Halloween Adventures

Well, we certainly got into the spirit of Halloween this year!  We got started making decorations and we just couldn't be stopped...

these crazy bits

turned into these crazy things!

these became eyes

and adorned our silly little green monsters.

Our bluebirds of happiness all got masks so that they could join in the Halloween fun!

And Madison and I taught ourselves how to crochet funny ghosties...well, truth be told Madison taught us and I became very frustrated, but kept at it and in spite of my refusal to rip things out when my stitch count was off - I still ended up with a cute little guy!

So...our dining room ceiling is very festive and rather Halloweeny with all the creatures that are hanging out there.

Next on the list....pumpkin carving!!!!!!!!

xoxo        Elizabeth

The Candy Corn Debate

First of all I just don't understand how anyone can dislike Candy Corn!!!!  (See how I capitalized it there...because it is just so good!)  That being said whether you like to partake of the sweet treat or not - it is definitely a Halloweeny item.

 A good friend and I were recently checking out one of our favorite stores and she saw some giant candy corn decorations...rather than considering purchasing them my first thought is always................ "I can make those!"

So here goes....

I started by making a candy corn shape...normally I would have scrunched up newspapers and taped them into the shape I wanted but I didn't have very much newspaper!! So I cut up an old box and taped it into a candy corn shape.  For this project I think this actually worked better.

I cut up some white tissue paper and made a paste of flour and water...

and paper mached over my forms.  I put them out in the sun to dry and then did one more coat before I let them bask again. 

I let the candies dry over night - just to make sure there were no soggy spots.  After some research on google as to just what the proportions of orange, yellow and white are on the candy I was ready to paint...

the orange section is just a little bit bigger than the yellow or white section!

A little glitter cause even candy corn can use some sparkle...

and...Voila!!!!

Giant Candy Corn Decorations!  Now I have to go and buy some real candy corn because they are making me hungry!

Here is a hint at our next project...in fact that is what I will be doing today.  So go make some candy corn and come back to see our next Halloweeny adventure.

xoxo          Elizabeth

Water Colour It's Not!!!

I love water colour painting....house painting - not so much!  But...this weekend the family gathered at Mom and Dad's and we all pitched in and now the house just looks so pretty!

Thought I would share a few thoughts with you...

First of all...these guys were no help at all!  They just goofed off the entire weekend.

Second...gadgets are good!  And did you know that some people keep their paint brushes in those little boxes that they come in - like forever!? And another thing...those people...well their brushes look really nice still!

If you do things right - there are little packages to open up when you are all done with the painting!

Just look at that! A light fixture!

Sometimes along the way you find little treasures...I think there might be a pot under all of those baby tears...and I think it needs a little bitty flower in it!

A couple of tips - not because I am such a good painter, but because I seem to learn the hard way with painting...

don't keep cleaning your brush off all of the way around your paint container until there is hardly any room left to rest your brush...

don't forget to open the door when you are painting the threshold...and as I have been informed - it is not an art project!!!!  So I guess the 2 or 3 hours I spent painting this door was a tad too much?

Here is a biggy - this is not how you paint!!!! It is dangerous and your mother would not like it!

Sometimes the dog gets painted...but that's ok he's washable!

My mom's pretty cushions look so nice all dusted off and straightened out!  But now there is a rousing discussion going on about just what colour all of the wicker and such should be painted...

the little outdoor shelves and knick-knacks are all cleaned up, but are hollering for some fun paint!  My vote is turquoise - I think it would be so great with the white house and red trim.  My sis says that is just too crazy (or maybe just plain ugly?) - maybe a nice olive green.  At any rate at least all the cobwebs are off now and everything looks very nice.

So with lots of coffee and some great food (my sis, Jennifer, made this and it was yummy!) we got the job done.

As one of the bunch said today "Many hands make light work." 

So true, so true - I think I might have made that comment a time or two on this blog.  And isn't that what life is about...being there when people need you, doing it together to make it that much easier, and making the work a little lighter by laughing and talking with people you love.

So what is  your vote - turquoise or olive green?

xoxo       Elizabeth

It's Good to Send Cards!

Don't you love it when the mail holds something other than bills and junk mail?  It makes my day when there is a card or letter in my mail slot!

I was so happy to find that my old (and that is said with a lot of love) house had it's own wonderful mail slot!  I do not like those new-fangled mail boxes that are placed at the end of a street and hold every one's mail!!!

Several of the spaces on my To Do list right now are filled with reasons to send a card to someone.  I hate to admit it, but one is a Christmas thank you!  I also need to send a get well/thinking of you, and a couple of other thank yous.  I love to send hand made cards...I think the last ones I did were origami kimonos.  This time I decided to do some little sketches.

I cut and folded some cardstock...

I got out my coloured pencils - a nice set of coloured pencils is right up there with a brand new carton of Crayolas!

I searched my knick-knack shelf for some interesting things to draw...

and got to work sketching. I will tell the truth - at first I got frustrated...I don't sketch as often as I should and it didn't go well right off the bat.  With some encouragement from my girlies I kept at it and got some things that worked.

I made some copies of my sketches and got out my paper scrap box.  We rarely throw anything away around here!

I did some tearing,

some cutting,

and some gluing...

...and soon some special people will be receiving some handmade cards!

So grab some pencils, some paper...and go to town!  I had a lot of fun and now I have a stash of little sketches to use when ever I need them.  As I can attest to, some days aren't good sketching days...and on a day like that you could use images from the web or magazines in place of sketches.  That makes a nice card also.

Have fun!


xoxo      Elizabeth

Mariposa

This last weekend the family took a little jaunt up towards the mountains.  Mariposa was calling our name.

I am always happy as we drive up toward the mountains - having grown up in the Morgan Hill/San Jose area I miss those surrounding hills.  On our trip we talked about ideal places to live....Brian and Lane opted for  the top of a large hill  or small mountain.  Madison and I agreed that we love being in town - but - I have always imagined my 'perfect' spot would be with my comfy house nestled in at the bottom of a hill.  There would be a stream running nearby and an orchard surrounding me.  It could be just at the edge of town maybe!

Well when we pulled into Mariposa and ventured down the street...guess what we stumbled upon!?  A stream!

I love the fact that the stream runs right behind the businesses and you can wander down and look at it.  There is another great stream in Murphys....we like to get our lunch and go put our feet in!

We wandered around admiring all of the things that make these mountain towns so wonderful...rock walls....

of course the streams... and bridges...

all of the 'old' architecture and gardens...

I can never resist the antique stores...

and you must watch out for those trees that sneak up behind you!

It is nice to have so much nature all around you...

and in Mariposa almost every street ends in a gorgeous view like this.

It was great being out and about together...

and Madison was able to get one of her photography assignments finished.  Check, Check!

I think we might venture into Sonora next...another charming mountain town.

xoxo      Elizabeth