop off her cookie sheets for crafternoon... She really was determined to stay with Grammy here... I got her off, not very happy, but that all changed when she saw her friend Elle...
I didn't want to get my chores done today, playing with Nathan and Ash was far too tempting... we played some wild games of Candyland, and a Grandma W. classic, "find the stick of gum I hid so well" game that Nathan loves to play when he's here... but I eventually got them done... not as much as I should have; Peyton is being the vacuum, I should really clean the floors better...
But hey! I did manage to get groceries done today!

The best magnets...

If you are planning on participating in our "craftermornereve" (all day, that is...) and you haven't gotten all of your supplies, yet.. here's the best deal on magnets that I have found, they hold really well too:
They are at Wal-Mart on the craft isle, with the kids stuff, foamies, popsicle sticks, etc... $5.97 for 50!

Advent Calendar... GIVE AWAY!!!

I have officially re-gained my crafty (hehehehe... that was my best evil laugh...) life...
Here's my fruits:
I will be giving her away to one very jolly lady, or should I say person?...
Leave a comment telling me about a favorite holiday tradition or memory, and your name will be entered in a drawing for this masterpiece... winner announced Sunday evening!
If you don't win, then on Monday, you can go buy supplies and make one with me on Thursday, October 2nd, you name the time, my joint! (I will be open ALL DAY... I am a Best Western Widow!)
Supply list is in the side bar... I might add to it later as I am trying to get a fussy baby to sleep right now and I really don't know what it is that I am doing, or talking about, but if she hits her head one more time on some hard object while trying to crawl... so help me!
Um, anyway...
Buy a cookie sheet. The cheaper, the better. Any size, I used 11x17... no Teflon coated, the magnets won't hold.
You can prime you cookie sheet with automotive primer and spray paint it yourself, or you can bring it to me, specify which color you prefer, and I'll do it ;)... You must have it to me by Wednesday morning!!!
I will have the glue needed to adhere your paper, and a Cricut (and MANY fonts...) to cut out lettering, or foam stamps and paint to letter with. I also have wire for the hanger. I will also drill the holes needed before I paint your cookie sheet, or you will have to drill them yourself BEFORE YOU PAINT.
I also have various corner rounders, punches, and a trimmer, but you will have to bring your own papers!!!
Rick-Rack and ribbons are up to you too...
Now, for those daily pieces...
There are many options... above, is the collected, eclectic look. You have to come up with those too. (I do have 15 of the metal light bulbs [#5], those go to the first 15 to call them.) Or you may opt for the more consistent approach (my fav... heart!), as demonstrated below:
Those are circles punched in the background paper (double-sided) after I printed my numbers on them with my computer (I do have that saved...) topped with a page pebble, and glued to the magnets. (Those are one inch.) You have about 1 1/2 inches to play with in those squares. Bottle caps would be cute, wooden circles... you get the idea, right?
Oh, and those numbers, you gotta do those too. I used rub-ons, kind of a pain, I liked printing them much better, stamps would be cool too, I have to see if I have a font that small, so if you don't want my computer printed number method, get busy finding your numbers...
I will also have the grid, thanks to Christie :).
I think that's it, but I am very tired now, somewhat not all here...
RSVP so I know how much stuff to have for sure...
It'll be fun!
Should I bust out some Christmas tunes?

"Crafternoon"

Crafternoon was a success! While I know this picture doesn't necessarily represent "crafternoon"... it is one of the things that went on here today...I haven't finished my curly bows that Christie so generously and expertly taught us how to make. I will post a pic later... We got a lot of headbands made!!! Anyone have a final count?
We'll be doing it again!