Chocolate Nutcracker Mice

Each year we try to make something to share with Little K's fellow Nutcracker dancers.

She has danced the role of a Mouse in the Fight Scene several times.  Once as a Baby mouse when we lived in Arizona.  You can see more on what we made that year in this post. 

Now that she is a little older - and dancing with a different Ballet Production since we moved to California - she had the opportunity to dance as a Mouse once again. 

This time it was a bigger - more scary mouse.  But we managed to find a sweet treat to share with her fellow rodents in the show. 

They were easy to make.  Just a few purchased pieces of candy assembled with melted chocolate.  You can read more details on how they were made here. 

We created an entire Army of mice.  Ready to go into battle.

With the Mouse King in charge. 

Each delicate little creature was packaged into an individual box, lined with paper shred to keep him safe during transit.

Then we made Holly Tags from various sizes of circle and scallop punches and tied up the box with bakers twine.  The holly leaves were free hand cut and sparkled up with some iridescent glitter glue.

The Mouse King - because he is special, received a special package as well.

The same tag - but boxed into a frosted vellum Chinese take-out container with a tuft of tulle.

I hope you get the chance to see a local Nutcracker Performance this year.  It just wouldn't be Christmas for us if we didn't see at least one show (or two, or a dozen).

Ten on Ten: December 2012

A quick peek into my day.  

Participating in Ten on Ten.

(a photo every hour, for 10 consecutive hours, on the 10th of the month)

See what everyone else is sharing about there day over here.

Woodland Party Invitation

Every year we host a Holiday Party for my husbands staff.  Since he works in retail, we try to plan the party before the crazy fall holiday rush.  

Even though it is a Holiday Party - it's a bit strange to follow a traditional Christmas theme when the gathering is in early November.

Last  year we had a Harvest Party.  You can see more about the party here and here, and more about how we decorated for Fall here and here.

This year I decided on a Fall Woodland Theme for the Party.

I fell in love with the sweet critters on the Cricut Create A Critter cartridge and knew I just had to incorporate them into the invitations (I ended up using them elsewhere too).

Yes - I agree - the invitations are a bit "cutsie" for a work staff party - but I just couldn't resist.   

Plus, I think I ended up making other elements of the party "sophisticated" enough that it didn't end up looking like a childs birthday party.  

The card was pretty simple without a lot of details (other than the layers of the cricut cut squirrel).  I ended up making 18 of them, so after number 10 or so....I was pretty happy the elements were basic. 

I really enjoyed working with the primarily Green and Brown color palette (for the card, and other details of the party).  Even though it looks somewhat Christmasy with the pops of mushroom red - it definitely reads Woodland.  It also helps that my favorite color is Green - so I had lots of stuff already on hand to work with.

I'll be back to share more details of the Party soon.

Ten on Ten: October 2012

It's been awhile since I remembered to participate in Ten on Ten.  Somehow the beginning of the month always seems to sneak up on me. 

Not this month.  Today I was ready - with camera in hand (or in purse)...everywhere I went.  

My Kitchen Pharmacy - trying to get our kitty to eat.

Who knew choosing just the right outfit could take such effort.  Her room was clean yesterday.

The Drop Off.

In My Cup - finally!

Doing a little Party Planning.

Oh how I wish they were just a little bit closer.  Then again - that could be dangerous.

One Stop Shopping.  Thank Goodness Target has food or we might never eat dinner.

Sale - Score!

Some Day these will become the project I have in my mind. 

The Garden.

Can't wait to see what everyone else has been doing today.  I'm linking up here.

Have a great weekend.

Project Thursday

I am so excited to share the news that I have been asked by my sweet friend LORi to join the accomplished team at The Pink Elephant.  

 I'll be doing a monthly (maybe more) Post called ~ TPE Project Thursday.  

The Designers, Readers and Challenge Participants at The Pink Elephant are so talented - I am honored to be able to share my Crafty Creations with them.  

My first post at TPE (find it here) has the details on these fun Jumbo Printed Mustache Burlap Pouches that I made as a fundraiser for my daughters school.  

I Mustache You a Question...but I'll Shave it for later.

I would love to stay and Chat - but I really Mustache!

Sorry - I just couldn't resist the cheeky Mustache sayings.

Hope you are all having a great week. 

School is a Hoot - Back to School Breakfast

We were happy to host another Neighborhood Back to School Breakfast this year.

Although we cheated a little bit....

....and had it a week later - instead of on the First Day of School. 

Everyone was a bit more relaxed and over their first day jitters.

The morning started with a group of cute little Owls set up to greet the guests.

Yep - made from Toilet Paper (and Paper Towel) rolls.

Painted bright colors.  Embellished with dotted cardstock Wings, Bows and of course Google eyes.

The Owl Theme started when I came across these great free printables from  Delightful Designs.

The "Going Back to School is a Hoot" framed art is the front cover of a mini book (part of the free download).  I just enlarged the cover page and used it in a Frame. 

The polka dotted matte was made at the same time we were painting the TP Owls using foam daubers to create dots on a plain white matte.

I found these lightweight plastic frames at Michaels and added another copy of the same (enlarged) Art Print and hung them on the front door with a green ribbon. 

Little K and I had so much fun making these owls.  There was an entire army of them lining the table and counter tops.

We just couldn't stop. 

The bookmarks were also part of the Delightful Designs free download (find it here).  I mounted them on colored swiss dot cardstock and added a glittery ribbon and some iridescent glitter glue embellishments.

 I thought about adding more google eyes - but decided that would make the bookmarks too thick. 

Each of the kids place settings had their Name and another personality filled Owl.  I used the Cricut Hoot n Holler cartridge. 

On the inside of each of the Name Cards was a silly school Joke.  I used the pages from the mini book download from Delightful Designs and cut them apart so each child had a different joke to tell. 

Nothing funnier than a bunch of budding comedians and the breakfast table.

These Owl Snack Bags were made using the Cricut Lacy Labels cartridge.  The head is one of the scalloped frames folded over a cellophane snack bag.  Yellow and white punched circles for the eyes,  google eyes in the middle of the circles and a bright beak.

Inside they were filled with a tropical granola mix.  The brightly colored fruit bits worked perfectly with the colorful owl theme.  

I wanted to add a few bows, but ran out of time. 

In keeping with our annual tradition - we took pictures of all the kids (and the moms too).

I planned on using large paper mache numbers (painted in the tropical theme colors) for each of the kids Grade Numbers, but I couldn't find ones that were big enough.  So I modified and used a wooden heart, painted and embellished with a Cirucut cut Number.

Would you believe we already had this glass owl flower vase?  The perfect finishing touch to our Back to School is a Hoot theme.

I hope the first Days/Weeks of school are going great for you and the kids.  We are off to a great start - looking forward to a wonderful year ahead.  

Back to {Middle} School

We are in the second week of school here in California.  

So Far....So Good
(although I don't want to jinx it)

The transition to Middle School has been a good one - for Both of Us!

~ In Years Past ~

~ Like So Many Families Across America ~

The First Day of School was filled with Mom rushing to get the Perfect Picture (followed by child grumbling and groaning)

Last year I finally got Smart - and started doing a Dry Run Sunday.

Little K get's to try out her First Day of School Outfit - and I get to take all the pictures I want.

No Rush

No Hassle

Everybody is Happy

This year - Little K actually asked ME first - if we were going to do a photo shoot before school started.

Aaah - after years of training - I've finally got her requesting that pictures be taken. 

There is One downside to my plan.  I ended up with over 200 shots.  Many of them were really good.

How will I ever choose my favorites

What a difference it makes when my child is relaxed and happy (and mama too).

She was willing to pose anywhere I suggested - and I was willing to try HER  suggestions too.

This shot was on a wall about 12 feet off the ground.  She had to climb on my shoulders just to get into position. 

Oh what the neighbors must think of us.

Time to be a little Goofy

And a little more Serious

And maybe a little Cheeky

So how was the First Day of School in your house?

I have a feeling this is going to be a Great Year.