About to open a new blog...

Just to make things that much more complicated I am permanently moving this blog to another location.

If you like, please add this website to your google reader!

http://web.me.com/heidimarie/ANewCreation/Blog/Blog.html

Thanks,

Heidi

It's the Dad Life.

Strawberry Goodness

Lately shopping is pretty much the last thing I have time to do.  My usual shopping time is about 2.5 minutes in a store before my kids start to fall apart.  So thank goodness for online shopping.  But today I had a rare opportunity to shop!  After spending part of the morning with a friend at the mall's play area, and then lunch, the boys were in fine form to spend a bit of time shopping.  We whipped in and out of Gymboree, Children's Place, Baby Gap and....Janie and Jack.  All to look and see what is out there.

This is out there.

Oh my.  I almost contemplated the effects that buying this jacket for Noah or Luke would have on them, but I stopped myself before going any further with that thought (mostly because the sales lady was showing me another CUTE dress so I was distracted).  From someone who grew up in a rainy province rain coats, gumboots and hats are not just a cute accessory, no they are a necessity!  And if only they made sweet strawberry rain jackets in my size, you bet I would be wearing one proudly on the two days that it rains here in Arizona.

Oh and this is the dress that the sales lady was showing me.  Sigh, such sweetness.

All found at Janie and Jack.  

La Coffee Shop

It's a really good thing that I don't currently have cable in my house.  I am a total Food Network nut. Diners, Drive In's and Dives?  Love it. Ace of Cakes?  Amazing.   But one thing I did discover the last time I watched Food Network (the family cabin does have cable) was Cupcake Wars!  Oh boy.  I love cupcakes.  I was so excited that I may have ignored all of those around me for the hour that it was on.

Even more exciting was the fact a local girl was one of the competitors; she is the owner of that little coffee shop right beside Joe's Farm Grill.  They even won!  So in all of my excitement I decided that a fun family outing last night would be to head out and try one of these delicious cupcakes.

Now I am so sad to say this but, so disappointing.  Tragically so.  My cupcake euphoria basically was shattered upon entering the store.  They had three.  That's right THREE cupcakes left, all of the same kind, and looking oh so sad in the display area.  The man who served us must have also been tragically sad because he was very hostile towards us or was it the lack of cupcakes that made him so?  And then when he gave us the runt of the litter AND charged us an exorbitant amount of 3.50 for one cupcake (wish I had a photo of hubby's face during that whole exchange).  All hope of a yummy cupcake was dashed.  How could I even enjoy this?  I had no choice, the guy wasn't all that friendly and upon eating the cupcake? It was almond flavored.  Oh sad.

The best part of the whole experience (hey have to look on the bright side right?).  Was Noah was able to run off all of that sugar (he ended up eating most of the cupcake) and we had some great time as a family.

La Coffee Shop (I know it's not the name, but I don't want for them to google find me) big thumbs down.

Next time?  Sprinkles in Scottsdale!

Hangers

I saw this idea on this blog.  I loved the idea of making decorative hangers as well as the closet organizers as gifts.   Original, very easy, and too cute for words.  I went with a theme for the hangers that has been on my mind lately.  I refuse to redecorate the nursery for the sole reason that I don't want to drive my hubby insane but if I could I would redo it into a wood/forest animals theme.  Couldn't you just see L surrounded by owls, trees and birdies, (oh my!)?

This is where I got my cute little friends "The Green Stack" by DCWV.  I just cut them out one evening (takes a bit of patience and a pair of scissors that can cut small details) and modge podged them onto the hangers!

Photo Jewelry

Oh I am so in love with photo jewelry.  I had no clue whatsoever how to actually put it together but the internet is a beautiful thing for those of us who love to craft!  Many bloggers are wonderful enough to post their how to's and I get to learn through them how to make sweet things like a photo pendant.

What inspired me to make this was a project that my mother in law's bead store sent me two packages of Swarovski crystal flatbacks. We were to then create a variety of projects for the store to showcase how crystals can be utilized.  Um hello?  I would say that is right up my creative alley!

Now it is time to make another with Noah's photo!  

A fun, and quick, project.

I spent this afternoon enjoying two boys napping, some time reading, and a quick decorating project.  I have been inspired lately by the lovely Heather to add to my evolving craft room.  I sort of got stuck a while back and even though it is a functional room, it wasn't quite decorated the way I would like.  So inspiration struck and I had a spare hour and this is what emerged.  Now I just need to find time to make the top one!  If you are interested I can pass along a short tutorial.  And then you can see how easy, easy these are.   I may just need to make some for Lukey's room....

Teaching him young...

The never ending pile of laundry.  So I am teaching Luke young.  He seems to be catching on.  Fold baby fold!

Friends

We have great friends in Victoria, Janis and Nathan, who actually will be coming to visit this coming Sunday!  I just saw on her blog a link to their latest accomplishment.  Nathan is a sculpture (and currently my Dad is working for him!) and it is always so amazing for us to see his latest sculpture.

If your interested here is the link:

http://5littlescotts.blogspot.com/2010/05/freedom-of-city.html

And a wonderful picture of him with his daughter, Acacia.

http://www.timescolonist.com/life/Thousands+celebrate+navy+100th+anniversary/2984816/Gallery+Navy+Celebrations+Homecoming+statue/2986407/story.html

Metal Stamping

This has been something that I have wanted to try out for a while.  It took a bit to gather the right tools, and metal stamps, but yesterday I gave it a go.  A lot of tries, a lot of whacks (still needs perfecting) and some major mistakes.  Thankfully though when it was time to try it for real, not on a piece of practice metal, it worked wonderfully.

More to come on this fun subject.  I need some more practice!

A boy and his bear...

Sweet sleep.

Check out our family blog for more updates.

Tutu Hair Elastic

I just had to! I was also thinking for those of you that have girlies who love barbies...wouldn't this make a fun tutu for your barbies/dolls? Just use the leftover tulle, cut it the length you like and a smaller width, tie it around some elastic (or ribbon) and voila! A doll tutu!

To make the hair elastic I just grabbed my own hair elastic, cut the length of the tulle down to around 7 or 8 inches, tied the tulle around the elastic (just like the tutu) and there you have it! Easy, inexpensive and super fun.

Hair Clips

It is a beautiful day here in Arizona. My doors are open, I spent most of the morning outside, and now my wonderful mother-in-law just whisked Noah away for the day. So that means Luke and I get ample time to cuddle and play, but it also means I get many hours to clean, craft and blog! Yay for me, and yay for grandparents, so onto my first project I have been obsessed with.

Flowers! This craft project is so simple and has gorgeous results! I had found, at Michaels, a small packed of these flowers for over 4 dollars. They were meant for hair clips (and had feathers attached) but were no where near as pretty as the ones I saw on this blog. And so I thought I can accomplish that. She suggests on her blog to make them with certain fabrics (I believe tulle, satin and organza) and I would agree. Since I did try other fabrics and well they curled up and died on me (you must see the blog to understand why!) I have dabbled a bit in the world of beading so I had these Swarovski pearls already on hand for the flowers middle. I think they make them elegant, next try crystals!

So there you have it. The day is now almost over, I got to have a wonderful afternoon cuddling Luke who, by the way, burst out laughing today. So fun!

Tutu

Oh I am in love with this tutu! Which comes as a surprise because the other day when I finished it I sort of was ho hum about the whole thing. It took me no time to complete, so it wasn't the time factor, it was fun to do (all except cutting the tulle), and I loved the outcome. But honestly I wasn't about to make anymore until I saw this picture! Oh my it is cute. Can you not just see it on a sweet little girl?

And no I did not make my son try it on (I was tempted). But I do have a fun little girl in mind, who lives in Canada, that will love it. And it happened to just be her birthday this month.

Here is where I found the instructions to make it.

Here is the cost of the tutu!

A lazy Sunday afternoon...

I have been planning on making a ribbon holder for a friend who just had a little girl but could not decide on which ribbon to use. Well I fell in love with this strawberry ribbon when I saw it the other day! I love all berry themed craft items, must be from my obsession with Strawberry Shortcake as a child, so I knew that I had found my theme once I saw it! And voila! A lazy Sunday afternoon and it is made...

ps: I am also hoping to add some rhinestones to the berry seeds.

New Project

I am not sure why I ended up with pink tulle in my shopping basket? We shall see what comes of it!!

Birthday Party

My hubby's birthday happened to land on easter Sunday this year. We had a wonderful day celebrating Resurrection Day as well as K. 39 (!!!!) Birthday.

So the big question was what I should make for his birthday cake? He is a chocolate man so I knew that I would make chocolate cake but what else? Well in the end I combined a few of his favourites (okay really there is one dessert he LOVES; coconut chocolate cheesecake from Cheesecake Factory) and voila a chocolate, cream cheese frosted, coconut cupcake. Oh and some little eggs on top! Yummy.

Here is where the inspiration came from.

Happy Birthday Love!

One more thing, if you are a fan of cupcakes this blog is wonderful. They just posted an idea for cupcakes in a jar. Would love to try it-any birthday's coming up?

Long Absences

There are reasons why you have to sometimes put the crafts away and focus on other things. I would say having a little baby is one of those! Sweet little boy.

But as we celebrate L. being three months old this week I think the time has come that I might, just might, have some extra time to craft again. I can't wait.

H.C.