Furniture Stacking

Who wouldn't want a giant dresser? Ryan's going to hate this when he gets home.

Christmas has begun

This year, my big project was custom photo pillows for C&M. The best way seemed to be to laser print the photos on a transparency and use ZEP cleaner on the fabric while I scrubbed hard with a spoon. My arm is still killing me but I think they liked them! 

I also sewed a bunch of outfits for an old set of puppet heads I got from a friend years ago. She doesn't have kids so she passed them onto me. She grew up in a military family and her siblings were without Christmas gifts one year, so her mom got these puppet heads and made outfits for them! She said it was a great christmas and that they spent lots of time make new clothes and putting on shows for her parents. I'm expecting the same from my kids!

My serving platter for Ali turned out really great. I also did the giant Kerplunk game for her family. We gave away soaps in shells that said "Harry Kitmas" and I think that we will do that again. Its nice to have a non-edible item to give away that people can use.

Jeanne got new Prayer flags with her kids and grandkids names on them. Ryan, Kit and Harry helped with those.

Our advent calendar was a couple puzzle pieces each day to make a poem that showed where a telescope was hiding. It used to be granddads when he was a kid and we have been waiting to give it to them!

My happy pantry revised

Finally got the second file cabinet stripped and the pantry area is done! I recommend file cabinets (filing cabinets) for anyone needing easy-access, roll-out drawers for your kitchen. Pots and pans fit in drawers with their own lids. Oils, vinegars are all standing to attention and spices are labeled on their lids so you can grab what you need from the top! Kitchen storage solution for the ages! Am I overselling this? I think not!

Floating shelves

Success!

Summer

Maine cabin

Happy place

Lucky staff appreciation

This year for Staff Appreciation, I came up with a LUCKY theme. My budget was $500 which included a brunch, so really, 81 staff members got something Lucky in their mailboxes every day of the week for about $250.

Monday: Lucky Stars-Origami Purchased on Etsy. When you unwrap the stars, there is an inspirational, educationally-themed quote inside.  

Tuesday: Lucky Charms cereal bought on Amazon. Only 70 in the package but not every adult loves Lucky Charms so there were a couple leftover anyway.

Wednesday: Lucky Pennies bought on Etsy. I considered buying a stamping kit and doing it myself, but the kit cost as much as buying them from the seller, whose shop helps fund her college education!

Thursday: BRUNCH! Instead of crazy decor, I bought some beautiful paper cranes on Etsy also. Lots to choose from.

Friday: LUCKY BAMBOO from amazon (100 4" stalks for about $30) and plastic tubes that fit the bamboo perfectly (100/$18). The first set of tubes I got were too small but these worked fine after some careful slitting on the tops so the roots could be pushed through. I also used some washi tape around each tube (NOT the green glass shown in photo) and wrote "Lucky to have you!" on each. Then I used some drawer organizers from the Dollar Tree as tube stands and the leftover cranes were decor again. I also had some water beads that I used instead of water just to make sure there was no mess. I used one bead in the bottom of each tube.

Each day I printed out a corresponding quote or poem. Good Luck -- not too much work for a week of fun!

Extra bamboo went to my kids' music teachers in IKEA bud vases.

Breakfast for my Easter baby

Ikea forest rug knockoff

VANDRING SPÅR

 Why did ikea stop selling their big white cotton rugs? I used the other side of this rug in the living room and although the ikea version was cheap ($30) I wanted peach and purple!

Snow day

Custom house stamps -

front by Harry and back by kit!

Jack Abby. & cate

Babies never turn out quite right

Kitchen storage ideas realized!