THANKSGIVING THANKS

Feels like its been a long time since I blogged.  I was sick for a while and then had a quick trip home to Missouri for Thanksgiving to see my family.  I am so thankful for family, friends, good health and spirits.  My wish is for everyone to enjoy their daily lives.  Here are 3 little ones I usually see on a daily basis and keep me in good spirits.  As I tell them, "I love you from the green grass all the way to the blue sky and back!"

HONESTY

This is a news video clip about a man who returned $3,300 he found in a lost backpack.  What a wonderful thing to do - a very hard decision I am sure since the man was homeless.  That says a lot about his integrity.

ETSYKIDS' DECEMBER DESIGN CHALLENGE ENTRIES

Here are a few of the wonderful creations in this month's

 EtsyKids Peppermint Swirl design challenge.

Vintage Peek-a-Boo Christmas Dress
by

Kinder Kouture

Peppermint Hair Bow
by
Lil Belle Bowtique

Peppermint Princess Holiday Tutu
by
Cole Baby TuTu's

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer Holiday Onesie or Shirt
by
Giggle Baby Design

Boutique Holiday Onesie and Pants Set
by

Candy Stick Lane

Hope this gets everyone into a festive mood for the coming holidays!

ARRRGH - THE PIRATES ARE COMING!

Pirates Crayon Roll Up

by 

Snazzy Snugglies

Just listed this crayon roll up in my etsy shop.  Crayon roll ups make wonderful party favors, birthday gifts, and Christmas stocking stuffers!

THANKSGIVING EDIBLE CHILDREN'S NAME CARDS OR PARTY FAVORS

Sugar Cone Cornucopia

These miniature horns of plenty -- which double as edible name cards -- make striking party favors for a Thanksgiving table.

Materials

• Sugar cones
• Ribbon
• Store-bought decorator's icing

• Fruit-shaped candies or cereal
• Doilies (optional)

Instructions

1. For each place setting, tie a ribbon around the opening of a sugar cone.
2. With a tube of store-bought decorator's icing and a steady hand, squirt the name of a guest along the side of the cone.
3. Place the cone on a doily-covered saucer. Then fill it with candies, such as raspberry jellies, fruit-shaped sweets, marzipan fruits, candy corn and citrus slices. For an inexpensive alternative, use fruit-shaped cereal. Let the goodies spill out over the opening and around the cone.

THANKSGIVING OREO TURKEYS

Turkey Party Favors

Check out Our Best Bites for their step-by-step photographic instructions to make this edible turkey party favor. 

QUICK AND EASY THANKSGIVING TURKEY KID TREATS

Turkey Candy Treats

For these turkey treats, spread a dollop of vanilla frosting on a round cracker. Place a chocolate kiss near the bottom of the cracker. Add candy corn pieces above the kiss for the turkey feathers. Spread a small amount of frosting on one side of another candy corn piece and "glue" to the top of the kiss for the beak. Let frosting dry, then attach a caramel square to the back of the cracker with frosting to help the treats stand upright.

VETERANS DAY

Thanks to all the veterans

for keeping our country safe.

KID-FRIENDLY THANKSGIVING DECORATIONS

Pompom Turkey Friends
This goofy gobbler is so cute your kids will want to make one for each place setting—or a whole flock to decorate the center of the table! Start by cutting feathers out of orange, red, and brown craft foam, then glue them together to make a fanned-out tail. Glue a brown pompom to the feathers to make the poufy body. Cut out a pair of yellow craft foam feet and glue the pompom body on top. Glue on googly eyes and a yellow craft foam bill. Now that's one quirky turkey!  This came from Parent's Magazine.

GRANDDAUGHTER'S FIRST DANCE RECITAL

What a cutie!

GARDENING TIPS FOR MUMS

Mums

Tip 1

When night temps drop (mid-September), buy plants as they start to break bud. You’ll maximize bloom time. To find the color and type of flower you’re after, check plant tags and cross-reference with already opened blooms. Garden centers usually group like selections together.

Tip 2
For impact, sport no more colors than are on your team’s jersey. You will stretch your dollars by choosing darker shades such as bronze and burgundy. They look better longer; spent flowers are less noticeable. The same is true for mums with double, as opposed to single, daisy-like blooms.
Tip 3
What you see is what you get: Buy the bigger plant. Once buds start to open, you’re pretty much guaranteed flowers ― no matter where you display them. They’ll be happiest in sun, but if you’re planning to compost them once the show is over, it’s fine to bend this rule.
Tip 4
Keep flowers coming by watering and pinching. Soil should be moist, but never wet. Check daily while weather is warm, every other day when it’s cooler. Fertilizing is not necessary. Remove faded blooms to encourage even more buds to open and you’ll have color through October.

If plants dry out, submerge in a bucket of water, or jab a sharp pencil into the soil several times and then water.

ALEXANDER HENRY'S YOKO BLANKET

I came home tonight to find I made a sale in my etsy shop.  I love this fabric with black satin!

FALL IS HERE

The weather is cooler.

Tree leaves are changing.  

Fall is here!

WINNER OF THE ETSYKIDS' OCTOBER DESIGN CHALLENGE

Little Miss Frilly

Winning entry of the EtsyKids' Design Challenge

"Woodlands" theme

WINTER ISSUE OF MODERN HANDMADE CHILD

Modern Handmade Child 



This is a seasonal online magazine helping families to embrace the handmade way of life. The Winter 2010 issue is full of fun crafts you can do with your children during these colder months, the latest handmade fashions for keeping warm indoors and out, delicious recipes, and inspiring ways to celebrate this festive holiday season the handmade way.  Check it out.