HomeMade Christmas Gifts

We decided as a family to try to help decommercialize the Christmas season this year by holding a HomeMade Christmas.  It also helped that we were all more than a little broke this year, and it had the potential to be cost effective.

The adults were all stoked.  We loved the idea.  It was widely acknowledged that I was going to steal the show since I have been trying to do a homemade Christmas for at least a portion of my gifts every year.  I guess they all figured I had a head start or something.  (I really did.  I have a pinterest board of gift ideas, and one of crafts I want to do....)

The kids procrastinated until the last week before the scheduled gift exchange.  Luckily I had some ideas in reserve for them to use.  I guess it will be back to the drawing board for ways to get them to think of others instead of just being so caught up in the I wants, and the gimme's.  Is it too much to ask that they think of others instead of themselves and xbox?

This is a clock I made for my sister who is chronically late, to the point that we lie to her about the start time of events just to get her there closer to time.

 For the clock,  I bought a cheapie clock from the dollar store.  I took it apart and covered the back with a circle cut out of scrapbook paper that would match her decor.  I used stickers to make the phrase and the pile of numbers on the bottom.  It took all of 5 minutes to complete.  I then put it back together and back into the box so that I could wrap it easier.  She loved it.  She took it to the VFW hall she works at and her customers got a good chuckle too.

 I made sugar scrubs for my mom and my MIL.  I got some cute containers from the dollar store (just $1!).  I combined melted coconut oil with a few tablespoons of Vitamin E oil, a tablespoon of Vanilla Extract, and a tablespoon of Peppermint Extract.  I added regular sugar until it was the consistancy I wanted.  Then I poured it onto the jars.  Easy Peasy!  And it is very moisturizing.  Just be careful not to get any of the scrub on the outside of the plastic jar, it made it very greasy feeling.

My 15 year old neice got a hollow book.  It was going to go to my 13 year old nephew but we found a kick butt deal on a bad little Airsoft gun and got that instead.  The hollow book was a pain in the butt.  But still easy enough.  I got hand cramps from cutting through the layers of paper, but then I have carpal tunnel syndrome so I ALWAYS get numb hands.  If I did it over, I would use a dremmel tool.  But it was still a cool place to stash notes, money, candy, or whatever.  As a side note, I was sure to tell my sister what the title of the hollow book was so she could find it easily and search it just in case someone decided to attempt to stash something inappropriate

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I made a cut out skull tshirt for the same 15 year old neice.  She is a morbid little thing and I thought this would be right up her alley.  I bought a cheap black tshirt from Michaels, and sketched a rough skull on the back in chalk.  I cut the eyes, nose, and teeth out not being careful at all about the preciceness of the cuts since I think the jagged look was better.  I hacked the neck and sleeves off as well.  This photo is of my extrememly tiny son wearing the shirt to show the cutouts.  It looks better on the girl.  She has been rocking it with neon tanks underneath.  First time she wore it her mom asked her where she got it... what can I say, my little sister is a ditz

 

My Husband kept things simple and made the same gift for everyone (well all the adults at least!)  He made some Apple Pie MoonShine.  He definetly got the award for starting the earliest.  He had to simmer tons of brown sugar, white sugar, cinnamon sticks, and apple cider in a crockpot overnight.  Then he added 195 proof Everclear and bottled it into mason jars with a cinnamon stick in each one.  They had to age for 30 days in a cool dark place.  We designed some old timey looking labels with his photo on them and a cute little story on them.  I printed the labels on regular paper and cut them out and used  tape runner to attach them.  They knock a hell of a whallop!

My son and I worked together to make this purse for him to gift to my neice.  It is duct tape and clear packing tape sandwiching candy bar wrappers.  I liked it so much I wanted to keep it.  Best part was eating all the chocolate bars!

Another of my son's creations for his cousin.  He found a cool graphic, printed it on tshirt transfer paper and ironed it onto a tshirt.  Super Simple!

No Christmas would be complete for my dad without his homemade lemon drop candy and cinnamon roasted almonds.  Its a staple that I make for him every year and he hoards them refusing to share with anyone.

There was a few other gifts that I didn't get pictures of, including a comeback can for my 1 year old nephew.  It was wrapped in Spiderman duct tape.  If you don't know what a comeback can is, it is pretty simple.  Its a coffee can or oatmeal container with rubberbands and weights in it.  When assembled, you roll the can away from you and it will roll back when it reaches the end of the path.  There was also a matching shaker toy for him made from an empty plastic spice container filled with rice and covered with spiderman duct tape.  Pretty much a big rattle.

I almost forgot the waterglobe my son made for his 1 year old nephew.  A plastic jar, a Sully figurine, water, glitter, and food coloring.  Sealed up with hot glue.  Another super easy but pretty awesome gift for one kid to give another.

HomeMade Valentines Day favors

My son is in his last year at the Early Childhood Center, and once again his teachers are WONDERFUL!  But they have a rule about not bringing edible treats unless they fit into the Healthy Schools Guidelines.  He is almost 5 and is getting the idea about holidays, so he has to have a cool Valentine's giveaway.  I saw an idea for melted crayon favors that worked perfectly for the Valentine, as well as the audience.

I purchased a 24 count heart shaped silicone mold from walmart for $3.97.  I used all the old beat up crayons I had in the house.  It was super easy to do, and the results came out decent. 

A few tips I have for anyone else doing something similar:

1.) use an exacto blade to cut the paper on the crayon down the length of it. It will peel off much much easier.  If only I had found that trick out before I spent 30 minutes getting crayon under my nails and only getting little bitty strips of paper off.

2.) chop up WAY more crayons than you think you will need.  The wax settles quite a bit as it melts.

3.) I would use more lighter colors as the dark ones tend to muddle a bit.

4.) Put a cookie sheet or something rigid under the super bendy silicone mold.  

5.) I would do rainbow layers instead of random colors next time.  Putting Red in and letting it melt then cool.  Adding Orange in and re melting and cooling, etc.. I think it would look more polished.

2013 was kind of a bust...

So I really fell behind on the blog posts throughout 2013.  Maybe 2014 will be better.  Life got really hectic in 2013... I have a child with behavior problems in school, I got sued! and garnished (ouch).  And about a million other problems, and through it all I was able to do some crafty things, and complete some pins, but I was sadly taken from my goal.

I did complete a pin just yesterday. It's how to make your own refill for foaming hand soap.   

It's ridiculously easy, and involves using the old hand soap dispenser, filling about an inch or 2 with regular liquid hand soap, then adding water, putting on the lid, and BAM!  Refill.  Seems silly that I would need a pin to think of that.  But it works well.  I bought a $1 bottle of raspberry hand soap from Shop N Save and I have enough for 8-9 refills.

So that is my lazy attempt at keeping up on a resolution from last year.

Like I said, maybe next year will be better.  Next time I will tell you all about our homemade Christmas.

We've been BOO'ed!!!!

I saw this idea a few years back and wanted to do it ever since.  In keeping with the theme for this year "There's no time like the present!"  I got to work and we started boo'ing a few people. 

Let me backtrack a bit---

You've been boo'ed is a kind of nice version of ding dong ditch, or n!@@&r knocking someone.  Except you leave them a surprize.  There is a cute poem that goes with it, and the idea is that you surprize your friends or neighbors with this treat, and a copy of the poem, which challenges them to do the same to 2 of THEIR friends and neighbors.  After you get boo'ed you post a cute graphic on the window or door of your home so that you don't get boo'ed two times (although according to my kids that would be awesome!)

You do a google search for some of the many versions of the 'You've been Boo'ed" poem and just select one you like best.  I used the free printables from beenbooed.com  but you can go as elaborate as you like..

A trip down memory lane

My 2 oldest sons had a rummage sale last weekend to support their boy scout troop.  I was tired and bored out of my mind trying desparetely to wake up by smoking a cigarette outside of the church, when strolling in I saw a familiar face. Vern Dohm.  The brother of an old friend of mine. Well, actually it was complicated, but for now I will stick to calling him a friend.  Now, Vern and his brother Vance and I used to hang out quite a bit back when I was 18 or 19, or maybe it was when I was 17.  I'm not exactly sure. 
Anyways, Vern and I got to talking and I soon discovered that his brother was finally not in a relationship with a girl who, hmmmm, how should I say this..... threatened me to not be friends with him anymore.  Really this chic was off her rocker.  She introduced herself to people by saying ' I'm carrie, like the movie' 

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

Eagle scouting and success later in life

We have all heard the theory about how scouting, particularly achieving the rank of eagle, helps you succeed later in life.  You can hardly go to a sn2js or eagle court of honor without the stats being presented.  In case you are unfamiliar with the schpeel, let me tell you..... 

Of any one hundred boys who become Scouts, it must be confessed that thirty will drop out in their first year. Perhaps this may be regarded as a failure, but later in life, all of these will remember that they had been in Scouting and will speak well of the program.

Of the one hundred, only rarely will one ever appear before a juvenile court judge. Twelve of the one hundred will be from families that belong to no church. Through Scouting, these twelve and many of their families will be brought into contact with a church and will continue to be active all their lives. Six of the one hundred will become pastors.

Each of the one hundred will learn something from Scouting, and all will develop hobbies that will add interest throughout the rest of their lives. Approximately one-half will serve in the military, and in varying degrees, profit from their Scout training. At least one will use it to save another person's life, and many may credit it for saving their own.

Four of the one hundred will reach Eagle rank, and at least one will later say that he valued his Eagle above his college degree. Many will find their future vocation through merit badge work and Scouting contacts. Seventeen of the one hundred boys will become adult leaders and will give leadership to thousands of additional boys.

One in four boys in America will become Scouts, but it is interesting to know that of the leaders of this nation in business, religion and politics, three out of four were Scouts.

This story will never end. Like the 'Golden Pebble' of service dropped into the human sea, it will continue to radiate in ever-widening circles, influencing the characters of men through unending time."

Another way of saying this is:
Of 100 Boys in Scouting -
* Only rarely will one appear in juvenile court.
* 12 will receive their first church contact through Scouting. 
* 5 will receive church religious emblems. 
* 1 will enter the clergy due to his Scouting relationships. 
* 18 will develop hobbies that will give them a lifelong interest. 
* 8 will find their future life vocations. 
* 1 will use Scout skills to save another's life. 
* 1 will credit Scout skills with saving his own life. 
* 2 of the 100 will reach the Eagle Rank. 
* 17 will later become leaders in Scouting and will pass on their skills, inspiration and leadership to countless youth.

A comparative study of the records of Scouts and non-Scouts in a sampling of schools and colleges shows that Scouts hold most of the major positions of leadership in the student body. The survey resulted in the following statistics in regard to school officers bearing a large amount of responsibility.
* Of senior class presidents, 89% were Scouts.
* Of junior class presidents, 80% were Scouts. 
* Of business managers of school publications, 75% were Scouts. 
* Of student council presidents, 85% were Scouts. 
* Of school newspaper editors, 88% were Scouts. 
* Of editors of school annuals, 77% were Scouts. 
* Of basketball captains, 64% were Scouts.

Numbered among the alumni of the Boy Scouts of America are: 
* 64% of Air Force Academy graduates. 
* 58% of West Point graduates. 
* 70% of Annapolis graduates. 
* 72% of Rhodes scholars. 
* 85% of FBI agents. 
* 26% of the 29 U.S. astronauts.

The idea is that the scouting program sets the boys up to be leaders and teaches them valuable character traits to succeed.  I agree about the value of scouting to help instill those traits in our boys, but i feel that the scouting program is not entirely responsible.  I think that the scouting program require quite a bit of parental support, and that support is the factor that make good men.  Without the strong family support necessary to stick with the bsa program, those kids wouldn't make it, but the families who support and encourage the boys thru eagle play a strong role in how the child turns out. I think its a combination of those factors that make for successful men.

An unexpected snow day gave me time to make the Arrow!

We had the good graces of having a snow day Thursday and Friday.  We had a really bad snow storm moving thru the area that was slated to hit Thursday morning.  School got called Wednesday night for the following day.

I have no idea why people complain so much about snow days.  I should have every reason to bitch, since there is no pay for me if I don't have kids to drive to school.  I am just sick to death of people living in their own insular little worlds that because they live 1/2 block from the school and they can get their kids there then everyone else should have to go to school.

COME THE HELL ON PEOPLE!!!!!

There are alot more streets than yours in a school district.  It has to be safe for ALL OF THEM to get to school.

But I digress, I decided to take advantage of the day off of work and get some errands done.  The storm wasn't supposed to hit until around noon and at 930 I headed out with the 2 oldest kids to go to the Scout Shop to get the uniforms they were gonna need for their upcoming transition into Boyscouting from CubScouting.  $200 later, we headed home.  And the weather had hit.  Not only did it take me an hour to get home when it should have only taken 15 minutes, People were driving like clowns.  (to steal a favorite phrase of my dad's)

I got to sewing and managed to get all the required insignia on both of the boys uniforms.  Then I turned my attention to the Career Arrow Kit I purchased for my son earning the Arrow of Light.  (I had really wanted to make on, but ran out of time)  My snow day turned out to be a blessing.

I planned out how I was going to stripe the shaft (and had to leave stuff off because I ran out of room!)

I ended up using black for a background, and white for the arrow of light, green stripes for each webelos pin he earned, red white and blue for his national good turn, purple and white for the world conservation, dark blue for the webelos rank, silver and gold for the corresponding arrow points, baby blue for bear, red for wolf, orange for tiger, yellow for bobcat, green and brown for leave no trace, and tan for the outdoor activity award.

I think it turned out pretty cool, the only thing I still want to do is get silver pony beads for all the beltloops he earned and thread those onto the eagle feathers.  But they were out of them so I guess it will have to wait!