Santa Stockings and Trees!

My little buddies (and best friends) Peyton and Austin came today to craft these Santa Stockings and wood Christmas trees. They can use the stockings as a door hanger or to hang somewhere else in their house.   

They did a great job, didn't they?!

The next thing we made were Christmas trees from thin strips of wood.  They decided how they wanted to paint them and got straight to work.  

 If a kid with a broken wrist can be this crafty, imagine what you can do!

Here they are!  Look how adorable they look!

Christmas Door Hangers!

I love painting at this time of the year...so whimsical and happy!  We painted them for a Mom's Craft night and I have shipped some of these out...

 and these as well!

Crafting With Ballerinas!

I was asked to lead a craft session for 60 lovely ballerinas at their annual Sugar Plum Fairy Christmas Tea Party.  60!  Thankfully, there mothers were troopers and ready to pitch in with elbow grease!

Together they helped cut boards, sand, drill holes, paint and trace on basic shapes one chilly morning.

 This would have taken me hours on end...we were done by lunch!

Here's the prototype I gave to the committee...just have the girls paint like a coloring book...

in their best party dresses!  Yikes...that was scary!  

They pushed up their sleeves and got down to business.  These girls are used to hard work and will soon perform The Nutcracker the weekend of Dec. 11-14.  We broke the group down to two groups of 30...a little more manageable!

 It was a lot of fun and I really want to thank them for asking me along...as a mom of boys, it's so much fun to see a girls only party!  Thanks to all the moms and dancers that helped with this!

We set them out on the walkway to dry and the girls had fun looking at all of their work!  Good luck with the performance!

'Tis the Season for Crafting Treasures and Heirlooms!

Oh what fun it is to craft at this time of the year!!  I have put together some great projects for kids and adults that I am really excited about.  Many are due to be treasured by you and your family for years.   to come.

A Very Special Room for a Fantastic Teen Ager!

He's a great kid, was turning 13 and needs his space!  Mom decided that the living room would be ideal and told me he's a huge Hogs fan.  He was outgrowing his child size furniture and toys, so I cleared it all out except for one dresser.  Mom had several file cabinets in the garage, so they got a makeover with a coat of charcoal paint.  With no closet in the room, I bought an old armoire and painted that to match.  

I installed this room on his actual birthday as a big surprise at the end of his day doing fun guy things with his buddy and could not have done it without his big sister!  She was extremely helpful and even made me lunch!!  

   

I don't have before pictures, but here's the armoire before and after!  A wonderful family friend came over to install privacy doors.  

 Mom's gift was a new futon sofa to hang out, game and study on. 

 I replicated a Pinterest idea of an old ticket stub for a classic Hog victory game for wall art and will soon install a black headboard below.

 Hogs details throughout...

Privacy doors, curtains and lots of space to hang out with hid friends will make him a very happy teenager!

 The big reveal...we'll just say he was thrilled!  

Already in slacker motion ready for X-Box!  Life is good!

Will This Get Me Through 'Til Turkey Day?

Hmmm...I am not sure about this recent door hanger I painted throughout the week.  It started out as a Halloween thing...now I see more of a pilgrim's hat rather than a witch's...I may just keep it up till the end of November!

A "Bewitching" Birthday Artie Partie!

My precious little friend Peyton wanted an "Artie Partie" for her birthday this year and I was thrilled and honored!  Peyton loves a good birthday party as seen here and here when she was was turning 4 years old.  Where has the time (and her adorable baby cheeks) gone?  Her Mom suggested something for Halloween and I sent her a quick idea for her approval...that's how most things get started around here...with scrap paper and dried out markers sketches!

Check out this adorable picture of of Peyton taken by a very talented young lady...it really captures her spirit!  And that CAKE!  It tastes even better than it looks...which is fabulous!!

The girls are painting their banners green and will be copying the banner in the background.

Abbey has traced her legs and is ready for the next step!

Paint palettes are loaded with colors of the season.

Birthday girl Peyton starts to paint the witch's legs...

 and the girls talk about political ads on tv (of all things!)

while painting!  Oh yeah, and One Direction!

 Mammas are impressed with all that talent in one room!

Purple skirts, stripy leggings and 

big black boots make these witches adorable!

 All finished and ready to hang on doors and walls all over town!  What a great way to spend the day!

There's Just Something About Candle Light

Last night was the perfect autumn evening...it all started with morning coffee while we watched leaves fall from the trees on a rainy, dark day.  My husband made a big pot of Gumbo and I baked a dessert for the evening's meal.  

Throughout the day, I  happily cleaned the house, got laundry done and shine up the floors.  That's what I love about this weather, our beloved SEC football season, and home cooked meals...all seems right with the world!   Good friends were coming for dinner and to watch football, it was still raining and cool outside, the house smelled of sweets and savories, and the fall and Halloween decorations made it all the more pleasing.  

I lovvvve to light candles when I entertain...it is so warm and welcoming, and make our home so cozy...so light up the flambeau, 'cause I've got some illuminating to do...there are candles everywhere!  They are lined up in the foyer, on just about every table, counter surface, next to the potty,in front of the food, on the mantle and hearth!  Can't. get. enough.

I'll spare you pictures of all of the candles, but my favorite thing to do is to make the fireplace hearth look like there's a fire with lots of candles when it's not cold enough to lay one.  

Just love it...but let's keep going...on to the mantle!

The more the better...until my son pulls me out of this fantasy life by saying, "I think that's enough candles, Mom."  Simplicity is best.

There is something magical about candlelight, don't you agree?

Sneak Peak to a Young Man's Dream Room!

He's a great kid and soon to be an official teen-ager and Mom wants me to design a room he and his friends will want to hang out in.  He's a huge Hog fan and I've got some great ideas ready to fill his room on his special day...here's one of them I painted just for him today!  Can't wait to see how it all turns out and how he likes it!  Stay tuned!

Throw Back Thursday!

I went to an old friend's house last night for a delightful "Girl's Night In" and loved getting a chance to visit with friends that I haven't seen in a while.  And that includes this guy below!  I painted it for my hostess friend years ago and it was a fun one to paint.  She has it hanging on her china cabinet during the season.  It's good to see he's held up so well!

Your Real Estate Team!

My good friend has decided to sell some property and really wanted a hand made sign rather than a screened shop production or a "Big Box" store fill in the blank sign.  She said if she made the actual sign, would I paint it?  I think we made a great team effort on this one!  She asked her son to help her with the project and he did!  Not so much luck with that with my son!