My favorite season!

I love, love, love the snow. I hate driving in it and I wouldn't want to be stuck in it but I love being cold. I love the fluffy wet snowman snow. I don't think I could live in a place that didn't snow. It's the first snow this year that actually "stuck" from the day before and it's still snowing. The girls and I decided to walk to school and I got a few cute pictures. Mary was way to busy to be bothered, she loves it as much as I do!

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Forgotten surprises...

I forgot to post yesterday about the 2 awesome surprises I came home to after Thanksgiving. The first is that I have forced air heat. I've been waiting since April for it and it was getting so cold in my office I couldn't craft in there at all so it's nice to have my room back with toasty toes while I work. It will make getting my bazaar crafts done that much faster! Who can work when it's minus 30??? I managed to get 25 ornaments cut out last night, blisters included, and today in my nice warm scrap room I'm going to bling them up! Only 20 more ornaments to go and 15 purses- sounds so Blahhh when I add it all up.

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The other thing was a surprise package I got in the mail. I got some new Christmas scrapbooking embellishments compliments of Christy Tomlinson from the Scarlet Lime. Thanks Christy! As soon as I'm done with my crafty stuff I'm definitely scrapping.

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We're ripping the gas heating stove out tonight and I'm going to set my Christmas tree up in it's place. I swore I wouldn't decorate until December 1st but at this rate it won't get done until then so I'm still keeping my word right ;o).

Thanksgiving recap...

We had such a great Thanksgiving! We went to visit my parents this year and as much as I tried to get a picture of everyone I missed all the kids and a few adults, who I'm sure are grateful ;o). My grandma was able to come so it was nice to be able to see almost everyone (Kira, next year you better get on track!). I forgot to include myself in pictures so I had Mary take mine, pretty good for a 3 yr old.

We had a ton of super good food - partly because Cody picked out a 22# turkey so we had leftovers coming out of our ears but it made such awesome turkey noodles. Somehow I missed the pie that night but we had 8 pies laying around so I got my share later. Wow we had a ton of food!

Shopping was great, I forgot how nice it is to live in a tiny town so when you go to a store at 10 a.m. they still have some door busters left. In Boise it's do or die and at 5:15 my must have items were already gone. I did make it on the news on accident but that's a story for another day. I'm almost totally done with my Christmas shopping and it feels so good. I got so many things for soooo cheap and that feels even better! I do love Boise and all the stores they have. It was almost heaven, almost.

The kids knew that we were Christmas shopping Friday so on Thursday night they got my pile of ads and each one marked all the toys they wanted. I thought it was so cute when Ashlyn and Lyndsey started shopping for everyone. They were marking sausages, ovens, undies, tools and all sorts of things before bed.

While we were there Kaci developed a stye on her eye and we had to rush to the Pediatric Clinic last minute yesterday and Mary has a dentist appointment today so I've gotten nothing done for the past 2 days and the Bazaar is coming so hopefully I'll have a ton of cute projects to post withing the next few days. Wish me crafty luck!

Of Pies,Plagues, and naughty rabbits...

It's Thanksgiving week- I LOVE Thanksgiving. I'm thankful my second attempt at pies worked out and the one I had to *ahem* taste was the one with a giant bubble so the other one is perfect. I'm so thankful for stove top, not that homemade soggy bread yuckiness (I'm not pointing any fingers but anyone with a grandma's seen it) but fake old stove top, and pumpkin pie with cool-whip. I'm so thankful all the kids caught the stomach flu the week before and they're all over it now and that I didn't catch their plague but just a little cold instead. I'm very thankful for Black Friday- my favorite day of the year, seriously! Mom, get your game face on. I'm still mapping out the fastest route but I'm almost ready. My hat is in hand and the alarm will be set for 4 a.m.!

I'm thankful that the solarium where we keep Jack (my rabbit) has a slick floor . Jack can run mock ten and I had to take 3 breathers to get up the stairs this morning because of this stinking cold so I was so glad he just "spun out" and I caught him pretty quickly. I'm so thankful my basement door was shut so he couldn't find a new home in my walls or storage or something. Anyone want a semi-wild rabbit? He might be good with stove top!*

Seriously I have a ton of real things to be thankful for and I really am blessed! Have a Great Thanksgiving full of family, a modest turkey, stove top, and pumpkin pie!

*I'm just kidding, I love my bunny but if he ever does that again I might not be. I might have to get all Elmer Fudd on his fuzzy bahooky and start singing "kill the wabbit" ;o).

Cupcake Purse Tutorial...

Here's the second half to my giveaway, my very first stab at a tutorial for the cupcake purse. I tried to take pictures as I went along while making a pink and a white one so some of the pictures show a pink top and some show a white but I promise it'll turn out the same in the end ;o).

On a sewing scale I wouldn't recommend this for beginners because the small size makes it harder to sew and the scallops can be tricky but if you make it bigger and do a straight seem instead I think almost anyone who knows how to straight stitch and zig-zag can pull it off.

Feel free to make as many copies of this pattern as you'd like, I just ask that you use my pattern for personal use only- no selling please, thanks!

Pattern Pieces:

I used an 8 1/2" x 11" piece of chipboard for my pattern to make a 5"-6" purse. If you want a larger or smaller purse just print the pieces bigger or smaller- they should all be proportionate. I use a 1/4" seam allowance on all seams, if you would like to take a larger seem just add another 1/4" or more to the pattern pieces. I don't think it's pictured but I also zig-zag the outside edges of all my seams to keep it together and neat, especially important on the satin. I used a pretty heavy duty interfacing so the cupcake would stand up with the bulky chenille on top, personal preference but I think it looks nicer that way.

Step 1: To start trace pattern pieces and cut out, making sure to mark button holes and trace around scallop edge -DO NOT- cut out scallop yet, just mark it on your fabric and cut straight across about 1/2" under scallop. Your pieces should look like this-

Cupcake Bottom

Step 2: Iron on interfacing to the wrong side of the cupcake bottom and do the same to the side piece fabric either using fusible interfacing or fusible web to connect them together. The interfacing and fabric should be "one" piece now.

Step 3: Pin the rectangular bottom side piece together at the short side seam and sew so the interfacing is out and the fabric is on the inside (right sides together).

Step 4: Fold the circular bottom in half and make a mark on the edges, fold again the other way and do the same so the circle is basically marked in 4th's. Fold the bottom side piece in fourths and mark. Pin the bottom circle to the side piece connecting the marks from the circular bottom to the marks on the side piece. Pin generously all the way around.

Step 5: Sew around the the circle on the outside. Turn so the right side's facing out (you can see if it looks o.k. or if it needs adjusting at this point).

Step 6: Set bottom aside and repeat steps 4-5 for lining. If you're using satin for the lining I recommend pinning the snot out of it so it doesn't pucker as much.

Step 7: Turn the outside "cup" and the lining right sides together matching side seems and pin. Sew around outside edge leaving a 2"-3" gap for turning. Turn.

Step 8: Push the lining into the inside and pin around the top edge folding the lining under at the gap and pin in place.

Step 9: Edge stitch as close as you can all around the top edge. Viola`, the bottom "cup" is done- set aside.

Cupcake Top

Step 1: Sew button holes in outside "frosting" fabric.

Step 2: Pin lining to "frosting" fabric right sides together and sew following the scallops marked along the bottom edge.

Step 3: Trim around scallops as close as you can. I would definitely recommend not trimming too close if using satin for a lining as it will pull out when you turn- if this is a problem for you then I would recommend trimming just the chenille first, zig-zagging the chenille edge to the satin, then trimming the satin so the chenille bulk is gone but the satin still has some length.

Step 4: Turn right sides out and press the scalloped edge using a pressing cloth. This helps get a nice crisp scallop. Take the "frosting" piece and place on table with right sides facing you and pull the lining down. Pin the lining edges right sides together and the "frosting" edges right sides together and pin. Sew the sides together at the side edges.

Step 5: Turn right side out and tuck the lining back to the inside and press. Fold over top edge 1/4" for both the lining and the "frosting" fabric and pin. Sew around the top and stitch very closely to the edge.

Step 6: Sew around the top again under the bottom of the button holes. This becomes the casing for the ribbon closure.

Step 7: Now you're done with the "cake" part and the "frosting". Slip the frosting top over the bottom cake. I just pull mine down until the right amount of "cake" is showing- no real measuring here. Pin in place and sew the cake to the top from the inside.

Step 8: Cut two lenghts of 3/8" or smaller ribbon about 24" long or so. These become the handles. Thread one ribbon through one button hole and tie the ends together. Repeat with the other ribbon and last button hole. If you'd like longer handles just use longer ribbon but for young kiddos I liked it shorter- almost wristlet length so it's not a chocking hazard. You can't see the handles on mine because I tied them in a bow at the top but you get the idea.

That's it, it seems like alot but it really doesn't take long at all. If I've left something out or you have a better way or suggestion let me know. Enjoy!

Drum Roll Please...

And the winner of Mondays showcase is...

Shelly!

Congratulations Shelly, if you would please send me an email at dontlickthefloor at hotmail dot com with your snail address I'll get it in the mail.

There were so many family names that I decided to split the drawing and give away two purses instead of one so the family winner is...

Kira!

Ashlyn had so much fun drawing names, I almost had to give away 7 purses because she didn't want to stop. That's the first half of the giveaway, the second part is that I was going to post a tutorial today on how to make the cupcake purses. Well, that's going to be put off for a few days because the stomach flu is running rampant here. It's Mary and Kaci's turn right now and Ashlyn had it on Sunday. It seems to be cycling every two days and running for 24 hrs so hopefully everyone will have had it and be over it before we leave next week.

The tutorial is all written up and the pictures just need to be re sized and loaded so when I get a spare hour or two to load and re size them I'll post it. Back to the trenches I go, have a great Thursday!

How do we celebrate?

Whenever we have a party at our house, because no one likes cake, I always make cupcakes. I'm a chocoholic and it's my celebration so of course it has to be chocolate. So to celebrate my 100th post I'm going to give away this chocolate and vanilla cupcake purse! It's roughly 4 to 5 inches high and is fully lined with satin. It's handmade by me. It's just my way of saying thank you for putting up with 100 random, venting, and show-offy posts.

Here are the rules: You have to love it to enter, I want it to go to a good home ;o). Anyone can enter and anyone can win, all you have to do is post a comment. Any comment will do (as long as it's G rated)- it can be "Bridget, I have no idea who you are but I love free stuff". I'll close comments in a day or two or three and then I'll randomly pick a winner. Good luck and thanks for visiting my blog!

We're all feeling...

Jeremy: "Good"

Ashlyn: "Better"

Mary: "Not good"

Kaci: "Joo Dah, wahhh hahhh hahhh"

So as you can see, because the older kiddos go to school I was left at home today with Miss Not good and Miss Cry, today has been a little challenging. You would think I would run away, but no- today's a good day. I love those little creepies and usually I think they love me to. Aren't they sweet looking! That's the best I could get today...

Speaking of sweet, I'm making chocolate chip cookies tonight because I read Heidi Swap's blog and they sounded so good and I'm going to lazily eat a dozen while I watch Grey's. I also managed to make half of my surprise for one lucky blog reader last night. Today marks my 99th post so that means the next post will be my hundredth. I thought I'd repay my bloggy readers (or a complete stranger but soon to be friend) with a sweet surprise and I will also post a little something for everyone else to. So check back within the next day or two or three. Hopefully my little inmates, I mean cuties will give me a break so I can finish!

ETA: I'm a terrible poster but I promise to post info and the giveaway on Monday, my family obligations are proving a little more time consuming than I planned (I'm getting smuggled into the woods again). Have a great weekend!

Oh how I love birds...

And I'm sure you will to when you see how easy these Christmas ornaments are by Tia Bennett on Two Peas. I'm twitterpated, I just want to drop what I'm doing and make some right now. It's a good thing I'm fresh out of chunky glitter and smallish wire or my bazaar crafts would be put on hold once again. I'm definitely going to make them though, my mind is already racing and I'm thinking about doing chenille wings instead of pipe cleaners and using my own bird template for a fancier bird. My tree is going to be super glittery this year once I finish my flock!

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On a family note my mom had her first full doll reproduced and it's for sale now- Hip Hip! Last time it was a kit doll but this doll, Brittany, is going to be totally finished from head to toe and it's a limited edition which the last doll was not. I'm so proud of her, way to go Ida-ho. If you'd like to take a peak you can find her here.

75% done!

I cleaned and moved my little heart out all weekend. My muscles are very sore and I look terrible but holy moly does it feel good to have that almost out of the way! I still need to put some boxes away in the girls room and find their lampshade (where could that be?!?) and my craft room still needs some major organizing but for the most part it's not embarrassing anymore. My bedroom is clean and mostly uncluttered for the first time in a LONG time.

You know what will happen though. I've gone to all this hard work so I wouldn't get embarrassed when people want a tour of our house and no one will come visit until after the holidays and it's a disaster again, so here's some pictures of my progress so far so I have some proof that mostly clean rooms really do exist.

Here's my craft room before- please don't blow this up bigger I'm already ashamed but I thought I should post it to help most of the rest of you feel better about your small messes (and this was after I cleared away the trash). Sort of a public service- see how nice I am!

Here's how it looks this morning, still some work to do but not humiliating like before.

Here's the girls moved into our old bedroom. I like it sooo much better. This picture is from the door.

This picture is the little "wing" to the left of the door where Mary and Kaci reside.

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This is a picture of Ashy's cupboard bed to the right of the door (please ignore the boxes and the mis-matched quilt ;o) ).

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And these are my very first perfect loaves of bread- Hip Hip! The kids were so excited that it was actually "fluffy" and not like the loaf shaped door stops I usually end up with.

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I spent all weekend so busy cleaning that I didn't tend to the important stuff like making sure we had milk, school snacks, and clean clothes so I'm off to town to go get Laundry detergent so I can have a clean pair of skivvies and be a good mom- Have a great Monday!