Some Pretty Gift Ideas

I found these pretty apple green papers in a clearance bin at a local scrapbook store last month. I only paid .05 a sheet and I grabbed every bit of these prints they had. Aren't they lovely. So fresh and different. Then last week I found a floral arrangement that was ugly as a final product but I LOVED the materials themselves and bought it (for $1.50!) to pull it apart and remake it. I knew it would be perfect with the apple green papers. This was the final result! On Etsy.



Besides the floral arrangement, I also found this wonderful bottle. I had been wanting to try my hand at the altered art bottles I had seen in online boutiques, but finding the right bottle took a long, long time. So when I saw this one, I knew just what to do with it! Also on Etsy.

Pink Sled

One of our family traditions when the boys were little was making predictions as to the first snowfall. It always seemed to fall somewhere in mid-October. I miss the fun of the first snowfall as experienced through the eyes of a little boy. At 16 and 20, they're not quite as into it as they used to be.

In honor of the first snow fall....

Shabby Sweet Ballerina Sled (on Etsy)

Having an Etsy Sale

I'm having an Etsy sale tonight on Hallmark Cupcake Tags, great for paper crafting projects, and vintage Bump Chenille in a variety of colors and generous SIX YARD hanks! Mention Vintage Threads when you order so I can send you a revised sales invoice from Paypal. Sale will extend through Wednesday evening.

Hallmark Cupcake Tags, 50% off


Vintage Bump Chenille, 30% Off

One Last Creation....

Okay...I've been having too much fun the last two days. I know I promised more nut cups and I've had inquiries asking for them. But...tommorrow I have to be a good girl and get some laundry and housecleaning done. A little painting and wallpaper stripping. I'll try to get more nut cups out on Weds. or Thursday.

Isn't this fun? So sweet and pretty.

Mr Bonz and His Second Life

Okay..the other Mr. Bonz sold so quickly that I've relisted a second ornament. But I have no more vintage salt and pepper shakers to transform, so this is the last one. Mr. Bonz will only get two lives instead of the usual nine.



Charity

A Little Something Inspired by My Kitten

Mr Bonz, my rescue kitty (see the week of July 15th), moused his first mouse last night! In honor of the occasion, may I present....

UPDATE: Wow! Mr. Bonz sold within two hours! I hope to list one more soon. I still have the pepper shaker left. *wink*

Been Wanting to Make These Forever!

I have been wanting to make some of those adorable Victorian-style nutcups for the longest time! When I came across these German Thanksgiving diecuts on Ebay, I knew just what to do with them! I don't know for sure because the diecuts don't have a signature, but they look so much like the work of Ellen Clapsaddle. LOVE her sweet little children artwork from the Victorian era. These two are on Etsy, but I do hope to make some more.

I also have some wonderful German bluebird diecuts from the same time era and will be making some nut cups with them at some point. But will finish more Thanksgiving nut cups first since they're of a timely nature.

UPDATE: Ink was hardly dry on these and they sold already! Hope to list more in the next day or two!

And Finished the Pumpkin Fairy Too!

Here she be! Also on Etsy.

Finished the Pumpkin Box

Finished this one and it's now on Etsy. Love it!


Charity

Let Them Eat Cake!

I am having some fun with a couple of Fall paper cakes. They are still in progress in the pics below. The Pumpkin Fairy Cake is almost done. Just have to add in the text (haven't decided what saying to do yet) and add in the crepe paper ruffle around the bottom. Oh! And it will have a band of trim on both edges of the bottom paper band. The smaller square box still has a ways to go. Need to finish covering the sides, add text, crepe paper ruffle and final trims. After I finish these I have a box with pilgrim corn cob dolls I'm working on and then I hope to start on some more Christmas boxes. My first paper cake was a Christmas one (see below). I loved it, but I'm thinking the Pumpkin Fairy is going to be my new favorite as I just loved this little pumpkin Kewpie doll when I found her in an antique store. I haven't decided if these will go in our local boutique or my Etsy store yet.

The Russians Are Coming!

Our college student firstborn has asked us if he could invite six Russian foreign exchange students home for the Thanksgiving weekend to partake in the traditional Turkey Roast and our annual over-the-top Christmas Tree Decorating party the next day. We said "yes", of course, and he tells us the Russian kids are all thrilled to be able to see an American family doing the Thanksgiving and Christmas thing. I guess Christmas isn't the big deal in Russia that it is here in America. They tell him that only the devout Christians really observe much of a holiday. So this should be interesting for them.

And...of course, this means that I have little over a month to figure out where I'm going to sleep them all! Three boys and three girls! We'll be putting bunk beds and a single bed in our son's former bedroom for the girls, but I don't really have a room for the boys. Our guest bedroom downstairs is still just framed in studs. Will have to think this one through.

And I need to start my baking and freezing for the Christmas Tree Decorating Party now. I always have about 15-20 different candy and cookie recipes prepared. And I'd like to make each of the kids something special and have a little treat bag with some small gifts, trinkets and perhaps a Wal-Mart gift card or something.

I've always been kind of stingy about the holidays. Just wanted to spend it with our family, but we're all excited about having foreign guests. Little brother even volunteered his room for the boys dorm, if necessary! I think this is going to be lots of fun.

But so much to do! Painting, furniture shuffling, getting extra linens, baking, freezing, gift-making... Better hop to it!