I got a good friend, Kerrie, to come over and help me get the tree out of the basement and up to the porch! We got all 4 pieces up the stairs and out on the porch and then Kerrie looked at me and said, "Okay, where is the stand?" My reply, "Stand? You need a stand? I have no idea." We bought this big artificial tree a few years ago but the last time we used it, I was pregnant so it's been a while (we have had real trees the last couple of years). And since I didn't put the stand up or take the tree down, I had no idea what we were looking for. Kerrie called her sister because she has a similar tree and got the details on the stand. In the meantime, I went back into the storage room scouring it for a misplaced tree stand. No luck with the tree stand, but I did find an outdoor umbrella holder that I thought I could make work :-) Needless to say, the tree was too heavy for the little stand! After we got the 2nd piece on the tree, over the "stand" went!
I have determined that I am sure I saw
the stand when I was cleaning out the storage room, but convinced myself
it was useless because the hole for the tree would never hold an
artificial tree :-) With that, I am sure I donated it so someone else
could enjoy their artificial tree! Ha! It took a late night trip to
Garden Ridge to find a replacement stand ... all worth the effort as I really think it turned out fun and pretty!
I have been crafting away these days to keep my hands busy and my mind from wandering.
Here are some things that I have made recently!
I made this diaper tree for Justin & Taylor's birthday. I should have made it 3 layers instead of 2 but it was pretty cute. And since the hot glue gun is my new best friend, I was able to double-layer the ribbon which made it really cute! Stuffed with some goodies for baby Waverly, I think it turned out really cute!
I have made several candy canes to use for displaying your Christmas cards. They come in 2 different sizes - 4' and 6'. All of them have turned out really cute and been fun to make!
Hot pink felt with silver tinsel stripes!
White felt with sparkly red felt stripes!
Apple green felt with shiny hot pink ribbon stripes!
Red burlap with fun ribbon stripes!
I have made alot of burlap items for so many people that have supported my new business! It's been fun but brought me many late nights. In 2012, I'll be making Santa Clauses in July :-)
One thing that I have really enjoyed making this year because you have no idea what it is going to turn out to look like are ornament wreaths. It takes so many ornaments that in most cases, I have more $$ in them than I sell them for ... represents a really bad business model but they are so pretty! I've made a few red & green ones; a red & white one for NC State; an orange & white for Tennessee; a red, black, & silver one for UGA; an all pink one for Taylor's baby shower; and a pastel one for me!
I made this one for my front door and a neighbor walking by saw it,
called me to come see it, and bought it :-) Much better business model,
right?
Garnet & black for a gamecock fan!
I made this burlap ornament to hang on my front door - it looks so good with the snowman and snowgirl (see below)!
As most of you know, I am not a green thumb in any regards so I had no idea what to plant in the urns at the front door during the wintertime ... so instead, I painted the 6 pumpkins I had put together for Thanksgiving and made a Frosty and his "main squeeze", Frostette! They turned out super cute and people have no idea they are pumpkins until I tell them!
I have made batches of reindeer cookies for teacher's treats, a Christmas party, and for the children that came over to make Gingerbread Houses today. They are pretty easy, but I have definitely not mastered the amount of dough one might need to form a reindeer as they all come out different sizes.
Needless to say, pinterest.com is another one of the new friends that have entered my life! I can stay on their for hours!
Speaking of Gingerbread Houses, I got a wild idea a few weeks ago that Ian & Bonner needed to make gingerbread houses with some of their friends from school. They were each allowed to invite 3 friends over today for 3 hours. It was a crazy wild time, but I think everyone had fun. My dear friend, Elizabeth, came over to help me and 2 of the parents stayed which was a huge blessing. I have made several notes for next year's party - wink, wink, nod, nod ... the top note is to put the bases together the night before and let them settle! Here are some pictures from the fun time this morning!
My good friend, Kerrie, put the children's names on the aprons! They turned out really cute'; all the mom's seemed to really like them :-)
Before we made the gingerbread houses, each child was allowed to decorate 4 sugar cookies to take home with them!
Ian & Bonner decorating their cakes!
Bonner's house above & Ian's house below! Not bad; they really had a great time decorating the houses!
Got Icing?
It will be a tough week for me as the children will leave Monday to go to Perry... the house will be quiet for alot of days in a row. I am going to try and keep myself really busy, but could really use your prayers over the coming days for peace. In fact, I would ask you to pray for all those that are alone during this special time of year! You have no idea how loneliness impacts your soul, your spirit, and your emotions - it can hold a death grip on you if you let it. Fortunately, for me, I can look at one of those huge candy canes I made that is covered with Christmas cards sent by those of you that think of and pray for us often! I am truly blessed for all of my friends; I used to take some of them for granted, but no longer! If I have learned nothing else through this ordeal it's that I can always be a better friend... I have learned so much from so many of you and I thank you!
I bought these ornaments for each of the children to take home from our party today and attached this little poem I wrote! I was reminded that really and truly life for us should be as simple as it is for a 3-year-old ... "Fly" with Him by your side!
Thanks for coming to our party;
we really had so much fun!
Use this ornament to remember -
who is Number One!
Rudolph is cool, but Jesus is the real guide.
Think of Him always;
and "Fly" with Him by your side!
1 comment:
So excited for you, Jen and all you have going on. I love the poem and take aways you gave. You're always so thoughtful and crafty! :)
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