Project 4: Fall Decorations

I have actually been working on a crafty project all week for Tate's school, but since I don't want to spoil the surprise, I will have to post something else for Week 4.

Here are our fall decorations and a few photos of our neighborhood Harvest Party that we had last weekend.  I think it will satisfy my "Project 52" requirements, since it was creative work to make sure the party and all the decor happened!

 Our bubble maker!

The favorite soup of the day.

The coolest soup bowl cozy!! My neighbor, Nessa, made this and Mom, pleeeeeeeease make me one! (Did mention that Nessa made it without a pattern?  Awesome.)

Soups, Plain Noodles, and Bread.  Simple but yummy.

Our new fave: Apple Crockpot Cake! 

  Just add apple pie filling (or we just cooked up apples with spices and a little brown sugar in butter)+yellow cake mix+a teeny bit of hot water+melted butter.  Cook for 2 hours on high and it magically makes cake.  Sticky, yummy, appley cake.  Serve with ice cream!

I love this time of year!!!

Project 3: Homemade (cute!) Pillowcase

A homemade pillow case sounds really ugly.  You know...like something a relative gives you at the holidays that you only pull out when they come to visit.  But I found this really great tutorial on pinterest, and they used super cute fabrics, which made the pillow case ADORABLE.  Or, I am getting old.

In any case, to go with Mikey's Quilt (Project #2), I made him a matching pillowcase.  He's a 23 year old bachelor, so he'll appreciate (I hope!)  a household good that he doesn't have to buy, and can use the money on food!!

It was really easy and I was able to finish within 2 hours.  Here is the link.

http://patches.typepad.com/notes_from_the_patch/2010/07/tutorial-tuesday-24-pillowcases.html

I personally used the video included from Notes from the Patch blog, in addition to the written instructions.  I love the french seams as well as the finished look of the case. 

Project 2 : Quilt for Mikey

Yes, yes...I realize that we are in week 3, and I haven't posted Project 2 of 52...  I swear! I was working on it the whole time!

Quilts take a really long time to make.  Thank goodness we aren't relying on my quilt making skills to keep us warm, as they did in the days of old.  We would be out of luck.  And by we, I mean my family, who all love to sleep under lots of blankets.  

This quilt is for my brother, Mikey.  I made the top over the last year, but I used the Project 52 to give me focus and actually finish it and mail it off.  (It is not yet in the box.)  The kids are breaking it in, snuggling and playing on it any chance they get.  My kids really, really love quilts.

As for Week 3's project, does decorating for Fall count as a project? Maybe?

Bits of Inspiration

We went to the MN Renaissance Festival a few weeks back, and it was way more fun than I expected.  In fact, my kids preferred this event to the State Fair, which we had been to the week before.  We went on Fairy House competition day, and here are a few of the amazing fairy houses that we saw.  Tate preferred to watch the longbow competition, until I made him walk around with me (Soleil and Paul went to get some corn) and then he was insisting that we walk around them twice. He even voted for his favorite!

Later in the week, we were looking for something to do, and I remembered a fountain pump that the previous owners of our house had left behind.  It started with "Let's see if this thing works!" and progressed to the kiddos arguing over who get to play with the new fountain.  The whole thing was created and designed by Tate.

And thank you, Pinterest and Lisa (Rogers) Meesseman, for inspiring me for today's afternoon project...

(the q-tips will be dots for the leaves on the trees.)

Project 1: Scrapbooking!

Wait.  It's Wednesday already!  I had big plans to post every Monday, but I am having a hard time getting back into the swing of things with school starting.  The first week was all about going to Target, Library, Dry Cleaner, returning purchases, errands galore.

This weekend started with a Dove Chocolate Party, which was sooo fun (kind of like Pampered Chef, but you buy from the high end division of Dove instead of pots and pans).  And then on Saturday, I threw a bunch of crafty stuff in a bag and went for a mini scrapbook retreat.  Delightful.  The best part of it all, was that I am back in crafty mode, now that I know where all my stuff is, and I can't wait to get back at it.

 So for my Project 1 of Project 52, I present SCRAPBOOKING.  :)

The beautiful studio we created in...

The wonderful cabin we slept in.  The best part was the snuggly kitty that came with the house!

PROJECT 52

52!

I get lots of ideas.  Pinterest is a personal addiction.  But I hate when I start one idea and then jump to another. And yet, I want to do soooo much!!
For this reason, starting next week, I am starting PROJECT 52.

Each week, I will do one craft, one project, one new complicated recipe, etc.  

Join me??  I would love to see what you make, and be inspired by what you create.   

I was inspired by many, many blogs who are have done the same.  Here are a few for your inspiration pleasure:
http://52projects.com/
http://52crafts52weeks.wordpress.com/
http://lazycrafternoons.blogspot.com/
http://rusticvintagecountry.blogspot.com/2012/05/52-weeks-of-crafts-2-weeks-of.html

My PROJECT 52 year begins with the beginning of the school year:)  I love that feeling of the start of school, and wanted to start something for myself at the same time.

I've made my list, and I am ready to go!!!

Day Out for Mama.

On Sundays, I usually get a few hours to get out alone.  Last week, I went to Bachman's, a local garden center, gift shop, and cafe.  

They also have an "idea house"that I have heard much about.  They take a real house and decorate it for the season, and you can wander through and be inspired for your own home.  I can't wait to go to it when it opens in a month.  Fall is definitely my favorite season, and I can't see what they have created!

Yay Halloween!!

The cafe.  It seems like it is outside, but it is actually in a greenhouse.

My lunch.

Which inspired me to come home and make this.  I forgot how much I love soup!

I love these type of serving dishes.  They remind me of afternoon tea.

And on a completely unrelated, but cute, note...

Schwartz Summer Camp: Construction Week

This week, I pulled out ANYTHING that the kids could build with and put it in our living room.  The place was a wreck by Friday! I tried to create an area for each kid, but Soleil wanted to sit right next to Tate while they were building.  

The plan on Tuesday, was to paint something construction oriented, but if you have kids, you already know that this did not happen.  It didn't matter, though, they painted, made a huge mess, and had a great time.

I had also planned to go to a place in St. Paul called Art Start, which is a place with recycled materials that kids or teachers can use to build with.  I haven't yet been, but it seems as though it is similar to The Scrap Store in Wiltshire County, UK.  We used to go all the time, and Tate had a great time picking out bits of stuff for junk modeling.  

7th Birthday for The Boy

In July, Tate had his 7th birthday.  We celebrated simply, with just the immediate family at home.  I wanted to make it special, so we decorated a path for him to find his gifts.  I've been trying to minimize the number of gifts for holidays, but buy items of quality, which this year I actually succeeded in doing.  He was delighted with his magnetic toy, scooter, and a few games.  His request for his favorite dinner was Ramen, which I easily accommodated. He didn't even want to go out anywhere!

Several weeks later, we had our friends, The Stokes, to visit and we went to The Waterpark of America and had a little pizza party.  We had a great time.

Lip Balm Party!

For Tate's school, I auctioned off a Lip Balm and Salt Scrub Making Party.  It was sooo fun!  We had a group of about 10 girls, and we divided the activities in half.  They seemed to like making their stickers for each of their items as much as making the lip balm and salt scrub. (We used these labels and some gel pens.) Here are the ingredient lists that I gave to each of the girls.  (Basically, you combine all of the ingredients, adding the essential oil last.)

We were so busy making our creations, that I didn't get any photos.  Equally as fun was, after the girls went outside to play, the moms all had a chance to make their own salt scrubs.  I had such a great time!

Fun in the Kitchen--Summer 2012

 My generous neighbor gave me some of her extra, home grown zucchinis.  I have always wanted to make these and thought this was the perfect time.  They were great, and even Soleil loved them.  (They are like potato latkes, but fresher tasting.)  I had them with a little lemon juice, s&p, and sour cream on top.

http://smittenkitchen.com/2011/08/25/zucchini-fritters/

We made this for a little gathering I went to.  The little sweet-salty treat is so good, and easy to make.

 My helper in the kitchen.

This really works to keep your salad lettuce fresh and easy to access.  I ate sooo much more salad than I usually do, since all I had to do was pour it into a bowl to make salad:)

 And on a slightly unhealthy note, these are YUMMMY!  My friend, Ann, introduced me to their spicy, corny, salty goodness.

Picnik alternative

I used to love adding text to photos using picnik.  It is no longer in existence, but found out from a friend that picmonkey.com is a good alternative.  Here are a few pictures that I altered this week, and I have to say that I like it just as well.  It makes me excited to scrapbook.  

And in order to scrapbook, I must find my scrapbook stuff.  It all seems like it is slightly organized, but really, behind the drawers and storage units, it is a complete mess.  I found this site http://craftstorageideas.com/  and now I am super motivated!  I noticed that when my scrap stuff was in the main room that we hung out, I created more.  I also blogged more!  I am considering moving it all out of the craft room into our main family room.

And now back to my Alias marathon.  It makes me want to be a secret agent.

Plaid Barn Giveaway

I haven't actually purchased from here, but I have wanted to!
I think what happens, is that I get the item in the cart, and then someone calls me away from the computer and then I forget.  In any case, I have seen some pretty cute stuff on this site.

PLAID BARN (Craft supplies with daily deals.)

They are having a giveaway from an Instax camera, which is like a polaroid, but cooler.  Here is the link:

http://www.theplaidbarn.com/giveaway/

Where did July go?

We took a spontaneous trip to Michigan, (and by spontaneous, I mean, we decided the night before to leave at noon the next day), and somehow I lost a month.

Our summer camp hasn't progressed as planned, but that is ok--we have had lots of fun activities any way.  The weather has finally cooled, so my current favorite activity, is drinking the coffee outside, while the kids play in their pjs/underwear.  Yes, underwear.

Random Things that we have done, in no particular order:

Play with Moon Dough.

Rediscovered the View Finder.

 

 Jam with the cousins.

Freezer Paper T-shirts (google it for instructions:)

 Dyed Rice for the Sand Table (This was a total hit. Again, google...)

Hang Out with Family,

Check out Real Estate.  In Michigan.

A box and markers.

 Visitors!

A snake cake, constructed entirely by kids.

Cardboard Tubes and Tape.

Tap Light, Paint, Books about the Solar System.  

(stole this from Play at Home Mom.)

The summer is going by wayyyy too fast.