Felt Rosette Wreath

This was a Christmas present that I made for my Mom, but would make a super cute Valentines Day wreath!

Start with a $4.00 grapevine wreathe. Then make about a bajillion felt rosettes. Ok, not that many, but I did use probably 30 or so. I used all white roses and I also cut a few leaves out of green felt. Felt at my craft store was on sale, so I spent about $1.00 on all the felt!

These little buggers aren't hard to make, but here is an excellent tutorial from another blog, Mrs Priss, to get you started.

Then just hot glue em on wherever your little heart desires.

Finally, I added a piece of burlap at the top & a cream ribbon tied in a bow to hang it on the wall with.

Use red and pink felt for a super cute Valentines Day wreath! Or pastels for Easter! Or whatever your little heart desires. At less than $5.00 per wreath...make one per holiday!

American Girl Knock-Offs

If you have or have ever been a girl under nine, you must have heard about the American Girl Dolls. I think the whole idea is great. I had one of the dolls as a little girl, and it was a very cherished present of mine. My Mom packed mine up with all of her accessories, and saved it all these years. I somehow ended up with the trunk of goodies here at my house. Which came in handy. (More on that later.) I love that little girls are still enjoying these great dolls!

My sweet niece Alexa and I spent some quality time during our Thanksgiving visit together with the American Girl Doll website. She was showing me which outfits she wanted for her doll for Christmas. You can also get matching doll and girl outfits. It's all very cute.

This is what she picked out. Zebra! (She's a spunky one.)

American Girl Store

Now as much as I love the American Girl organization their prices are a bit over my budget. So why not make my own?

So I did.

With soft, cozy corduroy...great for cold days.

And satiny purple ribbon..

My very own AG Doll came in handy for the photo shoot. She, who was affectionately named "Chuckie" by my husband, got her own homemade leggings. 

 Lexa got a $4.99 pair from target. God Bless Target. Amen.

(Please ignore that "Chuckie's" zebra stripes are vertical...

I refused to buy more fabric so had to use the scraps I had left.)

A girl & her doll...a perfect pair.

Gingerbread Extravaganza!

Every year my amazing mother hosts a gingerbread decorating day. She spends hours and hours baking, cutting out, and putting together a gingerbread house (or in many cases, something other than a house) for everyone, and we all decorate them together. Kids and adults big kids alike! It's one of my favorite days of the year, and I was so lucky to have been "home" for it this year!

This year she let everyone choose their "structure," so we had a big variety. And we aren't talking tiny houses here people. Let's just say my mother has a problem with the scale of these structures. (Note: a castle so large my niece could have probably climbed inside if she wanted.) 

What I love most about this day, is the creativity & imagination the kids display. It's refreshing & fun to watch them create with such concentration & concern.

the transformation...

is always magnificent!

A barn...

a farmhouse...

an 18 wheeler...

a train...

and a castle fit for a princess...

A day full of family, candy, & Christmasy fun...doesn't get much better than that!