One Last Autumn project

The snow is falling - slowly, and just a flake or two at a time. Light flurries, we call that. We also call that Winter. Sigh.

I have taken down all of the Autumn decorations from around the house, and they're piled on the dining room table, waiting to be packed away for another year. As I gathered, I found a bag of craft supplies purchased several weeks ago and tucked away for "later".

One of the first posts I ever read on The Nester's blog was about her tassels. I've looked many times at her Etsy shop, but just couldn't justify spending the money, even though I really liked what she was making.
Then several weeks ago I came across this tutorial for making large decorative tassels. I'm always game to try a new craft, so I picked up some fringe and trims (50% off), and the candle cups on one of my forays to Hobby Lobby. I already had the pumpkins, and got the big acorn at HL for 80% off.

It took me a couple of hours to put these together, as I experimented with the layers of trim and glued slowly so I didn't burn my fingers. I have to say, I really like how they came out, and I'm looking forward to making some Christmas ones next. It's kind of addictive, really, to see what kinds of fun trims you can find, as well as the toppers. There is a pair of Santas waiting to be tasseled in the near future. My only complaint is that I have to go to either Lincoln or Grand Island to get the bullion fringe. Argh.

I'm not doing much Christmas decorating until we get back from vacation in a couple of weeks, but there will be a few things. Stop back in during the week to see!

Thanksgiving Conversations with Three Year-Olds

Leslie: We're going to Aunt Tammy's for Thanksgiving. We're going to eat turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing...

Garett: And CHOCOLATE!Aunt Tammy (making up take-home containers for Nick): Do you want gravy on your mashed potatoes or in a separate container?

Grace: I want gravy!

A/T: You want gravy on what?

Grace: On a plate!

Hope you had a Happy one!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We're celebrating at our house tomorrow - turkey and the usual trimmings, along with the dessert buffet. Yum!

Have a happy Turkey Day!

A Saturday Morning

Last weekend, Grace and Garett spent Friday night, and woke up Saturday morning ready to play. They came into the bedroom at 7:30 and said, "Aunt Tammy! It's time to get up! There's no dark anymore!". Greg asked them how they knew that, and Grace told him, "Well, come look!". Who can resist that invitation? :o)

Garett already had the little town/garage set up out, along with all the little cars I have. Give him a collection of things he can line up and move around, and he's a happy little man. We also got out Jessi's collection of Littlest Pet Shoppe animals and various accessories. These were buried in the playroom closet that I'd cleaned out earlier that week, and I just knew Grace would love them. She did. She collected the many kitties and puppies, along with the two horses, and had fun with the pretend food dishes and pet beds.

I wanted to take a shower, but the two of them didn't like having me out of their sight for any length of time, and I knew they'd come looking for me if I just disappeared into the bathroom. I struck a deal with them - Uncle Greg would stay in the living room with them while I got my shower in private. Grace was okay with that, if he played with them. Bless his heart, he sat right down and started playing Littlest Pet Shoppe.

I had no choice but to grab the camera.
I got my photos, and I got my shower, then Uncle Greg made us all scrambled eggs for breakfast. This is how to spend a Saturday morning.

Paper Crafting and Show and Tell

I'm a little tardy in posting today, but there are a couple of things I want to share with you. Kelli hosts both Paper Crafting Thursday and Show & Tell Friday, and this post will cover both things.
There are so many easy and inexpensive seasonal decorating projects floating around Blogland, and I took my inspiration from several decorating blogs I read. You can see a few of those on my sidebar. (There are many more that are not listed, but will be rotated on and off of my list.)
That said, here are a couple of things I made up for Thanksgiving. The first is an inspirational Bible verse about giving thanks. This is on the small table next to the front door. Easy enough with the computer printer, some scrapbook paper, and a 3-D sticker. The other is usually hanging on the wall just outside the kitchen, but I couldn't get a glare-free photo there, so I had to put it in a stand on the counter. The frame was in my pile in the den. I don't know why I bought this particular size, but I must've had a plan - this isn't one I spraypainted, but I'm sure I didn't pay more than a couple of dollars for it.

I love the pattern of the scrapbook paper used for the background, then I cut a 'welcome' frame using my Cricut. Once glued onto the paper, I didn't like the font for the work 'welcome', so I printed out the "Give Thanks" sentiment and just glued it over the top of 'welcome'. I really like how this came out.

If you click on the links at the top of this post, you can see what everyone else has shared. And while you're clicking on links, my friend Susan is hosting a Pay It Forward event on her blog. Please take a look and leave her a comment to participate. Then come back here in a few days and you can be part of mine, too!

Paper Crafted Banner

One of the fun decorations at the anniversary party was a gold and white "Happy Anniversary" banner I made. I cut 3 x 6" white triangles then glued on slightly smaller striped triangles. On top of that I put a 3" white circle with a slightly smaller floral circle glued on. A gold letter finished off each piece. In between the words I put a gold heart.

Each triangle was hot glued to gold ribbon. We hung this in the doorway to the big room where the open house was held.

I didn't get a good photo of the entire banner, but here's the "happy" side.

I like having handmade things in the decoration mix. This one was easy but the gold and white color scheme was a little elegant. I used my Cricut to cut out the circles and letters, so it didn't take long to put together.

Kelli hosts Paper Crafting Thursday each week and always has easy but nice looking things with clear directions so you could make your own paper crafts!

Fun Challenge

I just read this on my friend Susan's blog and thought it'd be a fun challenge to try:

CHALLENGE
Grab the nearest book.

That would be "Twilight". Jessi just returned it to me this weekend after I mailed it to her a couple of weeks ago, and it was sitting here on the table. I want to re-read it before the movie opens in 19 days. Open the book to page 56.

Find the fifth sentence.

Post the text of the next two to five sentences in your blog along with these instructions.

"I didn't even have time to close my eyes.

Just before I heard the shattering crunch of the van folding around the truck bed, something hit me, hard, but not from the direction I was expecting. My head cracked against the icy blacktop, and I felt something solid and cold pinning me to the ground."

Don't dig for your favorite book, the cool book, or the intellectual one: pick the CLOSEST.

It Was A Party Day!

We had a wonderful open house celebration for Greg's parents' 50th wedding anniversary today.

I was a little nervous beforehand, wondering if we remembered everything we needed, if there would be enough cake and punch, if having the party on a Saturday would be okay.

I needn't have worried at all, of course. We got to see many people we haven't seen in a long while, and meet some old friends of Bob's and Jan's for the first time. There was plenty of cake and punch.

This party was a collaborative effort. Here you see Greg and Randy arranging tulle on the tables. (NEVER in my life would I EVER have thought I'd type that sentence!)

Nick is setting out the glittered gourds and pumpkins.

Gotta love these guys - Adam and Jake jumped right in to serve drinks - coffee, tea, and punch. (Adam is Sara's boyfriend, and Jake belongs to Hannah.) Hannah's in the background waiting for plates of cake to put on the table.Here we have Sara and Jessica getting ready to cut and serve the sheet cakes.

On the guest book table we had Bob's and Jan's marriage license, the certificate from the pastor, and their 50th anniversary photo. The silk flower arrangement came from their good friends, Rose and Woz.

Nick took guest book duty - he had to say hello to each person as they arrived. :o)

To kick things off, Bob and Jan cut the wedding cake,

then Jan fed a piece to Bob,

and Bob fed a piece to Jan.

Wasn't that sweet? Makes me smile to tell you about it.

We sent the top of the cake home with them. They put it in the freezer and will enjoy it next year. :o)

It was our pleasure and privilege to have this party for them. Like all couples, they've had their challenges over the years, but in the end, love wins.

We wish them many more happy years together - and we're starting plans for their 60th celebration now! :o)