Handmade Christmas Gifts

I did a handmade gift swap with fellow Close to my Heart consultants for easy inexpensive gifts.  Here is what I received.  All of the ladies did a wonderful job with their items.  I am so excited to use this ideas and to give cute unique gifts away for this holiday season and others to come!

 Cute playing cards stocking stuffer created by Kelley Balzola

 Decorated candle created by Kelley Balzola

 Kids kit created by Michelle Johns

 Here are the contents of the "kids kit" it has a tic tac toe game, crayons and papers

 Friendship goodies created by Michelle Johns

 Card with chocolates created by Michelle Johns

 Brownies in a bottle created by Michelle Johns

 Snowman soup can created by Twyla Norris

 Fantastic Christmas mug created by Twyla Norris

 Nugget tin gift created by Kelley Balzola

 Dominos necklace created by Ellen Newson

 Cookie sheet magnet noteboard created by Therese Purchase

 Custom checkbook cover created by Kelley Balzola

 Arcrylic desk calendar created by Therese Purchase

 Singed flower headband created by Milenna Russell

 Altered canvas panel board created by Milenna Russell

Altered metal barn star created by Milenna Russell

Altered notepad created by Ellen Willis

Fall Decorative Blocks

I made these blocks at a craft night for my Relief Society. They turned out cute.  They are made of different size wooden blocks and covered with patterned papers and vinyl letters.
Start by staining the wood blocks with dark colored stain (dark walnut was used on these blocks). Wipe off your blocks and let stain dry completely.  Then cover with papers by spreading Modge Podge on the wood block first and then laying the paper over the top (you will need to make sure that you papers are precut). After you have covered with the papers then apply the vinyl letters onto the paper, then seal the top with Modge Podge.  I did not let the stain dry long enough because of time restraints so I had a little problem with the stain soaking though the papers.  In order to fix the problem I simply inked the papers on the blocks to make it look like they were supposed to be like that.

Here is how they turned out.  I measured the dimensions of the blocks if anyone is interested.  The papers should be cut just slightly smaller than the block.  The vinyl letters can be cut on a Cricut machine or purchased (you will have to scale the letters according to the block size as well).  Here is the breakdown:

G v H k --3 1/4" x 3 3/4"
T S--  3 1/4" x 4 3/4"
e --  2 1/4" x 4 1/4"
n --  2 1/4" x 3 3/4"
a --  2 1/4" x 3 1/4"
I --  2 1/4" x 4 3/4"

I love how they turned out and I might be making more next year for gifts.  Not many people have a lot of Thanksgiving decorations or fall decor so I think this would make a fabulous gift!

Elections are over.....more crafting to come!

My dad ran for the legislature and won this week.  He is one of the new members of the House of Representatives for the State of Utah.  I am so proud of him.  This week has been crazy busy with a late night Tuesday staying up to see results on the elections and then a few sick kids, parent/teacher conferences, etc.

Most of my craft projects have been put on hold, but I am working on my swap items.  I am hosting a swap on the CTMH bulletin boards for Christmas gift ideas.  Here is the altered canvas panel that I created for one of my spots in the swap.

I used the Simple Pleasures paper packet (retired).  I made my own paper flowers and the saying is from the Make it Count stamp set.  The metal embellishments are the filigree charms and the ribbon is the colonial white crochet ribbon.
I am working on creating more of the satin flower bracelets (singed flowers) and I will post them with instructions later this week. 

Satin Flower Necklace and Bracelet set

I am so excited, I finished a little jewelry set that was inspired by Tresa Black blog.  I made a satin flower necklace and bracelet set with singed flowers and beads.  I like how they turned out.  I cannot wait to make more.  I am going to do some headbands with these cute flowers as well.  My pictures are not that great but here is a a peek at my project.  I will post more as I make them.  I think that they are so cute.

Tresa is very talented and I watched a tutorial that she had on Ustream and then added my own flair to the project.

I plan on making these for some of my friends and sister-in-laws and maybe my nieces as well.

Swap Spoiler--Fall Catalog Paper Packet 12x12 Layout Swap 2010

I have been hosting a swap on the CTMH Bulletin Boards quarterly for about 2 years now.  I swap 12x12 layouts with talented consultants.  We use the new paper packs so that we can showcase the new papers that are in the current catalog.  Here are the 12x12 pages that I received:

 Created by Milenna Russell using X7130B Mistletoe Level 2 Paper Packet

 Created by Holly Maatman using X7130B Mistletoe Level 2 Paper Packet

 Created by Angie Clemons using X7129B Hooligans Level 2 Paper Packet

 Created by Ilona Campinha using X7128B Olivia Level 2 Paper Packet

 Created by Christine Bivens using X7127B Magnifique Level 2 Paper Packet

 Created by Nadine Lefkof using X7127B Olivia

Created by Nadine Lefkof using X7127B Magnifique

These layouts are all so beautiful I cannot wait to put photos on them.  I will try to post the finished product later with my photos.

More Fun, Easy, Classroom Halloween Treat Ideas

Here are a few more things I am making for classroom Halloween treats.  They are not really fancy, but my kids are excited (I don't want to spend too long creating them because I know that they will probably just get thrown away, but these are fun to give).

First is a matchbook eyeball treat.  I just created a simple matchbook shape and stapled in individually wrapped lifesaver candies then punched out black circles to make the eyeballs.  I decorated the front with the CTMH Hooligans (X7129B) paper and stamped it with the Merry Monsters (B1333) stamps.

The second treat idea is the door hanger pouches (CTMH discontinued them, but I think you can find them at craft stores).  I just stamped one stamp from Thriller stamps (September 2010 SOTM) for the middle and inked around the entire box with black and cranberry ink.  I put fun packs of M&M's and a Twix in this little box.

The third idea I found while searching for ideas for a fun craft for my activity days girls.  They are ping pong ball eyeballs.  You simple glue black felt circles on the ping pong ball and then use a furry material for the eyebrows.  I found a small hot pink boa for cheap at Michael's craft and I cut it for the eyebrows which worked well; you can also use craft fur to make the eyebrows (I figured the brighter the better).

These are not new ideas I have seen them before but they are easy and fast to make. 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN and I hope you have some "spooky fun"!

Halloween Fun Treat Ideas

I am making some cute "treats" for my kids school classes.  I am going to post the crayon box treats that I am making for my son's preschool class (if I can figure out how to post pictures).  I will be posting some other creations later too.  But for now this is what I have come up with (I actually used this idea a couple of years ago, but I like them so much I am doing them again.

 These are actually boxes of crayons.  I figured preschoolers would like to get crayons (moms might like it too since they will be getting so much candy).

The mysterious "Mummy"

"Franky" the friendly Frankenstein fellow

Introduction

I am a mother of 4.  One girl and three boys.  I call this the "Mommy Misfit" blog because most of the time I feel like a "misfit" when it comes to this whole "mommy" thing.  You would think after 11 years I would be used to it, but I don't know if I ever will be completely comfortable in my "mommy skin".  Don't get me wrong I love being a mom and I would not trade it for the world, but dang it is the hardest thing I have ever had to do in my life.  With a preteen girl and 3 active boys I never know what will happen next!

In addition to being a mom I am a freelance writer (right now I mostly just write for web content sites).  I do have some articles on http://www.craftbits.com/ 
http://www.craftbits.com/project/altered-coasters-photo-hangup
http://www.craftbits.com/project/altered-tin-lunch-box
http://www.craftbits.com/project/altered-scrapbooking-scrapbook-in-a-box
http://www.craftbits.com/project/word-bloom-album
http://www.craftbits.com/project/altered-cookie-tray-notice-board
http://www.craftbits.com/project/soda-can-treat-holder

Some of my other articles can be found at http://www.ehow.com/, http://www.associatedcontent.com/writinfool and http://www.scrapbook.lifetips.com/
I wrote a tip book entitled "101 Scrapbook Tips" with Lifetips you can find it on their website http://www.lifetips.com/Writers/SiteBooks.asp or also on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=lifetips+books+101+scrapbook+tips

I also scrapbook frequently and I am a consultant for Close to my Heart Scrapbooking http://www.loveyourstamps.myctmh.com/   You can check out my site and for all of you who would like to try digital scrapbooking you can do it all with CTMH.  Go to my site and try out the Studio J digital scrapbooking with CTMH.  You can use the pictures already on your computer and create beautiful layouts with the click of a button.