Barn Makeover

Anastasia likes her little wooden barn she received for her birthday, but as you can see, it was a little bland. Snowed in day 3, Sunday, produced a little "sprucing up" of the barnyard.
I actually made 2 little play mats, the second one might go in my shop when I finish up! My favorite part is the vegetable garden with removable felt veggies: Onions, carrots and lettuce!! Oh my. I think making them out of sculpey clay would be a little nicer so that is next on the agenda. If I ever get out of the house to the craft store that is. 3 feet of snow now, and 10-20 inches on the way! Oy.

The haybales were quite simple and cute and the animals won't go hungry! And the ducks now have somewhere to swim:Anastasia was so excited about her new "farm" and all of her animals and fairies love swimming in the pond. It took me all day, but I know it will provide many hours and days of pretend play for the little ones.As you can see, I made little hay beds for the interior by cutting up some yellow-orangish felt that has been sitting in my stash for a couple years. REALLY. I am really into this play scene thing and want to learn wet, and needle felting now. Really. Badly. This pumpkin house set just kills me with its cuteness! Ack! I am also smitten for THIS hand-knit farm on Etsy. I just love Etsy. If I can't make it, I will buy it on Etsy. That is my new theme.

Snowed In

Call it what you will, snowpocolips, snowmageddon... it is just amazing. A real, bonafide blizzard. In case dear snow, you hadn't heard... this is Virginia. 3 feet of snow is really more that we can take!

We were in the snow for a total of 15 minutes before the kids realized 3 feet of snow is really hard to walk it. So for the past 2 days, we have really been "snowed in". Kipper the Dog on Netflix has been very kind to me as has our wood stove. So I have had to be inventive to keep things indoors exciting. My mom bought Anastasia this foam house at Michael's. Perfectly sized for fairies:

I am not usually a craft-foam fan, but this house is super cute in a tacky, Valentiney way. I took the back off so the dolls could go inside. I put it together, and did the shingles, but Anastasia decorated the rest. Just because we were indoors, does not mean we can't celebrate the snow!!! So during Anastasia's nap we made a little snow-themed sensory box:

I want to say that I saw a similar idea, somewhere around Christmas! If this was your idea, let me know... I truly believe in giving crafty credit, where credit is due! And then my friend Wendy on facebook gave me this idea:

If there is too much snow for little ones outside, just bring some inside! I filled my dishpan with snow and the kids played in it for at least an hour... together. Just beware of snowball fights! They played mostly with the kitchen items and made ice cream cones. Tomorrow I intend to do this again, and teach Anastasia how to build a mini-snowman! I also plan to shovel a little play area outside for the girls so perhaps we can make an igloo, and tunnels and forts and things!! I love snow! And even so, I have never been so glad for it to stop snowing as I was today when the sun came out! I hope you are all having a safe, warm, cozy blizzard with running water, heat and electricity (otherwise you wouldn't be reading my blog right now!) lol. :)

Out On A Limb

I can't believe all this snow we have been getting!!!!! I feel like I live in Vermont or something! I really love it, but I hate the cold... so being in our house by the warm fire and a cup of coffee while looking at the winter wonderland is supreme! Anyway, its amazing how one small re-organization leads to multiple inspirations and craft projects! Above Isabel's crib, where she actually sleeps (this is still a new phenomenon to me! lol), the wall was bare, so I added a couple of Isabel's favorite things:

"Twismas twees" (Christmas trees which is her word for all trees and lights) and "tweet-tweets" (birds). I saw THIS mobile at Spool's blog before Isabel was born, and wanted to make one but never got around to it, nor did I have a good spot for it as she was in our bed or her Moses basket. Then Meg at Sew Liberated (the first blog I ever read... and still love!) put a bird branch on her wall!! And I forgot about it until the other day when I saw a bird branch mobile in a Target coupon book (ispiration has many sources!) and this is what I did the day the girls had stomach bugs during movie time.
It really looks better in person, I just don't get enough natural light in that corner! I really want an SLR camera... that would make my pictures nicer. But my point and shoot is great and it is what I have to work with! Some day. Maybe when Little Red Whimsy makes me a millionaire... or atleast a hundred-thousandaire. Thank goodness dreaming is free. :)

The New Old Table

I posted the mushroom table that is now for sale in my shop, so I wouldn't have this ugly picture at the top of my post:

The "BEFORE" shot. We moved Isabel's crib in from the shed, and there just wasn't room in the girl's room for their Ikea table and chairs. I was sad at first, because I loved their room the way it was, but the table is much more useful in the corner of our kitchen. The only thing, is that it was kind of ugly without the lamp and toys on it. So I fixed it:

I have been holding onto this forest fabric for years. I bought it to decorate Anastasia's "nursery" for the whole 3 months she had one! lol. And I still LOVE it. I have curtains made of it, a crib comforter and even a couple pillows. It is a discontinued Michael Miller print, and I am SO GLAD I spent money when we had two incomes to buy several yards of it. I decoupaged it to the table (that is a fancy way of saying I glued it) with Mod Podge. I then put 2 coats of ModPodge on the top, sanded the edges (the modpodge made the edges of the fabric really pokey) and painted the rim. It took about an hour total. And it looks so sweet! I also made a boring old corkboard into an art display:

Another easy project, only I made it complicated. You don't even need glue (I found out after a couple tries resulting in the wanky edges). Just cut the fabric about 1/4" wider than the board, shove it under the frame with a butter knife, and staple it down in the corners. 15 minutes tops! And Isabel spent most of the night in her crib! Our bed felt so big last night.

Decorate

I was the last one to take down the Christmas decorations this year, I am sure. Usually it is such a depressing task, but this year I decided to do a little redecorating. My goal for the year is to start really making our house a home. We moved into our fixer upper cottage with a very long to do list in Spring, 2008. Isabel was born that fall. And she is now beginning the process of weaning, and playing a *teensy* little bit more independently. So, it seems like an opportune time to add a few more homemade, thrifty, DIY aspects like the entryway table pictured above. Can you believe that it is not a table at all? It is a HUGE, horrible 1970's gas heater that doesn't work. After months of despising it, I came up with a delightful plan of disguising it. Then when the tree went down this year I realized that the awesomeness of a Christmas tree, is having nature in your home and making it very pretty. So I did the same with the above dead branch. I just tied thin strips of fabric scraps to the branches and placed it in a sauce jar with some glass marbles.

Nick has had the above wooden bird since before we were married. I think it is completely beautiful! We have CD shelf that we can't use for CDs because the kids like to play with them so we put the bird and a cheap Ikea plant and vase on top and put a few nice looking toys in the shelves below:

I used scrapbook paper and some chipboard cut-outs that I found on clearance last year at Michael's. It always amazes me how much can be done with a little bit of paper in the way of adding life to a boring room.

Completely off the topic, Anastasia's family-party was snowed-out and we were snowed-in yesterday. The 2-3 inches of snow they were predicting was actually half a foot! I love snow and honestly, we really needed a relaxing day after a big week and weekend. And, I didn't even have to cook as we were invited to Ben and Anna's for dinner!!! Thank goodness we have good friends in close proximity and a Jeep.

Today has been a productive lazy day as we put together Isabel's crib and had to re-organize the girl's room! She loves her crib at the moment (she is sleeping in it now even!!) so I hope it will motivate her to move out of our bed and sleep better. We will see what actually happens. Kids never do what you expect so you can't expect anything except the unexpected. lol. Happy cozy weekend.

Three.

Another year. 1... 2... 3. And she really gets more fun everyday.She decided on a fairy theme (of course). Anastasia had a perfect day and her party was magical! I can't take all the credit, I was completely inspired by these parties. I put out a few surprises in her spot at the kitchen table:

A flower fairy plaque (mod podge + printed image + $1.59 plaque from Michael's!!!) for her wall, a pouch of fairies like she requested, and a card. We had her friend party this afternoon and she chose a few friends to attend.

We made poster board wings that the girls decorated, played Elefun and went looking for Fairy Treasure:
On the menu were scones , jam and whipped cream, pretzels, fruit, cheese and Cake.

This is the prettiest cake I have ever made. I made This yummy orange cake.

And Anastasia had plenty of help making wishes.

And we had presents:

She received a finger knitter and watering can: both she (I) can't wait to try out. And all our animals are well thanks to this new Dr. kit and a lovely quilted, bedding set made by Joanna. I saw this fabric at Joann's and LOVED it, and it matches Anastasia's room! And the favors:
Coloring/sketch book (with fairy pictures), wands, necklaces, and homemade fairy dough. I might have gone a little over the top with the party, but it was oh so fun, and every year is truly a gift to celebrate! Someday they grow up. Happy Birthday my sweet Anabear! Hope your year is full of love and magic! And stay little, a little longer please!

Weekend WIP

Its been a busy weekend with Nick's dad in town but I managed to whip up a couple little things in stolen moments here and there. I made 5 fairies (4 are currently waiting on wings) for Anastasia's birthday gift and cake toppers and a little mushroom card holder for my Little Red Whimsy cards:

I was inspired by the Wee Folk Art card holders, but their pattern wasn't big enough for my cards. Weird. So I made my own with their's as inspiration. I am not sure if I mentioned it or not, but I purchased my logo, banner and clipart from Alluring Effects: $10 for everything. I am just not computer savvy, nor do I have a decent program for designing (although I am learning to make do with Paint... lol) so I am happy others do such a nice job.

Well, I have more to finish for the party and can't wait to share all of the ideas that are unfolding and coming together for my Anabear's special day. I will keep you posted! ;)