Christmas Goodies and a Christmas Wish

Running out the door (again!) but I wanted to post a few Christmas goodies before Christmas is over and done for 2009! Thanks to the numerous artists who inspired these projects.

Perpetual Keeping Christmas Calendar

Gift Tag Gift Set

A Minty Kiss For You!

Key Chain Post-It Note (if your name starts with T, it may be for you!)

Christmas Cocoa for 4

Mini Milk Crate - MMMMMMMM Good!

Hope your holidays are the best and that you enjoy the true spirit of Christmas no matter what the circumstances in your life happen to be. Christ is alive and well and that is what Christmas is all about!

. . . a little something . . . Not Available at the "O"

This is a little gift that isn't available at the "O". I don't know about you, but that Overstock.com commercial is already on my nerves! This isn't that incredible, but a little gift for a friend - I have yet to make any of my own cards, but this is 16 cards to get her off to a slightly less stressful Christmas season. Money is tight around here this year, so chances are if I can't/don't make it out of my "I'm not a hoarder" stash, it won't be given.

If you would like to make a card gift box of your own, there is a very simple formula. Measure the length (L) and height (H) of your card. Measure the thickness (T) of your card pile. L + T + T and the H + T + T and cut one piece of cardstock to this measurement. For the top use the same formula adding 1/4 - 1/2 inch or L + T + T+ 1/4", cut. Now score both pieces at the THICKNESS measurement on all 4 sides. Cut one score line from each corner and for a nice flush edge cut a "V" from the cut score line. Glue tabs inside. For a standard 4 1/4 X 5 1/2 card with my pile of cards and envelopes meausring 2 1/4" I cut the bottom at 9 X 10 1/2" and 9 1/4" X 10 3/4". I scored on all sides at 2 1/4".

O, O, O. . . we'll let's just change that to HO, HO, HO and HOpe you are building up to a wonderful Christmas season with your family and those that are important to you!

Happy Halloween

I like Halloween. I'm not a Halloween junky like my friend Paula, but I like the cutsie side of Halloween. . . I'm sort of like the "Good Things" side of the Martha Stewart Halloween Issue. I think the "Bad Thing" side is fun to look at, but just not my style. Here are some Halloween treats from my recent Halloween themed classes. I know it's a bit late for Halloween, but most of these could be easily adapted to Thanksgiving or Christmas (or even Easter, the 4th and anything in between!) I made my very first computer template for the pumpkin box. I'm not tech savvy enough yet to know how to post a link for you here, but if you really want it, you can email me and I will send it to you. It worked for the class so I guess it's okay! I was able to print 2 to a sheet of 8.5 X 11 CS so it works for me! I made extras for my kids' teachers and they really liked them. The sisters that I visit teach enjoyed the goodie bags (along with my mom) and I gave the hats to a couple of friend's of mine for a little treat. If you'd like to see photos of my kids at the ward Fall Festival (translate Halloween Party) last night, pop on over to myMoments in Time Blog

we had a great time and my boys won Cutest Costume (again!) They have won the costume contest no matter where we have been every year of their lives!

Anyway you spend it; ghoulish or cute, have a very Happy and SAFE Halloween!

It's Time for a Change

Have you ever just gotten stuck?  Stuck somewhere that you know you want out of, but aren't quite sure exactly how?  I think they call it "stuck in a rut?"  Well, I've been stuck in a rut.  I've had a tremendously trying and difficult year and much more on my plate than I care to elaborate on, but I'm tired of being stuck in the rut.  I've gone through many motions, I've accomplished  a lot, but I think I've just been being really hard on myself and very unforgiving of my weaknesses and failures.  I want out.  I want to start anew.  I'm making a change.  

Can I be the first to wish you all a very Happy Mother's Day?

Coaster Post-It note Holders

Mini Tote Boxes

5X7 Mother's Day Card

Paper Bag Tote 

Froggy Birthday Wishes

Baby Eden Blocks

I didn't drink the water but many of my friends did! Back in baby-ville (with a twinge of jealousy I might add! This is for my friend Adrienne whom I met through my friend Tori. She now teaches my daughter piano lessons so you've seen her featured on my blog before! She had a beautiful little Eden a few weeks ago and I finally got her gift made! In my defense she wasn't sure of what baby girl's name was going to be until she was born and as a matter of fact she probably holds the record for number of ultra sounds needed to determine the sex of the sweet little baby!







I'd love to take credit for the tumbling blocks (although mine don't really tumble, they just sort of stack all skiwompesy), but I stole the idea from my friend Jenn. You can see her adorable set of tumbling blocks here. Mine doesn't have pictures because I'm letting Adrienne do her own, but I do like how it turned out. Hope the proud new mommy of beautiful baby Eden does too!

Monogram Refrigerator Magnet Tutorial

Just a reminder;
Daily Blog Posts: Moments in Time
Detailed Family Posts: Funk Family Blog
All blog links are located to the right on this blog~Rachele

A Gift For Me

My Sweet daughter Mikensee made me a couple of great Mother's Day gifts and I just had to share!

First this altered tin stuffed with Kit Kat's. . . Yum!


Didn't she do a great jog? She's only 11 and she did this in her room completely on her own. She used her paper stash, but raided the tin and flowers from me. She only has her own white ribbon, so she colored it with her markers to match! Clever girl!

Then she made me this flower pot/pen holder. She made this with her Achievement Day leaders. Thanks KC, you know it made my day!

A Little Late

I made about 20 of these little guys for Easter Treats and meant to post and link up the directions, but didn't get it done. . . I used her tutorial here for the small ones, but then decided I could make them larger so I did! Here is a sample of a couple. I made about 20 all together. They are so easy my DD (11) made a bunch too. Aren't they cute??!!??

Clippy Board Tutorial

I'm trying this again, for the 3rd time. Hopefully this time Blogger will cooperate with the upload. For some reason this tutorial has been a challenge. First I watermarked all of the photos with the instructions, but somehow didn't save them properly. Then I posted all the photos with the instructions typed and Blogger timed out and wouldn't accept the post. . . THEN, I did it again and it wouldn't accept my photos. . . tried 3 times and gave up! So, here I try again! I'm saving as I go this time, so hopefully I'll make it to the end! Wish me luck.

Supplies:

For 4-Clippy Boards: 1-12X12 Sheet BT or RSC, 4-4" Coasters, 4-Large Binder Clips, Adhesive, Ink, Sanding Block, Trimmer, 4-Standard Post-It Notes and Embellishments and stamp set of your choice!


Cut your 12X12 Sheet of BT or RSC to 4" squares. Cover both sides of your coasters with good adhesive and squares of paper, sand edges, ink to hide imperfections.


Using your last 4" square of BT, you will measure your binder clips. Mine were about 1" wide and almost 2" from front to back edge. To measure this, I measured the front, the top and the back and added these together. Cut and adhere with good adhesive. It is easier to put the adhesive on the paper rather than the clip. I found these white ones in the clearance section of Office Max, they came in a clear top magnetic tin. . . SCORE!


Here is what they look like finished! Embellish as desired. I used a small piece of ribbon, flower and brad.


Using STRONG adhesive, adhere the back of the post-it to your covered coaster about 1/2" from the top. You want your clip to reach. I stamped most of the pages of the pad to coordinate. I just flipped and stamped. It took a few minutes, but the look is worth it!

If you make one, please post a link back. I'd love to see what you create!

Cat Chow Revisited

I've been asked what is Cat Chow?
Well, truthfully it's Chex Muddy Buddies. . . I've used this recipe a lot over the years. I've made it as Puppy Chow and given it in a dog bowl for some one under the weather with a tag that said;

"Are you dog-gone tired of lying around and feeling like a tired ole hound? Want to feel better but don't know how? Have a bowl of Puppy Chow!"

For the Cat's Meow Pajama Party posted previously I made cat chow goodie bags for all the girls.

Cat Chow, Dog Chow, Puppy Chow, Muddy Buddies:



9 cups Chex® cereal (any variety)
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar


Preparation Directions:

Into large bowl, measure cereal; set aside. In 1-quart saucepan, heat chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter over low heat, stirring frequently, until melted. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla. Pour mixture over cereal, stirring until evenly coated. Pour into 2-gallon resealable food-storage plastic bag. Add powdered sugar. Seal bag; shake until well coated. Spread on waxed paper to cool. Store in airtight container in refrigerator. It doesn't have to be refrigerated if you eat it within a few days.

Clippy Boards

We had a blast at our unit meeting on Friday. The project was a hit and some of the baskets that were made were "da bomb!" I made a couple more myself, but I've given them all away already and forgot to take pictures of the rest. . . oh well!

I made these for the gals Friday night, but didn't want to post in advance because I knew some of them would be snooping for hints on the project on my blog and I was right! So glad I didn't give it ALL away! I also have to thank Sharli, Kelly T., Jenn D and Jen P for the awesome hostess gifts. . . They gave me buttons, a star box, some great cards and you gals just ROCK!!!

We're Going to Make These:

 

So unit meeting is my house tomorrow night (well, it's 12:14 AM so I guess that makes it TODAY!) We're having a fun auction and some other stuff, but the "project" for the evening is my responsibility. I knew what I wanted to make, but had I made one yet? NO! This is my goobered up, can we actually make it, trial mode project, but yes, I think we're going to make these! Wish me luck!