Happy New Year!

Warm Wishes of Hope, Health and Happiness in 2011!

Bad Dog

This is Sadie, my parents' dog. They tell me that makes her my sister, but I don't see the resemblance. 

Sure, she looks all cute and innocent here.

But let me tell you, it's all an act!

What did she do? I'll tell you what she did...

... She ate Popcorn Santa!

And he wasn't even made of REAL popcorn! Just yucky old styrofoam. Probably 40-year-old styrofoam, so I bet it was really stale and didn't even taste good.

Popcorn Santa is ... excuse me ... WAS one of my favorite ornaments from my parents' tree. It's one I'm pretty sure I would have had to fight my brother for eventually. And now, thanks to HER, it's almost all gone. We can't hang it on the tree, but there is a record of it.

I've drawn it. Twice, even.

When we were at my parents' yesterday, maybe instead of these ornaments ...

... I should have drawn the Coca Cola Santa doll. He's another favorite that sits on the breakfast bar instead of hanging on the tree. 

Bad dog. Even if you are a cutie.

Who Knew?

I'm still experimenting with getting color on the page and today I had a real breakthrough. I dug out my biggest wash brush, loaded it up with color and slapped it down on the page. Just for grins & giggles because I've never tried it before.

I dried the spread with my embossing heat gun (but I'm sure a hair dryer would work) and that kept the pages from buckling. I love the Hand•Book Journals ... if they ever stop making them, I'm buying as many as I can get my hands on. Actually, maybe I'll just start stockpiling them now!

I colored the next three spreads, too, just to see if it was a fluke and they worked just as well. Plus, I had more control over the color, no color on my hands and a lot less mess on my table.

I think I may have found a new favorite technique!

How Do YOU Add Color?

I don't know about you, but blank pages still have the power to intimidate me at times. If I've slapped some color on willy-nilly first, it seems to loosen me up a bit and I can draw without trying to be perfect.

If you've visited before, you know I usually add color by smearing pre-inked stamp pads all over the pages. This works, but the stamp pads I have right now aren't particularly inky. I'm not getting a lot of color off of them. I've been looking for alternatives.

The last few spreads I've actually used pastels to get the initial color on the page. I like the pastels because I can go over them with ink and watercolor. I don't, however, really enjoy the smell of workable fixative.

So.

How do YOU get color on your pages?

Out Of Things To Say? Me?!!?

I'm feeling slightly brain-dead. Must be the post-holiday letdown.

Either that or I had to think at work.

Back To Reality.

I get to go to work tomorrow while the hubster will be in charge of Punk-wrangling. I'm not particularly upset about it as he gets to tackle the living room. I don't know if new toys will be put away — we usually wait until the Punks head back to school — but I'm at least hoping for more manageable piles.

As for all of you, my lovely visitors, thank you so much for all that you do. Your comments, words of encouragement and guffaws of laughter are greatly appreciated.

Merry Christmas and Best Wishes for 2011!

Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!

The Countdown Continues.

Insert Title Here.

Done With Cookies.

Making them ... not eating them.

I told him I don't share my Christmas cookies. He doesn't seem to believe me.

Good News.

For My Goddaughter.

A poem I used to like when my Punks were little, which was a long time ago. I heard it sung once and used it to distract the Punks during diaper and clothing changes. This was when they didn't care that I can't sing, so I know it was a long time ago.

My youngest niece is having surgery tomorrow and the poem keeps running through my head.

The Punks and I are going to grandma's to bake cookies and help keep her older sister occupied. Actually, I think having three kids eight and under in close proximity a week before Christmas will keep grandma and I occupied, too.

The baby has a really good prognosis, but tomorrow is going to be a long day.

They're Mine, MINE I Tell You!

Okay, okay, I'll share them with Punkette. She likes them so she can have some, too.

Actually, that sounds about right. She can have two.

No Drawing For You!

You can have a couple of photographs, though, and I might get this drawn tonight. Of course, as tired as I am it will probably be tomorrow. Oh wait ... I have plans for then, too.

Plans that include cookies — the Punks and I have been making cookies most of the day. So far we've got chocolate chip and russian tea cakes baked and sugar and spritz cookie dough waiting their turns in the basement fridge.

While we've been slaving over a hot oven baking cookies, the Dad has been eating them. Well, someone has to make sure they're okay ... or so he tells me.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to sitting in my chair, having my first russian tea cake of the Christmas season and then waking up at 11:27 and wondering what happened during the movie. 

Yep, a mostly typical Saturday night around here.

Crafting Again.

Santa, a couple snowmen and some beads.

A small herd of reindeer.

I had fun helping at Punkette's party today. It's always interesting to see how they are at school ... although I doubt I see a true representation when I'm there.

*grin*

Punk was a little miffed that I didn't help in his classroom, but I made it up to him. The helpers have to leave a half hour before school ends to make way for the buses.

And they let you take your Punks with you, so I busted him out early and he was all smiles.

Since we got home before I normally leave to get them, I decided we had time to try the cornstarch clay creations. The Punk played with his cars instead, but Punkette and I had some fun. She decided she would make the reindeer ... you know ... Cosmic and Dixon and Olive.

*grin again*

She left Santa up to me. Oh, and she let me do a snowman, too, because she thought her's would be lonely without a friend.

Always thinking, that girl.

Christmas Came Early.

Punk brought this little guy home for me yesterday. Well, he didn't plan on sharing it originally, but I went on and on and he finally said, "Mom, do you want it?" Duh! Yes, I definitely want it. He gave me his little half smile and handed it over.

Now I just need to find the perfect spot. And put felt on the back so it doesn't scratch the wall. And maybe reinforce where it curves over the string because it's heavy and I don't want it to break.

I didn't make stuff like this in the 2nd grade. Fifth, yes, but in the second grade the closest I got to clay and a kiln were the white ceramic ornaments you get to paint from the craft store.

The latest object de art.

Talking To The Big Man.

We went to see Santa yesterday after school. The Punks were very accommodating and sat next to him this year ... after I begged and pleaded. I don't know what my chances will be with a seven- and nine-year-old next year, so I wanted a keeper.

The professional one was good, but I love this one I took. The look on the Punk's face ... I just can't help but smile.

By the way, if you've still got a visit with Santa on your to do list, go after school. I picked the Punks up, drove to my favorite mall and found that at four 'o clock-ish, there's no one there. I'm thinking all the really little kids are home taking naps and most normal moms have their kids home doing homework.

This was my creativity for the day — a Pin The Nose On Rudolph game for Punkette's winter party at school.

The Difference Between Boys & Girls.

At least my two.

We have a baptism to attend this weekend and Christmas a week away. I told The Boy we need to get him khakis and a nice shirt.

There was whining and crying and gnashing of teeth.

The Girl overheard and went upstairs to try on her fancy dresses.

Sigh.

I Love My Punks' Art Teacher.

Punk's latest creation in 2nd grade art class.

Punkette's latest creation in 1st grade art class.

The art teacher at the Punks' elementary school is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! Only way to describe her. She gets these young kids excited about art, and when I say that I don't just mean what they create themselves.

She introduces them to different professional artists and art movements. Then she gets them to produce works in the style of famous artists!

Punk's version of Van Gogh.

Punkett's version of Monet.

Somehow she knows which artists to introduce at each grade level and the kids produce beautiful works of art. I didn't study famous artists until high school!

Don't Ask.

One of many I got during what my coworkers at the time dubbed The Frog Plague, instigated by my uncle.

I actually think this was for Valentine's Day, but she came around Christmas and so that's the box she's in. One of his weirder donations to my collection. Maybe tomorrow I'll draw her boyfriend.

Yep, there's two of them!  

Still Digging The Crayons.

The Punks are still enjoying the melted crayons. They end up looking like Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, which while kind of cool, they don't really "color" well. Maybe I'll still look into the Crayola Crayon Maker as it looks like that turns them into new crayon shapes.

But the biggest hit for the day ... aside from not going to school?

The microwave mug cakes, of course. The Punks are ruled by their stomachs (as is their father who I made a cake for after dinner). Really, if you've tried the microwave cake mixes from the store, these are much better. They don't have the strange, kind of chewy consistency. In short, they taste like cake!

Here's where I found the recipes, but there are bunches out there.

Microwave Chocolate  Mug Cake

Microwave Yellow Mug Cake

And Only One Argument So Far.

Thought I'd give you a little update on our crafting progress so far. The Punks weren't particularly interested in the trees, but they got really excited about melting up some crayons.

The Punk's creations ...

... and these two are Punkette's. 

Punk figured out the sides make interesting marks very quickly and Punkette followed his example. 

I think they had fun, but they're raring to go play in the snow. I have to shovel, so they're getting bundled up so they can come out and help. I think we'll save the little clay creatures — if the weather keeps up, there will probably be a snow day tomorrow, too.

Snow Day!

If you live in North East Ohio, you're waking up to 4" - 8" of snow, 40mph winds and 19 blistering cold degrees. And if you have kids, you're probably looking forward to entertaining them during the first snow day of the season. Yippee.

Oh wait, I meant to say  Y I P P E E ! ! ! !

Normally I'd bundle the kids up after breakfast and head five minutes away to our favorite sledding hill. But with 40mph winds and 19 degrees and just getting off a weekend with the flu, I'm thinking that's not the best idea. So I've been up for an hour googling winter crafts and I've got a few good ones that use things already on hand.

Crayon Cupcakes
I've never made these, but I've been thinking about getting the Punks a Crayola Crayon Maker. If this goes well, I won't be doing that.

What You'll Need:
• Broken crayons with the wrappers removed
• Muffin tin or silicone ice cube tray
• Paper muffin cups

Directions:
• Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
• Place broken crayon pieces into separate muffin cups until about 3/4 full.
• Place tin in oven. Check every five minutes and remove once melted completely. Let cool.
• Once cool, pop the crayon cupcakes out of the mold and have FUN!


Cornstarch Clay Creatures

This takes about five minutes to "cook" and ends up warm, pliable and the perfect consistency for kneading, modeling and embellishing with odds and ends. (From FamilyFun.com)

What You'll Need:
• 2/3 cup salt
• 1/3 cup baking soda
• 1/2 cup cornstarch
• water

Directions:
• In a saucepan, mix the salt and baking soda with 1/3 cup water and bring to a boil.
• In a small bowl, combine the cornstarch and 1/4 cup water and stir well.
• When the salt mixture boils, remove it from the heat and add the cornstarch mixture.
Stir vigorously for a minute or two to thicken the clay. Spoon onto a sheet of waxed paper and allow to cool before working with it.

I got this idea from FamilyFun.com and they show junk drawer finds like screws and eye hooks. I think we'll probably use buttons and pipe cleaners and other odds and ends to decorate the little guys.


Paper Christmas Trees

This idea is for an Advent Calendar, but I think we're just going to make decorations. (Also from FamilyFun.com)

What You'll Need:
• Template
• Construction paper
• Glue Stick
• Clothespin
• Glue
• Markers, crayons, odds and ends for embellisments

Instructions:
• Download the Template (each is one third of a circle) and cut out shapes for paper cones. Run a glue stick along one straight edge, then roll into a cone. Clamp glued edge with a clothespin until dry. 
Note: If you want, you might have the kids decorate the tree shape with markers or crayons before rolling and gluing it into a cone shape.
• Cut out stars, circles and other shapes from colored paper to decorate your trees.
• Glue on small pompoms, stickers or other embellishments.

And last, but not least ... FOOD. I'd type in the recipe for Microwave Coffee Cup Cake, but the Punks are up already demanding pancakes. If you try any of these ideas, please tell me how it goes and send me lots of pictures. I'll post our creations later!

Christmas Movie Marathon.

It's been a very quiet weekend around here. The hubster was back to normal, but the Punk and I had our turn starting early Saturday morning. We're both feeling better today, but we spent most of yesterday sacked out in the family room watching Christmas movies on ABC Family.

I knew the boy was feeling bad when he fell asleep on the couch. He never stays still long enough to nap anymore and he was out for over an hour. Poor Punk.

So far, Punkette is feeling fine and getting REALLY TIRED of us asking if she's okay.

I'm Bored. There's Nothing To Do.

It's kind of early in the winter to be dealing with that declaration, but that's what I heard tonight.

I did what I usually do in this situation. I reminded the Punk of the room full of toys, closet full of games and desk full of art supplies.

Guess what won.

Mine ... another of the many snowmen around here.

Punk's ... cranes lifting the biggest Christmas decorations ever.

Punkette's ... Santa's almost down the chimney.

Drew this at work while waiting for a document to print.