Merry Christmas! (plus video highlights)

From our family to yours, we wish you a very Merry Christmas!

Photo credit: Kellie Parry Photography

Read More.. Read More..

Top 10 reasons I haven't been doing 25 days of Christmas:

10. Laundry.  Over 2 weeks ago now, my family and I had a terrible, messy flu. Every bedding item, towel, rag, and sleeping outfit was washed more than once. When all my children can aim their projectile vomit, it will be a happy day. Because of the mountains of laundry that had me surrounded for days, I vowed never to do laundry again. And that brings us to present day where all of us are wearing our lasts and my husband is looking at me with puppy-dog eyes as he wrestles with a 4 inch thick pair of wool socks he got for Christmas 5 years ago and has never worn before today, but has to out of necessity because everything else is dirty. Instead, he should be saying, "Women, get to the laundry already." Bless his heart, he didn't say that, but I'm doing laundry today anyway.


9. Tutorials take time. I really thought I could just take pictures as I went, but it seems to take twice as much time. People put together such fantastic tutorials and I always think I should be just as fantastic.

Like in this project I wanted to show how you can take a scarf (I got it for .25c) and make it into anything you want. I was making a headband like I saw a friend of mine wearing. Pretty much I developed this scarf technique because I am too lazy to crochet or knit. It turned out a bit puffier than I had hoped, so I put the project aside to work on later.

8. Homeschooling. When someone tells you they are homeschooling, you shouldn't automatically think, "Wow, she's superwoman," you should instead think, "Wow, she has very little time for anything else." A superwoman would manage to get homeschooling done AND everything else too with time to spare. But in reality, other things just slip by the wayside and life goes on without all the fabulous holiday baking, clean house, laundry done, and craft projects complete. I spend most of the morning working with Emma and keeping Mandy occupied with school-ish activities. Mandy's attention span lasts about 3.5 seconds, so she is my biggest challenge. Rem sleeps in the morning still and I am asking God to make sure he continues this habit until he is school age.... it is really helpful.


7. "I need you to come and pick me up. I can't walk." When my strong man calls to say he can't walk, well, that's not good news. This time of year means working with a lot of cattle and Jeff and his dad move them from the wet fields to the dry barns. It's pretty dangerous work and I always pray that no one is kicked, bulled over, or falls. Jeff had twisted his knee and was in a lot of pain. We went to the chiropractor and he re-set Jeff's knee and diagnosed a sprain to the inner ligament (MCL). Praise the Lord, he can walk on it and it still able to work but definitely is reminded with the pain that he isn't invincible.

6. Trying to stay organized. "A place for everything and everything in it's place" is my ideal world (as I have told you OFTEN before). To get to that point, everything needs a place. I'm still working through a few areas of our home that don't function well... i.e, clutter collects and makes me grumpy. Today I desiganted a container for all the stuff we don't want/need anymore. If there is not place for it, it WILL GET SHOVED SOMEWHERE. It's my human nature. So I made a place for it where it collect anyway, by the back door.

It sure beats the paper sack I had shoved in the corner for the last month. Because I have Martha-genes, I made a cute tag too and attached it with a wordless-bracelet I took off the end of a free ruler the girls picked up at the Ag show.

Feel free to print your own from this image if you are in the mood to make a designated give-away box too.

5. All that label nonsense was just to avoid wrapping presents. I think you are supposed to have this done ages ago. It's not my favorite part of this season.


4. Making candy. I usually bake A LOT at this time of year. To save myself some temptation and use my time more wisely, I haven't made much at all.  My skinny jeans were thanking me and then my husband started asking about my traditional Peanut Butter Balls. Okay, okay, I'll make them. Along with a recipe my friend Amanda gave me for Mocha Truffles.


Peanut Butter Balls

1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter
4 cups powdered sugar
1/4 softened butter
1 tsp vanilla

Mix together until it holds together.... add milk if the mixture is too crumbly. Form 1 inch balls and dip in 2 cups chocolate, melted (I used milk chocolate melting chips).


Mocha Truffles

1 8oz. package cream cheese softened
3 cups powdered sugar
3 cups chocolate chips melted
3 TBS. instant espresso or instant coffee dissolved in 1 tsp boiling water.

Beat cream cheese until smooth and add powdered sugar. Stir in melted chocolate and coffee. Refrigerate about 1 hour or until hard enough to shape into 1 inch balls. Dip in melted chocolate ( I used dark chocolate melting chips).  I sifted cocoa powder over the top for decoration.


My skinny jeans are no longer happy with me. Thank you very much.


3.  Taking pictures. I did a few more photography sessions in December. I love helping families get great photos. It is a blessing to have a hobby/business that both inspires and encourages me. Family is SO important.


2. Sewing and sewing some more. (Thanks to my mom who gave me her machine when mine went kaput).

I figured out how to make a french seam.... with a lining.... ooh.... ahh. The crowd goes wild.

[tap. . .  tap. . . Is this thing on? ]

1. And finally, the #1 reason I have not been updating my blog is that I am too busy enjoying this season. There is so much good and special about Christmas. We celebrate Christ and his love by celebrating eachother. Check out some touching Christmas specials on Drops.

Blessings to you and yours!

Read More.. Read More..

25 days of attempted crafts: consumable gifts!

I crafted yesterday, although some would consider it "baking." I was making some container gifts. I used a granola recipe that I enjoy from my friend, Grace.

Check out her link here: Grace Is Blessed By God.

Read More.. Read More..

25 days of attempted crafts: Beautiful Beads

We are suffering through a icky flu virus at our house, so it is the perfect time to look at someone else's crafting:

Check out Zeal Custom Jewelry for truly unique and pretty things (at affordable prices!).

The gorgeous necklace above is only $14.

I am seriously considering  changing my whole wardrobe just so I can get this necklace.

I love this one too.

Zeal is run by two sisters, one of whom is my sister-in-law Kelly, with a love for everything D.I.Y. Our personalities are visible in our products and each item is completely one-of-a-kind. We use unique and found objects for creations that are truly fun and full of personality. Add some more offbeat to your life today!



Check out their bracelets, earrings, and knitted hats too.

Read More.. Read More..

25 days of attempted crafts: Pillow Cover

For many artist, it is hard to discern if their newest idea is pure genius....

 or just plain weird.

I have many moments like this. An idea leaps into my head and it seems to be the best thing since sliced bread. 

Others might not agree.

Like the artist who constructs odd looking duck-things out of newspapers. It is probably a pretty cheap craft, but don't worry, that's not today's featured selection.

It all started when I tossed a few pairs of Rem's outgrown jammies into the "give away" box.  

I realized that when I put those jammies on him a few months ago, they were too big and now they are too small...

 and pretty soon footed fleece pj's won't be cool...

and Rem will be asking for the keys to drive my minivan...

 and looking at colleges so he can leave home...

 and thinking girls other than his mommy are beautiful.

That's when I devised a plan to keep my favorite pair of his jammies forever.

And this, my friends, is where it gets weird.

I sewed straight seams (inside out) from sleeve to sleeve and across the bottom, just above the legs.

That formed a box and I cut off the excess, making sure the zipper was accessible. 

I sewed around the edge, right-side-out, to form a flanged edge.

Then I stuck a pillow in it and zipped it up.

I even transferred the little zipper cover from the top of the pj's to the new zipper top on the pillow.

Have a reached "odd-looking-duck-thing-made-out-of-newspaper" status yet?

Keepsake Fleece Jammie Pillow.

The next cool thing.

Read More.. Read More..

25 days of attempted crafts: Card-Table Tent

For today's craft, I hope my nephews aren't reading my blog. Those kids! It is only inevitable that some Christmas gifts will be showcased here and that is really the point. It is to show that yes, you can make awesome Christmas gifts that won't have them crying for a Toy's R Us gift card for next year.


Or at least that's goal.


The Card-Table Tent is inspired by my husband who has such fond memories of the one he played in as a child. The concept is a fitted blanket that fits over a standard card table. It can be made as ellaberate or simple as your time will allow.

This card table fort is for sale on Etsy by seller missprettypretty for $195. Amazingly cute.

This barn design is similar to the one my husband remembers from his childhood. It is only $35 on Etsy from seller whippersnappersgifts... a great deal now that I have made one and know that it is a pretty time consuming project.

Now on to the creation of my own.... er... for my nephews.

I purchased a 6'x9' canvas drop cloth ($10 @ home desperado) and the pieces fit perfectly. For once my shoddy math skills didn't let me down. You could use fabric by the yard too, I think you would need about 5-6 yards, but don't quote me on that.

I measured the top and cut a piece 1" bigger to allow for a 1/2" seam allowances. For the sides and back I did the same measurements, but used the finished sewn edge of the drop cloth for the bottom portion so I didn't have to hem it (I only allowed for 1/2" seam allowance).

The finished edges were great! If there is a short-cut.... I'll take it.Hence, my love for hotglue.

I made a front flap that over-laps by 3". I like this better than any of the roll-up options I saw on other tents.

Good ol' velcro holds the tent flaps back.

So, here is the tent with the flaps back. It would have been the easiest project ever (like I envisioned before hand), if it hadn't been for the window.

The concept designer (aka, husband reliving his childhood) said a window was absolutely necessary. I used some wide mesh cut in an oval shape and couldn't figure out to really finish the edge in a nice-looking way on both the inside and outside. That's why I'm not showing you a close-up. 

For the next 22 nights I will have nightmares about my nephew opening his awesome tent on Christmas and saying, "Wow, what happened on the window stitching Aunt Alysun?"

I have a few more of these to make, so maybe the next ones will have perfectly executed windows. 

A girl can dream.

* Amazingly, no hot glue was used in this project.

Read More.. Read More..

25 days of attempted crafts: day 2

In honor or my new craft room and because I love making things for people, I am going to attempt 25 days of crafts before Christmas. Crazy? Yes. I'm making lots of things (or think I am going to) anyway, so I'll take this opportunity to share my ideas with you. When I run out of inspiration or just plain don't have time to blog, I'll share the link of some crazy crafty person I admire.

Today's craft: burlap roses.

I came across this great tutorial because I googled "things to do with burlap."

My husband brought home a HUGE piece of burlap that had 40 years of dust and grime + mouse holes and poop on it. "Do you want this?" He asked sweetly. I mentioned a long time ago that I wanted some burlap for craft projects and, what-a-bing, he found some buried in the barn.... some cleaning required. The fibers didn't stand up well to the washing machine and the hole got bigger. I've made a few shopping bags out of the areas that are in good condition.

I saw this video and was intrigued by the crafter's accent (Minnesotan/Australian?)...

and by the rustic, chic flower she produced. I got to work following her directions. It took me about 5 times to get it right -- it helps if I listened to her "right" and "left" commands instead of trying to watch her hands and reverse for my own. I attached my rose to an small pronged clip (Sally's Beauty supply, 20 for $2.19).

My new craft space is truely inspiring. Before, I had craft supplies in various states of shoved/stuffed/piled in 3 areas of my home. If I wanted to complete a project, I had to run, look, sort, get frustrated, go to the craft store, spend money and forget/lose interest in my original project.

With the help of my friend Season, we organized everything and I got rid of a lot of stuff. I also was able to see exactly what I had. Beautiful! I was inspired, excited, and my creative juices are still flowing. Do you want me to get out of the way so you can see? I'll take more pictures soon.

Picture taken from my computer. Love ya Mr. Mac, but your picture quality is less than stellar. 

Read More.. Read More..