Many firsts...

Today was the first for many things crafting.  I made a card with my cricut machine!  I used the cuttlebug to add embossing and I entered my first two challenges! (mypinkstamper birthday challenge and  peachykeen challenge emboss it)  How fun!  But can I tell you just how slow I am at this?  What would be a quick card for most turned into a day long project. Trying to pick out paper was harder than I thought.  Every blog I view makes it looks so easy.  I now have an even bigger respect for all you crafters.  There are many tricks I still need to learn.  If I did the card over I'd cut the top of the cupcake slightly larger so there is no gap between cake and wrapper.  I would like to learn how to save paper by cutting only the image I need from each paper.  Anyway, lots to learn but there are also lots of talented people I can continue to stalk!

Here is my DD LOVING the cuttlebug.  She wanted to emboss ever piece of paper we had.  I finally had to put it away.  She made a get well card for her grandmother.

She did this herself.  I helped with measuring
and cutting.  The rest is all her!  So proud!

Magnetic Board

I FINALLY got to craft today!!!  Un.be.liev.able!  I only managed to make one of the teacher gifts so far but it is a start.  I still have two weeks to make the rest.  This one was a test to see how long it would take.  Unfortunately I broke my Round-it-all on its first time out of the package.  Glad it says Lifetime Warranty.  Hope the company will replace it.  Just a heads up.  It does NOT like to cut ribbon on projects.  The ribbon wedges itself in and jams it.  I know, I know.  You probably already knew that but the box said "round anything and everything" so I thought I was good to go.  Sad day when toys get broken - especially brand new ones!  Anyway, here is the first of the teacher gifts.  It is not my brilliant idea.  I saw these cute boards when browsing greenbean's crafterole's blog.  (She saw them from chic 'n scratch)  So cute and simple to make!  I had trouble finding the galvenized step flashing.  Chic 'n scratch said she found it at Lowe's already in the 5x7 size but ours only carried the roll.  Thankfully I was at my parents' house for the holidays so I used dad's handy cutter and decided to make mine a tad bigger - 6x8 - because I could.  :)

The teacher's daughter attends A&M

UPDATE:  Woo-Hoo!!!  The Round-it-all is fixed and in business again.  Amazing what a little brute strength and a butter knife can do.  ;)

New Tradition

What do you do with decorative pumpkins once the season is over?  Start a new family tradition of making pumpkin puree!  E and I tested out our abilities at making pumpkin puree while the boys napped.  She was cute.  Touching the inside of the pumpkin was "yuck" to quote her. 

After our success with her small pumpkin we decided to try our hand with the Cinderella pumpkin.  The boys were up by this time so she wanted to make sure they got to touch the goo.  K's response was the same he heard his sister say... "YUCK."  I thought the Cinderella pumpkin was very pretty on the pan. 

The process is really quite simple and I do love pumpkin pie made with fresh pumpkin!  I'm not sure how many cups of puree we'll end up with when this is over but I see lots of pumpkin recipes in our future.  :)

UPDATE: The final count was 12 cups.  If we had a bigger freezer we could have made more!  There is always next year.  I'm crossing my fingers for a stand-up deep freeze after we move.  We two growing boys we'll definately need to buy in bulk.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Parker's Rafting Trip

Parker was able to take a rafting trip while he was in Oregon.  He had a great time.  I am so glad he got the chance to catch some down time and do something fun on the weekend instead of always working or being stuck in a hotel room somewhere.

Veterans' Day Parade

E's school was in our town's Veterans' Day parade.  She was so excited she was going to ride in a float!  She was a little disappointed to find out the float was actually a trailer which she has ridden on numerous times.  The kids still had a great time waving flags and honoring all the men and women who have served Our Country.

Beautiful November Day

I keep thinking we are out of beautiful days to play outside and then God provides another one for us to enjoy.  We usually take a picnic meal to eat and then play until we drop.