Santa's Visit

I love how when I am walking and thinking about my next shindig I plan for my kids, how a budding Idea can become reality, this was the case for me while walking early November, I thought how can I get Santa to come to our house, with a bit of Christmas Cheer I made it happen!

We kept it light, I wanted it to be magical for my kids, and test the waters to see if I could pull off breakfast with Santa, I did! It was just our family, Santa brought a gift for each of the kids, and we sent him on his way with Waffles and Bacon and a plate of cookies. A perfect start to a perfect day!

The How: I asked a friend that my kids didn't know that well, He even had a Santa Suit,( I also had one, it's stored in our attic. I got the Santa suit for like $10 at a garage sale) I knew that most Saturday are busy so I wanted it to be early in the morning, so we chose for 8:30 am. Santa couldn't eat with us, so we gave some food to him before he left,

I told my daughter that I got a text for the North Pole that morning, that said that Santa is gong to be in our area and he wants to stop by to make sure they were being good... So Miss Thing had to wear her Santa Dress.

There is magic in the air when Santa shows up, something about feeling happy and peaceful there isn't a feeling in the world that can describe the feeling of wow! Santa came to visit us!


I think I may have started a new tradition for our family... lets see if it continues for the years to follow!

Jolly Holiday Lights at Adventureland

Traditions run deep in our family, and Jolly Holiday Lights is something we do every year, rain or shine, snow or no snow.... last year was the first year we were unable to go through Jolly Holiday lights. So with a lot of anticipation I was really looking forward to seeing Jolly Holiday Lights again this year! I am glad that Adventureland did a great job putting this amazing display of lights for the Des Moines metro! I like this new tradition at Adventureland. My only notes for Jolly Holiday Lights, is even though it says it's at Adventureland, and you do enter at the Adventureland parking lot, IT'S NOT AT ADVENTURELAND. It's in the campsite, so you enter in the park entrance, then pass through the Adventureland inn parking lot to get to the campsite, which works, just clogs up traffic a bit, but totally worth going!

Bring your camera, and visit Santa in Santa's Workshop, it's fun how they decorated the camp's common area. Make a Wish asks for just a cash donation to take pictures with Santa, or do what we did, and pay the $10 for a printed picture of the kids with Santa and then you can take pictures too!

I just want to mention to, GET YOUR ADVENTURELAND SEASON PASSES SOON! It's totally worth it if you live in the Des Moines Metro! We practically live there in June and July... we are on a first name basis with some of the ride workers (aka, if you need me in June or July, I'm at Adventureland with my kids.)

So here are some of the displays that we liked as a family

Enjoy looking at lights with your family, and enjoy the giggles, the smiles, and the laughter of your children while looking at this wonderful display of lights to brighten your Christmas!

Watercolor freezer paper masking Christmas cards

I am in love with masking watercolor! Enter into the world of freezer paper and your silhouette, and I may never feed my kids, (just kidding, I have a stash of food in my studio for my kids when I don't want to stop to feed them. the love me!)  Anyways.... I may have finally admitted that I am not a stamper, I am a water colorist. So to get a graphic look with out buying or making a stamp I will share with you my cheaper version of high end stamped watercolor cards, that doesn't use a single stamp.. The secret, cutting out freezer paper!

It's not really my idea, Kristina Werner has a great tutorial on this youtube video

First find some good clean graphic type files, I used a pointsetta, a deer, geometric shape You get the idea...

Cut out the shapes from Freezer paper, and then iron on the cut freezer paper to the watercolor paper (I used cheap kid's watercolor paper,) The tooth isn't great but it works for this type of card.  for what we are doing this paper works out well for us and it's super cheap, I can get like 100 bases if I cut them out my self for like $4.00, totally worth it.

I mixed the Starry Colors into the Kuretake Watercolors to get a metallic watercolor pigment, and it really does look nice, it's super fun to mix them up and use them, it makes me happy!

On a side note about ironing on the freezer paper, I had to turn my iron up to like steam for the paper to stick to the Freezer paper, and let it cool before you start water coloring it on. otherwise it may bleed into the freezer paper.

I enjoyed playing with  washes, and gradient washes, I also chose to do some flooding techniques for some.

This project was a fun one, I enjoyed getting about 15 hand made one of a kid cards done in a morning.
You can find all my files that I used on the Silhouette Design store

Christmas tree scene with stencils

I secretly have a thing for Christmas trees and stencils.  I had a blast coming up with different ways to use one stencil, I called it my personal design challenge... I really liked the way they turned out!

The stencil is Evergreen Grove from Elizabeth Crafts  I got it from Memory Bounds in Ankeny Iowa and I loved playing with this stencil!

Here are some of the examples...
For the first one, I inked white vellum waited it to dry, dribbled water on it to get a neat look, then let it dry, then I then applied gesso to the stencil, then coated the wet gesso with white glitter to the trees! I added a white glitter  to the dear, and some decorative silver tape at the bottom.

For the second one, I used a "dry brush" with all Kuretake watercolor, (and started adding pigment in) then I let it dry, and added more and less water until I got the look I was looking for, no extra tools, just the stencil brush, water, and two shades of greens! Then once that was dry, I went in with a medium yellow and painted a wash for a background. The trick with this technique is to use just the right water and pigment. I then added some highlights to the branches with some yellow gold from the Starry color collection.  At the bottom I just used a flooding technique to add some texture to the piece. I added two layers of paper for the mat of his painting, and some gold decorative tape from Hobby Lobby to anchor the card a bit more. 

This one I wanted to use a more traditional winter scene, it's going to a college and I didn't want to make it super cute. It was simple, I used green texture embossing paste on the stencil, then once that was dry I painted the clouds. (I finally figured out how to make realistic clouds, so I had to do some on this project!) I then glazed over the whole card with some White gold Starry Color to give it some shimmer.

This one was a fun one, its called a Batik technique, in a really easy way of explaining: It's a two step process, first, you ink the back side of the stencil with ink, (I used watercolor pigment) you will want two diffrent colors so they can blend and mix well.  Lay the stencil inked side down on the paper, and let it dry.... do not do anything to it, I have to walk away for an hour because I want to mess with it or look at the process. 

 Once the ink is dry, you can ink the stencil part with what ever color you think will work well... I chose a lighter ink color to make the trees stand out. This effect is really easy, but takes time, and practice, if you colors don't blend well you get a muddy look, so knowing color theory really helps! 

I used a Lori Whitlock Step card Silhouette File for the card base. 

What do you think? Did you know you could make a bunch of different cards with one stencil? it's fun and I love using one tool for lots of different looks.  stencils let you do that! Which card is your favorite? Do you have a stencil that is your go too? Leave a comment bellow, and Happy Creating!

The Perfect Easel!

Daler-Rowney Artsphere easel

This makes for a great Present under the tree....

I found the easel I think I need, and it's on sale, right now at DickBlick.com While watching a new class on Craftsy I was totally eyeballing the easel, and so did other students it was asked what the easel was and I think most every one said they were going to get it, it's that nice! If your thinking about getting a new easel DickBlick has some good ones, I like that it's a table top, and it's not huge, so if I want I could take it to the kitchen table, or work on my work in my studio.

Cheek out the other deals at DickBlick, there's a ton! I am sorta excited to watch all their free classes on Youtube

Happy creating!

Quick Washi Tape Christmas Cards

Need that last minute Christmas card done like now? look no farther than your Silhoute software (free program even if you don't own a Silhouette) a color printer with card stock ready to go, and washi tape

I used a free Merry Christmas file from the Silhouette Design store, printed it on to card-stock as a the base for my card. I already had the Christmas Trees cut out from a previous card I did. (used the negative part, left the positive part for this project.)  Once the sentiment is printed and the base card is cut to size add your favorite Christmas type washi tape to it as a background, and then add your embellishment (white tree) onto the washi tape back ground you created, and you whipped up a card in like 5 min. Super awesome right? I suppose you could stamp a sentiment too, but I realized why stamp sentiments?

For a non software/printer card, you can still make a cute card, in even less time.. you just need some washi tape, a printed sentiment (usually from a sticker or from a paper pack to help with layers.) 

The key to this is to plan where you want the washi tape at, do you plan on using the whole card base and use washi tape as more of a pattern that is part of the card, or just a couple lines of tape at the bottom?

 I actually sat down on a Saturday afternoon and just played with some washi tape, with out an image/sentiment in mind and just played with the washi tape, but if you are a planner, you could have your printed sentiments out and decide how it would work out. I just love the freedom of playing with your paper crafting supplies,  and seeing what comes from just playing around. 

Keep like colors together, and use the golden design rules when it comes to using washi tape. For example: Use the rules of thirds, a small, medium and large pattern goes well. 

So there you have it some easy last minute card ideas, I suppose these would also work for tags too, if you wanted too. 

I really think that if you were to go out and buy 3 rolls of washi tape, and use your printer for a sentiment, buy some specialty paper that you can cut the sentiments out. I estimate you could get about 50 cards for about $10, which is really not bad!  

CreativeLive Gift Giving

This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

My husband recently said:  I haven't gotten you anything fun yet for Christmas... So what do you want? By the end of my quick brainstorming session, I knew I wanted to take some online art classes, CreativeLive does this well, and it's really easy to give a gift to a "creative." with CreativeLive.

If you haven't gotten a membership, it's free, and worth it. There is always a free class on at CreativeLive!

Watch FREE online courses live at CreativeLive.com

There are lots of classes that are broadcast, and it's free, I like to RSVP them, so when the time comes that they are on, it will email me saying it's free right now to view.  Creativelive classes are usually priced well, you get a lot of info in one class for your money. Click here to get started!

Here are some of the other deals going on:

Best of 2016 Sale - Top 100 Classes Starting at $22 at CreativeLive

Here is how you can give a Gift to your "creative" from CreativeLive once there, pick on a class that you think the receiver might like, and click Give as gift, then it will ask you when you want it delivered to them.

Santa Washi Tape

I love a product that I can use more for multiple things, I have found Washi and Decorative Tape to be a wonderful trendy paper crafting item that is very versatile! Need some Little B. Santa Tape? Yes Please! I was excited to see this product at Memory Bounds during their Christmas open house.

Here are some of the fun ways I used washi Santa Tape

This was some home made caramel that I wrapped with wax paper squares, and then wrapped Santa washi tape around. Is't it supper cute?  They also tasted incredible! Here is how you can make the Caramel

This next project was really fun and easy to  make, and could be reproduced easily. All you need is Red textured card-stock, white paper, black buttons, and Santa Tape! Cut the white card-stock short enough to leave room for the tape, place the Santa buckle in the middle towards the bottom. pictured at the left is a simple card that is just a red card with the Santa belt tape, and it still looks cute! 

For the Treat box, I cut it out with a Lori Whitlock SVG file, that worked perfectly, I also didn't add the white and it looked cute.

Here is a close up of a tag and a card, I had some embossed paper from another project that I thought would work perfect for the card, It did, and then it was easy enough to add some black buttons.  

I really love  products that makes me happy, this did, and I am excited to give this card to Santa when he visits for our Santa breakfast this Saturday! 

Selected Craftsy Classes only $10!

I woke up this morning and there it was, an email from Craftsy saying that popular Craftsy classes are only $10! I  had two classes on my wish list that came up as $10! So I got them both! Here is a link that will get you to the classes, It's an affiliated link, I will make a very small commission from your order

I am getting these two classes, I can't wait to watch them (after Christmas!) Cheek it out, there are some really good ones, and for $10 you can't go wrong, All Craftsy classes are guaranteed so if you really are not impressed they will refund your money. Of all 27 classes I have done, all have been worth my money!

Realistic Watercolor and How to Make Custom Cookies 19 designs

Happy Crafting!

Holiday Season at Hy-Vee

I love grocery shopping during the holiday season, I can really get some good deals. I thought I would give you some of my top items I stock up during this two week sale cycle that happens every year around this time.

Juice pouches for $.99-$1,79, cheaper than Sams Club!

Peanut Butter, $.99 a jar, you wont see a sale like this until August, so if you go through PB, now is the time to make multiple trips to Hy-Vee for PB. I go through about a jar ever other week, so I need about 30 Jars to last me till August! (if you are building up a stock pile!)

Butter, did you know Butter freezes really well, it's silly to buy butter at regular price. I love the taste of Hy-Vee butter, its much more flavorful than Sams club brand, and to me having good butter in my baked goods is totally worth it!

Flour, $.99 5lb. bag, Yes Please, I will be stocking up on this item.

I keep an eye out for those un-advertised deals, like bacon, Cream Cheese, cheese blocks, Egg Nog, chocolate Milk, Chex Cereal, take and bake pizza, chocolate chips, (so lots of dairy, and baking Items)

On a diffrent note, Our husbands are joining more and more in our weekly shopping trips according to the FMI Grocery retail group.

Happy Grocery shopping! it's going to be fun saving money and working on your stock pile this week!

Snowman toddler activity

Need a good decoration that a toddler can do? Look no farther! This kept my toddler busy and happy for about 10 minutes, which really is saying something. Best thing about it, is it was free, I used an Ice (brand) bottle, Cotton balls, a small corner of orange card-stock, and a black sharpie to mark the eyes, mouth, and buttons on the bottle.

This was the setup, and prep before you start this activity with your toddler

The end result, it's pretty cute, and the process is worth it!

Paper Nativity

I love handmade nativities, so when I saw this nativity file from Carina Gardner. I thought this would be a great paper project for a cold morning. So it was, it was a fun easy project to put together. I  used some two tone brown paper for each shadow box with some white and black paper for the accent colors. The project came together quickly, which was a blessing this time of year, I have a ton of projects to do and not enough time to do them so this was a great project to "whip up"
It's a tradition that we display a handmade nativity (partly because I can't see spending money on a nativity when I can "make" one.

To give you a run down of some of the notes that helped me as I went, it's going to take about 2 12x12 sheets for each shadow box.

I bought four of the five shadow box files that she has, I opened them all up in one document on the Silhouette Design software, un-grouped everything, and then grouped all the white pieces together, and all the black pieces together for easier cutting.

I assembled the shadow boxes and I did glued the taps by the slits on the box.

Paper Candle holder with flowers

Don't you love projects that just make you happy? This project has been in my minds eye for awhile, ever since I got this file from Jamie Lane, I have been wanting an excuse to do this project. I knew I wanted to do a flower arrangement with a led candle holder, so this sorta just fell right into my lap!

I cut out the 5 count candle holder on wood pattern paper (it took two 12x12 sheets)
I then cut out some small flowers from this file, but only used the small inside flower, I then painted the flowers with some yellow gold from the Starry Colors from Kuretake which really didn't take me that long, while the flowers dried, I shaped them to look more like flowers.

then I added small red gems, and glued the whole flower to the candle holder. This project was super easy! I then added some battery led candles from Hobby Lobby and it was complete!

Activity Advent Calendar That Builds Memories

This is how we celebrate the days leading up to Christmas, it's not an elf, or a piece of candy everyday, it's a simple way to share goodness with our family and friends... It's became one of the things we cherish and remember year to year.

I have wanted to do an advent calendar before I was pregnant with my oldest daughter, The idea of counting down the days till Christmas was always something I wanted to do with my kids, so 7 years later we are still doing this advent calendar. For the past week all I heard from my DD (darling daughter) was I can't wait till December 1st I can't wait to do a fun activity ever day, why cant we do this every day of the year? (she's right, why don't we?)  So here is my advent calendar, I will be completely honest, when I made this calendar, I didn't put much thought into the durability of the materials, luckily it's lasted longer than I thought it would.

I designed it to be able to move each box individually, which helps when you are counting down, Each little match box has a small activity on a piece of paper (which I will list at the end of this post.)

I bought some small match boxes from the dollar store, Menards also have them.


Wrap some Christmas scrap book paper (cut to size) around the match box, make sure your seam is at the bottom so you don't see it. You will want at least 6 different 12x12 sheets, you wont use up all the sheets, but I think a variety of patterned Christmas paper works well for this project.

I made up my numbers When I do this project again, I will find a paper pack that has the 25 numbers on it, (that was the most time consuming part, was designing/cutting  those darn numbers. Do your self a favor and use printed numbers that comes with the Christmas paper pack. Glue each number to the wrapped box.

For the activities, I have to be very strategic, for example, we have some activities that we do every year, on a Saturday, and Sunday for example,  the First Presidency's Christmas Devotional is always a set day, or our big family Christmas party for our Grandmother, we know a year in advance when the date will be. Then I add the fun traditions that we like to do, A family picture, make treats, the things we do to make Christmas a bit brighter for everyone. I add the small activities that we would do anyways to those busy nights.

Here is my list: (very doable not super artsy.)

See Santa at the Blank Park Zoo

See a Christmas Concert (usually a school Christmas concert the kids are in!)

Bake and decorate cookies (I do a baking day and a decorating day)

Sing Christmas Songs

Christmas Dance Party,( with party lights)

Family Christmas Party 12/12

Visit Santa 12/6

Read Christmas Books with just Christmas lights on

Camp out by the Christmas Tree

Make Treats (the kid kind that take like 2 ingredients)

Give treats to friends and family

Look at Christmas lights around Town

Decorate Christmas Ornaments

Make Thumbprint Christmas art (tree, wreath, candy cane)

Make Gift Tags (Glitter with glue then cut out with dies)

write a letter to Santa

act out nativity/read and watch a video about Christmas or Christ's birth

Watch Christmas Devotional  12/6

Make ginger bread house at the library 12/7

make Chocolate Dipped pretzels

Watch a Christmas movie with popcorn

Pizza Party

Make a gift to give to someone special

Christmas Pancake Breakfast

Go shopping  for family members and get a treat