Hand Print Mountain Craft

I was inspired to blog today after making this super cute craft with casey this afternoon....it's been a while since I've posted anything but maybe this will be my way of getting back into it again!

I recently painted the boys room and today I added a little finishing touch by creating a special wall to hang their artwork...

I've had these old frames sitting in the closet since I picked them up at a garage sale last summer.  They just needed to be painted and a string added to hang the art!  The letters I bought from micheals and mod podged on some scrapbook paper.

Happy crafting! 

Lindsay

Busy Little Hands

I thought I should dedicate a post to a few of my favourite works of art that my little guys have created recently.  It's so great to watch them develop through their creativity.  I get excited when I see something new in their scribbles or as I watch the way they explore the feeling of paint between their fingers.  So much fun!

Liam ...nice choice in flowers!

Casey ...love these loops!

Casey's bath tub finger paint

Liam's bath tub finger paint

A necklace for me!

Who needs diamonds when you can wear this trendy and eco-friendly toilet paper necklace!

Casey- Sticking pressed leaves onto contact paper.

Liam

Leaf stained glass art, beautiful!

Canmore Folk Fest Market

It had been over two years since I last put my sewing into a market.  Then, just out of the blue an opportunity came about that I couldn't refuse.  A week prior to the Canmore Folk Fest my friend Oriana scored a last minute space in the artisans market and asked me join her.  So, for a week straight I sewed my heart out (during the early morning hours, nap times and late at night, that is).  I basically turned my house into a one woman sweat shop leaving our house in shambles...

This is just one corner of the chaos.

 It was a lot of work but worth it to see my hats sitting pretty on the folkies heads.

Me and Oriana along with a gentleman that bought this lovely red hat made from a wool skirt.

It was so much fun, the weather was great and we had the perfect spot with a view of the main stage.

Plus it was nice to get out of my "sweat shop" and do some sewing in the sun...

 I had a few other goodies for sale as well including hand made fabric buttons, wall hangings and some felt mustaches.

 Couldn't put a price tag on these two though!

At the very end of the last day it poured rain on us while we tried to pack up.  The rain didn't last long though.  So when we were all done, Rob and the boys and I all got to sit and relax and watch Bruce Cockburn top off the evening.  It was the perfect way to end the festival.

Whatever Floats Your Boat

Last week we got a little crafty and eco friendly too boot.  We turned a regular old milk carton into a beautifully handcrafted stream-worthy sailing vessel...

Liam pretty much claimed the boat as his own once we got down to the water.  You'd think a mother of twins would know by now to make two of such a thing (and that thought did cross my mind) but our time and resources were limited.  The reality of it was, Jack (the dog) was out on the deck banging his paws against the door begging to get out for a pee and in turn rushing our whole operation...That, and the fact that I only had one empty milk carton on hand.  Luckily Casey was fine with it...he had his car to keep him happy.

Nature Walk

Yesterday morning we finished off a carton of eggs which reminded me of a great little idea I saw on pinterest.  I painted each compartment of the carton a different colour and then cut it in half so Liam and Casey each had their own.  Then we headed outside for a nature walk to look for the colours in nature that matched the colours inside the egg cartons.

Nature Boys Liam and Casey

First we found something Purple...

"Showy Wood Aster"

 Then we found something green...

Grass and Clovers

And then we found something brown...

Only the "brown' was too big to fit into our little egg carton...I'm just glad we saw a brown elk and not a brown bear!

We called off the nature walk after seeing the elk to give them their space.  Maybe we'll try to find the rest of the colour's another day...

A Month Of Blogging Rolled Into One

...Oh yeah, I have a blog, I almost forgot...actually it has been on my mind believe it or not, but for lack of time and energy it has taken the back burner for a while.  But alas, here I am again  to share a tid bit or two of what we've been up to in the last month...

We've come to accept the fact that winter is here and we're embracing it's return.  We've been getting out to play in the snow and go tobogganing...I almost forgot how much fun tobogganing is!  (When are the boys going to be old enough for a GT racer??)

Dressing for the cold has become routine now; the boys even willingly put on their winter coats as we head out the door. 

When we're playing indoors they're all about the trains and cars.  Casey always has to have a train or car in each hand and sometimes even falls asleep that way. 

We've been getting the creative juices flowing and hands (...arms, legs, tummies, floor etc.)  messy with homemade finger paint.  (I have since discovered that the best place for this activity is right in the tub!)

We Celebrated the end of an era.  Rob sold the truck last month to make room for a newer more reliable vehicle.  It was sad to see that one go.  We had the truck for as long as Rob and I have been together.  We called it "home" at times; it got us half way across the country; up to Alaska; down to Arizona and everywhere else in between.  We went on some great adventures in that truck...

On the lookout for Lupin (our dog).  Bishop, California



Park and climb. Moab, Utah



A little cove  in California where we camped and almost got swept away by high tide...the water came right up to the tires. (there was no escape route) I didn't sleep well that night.

And also celebrating successfully weaning the boys.  Hello champagne! (...I don't even like champagne)

And right now we are in full on deck the halls christmasy christmas mode...but I'll share more with you on that next time.

Crafts With Chloe

My friend Chloe and I had a fun little impromptu craft night last week.  While I tucked the boys in bed, Chloe brewed up some tea and then we were ready to get our craft on.  I found this cute idea for a pin cushion jar on pinterest (my new favourite site) that I had been dying to try out and Chloe was also in desperate need of home for her sewing pins.

The finished products




It's always a fun time crafting with Chloe! :)