From this to that Friday: Reversible Blocks

I've seen these cute reversible blocks before...lots of variations on Pinterest, but I wanted to come up with my own design. So much more fun that way!

Well, My husband and I got invited to a fun couples party and were supposed to bring a white elephant gift that had a theme of double duty/multi-purpose. I could NOT think of a THING! Usually I can come up with a few ideas, but not this time. Maybe it's bc my brain is just GONE after taking care of 6!!! people that have had the flu in my house over the past two weeks and then my husband had surgery Monday too! I am ex.haust.ed! But my sister reminded me of this idea, so I came up with this!

I think it turned out fun. Think I might distress the edges a bit next time.

So I started with 2x4's and 2x6's. Then cut them to this:
3 different sizes of blocks:

Then with a little paint, a little vinyl, and a little paint on my fingers (haha), I made them into this:
(vinyl on the far right block is chalkboard vinyl)

Top view:

Wait! Now turn them around and see...the other side!

 Or even change them up a bit!

So much fun making these...I already have others designed and ready to cut out for other holidays!!! What holidays would you use them the most on?

Past Projects

A couple of last years projects...pics from my phone...more fun stuff coming!

Winter Gear Storage

Well, between being snowed in, getting orders out, preparing for Christmas and family coming, and having the flu at our house, my posts have slowed a bit. I am trying to keep up on FB and Instagram though, so check there too!

Meanwhile, got a question for anyone following...
So, I'm curious...where do you keep your winter stash of wear for your families? And what do you do with it when they come in with it all wet from the snow? I am happy with this over the door shoe hanger we have in our laundry room for holdng it all. Works like a charm for the kids. But need ideas (other than dump it all in front of the fireplace or bathroom) for wet gear...

Inspiring Ginger Snap Crafts

If you have been following me awhile, you might have heard me mention that a friend of mine runs the cute, inventive, creative, inspiring Ginger Snap Crafts blog and FB site. She is almost at 10,000 likes! Amazing! She is an awesome blogger and I love her ideas and recipes too! Right now she has the BEST! PB cookie recipe AND snow ice cream! on her blog too.

If you haven't done it yet, hop on over to her FB site and like her page and help her hit 10,000! You can find here here:
https://www.facebook.com/GingerSnapCraft

Meanwhile, I think I will eat another one of her cookies! Yum!

Goldilocks chair joins the Bear Family

Remember the From this to that Friday earlier this year when I redid this table? 

 I absolutely love the fun look I created with it. 

I added Bear family names to all the chairs too! (Idea courtesy of my husband) :) 

Well, I have thought that I needed a Goldilocks chair ever since then, but wasn't sure where to put it or how to fit it in, but finally I found the most fun, perfect spot! On my daughter's little rocking chair next to the fireplace. What could be better? Doesn't it seem JUST like the place Goldilocks would have come and sat? heehee And you walk by it on the way to the dining room, so it all ties in together still.

Love adding little bits of character all over our house. So much more fun! 

Advent Calendar Turned Missing Sock Center

Do you have an advent calendar? Do you just put it away after the holidays? Well, check out what you can do with this one from Silhouette!

Ginger Snap Crafts recently had a promotion code to get this and I was excited! I had grand ideas! lol

This makes the best advent calendar and comes as a kit with fun shapes to hang...whether you use it for Christmas, birthdays, or any holiday countdown. BUT in between, why not move it to the laundry room!? So fun! And so many possibilities, but these two I came up with are my favorites!

 

lol Love it! and so easy to move and use in various locations in the house for various reasons ALL year long!

Autumn in a Jar...Winterized

We made this fun little jar at a church women's activity recently. So easy and cute! Great to hang leaves on with all that we are thankful for...

 I decided to "winterize it" and leave it up. Love the new look and how it goes great with winter too!

So grab a mason jar and some twigs and hop to it! :) (It also has a cute little burlap covered lid. So fun!)

Chocolate Peppermint Easy Peasy Cookies

This has been my GO-TO recipe when I need super fast cookies for the past 10 years? I have since seen variations on Pinterest, but I still love and use this one! So Easy! So fast! So yummy!

All you need is a few ingredients:

You literally dump them all in together. 1/3 cup oil, the cake mix, and 2 eggs:

 You don't even need a mixer. Just grab a spoon and mix it all together. It gets really thick, but trust me, they are great! No need to thin out the dough. Then add your extras. I used peppermint M&M's this time, but I have also used: PB chips, Andes mint chips, choc chips, toffee bits...anything you want! And this cake mix actually already comes with mini choc chips already in it too!

 Spoon them onto a cookie sheet. This made 2 1/2 dozen cookies for me.

 Cook at 350 degrees for 6-8 minutes depending on your oven. Pull them out when they are puffy with tiny cracks starting like below. They won't look done.

 But trust me, they are. They will flatten and then be yummy, gooey, chewy cookies!

So good! So easy! AND So fast! 

 

Temple Block Set

I am soooo excited to show you this fun block set I made for my niece for Christmas. She is only one and the fifth girl in her family. Her mom told me she doesn't need toys and just to do something with vinyl that she would appreciate later. She told me her favorite songs were "I am a child of God" and "I love to see the temple". I thought...that's not much fun for a one year old, so I came up with this! A chunky LDS temple stacking block set.

And I absolutely love love love! the way it came out! Now I need to make some for my girls! Blocks that easily stack into a temple! No frustration that they won't stand up...And a temple that you can display that is kid friendly and doesn't break! Love!

(A special thanks to my husband for making my drawing of what I wanted the blocks to look like into a reality.) ;)

Available now! Nativity Wood Chip Garland Stencil

Due to the large amount of responses asking for the stencil I used to make my Nativity Wood chip garland, I have listed it in my shop. FYI though, I am only taking orders through Dec 5, so just a few more days, before I close my shop for the holidays.

They will come as just a little vinyl decal stencil that you just peel off and stick wherever you want it. They are more likely only able to be used once. The center figures are already cut out and will not be included, nor any other materials. Just the vinyl stencils. If you buy three or more sets, I can create a custom order and discount the price.

Here's the link!
https://www.etsy.com/listing/171472410/stencil-set-only-of-nativity

Thanks for all the reponses! :)

Are you feeling it?

Are you feeling the Christmas spirit yet? I am! I have both Thanksgiving and Christmas decor up in my house now! That's a first! :)

Here are a couple more past favorite projects I'm sharing today! Working on loads of orders and more fun non holiday projects too!

Still love this one!

Makes the best gift!

And a couple of cards today too!

 

Winner and MORE!

... (better late than never right?!) of the Nativity Ornament Inserts is Jana Lyn Knittle! PM me your mailing address and I will get these in the mail to you!

I wanted to share so much more this week, but due to a semi-emergency with my son's bearded dragon, preparing for a 5K in the freezing cold tomorrow with my daughter (Brrrrr! Wish us luck...or warmth! haha) and an enormous volume of orders I have been working on, I had to slow down somewhere. But don't worry. You'll still get to see it all. Here is one little new decor I put up this week! Love it! The snowflake is actually a photography prop my parents made and are selling now. LOVE IT! I took some pics of my girls with it too, that I'll show you later.

Anyway, have a warm weekend everyone!

All time Fav Christmas Projects!

This week I am posting some of my past all time favorite Christmas cards and projects I have made on FB every day. They're all things I have done that I still use in my home and as gifts, so keep checking back to see some of my all time favorite holiday crafts!

Here are a few I've shared so far. I'll also be adding some new ones soon too! :)