Sheet Music Wreath

Using my grandparents' old music, I made my kids' teachers some pretty wreaths for Christmas!

1-Cut full-length page in half

2-dip in water so paper won't fold

3-go back and forth making an accordion fan and bend in half around wire wreath frame (I cut mine into two wreaths with two rows each)

4-staple tiny fan in place around the wire - I used 4 pieces for the outside wire and 3 pieces for the inside wire 

5-Fold the inside row inwards so you cannot see the staples

6-let dry

7-Go through each fan and fluff out the folds by creasing backwards--This step is messy - don't worry too much. It helps if you paper is still a little damp so the pages don't rip

8-spray with starch

5-Fold inner fan edge inward so you can't see the staples

7-Fluff your fans

4-See staples to hold fans in place around wire

Et Voila!

Oh and the kids made trees!

Christmas

Pitchfork birdhouse

Stained glass

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!