FE.LIC.I.TY My word for 2013

I have chosen the word

FELICITY

as my theme for the year. Not only is it a pretty word, but it also has lovely connotations. 

fe·lic·i·ty

 noun, plural fe·lic·i·ties.

1. the state of being happy, especially in a high degree; bliss: marital felicity.

2. an instance of this.

3. a source of happiness.

4. a skillful faculty: felicity of expression.

5. an instance or display of this: the many felicities of the poem.

 source

 

My goal for 2013, is to embrace the felicities of life, in my personal and my blogging life. It is stated that felicity is synonymous with happiness. I want to focus my time and energy on things that make me and my family happy. I want my blog to be a source of felicity, and give my readers happy confidence that they have the ability to create and do, and find their own true felicity in life. 

 

I think of it as a seed, and hope for 

 in the near future.

What a fantastic dream!

 

I wish for you; A Day of Creative Felicity!

Do you have a word for the New Year?

 

Risa 

Reindeer art tutorial

I was going through instagram the other day, and came across a picture from my super talented friend, Amy Twitty. It was of her and a bunch of girl friends who made darling glitter reindeer art. I was instantly crazy about it, and went to her blog. You can see the post with instructions HERE.  A few minutes later, I was in the car, on the way to Home Depot for wood. (This seems to be a pattern for me.) I started out making one for myself only, but it was so easy, that I ended up making a bunch more!

All you need for this craft is wood or canvas. I used wood I got at Home Depot. It's just 12 inch by 8 foot common board (pine). It was around $13. I had the nice worker cut it down to 14inch pieces for me. They just got a new blade, so it required very little sanding. Happy Day! This will equal six 12x14 boards, and one 12x12ish board.

You will not believe how easy the next part is!!! 

I used this coloring page, which I cropped, printed on card stock and cut out. I like that I didn't have to pay for vinyl, and I am feeling a little over the look of vinyl anyway.

I cut carefully, and made sure to make nice cuts, so I could use both pieces of the silhouette.

I laid one piece on top of the wood I had already painted, and traced around it with the galaxy marker I mentioned in my last post.

 

After that, I filled in a bit with marker. I left some of them just marker, and painted over others. I like the way they both turned out.You can see on this one, I painted the board cream first.

 The red marker actually looks a little pink, which is fine for some people. You can see I painted over this one with red. I didn't even have to be very careful, and take it to the edges, because it blended so well. I painted the edges gray. The red I used is by Americana, and it's called, cherry red. I like that you can see the brush strokes. It is sitting on my dining room table.

For this one, I used the inside of the silhouette, and traced around it with white, leaving the deer natural looking.

Then, I went around all the edges with red, minus the deer body, and I love how it turned out!

Here is the same technique, but in red. The sides are painted white. This one is my husband's favorite.

I designed this little printable in pic monkey. Which I LOVE!!!

I made this one tracing the outside of the stencil, and leaving the wood around natural. I can't decide which I like the best. By the way... the deer pictured below, is done on the end piece of the wood that is 12x12, so it is more square.

I love how cute it is all wrapped up with gray yarn and the CUTE printable.

Thank you Amy for the inspiration. You rock! I think I am going to use this technique soon to make some dinosaur prints for my toddlers under-the-stairs playroom. I am already excited!!!

Thanks for stopping by.

Have a Happy and Creative Day,

Risa

Wooden Shoes & Sinterklaas

 Every year, on December 5, Sinterklaas visits our home. Sinterklaas is Dutch Santa. My grandfather is from Holland. I never met him. He and my grandma had my dad when they were both in their 50's. Bless their little hearts... Every year at Christmas time, my dad would tell me and my siblings the stories his dad told him of living in Holland as a child, and Sinterklaas. My husband and I invite my parents over every year to share the same stories with our kids. It is so fun! Then, the kids place their shoes under the tree, and anxiously await the arrival of Sinterklaas.

 

I buy all my wooden shoes at thrift shops. They are about $10 to $15 each. I like them to look authentic, like my Dad and Grandpa's. I don't like them to be painted with scenery for the most part.

I was excited when I found these, but didn't like the mural.

So, I painted them red. Don't hate. I would never paint any shoes that had any sentimental value.

I was dreading the thought of hand painting the white part, when I saw something so cool on Studio 5. It is a marker that acts like a paintbrush! Genius! You can see the Studio 5 clip here. I decided to give it a shot, and OH MY!!! It was perfect! In no time at all, I had these!!! The kind of marker I used is called, Galaxy Marker, and can be found at Benion Crafts for $1.99 each.

I just copied some shoes I found online. I typed in , "red wooden shoes," on google, and found this. 

You can see in the picture, that they are not perfect, but I feel like it makes them even more charming.

Look at the back. I wrote Sophie's name on them. I hope she will cherish them forever!

 When Sinterklaas comes, he fills the shoes with pepernoten (recipe here), a chocolate letter, an orange, gold coins, and some wooden ornaments.

These are my shoes. So charming, and adorable!

My baby sat still with me for a half a second... long enough to snap this sweet picture.

 It's fun for all on Sinterklaas Eve at the Baker house.

 

Sinterklaas morning is also great fun! The kids are always thrilled to see what he brings, because it is not like the traditional things they get from Santa.

 

If you would like more Dutch inspiration, please visit my, "Everything Dutch," Pinterest Board.

Do you have any special Christmas traditions? I would love to hear about them!

Thanks for stopping by.

Have a Happy and Creative Day!

Risa

Christmas Tree in my Kitchen

 So, my husband got the potted trees out that used to be on my porch, and the bottom half of one of them didn't work. We both tried to get it to work, and it never would light up, so I had just one. I like my porch to be symmetrical, so decided not to put it there. I put this tree in my kitchen for fun, and decided to keep it. I found a bunting that I made last year, and wrapped the tree up (an idea I saw on pinterest just this morning), but it still needed more.

I stuck some wooden spoons in, but I still needed more.

 So, I got out my holiday cookie cutters. (I have no idea why I have so many!) Maybe because my mom always made sugar cookies with us as kids, and it makes me feel warm and fuzzy?

I think it turned out cute for a kitchen Christmas tree. We'll see how my toddler does with it. The good thing about it, is he can't hurt it. And, it really brightens up my kitchen!

I have six additional trees in my house, and I will show them to you in the next little while.

Hope you are doing something fun today! Thanks for stopping by!

Have a Happy and Creative Day!

Risa

Scroll Saw Nativity with pattern!

 I have had multiple requests for a scroll saw Nativity, so I thought I would give it a go! I love how it turned out!

 Originally, I was going to paint everything, but I really like the earthy and natural way it looks, so I decided to leave it.

 I even thought about adding animals, and shepherds, but I like the simplicity of just Mary, Joseph, and Jesus.

 Here's a view from the back.

I made the sides of the manger taper in, by adjusting the table on my scroll saw to 25% to create an angled cut. 

For the inside of the manger, I just drilled out a bunch of holes. I know it's a little sloppy, but it is covered by Baby Jesus, who is just made by gluing two small balls together. I don't know what size the balls are, because I just found them in my wood supplies.

 Here are my patterns. If you want to change the size of your tree, just do it in the middle of the trunk.

 The cave/stable is easy to cut, and you could really eyeball it.

The piece I used for the bottom was too big to provide a pattern for you. I just used a piece of 1 x 10 common board (pine). 

 

I didn't nail or glue the trees together, because I thought it would be better if it could be taken apart for storage, or as a toy for a child to put together and take apart.

I hope you enjoy this pattern. I know I did!

For more scroll saw inspirations and patterns, please click "scroll saw," on the labels below.

Have a Happy and Creative Day!

Risa

POLAR PLAYSET tutorial and patterns!

This is the most daring thing I have ever created with my scroll saw! I am so excited to share the details and patterns with you! I have decided to have an Eskimo themed party for my baby boy's second birthday, and thought I would make a play set for him to go with the theme. I have found a few on line, and they are SUPER expensive! This probably cost around $10. I already had the paint and the supplies for the Eskimo's.

I think my favorite part is the fishing hole!!!

 

 

I love the sled too.

Maybe the papoose is my favorite. I can't decide!

Of course they have twins! If you want a tutorial on the Eskimo dolls, message me, and I will be happy to post it!

When I don't want to use the fishing hole, I use this other piece I painted. It was going to be the top originally, but it was too small, because I have too many animals. I like how it's interchangeable.

They hang the fish they caught on their home.

 My mom told me to make the baby seals, and I love them. The others are in the water below.

 I used the drill press to drill a hole for the fishing pole to fit in. You could do it with a drill as well.

 Happy Eskimo family!

 You can see the Studio 5 clip of showing it live HERE. And my inspiration board HERE. Be sure and check back for details of the party! I can't wait!!!

Here are the separate  pieces. 

I used 1/8' x 2' x 4' mdf from Home Depot for the base.

I used 1" common board (pine) for the stands and animals, also from Home Depot. You can see how the pieces with the hole layer on top of each other.

You can cut the u-shaped piece first, then use it to create the other pieces, as pictured in the photo above. 

 Here are the patterns for you. I drew them on graph paper originally, and just traced the shapes I had already cut out below. 

 

 I love this little polar play set, and can't wait to give it to my son, so we can play with it together! My older kids have been begging to play with it as well! 

Up next, I will be showing the car mat I made for my nephew, and due to multiple requests, I created a Nativity scene, and will post it with patterns! 

Have a Happy and Creative Day!

Risa