For my mother

During my first year of teaching (2005), I bought a wood sign for sister1 with her last name and the year she was married on it.  Since then, my mother has been asking for one too.  I looked into getting her one made a few years ago, but the people were slow getting back to me and so things never really worked out.  This year, I decided, was the year to make it myself!  

I think it turned out rather well!

When I made my menu board, I peeled each letter off the cut vinyl and put it on the glass individually,..and it took forever, and it's not straight.  Recently though, I saw a great idea on pinterest.  They recommended using Press and Seal to transfer the vinyl.  I tried it and it worked perfectly!!

Merry Christmas Ma!

Christmas Presents

In addition to the annual Schneiter and Hickenlooper family calendars, this year I also made a few extra goodies!  I got all of my ideas from pinterest!

For my nieces and nephews (each family got their own game):

Sister1's family is the only one that got a box.  The new version of Guess Who doesn't have the flip up windows, so I had to buy older versions of the game on ebay.  There was only one decent looking/smelling box.

 I made all of my sisters bleach-pen t-shirts.  

In Brad's family we do a secret Santa gift exchange, I drew Marign's name and I made her this marble necklace!  It's just a baked marble but I think it looks pretty cool!

As usual, I was overwhelmed and working until the last possible second, but I love giving handmade gifts!  I love to hear people's reactions and I love the feeling of creating cute things!

Hot Chocolate Party

Before Christmas, Shandi and I hosted a hot chocolate party.  It was so much fun!

Shandi made hot chocolate on a stick for party favors!  The marshmallows are homemade too!  You just stir  the stick into hot water and voila!  hot chocolate!

We noshed on donuts, spinach artichoke purses and seven layer dip

I etched everyone's name on to a mug for a souvenir 

the mix-ins:  homemade marshmallows, cinnamon sticks, peppermint, cool whip and cream.

 I think we'll make it an annual event!

to the rescue!!!

Sister3 made her kids some superhero costumes for Christmas.  Nephew5 modeled them...and chose all the poses himself!!!

Wolverine

The Flash

Green Lantern

Thor

And my personal favorite...Captain America!!!



Is he super or what?!?!

Christmas presents for the sisters

What do you get your sisters for Christmas when they have everything they need? You applique dishtowels, of course!

First, I made everyone a towel with their last name initial.

And then, I made each sister 1 or 2 towels with applique that suited their personality.

For sister4:

For sister6:

For sister1:

for sister 3:

for my mother:

for sister 2:

Here's how they look in use:

I think they're rather darling...don't you?

p.s. a special thanks to SLW for your help sewing them! You're a life saver! My stress level was about to cause me to burst!

Calendars

I know I was MIA. But with good reason!!! I have been so very, very craft happy this past month! But, as I was crafting Christmas gifts, I couldn't post! But now that Christmas is past, let the posting begin!!!

Every year for the past 10ish years someone in my family has produced a 'Cute Kids' calendar. In this calendar, the creator uses cute/fun fonts to create the months and to add birthdays, anniversaries, etc. and then in the corresponding picture section for each month, my sisters have provided pictures of their darlings. I believe the calendar began when there were only 2 grandchildren, but now the calendar contains pictures of 14 beautiful children!!!

For the past 4 or 5 years the task has fallen on me to produce the calendar. I actually volunteered and it's not a job I'm likely to give up any time soon! I started working on it this year in July! And, my hard work has paid off...I think this is my greatest calendar creation yet!

Below, you will find a selection of some of my favorite months from the 2011 edition of the Cute Kids Calendar! (you will probably need to zoom in to get the full effect)

I know of no greater crafting pleasure than being able to match a font perfectly with an occasion! A thing of beauty is a joy forever...or at least until the 2012 edition comes out next Christmas!

It's the worst kept secret of the Christmas season. Every year, every member of my and B's families will receive a calendar (that's 16 calendars!). I do a specific one for every member of B's fam, you know, with the appropriate birthdays and all, a specific one for my fam and then a combination for B and I. It's a good deal of work...but I really love the feeling of flipping through the calendar when I'm finished or even better, I love hearing people gush about how great and clever they think the fonts and little clip art selections are (hint, hint!!)

Until next year then...


p.s. don't take anything to Kinko's to be bound. EVER. They'll ruin it. Guaranteed.

Christmas is coming...

Sister4 sent me a pretty spectacular package. In in I found the cutest, most unique advent I've ever seen. It consists of 25 individually wrapped packages, each containing an activity to help bring the spirit of Christmas into our home (like watch a Christmas movie, or do something kind for someone NOT in your family).

And, the package held this!

Handmade. No cricut cutter or anything!

Gorgeous, non?

silhouettes

Wow. Where has the time gone?!?! I have spent the last month and a half busily preparing crafts for Christmas gifts, traveling and just plain enjoying the holidays! Slowly, but surely, I will catch up!

My eldest sister made these ornaments for/of her kiddos for Christmas (I especially love how you can tell how chubby baby C is)!

I believe she puts Martha to shame!